Chapter VIII: Part 8

--Shipley, Horsham (_Notes and Queries_, 8th Series, i. 210, Miss Busk).

VI. See the robbers coming through,
Coming through, coming through,
See the robbers coming through,
A nice young lady.

Here's a prisoner we have got,
We have got, we have got,
Here's a prisoner we have got,
A nice young lady.

How many pounds to set her free,
Set her free, set her free,
How many pounds to set her free,
A nice young lady?

A hundred pounds to set her free,
Set her free, set her free,
A hundred pounds to set her free,
A nice young lady.

A hundred pounds we cannot give,
We cannot give, we cannot give,
A hundred pounds we cannot give,
A nice young lady.

Then to prison she must go,
She must go, she must go,
Then to prison she must go,
A nice young lady.

If she goes we'll go too,
We'll go too, we'll go too,
If she goes we'll go too,
A nice young lady.

Round the meadows we will go,
We will go, we will go,
Round the meadows we will go,
A nice young lady.

--Settle, Yorks. (Rev. W. S. Sykes).

VII. O what has this poor prisoner done,
Poor prisoner done, poor prisoner done?
O what has this poor prisoner done,
So early in the morning?

She stole my watch and lost my key,
Lost my key, lost my key,
She stole my watch and lost my key,
So early in the morning.

How many pounds to set her free,
Set her free, set her free?
How many pounds to set her free,
So early in the morning?

Five hundred pounds to set her free,
Set her free, set her free,
Five hundred pounds to set her free,
So early in the morning.

Five hundred pounds we have not got,
Have not got, have not got,
Five hundred pounds we have not got,
So early in the morning.

So off to prison she must go,
She must go, she must go,
So off to prison she must go,
So early in the morning.

If she go then I'll go too,
I'll go too, I'll go too,
If she go then I'll go too,
So early in the morning.

So round the meadows we must go,
We must go, we must go,
So round the meadows we must go,
So early in the morning.

--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

(_b_) In the Deptford version two girls join hands, holding them up as an arch for the other players to tramp through. The first two verses are sung first by one and then by the other of the two girls. At the finish of these the girl then going through the arch is stopped, and the third, fourth, and fifth verses are sung by the two girls alternately. Then finally both girls sing the last verse, and the child is sent as prisoner behind one or other of the two girls. The verses are then begun again, and repeated afresh for each of the troop marching through the arch until all of them are placed behind one or other of the two girls. The two sides thus formed then proceed to tug against each other, and the strongest side wins the game.

The Belfast version is practically the same, except that the verses are not sung as a dialogue, but by all the players together, and the prisoner, when caught, has the choice of sides, by being asked, "Which will you have, a golden apple or golden pear?" and according to the answer given is sent behind one of the leaders. The Norfolk and Shropshire games are different. Miss Matthews thus describes the Norfolk game: "Two girls take hold of hands, and another, the prisoner, stands between them. The rest form themselves into a line opposite, and advance and retreat while singing the first verse, the gaolers singing the next verse, and so on alternately. [At the end of the last verse but one] the children break the line, form themselves into a ring, and dance round the prisoner, singing the final verse." Miss Harley describes the Shropshire version as follows: "The first six verses are sung by the alternate parties, who advance and retire, tramping their feet, at first, to imitate the robbers. The last verse is sung altogether going round in a ring." In the Shipley version, Miss Busk says: "The children form themselves into two lines, while two or three, representing the robbers, swagger along between them. When the robbers sing the last verse they should have attained the end of the lines [of children], as during the parley they were safe; having pronounced the defiance they run away. The children in the lines rush after them, and should catch them and put them in prison."

(_c_) The analysis of this game is easy. The Deptford, Belfast, and Wolstanton versions are clearly enough dramatic representations of the capture of a robber, and probably the game dates from the period of the prevalence of highway robbery. The Wolstanton version shows us that the game is breaking up from its earlier form, while the Norfolk and Shropshire versions show a fresh development into the mere game for children, apart from its original significance. The action of the game confirms this view. The Norfolk action seems to be the most nearly perfect in its dramatic significance, and the Shropshire action comes next. The action of the other games seems to have been grafted on to the superior form of "Oranges and Lemons." It is probable that this fact has preserved the words more completely than in the other cases, where the force of the robber action would become less and less as actual experience of robbers and robbery died out. Altogether, this game supplies a very good example of the change produced in games by changes in the actual life which gave rise to them. It is singular that the verses of this game also enter into the composition of "London Bridge is broken down." It is probable, therefore, that it may be an altered form of the game of "London Bridge." The refrain, "My fair lady," occurs in both games.

See "London Bridge."

Hats in Holes

A boys' game. The players range their hats in a row against the wall, and each boy in turn pitches a ball from a line at some twenty-five feet distance into one of the hats. The boy into whose hat it falls has to seize it and throw it at one or other of the others, who all scamper off when the ball is "packed in." If he fails to hit he is out, and takes his cap up. The boy whose cap is left at the last has to "cork" the others, that is, to throw the ball at their bent backs, each in turn stooping down to take his punishment.--Somerset (Elworthy's _Dialect_).

See "Balls and Bonnets."

Hattie

A game with preens, pins, on the crown of a hat. Two or more may play. Each lays on a pin, then with the hand they strike the side of the hat time about, and whoever makes the pins by a stroke cross each other, lifts those so crossed.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.

