I Had a Little Nut Tree

Clothes Tell the Tale – Who Are These People?

Briggs introduces a number of elements that raise questions about the rhyme. The “I” in his illustration appears to be a young girl and “the king of Spain’s daughter” a mature young woman. Also, it is not clear where that monkey came from and why the little boy watching the procession looks just like the monkey. What does the attire of the people reveal about the time and place this might have taken place? What does the attire of those in the other two images communicate?