Saddam's Dog executed
UPDATE: please check out http://blog.kking.co.uk/blog/_archives/2007/1/4/2619099.html for new information on this story
Seen on http://www.alarabiya.net/
--------
The Hartlepool Connection
The monkey-hanging legend is the most famous story connected
with Hartlepool. During the Napoleonic Wars a ship was
wrecked off the Hartlepool coast.
During the Napoleonic Wars there was a fear of a French
invasion of Britain and much public concern about the
possibility of French infiltrators and spies.
The fishermen of Hartlepool fearing an invasion kept a close
watch on the French vessel as it struggled against the storm
but when the vessel was severely battered and sunk they
turned their attention to the wreckage washed ashore. Among
the wreckage lay one wet and sorrowful looking survivor, the
ship's pet monkey dressed to amuse in a military style
uniform.
The fishermen apparently questioned the monkey and held a
beach-based trial. Unfamiliar with what a Frenchman looked
like they came to the conclusion that this monkey was a
French spy and should be sentenced to death. The unfortunate
creature was to die by hanging, with the mast of a fishing
boat (a coble) providing a convenient gallows.
| Download 'The Monkey Song' |
---
The Monkery Song lyrics
In former times, when war and strife
The French invasion threaten'd life
An' all was armed to the knife
The Fisherman hung the monkey O !
The Fishermen with courage high,
Siezed on the monkey for a French spy;
"Hang him !" says one; "he's to die"
They did and they hung the monkey Oh!
They tried every means to make him speak
And tortured the monkey till loud he did speak;
Says yen "thats french" says another "its Greek"
For the fishermen had got druncky oh!
Hammer his ribs, the thunnerin thief
Pummel his pyet wi yor neef!
He's landed here for nobbut grief
He's aud Napoleon's uncky O!
Thus to the Monkey all hands behaved
"Cut off his whiskers!" yen chap raved
Another bawled out "He's never been shaved",
So commenced to scrape the Monkey, O!
They put him on a gridiron hot,
The Monkey then quite lively got,
He rowl'd his eyes tiv a' the lot,
For the Monkey agyen turned funky O!.
Then a Fisherman up te Monkey goes,
Saying "Hang him at yence, an' end his woes,"
But the Monkey flew at him and bit off his nose,
An' that raised the poor man's Monkey O!
In former times, mid war an' strife,
The French invasion threatened life,
An' all was armed to the knife,
The Fishermen hung the Monkey O!
The Fishermen wi' courage high,
Seized on the Monkey for a spy,
"Hang him" says yen, says another,"He'll die!"
They did, and they hung the Monkey O!. They tortor'd the Monkey till loud he did squeak
Says yen, "That's French," says another "it's Greek"
For the Fishermen had got drunky, O!
"He's all ower hair!" sum chap did cry,
E'en up te summic cute an' sly
Wiv a cod's head then they closed an eye,
Afore they hung the Monkey O!.
