Part 7

In the North, and in Suffolk, it is called "Cocks," "a puerile game with the tough tufted stems of the ribwort plantain" (Brockett's _North Country Words_). Moor (_Suffolk Words_) alludes to the game, and Holloway (_Dictionary of Provincialisms_) says in West Sussex boys play with the heads of rib grass a similar game. Whichever loses the head first is conquered. It is called "Fighting-cocks."

Cock-fight

This is a boys' game. Two boys fold their arms, and then, hopping on one leg, butt each other with their shoulders till one lets down his leg. Any number of couples can join in this game.--Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).

Cock-haw

See "Cob-nut."

Cock-stride

One boy is chosen as Cock. He is blindfolded, and stands alone, with his legs as far apart as possible. The other boys then throw their caps as far as they are able between the extended legs of the Cock (fig. 1). After the boys have thrown their caps, and each boy has taken his stand beside his cap, the Cock, still blindfolded, stoops down and crawls in search of the caps (fig. 2). The boy whose cap he first finds has to run about twenty yards under the buffeting of the other boys, the blows being directed chiefly to the head. He becomes Cock at the next turn of the game.--Rosehearty, Pitsligo (Rev. W. Gregor).

[Illustration: Fig. 1.]

[Illustration: Fig. 2.]

Cockertie-hooie

This game consists simply of one boy mounting on the neck of another, putting a leg over each shoulder and down his breast. The boy that carries takes firm hold of the legs of the one on his neck, and sets off at a trot, and runs hither and thither till he becomes tired of his burden. The bigger the one is who carries, the more is in the enjoyment to the one carried.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).

See "Cock's-headling."

Cockle-bread

Young wenches have a wanton sport, which they call moulding of Cocklebread; viz. they gett upon a Table-board, and then gather-up their knees and their coates with their hands as high as they can, and then they wabble to and fro with their Buttocks as if the[y] were kneading of Dowgh, and say these words, viz.:--

My Dame is sick and gonne to bed, And I'le go mowld my cockle-bread.

In Oxfordshire the maids, when they have put themselves into the fit posture, say thus:--

My granny is sick, and now is dead, And wee'l goe mould some cockle-bread. Up with my heels, and down with my head, And this is the way to mould cocklebread.

--Aubrey's _Remains_, pp. 43, 44.

To make "Barley bread" (in other districts, "Cockley bread") this rhyme is used in West Cornwall:--

Mother has called, mother has said, Make haste home, and make barley bread. Up with your heels, down with your head, That is the way to make barley bread.

--_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 58.

The Westmoreland version is given by Ellis in his edition of Brand as follows:--

My grandy's seeke, And like to dee, And I'll make her Some cockelty bread, cockelty bread, And I'll make her Some cockelty bread.

The term "Cockelty" is still heard among our children at play. One of them squats on its haunches with the hands joined beneath the thighs, and being lifted by a couple of others who have hold by the bowed arms, it is swung backwards and forwards and bumped on the ground or against the wall, while continuing the words, "This is the way we make cockelty bread."--Robinson's _Whitby Glossary_, p. 40.

The moulding of "Cocklety-bread" is a sport amongst hoydenish girls not quite extinct. It consists in sitting on the ground, raising the knees and clasping them with the hand, and then using an undulatory motion, as if they were kneading dough.

My granny is sick and now is dead, And we'll go mould some cocklety bread; Up with the heels and down with the head, And that is the way to make cocklety bread.

--Hunter's MSS.; Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

(_b_) The _Times_ of 1847 contains a curious notice of this game. A witness, whose conduct was impugned as light and unbecoming, is desired to inform the court, in which an action for breach of promise was tried, the meaning of "mounting cockeldy-bread;" and she explains it as "a play among children," in which one lies down on the floor on her back, rolling backwards and forwards, and repeating the following lines:--

Cockeldy bread, mistley cake, When you do that for our sake.

While one of the party so laid down, the rest sat around; and they laid down and rolled in this manner by turns.

