Part 24
A game of children, in which one of a company, being chosen King o' Cantland, and two goals appointed at a considerable distance from each other, all the rest endeavoured to run from one goal to the other; and those whom the King can seize in their course, so as to lay his hand upon their heads (which operation is called winning them), become his subjects, and assist him in catching the remainder.--Dumfries (Jamieson). Jamieson adds: "This game is called 'King's Covenanter' in Roxburgh." He also refers to the game of "King and Queen of Cantelon," recorded by Mactaggart. He considers the origin of this game to be representative of the contentions about the "Debatable Lands" on the border. This game was played at University Coll. School, London, under the name of "Kings" (A. Nutt).
See "How many miles to Barley Bridge?" "King Cæsar."
King o' the Castle
One boy is chosen as King. He mounts on any convenient height, a knoll, or dyke, or big stone, and shouts--
A'm King o' the Castle, An' fah (who) 'll ding (knock) me doon?
The players make a rush at the King, and try to pull him down. A tussle goes on for a longer or a shorter time, according to the strength of the King and his skill in driving off his assailants. The boy that displaces the King becomes King, and is in his turn assaulted in the same way. The game may go on for any length of time. Another form of words is--
I'm the King o' the Castle, An' nane can ding me doon.
--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
Other words sung by the Scotch children are--
I, Willy Wastle, Stand on my castle, And a' the dogs o' your toon Will no drive Willie Wastle doon.
Chambers (_Popular Rhymes_, p. 114) records the tradition that when Oliver Cromwell lay at Haddington he sent to require the governor of Home Castle, in Berwickshire, to surrender; the governor is said to have replied in the above quatrain of juvenile celebrity.
The London version is for the boys to run up a hillock, when one of them declares as follows--
I'm the King of the Castle; Get down, you dirty rascal,
whereupon he pushes down his companions. If another boy succeeds in getting his place he becomes King, and repeats the doggerel (G. L. Gomme). This is a very popular boys' game. Newell (_Games_, 164) mentions it as prevalent in Pennsylvania.
See "Tom Tiddler's Ground."
King Plaster Palacey
The players are a King and his three sons named White Cap, Red Cap, Brown Cap. Red Cap says, "Plaster Palacey had a son, whose name was old daddy White Cap." White Cap, in an injured voice, says, "Me, sir?" The King says, "Yes, sir." White Cap answers, "You're a liar, sir." The King then says, "Who then, sir?" White Cap answers, "Old daddy Red Cap."--Deptford, Kent (Miss Chase).
The game as given above is obviously incomplete, and no description as to how the game was played was sent me. Newell (_Games_, p. 145), describes a game, "The Cardinal's Hat," which is probably a variant of the original game, of which the above is only a fragment. I remember once witnessing a game in which a ball was passed from player to player, and in which the dialogue was similar. When one player was told that the ball was in his possession, the answer was, "What, me, sir?" "Yes, you, sir." "Not I, sir." "Who then, sir?" "White Cap, sir;" the questions and answers were again repeated for Red Cap, and Blue Cap. When it was Black Cap's turn, I think the ball was thrown by this player to some one else; whoever was hit by the ball had to chase and capture one, who became questioner; but my recollection of the game is too slight for me to be certain either of the dialogue or the way the game terminated (A. B. Gomme). A game described in _Suffolk County Folk-lore_, p. 62, is apparently a version of this. It is there described as a forfeit game.
King William
[Music]
--Earls Heaton, Yorks. (H. Hardy).
I. King William was King David's son, And all the royal race is run; Choose from the east, choose from the west, Choose the one you love the best.
Down on this carpet you shall kneel While the grass grows in yonder field; Salute your bride and kiss her sweet, Rise again upon your feet.
--Hanging Heaton, Yorks. (H. Hardy).
II. King William was King David's son, All the royal race is run; Choose from the east, choose from the west, Choose the one that you love best; If she's not here to take her part, Choose another with all your heart.
--Sheffield (S. O. Addy).
(_b_) In Sheffield a ring of young men and women is formed. A man goes inside the ring and walks round within it, whilst the others sing the verse. The young man then chooses a sweetheart, and the two walk round arm-in-arm within the ring, whilst the same verses are sung. When the singing is ended, the girl picks a young man, and so they all pair off.
(_c_) Mr. Addy entitles this game "Kiss in the Ring." It appears, however, from this description to lack the two principal elements of most "kiss-in-the-ring" games--the chase between pursued and pursuer, and the kissing in the ring when the capture is made. In the Hanging Heaton version two children kneel and kiss in the middle of the ring. Mr. Newell (_Games_, p. 73), in describing a game with a similar rhyme, mentions a version which had been sent him from Waterford, Ireland. He says, "We learn from an informant that in her town it was formerly played in this peculiar manner. Over the head of a girl who stood in the centre of a ring was held a shawl, sustained by four others grasping the corners." The game then proceeded as follows--
King William was King George's son, From the Bay of Biscay O! Upon his breast he wore a star-- Find your way to English schools. Down on the carpet you must kneel; As the grass grows in the field, Salute your bride and kiss her sweet, And rise again upon your feet.
