Formerly it used to take place in the
Church, immediately after the service in the afternoon, but in
consequence of the unseemly disturbance which used to ensue the
practice was discontinued. The Church used to be filled with a
congregation whose conduct was occasionally so reprehensible that
sometimes the church-wardens had to use their wands for other
purposes than symbols of office. The impressions of the maids 'on
the cakes are of a primitive character, and are made by boxwood
dies cut in 1814. They bear the date 1100, when Eliza and Mary
Chulkhurst are supposed to have been born, and also their age at
death, thirty-four years."
Ballantyne has summed up about all there is to be said on this
national monstrosity, and his discussion of the case from its
historic as well as teratologic standpoint is so excellent that
his conclusions will be quoted--
"It may be urged that the date fixed for the birth of the
Biddenden Maids is so remote as to throw grave doubt upon the
reality of the occurrence. The year 1100 was, it will be
remembered, that in which William Rufus was found dead in the New
Forest, 'with the arrow either of a hunter or an assassin in his
breast.' According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, several
'prodigies' preceded the death of this profligate and extravagant
monarch.
Pages:
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351