The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2)

Chapter XII: Part 12

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Then one of the "spryest" lads is elected to commence, thus:--First touching the goal with his foot or leaning against it, and clasping his hands so as to produce the letter W in the dumb alphabet, he pursues the other players, who are not so handicapped, when, if he succeeds in touching one without unclasping his hands, they both make a rush for the goal. Should either of the other boys succeed in overtaking one of these before reaching that spot, he has the privilege of riding him home pick-a-back. Then these two boys (_i.e._, the original pursuer and the one caught), joining hands, carry on the game as before, incurring a similar penalty in case of being overtaken as already described. Each successive boy, as he is touched by the pursuers, has to make for the goal under similar risks, afterwards clasping hands with the rest, and forming a new recruit in the pursuing gang, in whose chain the outside players alone have the privilege of touching and thus adding to their numbers. Should the chain at any time be broken, or should the original pursuer unclasp his hands, either by design or accident, the penalty of carrying a capturer to the goal is incurred and always enforced. In West Somerset the pursuing boys after starting were in the habit of crying out the word "Brewerre" or "Brewarre;" noise appearing to be quite as essential to the game as speed.--_Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries_, i. 186 (1888).

Another correspondent to the same periodical (i. 204) says that an almost identical game was played at the King's School, Sherborne, some fifty years ago. It was called "King-sealing," and the pursuing boy was obliged by the rules to retain his hold of the boy seized until he had uttered--

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
You are one of the king-sealer's men.

If the latter succeeded in breaking away before the couplet was finished, the capture was incomplete.

The second game described is almost identical with "King Cæsar," played at Barnes.

About twenty years ago the game was common in some parts of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, where it was sometimes called "Chevy Chase."--_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 233.

See "Chickidy Hand," "Hunt the Staigie," "King Cæsar," "Whiddy."

Lang Larence

That is, "Long Lawrence," an instrument marked with signs, a sort of teetotum. A "Long Lawrence" is about three inches long, something like a short ruler with eight sides; occasionally they have but four. On one side are ten x's, or crosses, forming a kind of lattice-work; on the next, to the left, three double cuts, or strokes, passing straight across in the direction of the breadth; on the third, a zig-zag of three strokes one way, and two or three the other, forming a W, with an additional stroke or a triple V; on the fourth, three single bars, one at each end and one in the middle, as in No. 2, where they are doubled; then the four devices are repeated in the same order. The game, formerly popular at Christmas, can be played by any number of persons. Each has a bank of pins or other small matters. A pool is formed; then in turn each rolls the "Long Lawrence." If No. 1 comes up the player cries "Flush," and takes the pool; if No. 2, he puts down two pins; if No. 3, he says "Lave all," and neither takes nor gives; if No. 4, he picks up one. The sides are considered to bear the names, "Flush," "Put doan two," "Lave all," "Sam up one." It has been suggested that the name "Lawrence" may have arisen from the marks scored on the instrument, not unlike the bars of a gridiron, on which the saint perished.--_Easthers's Almondbury Glossary._

See "Teetotum."

Leap Candle

The young girls in and about Oxford have a sport called "Leap Candle," for which they set a candle in the middle of a room in a candlestick, and then draw up their coats into the form of breeches, and dance over the candle back and forth, saying the words--

The taylor of Bicester he has but one eye,
He cannot cut a pair of green galagaskins
If he were to die.

This sport, in other parts, is called "Dancing the Candlerush" (Aubrey's _Remaines of Gentilisme and Judaisme_, p. 45). Halliwell (_Rhymes_, p. 65) has a rhyme--

Jack be nimble,
And Jack be quick,
And Jack jump over
The candlestick,

which may refer to this game. Northall (_Folk Rhymes_, p. 412) says in Warwickshire a similar game is called "Cock and Breeches."

Leap-frog

One boy stoops down sideways, with his head bent towards his body, as low as possible. This is called "Tucking in your Tuppeny." Another boy takes a flying leap over the "frog," placing his hands on his back to help himself over. He then proceeds to a distance of some four or five yards, and, in his turn, stoops in the same manner as the first boy, as another frog. A third boy then leaps first over frog No. 1, and then over frog No. 2, taking his place as frog No. 3, at about the same distance onwards. Any number of boys may play in the game. After the last player has taken his leap over all the frogs successively, frog No. 1 has his turn and leaps over his companions, taking his place as the last in the line of frogs. Then No. 2 follows suit, and so on, the whole line of players in course of time covering a good distance.--London (G. L. Gomme).

Leap-frog is known in Cornwall as "Leap the Long-mare" (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 60), and in Antrim and Down as "Leap the Bullock" (Patterson's _Glossary_).

See "Accroshay," "Loup the Bullocks," "Spanish Fly."

Leap the Bullock

See "Leap-frog," "Loup the Bullocks."

Leaves are Green

The leaves are green, the nuts are brown,
They hang so high they will not come down;
Leave them alone till frosty weather,
Then they will all come down together.

--Berkshire (Miss Thoyts, _Antiquary_, xxvii. 254).

