Mnemonic version for Saxon kings

June 11, 2015 2:28 PM

I'm familiar with the William the Conqueror onwards verse about English kings (Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee, etc), but I know that I saw one for the Saxon kings somewhere and I can't find it. I recall bits like "With Egbert's name our tale is led, then Aethels Wulf, Bald, Bert, and Red" and "Never-ready Aethelred" and you'd really think I would be able to google up an answer with that as a start, but I've got nothing.
posted by It's Never Lurgi to Writing & Language (3 answers total)

Probably not what you're thinking of, but there's a King's Singers song, A Rough Guide to the Royal Succession (It's just one damn King after another…). You can see the lyrics in this PDF of the CD booklet.
posted by brentajones at 3:07 PM on June 11, 2015

Best answer: Is it this?

Egbert's name our list will head,
Then Ethels -wulf -bald -bert and -red,
Al the great & elder Ned,
Athelstan, Eds -mund and -red.

Edwy Edgar martyred Ned,
Never-ready Ethelred.
Edmund Ironside and Sweyn,
And after them Canute the Dane.
Harold, Hardi and then through
Confessing Ned to Harold 2.

(Found here by googling "bald bert and red".)
posted by wintersweet at 4:15 PM on June 11, 2015 [14 favorites]

Response by poster: As usual, Metafilter (and google) delivers.
posted by It's Never Lurgi at 4:36 PM on June 11, 2015