Then followed the game-rhyme, repeated with each stanza--
Go choose you east, go choose you west,
apparently the same as last four lines of Sheffield version. King William is then supposed to enter--
The first girl that I loved so dear, Can it be she's gone from me? If she's not here when the night comes on, Will none of you tell me where she's gone?
He then recognises the disguised girl--
There's heart beneath the willow tree, There's no one here but my love and me.
"He had gone to the war, and promised to marry her when he came back. She wrapped a shawl about her head to see if he would recognise her." This was all the reciter could recollect; the lines of the ballad were sung by an old woman, the ring answering with the game-rhyme.
This version seems to indicate clearly that in this game we have preserved one of the ceremonies of a now obsolete marriage-custom--namely, the disguising of the bride and placing her among her bridesmaids and other young girls, all having veils or other coverings alike over their heads and bodies. The bridegroom has to select from among these maidens the girl whom he wished to marry, or whom he had already married, for until this was done he was not allowed to depart with his bride. This custom was continued in sport as one of the ceremonies to be gone through after the marriage was over, long after the custom itself was discontinued. For an instance of this see a "Rural Marriage in Lorraine," in _Folk-lore Record_, iii. 267-268. This ordeal occurs in more than one folk-tale, and it usually accompanies the incident of a youth having travelled for adventures, sometimes in quest of a bride. He succeeds in finding the whereabouts of the coveted girl, but before he is allowed by the father to take his bride away he is required to perform tasks, a final one being the choosing of the girl with whom he is in love from among others, all dressed alike and disguised. Our bridal veil may probably originate in this custom.
In the ballad from which Mr. Newell thinks the game may have originated, a maid has been given in marriage to another than her chosen lover. He rides to the ceremony with a troop of followers; the bride, seeing him approach, calls on her maidens to "take off her gold crown and coif her in linen white," to test her bridegroom's affection. This incident, I think, is not to test "affection," but the ordeal of recognising his bride, however disguised, and the fact that "the hero at once recognises his love, mounts with her on horseback, and flees to Norway," may be considered to support my view.
See also Brand, vol. ii. p. 141, under "Care Cloth."
King's Chair
Two children join hands, by crossing their arms, so as to form a seat. A third mounts on the crossed arms, and clasps the carriers round their necks, while they move on saying--
King, King Cairy (carry) London lairy, Milk an bread, In the King's chairie.
This game is played at Keith, without the words. The words are used at Fochabers.--Rev. W. Gregor.
Jamieson says, "Lothian children, while carrying one of their number in this manner, repeat the following rhyme--
Lend me a pin to stick i' my thumb, To carry the lady to London town."
He says this method of carrying is often used as a substitute for a chair in conveying adult persons from one place to another, especially when infirm. In other counties it is called "Queen's Cushion" and "Queen's Chair," also "Cat's Carriage."
Brockett (_North Country Words_) says, "'King's Cushion,' a sort of seat made by two persons crossing their hands, in which to place a third. The thrones on the reverses of the early Royal Seals of England and Scotland consist of swords, spears, snakes, &c., placed in the manner of a 'King's Cushion.'"
The method used is for both children to grasp the wrist of his left hand with the right, while he lays hold of the right wrist of his companion with his left hand. This way of hoisting or carrying is still used by schoolboys when they desire to honour a boy who has distinguished himself in the playground or schoolroom.
See "Carry my Lady to London."
Kirk the Gussie
A sort of play. The Gussie is a large ball, which one party endeavours to beat with clubs into a hole, while another party strives to drive it away. When the ball is lodged in the hole it is said to be "Kirkit."--Jamieson.
Kiss in the Ring
[Music]
--Nottingham (Miss Youngman).
[Music]
--Lancashire (Mrs. Harley).
[Music]
--Earls Heaton, Yorks. (H. Hardy).
I. I sent a letter to my love, And on the way I dropped it; And one of you have picked it up And put it in your pocket.
--Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 213); Penzance (Mrs. Mabbott).
II. I wrote a letter to my love, and on the way I lost it. Some one has picked it up. Not you, not you (&c.), but you!
--Much Wenlock (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 512).
III. I lost my supper last night, and the night before, And if I lose it this night, I shall never have it no more.
--Berrington (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 512).
IV. I've come to borrow the riddle (= sieve), There's a big hole in the middle. I've come to borrow the hatchet, Come after me and catch it.
--Chirbury (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 512).
V. Down by the greenwood, down by the greenwood, Down by the greenwood tree, One can follow, one can follow, One can follow me.