Hawkey

A game played by several boys on each side with sticks called "hawkey bats," and a ball. A line is drawn across the middle of the ground from one side to the other; one party stands on one side of the line and the opposite party on the other, and neither must overstep this boundary, but are allowed to reach over as far as their bats will permit to strike the ball. The object is to strike the ball to the farther end to touch the fence of the opposing party's side, when the party so striking the ball scores one, and, supposing nine to be the game, the party obtaining that number first of course wins the game.--West Sussex (Holloway's _Dict. of Provincialisms_).

See "Bandy," "Doddart," "Hockey."

Headicks and Pinticks

This game was played only at Christmas. The number of players was two. The stakes were pins. One player laid in the hollow of the hand, or on one of the forefingers, a pin, and then placed the other forefinger over it so as to conceal it. He then held up his hand to his opponent and said, "Headicks or pinticks?" His opponent made a guess by pointing with his finger and saying "Headicks," or "Pinticks." If the guess was correct he gained the pin, but if it was incorrect he forfeited one. The players played alternately.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).

Another version seems to be "Headim and Corsim." Pins are hid with fingers in the palms of the hands; the same number is laid alongside them, and either "Headim" or "Corsim" called out by those who do so. When the fingers are lifted, if the heads of the pins hid and those beside them be lying one way when the crier cried "Headim," then that player wins; but if "Corsim," the one who hid the pins wins. This is the king of all the games at the preens.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.

The editors of Jamieson's _Dictionary_ say that the name should be "Headum and Corsum."

Heads and Tails

That plan for deciding matters by the "birl o' a bawbee." The one side cries "Heads" (when the piece is whirling in the air) and the other "Tails," so whichever is uppermost when the piece alights that gains or settles the matter, heads standing for the King's head and tails for the figure who represents Britannia.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_. This is a general form of determining sides or beginning a game all over the country.

Hecklebirnie

A play among children in Aberdeenshire. Thirty or forty children in two rows, joining opposite hands, strike smartly with their hands thus joined on the head or shoulders of their companion as he runs the gauntlet through them. This is called "passing through the mires of Hecklebirnie."--Jamieson.

The editors of Jamieson append a lengthy note connecting the name of this game with the northern belief that the wicked were condemned to suffer eternal punishment in Hecla, the volcanic mountain in Iceland.

See "Namers and Guessers."

Hen and Chicken

Chickery, chickery, cranny crow,
I went to the well to wash my toe,
When I got back a chicken was dead.

This verse is said by the Hen to her Chickens, after which they all go with the Hen to search for the dead Chicken. On their way they meet the Fox. The following dialogue between the Fox and Hen ensues, the Hen beginning:--

What are you doing?
Picking up sticks.
What for?
To make a fire.
What's the fire for?
To boil some water.
What's the water for?
To boil some chickens in.
Where do you get them from?
Out of your flock.
That I'm sure you won't.

--Derbyshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, i. 386).

The game is played in the usual manner of "Fox and Goose" games. One is chosen to be the Hen, and one to be the Fox. The rest are the Chickens. The Chickens take hold of each other's waists, the first one holding the Hen's waist. At the end of the dialogue the Fox tries to get hold of one of the chickens. If he succeeds in catching them, they all with the Fox try to dodge the Hen, who makes an effort to regain them.

It is known at Winterton under the name of "Pins and Needles." The players stand in a row, one behind another, with one of the party as their Leader. Another player, called "Outsider," pretends to scratch the ground. The Leader asks, the questions, and the Outsider replies--

What are you scratching for?
Pins and needles.
What do you want your pins and needles for?
To mend my poke.
What do you want your poke for?
To put some sand in.
What do you want your sand for?
To sharpen knives with.
What do you want your knives for?
To cut all the little chickens' heads off with.

Here the Outsider tries to dodge past the Leader to catch one of the children at the further end of the row, the Leader meanwhile attempting to bar her progress. When at last she succeeds, the child caught takes her place, and the game is recommenced.--Winterton (Miss M. Peacock).

See "Fox and Goose," "Gled-wylie."

Here comes a Lusty Wooer

[Music]

--Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_.

Here comes a lusty wooer,
My a dildin, my a daldin;
Here comes a lusty wooer,
Lily bright and shine a'.

Pray who do you woo?
My a dildin, my a daldin;
Pray who do you woo?
Lily bright and shine a'.

For your fairest daughter,
My a dildin, my a daldin;
For your fairest daughter,
Lily bright and shine a'.

Then there she is for you,
My a dildin, my a daldin;
Then there she is for you,
Lily bright and shine a'.

--Ritson (_Gammer Gurton's Garland_, 1783).

Northall says this game is played after the manner of the "Three Dukes" (_Folk Rhymes_, p. 383). Halliwell (_Nursery Rhymes_, p. 98) has a version, and Rimbault (_Nursery Rhymes_) gives both words and tune. It is also contained in _The Merrie Heart_ (p. 47). See "Jolly Hooper," "Jolly Rover."

Here comes One Virgin

Here comes one Virgin on her knee,
On her knee, on her knee,
Here comes one Virgin on her knee,
Pray what will you give her?

When did you come?

I came by night and I came by day,
I came to steal poor Edie away.

She is too old, she is too young,
She hasn't learnt her virgin tongue.

Let her be old or let her be young,
For her beauty she must come.

In her pocket a thousand pounds,
On her finger a gay gold ring.

Good-bye, good-bye, my dear.

--Hurstmonceux, Sussex (Miss Chase).

One child stands by herself, and the rest of the players range themselves in line. The child sings the first verse and the line replies, the four succeeding verses being alternately sung. After the last line the girl tries to pull one whom she has chosen from the line toward her. If not successful, she must try again. If she is, they both stand in the middle, and commence singing the words again with--

Here come _two_ virgins on their knees, &c.

