The games consist of two main divisions, which may be called descriptive, and singing or choral. The descriptive games are arranged so as to give the most perfect type, and, where they occur, variable types in succession, followed, where possible, by any suggestions I have to make as to the possible origin of the game. The singing games are arranged so as to give, first, the tunes; secondly, the different versions of the game-rhymes; thirdly, the method of playing; fourthly, an analysis of the game-rhymes on a plan arranged by my husband, and which is an entirely novel feature in discussing the history of games; fifthly, a discussion of the results of the analysis of the rhymes so far as the different versions allow; and sixthly, an attempt to deduce from the evidence thus collected suggestions as to the probable origin of the game, together with such references to early authorities and other facts bearing upon the subject as help to elucidate the views expressed. Where the method of playing the game is involved, or where there are several changes in the forms, diagrams or illustrations, which have been drawn by Mr. J. P. Emslie, are inserted in order to assist the reader to understand the different actions, and in one or two instances I have been able to give a facsimile reproduction of representations of the games from early MSS. in the Bodleian and British Museum Libraries.
Although none of the versions of the games now collected together are in their original form, but are more or less fragmentary, it cannot, I think, fail to be noticed how extremely interesting these games are, not only from the point of view of the means of amusement (and under this head there can be no question of their interest), but as a means of obtaining an insight into many of the customs and beliefs of our ancestors. Children do not invent, but they imitate or mimic very largely, and in many of these games we have, there is little doubt, unconscious folk-dramas of events and customs which were at one time being enacted as a part of the serious concerns of life before the eyes of children many generations ago. As to the many points of interest under this and other heads there is no occasion to dwell at length here, because the second volume will contain an appendix giving a complete analysis of the incidents mentioned in the games, and an attempt to tell the story of their origin and development, together with a comparison with the games of children of foreign countries.
The intense pleasure which the collection of these games has given me has been considerably enhanced by the many expressions of the same kind of pleasure from correspondents who have helped me, it not being an infrequent case for me to be thanked for reviving some of the keenest pleasures experienced by the collector since childhood; and I cannot help thinking that, if these traditional games have the power of thus imparting pleasure after the lapse of many years, they must contain the power of giving an equal pleasure to those who may now learn them for the first time.
ALICE BERTHA GOMME.
Barnes Common, S.W.,
Jan. 1894.
LIST OF AUTHORITIES
| ENGLAND. | ||
| Halliwell’s Nursery Rhymes. | ||
