Nurdling
chippy
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The ancient game of Nurdling, alive and thriving.
The rules:
The game or tourney is played between teams or droves and the object is to hurl one's nurdle over a course called a Nurdlynge Alley.
At the command of a Serjeant, both droves "hurl off" simultaneously, as long as a drove's nurdle comes to rest on the alley it may be picked up and hurled again.
Should a drove's nurdle leave the alley and go into the rough it must not be handled or kicked until it has been retrieved onto the alley and the only way of this can be done is by using a grouting pole.
When a drove gets into the lead, the importance of the fenders is realised. An opposing drove's nurdle may be fended off the alley into the rough, but only before it comes to rest.
If a nurdle is lost by a drove, they should summons the Serjeant and Custodian for a replacement nurdle.
2 Glossary of Terms
Many areas have their individual terminology for various ploys and set moves and occasionally one hears such seemingly meaningless phrases as "graaff me-nurdleoggns" and "grunge me-gripstonglers". These are merely tactical passwords used by individual droves to confuse the opposition.
The most common terms are as follows:-
DROVE - A team of drovers contesting a nurdlynge tourney.
FENDER - A shield or similar object carried by a drover for the purpose of fending off opposing drovers and their nurdles. Ancient tradition supports the use of galvanised dustbin lids.
GROUTING POLE - An implement made up of a broom handle not more than one fathom in length to one end of which is firmly attached a spoon, the capacity of which shall not exceed 1/32nd part of a pint. The purpose of this instrument is to assist a drover in recovering his drove's nurdle from the rough.
NURDLE - A spherical object of not more than 3 1/2 imperial inches and not less than 2 1/2 imperial inches in diameter made of resilient material. Traditionally flint pebbles have been used.
NURDLYNGE ALLEY - Any metalled or otherwise made-up and defined right of way.
THE ROUGH - That area outside the bounds of the nurdlynge alley.
SOUNDER - A person appointed by the Serjeant to sound an instrument in order to draw attention to an announcement to be made.
3. Ye Rules
"Read and learn, for they are many and diverse"
1. A Nurdlynge Tourney shall be controlled by two "Serjeants of the Tourney and Custodian of the Nurdles". These are commonly referred to as "Serjeants".
2. Each Serjeant shall keep upon his person an ample supply of competition nurdles for replacement of those lost.
3. Each Serjeant shall he wear an hat fantastical, all the time he nurdlynge goe, so that at all times may he be recognized for what he is.
4. Before ye tourney commence, shall each Serjeant appoint him two sounders, who, when say he, shall upon their instruments blow, bash, scrape or hew so that all may hear and heed.
5. A drove shall consist of not more than nine drovers, but with the proviso that any contesting droves shall consist of equal numbers.
6. Not more than half the drovers may carry grouting poles.
7. Drovers may carry as many grouting poles as they wish.
8. A drover may only handle his own nurdle and then only after it has come to rest on the Nurdlynge Alley.
9. On no account may a drover interfere with an opposing nurdle once it has come to rest. Nurdles may only be fended off by using a fender.
10. A Nurdlynge Alley shall be chosen by Serjeants and shall not be less than one league nor no more than ten leagues in length.
11. Nurdles must not be handled in the rough.
12. Nurdles in the rough may only be moved by use of a grouting pole.
13. A drover who intends to hurl off a nurdle in the direction of an opposing drove must give notice of his intention to do so by shouting "Nurdle Ho!" The nurdle may only be hurled off with an overarm throw.
14. If do be nurdle knock nurdle, Serjeants shall cause Sounders to sound and all shall gather to hurl off a new nurdle other way.
15. Should any drove take a lead of greater than fifty paces, Sounded upon it will be to hurl off in other way.
16. At what time gathered be at start, all drovers and their nurdles named be and grouting poles shown. (Also hands and boots)
17. Each Serjeant shall he carry upon his person a stopwatch to assist him with his duties.
18. The winners shall be the drove that first completes the course.
19. A losing drove shall contribute to the winning drove a prize of not less than one imperial pint of strong ale per drover.
20. Proper decorum and deference to ladies must be shown at all times on penalty of being sounded upon.
4. YE PENALTIES
1. At any time when ye penalty is to be imposed, shall yet Sounders sound so that all guilty parties may gather.
2. A penalty may be imposed where, in the opinion of the Serjeant, there has been foul play or misconduct. The penalty will be for the Serjeant to hurl off the offending drove's nurdle in a way that he do chose.
3. Knocked nurdles: see rule 14.
4. Lost Nurdle. A drove which has lost its nurdle shall summon a Serjeant by shouting "Custodian - Lost Nurdle", whereupon the Serjeant, provided he is satisfied that the Nurdle is properly lost, and on the waiting of two minutes from the time of the summons, may supply a new nurdle.
5. If in any case any do so cause to be sounded upon then all do go the other way.
6. No lewd or blasphemous matter shall any lips pass nor hands occupy in penalty of being sounded upon.
7. If any drove do cheat by stealing a nurdle; laying false nurdle; saying that which is not what Serjeant do say is, then shall they all be shamed and lost and must they all go at once to purchase strong beer for all persons they have wronged.
References to Nurdling can often be glimpsed down the ages in training regimes for armies. The skills learnt while nurdling were very useful during conflicts, such as 1066 and all that! The image below from the Bayeux Tapestry clearly shows the Nurdlers getting stuck in! However there is no evidence for Harold being felled by a well aimed nurdle!
This drawing shows a typical Viking nurdling drove on the way to a tryst - note the fenders and grouting poles.
