If I might hazard another conjecture, I would refer it to the period when
London Bridge was the scene of a terrible contest between the Danes and
Olave of Norway. There is an animated description of this "Battle of London
Bridge," which gave ample theme to the Scandinavian scalds, in _Snorro
Sturleson_; and, singularly enough, the first line is the same as that of
our ditty:--

"London Bridge is broken down;
Gold is won and bright renown;
Shields resounding,
War horns sounding,
Hildur shouting in the din;
Arrows singing,
Mail-coats ringing,
Odin makes our Olaf win."

See Laing's _Heimskringla_, vol. ii. p. 10.; and Bulwer's _Harold_, vol. i.
p. 59. The last-named work contains, in the notes, some excellent remarks
upon the poetry of the Danes, and its great influence upon our early
national muse.

EDWARD F. RIMBAULT.

[T.S.D.'s inquiry respecting this once popular nursery song has brought
us a host of communications; but none which contain the precise
information upon the subject which is to be found in DR. RIMBAULT's
reply. TOBY, who kindly forwards the air to which it was sung, speaks
of it as a "'lullaby song,' well-known in the southern part of Kent and
in Lincolnshire."