Probably a degraded version of "Three Lords from Spain."

Here I sit on a Cold Green Bank

Here I sit on a cold green bank
On a cold and frosty morning.

We'll send a young man [_or_ woman] to take you away,
To take you away,
We'll send a young man to take you away,
On a cold and frosty morning.

Pray tell me what his name shall be? [_or_]
Pray, whom will you send to take me away?

We'll send Mr. ---- to take you away.

The children form a ring around one of the party, who sits in the middle, and says the two first lines. Then those in the circle dance round her, singing the next four lines. This is repeated three times, with the refrain, "On a cold," &c., after which the dancing and singing cease, and the child is asked, "Sugar, sweet, or vinegar, sour?" Her answer is always taken in a contrary sense, and sung, as before, three times, whilst the children circle round. The one in the middle then rises to her feet. The boy (or girl) named advances and kisses her, they change places, and the game begins again.--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 56-57).

Here stands a Young Man

I. Here stands a young man who wants a sweetheart,
With all his merry maids round him;

He may choose from east, he may choose from west,
He may choose the prettiest girl that he loves best.

Now this young couple is married together,
We propose they kiss each other.

--Glapthorn (_Northants Notes and Queries_, i. 214, A. Palmer).

II. Here stands a young lady [lass] who wants a sweetheart,
Wants a sweetheart, wants a sweetheart,
And don't know where to find one, find one, find one.
Choose the prettiest that you loves best.

Now you're married I wish you joy,
First a girl and then a boy,
Seven years after son and daughter,
Pray you come to kiss together.

--Longcot, Berkshire (Miss I. Barclay).

(_b_) A ring is formed by the players joining hands, one child standing in the centre. The ring dance round singing the first four lines. At the fourth line the child in the centre chooses one from the ring, who goes into the centre with her. The marriage formula or chorus is then sung, the two kiss, and the one who was first in the centre joins the ring, the second one choosing another in her turn. Played by both boys and girls.

See "Sally Water," "Silly Old Man."

Here we go around, around

[Music]

Our shoes are made of leather,
Our stockings are made of silk,
Our pinafores are made of calico,
As white as any milk.

Here we go around, around, around,
And we shall touch the ground.

--Barnes and London Streets (A. B. Gomme).

A ring is formed by the children joining hands. They walk round singing the first four lines. They then dance round quickly and sit down suddenly, or touch the ground with their clothes.

A version of this game from Liphook, Hants, almost identical in words, has been sent by Miss Fowler, and another from Crockham Hill, Kent, by Miss Chase.

Here's a Soldier

Here's a soldier left his lone [_qy._ alone],
Wants a wife and can't get none.

Merrily go round and choose your own,
Choose a good one or else choose none;
Choose the worst or choose the best,
Or choose the very one you like best.

What's your will, my dilcy dulcy officer?
What's your will, my dilcy dulcy dee?

My will is to marry, my dilcy dulcy officer;
My will is to marry, my dilcy dulcy dee.

Come marry one of us, my dilcy dulcy officer;
Come marry one of us, my dilcy dulcy dee.

You're all too old and ugly, my dilcy dulcy officer;
You're all too old and ugly, my dilcy dulcy dee.

Thrice too good for you, sir, my dilcy dulcy officer;
Thrice too good for you, sir, my dilcy dulcy dee.

This couple got married, we wish them good joy,
Every year a girl and a boy,
And if that does not do, a hundred and two,
We hope the couple will kiss together.

--Annaverna, co. Louth (Miss R. Stephen).

(_b_) One child stands in the middle, the others dance round singing. The one in the middle chooses another before the four last lines are sung. Then the rest dance round singing these lines, and kiss each other.

(_c_) It is evident that these words comprise two distinct games, which have become mixed in some inexplicable fashion. The first six lines and the last four are one game, a ring form, with the marriage formula and blessing. The other portion of the game is a dialogue game, evidently having had two lines of players, questions being asked and answers given. It is, in fact, a part of the "Three Dukes" game. The first part is a kiss-in-the-ring game, a version of "Here stands a Young Man," "Silly Old Man," and "Sally Water."

Hewley Puley

Take this, What's this?
Hewley Puley.
Where's my share?
About the kite's neck.
Where's the kite?
Flown to the wood.
Where's the wood?
The fire has burned it.
Where's the fire?
The water's quenched it.
Where's the water?
The ox has drunk it.
Where's the ox?
The butcher has killed it.
Where's the butcher?
The rope has hanged him.
Where's the rope?
The rat has gnawed it.
Where's the rat?
The cat has killed it.
Where's the cat?
Behind the door, cracking pebble-stones and marrow-bones for yours
and my supper, and the one who speaks first shall have a box on the
ear.

--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 222.

The children are seated, and the questions are put by one of the party who holds a twisted handkerchief or something of the sort in the hand. The handkerchief was called "hewley puley," and the questions are asked by the child who holds it. If one answers wrongly, a box on the ear with the handkerchief was the consequence; but if they all replied correctly, the one who broke silence first had that punishment.

For similar rhymes see "Dump," "Mother, may I go out?"

Hey Wullie Wine

I. Hey Wully wine, and How Wully wine,
I hope for hame ye'll no incline;
Ye'll better light, and stay a' night,
And I'll gie thee a lady fine.

Wha will ye gie, if I wi' ye bide,
To be my bonny blooming bride,
And lie down lovely by my side?

