The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 11

The game of "Cricket," played with a bandy instead of a bat (Halliwell's _Dictionary_). Toone mentions it as played in Norfolk (_Dict._), and Moor as played in Suffolk with bricks usually, or, in their absence, with bats in place of bails or stumps (_Suffolk Words_).

Banger

Each boy provides himself with a b.u.t.ton. One of the boys lays his b.u.t.ton on the ground, near a wall. The other boys snap their b.u.t.tons in turn against the wall. If the b.u.t.ton drops within one span or hand-reach of the b.u.t.ton laid down, it counts two (fig. 2); if within two spans, it counts one. When it hits the b.u.t.ton and bounces within one span, it counts four (fig. 1); within two spans, three; and above three spans, one. Each player snaps in turn for an agreed number; the first to score this number wins the game.-Deptford, Kent, and generally in London streets (Miss Chase).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 1.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 2.]

This game is known in America as "Spans."-Newell, p. 188.

Bar

To play at "Bar," a species of game anciently used in Scotland.-Jamieson.

This game had in ancient times in England been simply denominated "Bars," or, as in an Act of James IV., 1491, edit. 1814, p. 227: "That na induellare within burgh ... play at bar," "playing at Bars."

See "Prisoner's Base."

Barbarie, King of the

I. O will you surrender, O will you surrender To the King of the Barbarie?

We won't surrender, we won't surrender To the King of the Barbarie.

I'll go and complaint, I'll go and complaint To the King of the Barbarie.

You can go and complaint, you can go and complaint To the King of the Barbarie.

Good morning, young Prince, good morning, young Prince, I have a complaint for you.

What is your complaint?

What is your complaint?

They won't surrender, they won't surrender To the King of the Barbarie.

Take one of my brave soldiers, Take one of my brave soldiers.

-Deptford, Kent (Miss Chase).

II. Will you surrender, will you surrender To the King of the Barbarines?

We won't surrender, we won't surrender To the King of the Barbarines.

We'll make you surrender, we'll make you surrender To the King of the Barbarines.

You can't make us surrender, you can't make us surrender To the King of the Barbarines.

We'll go to the King, we'll go to the King, To the King of the Barbarines.

You can go to the King, you can go to the King, To the King of the Barbarines.

-Clapham, Surrey (Miss F. D. Richardson).

III. Will you surrender, will you surrender The Tower of Barbaree?

We won't surrender, we won't surrender The Tower of Barbaree.

We will go and tell the Queen, Go and tell the Queen of Barbaree.

Don't care for the Queen, don't care for the Queen, The Queen of Barbaree.

Good morning, young Queen, good morning, young Queen, I have a complaint to thee.

Pray what is your complaint to me?

They won't surrender, they won't surrender The Tower of Barbaree.

Take one of my brave soldiers.

-Lady Camilla Gurdon's _Suffolk County Folk-lore_, p. 63.

IV. You must surrend' me, you must surrend' me To the Queen of Barbaloo.

No, we'll not surrend' you, no, we'll not surrend' you To the Queen of Barbaloo.

We'll complain, we'll complain, &c.

[To the Queen of Barbaloo.]

You can complain, you can complain, &c.

[To the Queen of Barbaloo.]

-Penzance (Mrs. Mabbott).

(_b_) Two children stand together joining hands tightly, to personate a fortress; one child stands at a distance from these to personate the King of Barbarie, with other children standing behind to personate the soldiers (fig. 1). Some of the soldiers go to the fortress and surround it, singing the first verse (fig. 2). The children in the fortress reply, the four first verses being thus sung alternately. The soldiers then go to the King singing the fifth verse (fig. 3), the remaining verses being thus sung alternately. One of the soldiers then goes to the fortress and endeavours by throwing herself on the clasped hands of the children forming the fortress to break down the guard (fig. 4). All the soldiers try to do this, one after the other; finally the King comes, who breaks down the guard. The whole troop of soldiers then burst through the parted arms (fig. 5).

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 1.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 2.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 3.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 4.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 5.]