In Arthur's Court Tom Thumb Did Live

DESCRIPTION: "In Arthur's court Tom Thumb did live, a man of mickle might"; born when his father asked help of Merlin. His small size causes him many adventures. He sickens, and is too small for the doctor to treat. Arthur and his knights mourn him
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1630 (edition printed by John Wright, according to Ritson)
KEYWORDS: childbirth magic disease death doctor
FOUND IN:
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Joseph Ritson, _Pieces of Ancient Popular Poetry_, second edition, William Pickering, 1833, pp. 109-131, "The Life and Death of Tom Thumbe" (1 text)
Roud #21162
NOTES [43 words]: Although Ritson thinks this older than the 1630 text (probably rewritten by an Elizabethan), I see little evidence of older wording, and I know of no evidence that it's genuinely traditional. I'm putting it in the Index mostly because Steve Roud indexed it. - RBW
Last updated in version 5.3
File: JRIACTT

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