Educational reasons for the poem "Baa, baa black sheep"poemThe reason to the words and history to this song were to associate wool and wool products with the animal that produces it, not to mention the sound that a sheep would make!

The first grasp of language for a child or baby is to imitate the sounds or noises that animals make - onomatopoeia (words sound like their meaning e.g. baa baa in "Baa, baa black sheep"). In some of the earlier versions of "Baa, baa black sheep" the title is actually given as "Ba, ba black sheep" - it is difficult to spell sounds!

The wool industry was critical to the country's economy from the Middle Ages until the nineteenth century so it is therefore not surprising that it is celebrated in the Baa Baa Black SheepThe wool industry was critical to the country's economy from the Middle Ages until the nineteenth century so it is therefore not surprising that it is celebrated in the Baa Baa Black Sheep Nursery Rhyme. An historical connection for this rhyme has been suggested - a political satire said to refer to the

Plantagenet King Edward I (the Master) and the the export tax imposed in Britain in 1275 in which the English Customs Statute authorised the king to collect a tax on all exports of wool in every port in the country.

But our further research indicates another possible connection of this Nursery rhyme to English history relating to King Edward II (1307-1327). The best wool in Europe was produced in England but the cloth workers from Flanders, Bruges and Lille were better skilled in the complex finishing in Europe was produced in England but the cloth workers from Flanders, Bruges and Lille were better skilled in the complex finishing

trades such as dying and fulling (cleansing, shrinking, and thickening the cloth). King Edward II encouraged Flemmish weavers and cloth dyers to improve the quality of the final English products.

BAA BAA BLACK SHEEP

Traditional Interpretation

The traditional interpretation of this rhyme regards it as an account of the religious upheaval in England during the sixteenth century.

The lady’s chamber is the private room of a high born lady. The lady in this rhyme, apparently had a ‘Priest Hole’ in her room to hide a Catholic Priest. A Priest Hole

is a very small hidden room. Priest holes were necessary at this time because those found harboring a priest were executed along with the priest.

The old man who wouldn’t say his prayers refers to the fact that Catholic Priests said their prayers in Latin instead

of the using correct language for prayers which according to Protestants was in English. Those who did not ‘convert’ to the Protestant way were executed.of the using correct language for prayers which according to Protestants was in English. Those who did not ‘convert’ to the Protestant way were executed.

A Specific Event Recorded in the Rhyme

Katherine Elwes Thomas in her book The Many Personages of Mother Goose (1930) proposed a specific incident as the source for the rhyme.

The old man who wouldn’t say his prayers was Cardinal Beaton. Beaton did not follow the reformed doctrine of the Convenanters who

insisted that prayers be said in English and not

Latin.Cardinal Beaton was thrown “down the stairs.” Once he reached the bottom, he was stabbed to death. His body was then hung from the walls of his castle.

GOOSEY GOOSEY GANDER

Hey Diddle, Diddle was originally published in 1765, as High Diddle, Diddle and reflects the popular use of nonsense phrases in songs and rhymes. Shakespeare himself used the word diddle in his writing. And the phrase hey diddle, diddle is considered similar to a colloquialism

found in many traditional English folk ballads: ‘hey nonny no.'The cat and the fiddle

The cat is believed to represent Queen Elizabeth I who was nicknamed ‘The Cat’ because of the way she played or fiddled with hercabinet members, much like a cat will play with mice. An interesting quote by Elizabeth I states, “I may not be a lion, but I am a lion’s cub,

and I have a lion’s heart.” Perhaps the nickname, given behind her back, was not unknown to Elizabethand I have a lion’s heart.” Perhaps the nickname, given behind her back, was not unknown to ElizabethThe cow jumped over the moon, / The little dog laughed to see such fun

The little dog was reportedly Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. Some believe Elizabeth loved Robert others feel that they were simply very close friendsIt is said that Elizabeth once referred to him as her ‘lap dog.’ It is suggested that the cow and the moon are also nicknames for

members of Elizabethan court intrigueCourt intrigue was a huge part of life in the Elizabethan era much as political intrigue is part of our world today

There was very strict protocol regarding the behavior of members of court towards each other and towards the Queen and it is not surprising thatThere was very strict protocol regarding the behavior of members of court towards each other and towards the Queen and it is not surprising thatnicknames would have been given to the various players

And the dish ran away with the spoonIt is said that Elizabeth’s serving lady represents the dish and the spoon was the designation of the royal taster. These two servants fell in love and secretly

eloped and ran away from the court. When they were captured, Elizabeth had them thrown into the Tower of London.

