JUDGE AND JURY.
The players elect a judge and three jurors.
Before the game begins, the players, except the judge and jury, take the names of historical personages, as Alfred the Great, Queen Philippa, etc. The judge calls up a player, and asks questions about his or her reign or life.
The player must pay a forfeit for any mistake in answering.
We will suppose a number of children engaged in this play. Edith is the judge. She reads from a paper handed to her:
"I find on my list Sir Philip Sidney, Semiramis, Philippa, Joan of Arc, Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth, and Mary of Scotland. Come before us, Sir Philip Sidney, and tell us in whose reign you lived."
Anthony (as Sir Philip Sidney). I lived in the reign of the great Queen Elizabeth, and my home was in Kent.
Judge. What did you do in your lifetime?
Anthony. I wrote books, and I fought and fell at Zutphen.
Judge. On which action of your past life can you look back with most pleasure?
Anthony. Giving a cup of cold water to a dying soldier on the field of battle.
Judge. You may go without a forfeit. Now, Semiramis, what have you to say for yourself?
Mary. I was very ambitious, and have no good to say of myself.
Judge. Where did you live?
Mary. In Nineveh and Babylon. I built Babylon chiefly myself.
Judge. Relate your story as well as you can.
Mary. I showed King Ninus how to take a city, but he must have been very stupid not to think of such an easy plan himself. He married me. I asked him to let me be Queen for a day, and the first use I made of my power was to cut off his head. I fought a great deal when I became Queen all alone, but at last I was killed.
Judge. Your story is quite correct, I believe, but the jury wish to say something.
Jury. We think Mary must pay a forfeit for choosing the name of so bad a Queen. (Mary pays it.)
Judge. Queen Philippa, come forward.
Queen Philippa relates her story, but as she forgot her favorite poet, Chaucer, when she was questioned about him, she had to pay a forfeit.
Joan of Arc forgot the name of the King for whom she fought, and had to pay a forfeit.
Queen Margaret could not repeat the names of her twelve battles, and paid a forfeit.
Elizabeth was correct in all matters, like a wise Queen as she was.
Mary of Scotland forgot where she had been brought up, and also paid a forfeit.
After this the judge and jury may be changed.
It is always a good plan to prepare beforehand for this game, as it is mortifying to little students to make too many mistakes.