Origins
Cole (or more properly Coel, pronounced like "co-ell" or the English word "coil", and not "coal" as in the rhyme) is a Brythonic name. It was borne by a number of noted figures in the history and legends of Roman and sub-Roman Britain, most notably by Coel Hen, or Coel the Old. There are several candidates for a historical basis to the rhyme amongst the historical and mythical Coels. According to a family tree on www.ancestry.com, Coel I "Old King Coel" of Britain was born in 0085, Welsh, Silures, Britain, and died in 0170, Colchester, Essex, England. He was married to Ystradwl Mawr, who was b: 90, Cumbia, England, d: Welsh, Silures, Britain. One son is known of and his name is Lucius Lleuver "The Great King of Britain Mawr, b: 105, Britannia, Roman Empire, d: 11 Mar 181, St. Mary Le Lode, Glouchestershire, England. It is also said that Helen later, Saint Helen (or Helena Augusta or Helena of Constaninople) was a princess, the daughter of King Coel. She and her father were always asociated with Colchester. It is believed that Coel lived in Colchester and ruled his kingdom from there. His kingdom may have included Trinovantes Mid & East Essex, London and Suffolk) and Catuvellauni (West Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire) and probably many more parts of Roman Britain. Helen married Constantius, the Roman Governor of Britain and they had a son Constantine who became a Roman soldier, later a general and eventually while serving in Britain, he received news while in York that he had been elected as Caesar, Emperor of the Roman Empire. Very near Colchester Castle which is now Norman but built over the Roman foundations and cellars, there is an ancient small chapel or temple dedicated to Saint Helen. Helen travelled to Jerusalem in 326AD to find the True Cross upon which Jesus Christ died. She found the cross, nails, rope and pieces of tunic which she brought with her to Cypress and Rome.
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