John Thanks for some very interesting comments on this well-known rhyme. You may be interested to hear that I have recently seen reference to this in an excellent book called Medieval Children by Nicholas Orme (Yale University Press 2001). page 141 "The best medieval record of a children's rhyme is that of 'How many miles to Beverleyham?', or to 'to Babylon' as it became in later times, a rhyme that was used in a game. This is another fragment of childhood culture recorded in a Latin sermon, one written at the end of the 13C. The preacher was referring to people who wish to be good Christians at one moment and fall away at another..." Evidently the source was not actually Babylon, as everyone thinks. Incidentally, this is an excellent, highly-readable and authoritative book that I thoroughly recomment to all List members! regards Pete Brown Groby, Leicestershire In a message dated 22/07/04 00:34:49 GMT Daylight Time, bartonlander@free.net.nz writes: I gather a change of topic is in order. Here's a try: In "The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes" by the Opies, "Can I get there by candle-light?" was according to the Opies a common Tudor expression:- "How many miles to Babylon? Three score and ten. Can I get there by candle-light? Yes and back again..."