The most curious Cheshire custom still existent, and one which has
not attracted the attention it deserves, is called “souling.” The day
after All Saints’ Day (now November 1st) is All Souls’ Day. This was
established as a festival of the Church about the tenth century, and
in the Middle Ages it was customary for persons dressed in black to
traverse the streets, ringing a bell at every corner and calling on all
to join in prayer for the souls in Purgatory, and to contribute towards
the paying of masses for them. After the Reformation the demand for
money was transformed into demands for liquid and solid refreshment by
the “soulers.”
But at Salerno, we are told that a custom prevailed previous to the
fifteenth century of providing in every home on the eve of All Souls’
Day, a sumptuous entertainment for souls in Purgatory, who are supposed
to revisit temporarily the scene of their earthly labours. Every one
left their house and remained in church all night, while the feast
was consumed by thieves who made a harvest out of this pious custom.
Such is the origin of our “souling,” and it seems probable, therefore,
that “soul-cakes” were not, at first, meant for consumption by the
“soulers” themselves. The custom is still observed, and on the eve of
All Souls’ (_i.e._ on the night of All Saints’ Day) bodies of children
still parade Chester and Cheshire villages singing a portion of the old
souling song, but tacked on to debased and incorrect versions of the
old words, and in many cases amounting to mere doggerel.[52]
Now, the melody sung is most interesting, for it is undoubtedly
pre-Reformation and is cast in the style of the Church music of the
period, for there was no sharp dividing line between secular and sacred
music when “souling” first began.[53] The “punctum” or drop of a fifth
is very characteristic, and will be found in Merbecke and Church
writers of the period.
[52] _e.g._ Instead of “Soul, soul, for an apple or two,” I have heard
them sing, “Sole, sole, sole of my shoe”!
[53] I heard a comic song sung by a rustic in Sussex a few years ago to
the plain-song which is used for the hymn “O come! O come! Emmanuel,”
in _Hymns Ancient and Modern_.
The following is the tune as taken down by me many times in the past
thirty years, though it is now getting greatly corrupted and altered,
and will probably soon die out. No accompaniment is used:--
[Music:
Souling night has come at last,
And we are souling here;
And all that we are souling for,
Is apples and good cheer.
Soul, soul for an apple or two,
If you’ve no apples, pears will do;
If you’ve no pears, a good jug of beer
Will last us all till this time next year.
God bless the master of this house,
God bless the mistress too;
And all the little children that
Around the table go.
]