Here come three sailors, three by three,
A courting your daughter, Caroline Mee;
[Some would sing it “Because your daughter”]
Can we have a lodging here to-night?

Sleep, daughter, do not wake,
Here’s three sailors we can’t take;
You cannot have a lodging here to-night.

Here come three soldiers, three by three,
A courting your daughter, Caroline Mee;
Can we have a lodging here to-night?

Sleep, daughter, do not wake,
Here’s three soldiers we can’t take;
You cannot have a lodging here to-night.

[This is repeated for “kings,” and the game ends as in the previous versions. “Three” hundred pounds being substituted for “five.”]

—Deptford, Kent (Miss Chase).

VI.

Here come some travellers three by three,
And down by a door they bend their knee.
“Can we get lodgings here?”
The fairest one that I can see
Is pretty little ——, come to me,
And you’ll get lodgings here—
“Will you come?” “Yes,” or “No!”

—Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).

(c) The players form in two lines, and stand facing one another. One line consists of a mother and daughters. The other of the suitors. The mother stands a little in advance of her daughters. They remain stationary during the game, the mother alone singing the words on her side. The suitors advance and retire in line while singing their verses. The mother turns partly round when singing the two first lines of her verses addressing her daughters, and then faces the suitors when singing to them the remaining two lines. When she accepts the “kings” she brings one of her daughters forward, presents her to the suitors, and shows them the money in her pocket, and the ring on her finger. The daughter goes with the kings, who take her a little way apart, pretend to rob her of her ring, money, and clothes, and then bring her back to her mother, and sing the last verse. They then run off in all directions, and the mother and daughters chase and catch them, and they change sides. Sometimes all the daughters are taken by the suitors before they are robbed and brought back. The game is also played by five players only; three representing the sailors or suitors, and two the mother and daughter. The mother then chases the suitors, and whoever she catches becomes the daughter the next game. These are the usual methods of playing. In the [Norfolk version] the middle one of the three suitors takes the girl, robs her, and all three bring her back and sing the verses. In the [Isle of Man version] one player sits down, the others join hands, advance and retire singing the lines. The girl who is chosen joins the one sitting down.