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Zealous Protestants &
Secret Priest Holes
Goosey, Goosey Gander is
a Rhyme with Historical
undertones - an attention
grabber for a nursery rhyme
which uses alliteration in
the lyrics designed to
intrigue any child. The
'lady's chamber' was a room
that once upon a time a high
born lady would have her own
chamber, (also referred to
as a solar). The origins of
the nursery rhyme are
believed to date back to the
16th century and refer to
necessity for Catholic
priests to hide in 'Priest
Holes' (very small secret
rooms once found in many
great houses in England) to
avoid persecution from
zealous Protestants who were
totally against the old
Catholic religion. If caught
both the priest and members
of any family found
harbouring them were
executed. The moral in
Goosey Goosey Gander's
lyrics imply that something
unpleasant would surely
happen to anyone failing to
say their prayers correctly
- meaning the Protestant
Prayers, said in English as
opposed to Catholic prayers
which were said in Latin!
Our grateful thanks go to
Stan Evans for the following
additional information:
"I read that it
referred to the post Civil
War period (middle 17th
century) and Cromwell's
soldiers who marched in
"goose-step", which gives
the title and first line.
Also, the version of the
rhyme I heard had the third
line as, "There I met an old
man a-saying of his
prayers". This referred to
(as you mention) a Catholic,
possibly a Priest, praying
and the line: "I took him by
the left leg and threw him
down the stairs" alluded to
the nickname "left-footer",
that a Catholic is sometimes
called in Britain. The
overall meaning was that the
Roundhead soldiers were
searching out Catholics,
particularly Priests, hiding
in the houses of friends,
and when found they were
ill-treated". |
