"Simnel.—Siminellus from the Latin Simila, which signifies the Finest Part of the Flour. Panis similageneus, Simnel Bread. It is mentioned in 'Assisa Panis;' and is still in use, especially in Lent. Bread made into a Simnel shall weigh two shillings less than Wastell Bread." Stat. 51 Henry III.

The Statute, intituled Assisa Panis et CervisiÆ, made Anno 51 Hen. III. Stat. I.; and Anno Dom. 1266. Cotton MS. Claudius, D. 2.

... Panis verÒ de siminello ponderabit minus de Wastello de duobus solidis, quia bis coctus est.

For the Ordinance for the Assise and Weight of Bread in the City of London, see Stowe's Survey, p. 740, Edit. 1633.

It was sometime called Simnellus, as in the Annals of the Church of Winchester, under the year 1042. "Rex Edwardus instituit, et cart confirmavit, ut quoties ipse vel aliquis Successorum suorum Regum AngliÆ diadema portaret WintoniÆ vel WigorniÆ vel Westmonasterii; PrÆcentor loci recipiet de fisco ips die dimidiam marcam, et conventus centum Sumnellos et unun modium vini." But, indeed, the true reading is Siminel.

The English Simnel was the purest White Bread, as in the Book of Battle Abbey. "Panem RegiÆ MensÆ aptam, qui Simenel vulgÒ vocatur[379]."

Simula.—A Manchet, a White Loaf. Among the Customs of the Abbey of Glastonbury: "In diebus solemnibus, cum Fratres fuerunt in cappis, Medonem habuerunt in Justis, et Simulas super mensam, et vinum ad caritatem, et tria generalia." Chartular. Abbat. Glaston. MS. fol. 10.

For the use of Saffron, now used for colouring the Crust of the Simnel, see Shakespear's Winter's Tale; where the Clown (Act iv.) says, "Then I must have Saffron to colour the Warden Pyes."