I'll gie thee Kate o' Dinglebell,
A bonny body like yersell.

I'll stick her up in the pear-tree
Sweet and meek, and sae is she:
I lo'ed her ance, but she's no for me,
Yet I thank ye for your courtesy.

I'll gie thee Rozie o' the Cleugh,
I'm sure she'll please thee weel eneugh.

Up wi' her on the bane dyke,
She'll be rotten or I'll be ripe:
She's made for some ither, and no me,
Yet I thank ye for your courtesy.

Then I'll gie ye Nell o' sweet Sprinkell,
Owre Galloway she bears the bell.

I'll set her up in my bed-head,
And feed her wi' milk and bread;
She's for nae ither, but jist for me,
Sae I thank ye for your courtesy.

--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.

II. I maun ride hame, I maun gang hame,
And bide nae langer here;
The road is lang, the mirk soon on,
And howlets mak' me fear.

Light doon and bide wi' us a' night,
We'll choose ye a bonnie lass;
Ye'll get your wull and pick o' them a',
And the time it soon wull pass.

Which ane will ye choose,
If I with you will bide?

The fairest and rarest
In a' the kintra side.

A girl's name was then mentioned. If the lad was pleased with the choice made, he replied--

I'll set her up on a bonnie pear-tree,
It's tall and straight, and sae is she;
I'd keep wauken a' night her love to be.

If he was not pleased, he replied in one or other of the next three verses--

I'll set her up ayont the dike,
She'll be rotten ere I be ripe,
The corbies her auld banes wull pike.

I'll set her up on a high crab-tree,
It's sour and dour, and so is she;
She may gang to the mools unkissed by me.

Though she be good and fair to see,
She's for another, and no for me;
But I thank you for your courtesie.

When a girl took the place of the lad, she replied in one or other of the three following, according as she was angry or pleased--

I'll put him in a riddle
And riddle him o'er the sea,
And sell to Johnny Groat's
For a Scotch bawbee.

I'll set him up on my lum-head [chimney],
And blaw him up wi' pouther and lead;
He'll never be kissed though he be dead.

I'll set him up at my table head,
Feed him wi' sweet milk and bread,
If he likes gang hame on his fine steed.

--Biggar (Wm. Ballantyne).

(_b_) In Biggar, all the players were seated round the hearthstone, lads on one side, lassies the other; one lad rising up said the first verse, then one acting as "maister" said the next verse. The young man then said the next two lines, to which the other replied in the two following, and naming at the close any girl he thought would be acceptable. If the lad was pleased he sang the next verse. If he was not pleased with the girl offered him he replied in either of the three following verses. The first of the three was generally said if the girl was thought to be too old; if bad-tempered, the second. If the lad found no fault, but wished to politely refuse, he sang the last verse. The girl then was asked in her turn, and the same formula gone through, she saying either of the three last verses given. Forfeits were demanded for every refusal, and were cried at the end of the game.

(_c_) Mr. Ballantyne writes: "This game was a great favourite in my father's house. This was a forfeit game, forfeits being called 'wadds.'" Chambers, _Popular Rhymes_, p. 124, gives a version of this game. It is practically the same as Mr. Ballantyne's version, with only a few verbal differences. Mactaggart says, "The chief drift of this singular game seemed to be to discover the sweethearts of one another," and such discoveries are thought valuable, but not so much as they were anciently. In any case, it appears to me that the game is an early one, or, at all events, a reflection of early custom.

Hickety, Bickety

Hickety, bickety, pease-scone,
Where shall this poor Scotchman gang?
Will he gang east, or will he gang west,
Or will he gang to the craw's nest?

--Chambers (_Popular Rhymes_, p. 122).

One boy stands with his eyes bandaged and his hands against a wall, with his head resting on them. Another stands beside him repeating the rhyme, whilst the others come one by one and lay their hands upon his back, or jump upon it. When he has sent them all to different places he turns round and calls, "Hickety, bickety!" till they have all rushed back to the place, the last in returning being obliged to take his place, when the game goes on as before.

Chambers adds, "The 'craw's nest' is close beside the eye-bandaged boy, and is therefore an envied position." Newell, _Games_, p. 165, refers to this game.

See "Hot Cockles."

Hickety-hackety

The game of Hop-scotch, played with a piece of tile, which has to be kicked by the player with the foot on which he hops over lines into various squares marked on the ground.--Somersetshire (Elworthy's _Dialect_).

See "Hop-scotch."

Hick, Step, and Jump

The game of "Hop, step, and jump."--Somerset (Holloway's _Dict. of Provincialisms_).

See "Half-Hammer."

Hide and Seek (1)

A writer in _Blackwood's Magazine_, August 1821, p. 36, mentions this as a summer game. It was called "Ho, spy!" the words which are called out by those boys who have hidden. He says the watchword of "Hide and seek" was "hidee," and gives as the rhyme used when playing--

Keep in, keep in, wherever you be,
The greedy gled's seeking ye.

This rhyme is also given by Chambers (_Popular Rhymes_, p. 122). Halliwell gives the rhyme as--

Hitty titty indoors,
Hitty titty out,
You touch Hitty titty,
And Hitty titty will bite you.

--_Nursery Rhymes_, p. 213.

At Ashford-in-the-Water the words used were--

One a bin, two a bin, three a bin, four,
Five a bin, six a bin, seven, gie o'er;
A bunch of pins, come prick my shins,
A loaf brown bread, come knock me down.
I'm coming!

--_Reliquary_, viii. 57.

The words are said by the one who has to find the person hidden.

