Part 1

# The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc. ### By Gomme, Alice Bertha

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+-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: | | | | Text printed in italics in the original work is presented here | | between underscores, as in _text_. Similarly, bold face in the | | original is represented as =text=. | | | | Footnotes have been moved to the end of the description of the | | game. | | | | [Illustration] means that there is an illustration present in the | | text; [Music] means a transcription in musical notation. | | | | [Greek: text] represents a transcription of Greek text. [=a] and | | [=e] represent a-macron and e-macron, respectively. The oe- | | ligature is transcribed as [oe]. | | | | More Transcriber's Notes may be found at the end of this text. | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+

A DICTIONARY

OF

BRITISH FOLK-LORE

EDITED BY

G. LAURENCE GOMME, ESQ., F.S.A.

PRESIDENT OF THE FOLK-LORE SOCIETY, ETC.

_PART I._

TRADITIONAL GAMES

_BY THE SAME EDITOR._

Small 4to. In Specially Designed Cover.

=ENGLISH SINGING GAMES.=

A Collection of the best Traditional Children's Singing Games, with their Traditional Music harmonised, and Directions for Playing. Each Game, Text and Music, is written out and set within a Decorative Border by WINIFRED SMITH, who has also designed Full-page Illustrations to each Game, and Initials and Decorative Border to the playing directions.

[_All rights reserved._]

THE TRADITIONAL GAMES Of England, Scotland, and Ireland

WITH

TUNES, SINGING-RHYMES, AND METHODS OF PLAYING ACCORDING TO THE VARIANTS EXTANT AND RECORDED IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE KINGDOM

COLLECTED AND ANNOTATED BY ALICE BERTHA GOMME

VOL. I.

ACCROSHAY-NUTS IN MAY

LONDON DAVID NUTT, 270-71 STRAND 1894

TO

_MY HUSBAND_

PREFACE

Soon after the formation of the Folk-lore Society in 1878 my husband planned, and has ever since been collecting for, the compilation of a dictionary of British Folk-lore. A great deal of the material has been put in form for publication, but at this stage the extent of the work presented an unexpected obstacle to its completion.

To print the whole in one alphabet would be more than could be accomplished except by the active co-operation of a willing band of workers, and then the time required for such an undertaking, together with the cost, almost seemed to debar the hope of ever completing arrangements for its publication. Nevertheless, unless we have a scientific arrangement of the enormously scattered material and a close comparison of the details of each item of folk-lore, it is next to impossible to expect that the full truth which lies hidden in these remnants of the past may be revealed.

During my preparation of a book of games for children it occurred to me that to separate the whole of the games from the general body of folk-lore and to make them a section of the proposed dictionary would be an advantageous step, as by arranging the larger groups of folk-lore in independent sections the possibility of publishing the contemplated dictionary again seemed to revive. Accordingly, the original plan has been so far modified that these volumes will form the first section of the dictionary, which, instead of being issued in one alphabet throughout, will now be issued in sections, each section being arranged alphabetically.

The games included in this collection bear the important qualification of being nearly all Children's Games: that is to say, they were either originally children's games since developed into games for adults, or they were the more serious avocations of adults, which have since become children's games only. In both cases the transition is due to traditional circumstances, and not to any formal arrangements. All invented games of skill are therefore excluded from this collection, but it includes both indoor and outdoor games, and those played by both girls and boys.

The bulk of the collection has been made by myself, greatly through the kindness of many correspondents, to whom I cannot be sufficiently grateful. In every case I have acknowledged my indebtedness, which, besides being an act of justice, is a guarantee of the genuineness of the collection. I have appended to this preface a list of the collectors, together with the counties to which the games belong; but I must particularly thank the Rev. W. Gregor, Mr. S. O. Addy, and Miss Fowler, who very generously placed collections at my disposal, which had been prepared before they knew of my project; also Miss Burne, Miss L. E. Broadwood, and others, for kindly obtaining variants and tunes I should not otherwise have received. To the many versions now printed for the first time I have added either a complete transcript of, where necessary, or a reference to, where that was sufficient, printed versions of games to be found in the well-known collections of Halliwell and Chambers, the publications of the Folk-lore and Dialect Societies, Jamieson's, Nares', and Halliwell's Dictionaries, and other printed sources of information. When quoting from a printed authority, I have as far as possible given the exact words, and have always given the reference. I had hoped to have covered in my collection the whole field of games as played by children in the United Kingdom, but it will be seen that many counties in each country are still unrepresented; and I shall be greatly indebted for any games from other places, which would help to make this collection more complete. The tunes of the games have been taken down, as sung by the children, either by myself or correspondents (except where otherwise stated), and are unaltered.

