Origin of "Hark, hark, the dogs do bark, the beggars are coming to town"

[astro]

This says it’s about the dissolution of the monasteries. Is this claim credible?

Hark, hark, the dogs do bark,
the beggars are coming to town;
some in rags,
and some in jags,
and one in a velvet gown.

[Kythereia]

From here:

These words were frequently chanted during the reign of Queen Elizabeth in the 16th century as homeless men and women begged her for food and water.

From here:

In 1688 William of Orange brought his Dutch followers to England - it is suggested that the person referred do as being ‘one in a velvet gown’ was William himself and the beggars referred to his Dutch associates

Unless Cecil is willing to dispense the Straight Dope on this one, I’m not sure if there’s a real answer to be had.

[samclem]

@astro

This says it’s about the dissolution of the monasteries. Is this claim credible?

From that site:

Hark Hark the Dogs do Bark Rhyme
Nursery Rhyme & History

A Sinister Tale
The “Hark, hark the dogs do bark” rhyme dates back to 13th century England.

Funny how Peter and Iona Opie, the authorities on Nursery Rhymes, can only date it from 1672. It could, of course, go back farther, and probably does. But at least give me a cite for the 13th C.

[BrainGlutton]

From Heavy Words, Lightly Thrown, by Chris Roberts (a book which dissects the history and origins of many nursery rhymes):

[after a discussion of fear of beggars in Elizabethan England] That was a roundabout way of saying that the rhyme has a fairly universal theme and could be used to describe any time from the Middle Ages to the present day. Having said that, the first-known written version of a song which bears any resemblance to it has no mention of scroungers at all:

Hark, hark, the dogs do bark,
My wife is coming in.
With rogues and jades,
And roaring blades,
They make a devilish din.

Here is a tale of a chap sitting quietly at home, perhaps with his pipe and slippers, bemoaning the fact that his wife has been out on the razzle* (and, for all he knows, appearing in it). She comes in from her night out, with a series of shouty fellows to wreck her husband’s peace. This particular rhyme appeared in something called the Westminster Drollery in 1672 and it is unclear whether it is a reworking of an earlier rhyme about beggars or whether the rhyme about beggars is based on this one. This is important because, if the latter is the case, there could be some truth to the theory that the rhyme is actually about William of Orange (William III), who finally defeated James II in 1690 to complete his capture of the crown. On the other hand, if the beggars’ rhyme predates William’s accession, then the rhyme could not have been written about him but could plausibly become associated with him at the time. . . .
*To be “out on the razzle” means to go out and get drunk; “appearing in it” alludes to the British adult (we say “top shelf”) magazine that specialises in naked pictures of readers’ wives.