viii

cation be involved in an awkward question of copyright. I was not previously aware that "Goody Two Shoes," and romances of this kind, were regarded so jealously by the trade.

My respectful and grateful thanks are due to Sir Edward F. Bromhead, Bart. who most kindly and liberally furnished me with a very large and valuable collection of nursery rhymes from Lincolnshire, together with several useful suggestions, to which I have been greatly indebted.* Nor must I omit to mention my obligations to my friend Mr. Black, a member of the Council of the Percy Society, who has also kindly given me his valuable assistance.

35, Alfred Place,

Feast of All Saints, 1841.

J. O. H.

* I am in possession of a curious and clever satirical pamphlet, entitled "Infant Institutes," 8vo. Lond. 1797, to which I am indebted for some interesting scraps.

NURSERY RHYMES.

First Class.-Historical.

I.

WHEN good king Arthur ruled this land,
He was a goodly king;

He stole three pecks of barley-meal,
To make a bag-pudding.

A bag-pudding the king did make,
And stuff'd it well with plums:
And in it put great lumps of fat,
As big as my two thumbs.

The king and queen did eat thereof,
And noblemen beside;

And what they could not eat that night, The queen next morning fried.

B

II.

[THE following song, relating to Robin Hood, the celebrated outlaw, is well known at Worksop, in Derbyshire, where it constitutes one of the nursery series.]

ROBIN Hood, Robin Hood
Is in the mickle wood!
Little John, Little John,
He to the town is gone.

Robin Hood, Robin Hood

Is telling his beads,
All in the green wood,
Among the green weeds.

Little John, Little John,
If he comes no more,
Robin Hood, Robin Hood,
He will fret full sore!

III.

[THE original of "The house that Jack built" is presumed to be a hymn in Sepher Haggadah, fol. 23, a translation of which is here given. The historical interpretation was first given by P. N. Leberecht, at Leipsic in 1731, and is printed in the "Christian Reformer," vol. xvii. p. 28. The original is in the Chaldee language, and it may be mentioned that a very fine Hebrew manuscript of the fable, with illuminations, is in the possession of George Offor, Esq. of Hackney.]

1. A kid, a kid, my father bought

For two pieces of money:
A kid, a kid.

2. Then came the cat, and ate the kid

That my father bought

For two pieces of

money:

A kid, a kid.

3. Then came the dog and bit the cat,

That ate the kid,

That my father bought

For two pieces of money:

A kid, a kid.

4. Then came the staff, and beat the dog,

That bit the cat,

That ate the kid,

That my father bought

For two pieces of money:

A kid, a kid.

5. Then came the fire, and burned the staff,

That beat the dog,

That bit the cat,

That ate the kid,
That my father bought
For two pieces of money:

A kid, a kid.

B 2

6. Then came the water and quenched the fire,

That burned the staff,

That beat the dog,

That bit the cat,

That ate the kid,
That my father bought
For two pieces of

money:

A kid, a kid.

7. Then came the ox, and drank the water,

That quenched the fire,

That burned the staff,

That beat the dog,
That bit the cat,

That ate the kid,

That my father bought

For two pieces of money:

A kid, a kid.

8. Then came the butcher and slew the ox,

That drank the water,

That quenched the fire,

That burned the staff,
That beat the dog,

That bit the cat,

That ate the kid,
That my father bought
For two pieces of money:
A kid, a kid.