7 wives

 
As I was going to St Ives
 As I was going to St Ives I met a man with seven wives Every wife had seven sacks Every sack had seven cats Every cat had seven kits Kits, cats, sacks, wives How many were going to St Ives? This traditional riddle / nursery rhyme dates back to the 18th century with the earliest publication being 1730. Whilst it is possible the rhyme refers...