Where must I follow? where must I follow? Follow, follow me. Where must I follow? where must I follow? Follow, follow me.
--Earls Heaton (H. Hardy).
VI. Mr. Monday was a good man, He whipped his children now and then; When he whipped them he made them dance, Out of Scotland into France; Out of France into Spain, Back to dear old England again. O-u-t spells "out," If you please stand out. I had a little dog and his name was Buff, I sent him after a penn'orth of snuff, He broke the paper and smelled the snuff, And that's the end of my dog Buff. He shan't bite you--he shan't bite you--he shan't bite you, &c., &c.--he _shall_ bite you all over.
--Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 213).
VII. I sent a letter to my love, I carried water in my glove, And by the way I dropped it. I did so! I did so!
I had a little dog that said "Bow! wow!" I had a little cat that said "Meow! meow!" Shan't bite you--shan't bite you-- Shall bite you.
--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 52).
VIII. I sent a letter to my love, I carried water in my glove, I dript it, I dropped it, and by the way I lost it.
--Hersham, Surrey (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 87).
IX. I have a pigeon in my pocket, If I have not lost it; Peeps in, peeps out, By the way I've lost it; Drip, drop, By the way I've lost it.
--Earls Heaton (H. Hardy).
X. I have a pigeon in my pocket, It peeps out and in, And every time that I go round I give it a drop of gin. Drip it, drop it, drip it, drop it.
--Settle, Yorkshire (Rev W. S. Sykes).
XI. I sent a letter to my love, I thought I put it in my glove, But by the way I dropped it. I had a little dog said "Bow, wow, wow!" I had a little cat said "Mew, mew, mew!" It shan't bite you, It _shall_ bite _you_.
--Bexley Heath (Miss Morris).
XII. I sent a letter to my love, And by the way I droppt it; I dee, I dee, I dee, I droppt it, And by the way I droppt it.
--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
XIII. I had a little dog, it shan't bite you, Shan't bite you, shan't bite you, Nor you, nor you, nor you. I had a little cat, it shan't scratch you, Shan't scratch you, nor you, nor you.
I wrote a letter to my love, and on the way I dropped it. And one of you have picked it up and put it in your pocket. It wasn't you, it wasn't you, nor you, nor you, but it was _you_.
--London (A. B. Gomme).
XIV. I have a little dog and it lives in my pocket. It shan't bite you, &c.
Now you're married I hope you'll enjoy First a girl and then a boy; Seven years gone, and two to come, So take her and kiss her and Send her off home.
--Wolstanton, North Staffs. Potteries (Miss A. A. Keary).
(_b_) In Dorsetshire a ring is formed by all the players joining hands except one. The odd player, carrying a handkerchief, commences to walk slowly round the outside of the ring, repeating the words; then, touching each one with her handkerchief as she passes, she says, "Not you," "not you," "not you," &c., &c., till the favoured individual is reached, when it is changed to "But you!" and his or her shoulder lightly touched at the same time. The first player then runs round the ring as fast as he can, pursued by the other, who, if a capture is effected (as is nearly always the case), is entitled to lead the first player back into the centre of the ring and claim a kiss. The first player then takes the other's place in the ring, and in turn walks round the outside repeating the same formula.--_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 212; Penzance (Mrs. Mabbott).
In Shropshire, as soon as the player going round the ring has dropped the handkerchief on the shoulder of the girl he chooses, both players run _opposite ways_ outside the ring, each trying to be the first to regain the starting-point. If the one who was chosen gets there first, no kiss can be claimed. It is often called "Drop-handkerchief," from the signal for the chase. The more general way of playing (either with or without words), as seen by me on village greens round London, is, when the handkerchief has been dropped, for the player to dart through the ring and in and out again under the clasped hands; the pursuer must follow in and out through the same places, and must bring the one he catches into the ring before he can legally claim the kiss.
Elworthy (_West Country Words_), in describing this game, says: "The person behind whom the handkerchief is dropped is entitled to kiss the person who dropped it, if he or she can catch him or her, before the person can get round the ring to the vacant place. Of course, when a girl drops it she selects a favoured swain, and the chase is severe up to a point, but when a girl is the pursuer there often is a kind of donkey race lest she should have to give the kiss which the lad takes no pains to avoid." Mr. Elworthy does not mention any words being used, and it is therefore probable that this is the "Drop-handkerchief" game, which generally has no kissing. It also, in the way it is played, resembles "French Jackie." In the Wolstanton game, Miss Keary says: "If the owner of the handkerchief overtakes the one who is bitten as they run round, they shake hands and go into the middle of the ring, while the others sing the marriage formula." In Berkshire (_Antiq._ xxvii. 255) the game is played without words, and apparently no handkerchief or other sign is used. Miss Thoyts says the young man raises his hat when he embraces the young woman of his choice. To "throw (or fling) the handkerchief" is a common expression for an expected proposal of marriage which is more of a condescension than a complimentary or flattering one to the girl. "Kiss in the Ring" is probably a relic of the earliest form of marriage by choice or selection. The custom of dropping or sending a glove as the signal of a challenge may have been succeeded by the handkerchief in this game. Halliwell, p. 227, gives the game of "Drop Glove," in which a glove is used. For the use of handkerchiefs as love-tokens see Brand, ii. 92.
