Year: 1897

page_text: I, EILLE NORWOOD, of York, in the County of York, Dramatic Author, do.
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention has reference to a new or improved game which can be played
either out of doors on a lawn or in a room by any number of persons.
A description of the game and rules of play is as follows:-
Those taking part in the game stand in a circle at a suitable distance (preferably
not less than six feet) from each other and one player holds a cup with a ball
in it said cup being provided with a suitable handle; the player immediately
next on the right or left (as is desired) holds a second cup which is empty. The
first player then commences the game by discharging the ball from the cup in the
direction of the next player (say on the left) at a sufficient height and distance
to enable him to catch it in the cup, and immediately after he throws the cup
to the next player but one on the left; the second player then throws the ball
which he received from the first to the third and his cup to the fourth player
thus: Assuming there are six players A, B, C, D, E, F, A holds the cup con-
taining the ball and B the empty cup. A commences the game by discharging
the ball out of his cup to B who catches it in his cup and A then throws his
cup to C. B discharges the ball received from A out of his cup to C who catches
it in the cup received from A, and B's cup is then thrown to D. C sends the
ball received from B to D and the cup received from A to E and so on all round
the circle. If more than ten persous desire to play, a second ring may be formed;
or two more cups and a ball could be used by the players immediately opposite
those beginning the game, and the two sets should be commenced simultaneously
and kept going until the number of players is reduced to five, when the second
set should be dispensed with. The ball employed in the game is preferably
painted in different colours half white and half black or any other colour which
may be desired.
Each player is provided with ten counters of a colour different to his neighbours
to avoid possible confusion; and, on incurring a forfeit, a counter should be
dropped on the ground. When a player has dropped ten counters he retires from
the game. In order to avoid interruption or delay the player should send the -
ball and the cup along before putting his forfeit on the ground:
During the course of the game neither the ball nor the cup should touch the
ground before it is caught.
A player incurs a forfeit.
1. If he fails to catch a properly thrown ball.
2. If he fails to catch a properly thrown cup.
3. If he fails to discharge the ball so that the next player to him could be
reasonably expected to catch it.

page_text: If a ball or cup be short pitched or sent beyond reach, the thrower incurs the
forfeit and not the player to whom it is thrown.
5. If he fails to deliver the cup early enough to enable the player to catch the
ball thrown to him.
.
6. If he delivers a ball or cup to the wrong person.
7. If the ball fall out of the cup in the act of discharging it.
8. If he handle the ball in receiving it or discharging it from the
cup. Should
the ball strike the body before being caught in the cup no forfeit is incurred
providing that the ball does not touch the ground.
This rule is waived' in favour of the ladies, who incur no forfeit if they catch
the ball in the hand and place it in the cup, or employ the hand to prevent the
ball from bouncing out of the cup after it has entered.
When the continuity of the game is interrupted by the falling of the cup
or ball it must be resumed at that point at which it was interrupted.
When the players are reduced to two, they stand back to back, and a stick or
handkerchief is laid on the ground in front of, and at a distance of three
feet from each player, so as to form parallel boundary lines.
Each player takes a cup the ball being in one of them, and the ball is thrown
out of the cup over the player's head, and behind him, to the other player who
incurs a forfeit if he fails to catch it, providing it drops within the boundary line.
Should it however drop beyond the boundary line the forfeit is incurred by the
thrower, and not by the player who missed it, or in his own boundary it counts
against him. The one who first loses his remaining counters retires from the
contest, leaving the other the winner.
As this game depends on alertness and devy
than on physical activity,
it can be enjoyed equally well by old and young, and alike, and it has the further
merit of not causing fatigue on a hot day. It provides a maximum of amusement
with a minimum of exertion, and it improves both the quickness of the hand
and eye.
Modifications may be made in the rules of play without departing from the
main idea of the game.
I, EILLE NORWOOD, of York, in the County of York, Dramatic Author, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention has reference to a new or improved game which can be played
either out of doors on a lawn or in a room by any number of persons.
A description of the game (which I call "Roydon ") and rules of play is as
follows:-
Those taking part in the game stand in a circle at a suitable distance (preferably
not less than six feet) from each other and one player holds a cup with a ball
in it said cup being preferably provided with a suitable handle; the player imme-
diately to the right or left (as is desired) holds a second cup which is empty. The
first player then commences the game by discharging the ball from the cup in the

