The Truth Behind Jack & Jill. Does anyone know if this is true.?

Question

I was told by a friend today that the childrens story Jack and Jill is actually about a merchant and a queen who had an affair. The would run off into the woods and have their rendevous every chance they got and then one day the queen got pregnant and when the king found out it wasn't his child he had the merchant beheaded (thats how the merchant lost his crown). The queen was found guilty of treason and hung (Jill came tumbling after).

Anyone know if this is true.

I dont know more than likely the names were changed to protect the innocent.

Answer 1

Marking the event in English history, when, in the 17th century, King Charles I tried to reform the taxes on liquid measures. He was blocked by Parliament, so subsequently ordered that the volume of a Jack (1/2 pint) be reduced, but the tax remained the same. This meant that he still received more tax, despite Parliament's veto. Hence "Jack fell down and broke his crown" (many pint glasses in the UK still have a line marking the 1/2 pint level with a crown above it) "and Jill came tumbling after". The reference to "Jill", (actually a "gill", or 1/4 pint) is an indication that the gill dropped in volume as a consequence.
Jack and Jill are Louis XVI of France, who was deposed and beheaded (lost his crown), and his Queen, Marie Antoinette (who came tumbling after). The words and lyrics were made more palatable for the nursery by giving it a happy ending. However, the first publication date for the lyrics of this nursery rhyme is in the 1760s in John Newbery's Mother Goose's Melody, which predates this event by a number of years.
In Norse mythology, Hjúki and Bil, a brother and sister (respectively) who, according to Gylfaginning manuscript, were taken up from the earth by the moon as they were fetching water from the well called Byrgir, bearing on their shoulders the cask called Saegr and the pole called Simul.
In Shakespeare's "Mid Summer Night's Dream" at the end of act three, it is said:
Jack shall have Jill;
Nought shall go ill;
Also referenced in the GrooveLily song "All Shall Be Well" - music from A Midsummer Night's Dream, in which most lyrics are written by Shakespeare.

Answer 2

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water
Jack fell down and broke his crown
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up got Jack, and home did trot As fast as he could caper
He went to bed and bound his head
With vinegar and brown paper.

French (history) connection!
The roots of this child's nursery rhyme is in France and the Jack and Jill referred to are Louis XVI who was beheaded (lost his crown) followed by his Queen Marie Antoinette (who came tumbling after). The words and lyrics were made more palatable for the nursery by giving it a happy ending and has further been altered by the passage of time - the actual beheadings occurred in 1793. The first publication date for the lyrics of this nursery rhyme is 1795 which tie-in
with the history and origins


Thats all I found, I always thought it was so innocent :) lol

Answer 3

The roots of the story, or poem, of Jack and Jill are in France. Jack and Jill referred to are said to be King Louis XVI - Jack -who was beheaded (lost his crown) followed by his Queen Marie Antoinette - Jill - (who came tumbling after). The words and lyrics to the Jack and Jill poem were made more acceptable as a story for children by providing a happy ending! The actual beheadings occurred in during the Reign of Terror in 1793. The first publication date for the lyrics of Jack and Jill rhyme is 1795 - which ties-in with the history and origins. The Jack and Jill poem is also known as Jack and Gill - the mis-spelling of Gill is not uncommon in nursery rhymes as they are usually passed from generation to generation by word of mouth.

Answer 4

My understanding is that this refers to Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette. Jack fell down and broke his crown refers to his being deposed as king and executed. Jill came tumbling after means that Marie Antoinette followed the same unfortunate path.

Most nursery rhymes are allegories of historical events.

Answer 5

Many childhood rhymes actually depict a real incident. Ring around the Rosie is another one that describes the circular rash ( ring a rosies) and a pocket full of posies ( were believed to prevent the plague) " A tishoo a tishoo and all fall down describes coughing and sneezing and quick death ( falling down)

Actually pretty macabre but they did tell a story.

Answer 6

Not sure but thats an interesting thought...but who's queen Jill?