Barley-break

Barley-break, an old English country game, originally played by three couples, resembling Prisoner's Bars. One couple, left in a middle den called 'hell,' had to catch the others, who could break or separate when about to be overtaken. They then changed partners, but when caught, had to take their turn in catching the others. The game is alluded to by Sir Philip Sidney, Suckling, and Herrick. The first half of the name may be from the grain, barley, because often played in a corn-field or barley-field, or it may be barley or parley (Fr. parlez), a common children's term for a truce during a game.