The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-04-11
Old England.
LIrB AMONG oUR AScEsroRs-rHEIR MANNERS AND
CUSTOMS.

The customs, manners literature, architecture,
history, everything In fine pertaining TO England,
previous to the seventeenth century, may be re.
garded as the common ancestral property Of all
John Bulls progeny, wherever scattered over the
world. To large majority OF our readers, there
fore, Whatever throws light upon the olden time
OF Great Britain can never cease to be of interest.
The whale was eaten BY the Saxons; and when
men were lucky enough 10 get 1t, it appeared at
table in the fifteenth century. In 1916, Henry Ill
directed the sheriff of London TO purchase one
hundred pieces Of whale for his table. Whales
found on the coast were perqusites Of royalty !;
they were cut up and sent TO the kings kitchen
in carts. Edward ii gave q reward of twenty
shillings to three mariners who caught whale
near London bridge. Those that were found on
the banks Of the Thames river were claimed by
the lord mayor, and added TO the civic feast.
Pieces of whale were often purchased in the thin
teenth century for the table OF the countess Of
Leicester. England was supplied with this
choice dainty by the fishermen OF Normandy, who
made it an article OF commerce. The NOrmsns
had various ways Of cooking it; sometimes it was
roasted and brought to the table on Q spit; bat
the usual way was to boil il and serve II with peas.
Eplcures looked out for slice from the tongue or
the tall. The grampus. or ses.wolf, was also
highly esteemed; but OF all the b'ubber dainiie
the porpoise was deemed the most savory. The
eaxons call 1t sea-swine, and the ecclesssics of
the middle ages rroco mosinoo. PROPOSES were
purchased for the table of Henry Ill In 12l6.
In the reign OF Henry III, the whole stock OF 0
carpenters tools was valued at oae shilling. aud
consisted OF a broad Ak, an sdze, square, aud
spoke-shspel " There were very few ohimneys;
the fire was laid TO the wall and the smoke Issued
out at the roof, or door, or window, aud the fur
niture and utensils were Of wood. The people
slept on straw pallets, with log Of wood for
pillow" Even as late as the time OF Elizabeth,
1885, it is stated that apologies were made to visit
ors II they could not be accommodated in rooms
provided with chimneys. They had q few glass
windows, and when glass was introduced, 1t was
for long time so scarce that when people went
away they would order the windows taken out
and laid up 10 safety.
wore linen. The household furniture, among the
wealthy, consisted OF an occasional, brass pot, O
brass cup. gridiron and rug or two. aud per-
maps . tower. VI CHAIRS and tables We hear
which they kept their clothes. II man in seven
years after marriage could purchase flock bed
and q sack OF chat to rest his head upon, he
thought himself as well lodged as the lord Of the
town.
In addition to this poverty Of what seems to us
absolute necessities. the houses and the people
were exceedingly dirty. Erasmus, o celebrated
scholar Of Holland, who visited England, com.
plains that "the nastiness of the people was the
cause OF the frequent plsgues which destroyed
them;" and he says their "foors are commonly of
clay, etrewed with ruehes under which lie unfrio-
Tested collection of beer, grease, fragments,
bones, spittle, excrements Ct dogs and GETS, and
OF every thing that is nauseous."
Their tables were as miserably supplied ss their
dwellings. They had little fresh meat, but sailed
most OF their cattle and swine In November, upon
which they mostly depended through the winter.
Very few vegetables Of any kind came upon their
tables. II is stated that In the early part OF the
reign of Henry III not cabbage turnip, carrot or
other edible root grew 10 England.
The average duration OF human life was at that
period not one half az long as at the present day
The constant use OF sailed meat, and fe " or no
vegetables, contributed to the shortening of life,
to say nothing of the large number swept swsyby
pestilence and famine.