These lines are sung while the children dance round in a circle. When the last words are sung, the children flop down upon the ground. The tune sung is, Miss Thoyts says, that of "Nuts in May."

Lend Me your Key

Please will you lend us your key?
What for?
Please, our hats are in the garden.
Yes, if you won't steal any beans.
Please, we've brought the key back; will you lend us your
frying-pan?
What to do with?
To fry some beans.
Where have you got them?
Out of your garden.

--Earls Heaton (H. Hardy).

One child represents an old woman, and the other players carry on the dialogue with her. At the end of the dialogue the children are chased by the old woman.

See "Mother, Mother, may I go out to Play," "Witch."

Letting the Buck out

This game was played seventy years ago. A ring being formed, the "Buck" inside has to break out, and reach his "home," crying "Home!" before he can be caught and surrounded. Afterwards these words were sung--

Circle: Who comes here?

Buck: Poor Johnny Lingo.

Circle: Don't steal none of my black sheep, Johnny Lingo,
For if you do
I shall put you in the pinder pin-fold.

--Stixwold, Lines. (Miss M. Peacock).

See "Who goes round my Stone Wall?"

Level-coil

Nares, in his _Glossary_, says this is "a game of which we seem to know no more than that the loser in it was to give up his place to be occupied by another." Minshew gives it thus: "To play at _levell coil_, G. jouer à cul levé: _i.e._, to play and lift up your taile when you have lost the game, and let another sit down in your place." Coles, in his _English Dictionary_, seems to derive it from the Italian _leva il culo_, and calls it also "Pitch-buttock." In his _Latin Dictionary_ he has "_level-coil_, alternation, cession;" and "to play at _level coil_, vices ludendi præbere." Skinner is a little more particular and says, "Vox tesseris globulosis ludentium propria:" an expression belonging to a game played with little round tesseræ. He also derives it from French and Italian. It is mentioned by Jonson, _Tale of a Tub_, iii. 2:--

"Young Justice Bramble has kept _level-coyl_
Here in our quarters, stole away our daughter."

Gifford says that, in our old dramatists, it implies riot and disturbance. The same sport is mentioned by Sylvester, _Dubartas_, IV. iv. 2, under the name of _level-sice_:--

"By tragick death's device
Ambitious hearts do play at _level-sice_."

In the margin we have this explanation: "A kinde of Christmas play, wherein each hunteth the other from his seat. The name seems derived from the French _levez sus_, in English, arise up." Halliwell's _Dictionary_ says that Skelton, ii. 31, spells it _levell suse_.

Libbety, Libbety, Libbety-lat

A child stands before a hassock, and as if he were going up stairs, he puts on it first his right and then his left foot, gradually quickening his steps, keeping time to the words--

Libbety, libbety, libbety-lat,
Who can do this? and who can do that?
And who can do anything better than that?

--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 59).

Limpy Coley

A boy's game undescribed.--Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.

Little Dog I call you

A number of girls stand in a line with their backs to a wall. One of their number is sent away to a distance, but remains within call. Another girl, who stands in front of the line, asks the girls one by one what they would like if they could obtain their desires. After she has asked every one, she tells them to turn their faces to the wall, and calls after the girl who was sent away, saying, "Little Dog, I call you." The girl replies, "I shan't come to please you." "I'll get a stick and make you," is the rejoinder. "I don't care for that." "I've got a rice pudding for you." "I shan't come for that." "I've got a dish of bones." "I'll come for that." The Dog then comes. The girls have been previously told not to laugh whilst the one who stands out is talking to the Dog. Then the girl says to the Dog--

All the birds in the air,
All the fishes in the sea,
Come and pick me out (for example)
The girl with the golden ball.

If the girl who desired the golden ball laughs, the Dog picks her out. If nobody laughs, he guesses who the girl is that has wished for the golden ball. If the Dog guesses correctly, she goes and stands behind him, and if he guesses incorrectly she goes and stands behind the one who has been asking the questions. They continue this until they get to the last girl or girl at the end of the row, who _must_ have desired to be--

A brewer or a baker,
Or a candlestick maker,
Or a penknife maker.

Then the questioner says--

All the birds in the air,
All the fishes in the sea,
Come pick me out
A brewer or a baker,
Or a candlestick maker,
Or penknife maker.

If the Dog guesses the right one, he takes that girl on his side, she standing behind him. Then they draw a line and each side tries to pull the other over it.--Sheffield (S. O. Addy). The game, it will be seen, differs in several ways from the other games of "Fool, Fool, come to School" type. The "fool" becomes a definite Dog, and the players _wish_ for any thing they choose; the Dog has apparently to find out their wishes.

See "All the Birds," "Fool, Fool."

Lobber

There are three or more players on each side, two stones or holes as stations, and one Lobber. The Lobber lobs either a stick about three inches long or a ball--(the ball seems to be a new institution, as a stick was always formerly used)--while the batsman defends the stone or hole with either a short stick or his hand. Every time the stick or ball is hit, the boys defending the stones or holes must change places. Each one is out if the stick or ball lodges in the hole or hits the stone; or if the ball or stone is caught; or if it can be put in the hole or hits the stone while the boys are changing places. This game is also played with two Lobbers, that lob alternately from each end. The game is won by a certain number of runs.--Ireland (_Folk-lore Journal_, ii. 264).