The games consist of two main divisions, which may be called descriptive, and singing or choral. The descriptive games are arranged so as to give the most perfect type, and, where they occur, variable types in succession, followed, where possible, by any suggestions I have to make as to the possible origin of the game. The singing games are arranged so as to give, first, the tunes; secondly, the different versions of the game-rhymes; thirdly, the method of playing; fourthly, an analysis of the game-rhymes on a plan arranged by my husband, and which is an entirely novel feature in discussing the history of games; fifthly, a discussion of the results of the analysis of the rhymes so far as the different versions allow; and sixthly, an attempt to deduce from the evidence thus collected suggestions as to the probable origin of the game, together with such references to early authorities and other facts bearing upon the subject as help to elucidate the views expressed. Where the method of playing the game is involved, or where there are several changes in the forms, diagrams or illustrations, which have been drawn by Mr. J. P. Emslie, are inserted in order to assist the reader to understand the different actions, and in one or two instances I have been able to give a facsimile reproduction of representations of the games from early MSS. in the Bodleian and British Museum Libraries.

Although none of the versions of the games now collected together are in their original form, but are more or less fragmentary, it cannot, I think, fail to be noticed how extremely interesting these games are, not only from the point of view of the means of amusement (and under this head there can be no question of their interest), but as a means of obtaining an insight into many of the customs and beliefs of our ancestors. Children do not invent, but they imitate or mimic very largely, and in many of these games we have, there is little doubt, unconscious folk-dramas of events and customs which were at one time being enacted as a part of the serious concerns of life before the eyes of children many generations ago. As to the many points of interest under this and other heads there is no occasion to dwell at length here, because the second volume will contain an appendix giving a complete analysis of the incidents mentioned in the games, and an attempt to tell the story of their origin and development, together with a comparison with the games of children of foreign countries.

The intense pleasure which the collection of these games has given me has been considerably enhanced by the many expressions of the same kind of pleasure from correspondents who have helped me, it not being an infrequent case for me to be thanked for reviving some of the keenest pleasures experienced by the collector since childhood; and I cannot help thinking that, if these traditional games have the power of thus imparting pleasure after the lapse of many years, they must contain the power of giving an equal pleasure to those who may now learn them for the first time.

ALICE BERTHA GOMME.

BARNES COMMON, S.W.,

_Jan. 1894_.

LIST OF AUTHORITIES

ENGLAND.

Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_. Halliwell's _Dictionary_, ed. 1889. Holloway's _Dictionary_, ed. 1838. Strutt's _Sports and Pastimes_, ed. 1831. Brand's _Popular Antiquities_, ed. 1875. Nares' _Glossary_, ed. 1872. Grose's _Dictionary_, 1823. _Notes and Queries._ _Reliquary._ English Dialect Society Publications. Folk-lore Society Publications, 1878-1892.

BEDFORDSHIRE-- Luton Mrs. Ashdown. Roxton Miss Lumley.

BERKSHIRE Lowsley's _Glossary_. Enborne Miss Kimber. Fernham, Longcot Miss I. Barclay. Newbury Mrs. S. Batson, Miss Kimber. Sulhampstead Miss Thoyts (_Antiquary_, vol. xxvii.)

CAMBRIDGESHIRE-- Cambridge Mrs. Haddon.

CHESHIRE { Darlington's, Holland's, Leigh's, and { Wilbraham's _Glossaries_. Congleton Miss A. E. Twemlow.

