The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 38

The Fox gives warning It's a cold and frosty morning,

after which he is at liberty to hop out and use his handkerchief.

_(b)_ This game is alluded to in _Soliman and Perseda_, 1599; _Florio_, p. 480; _Herrick_, i. 176. See Halliwell's _Dictionary_. Professor Mayor communicated to the _Gentleman's Magazine_ of 1848 (ii.), p. 147, the following early allusions to the game from old dictionaries:-

Gouldman, London, MDCLXIV.-"_Ascoliasmus_, Empusae ludus: a kind of play wherein boys lift up one leg and hop with the other, where they beat one another with bladders tied to the end of strings. Fox to thy hole."

Holyoke, MDCLXXVII.-"_Empusa_. pa?? t? ??? p?d??e??, qud uno incedat pede. Hence _empusam agere_ is used for a play, hopping on one leg; with us, Fox to his hole."

Id. "_Ascoliasmus._ A kind of play that children use when they hop on one leg, called Fox to thy hole."

Cambridge Dict. MDCXCIII.-"_Ascol._ A kind of play wherein boys hopping on one leg beat one another with gloves or pieces of leather, and is called Fox to thy hole."

Coles, 7th ed. 1711.-"_Ascol._ The play called Fox to the hole.-_Empus._ Ludus Empusae. Scotch hoppers, or Fox in the hole."

A similar game to this is played at Earls Heaton, Yorkshire (Mr. Hardy), and called "Goose and Gander." Two players, the Goose and the Gander, stand in a ring, each on one leg. They hop out in turn, and try to catch one of the other players without letting their other leg touch the ground. If they fail in this they get "strapped" back to the ring. When either are successful, the player who is caught takes the place of either Goose or Gander in turn. The game is also mentioned in _Useful Transactions in Philosophy_, 1708-9.

French Jackie

This game is played either by boys or girls or by both together. One is chosen to stand alone; the other players join hands and form a circle.

The one outside the circle goes round it and touches on the back one of the circle. He then runs off round the circle, and the one who was touched runs off in the opposite direction round the circle. The aim of each player is to reach the vacant place in the circle first. The one left out has to repeat the same action. The game may go on for any length of time.-Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).

At Barnes this game is called "Gap." It is known as "French Tag" in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire (Miss Matthews), and "Tap-back" at Bitterne, Hants (Mrs. Adam).

French and English

The children choose sides under a leader, and a boundary line is made in the middle of the ground dividing the French and English territory. A handkerchief is then placed in the back part of each territory to represent a flag. The object is to obtain as many flags from the opposite side as possible. If a person is captured before having seized a flag, he is taken prisoner, and must be rescued by one of his own side. Thus, for instance, an Englishman enters the French territory and tries to reach the flag. If he is seen by the French before he reaches the flag, he is taken prisoner and is placed near the flags, and the next Englishman rescues him instead of taking a flag. As soon as the flag is taken, one of the party must put another handkerchief in its place. A player cannot be taken prisoner after having obtained the handkerchief or flag. The winning side is decided by counting the flags and prisoners.-Bitterne, Hants (Mrs. Byford).

This is a very general game, and is known as "Scotch and English" in the north, where some interesting details occur, for which see "Scotch and English."

French Blindman's Buff

The children kneel in a circle, one standing blindfolded in the middle.

The kneeling children shout, "Come point to me with your pointer."-Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).

See "Buff," "Dinah," "m.u.f.fin Man."

Friar-rush

A Christmas game, mentioned in the _Declaration of Popish Impostures_, 1603.

Frincy-francy

A game played between the dances at b.a.l.l.s in farm-houses. A chair was placed in the middle of the barn or room; the master of the ceremonies led to the chair a young woman, who sat down and named the young man whom she was willing should kiss her. This he did, and then took the seat which the lady vacated. He then called out the name of some favourite girl, who was led up to him; there was another kiss. The girl then took the seat, and so on (county of Down). The same game is called "Frimsey-framsey" in parts of the county of Antrim.-Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.

Compare "Cushion Dance."

Frog-lope

Name for "Leap-frog."-Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

Frog in the Middle

One child is seated on the ground with his legs under him; the other players form a ring round. They then pull or buffet the centre child or Frog, who tries to catch one of them without rising from the floor. The child who is caught takes the place of the centre child. Another method of playing the game is similar to "Bull in the Park." The child in the centre tries to break out of the ring, those forming it keeping the Frog in the ring by any means in their power, while still keeping their hands clasped. They sometimes sing or say-

Hey! hey! hi! Frog in the middle and there shall lie; He can't get out and he shan't get out-hey! hey! hi!

[Ill.u.s.tration]

They dance round when saying this, all keeping a watch on the Frog, who suddenly makes a rush, and tries to break through the ring.-London (A.

B. Gomme).

Strutt describes this game, and gives an ill.u.s.tration from a fourteenth century MS. which is here reproduced from the original (_Sports_, p.

303). Newell (_Games of American Children_, p. 171) also mentions it, and gives the rhyme as-

Frog in the sea, can't catch me!

Gap

The same as "French Jackie." This game is called "Tap-back" or "Tat-back" at Bitterne, Hants.

Garden Gate

Children join hands and form a ring. One child stands inside the ring; this child walks round and asks one of the circle, called the Keeper-

Have you the key of the garden gate?

Open and let me go through.

The Keeper replies-

My next-door neighbour's got the key; Ask him and he'll give it to you.

This is repeated by each one in the circle. Then the inside child comes again to the Keeper and says-

None of the neighbours have got the key, So you must let me go through.

The Keeper answers-

I've lost the key of the garden gate, And cannot let you through.