In Scotland the game is called "Hospy," and is played by boys only, and it can be played only in a village or hamlet in which there is the means of hiding. A Spy is chosen, and a spot, called Parley, is fixed upon at which the Spy stands till all the other players are hid, and to which he can run when pursued. When the players are hid, the cry, "Hospy," _i.e._, "Ho! spy!" is raised by them. The Spy then sets out to find them. The moment he detects one he turns and runs with all his might to the Parley, pursued by the one he has discovered. If he is overtaken, he must carry on his back the pursuer to the Parley. The same thing is gone through till all the players are discovered.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).

Jamieson says, "'Hy Spy,' a game resembling 'Hide and Seek,' but played in a different manner. The station, which in England is called Home, is here the Den, and those who keep it are the Seekers, and are called the Ins. Those who hide themselves, instead of crying 'Hoop,' as in England, cry 'Hy spy;' and they are denominated the Outs. The business of the Ins is, after the signal is given, to lay hold of the Outs before they can reach the den. The captive then becomes one of the Ins; for the honour of the game consists in the privilege of hiding oneself." Jamieson adds, "Hy is still used in calling after a person, to excite attention, or when it is wished to warn him to get out of the way." Strutt describes it as "Harry-Racket," or "Hide and Seek" (_Sports_, p. 381).

At Cork two sides are chosen for Spy; one side hides while the other side hunts. When the hunters see one of the hidden players, they call out, "I spy ----," and the child's name. The player called must run after the Spy and try to catch him before he reaches his Den; if he succeeds, the one caught must go to the opposite side of players, then next time the spies hide, and those who have been hiding, spy (Miss Keane). A more general form of the game is for one child to hide, and to make a noise in a disguised voice to give notice of his whereabouts, or to call out "Whoop!" or "Coo!" Until this noise or call is made, the searchers may not seek him. If when spied or discovered the hider cannot reach home before being caught, he again has to hide (A. B. Gomme).

(_b_) In the parish church of Bawdrip is a monument to Edward Lovell, his wife Eleanor (_née_ Bradford), and their two daughters Maria and Eleanor. The inscription touching the latter is:--"Eleanora . . . obiit Jun. 14, 1681. Hanc, subito et immaturo (ipsos pene inter hymenæos) fato correptam, m[oe]stissimus luxit maritus, et in gratam piamq. parentum sororis et dilectissimæ conjugis memoriam, monumentum hoc erigi voluit." Tradition connects this sudden death--"ipsos pene inter hymenæos"--with the story of the bride playing at "Hide and Seek." It is curious that, in Haynes Bayly's song, the bridegroom's name should be Lovell. There is no mention on the monument of the name of the bereaved husband. The father, Edward Lovell, was fourteen years rector of Bawdrip and fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, and died in 1675, and so could not have been present at the wedding, as represented in the song. He came from Batcombe, near Castle-Cary; at which latter place the Lovells were seated in very early days.--_Notes and Queries_, 4th Ser., ix. 477.

Cope (_Hampshire Glossary_) calls the game "I spy I." Lowsley (_Berkshire Glossary_) says, "In playing this game, the seeker has to call out 'I spy!' to the one he finds before he may start for home." It is called "Hy Spy" in Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_; Evans' _Leicestershire Glossary_, "Hide and Wink;" Barnes' _Dorset Glossary_, "Hidy Buck."

In Pegge's _Alphabet of Kenticisms_ the game is given as "Hide and Fox." _Cf._ "Hide Fox, and all after," _i.e._, let the fox hide and the others go to seek him; Hamlet, iv. 2, 32. In Stead's _Holderness Glossary_, "Hed-o." In the North Riding it is "Lam-pie-sote-it," also called "Felto" in Robinson's _Whitby Glossary_. He also mentions that the hidden child cries "How-ly" to the finder. Apparently the same as the south country "Whoop," a signal to the finder to begin the search. Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_) says this game is called "Felt and Laite." Holland (_Cheshire Glossary_) speaks of it as "I Spy."

See "Davie Drap."

Hide and Seek (2)

[Music]

--London.

I. Beans and butter,
Come home to supper,
'Tis all ready done.

--Hampshire (Miss Mendham).

II. Little pigs come to supper,
Hot boiled beans and ready butter.

--Northall's _Folk Rhymes_, p. 409.

III. Hot beans and butter!
Please to come to supper!

--Much Wenlock (_Shropshire Folklore_, p. 525).

IV. Hot boiled beans, and very good butter,
Ladies and gentlemen, come to supper.

--London (A. B. Gomme).

V. Vesey vasey vum,
Buck aboo has come!
Find it if you can and take it home,
Vesey vasey vum.

--Newlyn West, near Penzance (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 49).

One child hides an article, while those who are to search for it go in another room (or out of the way somewhere). When it is hidden, they are called to find it by one of the above rhymes being sung or said. The searchers are enabled more readily to find the hidden article by being told "hot," "very hot," "scorching," "burning," or "cold," "very cold," and "freezing," when near to or far from the hidden article. Sometimes several may agree to hide the article, and only one to be the finder. In the Penzance game one child is blindfolded, other children hide something, then shout the words. Search is then made for the hidden object: when found, the finder in his turn is blindfolded. There appears to be some mistake in the description of this game.

Hinch-Pinch

The name of an old Christmas game mentioned in _Declaration of Popish Impostures_, 1603.

Hinmost o' Three

A game played on village greens.--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary, Supplement_.

