Forfeits was a typical Victorian game but when the players venture outside the house in costume it may well end in tears.
“A Christmas Forfeit.–An amusing case was heard before the Southampton Magistrates on Saturday. A respectable young man named Renyard was charged with loitering in the streets in woman’s clothes. A constable proved having seen him on the previous night in female attire. The prisoner’s defence was that on Friday night he was at a Christmas party playing forfeits, and he was “sentenced” to walk down the main street dressed in woman’s clothes, and being “in for a lark” he did it. The policeman said prisoner was wearing a woman’s hat, a crinoline, a black silk skirt and a shawl–clothes which a companion of the prisoner, who was also at the party, said were borrowed from ladies who were taking part in the game of forfeits. The Magistrates told the accused he had been guilty of a stupid Christmas frolic, but had been punished enough by being locked up all night, and they discharged him.”
Stamford Mercury, 3rd January, 1873.