page_text: direction of the next player (say on the left) at a sufficient height and distance
to enable him to catch it in the cup, and immediately after he throws the cup
to the next player but one on the left; the second player then throws the ball
which he received from the first to the third and his cup to the fourth player
thus: Assuming there are six players, A, B, C, D, E and F, A holds the cup con-
taining the ball and B the empty cup. A commences the game by discharging
the ball out of his cup to B who catches it in his cup and A. then throws his
cup to C B discharges the ball received from A out of his cup to C who catches
it in the cup received from A, and B's cup is then thrown to D. O sends the
ball received from B to D and the cup received from A to E and so on all round
the circle. If more than ten persons desire to play, a second ring may be formed;
or two more cups and a ball could be used by the players immediately opposite
those beginning the game, and the two sets should be commenced simultaneously
and kept going until the number of players is reduced to five, when the second
set should be dispensed with. The ball employed in the game is preferalily
painted in different colours half white and half black or any other colour which
may be desired!
Each player is provided with ten counters of a colour different to his neighbours
to avoid possible confusion; and, on incurring a forfeit, a counter should be
dropped on the ground. When a player has dropped ten counters he retires from
the game. In order to avoid interruption or delay the player should send the
ball and the cup along before putting his forfeit on the ground. I provide
small pockets or pouches for holding the counters which may be attached to the
player's coat buttons by means of a button hole flap on said pouches, or they may
be attached to the dress by means of safety pins or in any other convenient
manner.
During the course of the game neither the ball or the cup should touch the
ground before it is caught.
A player incurs a forfeit.
1. If he fails to catch a properly thrown ball.
2. If he fails to catch a properly thrown cup.
3: If he fails to discharge the ball so that the next player to him could be
reasonably expected to catch it.
4. If he fails to throw the cup so that the next player but one could be reasonably
expected to catch it.
If a ball or cup be short pitched or sent beyond reach, the thrower incurs the
forfeit and not the player to whom it is thrown.
5. If he fails to deliver the cup early enough to enable the player to catch the
ball thrown to him.
6. If he delivers the ball or cup to the wrong person.
7. If the ball falls out of the cup in the act of discharging it.
8. If he handle the ball in receiving it or discharging it from the
cup. Should
the ball strike the body before being caught in the cup no forfeit is incurred
providing that the ball does not touch the ground.
This rule is waived in favour of the ladies, who incur no forfeit if they catch
the ball in the hand and place it in the cup, or employ the hand to prevent the
ball from bouncing out of the cup after it has entered.
When the continuity of the game is interrupted by the falling of the cup,
or ball it must be resumed at that point at which it was interrupted.
་་
When the players are reduced to two, they stand back to back, and a stick or
handkerchief is laid on the ground in front of, and at a distance of three
feet from each player, so as to form parallel boundary lines. Each player takes
a cup, the ball being in one of them, and the ball is thrown out of the cup over the
player's head, and behind him, to the other player who incurs a forfeit if he
fails to catch it, providing it drops within the boundary line. Should it however
drop beyond the boundary line the forfeit is incurred by the thrower, and not
by the player who missed it, or in his own boundary it counts against him. The

page_text: one who first loses his remaining counters retires from the contest, leaving the
other the winner.
As this game depends on alertness and dexterity rather than on physical activity,
it can be enjoyed equally well by old and young alike, and it has the further
merit of not causing fatigue on a hot day. It provides a maximum of amusement
with a minimum of exertion, and it improves both the quickness of the liand
and eye.
Modifications may be made in the rules of play without departing from the
main ideas of the game.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
Two cups and a ball for manipulation by any suitable number of players in the
game, each player having differently coloured counters for scoring, substantially
as herein described.