Nursery Rhyme. XIV. Historical

        [The word tory has changed greatly in its meaning, as it originated in the reign of Elizabeth, and represented a class of "bog-trotters," who were a compound of the knave and the highwayman. For many interesting particulars see Crofton Croker's 'Researches in the South of Ireland,' 4to, 1824, p. 52.]

    Ho! Master Teague, what is your story?
    I went to the wood and kill'd a tory;
    I went to the wood and kill'd another;
    Was it the same, or was it his brother?

    I hunted him in, and I hunted him out,
    Three times through the bog, about and about;
    When out of a bush I saw his head,
    So I fired my gun, and I shot him dead.

Unknown

The identity of this poet is not known. Their works, which are often of significant historical or cultural value, have been attributed to 'Unknown'. This designation is commonly used when the creator of works, ranging from ancient texts to more modern writings, remains anonymous or uncredited. Despite the lack of personal details, the impact and importance of these works endure, offering insight into the eras and cultures from which they originated.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLXXXI. Love And Matrimony.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

As To The Weather

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCXII. Riddles.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. LXVI. Tales.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Nursery Rhyme. LIII. Tales.

    There was a man, and he had naught,
        And robbers came to rob him;
    He crept up to the chimney pot,
        And then they thought they had him.

    But he got down on t'other side,
        And then they could not find him;
    He ran fourteen miles in fifteen days,
        And never look'd behind him.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. IV. Historical

        [The following lines were obtained in Oxfordshire. The story to which it alludes is related by Matthew Paris.]

    One moonshiny night
    As I sat high,
    Waiting for one
    To come by;
    The boughs did bend,
    My heart did ache
    To see what hole the fox did make.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. III. Historical

        [The following song relating to Robin Hood, the celebrated outlaw, is well known at Worksop, in Nottinghamshire, 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!

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. LIV. Tales.

    There was a little man,
    And he had a little gun,
    And he went to the brook,
    And he shot a little rook;
    And he took it home
    To his old wife Joan,
    And told her to make up a fire,
    While he went back,
    To fetch the little drake;
    But when he got there,
    The drake was fled for fear,
    And like an old novice,
    He turn'd back again.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. LXIV. Tales.

        I'll tell you a story
        About Jack a Nory, -
    And now my story's begun:
        I'll tell you another
        About Jack his brother, -
    And now my story's done.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. XXVI. Historical

        [From MS. Sloane, 1489, fol. 19, written in the time of Charles I. It appears from MS. Harl. 390, fol. 85, that these verses were written in 1626, against the Duke of Buckingham.]

    There was a monkey climb'd up a tree,
    When he fell down, then down fell he.

    There was a crow sat on a stone,
    When he was gone, then there was none.

    There was an old wife did eat an apple,
    When she had eat two, she had eat a couple.

    There was a horse going to the mill,
    When he went on, he stood not still.

    There was a butcher cut his thumb,
    When it did bleed, then blood did come.

    There was a lackey ran a race,
    When he ran fast, he ran apace.

    There was a cobbler clowting shoon,
    When they were...

Unknown