CORNWALL { _Folk-lore Journal_, v., Courtney's { _Glossary_. Penzance Miss Courtney, Mrs. Mabbott.

CUMBERLAND Dickinson's _Glossary_.

DERBYSHIRE { _Folk-lore Journal_, vol. i., Mrs. { Harley, Mr. S. O. Addy. Dronfield, Eckington, Egan Mr. S. O. Addy.

DEVONSHIRE Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

DORSETSHIRE { Barnes' _Glossary_, _Folk-lore { Journal_, vol. vii.

DURHAM { Brockett's _North Country Words_, ed. { 1846. Gainford Miss Eddleston. South Shields Miss Blair.

ESSEX-- Bocking _Folk-lore Record_, vol. iii. pt. 2. Colchester Miss G. M. Francis.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE { Holloway's _Dictionary_, _Midland { Garner_. Shepscombe, Cheltenham Miss Mendham. Forest of Dean Miss Matthews.

HAMPSHIRE Cope's _Glossary_, Miss Mendham. Bitterne Mrs. Byford. Liphook Miss Fowler.

HAMPSHIRE-- Hartley, Winchfield, Witney Mr. H. S. May. Southampton Mrs. W. R. Carse.

ISLE OF MAN Mr. A. W. Moore.

ISLE OF WIGHT-- Cowes Miss E. Smith.

KENT Pegge's _Alphabet of Kenticisms_. Bexley Heath Miss Morris. Crockham Hill, Deptford Miss Chase. Platt Miss Burne. Wrotham Miss D. Kimball.

{ Nodal and Milner's _Glossary_, LANCASHIRE { Harland and Wilkinson's _Folk-lore_, { ed. 1882, Mrs. Harley. Monton Miss Dendy.

LEICESTERSHIRE Evan's _Glossary_. Leicester Miss Ellis.

LINCOLNSHIRE { Peacock's, Cole's, and Brogden's { _Glossaries_, Rev. ---- Roberts. Anderby, Botterford, Brigg, } Frodingham, Horncastle, } Miss Peacock. North Kelsey, Stixwould, } Winterton } East Kirkby Miss K. Maughan. Metheringham Mr. C. C. Bell.

MIDDLESEX Miss Collyer. Hanwell Mrs. G. L. Gomme.

{ Miss Chase, Miss F. D. Richardson, { Mr. G. L. Gomme, Mrs. G. L. Gomme, { Mr. J. P. Emslie, Miss Dendy, Mr. London { J. T. Micklethwaite (_Archæological { Journal_, vol. xlix.), _Strand { Magazine_, vol. ii.

NORFOLK { Forby's _Vocabulary_, Spurden's { _Vocabulary_, Mr. J. Doe. Sporle, Swaffham Miss Matthews.

{ Baker's _Glossary_, _Northants Notes NORTHAMPTONSHIRE { and Queries_, _Revue Celtique_, vol. { iv., Rev. W. D. Sweeting. Maxey Rev. W. D. Sweeting.

NORTHUMBERLAND { Brockett's _Provincial Words_, ed. { 1846. Hexham Miss J. Barker.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Miss Peacock. Long Eaton Miss Youngman. Nottingham Miss Winfield, Miss Peacock. Ordsall Miss Matthews.

OXFORDSHIRE Aubrey's _Remains_, ed. 1880. Oxford Miss Fowler. Summertown _Midland Garner_, vol. ii.

SHROPSHIRE Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_. Madeley, Middleton Miss Burne. Tong Miss R. Harley.

{ Elworthy's _Dialect_, _Somerset and SOMERSETSHIRE { Dorset Notes and Queries_, Holloway's { _Dictionary_. Bath Miss Large.

STAFFORDSHIRE-- Hanbury Miss E. Hollis. Cheadle Miss Burne. Tean, North Staffordshire { Miss Keary, Miss Burne, Mrs. T. Potteries { Lawton. Wolstanton Miss Keary.

{ Moor's _Suffolk Words_, Forby's SUFFOLK { _Vocabulary_, Lady C. Gurdon's { _Suffolk County Folk-lore_.