Hirtschin Hairy

The players (boy or girl) cower down on their haunches, "sit doon curriehunkers," and hop round and round the floor like a frog, clapping the hands first in front and then behind, and crying out, "Hirtschin Hairy." It is sometimes called "Hairy Hirtschin." In Lothian the players try to knock each other over by hustling against one another.--Rev. W. Gregor.

Same game as "Harie Hutcheon."

See "Curcuddie," "Cutch-a-cutchoo," "Hop-frog."

Hiry-hag

A boys' game, in which several, joining hands, endeavour to catch another, who, when caught, is beaten with caps, the captors crying out--

Hiry-hiry-hag,
Put him in a bag, &c.

--Ross and Stead's _Holderness Glossary_.

Hiss and Clap

All the boys are requested to leave the room, when the girls take their seats, leaving a vacant place on the right side of each girl for the gentleman of her choice. Each boy in turn is then summoned by another who acts as doorkeeper, and asked to guess which lady he imagines has chosen him for her partner. Should he guess rightly he is allowed to take his seat by the lady who has chosen him, while the other girls loudly clap hands. Should he guess wrongly he is hissed, and sent out of the room by the doorkeeper.--Cork, Ireland (Miss Keane).

At Long Eaton in Nottinghamshire Miss Youngman records a similar game to this, with a rhyme that is probably taken from a popular song or ballad. The successful candidate for the girl's choice claims a kiss, but if unsuccessful he is beaten out of the room with knotted handkerchiefs.

Hitch Jamie; Hitch Jamie, Stride and Loup

The boyish play of "Hop, Step, and Jump."--Atkinson's _Cleveland Glossary_.

Brockett (_North Country Words_) calls this "Hitch."

See "Half-Hammer," "Hick, Step, and Jump."

Hitchapagy

An undescribed Suffolk game.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

Hitchy Cock Ho

An undescribed Suffolk game.--Moor's _Suffolk Words_.

Hity Tity

The Somerset name for "See-Saw."

Hoatie, Hots

When a number of boys agree to have a game at the Pearie or peg-top, a circle is drawn on the ground, within which all the tops must strike and spin. If any of them bounce out of the circle without spinning, it is called a Hoatie. The punishment to which the Hoatie is subjected consists in being placed in the ring, while all the boys whose tops ran fairly have the privilege of striking--or, as it is called, "deggin"--it till it is either split or struck out of the circle. If either of these take place, the boy to whom the Hoatie belonged has the privilege of playing again.--Upper Lanarkshire (Jamieson).

See "Gully," "Hoges."

Hob-in-the-Hall

An old game mentioned by Wycherley (_Plain Dealer_, 1677).

Hockerty Cokerty

The same game as "Cockerty-hooie."

Hockey

This game is played with a solid indiarubber ball from two to two and a half inches in diameter. The players each have a bent or hooked stick or "hockey." They take opposite sides. The object of the game is for each side to drive the ball through their opponents' goal. The goals are each marked by two poles standing about eight to ten feet apart, and boundaries are marked at the sides. The ball is placed in the middle of the ground. It is started by two players who stand opposite each other, the ball lying between their two sticks. They first touch the ground with their hockey-sticks, then they touch or strike their opponents' stick. This is repeated three times. At the third stroke they both try to hit the ball away. The ball may only be played by a hockey-stick, and a goal is gained when the ball is played between the posts by the opposing party.--Barnes (A. B. Gomme).

(_b_) In Ross and Stead's _Holderness Glossary_ this game is described under the name of "Shinnup." Robinson (_Mid Yorkshire Glossary_) gives it under "Shinnops," a youth's game with a ball and stick, heavy at the striking end, the player man[oe]uvring to get as many strokes as possible and to drive the ball distances. "Shinnoping" is also used for the game in operation. "Jowling," or "Jowls," is given in Robinson's _Whitby Glossary_, as a game played much the same as "Hockey." "Baddin" is the name given to it in Holland's _Cheshire Glossary_. Another name is "Doddart" (Brockett, _North Country Words_).

(_c_) An old custom in vogue in bygone days was Rotherham Fair, or what was called "Whipping Toms," which took place in the Newarkes every Shrove Tuesday. So soon as the pancake bell rang men and boys assembled with sticks having a knob or hook at the end. A wooden ball was thrown down, and two parties engaged in striving which could get the ball by striking it with their sticks to one end of the Newarke first--those who did so were the victors. This game was called "Shinney," or "Hockey." About one o'clock the Whipping Toms appeared on the scene of action. These were three men clad in blue smock frocks, with very long waggon whips, who were accompanied by three men with small bells. They commenced driving the men and boys out of the Newarkes. It was very dangerous sometimes; they would lash the whip in such a manner round the legs of those they were pursuing as to throw them down, which produced laughter and shouting. Some would stop, and turn to the whipper and say, "Let's have a pennyworth," and he would guard and parry off the lashes with his shinney stick. When the whipper was successful in lashing him he demanded his penny, and continued lashing until he paid. This was continued until five o'clock, then the game terminated. This was suppressed, I believe, in 1847. At that period it was a prevalent idea that it could not be abolished, as it was connected with an "old charter." It is believed in the town that this custom was to commemorate the driving out of the Danes from the Newarkes at the time they besieged Leicester.--Leicester (Robert Hazlewood).

See "Bandy," "Camp," "Football," "Hood," "Hurling."

Hoges

"The hoges," a boy's game played with "peeries" (peg-tops). The victor is entitled to give a certain number of blows with the spike of his peerie to the wood part of his opponent's.--Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.

See "Gully," "Hoatie."

