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Origins of Old Mother
Hubbard lyrics in British
history
The Old Mother Hubbard
referred to in this rhyme's
words allude to the famous
Cardinal Wolsey. Cardinal
Thomas Wolsey was the most
important statesman and
churchman of the Tudor
history period in 16th
century England. Cardinal
Wolsey proved to be a
faithful servant but
displeased the King, Henry
VIII, by failing to
facilitate the King's
divorce from Queen Katherine
of Aragon who had been his
queen of many years. The
reason for seeking the
divorce and hence the
creation of the Old Mother
Hubbard poem was to enable
him to marry Anne Boleyn
with whom he was
passionately in love. In the
Old Mother Hubbard song King
Henry was the "doggie" and
the "bone" refers to the
divorce (and not money as
many believe) The cupboard
relates to the Catholic
Church although the
subsequent divorce arranged
by Thomas Cramner resulted
in the break with Rome and
the formation of the English
Protestant church and the
demise of Old Mother Hubbard
- Cardinal Wolsey. Another
rhyme reputedly relates to
Cardinal Wolsey is
Little Boy
Blue. |