SURREY-- Barnes Mrs. G. L. Gomme. Clapham Miss F. D. Richardson. Hersham _Folk-lore Record_, vol. v. Redhill Miss G. Hope.

SUSSEX { Parish's _Dialect_, Holloway's { _Dictionary_, Toone's _Dictionary_. Hurstmonceux Miss Chase. Shipley, Horsham, West { Miss R. H. Busk (_Notes and Grinstead { Queries_). Ninfield Mr. C. Wise.

{ Northall's _Folk Rhymes_, _Notes and WARWICKSHIRE { Queries_, _Northants Notes and { Queries_, Mr. C. C. Bell.

WILTSHIRE-- Marlborough, Manton, Ogbourne Mr. H. S. May.

WORCESTERSHIRE Chamberlain's _Glossary_. Upton-on-Severn Lawson's _Glossary_.

{ Atkinson's, Addy's, Easther's, YORKSHIRE { Hunter's, Robinson's, Ross and Stead's { _Glossaries_, Henderson's _Folk-lore_, { ed. 1879. Almondbury Easther's _Glossary_. Epworth, Lossiemouth Mr. C. C. Bell. Earls Heaton, Haydon, { Mr. H. Hardy. Holmfirth { Settle Rev. W. S. Sykes. Sharleston Miss Fowler, Rev. G. T. Royds. Sheffield Mr. S. O. Addy, Miss Lucy Garnett. Wakefield Miss Fowler.

SCOTLAND.

Chambers' _Popular Rhymes_, ed. 1870. Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_, ed. 1871. Jamieson's _Etymological Dictionary_, ed. 1872-1889. Folk-lore Society Publications.

ABERDEEN-- Pitsligo Rev. W. Gregor.

BANFFSHIRE-- Duthil, Keith, Strathspey Rev. W. Gregor.

ELGIN-- Fochabers Rev. W. Gregor.

KIRKCUDBRIGHT-- Auchencairn Prof. A. C. Haddon.

LANARKSHIRE-- Biggar Mr. Wm. Ballantyne. Lanark Mr. W. G. Black.

NAIRN-- Nairn Rev. W. Gregor.

IRELAND.

Folk-lore Society Publications. _Notes and Queries._

ANTRIM AND DOWN Patterson's _Glossary_.

CLARE-- Kilkee { G. H. Kinahan (_Folk-lore Journal_, { vol. ii.)

CORK-- Cork Mrs. B. B. Green, Miss Keane.

DOWN-- Ballynascaw Miss C. N. Patterson. Belfast Mr. W. H. Patterson. Holywood Miss C. N. Patterson.

DUBLIN-- Dublin Mrs. Lincoln.

LOUTH-- Annaverna, Ravendale Miss R. Stephen.

QUEEN'S COUNTY-- Portarlington { G. H. Kinahan (_Folk-lore Journal_, { vol. ii.)

WATERFORD-- Lismore Miss Keane.

WALES.

_Byegones._ Folk-lore Society Publications.

CARMARTHENSHIRE-- Beddgelert Mrs. Williams.

LIST OF GAMES

ACCROSHAY. All-hid. All a Row. All in the Well. All the Birds in the Air. All the Boys in our Town. All the Fishes in the Sea. All the Soldiers in the Town. Allicomgreenzie. Alligoshee. Almonds and Reasons. Angel and Devil. Auntieloomie.

