Learn English – the origin of Bishy Barney Bee

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The attached picture is of a delightful little creature which throughout the UK is known as a Ladybird (not sure what you call them in America) EXCEPT in Norfolk, where it is known as a 'Bishy Barney Bee'. The name is believed to be derived from Bishop Bonner who lived during the 16th century, and was known notoriously as 'Bloody Bonner' for his ruthless persecution of Protestants under Mary I.

I would be very interested to discover more about the connection between Bishop Bonner and the Ladybird. Can anyone help me please?

The British among you will know of the nursery rhyme which is recited with a Ladybird in your hand and at the end releasing it to fly away.

In Norfolk it goes:
Bishy Bishy Barney Bee,
Fly away home,
Your house is on fire,
And your children all gone.

Perhaps the rhyme has some connection to Bishop Bonner, though throughout the rest of the UK it is recited as :
Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home etc.

Bishy Barney Bee

Best Answer

From an article in the Telegraph

A "bishy-barney-bee", the most striking example, is the local word for a ladybird (it is said that it was inspired by a Bishop Barnabas of Norwich, who wore a similarly coloured cloak).

I suspected the journalist committed a mistake and meant to say a Bishop of St Barnabus because I could find no trace of there ever being a Bishop Barnabus in Norfolk. 1

There is however a St Barnabus church in Norwich but as it was first built in 1903 the dates do not match. Perhaps The telegraph journalist was onto something when claiming that the Bishop wore a red cloak.

Traditionally Catholic Bishops wear a long cloak called a cappa magna.
Images

The cappa magna (literally, "great cape"), a form of mantle, is a voluminous ecclesiastical vestment with a long train, proper to cardinals, bishops, and certain other honorary prelates. It is however a jurisdictional garment.

The cappa magna is not strictly a liturgical vestment, but only a glorified cappa choralis, or choir cope. That is to say, it is not used when vested as a celebrant at a liturgical service. It is worn in processions or "in choir" (i.e., attending but not celebrating services). Its colour for cardinals is ordinarily red and for bishops violet.

From Google books I found this excerpt from a book entitled Frommer's England With Your Family which has a different nursery rhyme.

enter image description here

A second version of the children's nursery rhyme names the ladybird as "Bishop Barnabee"

"Bishop, Bishop Barnabee,

Tell me when my wedding be;

If it be to-morrow day,

Take your wings and fly away!

Fly to the east, fly to the west,

Fly to them that I love best!"

And finally this book yielded this snippet of information. I've also included the nursery rhyme in standard English.

enter image description here

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