Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-03-25


MoNKIsH GAsTRoNoMY.-We are not
sure that the monks first introduced into
our language the word 'gastronomy
but there may be less hesitation IN affirm
ing that the iliustrious science OF that
name owes no little to their devotion OF
its culture. Situated as were many OF
the abbeys in n rich landscape abounding
with the abbot own tiocks and herds,
and on the borders of Il teeming fishing
stream, it might be expected that the
monks, who were laymen and not priests,
would find some agreeable employment
i'll the preparation OF things fit to DO eat
en-. The science Of cookery was OF course
one of gradual improvement, and 1t Is
curious to contrast the simplicity OF the
fare allowed by st. Benedict with the ex-
auisite dishes laid before the latter alb
bots. where each course was furnished
with "subtity." which WAS an allegorl-
cal device in confectionery. Or the lux
urious living Of certain monastics, Giral-
dus tells malicious story. 1t happened
on time. that when Henry III. WAS re-
turning from hunting he was met ut
Guildford by the prior and Is monks Of
| ST Swithin, Winton, who with gruesome
faces and fearful eyes prostrated them
selves in miry place, complaining to
the King that Richard their Bishop, who
succeeded Henry OF bountiful memory,
had Withdrawn from them three dishes,
of which they had been accustomed To
partake to support them for their relig-
ious exercises. When the King inquired
how many dishes remained to them, they
replied .'only TO-" but that they were
wont to have 13 ON feast days since the
time of st. Swithin. When the King
heard this he called his mobiles around
him. see" he said, these monks,
thought, per ocuios Del, their houst
with all their bbey had been consumed
with fire, or that some grievous and terri
BILE loss had hap pened to them, who roll
ed themselves Ill tins miry place. But
now they accuse their Bishop OF keeping
back 8 dishes out Of Is. May their Bish
op perish unless he reduces their dishes
to the number of mine, who am callet
King, and am content with three Th,
author of the "Speculum EcclesiG, IL
which We find tho e-going anecdote
has many bitter things to say against thu
monks, whose original humility and aus
teritv, he argues, had gradually glver
way to pride and luxury. There is muci
to confirm his representation. We can
not incumber our columns with speci
mems of monastic menu OF the advance,
type in proof Of their living, or We nigh
; perhaps show that even II Greenwich hos
Of the present day need not be nshame'
to model his white bait dinner after tn
form Of "A great MEDIEVAL abbots feast
: Even nfter the overthrow Of the abbeyt
80 excessive became tho Injuries u
1 churchmen's tables, that one of the re
I forms Of the Reformation was the limlta
I ton of their dishes Archbishop Gran
. mer, at II Convocation III l541, procure
un ordinance that the Arch bishop shoul
A never exceed "six divers kyndes Of fiesht
Y or SIX of fishe on the fishe dawes, Tia
/ Bishop not to exceed five, the Deane an
t Archdeacon not above four, and all othe
5 under that degree not above three. Th
i order concludes with II memorandum thu
q the decree for "A moderated fare iva
8 kept for two or three months, tyll l.
t the disusing of certaino wilfull person
| it came to the old excess The Satu.
day Rerisp.