BARLEY-BREAK, a popular amusement, very common in the reign of James I., and with certain modifications, in name and practice still existing among young persons, both in England and Scotland. Originally, it was played by six people, three of each sex, who were formed into couples. A piece of ground was then apportioned into three parts; and into the center one, called hell, a couple was doomed by lot. The sport con sisted in the two in the condemned part "catching" one of the other couples 'while they were in the act of changing- places. when the couple caught had to go into the center. It was, however, no easy matter for the two in the center to capture another couple, for by the rules'of the game, they were bound to keep united, while the others, when hard pressed, might sever. Thus, sir Philip Sidney, in describing the game, says: Soon as the middle two Do, coupled, towards either couple make, They false and fearful do their hands undo.
When the whole had been caught, the game was ended, and the last couple taken was said to he in hell. Their punishment appears to have consisted in kissing each other.
Ilerrick says, in referring to the game: If kissing be of plagues the worst, Well wish in hell we had been last and first.
In Scotland, the game consisted in one person chasing the rest round the stacks in a farmyard; and when one was caught, he or she had to assist in capturing the rest. The origin of the name is doubtful. br. Jamieson suggests that, in Scotland the locality of the game may have given it its name—" barla-bracks, about the stacls." The same authority also adds: "Perhaps from barley and break, q., breaking of theparley, because after a certain time allowed for settling preliminaries, on a cry being given, it is the business of one to catch as many prisoners as he can." This supposition is not improba ble. In the modern games of "shepherds a-warning" and "tig, ' which appear to have been derived from B., a " barley" means a parley.