The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-11
Dishes Our Ancestors Enjoyed at Their

trailed their feathers over the royal table.
and when Edward |. knighted his eldest
son. two swans were brought in gor-
geously caparisoned and with a great
blare OF trumpets, and the King swore in
presence Of God and the ladies'" that he
would avenge the murder of John Comyn
and punish the pertidy of Robert Bruce
Vows of chivalry were made upon the
swan. and when served for this purpose
the bird was made Respondent by the use
Of gold leaf. Sometimes the coat of arms
Of the reigning monarch was also painted
on the bird and small banners were stuck
all about il
There were no royal banquets without
the eacock. and often this was placed
before the lady most famed for her beauty
or before some knight who had been sue
cessful in the tourney.
When Puritanism came in the swans.
boars' heads and peacocks vanished as
did the rich pastries.
Plum broth was Popish. and m.nce pie,
O, that was fiat !dolatry.
1t is somewhat surprising to find
among the archives of the past many
ideas that people of the present day
have thought quite new. Even the
modern fireless cooker has its prototype,
for Charles MI. delighted in o fat hen
cooked on soldiers back while march
ing. The fowl was properly dressed
and stuffed and lardcd. \ red hot iron
was then thrust into 1t and it was shut
up in a box which was wrapped in cloth
and strapped to the soldiers back.
| Most OF the early cookbooks combine
medicine and cookery. DR.. Lyster, court
physician to Queen Anne. wrote. /
do not consider myself as hazarding
anything when I say that no man can
he a good physician who has not COM
petent knowledge OF cooking"
Some OF the recipes In these ancient
cookbooks rival that used for the con-
coction in the witches caldron. For in
stance, there is the Bishop of Worces-
ters admirable curing powder of
which the principal ingredients are
| adder skins and the black tips OF crabs
claws taken when the sun enters Can
Ger. which is every year on the eleventh
day OF June" DR.. Atkins jaundlce
powder was made OF earth worms nicely
sltted and washed with white wine"
The cooks of those days must have
been very erudte persons and one won
| QeTS WHdl tie uNVihSc sS' Neh' va 'T'' y
would do II her mistress should give her
such advice as was printed for the ben.
At OF cooks in the Cooks Oracle pub
| lished as late as 1872 The following
paragraph Is from chapter entitled
"Frendly Advice to Cooks
| LET your character be remarkable
for industry and moderation, your man
ners and department for simplicity, fru-
eality and neatness. II you outshine
your companions In fnery you will in
evitably excite their envy and make
them your enemies. Apply direct Il
your employers and beg them to explain
to you as fully as possible how they
like their victuals dressed. whether
much or little done. or what COM
plexions they wish their roasts, of a
gold color or we'll Drowned. without a
most attentive observation OF the direc-
lions given by her employers the most
experienced cook will never be esteemed
a saEacious palatician."
In discussing soup making the same
book remarks:
However highly the uninltiated In
the mystery Of soup making may elevate
the external appendase OF his olfactory
organ at the mention of ordinary 'po,
LIQUOR II he tastes this soup he will bt
as we'll pleased with 1t a. q Frenchmar