| Halliwell’s Dictionary, ed. 1889. | ||
| Holloway’s Dictionary, ed. 1838. | ||
| Strutt’s Sports and Pastimes, ed. 1831. | ||
| Brand’s Popular Antiquities, ed. 1875. | ||
| Nares’ Glossary, ed. 1872. | ||
| Grose’s Dictionary, 1823. | ||
| Notes and Queries. | ||
| Reliquary. | ||
| English Dialect Society Publications. | ||
| Folk-lore Society Publications, 1878-1892. | ||
| Bedfordshire— | ||
| Luton | Mrs. Ashdown. | |
| Roxton | Miss Lumley. | |
| Berkshire | Lowsley’s Glossary. | |
| Enborne | Miss Kimber. | |
| Fernham, Longcot | Miss I. Barclay. | |
| Newbury | Mrs. S. Batson, Miss Kimber. | |
| Sulhampstead | Miss Thoyts (Antiquary, vol. xxvii.) | |
| Cambridgeshire— | ||
| Cambridge | Mrs. Haddon. | |
| Cheshire | Darlington’s, Holland’s, Leigh’s, and Wilbraham’s Glossaries. | |
| Congleton | Miss A. E. Twemlow. | |
| Cornwall | Folk-lore Journal, v., Courtney’s Glossary. | |
| Penzance | Miss Courtney, Mrs. Mabbott. | |
| Cumberland | Dickinson’s Glossary. | |
| Derbyshire | Folk-lore Journal, vol. i., Mrs. Harley, Mr. S. O. Addy. | |
| Dronfield, Eckington, Egan | Mr. S. O. Addy. | |
| Devonshire | Halliwell’s Dictionary. | |
| Dorsetshire | Barnes’ Glossary, Folk-lore Journal, vol. vii. | |
| Durham | Brockett’s North Country Words, ed. 1846. | |
| Gainford | Miss Eddleston. | |
| South Shields | Miss Blair. | |
| Essex— | ||
| Bocking | Folk-lore Record, vol. iii. pt. 2. | |
| Colchester | Miss G. M. Francis. | |
| Gloucestershire | Holloway’s Dictionary, Midland Garner. | |
| Shepscombe, Cheltenham | Miss Mendham. | |
| Forest of Dean | Miss Matthews. | |
| Hampshire | Cope’s Glossary, Miss Mendham. | |
| Bitterne | Mrs. Byford. | |
| Liphook | Miss Fowler. | |
| Hampshire[xii]— | ||
| Hartley, Winchfield, Witney | Mr. H. S. May. | |
| Southampton | Mrs. W. R. Carse. | |
| Isle of Man | Mr. A. W. Moore. | |
| Isle of Wight— | ||
| Cowes | Miss E. Smith. | |
| Kent | Pegge’s Alphabet of Kenticisms. | |
| Bexley Heath | Miss Morris. | |
| Crockham Hill, Deptford | Miss Chase. | |
| Platt | Miss Burne. | |
| Wrotham | Miss D. Kimball. | |
| Lancashire | Nodal and Milner’s Glossary, Harland and Wilkinson’s Folk-lore, ed. 1882, Mrs. Harley. | |
| Monton | Miss Dendy. | |
| Leicestershire | Evan’s Glossary. | |
| Leicester | Miss Ellis. | |
| Lincolnshire | Peacock’s, Cole’s, and Brogden’s Glossaries, Rev. —— Roberts. | |
| Anderby, Botterford, Brigg, Frodingham, Horncastle, North Kelsey, Stixwould, Winterton | Miss Peacock. | |
| East Kirkby | Miss K. Maughan. | |
| Metheringham | Mr. C. C. Bell. | |
| Middlesex | Miss Collyer. | |
| Hanwell | Mrs. G. L. Gomme. | |
| London | Miss Chase, Miss F. D. Richardson, Mr. G. L. Gomme, Mrs. G. L. Gomme, Mr. J. P. Emslie, Miss Dendy, Mr. J. T. Micklethwaite (Archæological Journal, vol. xlix.), Strand Magazine, vol. ii. | |
| Norfolk | Forby’s Vocabulary, Spurden’s Vocabulary, Mr. J. Doe. | |
| Sporle, Swaffham | Miss Matthews. | |
| Northamptonshire | Baker’s Glossary, Northants Notes and Queries, Revue Celtique, vol. iv., Rev. W. D. Sweeting. | |
| Maxey | Rev. W. D. Sweeting. | |
| Northumberland | Brockett’s Provincial Words, ed. 1846. | |
| Hexham | Miss J. Barker. | |
| Nottinghamshire | Miss Peacock. | |
