The origins of the Nursery rhyme 'The King of France went up the hill' are believed to reflect the history and events detailed in The Chronicles of Jean le Bel which were published in about 1356 about King Philippe IV of France (1285-1314) and King Edward I of England (1272-1307). King Philip of France lead an army against the English estimated at 20,000 men on horseback and more than a 100,000 on foot. The arrows of the English were directed with such marvellous skill at the horsemen that their horses refused to advance. The King of France and his company never came close to the fighting due to the mastery of the English bow men. A similar Nursery rhyme is "The Grand old Duke of York".
The King of France Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history
The King of France went up the hill With twenty thousand men; The King of France came down the hill, And ne’er went up again.
The King of France Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history