See "Cat," "Cudgel," "Kit-Cat," "Rounders."

Loggats

An old game, forbidden by statute in Henry VIII.'s time. It is thus played, according to Stevens. A stake is fixed in the ground; those who play throw Loggats at it, and he that is nearest the stake wins. Loggats, or loggets, are also small pieces or logs of wood, such as the country people throw at fruit that cannot otherwise be reached. "Loggats, little logs or wooden pins, a play the same with ninepins, in which the boys, however, often made use of bones instead of wooden pins" (Dean Miles' MS.; Halliwell's _Dictionary_). Strutt refers to this game (_Sports_, p. 272).

London

A diagram (similar to Fig. 9 in "Hopscotch") is drawn on a slate, and two children play. A piece of paper or small piece of glass or china, called a "chipper," is used to play with. This is placed at the bottom of the plan, and if of _paper_, is _blown_ gently towards the top; if of glass or china, it is _nicked_ with the _fingers_. The first player blows the paper, and in whichever space the paper stops makes a small round [o] with a slate pencil, to represent a man's head. The paper or chipper is then put into the starting-place again, and the same player blows, and makes another "man's head" in the space where the paper stops. This is continued until all the spaces are occupied. If the paper goes a second time into a space already occupied by a "head," the player adds a larger round to the "head," to represent a "body;" if a third time, a stroke is drawn for a leg, and if a fourth time, another is added for the second leg; this completes a "man." If three complete men in one space can be gained, the player makes "arms;" that is, two lines are drawn from the figures across the space to the opposite side of the plan. This occupies that space, and prevents the other player from putting any "men" in it, or adding to any already there. When all the spaces are thus occupied by one player, the game is won. Should the paper be blown on to a line or _outside_ the plan, the player is out; the other player then begins, and makes as many "men" in her turn, until she goes on a line or outside. Should the paper go into "London," the player is entitled to make a "head" in every space, or to add another mark to those already there.--Westminster (A. B. Gomme). This game resembles one described by F. H. Low in _Strand Mag._, ii. 516.

London Bridge

[Music]

--Wrotham, Kent (Miss D. Kimball)

[Music]

--Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 34.

[Music]

--Enborne School, Berks. (Miss M. Kimber).

I. London Bridge is broken down,
Grant said the little bee,[4]
London Bridge is broken down,
Where I'd be.

Stones and lime will build it up,
Grant said the little bee,
Stones and lime will build it up,
Where I'd be.

Get a man to watch all night,
Grant said the little bee,
Get a man to watch all night,
Where I'd be.

Perhaps that man might fall asleep,
Grant said the little bee,
Perhaps that man might fall asleep,
Where I'd be.

Get a dog to watch all night,
Grant said the little bee,
Get a dog to watch all night,
Where I'd be.

If that dog should run away,
Grant said the little bee,
If that dog should run away,
Where I'd be.

Give that dog a bone to pick,
Grant said the little bee,
Give that dog a bone to pick,
Where I'd be.

--Belfast, Ireland (W. H. Patterson).

II. London Bridge is broken down,
Dance o'er my lady lee,
London Bridge is broken down,
With a gay lady.

How shall we build it up again?
Dance o'er my lady lee,
How shall we build it up again?
With a gay lady.

Silver and gold will be stole away,
Dance o'er my lady lee,
Silver and gold will be stole away,
With a gay lady.

Build it up with iron and steel,
Dance o'er my lady lee,
Build it up with iron and steel,
With a gay lady.

Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Dance o'er my lady lee,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
With a gay lady.

Build it up with wood and clay,
Dance o'er my lady lee,
Build it up with wood and clay,
With a gay lady.

Wood and clay will wash away,
Dance o'er my lady lee,
Wood and clay will wash away,
With a gay lady.

Build it up with stone so strong,
Dance o'er my lady lee,
Huzza! 'twill last for ages long,
With a gay lady.

--[London][5] (Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, clii.).

III. London Bridge is broaken down,
Is broaken down, is broaken down,
London Bridge is broaken down,
My fair lady.

Build it up with bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair lady.

Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
My fair lady.

Build it up with penny loaves,
Penny loaves, penny loaves,
Build it up with penny loaves,
My fair lady.

Penny loaves will mould away,
Mould away, mould away,
Penny loaves will mould away,
My fair lady.

What have this poor prisoner done,
Prisoner done, prisoner done,
What have this poor prisoner done?
My fair lady.

Stole my watch and lost my key,
Lost my key, lost my key,
Stole my watch and lost my key,
My fair lady.

Off to prison you must go,
You must go, you must go,
Off to prison you must go,
My fair lady.

--Liphook, Hants (Miss Fowler).

IV. Where are these great baa-lambs going,
Baa-lambs going, baa-lambs going,
Where are these great baa-lambs going?
My fair lady.

We are going to London Bridge,
London Bridge, London Bridge,
We are going to London Bridge,
My fair lady.