| Long Eaton | Miss Youngman. | |
| Nottingham | Miss Winfield, Miss Peacock. | |
| Ordsall | Miss Matthews. | |
| Oxfordshire | Aubrey’s Remains, ed. 1880. | |
| Oxford | Miss Fowler. | |
| Summertown | Midland Garner, vol. ii. | |
| Shropshire | Burne’s Shropshire Folk-lore. | |
| Madeley, Middleton | Miss Burne. | |
| Tong | Miss R. Harley. | |
| Somersetshire[xiii] | Elworthy’s Dialect, Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries, Holloway’s Dictionary. | |
| Bath | Miss Large. | |
| Staffordshire— | ||
| Hanbury | Miss E. Hollis. | |
| Cheadle | Miss Burne. | |
| Tean, North Staffordshire Potteries | Miss Keary, Miss Burne, Mrs. T. Lawton. | |
| Wolstanton | Miss Keary. | |
| Suffolk | Moor’s Suffolk Words, Forby’s Vocabulary, Lady C. Gurdon’s Suffolk County Folk-lore. | |
| Surrey— | ||
| Barnes | Mrs. G. L. Gomme. | |
| Clapham | Miss F. D. Richardson. | |
| Hersham | Folk-lore Record, vol. v. | |
| Redhill | Miss G. Hope. | |
| Sussex | Parish’s Dialect, Holloway’s Dictionary, Toone’s Dictionary. | |
| Hurstmonceux | Miss Chase. | |
| Shipley, Horsham, West Grinstead | Miss R. H. Busk (Notes and Queries). | |
| Ninfield | Mr. C. Wise. | |
| Warwickshire | Northall’s Folk Rhymes, Notes and Queries, Northants Notes and Queries, Mr. C. C. Bell. | |
| Wiltshire— | ||
| Marlborough, Manton, Ogbourne | Mr. H. S. May. | |
| Worcestershire | Chamberlain’s Glossary. | |
| Upton-on-Severn | Lawson’s Glossary. | |
| Yorkshire | Atkinson’s, Addy’s, Easther’s, Hunter’s, Robinson’s, Ross and Stead’s Glossaries, Henderson’s Folk-lore, ed. 1879. | |
| Almondbury | Easther’s Glossary. | |
| Epworth, Lossiemouth | Mr. C. C. Bell. | |
| Earls Heaton, Haydon, Holmfirth | Mr. H. Hardy. | |
| Settle | Rev. W. S. Sykes. | |
| Sharleston | Miss Fowler, Rev. G. T. Royds. | |
| Sheffield | Mr. S. O. Addy, Miss Lucy Garnett. | |
| Wakefield | Miss Fowler. | |
| SCOTLAND. | ||
| Chambers’ Popular Rhymes, ed. 1870. | ||
| Mactaggart’s Gallovidian Encyclopædia, ed. 1871. | ||
| Jamieson’s Etymological Dictionary, ed. 1872-1889. | ||
| Folk-lore Society Publications. | ||
| Aberdeen— | ||
| Pitsligo | Rev. W. Gregor. | |
| Banffshire—[xiv] | ||
| Duthil, Keith, Strathspey | Rev. W. Gregor. | |
| Elgin— | ||
| Fochabers | Rev. W. Gregor. | |
| Kirkcudbright— | ||
| Auchencairn | Prof. A. C. Haddon. | |
| Lanarkshire— | ||
| Biggar | Mr. Wm. Ballantyne. | |
| Lanark | Mr. W. G. Black. | |
| Nairn— | ||
| Nairn | Rev. W. Gregor. | |
| IRELAND. | ||
| Folk-lore Society Publications. | ||
| Notes and Queries. | ||
| Antrim and Down | Patterson’s Glossary. | |
| Clare— | ||
| Kilkee | G. H. Kinahan (Folk-lore Journal, vol. ii.) | |
| Cork— | ||
| Cork | Mrs. B. B. Green, Miss Keane. | |
| Down— | ||
| Ballynascaw | Miss C. N. Patterson. | |
| Belfast | Mr. W. H. Patterson. | |
| Holywood | Miss C. N. Patterson. | |
| Dublin— | ||
| Dublin | Mrs. Lincoln. | |
| Louth— | ||
| Annaverna, Ravendale | Miss R. Stephen. | |
| Queen’s County— | ||
| Portarlington | G. H. Kinahan (Folk-lore Journal, vol. ii.) | |
| Waterford— | ||
| Lismore | Miss Keane. | |
| WALES. | ||
| Byegones. | ||
| Folk-lore Society Publications. | ||
| Carmarthenshire— | ||
| Beddgelert | Mrs. Williams. | |