y of praying for departed souls, especially those
of friends, on the ensuing day, November 2, the feast of All-Souls.[689]
The following is a specimen of the doggerel sung on these occasions:

"Soul! soul! for a soul-cake;
Pray, good mistress, for a soul-cake.
One for Peter, and two for Paul,
Three for them who made us all.

Soul! soul! for an apple or two:
If you've got no apples, pears will do.
Up with your kettle, and down with your pan,
Give me a good big one, and I'll be gone.
Soul! soul! for a soul-cake, etc.

An apple, a pear, a plum, or a cherry,
Is a very good thing to make us merry."

[689] See "British Popular Customs," p. 404.

In the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (ii. 1), Speed thus speaks of this
practice: "To watch, like one that fears robbing; to speak puling,[690]
like a beggar at Hallowmas."

[690] Puling, or singing small, as Bailey explains the word.

The season of Hallowmas, having been frequently mild, has been, from
time immemorial, proverbially called "All-hallown summer," _i. e._, late
summer. Thus, in "1 Henry IV." (i. 2), Prince Henry, likening Falstaff,
with his old age and young passions, to this November summer, addresses
him: "Farewell, thou latter spring! Farewell, All-hallown summer."[691]
In some parts of Germany there is a proverb, "All-Saints' Day brings the
second summer;" and in Sweden there is often about this time a
continuance of warm, still weather, which is called "the All-Saints'
rest."

[691] See Swainson's "Weather-Lore," 1873, pp. 141-143.

There is another reference to this festival in "Richard II." (v. 1),
where the king says of his wife:

"She came adorned hither like sweet May,
Sent back like Hallowmas or short'st of day."

_All-Souls' Day_ (November 2)--which is set apart by the Roman Catholic
Church for a solemn service for the repose of the dead--was formerly
observed in this country, and among the many customs celebrated in its
honor were ringing the passing bell, making soul-cakes, blessing beans,
etc.[692] In "Richard III." (v. 1), Buckingham, when led to execution,
says:

"This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not?

_Sheriff._ It is, my lord.

_Buckingham._ Why, then, All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday."

[692] See "British Popular Customs," p. 409.

_Lord Mayor's Day_ (November 9). A custom which was in days gone by
observed at the inauguration dinner was t