The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-10-26
Meals Three Hundred Years Ago.


Let us sit down, in imagination, at
dinner in England three hundred
years ago. Mighty joints of beef,
mutton and veal, boiled and roast
are accompanied by veal pies, capons,
black cocks, chickens, plovers part
ridges, two kinds of bread the deli
cate marchpane and coarser cheate;
vegetables are almost unknown in
England, and form no part of the reg
ular bill of fare The first in rank are
served, and the dishes are then passed
down i'll graduation to the lower tables,
the last remains being reserved for
the poor who every day await this
beneyolcnce at the outer gate
The second course is ushered in in
like manner, and is still more plenti-
ful and luxurious, roast swans, We i
son, pheasants, pullets, snipe, teal,
pigeons. and pastry. The third course
is distinguished by the richness of the
sweets; jelies, in the shape Of ami
mails, trees, houses, &c, subtility,"
or elaborate piece of sugarwork, rep
resenting, perhaps, fortress, in mini
allure, tarts OF divers huos and sun
dry denominations, conserves of
English and foreign fruits, gingerbread
marmalade, and comfits in endless
variety. The beverage consists of ale
and mead, and many kinds of wine,
served in silver tankards, and Vene-
tan glasses
The walters at the Earls table are
gentlemen of high birth, even the
younger sons Of nobemen, who are
placed there to learn domestic Gus
toms and all the intricate arrange
ments OF Il large house. Ushers, Mar
shals cup-bearers, are all of rank, and
without the perfect insight into do
nestle manners they thus practically
obtain, they would be utterly at the
mercy Of their numerous dependents,
and unable TO maintain in order the
hundred reatiners that may hereafter
eat and drink, and be clothed at his
expense, when they themselves be-
come the heads of families.
Profound silence is preserved dur
ing dinner, II for it is the greatest part
of civility,' save when some one rises,
and, first uncovering his head, takes a
full cup in his hand, and, setting his
countenance with grave aspect, he
Graves for audience. Silence being
once obtained he begins to breathe
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 fin
gers and bow himself, in sign of
reverent acceptance. And thus the
first scene is acted. The cup being
newly replenished to the breadth of a
hair-that is, the pledger- must now
begin his part, and thus it goes round
throughout the whole company.
The banquet over, the guests wash
their hands i'll rose water, and, leaving
the gentlemen to their wine, as in the
present day, the ladies retire to amuse
themselves with backgammon, cards,
ninepins, bowls, and, undoubtedly,
the scandal OF Queen Elizabeth's court.
When the gentlemen have contented
themselves with wine we'll spiced, per
haps the whole company go on a
hawking Of hunting expedition, or en-
gage in trial of skill at archery, or,
if the company be very numerous, and
of high rank, bull or bear may be
bated to death for their amusement,
the fair ladies enjoying it quite as
much as the Spanish beauties of the
present day, At seven o'clock supper
is served III the great hall, and resem
bles the dinner on much smaller
scale After supper the company
abuse themselves with dancing, chess,
draughts, gu .fray (hot hockle) or
tiers, (blindman buff and other
games now numbered only among the
sports of young children. At ten, the
bell summons to the chapel. Prayers
are said by the chaplain, and the
household separates for the night
--Erchange.