London Bridge is broken down,
Broken down, broken down,
London Bridge is broken down,
My fair lady.

[Then verses follow, sung in the same way and with the same refrain, beginning with--]

Mend it up with penny loaves.

Penny loaves will wash away.

Mend it up with pins and needles.

Pins and needles they will break.

Mend it up with bricks and mortar,

Bricks and mortar, that will do.

[After these verses have been sung--]

What has this great prisoner done,
Prisoner done, prisoner done,
What has this great prisoner done?
My fair lady.

Stole a watch and lost the key,
Lost the key, lost the key,
Stole a watch and lost the key,
My fair lady.

Off to prison you must go,
You must go, you must go,
Off to prison you must go,
My fair lady.

--Hurstmonceux, Sussex (Miss Chase).

V. Over London Bridge we go,
Over London Bridge we go,
Over London Bridge we go,
Gay ladies, gay!

London Bridge is broken down,
London Bridge is broken down,
London Bridge is broken down,
Gay ladies, gay!

Build it up with lime and sand,
Build it up with lime and sand,
Build it up with lime and sand,
Gay ladies, gay!

[Then follow verses sung in the same manner and with the same refrain, beginning with--]

Lime and sand will wash away.

Build it up with penny loaves.

Penny loaves'll get stole away.

O, what has my poor prisoner done?

Robbed a house and killed a man.

What will you have to set her free?

Fourteen pounds and a wedding gown.

Stamp your foot and let her go!

--Clun (Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, pp. 518-19).

VI. London Bridge is broken down,
Broken down, broken down,
London Bridge is broken down,
My fair lady.

Build it up with iron bars,
Iron bars, iron bars,
Build it up with iron bars,
My fair lady.

[Then follow verses with the same refrain, beginning with--]

Build it up with pins and needles.

Pins and needles rust and bend.

Build it up with penny loaves.

Penny loaves will tumble down.

Here's a prisoner I have got.

What's the prisoner done to you?

Stole my watch and broke my chain.

What will you take to let him out?

Ten hundred pounds will let him out.

Ten hundred pounds we have not got.

Then off to prison he must go.

--Kent (Miss Dora Kimball).

VII. London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.

Build it up with mortar and bricks,
Mortar and bricks, mortar and bricks,
Build it up with mortar and bricks,
My fair lady.

[Then follow verses in the same style and with the same refrain, beginning with--]

Bring some water, we'll wash it away.

Build it up with silver and gold.

Silver and gold will be stolen away.

We'll set a man to watch at night.

Suppose the man should fall asleep?

Give him a pipe of tobacco to smoke.

Suppose the pipe should fall and break?

We'll give him a bag of nuts to crack.

Suppose the nuts were rotten and bad?

We'll give him a horse to gallop around, &c.

--Enborne School, Berks (M. Kimber).

VIII. London Bridge is broken down,
Gran says the little D,
London Bridge is broken down,
Fair la-dy.

Build it up with lime and stone,
Gran says the little D,
Build it up with lime and stone,
Fair la-dy.

[Then follow verses beginning with the following lines--]

Lime and stone would waste away.

Build it up with penny loaves.

Penny loaves would be eaten away.

Build it up with silver and gold.

Silver and gold would be stolen away.

Get a man to watch all night.

If the man should fall asleep?

Set a dog to bark all night.

If the dog should meet a bone?

Set a cock to crow all night.

If the cock should meet a hen?

Here comes my Lord Duke,
And here comes my Lord John;
Let every one pass by but the very last one,
And catch him if you can.

--Cork (Mrs. B. B. Green).

IX. London Bridge is broken down,
Broken down, broken down,
London Bridge is broken down,
My fair lady.

[Other verses commence with one of the following lines, and are sung in the same manner--]

Build it up with penny loaves.

Penny loaves will melt away.

Build it up with iron and steel.

Iron and steel will bend and bow.

Build it up with silver and gold.

Silver and gold I have not got.

What has this poor prisoner done?

Stole my watch and broke my chain.

How many pounds will set him free?

Three hundred pounds will set him free.

The half of that I have not got.

Then off to prison he must go.

--Crockham Hill, Kent (Miss E. Chase).

(_b_) This game is now generally played like "Oranges and Lemons," only there is no "tug-of-war" at the end. Two children hold up their clasped hands to form an arch. The other children form a long line by holding to each other's dresses or waists, and run under. Those who are running under sing the first verse; the two who form the arch sing the second and alternate verses. At the words, "What has this poor prisoner done?" the girls who form the arch catch one of the line (generally the last one). When the last verse is sung the prisoner is taken a little distance away, and the game begins again. At Clun the players form a ring, moving round. They sing the first and alternate verses, and chorus, "London Bridge is broken down." Two players outside the ring run round it, singing the second and alternate verses. When singing "Penny loaves'll get stole away," one of the two outside children goes into the ring, the other remains and continues her part, singing the next verse. When the last verse is sung the prisoner is released. The Berkshire game (Miss Kimber) is played by the children forming two long lines, each line advancing and retiring alternately while singing their parts. When the last verse is begun the children form a ring and gallop around, all singing this last verse together. In the Cork version (Mrs. Green) the children form a circle by joining hands. They march round and round, singing the verses to a sing-song tune. When singing, "If the cock should meet a hen," they all unclasp hands; two hold each other's hands and form an arch. The rest run under, saying the last verse. The "arch" lower their hands and try to catch the last child.

