The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-02-02

A MEDIEVAL BssoUET-Alfhough to our severe
1 taste, the feasts OF the middle ages may bar
barrie in their exiravagance and nowhere was this
carried to greater lengths than in the wealthy states
OF Italy, still the almost meagre simplicity of mo-
dern times makes il Interesting to look back upon
those splendid entertainments, described with so
much gusto BY contemporary Italian chroniclers.
How far the heavily burdened taxpayers Of the dav
relished the magnihcence with which their princely
and ducal rulers celebrated their victories, well
coined their ustrious visitors, need not inquire
they probably, like French friends each success
sive 18th August, admired the show, and grumbled
OF the bill. Leaving sso to political economists to
decide il they can, how far the prufuson OF a court
is advantageous TO the prosperity Of nation, or the
reverse let US transfer ourselves in Imagination to
the wedding banquet of the Lady Violante of Milan,
1868 A. d.
Early in the month of May of that year, Lionel,
Duke of Clarence, second of Edward III of
England entered the fair city OF Milan as the aft
anced of Yiolante Yisconti attended by her father
Galeazzo Visconti, who shared with his brothers,
MatteO and Bernardo, the sovereignty of that opu-
lent province. All the Milauese MOBILES knights
and ladies escorted Viscouti and his guest atiired
in magnificent dresses designed expressly for the
occasions; and a brilliantly equipped force of two
thousand English horsemen and archers formed the
Duke OF Clarences contribution to the splendor of
the procession. From that time until the 18th of
June, when the marriage ceremony performed
By the Bishop of Novara in the Church of St. Maria
Maggiore the English and this prince were enter
tanned with the prouse hospitality Of the age which
in the evening, after the solemnzation of the mar
deavor to give description.
The banqueting tables were arranged in the open
court before The palace of the Viseonti in the Piazza
deli Arenga Among the guests admitted TO the
private table of the bride and bridegroom were the
Count OF Savoy, the Bishop of Novara, and the IL
lustrious poet, Francis Peinrch then in the zenith
OF his fame AT another table hundred of the
most beautiful ladies of the court dslayed their gor
geous toilets studded with pearls and other precious
Stones their exirayagant of which is u frequent
subject oil censure with the contemporary histo-
rians.
The "breakfast." II may so call il, consisted of
eighteen different courses, ushered in with the ut
most pomP, aud accompanied by appropriate pre-
sents for the newly married pair. The first course,
as mark Of peculiar honor, was served up in dup
licate to the bridegroom's table and was composed
among other dishes, of two small porklings entirely
gilded, with fire in their mouths aud small gilt fish
Called pOrcelleIi. As presents, two OF the choicest
greyhonnds which could be procured with their APP
propriate trappings, were led round and exhibited
TO the company The second course consisted of
gilded hares and pike; with twelve greyhounds and
six goshawks as presents. The third entry was
large gilt calf In silver dish, and an infnty of
small gilt trout; twelve sporting dogs of various
breeds with velvet collars and silken leashes, as
presents. The fourth cOurse-attended by twelve
couple OF sporting dogs and twelve beautiful falcons
with BELLS hoods, DC. of sver-was principally of
gilt paridges, quais, and roast gilded trout. The
NTH course OF gilt game of all kinds, and large gilt
carp, was accompanied by a similar present of
hawks TO the fourth, only that they were enriched
with hoods covered with costly pearls.
WIN the SIKH entry, the solids oil the least and
the more cunbrous presents commenced-beef and
caPons with garlic sauce surgeons Whole in water;
and twelve steel curasses of exquisite finish buckled
and studded with silver, for the bridegroom. The
seventh course sounds novel to our cars capons
game, and fish served up in lemonade; and as pres
EMS, twelve matchless suits of Milan armor twelve
tlliing saddles, and twelve ances. The eighth en-
Try, pastry, beef, and hung eel-pies, with twelve
more suits of war-arinOr. The ninth course ana its
successor were more moderate consisting Of meat
and fish Iellies, and lampreys with gold coins gold
cloths, silver basins, and TASKS filled with Mansey
and Vernaecia wines, presents The eleventh
cuurce OF this never ending banquet of kids
comanied by six hOrsrs, with saddles lances tar
gets, and helmets in like number. The twelfth
bares and other game, with six large coursers with
saddles and golden trappings. The thirteenth SER
vice, vensiOn aud beef with six warehouses; with
gilded brides, bits and full beraldic irappings and
housings. The fourteenth, fowls, capons &C. /
dressed colored sauces with citron and six light
jousting eoursers, with gilded brides, red velvet |
cloths, and halers. The fifteenth, peaeocks' ton !
CUES, more carp, of which the Italians and French
were particularly fond, vegetables, and fruit; as /
presents, duca hood, mantle, and lower robe,
covered with pearls, and lined with ermine The /
rabbits, peacocks ducks, &c and |
huge silver basin, containing one large rnby one
large diamond, large pearl, and some other choice
specimens of precious stones. The seventeenth
course was rural and pastoral in comparison, being
cheese Parmcsan, even then famous among epicur-
IS, and other products of the dairy, with the very
appropriate present of twelve fat cows. For the
eighteenth course-lrui's, sweetmea's, and various
splendid charge1s-One called the Linn, the other
he AbbOt-were presented to the Duke OF Clarence
~ his prineely and seventy SINH
ar sieeds for his principal knights and barons The
table at this unconscionable feast,
which must have lasted many hours, was served BY
we've principal knights, of the duchy; pages Of
over rank, but all of gentle blood attending on the
her tables, and taking charge of the various pres
mis-.
For more copious notices of the splendid enter
ailments of that period such as the coronation
anquet Clan Gaeazzo Viscunii, brother of the La
y Violante, in 1895. the reader may consult Cap
ain Napier's History Of FlOreDce 6 vols. Svo 1885,
work which appears less generally known than
he accuracy OF its facts and the pleasantness OF its
lyle entitle il 10 be- Chambers Journal