Ho-go

A game played with marbles. The first player holds up a number in his closed hand and says, "Ho-go;" the second says, "Handfull;" the first then says, "How many?" The other guesses. If he should guess correctly he is entitled to take them all; but otherwise he must give the difference between the number he guessed and the number actually held up to make.--Lowsley's _Berkshire Words_. It is also called "How many eggs in a basket?"--London (J. P. Emslie).

See "Hairry my Bossie."

Hoilakes

The name of a game of marbles which are cast into a hole in the ground.--Easther's _Almondbury and Huddersfield Glossary_.

Holy Bang

A game with marbles, which consists in placing a marble in a hole and making it act as a target for the rest. The marble which can hit it three times in succession, and finally be shot into the hole, is the winning ball, and its owner gets all the other marbles which have missed before he played.--London (_Strand Magazine_, ii. 519).

See "Bridgeboard," "Capie Hole," "Hundreds."

Honey Pots

[Music]

--London (J. P. Emslie).

A number of children stoop down in a row, clasping their hands under their legs. One child stands in front of them, and acts as owner or seller; another acts as purchaser (fig. 1). The purchaser inquires--

Have you any honey pots for sale?
Yes, plenty; will you walk round and taste them?

The purchaser goes round, pretending to taste each one in turn, inquiring the price and weight; finds fault with several, one being too sweet and the other not fresh enough, and so on. When one honey pot is discovered to the purchaser's taste, she is lifted by the purchaser and owner, or by two children who act as weights or scales, and then swung by her arms backwards and forwards to estimate her weight and price (fig. 2). As long as the child can keep her hands clasped, so long is the swinging kept up; and as many times as they count, so many is the number of pounds she weighs. The seller sometimes said, when each one was bought--

Take her and bake her,
And into pies make her,
And bring her back
When she is done.

They were not brought back, and the "owner" had to catch and bring back each one. When sold, the honey pot is taken to the other side, or "home" of the purchaser. The game goes on till all the honey pots are sold.--London (A. B. Gomme).

In Sporle, a girl clasps her hands under her legs to form a seat, and two others swing her by the arms, saying--

Honey pot, honey pot, over the river;
When the old cat dies you shall have the liver.

--Miss Matthews.

In a version sent by Miss Chase, and told her by a London maidservant, the children sit as in "Hunt the Slipper." One steps in a corner out of earshot; the rest are named "Gooseberry Tart," "Cherry Tart," &c., by another, who recalls the child in the corner with--

Fool, fool, come to school,
Pick me out a [cherry tart, as the case may be].

If he chooses the wrong one he is told--

Go back and learn your A, B, C.

If rightly--

Take him and bake him,
And give me a piece
When he's done.

The child is then led off in a squatting position. Later the one who named them pretends tasting, and says, "Very nice," or "You must be baked longer," when another squatting walk and wait takes place.

A version sent by Mr. J. P. Emslie is similar to the other London versions--

"Buy my fine honey to-day.
Which shall I buy?
Taste 'em and try.

The child would then go round, pretending to taste, saying, 'Don't like that one,' till one was approved. That one was then swung round to the tune given, the words being--

An apple for the king and a pear for the queen,
And a good jump over the bowling green.

At the last bar they swung the child higher and higher, and at the last note they swung it as high as they could. I believe the last note in the music should be G, but it was raised to give effect."

In Scotland the game is called "Hinnie Pigs," and is played as follows. The boys sit down in rows, hands locked beneath their hams. Round comes one of them, the honey merchant, who feels those who are sweet and sour, by lifting them by the arm-pits and giving them three shakes. If they stand these without the hands unlocking below they are then sweet and saleable, fit for being office-bearers of other ploys.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.

In Ross and Stead's _Holderness Glossary_ this is described as a girls' game, in which two carry a third as a pot of honey to market. It is mentioned by Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_) and by Holland (_Cheshire Glossary_). Mr. Holland adds, "If the hands give way before twenty is reached it is counted a bad honey pot; if not, it is a good one."

In Dublin the seller sings out--

Honey pots, honey pots, all in a row,
Twenty-five shillings wherever you go--
Who'll buy my honey pots?

--Mrs. Lincoln.

The game is mentioned by a writer in _Blackwood's Magazine_, August 1821, p. 36, as being played in Edinburgh when he was a boy.

Hood

A game played at Haxey, in the Isle of Axholme, on the 6th of January. The Hood is a piece of sacking, rolled tightly up and well corded, and which weighs about six pounds. This is taken into an open field on the north side of the church, to be contended for by the youths assembled for that purpose. When the Hood is about to be thrown up, the Plough-bullocks or Boggins, as they are called, dressed in scarlet jackets, are placed amongst the crowd at certain distances. Their persons are sacred, and if amidst the general row the Hood falls into the hands of one of them, the sport begins again. The object of the person who seizes the Hood is to carry off the prize to some public-house in the town, where he is rewarded with such liquor as he chooses to call for. This pastime is said to have been instituted by the Mowbrays, and that the person who furnished the Hood did so as a tenure by which he held some land under the lord. How far this tradition may be founded on fact I do not know, but no person now acknowledges to hold any land by that tenure.--Stonehouse's _Isle of Axholme_, p. 291.

