Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-02
IN ElIZABETH'S TIME.
Dinner Was Substantial Affair in the
Days Of Good Queen Bess, and
Sabbath Laws Were Strict

Dinner was a substantial affair in the
days of Queen Elizabeth, who was by no
means Indifferent to the pleasures of the
table. The first course on great occasions
would probably be wheaton fummery,
stewed broth, spinach broth, cruel or
hotchpotch. The second consisted of fish,
among which may be noted lampreys,
stock fish and sturgeon. with side dishes
of porpoise The third course comprised
quakng pudding. bag pudding, black pud-
ding, white pudding and marrow pudding.
Then came veal, beef, caprons, humble
pie, mutton. marrow pasties. Scotch col
lops, wild fowl and game In the fifth
course came all kinds of sweets creams
in all their varieties. custards, cheese
cakes, jelhes. warden pies. junkets, sylla-
bulbs and so on, to be followed perhaps by
white cheese and tansy cake. For drinks,
there were ale, beer wine, sack and num-
erous varieties of mead or metheglin. some
Of which were concocted out of as many
as five and twenty herbs, and were redo
lent of sweet country perfume.
Few people are aware how strict a Sab
bath is still legally ordered in England.
the Lords day observance act forbids not
only Sunday trading, but also every pos
sible occupation-waking, riding. rowing
or any game-and strictly enjoins all sub
jccts over nine years of age attendance at
church
At the opening of every assize the King 3
proclamation for the preservation of NOR
ality is read. People who are then pres
ent for the first time are astonished to
hear that the King forbids and calls upon
the Magistrate to punish absence from di
vine service on Sundays, and playing Of
cards or other games of chance, or haunt
ing Of public houses on the same day.
Everybody found in an inn during service
hours is liable to a fine of so cents, the
landlord to penalty of $40 and for a
successful prosecution church wardens are
entitled to a reward of SO AS recently
as 1864 Isaac Walton, Il man-servant was
| fined $3.50 for refusing to attend church on
Sunday when ordered there by his mis-
trcss. About the same time a mother was
| prosecuted by her son and actually impri-
soned for not attending church.
On June 30, 1887. that barbarous institll-
| ton, the pillory, was abolished in England
! by act of Parliament. 1t was "A direct lin.
| cal descendant of the stretchncck which
| existed in England before the conquest
| BY a statute of Edward J. it was enact
ed that every stretchneck or pillory should
| he made Of convenient strength SO that
| execution might be done upon offenders
without peril to their bodies. In the
| stretchneck there was no accommodation
| for the arms only the head being secured
while in the pllory the hands were
| brought up and secured on a level with the
head, All manner of offenders were pun.
ished in this rough-and-ready way. Ir
| 1887 Fabion says that Robert Bassett
Mayor of London, did shape correction
upon bankers for making bread of light
weight; he caused divers of them to be put
in the pillory,as also one Agnes DANTE 70,
selling of mingled butter. "-Philadelphia
| Inquirer.