2nd s. No 47., Nor. 22. '56.1 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



405 



they lived together in the above state, Thirty-four Years ; 

 at the expiration of which time, one of them was taken 

 111, and in a sliort time died ; the surviving one was ad- 

 vised to be separated from the body of her deceased 

 Sister, by dissection, but she absolutely refused the sepa- 

 ration by saying these words, as we came together, we 

 will also go together, and in the space of about six hours 

 after her Sister's decease, She was taken 111, and died 

 also. 



" By their Will, they bequeathed to the Churchwardens 

 of the Parish of Biddenden, and their successors Church- 

 wardens for ever, certain pieces or parcels of Land in the 

 Parish of Biddenden, containing twenty Acres, more or 

 less, which now lets at £31 10s. per Annum. There are 

 usually made in commemoration of these wonderful Phoe- 

 nomena's of Nature, about 1000 Rolls with their im- 

 pression printed on them, and given away to all Strangers, 

 on Easter Sunday, after Divine Service in the Afternoon, 

 also about 270 Quartern Loaves, and Cheese in proportion, 

 to all the poor Inhabitants of the said Parish." 



Cheverells. 



Oak- Apple Day. — In Devonshire, at least in 

 the vicinity of Starcross, the chihlren customarily 

 celebrate this anniversary by carrying about what 

 thej call May babies, i. e. little dolls, carefully and 

 neatly dressed, decked with flowers, and laid in 

 boxes somewhat resembling coffins, though such 

 resemblance is not, apparently, the intention of 

 the artists. The origin or meaning of this custom 

 does not appear to be known, but it is believed to 

 be in some way connected with Charles II. A 

 medical friend, riding his rounds last Oak- Apple 

 Day, came up with a group of women and chil- 

 dren, one of whoni was carrying something covered 

 with a loose cloth. At his request she raised the 

 cloth, and disclosed a doll dressed and lying in a 

 neat box. To his inquiries as to the object of it, 

 the only reply he could for some time get was, 

 " May baby, Sir ! " At last one old woman, with 

 a sudden burst of eloquence, said, " King Charles 

 beheaded in the oak, Sir ! " Nothing further 

 could be gathered. 



A method of commemorating the day, more 

 certainly applicable to Charles II., also obtains 

 there. An effigy, similar in construction to those 

 in such favour on GuyFawkes' day, is constructed 

 of old garments stuffed with straw, and a mask 

 for a face. Its breast is decorated with a paper 

 star, and a sash passes from the left shoulder 

 under the right arm, in imitation of those worn by 

 the Knights of the Garter. The effigy is seated 

 amid and under branches of oak ; and the whole 

 is placed in a cart, with which its proprietor per- 

 ambulates the neighbourhood, stopping at each of 

 the better sort of houses, of course in the hope of 

 largess. Tee Bee. 



A Legend of Moor Park. — The landlord of the 

 "Unicorn" inn, Farnham, is careful to show his 

 customers a portrait of William Foot, who lived 

 for upwards of three months in a hollow called 

 " Ludlam's Cave," in Moor Park, once the resi- 

 dence of Sir William Temple. During the time he 



lived there, he only came to the town at night ; 

 bought what he wanted, and then crept back to his 

 hiding-place. He was discovered, on January 14, 

 1840, very ill ; and shortly afterwards died. He 

 was by trade a tailor. The portrait represents a 

 haggard face, with a grizzly beard and moustache. 

 It needs not a Lavater to discover a tendency to 

 insanity in its wild and melancholy expression. 



J. Virtue Wynen. 

 Hackney. 



Radish Boys Cry of Great Yairmouth. — 



" Morodoosher*, Moredoosh ; 

 Come here ye hew raw. 

 Spring Redoosh, 

 Come here two bunch e how-oh. 



" Come you that a' got money, 

 Whilst I a' got none : 

 Buy all my spring Radishes, 

 And let me go home. 



" Come all you pretty maids, 

 Who chuse to buj' any, 

 For here's j'our Spring Radishes, 

 Two bunches a penny. 



" Come all you old wimmin. 

 Be joyful and sing : 

 For here's your old radish boy's. 

 Now come ag'in. 



" For here I am. 

 Both weary and tir'd, 

 And here's my last pennuth, 

 So I don't care who'll buy it." f 



This singular ditty, which has been rendered in 

 a variety of ways by the curious in such matters, 

 but I believe never printed in any Collection of 

 Cries, is strictly confined to this locality. Its 

 origin is involved in the greatest obscurity. Can 

 any of the readers of " N. & Q." give any in- 

 formation as to its origin or author ? 



J. W. DiBOLL. 



Great Yarmouth. 



The Torch Dance. — Pray preserve in your Folk Lore 

 columns, for the use of future antiquaries, the following 

 graphic account of this ancient dance, as given by The 

 Times correspondent (in that paper of the 24th Sept.), 

 who supplied from Berlin the particulars of the marriage 

 of the Princess Ro,val of Prussia. After describing how 

 the Court proceeded from the supper-room to the White 

 Saloon again, wiiere the fackel-tanz, or torch dance, is 

 then to be performed, the writer proceeds : 



" As on the former occasion of the reception of the con- 

 gratulations, the newly married couple now also took 

 their places with the king and queen on the dais under 

 the throne canopy, and the princesses ranged themselves 

 on the right hand of the throne, and the princes on the 

 left, according to their rank. At a signal from the king 

 the Lord High Marshal approaches the young couple and 

 requests them to open the dance, which they do by walk- 

 ing a Polonaise, preceded by the twelve ministers of state, 

 each holding a taper of white wax in his hand. After 

 performing one tour of the saloon, which is of very con- 



* Evidently a corruption of " More Radish." 

 f This last verse is only sung when the boy has arrived 

 at his " last pennuth." 



