The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 1

With Tunes(sheet music), Singing-rhymes(lyrics), Methods Of Playing with diagrams and illustrations.

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LOGGATS—LONDON
Loggats
An old game, forbidden by statute in Henry VIII.'s time. It is thus played, according to Stevens. A stake is fixed in the ground; those who play throw Loggats at it, and he that is nearest the stake wins. Loggats, or loggets, are also small pieces or logs of wood, such as the country people throw at fruit that cannot otherwise be reached. " Loggats, little logs or wooden pins, a play the same with ninepins, in which the boys, however, often made use of bones instead of wooden pins" (Dean Miles' MS.; Halliwell'sDictionary). Strutt refers to this game (Sports, p. 272).
London
A diagram (similar to Fig. 9 in " Hopscotch ") is drawn on a slate, and two children play. A piece of paper or small piece of glass or china, called a " chipper," is used to play with. This is placed at the bottom of the plan, and if of paper, is blown gently towards the top; if of glass or china, it is nicked with the. fingers. The first player blows the paper, and in whichever space the paper stops makes a small round o with a slate pencil, to represent a man's head. The paper or chipper is then put into the starting-place again, and the same player blows, and makes another " man's head" in the space where the paper stops. This is continued until all the spaces are occupied. If the paper goes a second time into a space already occupied by a " head," the player adds a larger round to the " head," to represent a " body; " if a third time, a stroke is drawn for a leg, and if a fourth time, another is added for the second leg; this completes a "man." If three complete men in one space can be gained, the player makes " arms;" that is, two lines are drawn from the figures across the space to the opposite side of the plan. This occupies that space, and prevents the other player from putting any "men" in it, or adding to any already there. When all the spaces are thus occupied by one player, the game is won. Should the paper be blown on to a line or outside the plan, the player is out; the other player then begins, and makes as many " men " in her turn, until she goes on a line or out­side. Should the paper go into " London," the player is entitled