OLD KING COLE

Original Rhyme

Old King Cole was a merry old soul
And a merry old soul was he;
He called for his pipe, and he called for his bowl
And he called for his fiddlers three.
Every fiddler he had a fiddle,
And a very fine fiddle had he;
Oh there's none so rare, as can compare
With King Cole and his fiddlers three.

  

Please note: Legends are historical stories within the category of folklore in which the "facts" are not verified. Some might be true, other facts might not.

 
According to legend, there are three possible models for the rhyme, , Coel: Cole the Magnificent, 3rd century who was a leader in Britain after the Romans took control;  Coel Hen,Cole the Old  (4th century); St. Ceneu ap Coel, thought to be the son of Coel Hen.  Because Coel Hen was called "Cole the Old" he might be the primary contender. The Tudors claimed that they descended from the Coles.