(_c_) The analysis of the game-rhymes is on pp. 342-45. It appears from this analysis that the London version is alone in its faithful reflection of an actual building episode. Three other versions introduce the incident of watching by a man, and failing him, a dog or cock; while five versions introduce a prisoner. This incident occurs the greatest number of times. It is not surprising that the London version seems to be the most akin to modern facts, being told so near the spot indicated by the verses, and on this account it cannot be considered as the oldest of the variants. There remain the other two groups. Both are distinguished by the introduction of a human element, one as watchman, the other as prisoner. The watchman incident approaches nearer to modern facts; the prisoner incident remains unexplained by any appeal to modern life, and it occurs more frequently than the others. In only one case, the Shropshire, is the prisoner ransomed; in the others he is sent to prison. Besides this main line of criticism brought out by the analysis there is little to note. The Hurstmonceux version begins with taking lambs over London Bridge, and the Shropshire version with the players themselves going over; but these are doubtless foreign adjuncts, because they do not properly prefix the main incident of the bridge being broken. The Belfast version has a curious line, "Grant said the little bee or dee," which the Cork version renders, "Gran says the little D." To these there is now no meaning that can be traced, but they help to prove that the rhyme originated from a state of things not understood by modern players. In all the versions with the prisoner incident it comes quite suddenly, without any previous indication, except in the Kent version, which introduces the exclamation, "Here's a prisoner I have got!" As the analysis shows the prisoner incident to be a real and not accidental part of the game, and the unmeaning expressions to indicate an origin earlier than modern players can understand, we can turn to other facts to see if the origin can be in any way traced.

ANALYSIS OF GAME-RHYMES.

