Les from Hull

Yes, I knew of the Lincoln connection, but apparently the song has claimants from other places as well including one I recall (can't remember WHERE I read it) from Scotland - as the originating story behind the song. However, the York connection was reiterated to us by a guide when we were there last year and backed up my reading behind the tale.

It was said that one of the catalysts for the 'Massacre of Jews' in York was, in fact, the murder of a child "possibly of noble / minor noble birth' by a Jewish woman of high social standing - possibly the wife of a merchant.

I don't recall the full story of the massacre without looking it up but i do know that a couple of hundred (more? less?) saught refuge and holed up in Clifford's Tower and many elected to suicide rather than face the mob. Those that did were peremptorily murdered.

Muttley