Show i Old King Cole Colo The first reference to Old King KInc Cole Cole- the merry old soul of the famouS famouS' famous fa fa- fa- fa moos nursery rhyme was made In a book written by Dr William jam King j who was born in 1638 It If Is probable that the song was WM composed In the seventeenth century although some Investigators think It much older Halliwell Identifies the merry monarch monarch monarch mon mon- arch with Cole or Coel a semi mythical king of Britain who is supposed supposed supposed sup sup- posed to have reigned in the third century The Scots also have an nn Old Ol King Coul foul said to have lived in th the fifth century Freeman Fleeman and other othe historians say a King Cole ruled Britain Brit Brit- aln ain in the sixth century There are many who ho assert that the reference t to the pipe Indicates that Old King Colliver Cole Col liver live at a period after Raleigh had Introduced Introduced introduced in In- tobacco into Europe but this thi does not necessarily toll follow ow as a pipe might mean a musical e- e ment |