The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 2

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

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	THREE KNIGHTS FROM SPAIN                 277
	little in advance, who is called " daughter Jane," another is the "mother." Three more stand in front of the twelve and are the " Dukes." These dance forwards and backwards before "Jane and her mother," singing the first lines. The mother answers. When they sing the last line the " Dukes " choose one of the twelve, and sing the words over again until all the twelve are on the " Dukes'" side. Then they try to carry off "Jane" and the "mother," and run until they are caught. In the Clapham school version (Mrs. Herbertson), the "Duke" tries to drag by force the chosen girl across a hand­kerchief or other boundary, if successful she goes on his side. In the Cornwall version the " Dukes" retire and consult before choosing a girl, then select one. When all have been taken they bring them back in the same order to the " mother," say­ing the last verse, and the " mother" replies in the last two lines. In the London version, the " Dukes " take the girl and rob her, then bring her back. In the Fochabers version (Rev. W. Gregor), the two " sailors" join hands crosswise, walk backwards and forwards, and sing the words. The girl crosses over to them when chosen. When all are chosen the " sailors " bring all the girls before the mother, singing the last verse. The mother searches the daughters one after the other, finding neither money nor ring. She then chases the sailors, and the one caught becomes mother next game. (c) This game has been said by previous collectors, and at first sight may be thought to be merely a variant of " Three Dukes," but it will on investigation, I think, prove to be more than this. In the first place, the obvious borrowing from the "Three Dukes" of a few words, as in versions Nos. 29, 30, and 31, tells against the theory of identity of the two games. Then the form of marriage custom is different, though it is still marriage under primitive conditions of society. The personal element, entirely absent from the "Three Dukes," is here one of the principal characteristics. The marriage is still one without previous courtship or love between two individuals, but the parental element is present' here, or at anyrate that of some authority, and a sanction is given, although there is no trace of any actual ceremony. The young men, or