These lines are still retained in the modern nursery-rhyme books, but their connection with the game of "Cockeldy-bread" is by no means generally understood. There was formerly some kind of bread called "cockle-bread," and _cocille-mele_ is mentioned in a very early MS. quoted in Halliwell's _Dictionary_. In Peele's play of the _Old Wives' Tale_, a voice thus speaks from the bottom of a well:--

Gently dip, but not too deep, For fear you make the golden beard to weep. Fair maiden, white and red, Stroke me smooth and comb my head, And thou shalt have some _cockell-bread_.

Cockly-jock

A game among boys. Stones are loosely placed one upon another, at which other stones are thrown to knock the pile down.--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_.

See "Castles."

Cock's-headling

A game where boys mount over each other's heads.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

See "Cockertie-hooie."

Cock-steddling

A boyish game mentioned but not described by Cope in his _Hampshire Glossary_. He gives as authority _Portsmouth Telegraph_, 27th September 1873.

Codlings

A game among youngsters similar to "Cricket," a short piece of wood being struck up by a long stick instead of a ball by a bat. Also called "Tip and Go" or "Tip and Slash."--Robinson's _Whitby Glossary_.

See "Cudgel."

Cogger

A striped snail shell. It is a common boyish pastime to hold one of these shells between the last joints of the bent fingers, and forcibly press the apex against another held in a similar manner by an opponent, until one of them, by dint of persevering pressure, forces its way into the other; and the one which in these contests has gained the most victories is termed the Conqueror, and is highly valued (Northamptonshire, Baker's _Glossary_). The game is known as "Fighting Cocks" in Evans' _Leicestershire Glossary_. In London it was played with walnut shells.

Cogs

The top stone of a pile is pelted by a stone flung from a given distance, and the more hits, or "cogglings off," the greater the player's score.--Robinson's _Whitby Glossary_.

Apparently the same game as "Cockly-jock."

Common

A game played with a ball and crooked stick (cut from a tree or hedge), with a crook at the end (same game as "Hurl").--Dublin (Mrs. Lincoln).

Mr. Patterson (_Antrim and Down Glossary_) mentions this as "Hockey;" the same as "Shinney." "Called in some districts," he adds, "'Comun' and 'Kamman,' from the Irish name for the game."

Conkers

The same game as "Cogger." The game is more generally called "playin at sneel-shells."--Ross and Stead's _Holderness Glossary_.

Conquerors or Conkers

I. Cobbly co! My first blow! Put down your black hat, And let me have first smack!

--Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 531.

II. Obli, obli O, my first go; And when the nut is struck, Obli, obli onker, my nut will conquer.

--_Notes and Queries_, 5th series, x. 378.

III. Cobblety cuts, Put down your nuts.

--Darlington's _Folk-speech of South Cheshire_.

IV. Obbly, obbly onkers, my first conquers; Obbly, obbly O, my first go.

--Lawson's _Upton-on-Severn Words and Phrases_.

V. Hobley, hobley, honcor, my first conkor; Hobbley, hobbley ho, my first go; Hobley, hobley ack, my first crack.

--Chamberlain's _West Worcestershire Glossary_.

(_b_) This game is played with horse chestnuts threaded on a string. Two boys sit face to face astride of a form or a log of timber. If a piece of turf can be procured so much the better. One boy lays his chestnut upon the turf, and the other strikes at it with his chestnut; and they go on striking alternately till one chestnut splits the other. The chestnut which remains unhurt is then "conqueror of one." A new chestnut is substituted for the broken one, and the game goes on. Whichever chestnut now proves victorious becomes "conqueror of two," and so on, the victorious chestnut adding to its score all the previous winnings. The chestnuts are often artificially hardened by placing them up the chimney or carrying them in a warm pocket; and a chestnut which has become conqueror of a considerable number acquires a value in schoolboys' eyes; and I have frequently known them to be sold, or exchanged for other toys (Holland's _Cheshire Glossary_). The game is more usually played by one boy striking his opponent's nut with his own, both boys standing and holding the string in their hands. It is considered bad play to strike the opponent's _string_. The nut only should be touched. Three tries are usually allowed.

