ID: 1586
Date: 1890s -1900s
Title: Here's a prisoner we have got,
Gender: Male and Female 
Classification: Game 
Rhyme: 

Here's a prisoner we have got,
Here's a prisoner we have got,
Here's a prisoner we have got,
Bright, young lady.
She stole my watch and broke my chain,
She stole my watch and broke my chain,
She stole my watch and broke my chain,
Nice young lady.
Off to prison she must go,
Off to prison she must go,
Off to prison she must go,
Nice young lady.

(Nelson, 1895 (Sutton-Smith, 1959:22))

--

Similarly:

What have the robbers done to you?
Done to you, done to you?
What have the robbers done to you
My fair lady?
Stole my watch and broke my chain..
Off to prison you must go..
Pull her ears and let her go..

--
 
Background Info: Sutton-Smith, 1959:21-22 records details of this often torturous rhyme. Associated with the rhyme, "London Bridge has fallen down".

==

Played in a similar fashion to "Oranges and Lemons" with the capture ritual. Opie, 1985:70 records the verses beginning:

Oh what has my poor prisoner done..
Gay ladies, gay.
Robbed a house and killed a man..
What will you have to set her free..
Fourteen pounds and a wedding gown..
Stamp your foot and let her go.
Gay ladies, gay.

==
 
Location: Nelson 
Group size: 8 
Incidence: 1