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|No.| Belfast. | Halliwell. | Liphook. |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.| -- | -- | -- |
| 2.| -- | -- | -- |
| 3.| -- | -- | -- |
| 4.| -- | -- | -- |
| 5.|L. B. is broken down. |L. B. is broken down. |L. B. is broken down. |
| 6.| -- | -- | -- |
| 7.|Grant said the little | -- | -- |
| |bee. | | |
| 8.| -- |Dance o'er my lady | -- |
| | |lee. | |
| 9.| -- | -- |My fair lady. |
|10.| -- |With a gay lady. | -- |
|11.|Where I'd be. | -- | -- |
|12.| -- |How shall we build it | -- |
| | |up again? | |
|13.|Stones and lime will | -- |Build it up with |
| |build it up. | |bricks and mortar. |
|14.| -- | -- |Bricks and mortar will|
| | | |not stay. |
|15.| -- | -- |Build it up with penny|
| | | |loaves. |
|16.| -- | -- |Penny loaves will |
| | | |mould away. |
|17.| -- | -- | -- |
|18.| -- |Silver and gold will | -- |
| | |be stole away. | |
|19.| -- |Build it up with iron | -- |
| | |and steel. | |
|20.| -- |Iron and steel will | -- |
| | |bend and bow. | |
|21.| -- | -- | -- |
|22.| -- | -- | -- |
|23.| -- |Build it up with wood | -- |
| | |and clay. | |
|24.| -- |Wood and clay will | -- |
| | |wash away. | |
|25.| -- |Build it up with stone| -- |
| | |so strong. | |
|26.|Get a man to watch all| -- | -- |
| |night. | | |
|27.|Perhaps that man might| -- | -- |
| |fall asleep. | | |
|28.| -- | -- | -- |
|29.| -- | -- |What has this poor |
| | | |prisoner done? |
|30.| -- | -- |Stole my watch and |
| | | |lost my key. |
|31.| -- | -- | -- |
|32.| -- | -- | -- |
|33.| -- | -- | -- |
|34.| -- | -- | -- |
|35.| -- | -- | -- |
|36.|Get a dog to watch all| -- | -- |
| |night. | | |
|37.|If that dog should run| -- | -- |
| |away. | | |
|38.|Give that dog a bone | -- | -- |
| |to pick. | | |
|39.| -- | -- | -- |
|40.| -- | -- | -- |
|41.| -- | -- | -- |
|42.| -- | -- | -- |
|43.| -- | -- | -- |
|44.| -- | -- |Off to prison you must|
| | | |go. |
|45.| -- |Huzza! it will last | -- |
| | |for ages long. | |
|46.| -- | -- | -- |
|47.| -- | -- | -- |
|48.| -- | -- | -- |
|49.| -- | -- | -- |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|No.| Hurstmonceux. | Shropshire. | Kent. |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.|Where are these great | -- | -- |
| |baa-lambs going? | | |
| 2.|My fair lady. | -- | -- |
| 3.|We are going to L. B. | -- | -- |
| 4.| -- |Over L. B. we go. | -- |
| 5.|L. B. is broken down. |L. B. is broken down. |L. B. is broken down. |
| 6.| -- | -- | -- |
| 7.| -- | -- | -- |
| 8.| -- | -- | -- |
| 9.|My fair lady. | -- |My fair lady. |
|10.| -- |Gay ladies, gay. | -- |
|11.| -- | -- | -- |
|12.| -- | -- | -- |
|13.|Mend it up with bricks|Build it up with lime | -- |
| |and mortar. |and sand. | |
|14.| -- |Lime and sand will | -- |
| | |wash away. | |
|15.|Mend it up with penny |Build it up with penny|Build it up with penny|
| |loaves. |loaves. |loaves. |
|16.|Penny loaves will wash|Penny loaves'll get |Penny loaves will |
| |away. |stole away. |tumble down. |
|17.| -- | -- | -- |
|18.| -- | -- | -- |
|19.| -- | -- | -- |
|20.| -- | -- | -- |
|21.|Mend it up with pins | -- |Mend it up with pins |
| |and needles. | |and needles. |
|22.|Pins and needles they | -- |Pins and needles rust |
| |will break. | |and bend. |
|23.| -- | -- | -- |
|24.| -- | -- | -- |
|25.| -- | -- | -- |
|26.| -- | -- | -- |
|27.| -- | -- | -- |
|28.| -- | -- |Here's a prisoner I |
| | | |have got. |
|29.|What has this great |O, what has my poor |What's the prisoner |
| |prisoner done? |prisoner done? |done to you? |
|30.|Stole a watch and lost| -- |Stole my watch and |
| |the key. | |broke my chain. |
|31.| -- |Robbed a house and | -- |
| | |killed a man. | |
|32.| -- | -- | -- |
|33.| -- | -- | -- |
|34.| -- | -- | -- |
|35.| -- | -- | -- |
|36.| -- | -- | -- |
|37.| -- | -- | -- |
|38.| -- | -- | -- |
|39.| -- | -- | -- |
|40.| -- | -- | -- |
|41.| -- |What will you have to |What will you take to |
| | |set her free? |let him out? |
|42.| -- |Fourteen pounds and a |Ten hundred pounds |
| | |wedding gown. |will let him out. |
|43.| -- | -- |Then a hundred pounds |
| | | |we have not got. |
|44.|Off to prison you must| -- |Then off to prison you|
| |go. | |must go. |
|45.| -- | -- | -- |
|46.| -- | -- | -- |
|47.| -- |Stamp your foot and | -- |
| | |let her go. | |
|48.| -- | -- | -- |
|49.| -- | -- | -- |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|No.| Enborne. | Cork. | Crockham Hill. |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.| -- | -- | -- |
| 2.| -- | -- | -- |
| 3.| -- | -- | -- |
| 4.| -- | -- | -- |
| 5.| -- |L. B. is broken down. |L. B. is broken down. |
| 6.|L. B. is falling down.| -- | -- |
| 7.| -- |Says the little D. | -- |
| 8.| -- | -- | -- |
| 9.|My fair lady. |Fair lady. |My fair lady. |
|10.| -- | -- | -- |
|11.| -- | -- | -- |
|12.| -- | -- | -- |
|13.|Build it up with |Build it up with lime | -- |
| |mortar and bricks. |and stone. | |
|14.|Mortar and bricks will|Lime and stone would | -- |
| |waste away. |waste away. | |
|15.| -- | -- |Build it up with penny|
| | | |loaves. |
|16.| -- | -- |Penny loaves will melt|
| | | |away. |
|17.|Build it up with |Build it up with |Build it up with |
| |silver and gold. |silver and gold. |silver and gold. |
|18.|Silver and gold will |Silver and gold would |Silver and gold I have|
| |be stolen away. |be stolen away. |not got. |
|19.| -- | -- | -- |
|20.| -- | -- | -- |
|21.| -- | -- | -- |
|22.| -- | -- | -- |
|23.| -- | -- | -- |
|24.| -- | -- | -- |
|25.| -- | -- | -- |
|26.| -- |We'll set a man to |Set a man to watch all|
| | |watch all night. |night. |
|27.|Suppose the man should|If the man should fall| -- |
| |fall asleep. |asleep. | |
|28.| -- | -- | -- |
|29.| -- | -- |What has this poor |
| | | |prisoner done? |
|30.| -- | -- |Stole my watch and |
| | | |broke my chain. |
|31.| -- | -- | -- |
|32.|Give him a pipe of | -- | -- |
| |tobacco to smoke. | | |
|33.|Suppose the pipe | -- | -- |
| |should fall and break.| | |
|34.|We'll give him a bag | -- | -- |
| |of nuts to crack. | | |
|35.|Suppose the nuts were | -- | -- |
| |rotten and bad. | | |
|36.| -- |Set a dog to bark all | -- |
| | |night. | |
|37.| -- |If the dog should meet| -- |
| | |a bone. | |
|38.| -- | -- | -- |
|39.| -- |Set a cock to crow | -- |
| | |all night. | |
|40.| -- |If the cock should | -- |
| | |meet a hen. | |
|41.| -- | -- |How many pounds will |
| | | |set him free? |
|42.| -- | -- |Three hundred pounds |
| | | |will set him free. |
|43.| -- | -- |The half of that I |
| | | |have not got. |
|44.| -- | -- |Then off to prison he |
| | | |must go. |
|45.| -- | -- | -- |
|46.| -- | -- | -- |
|47.| -- | -- | -- |
|48.|We'll give him a horse| -- | -- |
| |to gallop around. | | |
|49.| -- |Here comes my lord | -- |
| | |Duke, let everyone | |
| | |pass by but the very | |
| | |last one. | |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

