Talk:Doctor Foster (nursery rhyme)

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Untitled[edit]

Question;

Is there *any* evidence to validate the claim that Edward I was actually "Dr. Foster"? It is known he had many nick-names (i.e. "The Leopard", "Longshanks" and "Hammer of the Scots"), but no source attributes this nick-name to him (or any other which could have been corrupted into "Dr. Foster"). One possibility is that "Dr. Foster" may have be originated from the name of the horse he rode to Gloucester; but, again - as the Wikipedia entry on Edward I states - the names of his horses are known (at least those of his better-known ones).

Furthermore, is there actually any historical record of King Edward I going to Gloucester and getting stuck in the mud (as stated by the rhyme)? It is also questionable whether such an event would remain in the public consciousness for such a long period of time; most nursery rhymes being attributable to the actions of political leaders and events of the Early Modern period. Therefore, it seems more likely that the circumstances it recounts is based on a misfortune befalling a notable 16th-19th century political figure. Which raises another issue; what is the earliest source for this particular rhyme?

Any further comments concerning this issue by other web-surfers would be appreciated.

Robert Moore, East Huntspill, England.

I am not aware of any connotations to Edward I in this rhyme ( although Gloucester has obvious historical connections to Edward II ! )

One local rumour I have heard is that "Dr Foster" was an arbitrary figure who fell off his horse into the raw sewage that used to run down the center of the four main "gate" streets in Gloucester circa that era.

However, this is purely a local "rumour" and as such, I cannot substantiate it.

Helpfully throwing another spanner in the works .....

Rgds Angelstorm 20:49, 23 August 2006 (UTC) ( Gloucester )[reply]

rhymes.org.uk[edit]

Frankly, anything this site claims should just be disbelieved on general principle, as it tries to claim all sorts of spurious, disproven nonsense as if it were factual. It should not count as a reliable, encyclopedic source and should not be linked to. 172.144.210.91 21:20, 3 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I agreed and removed the link.--Sabrebd (talk) 08:57, 2 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Variations[edit]

As a child, I had a book that was a collection of nursery rhymes and children's stories. In it, this rhyme had Dr. Proctor. The reason I remember this is one of the doctors that I went to as a child was a Dr. Proctor and I thought that was pretty neat that there was a nursery rhyme that had someone I knew in it.Jtyroler (talk) 00:33, 25 May 2013 (UTC)[reply]