Rev. J. W. Dunn on Warhworih. 57 



hospitality goes on, and amongst many demonstrations of this 

 nature, in each house of the more well-to-do inhabitants, 

 there is provided a rich cake with its usual accompaniment 

 of wine. Great interchange of visiting takes place, and cake 

 and wine are liberally, but with some formality consumed. 



I am aware that this new-year openheartedness prevails 

 more or less in most parts of England, but I am disposed to 

 think that the name applied to it in this district is singular. 

 It is called " fadging," or " eating fadge." 



'^ To fadge "is an obsolete word signifying to suit, to fit, 

 or to agree. Shakspere uses it in this sense in the " Twelfth 

 Night, Act II., sc. ii." He says — " How will this fadge." 

 Butler uses the word in a similar manner. 



" Fadge " in Scotland is used for an especial kind of com- 

 pany cake, and I should suppose has its origin in the same 

 root. 



" Fadging " therefore, I am fain to believe, really means 

 eating the bread of brotherly union and concord. 



And so, when our unthinking villager says to his neigh- 

 bour at Christmas tide — " Come and fadge with me," it is as 

 much as saying — " Come and break bread with me and taste 

 wine, in token that bygones shall be bygones, and that if 

 ought has occurred during the year that has passed from us 

 to disturb our peace, it must be at once and for ever for- 

 gotten." 



But here I must cease. 



When I remember me, that you are to tread to-day on old 

 battle fields, and by holy shrines consecrated by the tears 

 and penitence of an earlier age — that you will stand admir- 

 ingly before ragged walls which our Shakspere has made 

 sacred by undying song, and which our Turners and Rich- 

 ardsons have essayed to realize by the limner's art, — when I 

 think on all this and more which I could tell — it seems a 

 high presumption to have detained you so long by my imper- 

 fect notices. 



I have only the more to thank you for the kind attention 

 which you have paid me. 



PLATE I. 



Ground plan ofWarkworth Castle. 



PLATE II. 



Interior View ofWarkworth Hermitage. (This plate has been presented to 

 the club by Mr John Storey, artist.) 