BABBITY Bowster. Bad. Baddin. Badger the Bear. Bag o' Malt. Ball. Ball and Bonnets. Ball in the Decker. Ball of Primrose. Baloon. Bandy-ball. Bandy-cad. Bandy-hoshoe. Bandy-wicket. Banger. Bar. Barbarie, King of the. Barley-break. Barnes (Mr.). Base-ball. Basket. Battledore and Shuttlecock. Bedlams or Relievo. Beds. Bell-horses. Bellie-mantie. Belly-blind. Bend-leather. Betsy Bungay. Bicky. Biddy-base. Biggly. Billet. Billy-base. Bingo. Bird-apprentice. Birds, Beasts, and Fishes. Bittle-battle. Bitty-base. Black Man's Tig. Black Thorn. Blind Bell. Blind Bucky Davy. Blind Harie. Blind Hob. Blind Man's Buff. Blind Man's Stan. Blind Nerry Mopsy. Blind Palmie. Blind Sim. Block, Hammer, and Nail. Blow-point. Bob Cherry. Boggle about the Stacks. Boggle-bush. Bonnety. Booman. Boss-out. Boss and Span. Boys and Girls. Branks. Bridgeboard. Broken-down Tradesmen. Brother Ebenezer. Bubble-hole. Bubble-justice. Buck, Buck. Buck i' t' Neucks. Buckerels. Buckey-how. Buff. Buk-hid. Bull in the Park. Bulliheisle. Bummers. Bun-hole. Bunch of Ivy. Bung the Bucket. Bunting. Burly Whush. Buttons. Buzz and Bandy.

CACHE-POLE. Caiche. Call-the-Guse. Camp. Canlie. Capie-Hole. Carrick. Carry my Lady to London. Carrying the Queen a Letter. Cashhornie. Castles. Cat and Dog. Cat-Beds. Cat's Cradle. Cat-gallows. Cat i' the Hole. Cat after Mouse. Catchers. Chacke-Blyndman. Chance Bone. Change Seats. Checkstone. Cherry Odds. Cherry-pit. Chicamy. Chickidy Hand. Chinnup. Chinny-mumps. Chock or Chock-hole. Chow. Chuck-farthing. Chuck-hole. Chucks. Church and Mice. Click. Click, Clock, Cluck. Clowt-clowt. Clubby. Coal under Candlestick. Cob. Cobbin-match. Cobble. Cobbler's Hornpipe. Cob-nut. Cock. Cock-battler. Cock-fight. Cock-haw. Cock-stride. Cockertie-hooie. Cockle-bread. Cockly-jock. Cock's-headling. Cock-steddling. Codlings. Cogger. Cogs. Common. Conkers. Conquerors. Contrary, Rules of. Cop-halfpenny. Corsicrown. Cots and Twisses. Course o' Park. Crab-sowl. Crates. Cricket. Crooky. Cross and Pile. Cross-bars. Cross-questions. Cross Tig. Cry Notchil. Cuck-ball. Cuckoo. Cuddy and the Powks. Cudgel. Curcuddie. Curly Locks. Currants and Raisins. Cushion Dance. Cutch a Cutchoo. Cutters and Trucklers.

DAB. Dab-an-thricker. Dab-at-the-hole. Dalies. Davie-drap. Deadily. Diamond Ring. Dibbs. Dinah. Dip o' the Kit. Dish-a-loof. Doddart. Doncaster Cherries. Dools. Down in the Valley. Drab and Norr. Draw a Pail of Water. Drawing Dun out of the Mire. Drop Handkerchief. Dropping the Letter. Duck under the Water. Duck at the Table. Duck Dance. Duck Friar. Ducks and Drakes. Duckstone. Duffan Ring. Dumb Crambo. Dumb Motions. Dump. Dumps. Dust-point.

ELLER Tree. Ezzeka.

FATHER'S Fiddle. Feed the Dove. Find the Ring. Fippeny Morrell. Fire, Air, and Water. Fivestones. Flowers. Follow my Gable. Follow my Leader. Fool, Fool, come to School. Foot and Over. Football. Forfeits. Fox. Fox and Goose (1). Fox and Geese (2). Fox in the Fold. Fox in the Hole. French Jackie. French and English. French Blindman's Buff. Friar-rush. Frincy-francy. Frog-lope. Frog in the Middle.

GAP. Garden Gate. Gegg. Genteel Lady. Ghost at the Well. Giants. Giddy. Gilty-galty. Gipsy. Gled-wylie. Glim-glam. Gobs. Green Grass. Green Gravel. Green Grow the Leaves (1). Green Grow the Leaves (2). Gully.

