Nursery Rhymes - Ye Olde Internet #1

Dear Readers,

Have you ever wondered how messages and information was spread around before our print & telecommunication age when most people could neither read nor write. No, probably not. By Word of Mouth of course. And so it was easier to remember little rhymes were used - and just in case it was a little dangerous to utter a rhyme with too much literal sense they were made to sound a bit like nonsense - but everyone knew what they meant. Overtime, with the passing of several generations, their meaning became more obscure or lost in memory. When printing and reading eventually was commonplace the lyrical rhyming nonsense sounded like fun & hence introduced into the Nursery for Lullabies & baby talk.

And so to our first #1 medieval 'Tweet'

Little Jack Horner sat in the corner

Eating his Christmas pie,

He put in his thumb and puled out a Plum

And said "What a Good Boy am I!"

History and Origin.

In the 15th &16th Centuries the Catholic Church was extremely corrupt. It had schemes which would make our current Wall Street Bankers with their CDO's proud. For Example: The Church defined a sin (eg. fornication) and the everlasting punishment for it. They then set up or provided the means by which one could commit that sin (the Church owned or profited from, either directly or indirectly, most of the brothels at that time). They made sure they knew all about the ones' sinning (Confessional). And because they were such nice guys, they sold indulgences (absolution and forgiveness) for that sin. Brilliant in its simple logic and winning at both ends. If you did not agree - no problem - there was always the Inquisition, torture chambers, heresy accusations or Witch Outings to help you change your mind.

So the Monasteries, Abbeys, Nunneries & Cathedrals were making tons of money and became extremely wealthy for themselves and the Papacy. England (and other Countries) were losing vast sums of money & wealth to Rome.

Thus the Reformation, within which King Henry VIII of England and his minister Thomas Cromwell set about the dissolution of the corruption and restoration of the Wealth to the English Throne. Somewhat dramatically as it happens - by utterly destroying the Monasteries.

Glastonbury was the wealthiest Abbey in England owning extensive Lands and Manors. The Bishop thought a bribe might save Glastonbury so he sent his Steward "Little Jack Horner" to the King with 12 title deeds to various Manorial estates. The deeds were hidden "in a pie". Valuables were often hidden in bizarre ways to thwart thieves when travelling - though if we were thieves we would steal the pie too - perhaps this is symbolic. Horner knew the bribe would not work so he took out the best deed "put in his thumb and pulled out a Plum" and presented only 11 deeds to the King.

The King took the deeds, destroyed the Abbey, had the Bishop hung, drawn and Quartered and the treacherous steward Horner lived happily ever after on the Manor estate he took - "What a Good Boy".

hugs and kisses

dolltime

Commentary and opinions expressed are those of the author for entertainment purposes only and are not to be taken necessarily as authoritative.