Little Miss Muffet

Little Miss Muffet is a nursery rhyme. Like most such rhymes, its origins are unclear. Some claim it was written by Dr. Thomas Muffet, a 16th century English entomologist, for his step-daughters; others claim it refers to Mary, Queen of Scots, who was said to have been frightened by John Knox, a Scottish religious reformer in the 16th century. The latter explanation is doubted by most literary scholars, who note that stories linking folk tales or songs to political events are a common urban legend.

Little Miss Muffet did not appear in print until 1805, in a book titled "Songs for the Nursery".

Lyrics

Little Miss Muffet

Sat on a tuffet,

Eating her curds and whey.

Along came a spider,

Who sat down beside her,

And frightened Miss Muffet away!

It is not clear what is meant by a "tuffet" - it could be a small stool, or a tuft of earth and grass.