(_d_) This game is universally acknowledged to be a very ancient one, but its origin is a subject of some diversity of opinion. The special feature of the rhymes is that considerable difficulty occurs in the building of the bridge by _ordinary_ means, but without exactly suggesting that extraordinary means are to be adopted, a prisoner is suddenly taken. The question is, What does this indicate?

Looking to the fact of the widespread superstition of the foundation sacrifice, it would seem that we may have here a tradition of this rite. So recently as 1872, there was a scare in Calcutta when the Hooghly Bridge was being constructed. The natives then got hold of the idea that Mother Ganges, indignant at being bridged, had at last consented to submit to the insult on condition that each pier of the structure was founded on a layer of children's heads (Gomme's _Early Village Life_, p. 29). Formerly, in Siam, when a new city gate was being erected, it was customary for a number of officers to lie in wait and seize the first four or eight persons who happened to pass by, and who were then buried alive under the gate-posts to serve as guardian angels (Tylor's _Primitive Culture_, i. 97). Other instances of the same custom and belief are given in the two works from which these examples are taken; and there is a tradition about London Bridge itself, that the stones were bespattered with the blood of little children. Fitzstephen, in his well-known account of London of the twelfth century, mentions that when the Tower was built the mortar was tempered with the blood of beasts. Prisoners' heads were put on the bridge after execution down to modern times, and also on city gates.

These traditions about London, when compared with the actual facts of contemporary savagery, seem to be sufficient to account for such a game as that we are now examining having originated in the foundation sacrifice. Mr. Newell, in his examination of the game, gives countenance to this theory, but he strangely connects it with other games which have a tug-of-war as the finish. Now in all the English examples it is remarkable that the tug-of-war does not appear to be a part of the game; and if this evidence be conclusive, it would appear that this incident got incorporated in America. It is this incident which Mr. Newell dwells upon in his ingenious explanation of the mythological interpretation of the game. But apart from this, the fact that the building of bridges was accompanied by the foundation sacrifice is a more likely origin for such a widespread game which is so intimately connected with a bridge.

This view is confirmed by what may be called the literary history of the game. The verses, as belonging to a game, have only recently been recorded, and how far they go back into tradition it is impossible to say. Dr. Rimbault is probably right when he states "that they have been formed by many fresh additions in a long series of years, and [the game] is perhaps almost interminable when received in all its different versions" (_Notes and Queries_, ii. 338). In _Chronicles of London Bridge_, pp. 152, 153, the author says he obtained the following note from a Bristol correspondent:--"About forty years ago, one moonlight night in the streets of Bristol, my attention was attracted by a dance and chorus of boys and girls, to which the words of this ballad gave measure. The breaking down of the Bridge was announced as the dancers moved round in a circle hand in hand, and the question, 'How shall we build it up again?' was chanted by the leader while the rest stood still." This correspondent also sent the tune the children sang, which is printed in the _Chronicles of London Bridge_. This was evidently the same game, but it would appear that the verses have also been used as a song, and it would be interesting to find out which is the more ancient of the two--the song or the game; and to do this it is necessary that we should know something of the history of the song. A correspondent of _Notes and Queries_ (ii. 338) speaks of it as a "lullaby song" well known in the southern part of Kent and in Lincolnshire. In the _Gentleman's Magazine_ (1823, Part II. p. 232) appeared the following interesting note:--

The projected demolition of London Bridge recalls to my mind the introductory lines of an old ballad which more than seventy years ago I heard plaintively warbled by a lady who was born in the reign of Charles II., and who lived till nearly the end of that of George II. I now transcribe the lines, not as possessing any great intrinsic merit, but in the hope of learning from some intelligent correspondent the name of the author and the story which gave rise to the ballad, for it probably originated in some accident that happened to the old bridge. The "Lady Lea" evidently refers to the river of that name, the favourite haunt of Isaac Walton, which, after fertilising the counties of Hertford, Essex, and Middlesex, glides into the Thames.

London Bridge is broken down,
_Dance over the Lady Lea_;
London Bridge is broken down,
_With a gay lady_ [_la-dee_].
Then we must build it up again.
What shall we build it up withal?
Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel will bend and break.
Build it up with wood and stone,
Wood and stone will fall away.
Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold will be stolen away.
Then we must set a man to watch,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
Then we must put a pipe in his mouth,
Suppose the pipe should fall and break?
Then we must set a dog to watch,
Suppose the dog should run away?
Then we must chain him to a post.

The two lines in _italic_ are all regularly repeated after each line.--M. Green.

