“Settled the whole concern,
By me John Naish.”
Nine Men’s Morris.
To the Editor of the Every-Day Book.
Ludgate-hill, 10th Nov. 1826.
Dear Sir,—I was much pleased on reading and being reminded of an ancient game in your book, called [Ninepenny-marl]; a game I had scarcely heard of during the last twenty years, although perfectly familiar to me in my boyish days, and played exactly the same as described by your correspondent P.[559]
I have since visited my native county, Norfolk, and find the game is still played by the rustics, and called, as it always has been there, “the game of Morris,” or “Nine Men’s Morris.” The scheme is frequently chalked on the ground or barn floors, and the game played with different coloured stones or beans. I think the name is more appropriate than “Ninepenny-marl;” and moreover, we of Norfolk have the authority of our immortal bard in his “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” where the queen of the fairies, speaking to Oberon, says, “The Nine Men’s Morris is filled up with mud.”
There are some men who are not a little proud at being proficients at this game. I heard an anecdote at North Walsham of a man named Mayes, still living in that neighbourhood, who is so great a lover of the pastime, that a wager was laid by some wags, that they would prevent his going to church, by tempting him to play; and, in order to accomplish their purpose, they got into a house, building by the road side, where Mayes was sure to pass. Being a great psalm-singer, he had a large book under his arm; they called him in to settle some disputed point about the game, and he was very soon tempted to play, and continued to do so till church time was over, and got a good scolding from his wife for being too late for dinner.
I have been led to make these remarks from the pleasure I have derived from your publication; and you may excuse me, perhaps, if I add, with a smile, that I have found some amusement in the game of Morris, by playing it with my chess men: it requires more art to play it well, than you would imagine at first sight.
I am, dear sir,
Yours sincerely,
T. B.