(_c_) For information on various forms of this game, see _Notes and Queries_, 1878. See also Elworthy's _West Somerset Words_. The boy who first said the rhyme has first stroke at Oswestry. The game is elsewhere called "Cobbet" (Meole Brace) and "Cobbleticuts" (Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 531). In "Conquer-nuts" "obbly" was probably "nobbly" or "knobbly," expressing the appearance of the string of nuts; and "onkers" was probably invented as a rhyme to "conquers" (_Upton-on-Severn Words and Phrases_, by R. Lawson).

Contrary, Rules of

I. Here I go round the rules of contrary, Hopping about like a little canary. When I say "Hold fast," leave go; When I say "Leave go," hold fast.

--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 52).

II. Here we go round the rules of contrary, When I say "Hold fast!" let go, and when I say "Let go!" hold fast.

--London (A. B. Gomme).

(_b_) A ring is formed by each child holding one end of a handkerchief. One child stands in the centre and acts as leader. The ring moves round slowly. The leader says the words as above while the ring is moving round, and then suddenly calls out whichever he chooses of the two sayings. If he says "Hold fast!" every one must immediately let go the corner of the handkerchief he holds. They should all fall to the ground at once. When he says "Let go!" every one should retain their hold of the handkerchief. Forfeits are demanded for every mistake.

This game, called "Hawld Hard," is commonly played about Christmas-time, where a number hold a piece of a handkerchief. One then moves his hand round the handkerchief, saying, "Here we go round by the rule of Contrairy; when I say 'Hawld hard,' let go, and when I say 'Let go,' hawld hard." Forfeits are paid by those not complying with the order.--Lowsley's _Berkshire Glossary_.

Cop-halfpenny

The game of "Chuck-farthing."--Norfolk and Suffolk (Holloway's _Dict. of Provincialisms_).

Corsicrown

A square figure is divided by four lines, which cross each other in the crown or centre. Two of these lines connect the opposite angles, and two the sides at the point of bisection. Two players play; each has three men or flitchers. Now there are seven points for these men to move about on, six on the edges of the square and one at the centre. The men belonging to each player are not set together as at draughts, but mingled with each other. The one who has the first move may always have the game, which is won by getting the three men on a line.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.

See "Kit Cat Cannio," "Noughts and Crosses."

Cots and Twisses

A flat stone is obtained called a Hob, upon which those who are playing place equal shares of Cots and Twisses. Cots are brass buttons, and Twisses bits of brass--a Twiss of solid brass being worth many Cots. Each player provides himself with a nice flat [key] stone, and from an agreed pitch tosses it at the Hob. If he knocks off any of the Cots and Twisses nearer to the players than the Hob is, he claims them. The other players try to knock the Hob away with their key-stones from any Cots and Twisses that may not have been claimed; and if any key-stone touches Hob after all have thrown, the owner cannot claim any Cots and Twisses.--Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).

Each player selects a Cast or stone to pitch with; on another stone, called the Hob, the Cots and Twys are placed; at some distance Scops are set in the ground. First the players pitch from the Hob to the Scop, and the one who gets nearest goes first. He then pitches at the Hob, and if he knocks off the stakes he has them, provided his Cast is nearer to them than the Hob is; in failure of this, the other player tries. In pitching up, one Cast may rest on another, and if the boy whose stone is underneath can lift it up to knock the other Cast away, it has to remain at the place to which it has been struck; if he does not succeed in doing this, the second player may lift off his Cast and place it by the first. Whoever knocks off the stakes, they go to the boy whose Cast is nearest to them. The Hob and Scop are usually three yards apart. The Cot was a button off the waistcoat or trousers, the Twy one off the coat, and, as its name implies, was equal to two Cots. Formerly, when cash was much more rare than now it is amongst boys, these formed their current coin. The game about 1820 seems to have been chiefly one of tossing, and was played with buttons, then common enough. Now, metal buttons being rare, it is played with pieces of brass or copper of any shape. The expression, "I haven't a cot," is sometimes used to signify that a person is without money.--Easther's _Almondbury and Huddersfield Glossary_.

See "Banger," "Buttons."

Course o' Park

The game of "Course of the Park" has not been described, but is referred to in the following verse:--

"Buff"'s a fine sport, And so's "Course o' Park."

