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Little Jack Horner
sat in the corner
Eating his Christmas pie,
He put in his thumb
and pulled out a plum
And said "What a good boy am I!"
16th
Century history origins of the nursery rhyme
Little Jack Horner was in fact reputed to be the Steward to the
Bishop of Glastonbury. He was sent to King Henry VIII with a
Christmas gift of twelve title deeds to manorial estates. Whilst
on his way to the King Jack stole the deed to the manor of Mells
(this being the real 'plum' of the twelve manors) which was in
France. The remaining eleven manors were given to the crown but
the manor of Mells became the property of the Horner family! The
first publication date for the lyrics to this nursery rhyme is
1725. |