The rules:
The game or tourney is played between teams or droves and the object is to hurl one's nurdle over a course called a Nurdlynge Alley.
At the command of a Serjeant, both droves "hurl off" simultaneously, as long as a drove's nurdle comes to rest on the alley it may be picked up and hurled again.
Should a drove's nurdle leave the alley and go into the rough it must not be handled or kicked until it has been retrieved onto the alley and the only way of this can be done is by using a grouting pole.
When a drove gets into the lead, the importance of the fenders is realised. An opposing drove's nurdle may be fended off the alley into the rough, but only before it comes to rest.
If a nurdle is lost by a drove, they should summons the Serjeant and Custodian for a replacement nurdle.
2 Glossary of Terms
Many areas have their individual terminology for various ploys and set moves and occasionally one hears such seemingly meaningless phrases as "graaff me-nurdleoggns" and "grunge me-gripstonglers". These are merely tactical passwords used by individual droves to confuse the opposition.
The most common terms are as follows:-
DROVE - A team of drovers contesting a nurdlynge tourney.
FENDER - A shield or similar object carried by a drover for the purpose of fending off opposing drovers and their nurdles. Ancient tradition supports the use of galvanised dustbin lids.
GROUTING POLE - An implement made up of a broom handle not more than one fathom in length to one end of which is firmly attached a spoon, the capacity of which shall not exceed 1/32nd part of a pint. The purpose of this instrument is to assist a drover in recovering his drove's nurdle from the rough.
NURDLE - A spherical object of not more than 3 1/2 imperial inches and not less than 2 1/2 imperial inches in diameter made of resilient material. Traditionally flint pebbles have been used.
NURDLYNGE ALLEY - Any metalled or otherwise made-up and defined right of way.
THE ROUGH - That area outside the bounds of the nurdlynge alley.
SOUNDER - A person appointed by the Serjeant to sound an instrument in order to draw attention to an announcement to be made.
3. Ye Rules
"Read and learn, for they are many and diverse"
1. A Nurdlynge Tourney shall be controlled by two "Serjeants of the Tourney and Custodian of the Nurdles". These are commonly referred to as "Serjeants".
2. Each Serjeant shall keep upon his person an ample supply of competition nurdles for replacement of those lost.
3. Each Serjeant shall he wear an hat fantastical, all the time he nurdlynge goe, so that at all times may he be recognized for what he is.
4. Before ye tourney commence, shall each Serjeant appoint him two sounders, who, when say he, shall upon their instruments blow, bash, scrape or hew so that all may hear and heed.
5. A drove shall consist of not more than nine drovers, but with the proviso that any contesting droves shall consist of equal numbers.
6. Not more than half the drovers may carry grouting poles.
7. Drovers may carry as many grouting poles as they wish.
8. A drover may only handle his own nurdle and then only after it has come to rest on the Nurdlynge Alley.
9. On no account may a drover interfere with an opposing nurdle once it has come to rest. Nurdles may only be fended off by using a fender.
10. A Nurdlynge Alley shall be chosen by Serjeants and shall not be less than one league nor no more than ten leagues in length.
11. Nurdles must not be handled in the rough.
12. Nurdles in the rough may only be moved by use of a grouting pole.
13. A drover who intends to hurl off a nurdle in the direction of an opposing drove must give notice of his intention to do so by shouting "Nurdle Ho!" The nurdle may only be hurled off with an overarm throw.
14. If do be nurdle knock nurdle, Serjeants shall cause Sounders to sound and all shall gather to hurl off a new nurdle other way.
15. Should any drove take a lead of greater than fifty paces, Sounded upon it will be to hurl off in other way.
16. At what time gathered be at start, all drovers and their nurdles named be and grouting poles shown. (Also hands and boots)
17. Each Serjeant shall he carry upon his person a stopwatch to assist him with his duties.
18. The winners shall be the drove that first completes the course.
19. A losing drove shall contribute to the winning drove a prize of not less than one imperial pint of strong ale per drover.
20. Proper decorum and deference to ladies must be shown at all times on penalty of being sounded upon.
4. YE PENALTIES
1. At any time when ye penalty is to be imposed, shall yet Sounders sound so that all guilty parties may gather.
2. A penalty may be imposed where, in the opinion of the Serjeant, there has been foul play or misconduct. The penalty will be for the Serjeant to hurl off the offending drove's nurdle in a way that he do chose.
3. Knocked nurdles: see rule 14.
4. Lost Nurdle. A drove which has lost its nurdle shall summon a Serjeant by shouting "Custodian - Lost Nurdle", whereupon the Serjeant, provided he is satisfied that the Nurdle is properly lost, and on the waiting of two minutes from the time of the summons, may supply a new nurdle.
5. If in any case any do so cause to be sounded upon then all do go the other way.
6. No lewd or blasphemous matter shall any lips pass nor hands occupy in penalty of being sounded upon.
7. If any drove do cheat by stealing a nurdle; laying false nurdle; saying that which is not what Serjeant do say is, then shall they all be shamed and lost and must they all go at once to purchase strong beer for all persons they have wronged.
References to Nurdling can often be glimpsed down the ages in training regimes for armies. The skills learnt while nurdling were very useful during conflicts, such as 1066 and all that! The image below from the Bayeux Tapestry clearly shows the Nurdlers getting stuck in! However there is no evidence for Harold being felled by a well aimed nurdle!
This drawing shows a typical Viking nurdling drove on the way to a tryst - note the fenders and grouting poles.
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