HAIRRY my Bossie. Half-Hammer. Han'-and-Hail. Hand in and Hand out. Handy-Croopen. Handy Dandy. Hap the Beds. Hard Buttons. Hare and Hounds. Harie Hutcheon. Hark the Robbers. Hats in Holes. Hattie. Hawkey. Headicks and Pinticks. Heads and Tails. Hecklebirnie. Hen and Chicken. Here comes a Lusty Wooer. Here comes One Virgin. Here I sit on a Cold Green Bank. Here stands a Young Man. Here we go around, around. Here's a Soldier. Hewley Puley. Hey Wullie Wine. Hickety, Bickety. Hickety-hackety. Hick, Step, and Jump. Hide and Seek (1). Hide and Seek (2). Hinch-Pinch. Hinmost o' Three. Hirtschin Hairy. Hiry-hag. Hiss and Clap. Hitch, Jamie, Stride and Loup. Hitchapagy. Hitchy Cock Ho. Hity Tity. Hoatie, Hots. Hob-in-the-Hall. Hockerty Cokerty. Hockey. Hoges. Ho-go. Hoilakes. Holy Bang. Honey Pots. Hood. Hoodle-cum-blind. Hoodman Blind. Hooper's Hide. Hop-crease. Hop-frog. Hop-score. Hop-scotch. Hop, Step, and Jump. Hornie. Hornie Holes. Horns. Hot Cockles. How many Miles to Babylon. Howly. Huckie-buckie down the Brae. Huckle-bones. Hummie. Hundreds. Hunt the Hare. Hunt the Slipper. Hunt the Staigie. Hunting. Hurling. Hurly-burly. Huss. Hustle Cap. Hynny-pynny.

ISABELLA.

JACK'S Alive. Jack, Jack, the Bread's a-burning. Jack upon the Mopstick. Jackysteauns. Jauping Paste-eggs. Jenny Jones. Jenny Mac. Jib-Job-Jeremiah. Jiddy-cum-jiddy. Jingle-the-bonnet. Jingo-ring. Jinkie. Jock and Jock's Man. Jockie Blind-man. Joggle along. Johnny Rover. Jolly Fishermen. Jolly Hooper. Jolly Miller. Jolly Rover. Jolly Sailors. Jowls. Jud.

KEELING the Pot. Keppy Ball. Kibel and Nerspel. King by your leave. King Cæsar. King Come-a-lay. King of Cantland. King o' the Castle. King Plaster Palacey. King William. King's Chair. Kirk the Gussie. Kiss in the Ring. Kit-cat. Kit-cat-cannio. Kittlie-cout. Knapsack. Knights. Knocked at the Rapper. Knor and Spell.

LAB. Lady of the Land. Lady on the Mountain. Lady on Yonder Hill. Lag. Lammas. Lamploo. Lang Larence. Leap Candle. Leap-frog. Leap the Bullock. Leaves are Green. Lend me your Key. Letting the Buck out. Level-coil. Libbety-lat. Limpy Coley. Little Dog, I call you. Lobber. Loggats. London. London Bridge. Long-duck. Long Tag. Long Tawl. Long Terrace. Loup the Bullocks. Lubin. Lug and a Bite. Luggie. Luking.

MAG. Magic Whistle. Magical Music. Malaga Raisins. Marbles. Mary Brown. Mary mixed a Pudding up. Merrils. Merritot. Merry-ma-tansa. Milking Pails. Mineral, Animal, and Vegetable. Minister's Cat. Mollish's Land. Monday, Tuesday. Moolie Pudding. More Sacks to the Mill. Mother, may I go out to Play? Mother Mop. Mother, Mother, the Pot boils over. Mount the Tin. Mouse and the Cobbler. Muffin Man. Mulberry Bush. Munshets. Musical Chairs.

NACKS. Namers and Guessers. Neighbour. Neivie-nick-nack. Nettles. New Squat. Nine Holes. Nine Men's Morris. Nip-srat-and-bite. Nitch, Notch, No-Notch. Not. Noughts and Crosses. Nur and Spel. Nuts in May.

ERRATA.