--_The Slighted Maid_, 1663, p. 50.

Crab-sowl, Crab-sow

A game played with a bung or ball struck with sticks (Brogden's _Provincial Words, Lincolnshire_). This is played on Barnes Common, and is apparently a form of "Hockey" (A. B. Gomme).

Crates

The game of "Nine Holes." This is the game described by John Jones, M.D., in his book called _The Benefit of the Auncient Bathes of Buckstones_, 1572, p. 12, as having been played by ladies at Buxton for their amusement in wet weather. See Pegge's _Anonymiana_, 1818, p. 126, and Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

Cricket

A description of this game is not given here; its history and rules and regulations are well known, and many books have been devoted to its study. The word "Cricket" is given in Lawson's _Upton-on-Severn Words and Phrases_ as a low wooden stool. He continues, "The game of 'Cricket' was probably a development of the older game of 'Stool-ball,' a dairymaid's stool being used for the wicket." Wedgwood (_Etym. Dict._) suggests that the proper name for the bat was "cricket-staff," A.-S. _criec_, a staff.

See "Bittle-battle," "Stool-ball."

Crooky

An old game called "Crooky" was formerly played at Portarlington, Queen's co., and Kilkee, co. Clare. Fifty years ago it was played with wooden crooks and balls, but about twenty-five years ago, or a little more, mallets were introduced at Kilkee; while subsequently the name was changed to "Croquet." I have heard it stated that this game was introduced by the French refugees that settled at Portarlington.--G. H. Kinahan (_Folk-lore Journal_, ii. 265).

Cross and Pile

The game now called "Heads and Tails" (Halliwell's _Dictionary_). See _Nomenclator_, p. 299; Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_. Strutt points out that anciently the English coins were stamped on one side with a cross. See also Harland's _Lancashire Legends_, p. 139.

Cross-bars

A boys' game.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

Cross-questions

Nares (_Glossary_) mentions this game in a quotation from Wilson's _Inconstant Lady_, 1614. "Cross Questions and Crooked Answers" was a popular game at juvenile parties. The players sit in a circle, and each is asked in a whisper a question by the one on his left, and receives also in a whisper an answer to a question asked by himself of the person on his right. Each player must remember both the question he was asked and the answer he received, which have at the conclusion of the round to be stated aloud. Forfeits must be given if mistakes are made.--A. B. Gomme.

Cross Tig

One of the players is appointed to be Tig. He calls out the name of the one he intends to chase, and runs after him. Another player runs across between Tig and the fugitive, and then Tig runs after this cross-player until another player runs across between Tig and the fugitive; and so on. Each time a player crosses between Tig and the player he is following he leaves the original chase and follows the player who has crossed. When he captures, or, in some places, touches one of the players he is following, this player becomes Tig, and the game begins again.--Ireland (Miss Keane).

This game is known in and near London as "Cross Touch."

Cry Notchil

This is an old game where boys push one of their number into a circle they have made, and as he tries to escape push him back, crying, "No child of mine!" (Leigh's _Cheshire Glossary_). He adds, "This may be the origin of the husband's disclaimer of his wife when he 'notchils' her." To "cry notchil" is for a man to advertise that he will not be answerable for debts incurred by his wife.

Cuck-ball

A game at ball. The same as "Pize-ball." It is sometimes called "Tut-ball."--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

See "Ball."

Cuckoo

A child hides and cries "Cuckoo." The seekers respond--

Cuckoo cherry-tree, Catch a bird and bring it me.

--Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 222.

Halliwell calls this a game at ball, and the rhyme runs--

Cuckoo cherry tree, Catch a bird and bring it me; Let the tree be high or low, Let it hail, rain or snow.

See "Hide and Seek."

Cuddy and the Powks

Two boys join hands and feet over the back of a third, the which creeps away with them on hands and knees to a certain distance; and if able to do this, he, the Cuddy, must have a ride as one of the powks on some other's back.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.

