The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-09-20
The Famous Cakes of Banbury.
BY JULIET C. MARSH.
/" Ride a cock-horse
To Banbury Cross"

I wonder how many little folks know
the story and significance of the famous
cakes of Banbury Cross, or that for the
cause of their renown we must look away
back through the history of England to
the time of the Middle Agesa 1t seems
funny, doesn't it, to think of silly
nursery rhyme having any foundation In
real, true history? But Mother Goose
was learned old woman, and told some
of her best stories at the expense of kings
and queens, and wove her rhymes and
jingles about whom and what she pleased.
So for all those who have passed forever
from under her nursery rule, here is the
historical fact of one of her ballads:
On the northern edge of the county of
Oxford, in Merrie England, lies the an
cient town of Banbury, which has been
from time immemorial celebrated for its
rich cakes. And this is not surprising,
when we learn that the country around
this old town boasts some of the richest
pasture lands in the kingdom, single
cow producing as many as two hundred
pounds of butter in a year; and as but
ter is the principal ingredient of the Ban
bury cake, what wonder that nearly all
the men in the place were bakers whose
renown spread far and wide? No we'd
ding festival, Maypole dance, or merri-
ment of any kind was complete without
a dish of these cakes, and they were also
served to the authorities upon state occa-
sions, for we indi in an old record of Ban
bury accounts charge of ''cakes for the
Judges at meeting of the Court" two
pounds three shillings and sixpence. So
you see even those great men granted
their patronage to the Banbury pastry.
Now, when good Queen Bess came to
the throne of England, the Puritans were
very strong in Banbury, and, by an un-
lucky turn of time, the cakes which had
been in such demand all through the
Middle Ages were suddenly and unac-
countaby looked upon by that party with
disfavor Whether they considered their
plentiful allowance of butter a waste, or
whether they had bad digestions and
grudged the cakes to those who had bet
ter ones, is not known; but certain it is
that they formed so strong party about
this time that they pulled to the ground
old "Banbury Cross" so celebrated in
our nursery rhymes.
So the people of Bsnbury made two
parties, and waged war right valiantly
upon each other; suppose 1t must have
been with their tongues, for l never
heard of any other weapons being used !;
but anyway, half the bakers turned
preachers, and preached down the cakes
and the rival cake makers, and the town
was in such commotion that none were
made for many a long day. Thus the
Banbury pastry came TO have q new in
terest, since it formed the bone of con-
tention over which grave learned men
fought with such vigor.
1t is said that the Puritans looked upon
the cakes az q superstitious relic, because
they were more used at religious seasons
than at other tires, and wished to pro-
hibit the sale of them only on feast or
fast DAYS. And, indeed, cakes have al
ways, from time to time, had q peculiar
religious significance attached to them
There are those made at Congleton, in
Cheshire, triangular in shape, with a
raisin in each corner, emblematic of the
Trinity. The New Years Day God cakes
Of Coventry; the Good Friday bun, with
its cross; the Jewish Passover cake.
And, again, tine Puritans treated the
mince- pie with religious observance; and
the old rule rigidly adhered to by them
was, that the crust of this pie should al
ways be oblong in shape, in imitation of
the manger wherein our Savior was laid,
the mince inside being supposed to refer
TO the gifts Of the wise men.
So more than fifty years passed away,
and these cakes were still regarded with