On page 15, line 12, _for_ "Eggatt" _read_ "Hats in Holes."

On pp. 24, 49, 64, 112, _for_ "_Folk-lore Journal_, vol. vi." _read_ "vol. vii."

On page 62, last line, _insert_ "vol. xix." _after_ "_Journ. Anthrop. Inst._"

On page 66, line 4, _delete_ "Move All."

On page 224, fig. 3 of "Hopscotch" should be reversed.

On page 332, diagram of "London" omitted.

[Illustration]

CHILDREN'S GAMES.

Accroshay

A cap or small article is placed on the back of a stooping boy by other boys as each in turn jumps over him. The first as he jumps says "Accroshay," the second "Ashotay," the third "Assheflay," and the last "Lament, lament, Leleeman's (or Leleena's) war." The boy who in jumping knocks off either of the things has to take the place of the stooper.--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 58).

See "Leap-frog."

All-hid

"A meere children's pastime" (_A Curtaine Lecture_, 1637, p. 206). This is no doubt the game of "Hide and Seek," though Cotgrave apparently makes it synonymous with "Hoodman Blind." See Halliwell's _Dictionary_. It is alluded to in Dekker's _Satiromastix_, "Our unhansomed-fac'd Poet does play at Bo-peepes with your Grace, and cryes All-hidde, as boyes doe." Tourneur, _Rev. Trag._, III., v. 82, "A lady can at such Al-hid beguile a wiser man," is quoted in Murray's _Dictionary_ as the first reference.

All a Row

All a row, a bendy bow, Shoot at a pigeon and kill a crow; Shoot at another and kill his brother; Shoot again and kill a wren, And that'll do for gentlemen.

--Northall's _English Folk Rhymes_, p. 386.

This is a marching game for very little children, who follow each other in a row.

(_b_) Halliwell gives the first two lines only (_Nursery Rhymes_, No. dxv., p. 101), and there is apparently no other record of this game. It is probably ancient, and formerly of some significance. It refers to days of bows and arrows, and the allusion to the killing of the wren may have reference to the Manx and Irish custom of hunting that bird.

All in the Well

A juvenile game in Newcastle and the neighbourhood. A circle is made, about eight inches in diameter, termed the well, in the centre of which is placed a wooden peg four inches long, with a button balanced on the top. Those desirous of playing give buttons, marbles, or anything else, according to agreement, for the privilege of throwing a short stick, with which they are furnished, at the peg. Should the button fly out of the ring, the player is entitled to double the stipulated value of what he gives for the stick. The game is also practised at the Newcastle Races and other places of amusement in the North with three pegs, which are put into three circular holes made in the ground about two feet apart, and forming a triangle. In this case each hole contains a peg about nine inches long, upon which are deposited either a small knife or some copper. The person playing gives so much for each stick, and gets all the articles that are thrown off so as to fall on the outside of the holes.--Northumberland (Brockett's _North Country Glossary_).

All the Birds in the Air

A Suffolk game, not described (Moor's _Suffolk Glossary_). Jamieson also gives it without description. Compare the rhyme in the game "Fool, fool, come to School," "Little Dog, I call you."

All the Boys in our Town

I. All the boys in our town Shall lead a happy life, Except 'tis ----, and he wants a wife. A wife he shall have, and a-courting he shall go, Along with ----, because he loves her so. He huddles her, he cuddles her, He sits her on his knee; He says, My dear, do you love me? I love you, and you love me, And we shall be as happy As a bird upon a tree.

The wife makes the pudding, And she makes it nice and soft-- In comes the husband and cuts a slice off. Tas-el-um, Tos-el-um, don't say Nay, For next Monday morning shall be our wedding day; The wife in the carriage, The husband in the cart.

--Hampshire (from friend of Miss Mendham).

II. All the boys in our town Leads a happy life, Excepting [Charley Allen], And he wants a wife; And a-courting he shall go Along with [girl's name], Because he loves her so.

He kisses her, he cuddles her, He sets her on his knee, And says, My dearest darling, Do you love me? I love you and you love me; We'll both be as happy As birds on the tree.