HEY DIDDLE, DIDDLE

HUMPTY DUMPTY

Humpty Dumpty was a colloquial term used in 15th century England to describe someone who was fat or obese - giving rise to lots of theories pertaining to the

identity of Humpty Dumpty. However, in this case the question should be not Who was Humpty Dumpty but What was Humpty Dumpty?

Humpty Dumpty was in fact an unusually large canon which was mounted

on the protective wall of "St. Mary's Wall Church" in Colchester, England. It was intended to protect the Parliamentarian stronghold

of Colchester which was in the temporarily in control of the Royalists during the period of English history, described as the

English Civil War ( 1642 - 1649). A shot from a Parliamentary canon succeeded in damaging the wall underneath Humpty Dumpty English Civil War ( 1642 - 1649). A shot from a Parliamentary canon succeeded in damaging the wall underneath Humpty Dumpty

causing the canon to fall to the ground. The Royalists 'all the King's men' attempted to raise Humpty Dumpty on to another part of the wall but even with the

help of ' all the King's horses' failed in their task and Colchester

The exact date of origin is unknown but there was a Square Dance called 'Oranges and Lemons' dating back to 1665, unfortunately there are no known record of the lyrics which accompanied the dance but is likely that the words were similar to that of the nursery rhyme. The words to "Oranges and lemons" have been much loved by

numerous generations of children. The neighbourhood names relate to some of the many churches of Lon don and the tune that accompanies the lyrics emulates

the sound of the ringing of the individual church bells.The 'Bells of Old Bailey', or more accurately the tenor bell of St Sepulchre, had been utilised prior to 1783 to time the executions

but after the gallows had been moved, Newgate prison but after the gallows had been moved, Newgate prison (now the site of the Old Bailey) obtained its own bell. As the words to the poem "Oranges and lemons" indicate the unfortunate victim would await execution on 'Death Row' and would be informed by the Bellman of St. Sepulchre by candle light 'here comes the candle to light you to bed', at midnight outside their cell , the Sunday night prior to their

imminent fate, by the ringing of the 'Execution Bell' (a large hand bell) and the recitation of the following :

All you that in the condemned hole do lie, Prepare you for tomorrow you shall die;

Watch all and pray: the hour is drawing near That you before the Almighty must appear; That you before the Almighty must appear; Examine well yourselves in time repent,

That you may not to eternal flames be sent. And when St. Sepulchre's Bell in the morning tolls

The Lord above have mercy on your soul.

The executions commenced at nine o'clock Monday morning following the first toll of the tenor bell. Who would have thought that "Oranges and lemons" a childrens rhyme could have such a sinister historical connotation?

ORANGES AND LEMONS

The Nursery Rhyme, 'Pop goes the weasel' sounds quite incomprehensible in this day and age! The origins of the rhyme are believed to date back to the 1700's. Pop and Weasel?

These words are derived from Cockney Rhyming slang which originated in London. Cockneys were a close community and had a suspicion of strangersand a dislike of thePolice (they still do!) Cockneys developed a language of their own based roughly on a rhyming slang - it was difficult

for strangers to understand as invariably thesecond noun would always be dropped. Apples and Pears ( meaning stairs) would be abbreviated to just 'apples', for instanc to just 'apples', for instance, "watch your step on

the apples". To "Pop" is the slang word for "Pawn". Weasel is derived from "weasel and stoat" meaning coat. It was traditional for even poor people to own a suit, which they wore as their 'Sunday Best'. When times were hard they would pawn their suit, or coat, on a Monday and claim it back before

Sunday. Hence the term "Pop goes the Weasel"In and out the Eagle?

