Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-12-06
Meals Three Hundred Years Ago.

Let us sit down in imagination, at dinner
in England three hundred years ago. Mighty
hints Of beef, mutton and veal, boiled and
roast, are accompanied by veal pies, capors,
black cocks, chickens, plovers partrldgeS, two
kinds OF bread-the delicate march-p pane and
the coarser cheate vegetables axe almost un-
known in England, and form no part of the
regular bill of fare The first in rank are SEW
ed, and the dishes are then passed down in
gradatiop to the lower tables, the last remains
being served for the poor, who every day await
this benevolence at the outer gate.
The second course is ushered in in like man
ner, and is still more plentiful and luxurious
roast swans venson, pheasants, puilets, snipe,
teal, pigeons and pastry. The third course is
distinguished by the richness of the sweets;
jellies in the shape Of animals, trees, houses,
etc., ''subtility, Or elaborate piece Of sugar
work. representing, perhaps, fortress In
miniature, ''tarts Of divers hues and sundry
denominations, conserves OF English and
corits in endless variety The beverage con-
sists of ale and mead, and many kinds of wine,
served in silver tankards and Venetian glasses.
The walters at the Earl's tables are gentle
men of high birth, even the younger sons Of
noblemen, who are placed there to learn do
mestic customs and all the intrinsic arrange
ments of large house. Ushels, uarshals,
cup bearers, are all of rank, and without the
perfect insight into domestic manners they
thus practically obtained, they would be utterly
at the mercy Of their numerous dependents,
and unable to maintain in order the hundred
retaipers that may hereafter eat and drink and
be clothed at his expense, when they them
selves become the heads of families.
Profound silence is preserved during dinner,
''for it is the greatest part of civility," save
when some one rises, and, first uueovering his
head, takes full cup in his hand, aad, settling
his countenance with grave aspect, he Graves
for audience. Silence being once obtained, he
begins to breath out the name. peradventure,
Of some honorable parsonage, whose health Is
drank to, and he that pledges must likewise
off with his cap kiss his fingers and bow him.
self, 10 sign Of reverent acceptance. And
thus the first scene is acted The cup being
newly replenished to the breadth of q nar-
that is, tae pledger-must now begin his part,
and thus it goes round through the whole
company.
The banquet over, the guests wash their
hands in rose water, and, leaving the gen
temen to their wine, as in the present day,
the ladies retire to amuse themselves with
backgammon, cards, ninepios, bowls and
undoubtedly, the scandal of Queen Eliza
besh's court. When the gentlemen have
contented themselves with wine we'll spiced,
perhaps the whole party go on hawking
or hunting expedition, or engage in a trial of
skill at archery, Or if the company be very
numerous and of high rank, a bull or bear
NAV be baited to death for their amusement.
the fair ladies enjoying it quite as much as the
Spanish beauties of the present day. At
seven o o'clock supper is served in the great hall,
and resembles the dinner on much smaller
scale. After supper the company amusc them
selves with dancing, chess, drapghts, qui fray,
(hot hocdle,) or tiers, (blindman's buff and
other games, now numbered only among the
sports of young children. At ten the bell
summons to the chapel Peaycrs are said by
the chaplain, aad the household separates for
the night