The cakes distributed on this occasion were impressed with the figures of two females side by side, and close together.[32] Amongst the country people it was believed that these figures represented two maidens named Preston, who had left the endowments; and they further alleged that the ladies were twins, who were born in bodily union, that is, joined side to side, as represented on the cakes; who lived nearly thirty years in this connection, when at length one of them died, necessarily causing the death of the other in a few hours. It is thought by the Biddenden people that the figures on the cakes are meant as a memorial of this natural prodigy, as well as of the charitable disposition of the two ladies. Mr. Hasted, however, ascertained that the cakes had only been printed in this manner within the preceding fifty years, and concluded more rationally that the figures were meant to represent two widows, “as the general objects of a charitable benefaction.” [32] An engraving of one of these cakes will be found in the _Every Day Book_, 1827, vol. ii. p. 443. If Mr. Hasted’s account of the Biddenden cakes be the true one, the story of the conjoined twins--though not inferring a thing impossible or unexampled--must be set down as one of those cases, of which we find so many in the legends of the common people, where a tale is invented to account for certain appearances, after the real meaning of the appearance was lost.--_Book of Days_, vol. i. p. 427; see Britton and Brayley, _Beauties of England and Wales_, 1803, vol. viii. p. 208; _Old English Customs and Charities_, 1842, p. 60. MIDDLESEX. According to Lysons’ _Environs of London_ (1795, vol. iii. p. 603) there was an ancient custom at Twickenham of dividing two great cakes in the Church upon Easter Day, among the young people; but it being looked upon as a superstitious relic, it was ordered by Parliament, 1645, that the parishioners should forbear this custom, and, instead thereof, buy loaves of bread for the poor of the parish with the money that should have bought the cakes. It appears that the sum of £1 _per annum_ is still charged upon the vicarage for the purpose of buying penny loaves for poor children on the Thursday before Easter. Within the memory of man they were thrown from the church-steeple to be scrambled for; a custom which prevailed also at Paddington. NORFOLK. In this county it is customary to eat baked custards at Easter, and cheesecakes at Whitsuntide.--_N. & Q. 3rd S._ vol. i. p. 248. OXFORDSHIRE. At University College, Oxford, on this day, the representation of a tree, dressed with evergreens and flowers, is placed on a turf close to the buttery, and every member there resident, as he leaves the Hall after dinner, chops at the tree with a cleaver. The College cook stands by holding a plate, in which the Master deposits half a guinea, each Fellow five shillings and sixpence. This custom is called “chopping at the tree.”--_N. & Q. 1st S._ vol. ix. p. 468.