Another correspondent to this magazine, in the same volume, p. 507, observes that the ballad concerning London Bridge "formed, in my remembrance, part of a Christmas Carol, and commenced thus--

Dame, get up and bake your pies,
On Christmas-day in the morning.

The requisition goes on to the dame to prepare for the feast, and her answer is--

London Bridge is fallen down,
On Christ-mas day in the morning, &c.

The inference always was, that until the bridge was rebuilt some stop would be put to the Dame's Christmas operations; but why the falling of London Bridge should form part of a Christmas Carol at Newcastle-upon-Tyne I am at a loss to know." Some fragments were also printed in the _Mirror_ for November 1823; and a version is also given by Ritson, _Gammer Gurton's Garland_. The _Heimskringla_ (Laing, ii. 260, 261) gives an animated description of the Battle of London Bridge, when Ethelred, after the death of Sweyn, was assisted by Olaf in retaking and entering London, and it is curious, that the first line of the game-rhyme appears--

London Bridge is broken down,
Gold is won and bright renown;
Shields resounding,
War-horns sounding,
Hild is shouting in the din;
Arrows singing,
Mail-coats ringing,
Odin makes our Olaf win.

If this is anything more than an accidental parallel, we come back to an historical episode wherein the breaking down and rebuilding of London Bridge occur, and it looks as if the two streams down which this tradition has travelled, namely, first, through the game, and second, through the song, both refer to the same event.

Dr. Rimbault has, in his _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 34, reconstructed a copy of the original rhyme from the versions given by Halliwell and the _Mirror_, and gives the tune to which it was sung, which is reprinted here. The tune from Kent is the one generally used in London versions. The tune of a country dance called "London Bridge" is given in Playford's _Dancing Master_, 1728 edition.

[4] Another informant gives the refrain, "Grand says the little Dee."

[5] I have identified this with a version played at Westminster and
another taught to my children by a Hanwell girl.--A. B. G.

Long-duck

A number of children take hold of each other's hands and form a half-circle. The two children at one end of the line lift up their arms, so as to form an arch, and call "Bid, bid, bid," the usual cry for calling ducks. Then the children at the other end pass in order through the arch. This process is repeated, and they go circling round the field.--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

See "Duck Dance."

Long Tag

See "Long Terrace."

Long-Tawl

A game at marbles where each takes aim at the other in turn, a marble being paid in forfeit to whichever of the players may make a hit.--Lowsley's _Berkshire Glossary_.

Long Terrace

Every player chooses a partner. The couples stand immediately in front of each other, forming a long line, one remaining outside of the line on the right-hand side, who is called the "Clapper." The object of the game is for the last couple to reach the top of the line, each running on different sides, and keeping to the side on which they are standing. The object of the Clapper is to hit the one running on the right side of the line, which, if he succeeds in doing, makes him the Clapper, and the Clapper takes his place. [The next _last_ couple would then presumably try and reach the top.]--East Kirkby, Lincs. (Miss K. Maughan).

A similar game to this is played at Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews). It is there called "Long Tag." The players stand in line behind one another, and an odd one takes her place somewhere near the front; at a given signal, such as clapping of hands, the two at the back separate and try to meet again in front before the one on the watch can catch them; they may run where they please, and when one is caught that one becomes the one "out."

See "French Jackie."

Loup the Bullocks

Young men go out to a green meadow, and there on all-fours plant themselves in a row about two yards distant from each other. Then he who is stationed farthest back in the "bullock rank" starts up and leaps over the other bullocks before him, by laying his hands on each of their backs; and when he gets over the last one leans down himself as before, whilst all the others, in rotation, follow his example; then he starts and leaps again.

I have sometimes thought that we (the Scotch) have borrowed this recreation from our neighbours of the "Green Isle," as at their wakes they have a play much of the same kind, which they call "Riding Father Doud." One of the wakers takes a stool in his hand, another mounts that one's back, then Father Doud begins rearing and plunging, and if he unhorses his rider with a dash he does well. There is another play (at these wakes) called "Kicking the Brogue," which is even ruder than "Riding Father Doud," and a third one called "Scuddieloof."--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.

Patterson (_Antrim and Down Glossary_) mentions a game called "Leap the Bullock," which he says is the same as "Leap-frog."

Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary Supplement_, under "Lowp," says it means a leap or jump either running or standing. The various kinds include "Catskip"--one hitch, or hop, and one jump; "Hitch steppin"--hop, step, and lowp; a hitch, a step, and a leap; "Otho"--two hitches, two steps, and a leap; "Lang spang"--two hitches, two steps, a hitch, a step, and a leap.

See "Accroshay," "Knights," "Leap-frog."

Lubin

[Music]

--Hexham (Miss J. Barker).

[Music]

--Doncaster (Mr. C. Bell).

[Music]

--London (A. B. Gomme).

[Music]

--Dorsetshire (Miss M. Kimber).

[Music]

--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

I. Here we dance lubin, lubin, lubin,
Here we dance lubin light,
Here we dance lubin, lubin, lubin,
On a Saturday night.

Put all the right hands in,
Take all the right hands out,
Shake all the right hands together,
And turn yourselves about.