So in Zerbst the Bridegroom waiteth all dinner time.
At Basel in Helvetia, a kind of bread or cake is presented to the Bridegroome comming out of Church at the doore of his house before he entres, the Man yt presenteth it, breaketh of a bit, which the Bridegroome receiveth and eateth it. [W. K.]
Soule-cakes.
In Salop, &c. die oĩun Animarum (All-Soules-day Novemb. 2d) there is sett on the Board a high heap of Soule-cakes, lyeing one upon another like the picture of the Sew-Bread in the old Bibles. They are about the bignesse of 2d cakes, and n'ly all the visitants that day take one; and there is an old Rhythm or saying,
A Soule-cake, a Soule-cake,
Have mercy on all Christen soules for a Soule-cake.
This custome is continued to this time. This putts me in mind of the Feralia dict. à ferendis ad tumulum epulis: id quod forant [ferunt?] tunc epulas ad sepulchrum quibus jus ibi parentare. Feralia deum manium dies in Febr. Had Ovid continued his Fastorum to Novemb: in probability we should have found such a kind of custome used at that time sc. Novemb: 2d.
Mdm. Seed-cakes, for the Ploughmen, after Sowing is donne; I thinke, All-Saints' night, or Eve. Also Cakes at Home-harvest.
Offertories at funeralls.
These are mentioned in the Rubrick of ye ch. of Engl. Comon-Prayer-booke: but I never sawe it used, but once at Beaumaris, in Anglesey; but it is used over all the Counties of North- Wales. But before when the corps is brought out of Doores, there is Cake & Cheese, and a new Bowie of Beere, and another of Milke with ye Anno Dni ingraved on it, & ye parties name deceased, wch one accepts of on the other side of ye Corps; & this Custome is used to this day, 1686, in North Wales,[1] where a small tablet or board is fixt near the Altar, upon wch the friends of ye defunct lay their offerings in mony according to their own ability and the quality of the person deceased. This custom proves a very
- ↑ [From this to the end of the paragraph is added by Dr. Kennett.—Ed.]