The words to the Rhyme are "Up and down the City road, in and out the Eagle That’s the way the money goes - Pop! goes the weasel". The Eagle refers to 'The Eagle Tavern' a pub which is located on the corner of City Road and

Sh Shepherdess Walk in Hackney, North London. The Eagle was an old pub which was re-built as a music hall in 1825. Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was known to frequent the Music Hall. It was purchased by the Salvation Army in 1883 ( they were totally opposed to drinking and Music Halls). The hall was later

demolished and was rebuilt as a public house in 1901.Alternative Lyrics

"A penny for a spool of thread, a penny for a needle" - this version has led to a 'weasel' being interpreted as a shuttle or bobbin, as used by silk weavers,being pawned in a similar way as the suits or jackets owned by the Cockneys.

POP GOES THE WEASEL

The origin of the lyrics to "Rain rain go away" are said to date back to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), one of the English Tudor monarchs. During this period of English history there was constant rivalry between Spain and England culminating in the launch of the Spanish Armada in 1588. The Span ish

Armada consisted of many Spanish galleons and was sent to invade England. The Armada was led by Duke of Medina Sedonia and the the fleet numbered over 130 ships. The English fleet, under Admiral Lord Howard, totalled 34 small Navy vessels and 163 armed merchant ships. But the great Spanish Armada was defeated. Only 65 Spanish galleons and just 10,000 men returned to Spain. During this period the area was hit with heavy lashes of rain and an extremely stormy was defeated. Only 65 Spanish galleons and just 10,000 men returned to Spain. During this period the area was hit with heavy lashes of rain and an extremely stormy weather. The Armada fleet couldn’t withstand the weather. It succumbed to it and most of its ship either sunk or were scattered due

to which it couldn’t even make it to the English border. The attempt failed, not only because of the swift nature of the small English ships but also by the stormy weather which scattered the Armada fleet. Hence the origin of the "Rain rain go away" RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

Without a doubt the greatest tragedy to ever hit Europe, greater then any war where man went against man….this was the war where man fought an enemy that he did

not see and did not understand. Some people blamed it on their livestock, others believed that it was a "miasmas" of infected air that floated around…some

said it was the wrath of an angry God against sin….they did not know. What had happened in fact, was that merchant men came from

China, on the of board their ships were rats and those of course had fleas…these fleas were different though, these fleas had bacillus;it only takes four to eight

bacillus to kill a rat; a flea can transmit up to 24,000 in one bi te…the merchants arrivedbacillus to kill a rat; a flea can transmit up to 24,000 in one bi te…the merchants arrived

in Italy and the war began.

It is estimated that over one third of Europe’s population died in the 1300’s…so many people falling victim to the unseen enemy.People started dying

of the Plague and those who had the right kind of money fled the infested city and moved

to the country where there was a much smaller chance of getting the disease. The roses are describing the large red swelling of the believed that there was a large cloud to the country where there was a much smaller chance of getting the disease. The roses are describing the large red swelling of the believed that there was a large cloud

of miasmas, infected air that would make you sick if you breathed it in; the posies had a pleasant smell that was supposed to hold the

infected air away. Before death, a person would experience a violent coughing fit after which

death moved in to claim his victim. Many people were too weak to get to the coughing part and they would suffer a much quicker and more merciful

death. People who became victims of the plague were locked into their houses with their entire family; the door would get a big red cross painted on it to tell everyonedeath. People who became victims of the plague were locked into their houses with their entire family; the door would get a big red cross painted on it to tell everyone

what happened, showing that the place was infected. Guards were placed at the doors of such houses to make

sure that nobody came out of the house until the appropriate amount of time had gone by. So it went on and on all that year in1665, until winter came

and brought some relief because the rats had a much harder time surviving during the

winter then in the summer, the disease was not fully taken care of until the Great Fire

of London that swept through the poor parts of the city and cleansed away the dirt and filth…at the rebuilding of London the streets of London that swept through the poor parts of the city and cleansed away the dirt and filth…at the rebuilding of London the streets

were wider and there was a greater air of spaciousness…..a battle had been fought and a war had been won, the people hadwon the battle against an unseen enemy.

God was no longer pouring His wrath over the people of England, and they could live in peace and happiness.

RING A RING O’ ROSES

JACK AND JILL

LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN