This children's game is found in "A History of Nursery Rhymes" by Percy B. Green, published in 1899.

Here's what Green had to say about it: "In this street game an entire regal court is appointed, the children taking the characters of king, queen, princes, and courtiers. When these preliminaries are settled two children join hands and whisper something - supposed to be a great state secret - to each other. This at once causes a rivalry amongst certain of the mock courtiers, and the dissatisfaction spreads, culminating in an open rebellion. The children take sides. Things now look serious; the prime minister tells the king he fears rebellion, and for safety his little majesty, attired in royal robes, and wearing a paper crown, retires to his palace - one of those places "built without walls." The soldiers, the king's bodyguard, are summoned, and orders are given to them to suppress the insurrection and capture the little rebels. As each one is taken prisoner the soldiers ask…"

Notes

This seems awfully complicated. It's hard to imagine kids today following such an elaborate procedure, unsupervised. But, back when it was current there were many less distractions! - Mama Lisa

We recently received this note: "I stumbled onto your site whilst searching for what I remembered as 'The King Of The Barbarees', played by the girls when I was at primary school in the Harrow area of NW London starting in 1955. Since I am a boy, I do not know how intricate their game was, but the chant, unclear to start with but emphatically finishing on the 'King' line, has occasionally come into my mind, as it did this evening, when I reflect on my childhood."

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Caroline Reynolds wrote: "I played this game in primary school in Cheshire in the early 80's. It was a very small village school which was quite old fashioned but we had a lot of fun!

I have been googling for ages to see if I can find a reference to it. I was starting to think I had imagined it. I moved from Cheshire when I was 9 and am not in contact with any one from that area.

So pleased to find the full rhyme and description of the game on your website.wr played it pretty much as described. I had forgotten it involved trying to 'smash the gates' which in our school meant two people joining both hands in a bridge and sometime else trying to force their hands apart by brute force! By putting your full weight on them I think?

We also played another game I have not come across elsewhere called 'washing machine' - it must have been more modern!
You and a friend would form a circle around someone else and chant:

'Pinch or punch or join the ring; tell me your secret love or a washing machine'.

The person wouldn't be released until they had chosen one option. The first 4 are self explanatory. The 5th meant being spun, jolted and scrubbed by the people in the ring in imitation of being in a washing machine. Most people joined the ring - it could get very big with most people in the playground ending up involved.

Anyway, thanks again for putting this on your site.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Reynolds"

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We'd love to know if this game is still played in England. Please email me, if you know or if you remember playing this game in your childhood. -Mama Lisa

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Thanks to Caroline Reynolds for sharing her childhood experience with this game!