W. J. Woolhouse (_Notes and Queries_, 2nd series, v. 95) says when the Hood is thrown up by the Chief of the Boggons or by the officials, it becomes the object of the villagers to get the Hood to their own village, the other eleven men, called Boggons, being stationed at the corners and sides of the field, to prevent, if possible, its being thrown out of the field; and should it chance to fall into any of their hands, it is "boggoned," and forthwith returned to the chief, who again throws it up, as at the commencement of the game. The next day is occupied by the Boggons going round the villages singing as waits, and they are regaled with hot furmenty; from some they get coppers given them, and from others a small measure of wheat. The day after that they assume the character of Plough-bullocks, and at a certain part of Westwood-side they "smoke the Fool"--that is, straw is brought by those who like, and piled in a heap, a rope being tied or slung over the branches of the tree next to the pile of straw; the other end of the rope is fastened round the waist of the Fool, and he is drawn up and fire is put to the straw, the Fool being swung to and fro through the smoke until he is well-nigh choked, after which he goes round and collects whatever the spectators choose to give him. The sport is then at an end till the next year. The land left by Lady Mowbray was forty acres, which are known by the name of "Hoodlands," and the Boggons' dresses and the Hood are made from its proceeds.

In the contiguous parish of Epworth a similar game is played under the same name, but with some variations. The Hood is not here carried away from the field, but to certain goals, against which it is struck three times and then declared free. This is called "wyking" the Hood, which is afterwards thrown up again for a fresh game.--_Notes and Queries_, 6th series, vii. 148.

See "Football," "Hockey."

Hoodle-cum-blind

Name for "Blind Man's Buff."--Baker's _Northamptonshire Glossary_.

Hoodman Blind

Name for "Blind Man's Buff." Mentioned in _Hamlet_, iii. 4; _Merry Devil of Edmonton_; and _Wise Women of Hogsden_.

Hooper's Hide

Name for "Blind Man's Buff."--Nares' _Glossary_.

Hop-crease

The game of "Hop-scotch."--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

Hop-frog

The players bend as though about to sit on a _very low_ stool, then spring about with their hands resting on their knees.--Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 234).

Miss Peacock says that a game called "Hop-frog over the Dog" is played at Stixwould, Lincolnshire, in the same way as "Leap-frog."

See "Curcuddie," "Cutch-a-cutchoo," "Harie Hutcheon," "Hirtschin Hairy."

Hop-score

Game of "Hop-scotch."--Hunter's _Glossary of Hallamshire_.

Hop-scotch

A game, the object of which is to eject a stone, slate, or "dump" out of a form linearly marked on the ground in different directions, by hopping without touching any of the lines.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

In the plan (fig. 8) the players first lay the stone on the back of the hand, and _walk_ through the plan, stepping into each division, throw it up and catch it. Then the stone is _thrown_ back from No. 7 outside No. 1. Now it is placed on the toe, and the child walks through again, throwing up the foot when out, to catch the stone in the hand. Another way, done on the same plan, is for the player to place the stone in No. 1, leave it there, and hop into each division and back, then place it in No. 2, and repeat the hopping, and so on through all the figures. There is no _kicking_ of the stone, as is usual in London.--Roxton, St. Neots (Miss Lumley).

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.]

From Crockham Hill, Kent, Miss Chase sends four versions. In the first plan (fig. 1) the game is:--Throw stone into No. 1. Hop from No. 1 to No. 5 and back. Then pick it up. So on successively. After having thrown it into No. 5, begin to reverse by throwing stone into No. 1 while standing at No. 5--return with it on your thumb. Throw into No. 2--return with stone on your eye. Throw into No. 3--return with stone in your palm. Throw into No. 4--return with stone on your head. Throw into No. 5--return with stone on your back. In each case, upon reaching the goal without dropping it, throw up and catch it as it falls.

In the second plan (fig. 2) the game is:--Throw stone into No. 1. Pick it up. Hop, not touching lines, from No. 1 to No. 4, and "out." Throw stone into No. 2. Do as before. And so successively into Nos. 3 and 4. Next balance stone on shoe, then on the palm of hand, then on the back of hand, then on the head, then on the shoulder, then on the eye (tilt head back to keep it from falling). In each case walk round once with it so balanced and catch at end.

In the third plan (fig. 3) the game is:--Put pebble in No. 1. Pick up. Hop, having one foot in No. 2 and the other in No. 3. Step into No. 4. Hop, having one foot in No. 5 and the other in No. 6. Jump round. Go back as you came. Then with stone on shoe, walk through the figure, kick it up and catch at the close. Place stone on eyelid; walk through the same figure, dropping it off into hand at close. This is called "jumping."

In the fourth plan (fig. 4) the game is:--Throw stone into No. 1. Pick it up. Hop from No. 1 to No. 8, not touching lines. So successively into Nos. 2, 3, 4, &c. Walk into No. 1 with stone on foot, and out at No. 8. Kick it up and catch it. The same with stone on thumb. Toss it up and catch. Again with stone on your back. Straighten up, let it slide into your hand.

In Stead's _Holderness Glossary_, this is described as a boys' or girls' game, in which the pavement is chalked with numbered crossed lines, and a pebble or piece of crockery is propelled onward by the foot, the performer hopping on one leg, the number reached on the chalk-line being scored to him or her. At Whitby it is called "Pally-ully," and played with rounded pieces of pot the size of a penny. Divisions are chalked on the pavement, and the "pally-ullies" are impelled within the lines by a hop on one leg, and a side shuffle with the same foot (_Whitby Glossary_). It is sometimes called "Tray-Trip." Atkinson describes the figure as oblong, with many angular compartments (_Cleveland Glossary_). Jamieson defines "Beds" as "Hop-scotch," a game denominated from the form, sometimes by strangers called squares. In Aberdeen the spaces marked out are sometimes circular.