Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-09

procession starting out
for the Rood-eye to
play the annual game of foot ball. The Rood
eye. where these games were held, was meadow
outside the wall by the river. Eve means q
water-side meadow. The rood or cross from
which the meadow was named. had been at
Hayarie previous to its setting ND at the eve.
Legend saws man was killed BY 1t. SO in pun
ishment the cross was thrown into the river
1t foated to Chester, where 1t was dragged
ashore and set up. At first it is said to have
performed many miracles but gradually be-
came regarded as less sacred, and was used by
school teachers as whipping post for scholars.
10 this Rood-eye came the mayor and corpora
ton, with the twenty guilds established in
Chester. Under tine cross the guild of shoe
makers presented the ball to the mayor. He
merrily set the ball a rolling. OF course the
simplicity OF these early pageants was soon lost.
In Henry Wits time this homage to the MAYOR
was changed into gift from the shoemakers to
the drapers to be con tested for in foot race The
| saddlers had always gone on horseback, attired
in all their bravery and carrying spears with
ball on top decorated with flowers. They ex-
changed their Offering for silver bell, which
should be reward for that horse which with
speedily running should run before all others"
THE PEPPER GATE.
The women were not behind the men in their
sports, but had their game of foot ball also by
the Pepper gate. The story has come to us of
a mayor. busy with the festivities at the Rood
eye, while his daughter. taking advantage of
the opportunity, ran away with her lover, who
came to fetch her through the Pepper gate.
The irate father on hearing it caused this gate
to be forever closed. Hence arose the Chester
proverbs: when the daughter is stolen shut the
Pepper gate, equivalent to when the steed
is stolen shut the stable door"
Archery was not neglected. The prize for
the winner was given by the bride9rooms who
had not yet closed year OF matrimonial bliss
and had been married in Chester. The sheriffs
took part in this game. There was also the
custom connected with it, '.the memory of man
now living not knowing the original that on
Easter Monday the two sheriffs should shoot
for breakfast of calves head and bacon. Bacon
was eaten in adherence of Judaism and it was
requisite to devour every piece of it. After
the contest the competitors and their hackers
went In procession to the town hall, where the
breakfast was held. writer Of the time COM
ments upon this feature of the day as "a COM
mendabe exercise, good recreation, and
loving assembly" Only an annual dinner now
represents the loving assembly"
LIFTING AMUsEMENTs.
But 'lifting' was one Of the amusements of
this festival, which was popular all over Eng
land On Easter Monday the men had their
turn. on Tuesday the girls retalated In Ches-
ter the gallant youths carried about q chair,
lined with rich white silk and decorated with
gariands of flowers and streamers of
ribbon As they met fair danisel they re-
was she lifted high in their hands
and before being released a kiss
was demanded and q fee beside. No opposi-
ton was allowed, and in those days OF free and
easy manners probably none was made. Strange
as it may seem the desire to dramatize the
days great event gave rise to this ridiculous
custom. The modus operandi where no chair
was provided was for two people to make a seat
Of their hands by holding each others wrists
what is known by the children of these days as
carrying a lady to London"
In Edward rs reign seven ladies Of the
queens household broke into the kings room
early in the morning and lifted him. He had
to give them GA as forfeit
grave divine was once passing through a
town OF Lancashire on an Easter Tuesday He
stopped for awhile at the inn and WAS quietly
seated in his room when he was astonished bv
three or four lusty damsels rushing in and ex-
claiming:
I'VE have come to lift you"
"To lift me, what can you mean?' said the
amazed man.
We've come to lift you cause its Easter
Tuesday.
II do not understand. Is there such a custom
here?'
"Yes, to be sure, why, don't you know? All
US women was lifted yesterday, and lis lifts the
men today, in turn, and, IN course, it's our
1t needed much persuasion from the reverend
gentleman to induce them to take the fee alone
and leave him unified.
Another ceremony is practiced in Durham
The men take off the women's shoes on Mon
day and the women have their revenge on
Tuesday.
The playing OF bail, in the very church
edifce. between the ecciesiastics and laity, for
tansy cakes, was suppressed on account Of its
sacrilegious tendency. Tansy tea was also used
in remembrance OF the bitter herbs eaten at
the passover.
DISTRIBUTION OF CAKES.
In the parish of Biddenden. In Kent, there il
an endowment Of old but unknown date for
making distribution of cakes among the poor
every Easter Sunday in the afternoon The
cakes given on this occasion were impressed
with the figures of two females side by side
Among the country people this was believed to
represent two women named Preston. who we're
born In bodily union. They lived thirty wears
In this connection. when one died, which caused
the death OF the other in few hours. The
cakes they considered memorial OF this nat
ural prodigy, as well OF the charitable dispo-
sition OF the sisters.
Simnel cakes were eaten In comMemoration Of
Easter. This cake was also used on mld-Lent
Sunday, or, as 1t WAS called mOtherng Sunday
from the custom of young people visiting their
parents On that day. Herrick has put this
practice into verse:
I'm to thee q Sinnel bring
'1ainst tnuu a. theriny:
So that when she blesses ,nee
Han that b. essiig thou'It give me-"
Simnels were in early times made With a fig
ure OF Christ or the virgin stamped on them to
show their religious Specification. In explana-
ton of their origin some say the father OF Lam
bert Simnel, the pretender, was a baker and
first made and gave his name to them. Others
vouch for the following tale;
ORIGIN OF THE srMSEI CAKE.
In Shropshire lived an honest old couple
named Simon and Nelly. Each Easter they
gathered their family about them. They were
of a provident turn Of mind. Nelly having
ONE OF the unleavehed dough left from the
fasting season determined to make use Of it in
q cake. Simon suggested that some OF the
Christmas plum pudding still remained, which
could form the interior and be q pleasant sur
prise on biting through the less tasty crust.
At first AL went well, but the question
arose as to whether boiling or bak-
ing would be better. A dispute followed,
which ended in blows. Nell picked up her
stool and threw il at Sim. who picked mp the
broom and right bravely defended his opinions.
So warm became the conflict that disaster was
only prevented by . comproEnise being
effected. They wisely concluded TO boil Il
first and bake it afterward. The big pot
was set on the fire, the stool and broom made
fuel for the oven, some eggs broken in the
scuf1ae were used to coat the Outside of the
cake, and this new production became known
a. .'Simon and Nelly" Il was soon reduced TO
6im-NsL