Many parlor games involved a forfeit as a penalty to the loser(s) of the game. Ok, fair enough, but analytical little me has always wondered exactly what that looked like. So, down the research rabbit hole we go! Hang on! Trust me, this will be fun! 

What is a forfeit?

Essentially a forfeit meant that the one who owed the forfeit had to what the ‘crier of the forfeits’ asked.

In many instances, though, forfeits were an excuse for a social sanctioned kiss, which was entirely in keeping with the general nature of Regency era parlor games in the first place.

Paying Forfeits

Although forfeits could be kept track of with a mundane sort of list—which is what I would do and why I’m not often invited to parties with parlor games involved—more festive means of doing so were typically used.

For each forfeit owed, the loser would surrender a small token, like a something carried in a pocket or purse—reticule in Austen’s day. These tokens, one for each forfeit incurred, would be placed in a bag or box until most of those in the room owed a forfeit or at the end of the evening, and forfeits would be ‘cried.’

Two players, preferably ones with a knowledge of a wide variety of forfeits, would take the container of trinkets. One would be blindfolded while the other held the container. The blindfolded player selected a token from the container and would say something like: “Here is a thing, and a very pretty thing; what shall be done by the owner of this very pretty thing?” The blindfolded player may also ask if the article belongs to a lady or a gentleman. A forfeit would then be assigned for the return of the token. 

Types of Forfeits

Although kisses were a very typical sort of forfeit, other kinds of forfeits might also be required from players. Forfeits often varied by gender. Most involved a certain level of silliness, flirtatiousness, and good humor. However, it does not require much imagination to see how forfeits could be manipulated in oh-so-many ways. It isn’t difficult to see how a man like Mr. Darcy might abhor putting himself in such a precarious situation, or a plain girl like Mary Bennet might dread the mocking which could come her way under the guise of forfeits.

Take a peek at the sampling of forfeits below, and you’ll see what I mean.

**Important note: Some forfeits from the period would be considered dangerous/inappropriate today, so please keep good sense in mind if planning games/forfeits from these lists.

Performance forfeits

Some forfeits required the player to do something ridiculous in front of the entire group.

• Three Corners: Laugh in one corner, cry in another, and sing in a third.
• Tongue Twister: Repeat a tongue twister designated by the other players.
• Making Rhymes: Create a rhyme to a line given by another player.  
• Flattery: Say five flattering things to player sitting next you, without making use of the letter L.
• Give Good Advice: The player goes to each person in the room and offers words of useful advice, useful or ridiculous.
• Boredom: The player yawns until someone else in the room also yawns. (And yes, I yawned just typing this.)
• Lie Down on the Floor and Rise with Your Arms Folded. Just what it sounds like.
• Being Friendly: The player walks around the room, smiling at the other players one at a time.  
• Three Questions: The forfeiter leaves the room while other players devise three yes or no questions for the player to answer. The forfeiter returns and gives their answers before being told the questions, then learns to what he or she just agreed.
• Contrary Spirit: Like Simon Says, in the reverse. The group issues commands and the forfeiter does the opposite.  
• Grecian Statue: Usually for a gentleman. The player must stand on a chair and pose according to the direction of the other players.
• Blind Quadrille: Usually for a lady. The lady chooses a partner for a quadrille dance but must perform it blindfolded.

Laughing forfeits

The gist of these forfeits was to keep from laughing.

• Do not Laugh: The forfeiter must not laugh for a specified amount of time, no matter what the other players do or say (without touching the forfeiter)
• This is not funny: The forfeiter stands on a chair, and performs gestures and expressions as ordered, without laughing.
• Barnyard: The forfeiter imitates animals named by the rest of the players without laughing.

Group forfeits:

Sometimes several players could pay forfeits at once.

• Musical Medley: Each one must sing some verse of a song, while the other forfeiters sing verses of different songs at the same time.
• The Cordial Greeting: Two forfeiters are blindfolded and place on opposite sides of the room. Without taking off the blindfolds, they have to find each other and shake hands. They may call out to each other, without laughing of course, in the process.

Kissing forfeits

And of course, I’ve saved the best for last, forfeits which demand a kiss.

• Rabbit kiss: Two players nibble on a piece of string until a kiss ensues.
• Kiss your shadow: The player must kiss their shadow. The trick of course would be to make one’s shadow land across a person desirable to kiss.
• Especially for a Lady:
  • Kiss the man she loves best. Pretty much the only way to do this without revealing his identity (which was the whole point) was to kiss every man.
  • Kiss each corner of the room. It sounds pretty innocent but typically four gentlemen immediately station themselves in the corners making it far more interesting.
• Especially for a Gentlemen:
  • Kiss every woman in the room while blindfolded. (The ladies may switch places while the gentleman in blindfolded.)
  • Kiss a woman though the back of her chair.
  • The player must: Laugh at the wittiest, bow to the prettiest, and kiss her you love best.

These are just a sampling of what sorts of forfeits might be cried after an evening of Regency Era parlor games. I’m sure the scope was only limited by the imagination, thoughtfulness, and propriety of the hostess herself.

What do you think of these forfeits? What mischief could come of them? Can you think of any interesting sort of forfeits to add to the list?