490 On Gauffres or Wafer Irons. By J. G. Winning. 



mentioned that in the Lindisfarne Gospels the name of " Jesus " 

 was scarcely to be found written in full, the contraction I H S 

 being used instead. The use of I H C on the Chapelhill Irons 

 was, he thought, a proof of their antiquity. 



In Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, there is a reference to the 

 wafers baked by these irons. In the " Milleres Tale," Absalon, 

 the parish clerk, having cast loving eyes on " Alisoun," the Car- 

 penter's wife, sends her 



" Pyment, meth, and spiced ale, 

 And wafers pypying hot out of the gleede." 



The foot-note adds, " These were probably the French gaitfres, 

 whence the word icafer, gu and w being convertible, as Walter 

 from Gualtier. They are usually sold at fairs, and are made of 

 a kind of batter poured into an iron instrument, which shuts up 

 like a pair of snuffers. It is then thrust into the fire, and when 

 it is withdrawn, the gaufre or wafer is taken out and eaten 

 ' piping hot out of the gleede,' as here described." (Chaucer's 

 Poetical Works, edited by Robert Bell (re-issue) vol. i., p. 200.) 



I recollect some years ago being at a fete held in the Forest of 

 St Cloud. Several bakers were making sweet cakes on identical 

 like irons, holding them over a portable fire, and selling them to 

 the passers-by piping hot, at a small charge. 



The Americans make "Waffle Cakes" with "Waffle or 

 AVaffler Irons," which is simply the Wafer Irons without a long 

 handle ; the head being put into a small iron box, and placed in 

 the fire. I noticed this in a Cookery Book (Cassell's & Co.) and 

 it was there stated that the irons could be obtained in London 

 from any of the Jewish dealers. This opens up a long pedigree 

 for such utensils. It is curious to hear that the name has crossed 

 the Atlantic, and returned to us as an American product. 



J. G. W. 



ADDITIONAL NOTICES. 



In 1298, among the Stores sent from Berwick to Leith, In- 

 direction of Edward I. for the use of the English garrisons in 

 Scotland, preparatory for a warlike expedition. 



" The kino- has appointed that all the things underwritten, should be 

 put into a ship at Berwick, and sent from thence, in the same ship to 

 Maiden Castle, [Edinburgh] ; there to be placed apart in the castle, so 

 that the same things may be despatched wherever the king has appointed, 

 in the manner underwritten, that is to sar : — 



