Brome, in his _Travels over England_, 1700, p. 264, says: "The Kentish men have a peculiar exercise, especially in the eastern parts, which is nowhere else used in any other country, I believe, but their own; it is called 'Stroke Bias,' and the manner of it is thus. In the summer time one or two parishes convening make choice of twenty, and sometimes more, of the best runners which they can cull out in their precincts, who send a challenge to an equal number of racers within the liberties of two other parishes, to meet them at a set day upon some neighbouring plain; which challenge, if accepted, they repair to the place appointed, whither also the county resort in great numbers to behold the match, when having stripped themselves at the goal to their shirts and drawers, they begin the course, every one bearing in his eye a particular man at which he aims; but after several traverses and courses on both sides, that side, whose legs are the nimblest to gain the first seven strokes from their antagonists, carry the day and win the prize. Nor is this game only appropriated to the men, but in some places the maids have their set matches too, and are as vigorous and active to obtain a victory."
"A kinde of play wherein two companies of boyes holding hands all on a rowe, doe pull with hard hold one another, till one be overcome."--Quoted by Halliwell (_Dictionary_), from _Thomasii Dictionarium_, London, 1644.
I. Sunday night an' Nancy, oh! My delight and fancy, oh! All the world that I should know If I had a Katey, oh!
"He! ho! my Katey, oh! My bonny, bonny Katey, oh! All the world that I should keep If I had a Katey, oh!"
II. Sunday night and brandy, O! My life and saying so, My life and saying so, Call upon me Annie, O! I Annie, O! Bonnie, bonnie Annie, O! She's the girl that I should like If I had an Annie, O!
(_b_) The children stand in a row with backs against a wall or fence, whilst one stands out and stepping backwards and forwards to the tune sings the first verse. Then she rushes to pick out one, taking her by the hands and standing face to face with her, sings the other verse. Then the two separate their hands, and standing side by side sing the first verse over again, taking another girl from the row, and so on again.