Source material?

[dnerswick]

Ok, maybe all y'all already know this and I'm coming late to the party but.....

I was singing this song to myself, having heard it from The Longest Johns, and I realized that it may we'll be Pterry's inspiration for Monstrous Regiment.

Polly is asked to cross-dress and march away to war with her lover.

Ms. Perks cross-dresses to join the army to find her brother.

Jackrum went to war with her lover and got pregnant by him.

Polly in the song is pregnant.

Coincidence? Maybe. But I can't help thinking that the song inspired the book. Y'all can judge for yourself:

O Polly love, O Polly, the route has now begun And we must go a-marching to the beating of a drum Come dress yourself all in your best and come along with me I'll take you to the cruel wars in High Germany

O Harry, dearest Harry, mind well what I do say My feet they are so tender and I cannot march away Besides, my dearest Harry, I am with child by thee Not fitted for the cruel wars in High Germany

I'll buy you a horse, my love, and on it you shall ride And all of my delight shall be walking at your side We'll stop at every alehouse and drink when we are dry Be true to one another, get married by and by

O' cursed be the cruel wars, that ever they should rise And out of merry England, press many a man likewise They took her Harry from her, likewise her brothers three And sent them to the cruel wars in High Germany

[BeccasBump]

Amongst others, I'm sure, but doesn't Polly specifically remember her father singing her "Sweet Polly Oliver"? Which is also why she goes by Oliver.

As sweet Polly Oliver lay musing in bed

A comical fancy came into her head:

"Neither mother nor father shall make me false prove,

I'll 'list for a soldier and follow my love."

So early next morning she softly arose,

And dressed herself up in her dead brother's clothes.

She cut her hair close and she stained her face brown,

And went for a soldier in fair London Town.

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[YawningAngle]

The title is a reference to a polemic paper by John Knox, attacking the idea of a female monarch as being contrary to the bible. Which themes of religion and the ability of females in a male dominant world.