Cudgel

[Illustration: Change of sides]

[Illustration: A run]

Four or more boys can play this game, and sides are chosen. Two holes are made in the ground at a distance of about eight or ten feet apart. A ring about a foot in diameter is made round each hole. A boy stands at each hole with a stick, which he puts into the hole to guard it. Two other boys stand behind the holes, who act as bowlers. One of these throws a small piece of wood shaped like a Cat, and tries to pitch it into the hole. The boy guarding the hole tries to hit it with his stick. If he succeeds, he and the boy at the other hole run to each other's places. Should the boy who throws the piece of wood succeed in getting it into the hole, the batsmen are out. Should the Cat fall into the ring or a span beyond, one of the bowlers picks it up, and both run to a hiding-place. They then agree as to which of them should hold the Cat. This must be carried in such a way that it cannot be seen by the batsmen, both boys assuming the same attitude. Both boys then resume their previous places. They kneel down, still keeping the same attitudes. The batsmen, keeping their sticks in the holes, then agree which of the two holds the Cat. One batsman runs across and puts his stick into the hole behind which the boy kneels whom they consider has the Cat, the other then running to his place. If they are right in their guess, the holder of the Cat throws it across the ground for the opposite bowler to put it in the hole before the second batsman reaches it. If they guess wrongly, the holder of the Cat puts it into the hole as soon as the batsman runs, and they then become the batsmen for the next game. If the batsmen leave their holes unguarded with the stick, the catsmen can at any time put them "out," by putting the Cat in a hole. If more than two boys on a side play, the others field as in "Cricket."--Barnes (A. B. Gomme).

See "Cat and Dog."

Curcuddie

I. Will ye gang to the lea, Curcuddie, And join your plack wi' me, Curcuddie? I lookit about and I saw naebody, And linkit awa' my lane, Curcuddie.

--Chambers' _Popular Rhymes_, p. 139.

II. Will ye gang wi' me, Curcuddie, Gang wi' me o'er the lea? I lookit roun', saw naebody; Curcuddie, he left me.

--Biggar (William Ballantyne).

(_b_) This is a grotesque kind of dance, performed in a shortened posture, sitting on one's hams, with arms akimbo, the dancers forming a circle of independent figures. It always excites a hearty laugh among the senior bystanders; but, ridiculous as it is, it gives occasion for the display of some spirit and agility, as well as skill, there being always an inclination to topple over. Each performer sings the verse (Chambers; Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_).

Mr. Ballantyne says that each one apart tried to dance by throwing out their feet and jumping sideways.

(_c_) The first syllable of this word is, says Jamieson, undoubtedly the verb _curr_, to sit on the houghs or hams. The second may be from Teut. _kudde_, a flock; _kudd-en_, coire, convenire, congregari, aggregari; _kudde wijs_, gregatim, catervatim, q. to curr together. The same game is called _Harry Hurcheon_ in the North of Scotland, either from the resemblance of one in this position to a _hurcheon_, or hedge-hog, squatting under a bush; or from the Belg. _hurk-en_ to squat, to _hurkle_.--Jamieson.

See "Cobbler's Hornpipe," "Cutch-a-Cutchoo."

Curly Locks

[Music]

I. Curly locks, curly locks, Wilt thou be mine? Thou shalt not wash dishes Nor yet feed the swine; But sit on a fine cushion And sew a fine seam, And feed upon strawberries, Sugar and cream.

--Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).

II. Bonny lass, canny lass, Wilta be mine? Thou's nowder wesh dishes Nor sarra the swine: But sit on thy crippy, &c.

--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_.

(_b_) Two children, a girl and a boy, separate from their fellows, who are not particularly placed, the boy caressing the girl's curls and singing the verses.

(_c_) This game is evidently a dramatic representation of wooing, and probably the action of the game has never been quite completed in the nursery. The verses are given as "nursery rhymes" by Halliwell, Nos. cccclxxxiii. and ccccxciv. The tune is from Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 70. The words given by him are the same as the Earls Heaton version.

Currants and Raisins

Currants and raisins a penny a pound, Three days holiday.

This is a game played "running under a handkerchief;" "something like 'Oranges and Lemons.'"--Lincoln (Miss M. Peacock).

Cushion Dance

[Music]

--_Dancing Master_, 1686.

This music is exactly as it is printed in the book referred to.