Cape Acetris. _Velthemia Viridifolia._
Dedicated to _St. Francis Borgia_.
[347] Literary Pocket Book
~October 11.~
_Sts. Tarachus_, _Probus_, and _Andronicus_, A. D. 304. _St. Gummar_,
or _Gomar_, A. D. 774. _St. Ethelburge_, or _Edilburge_, A. D. 664.
_St. Canicus_, or _Kenny_, Abbot in Ireland, A. D. 599.
_St. Ethelburge._
In ancient times, on the festival of this saint, furmity was “an usual
dish.”[348]
~Old Michaelmas Day.~
On this day it was a custom in Hertfordshire for young men to assemble
in the fields and choose a leader, whom they were obliged to follow
through ponds and ditches, “over brake and briar.” Every person they met
was taken up by the arms and bumped, or swung against another. Each
publican furnished a gallon of ale and plum-cake, which was consumed
in the open air. This was a septennial custom and called
_ganging-day_.[349]
* * * * *