See "Drop Handkerchief," "French Jackie."
Kit-Cat
A game played by boys. Three small holes are made in the ground, triangularly about twenty feet apart, to mark the position of as many boys, each of whom holds a small stick, about two feet long. Three other boys of the adverse side pitch successively a piece of stick, a little bigger than one's thumb, called Cat, to be struck by those holding the sticks. On its being struck, the boys run from hole to hole, dipping the ends of their sticks in as they pass, and counting one, two, three, &c., as they do so, up to thirty-one, which is game. Or the greater number of holes gained in the innings may indicate the winners, as at cricket. If the Cat be struck and caught, the striking party is out, and another of his sidesmen takes his place, if the set be strong enough to admit of it. If there be only six players, it may be previously agreed that three _put outs_ shall end the innings. Another mode of putting out is to throw the Cat home, after being struck, and placing or pitching it into an unoccupied hole, while the in-party are running. A certain number of misses (not striking the Cat) may be agreed on to be equivalent to a put out. The game may be played by two, placed as at cricket, or by four, or I believe more.--Moor's _Suffolk Words_; Holloway's _Dict. of Provincialisms_.
Brockett (_North Country Words_, p. 115) calls this "'Kitty-Cat,' a puerile game.
Then in his hand he takes a thick bat, With which he used to play at 'Kit-Cat'"
--Cotton's _Works_, 1734, p. 88.
See "Cat and Dog," "Cudgel," "Munshets," "Tip-Cat."
Kit-Cat-Cannio
A sedentary game, played by two, with slate and pencil, or pencil and paper. It is won by the party who can first get three marks ([o]'s or [x]'s) in a line; the marks being made alternately by the players [o] or [x] in one of the nine spots equidistant in three rows, when complete. He who begins has the advantage, as he can contrive to get his mark in the middle.--Moor's _Suffolk Words_.
The same game as "Nought and Crosses," which see.
Kittlie-cout
A game mentioned but not described by a writer in _Blackwood's Magazine_, August 1821, as played in Edinburgh. He mentions that the terms "hot" and "cold" are used in the game. The game of "Hide and Seek."--Jamieson.
Knapsack
One boy takes another by the feet, one foot over each shoulder, with his head downwards and his face to his back, and sets off running as fast as he can. He runs hither and thither till one or other of the two gets tired.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
Knights
Two big boys take two smaller ones on their shoulders. The big boys act as horses, while the younger ones seated on their shoulders try to pull each other over. The "horses" may push and strike each other with their shoulders, but must not kick or trip up with their feet, or use their hands or elbows. The game is usually won by the Horse and Knight who throw their opponents twice out of three times (G. L. Gomme). Strutt (_Sports_, p. 84) describes this, and says, "A sport of this kind was in practice with us at the commencement of the fourteenth century." He considers it to bear more analogy to wrestling than to any other sport. He gives illustrations, one of which is here reproduced from the original MS. in the British Museum. The game is also described in the Rev. J. G. Wood's _Modern Playmate_, p. 12.
[Illustration]
Knocked at the Rapper
The girl who spoke of this game, says Miss Peacock, could only remember its details imperfectly, but as far as she recollects it is played as follows:--The players dance round a centre child, leaving one of their number outside the circle. The dancers sing to the one in their midst--
Here comes ----, He knocked at the rapper, and he pulled at the string, Pray, Mrs. ----, is ---- within?
At "is ---- within," the child outside the circle is named. The centre child says--
O no, she has gone into the town: Pray take the arm-chair and sit yourself down.
The ring of children then sing--
O no, not until my dearest I see, And then one chair will do for we.
Then all sing--
My elbow, my elbow, My pitcher, and my can: Isn't ---- ---- a nice young girl?
Mentioning the supposed sweetheart.
Isn't ---- ---- as nice as she?
Mentioning the outside child.
They shall be married when they can agree.
Then the inside and outside children each choose a companion from the circle, and the rest repeat:--
My elbow, my elbow, &c.
When the words have been sung a second time, the four children kiss, and the two from the circle take the places of the other, after which change the game begins again.--North Kelsey, Lincolnshire (Miss M. Peacock).
Knor and Spell
See "Nur and Spell."
Lab
A game of marbles (undescribed).--Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.
See "Lag."
Lady of the Land
[Music]
--Tong, Shropshire (Miss R. Harley).