SC - Manger en Chine / Dietary of health (1542) etc./ pheasant

[Philip & Susan Troy]

A few weeks ago I mentioned an exhibition in Rottenburg about food and
the history of food in China. Because Rottenburg is only about 8 miles
away from me, but about 4008 miles away from most of you, I will only
mention the catalogue, printed in German and French:

Manger en Chine / Essen in China. Une exposition de l´Alimentarium /
Eine Ausstellung des Alimentariums. Regula Trauffer. Avec des
contributions de / mit Beitraegen von: Elisabeth Hsu, Li Shijing,
Georges Metailie, Francoise Sabban. Vevey (Alimentarium) 1997.
[quoted without the French accents, that would cause trouble in
transmission.]
************************
Item: about 16th century English texts:

Andrew Borde's 'dyetary of Health' (1542) was published in 1870 by F.
Furnivall in the Early English Text Society's Extra Series X, pages
223-304.

Furnivall edited several other (a.o. 16th century) food texts in
'Manners and Meals in Olden Time' (1868).

In addition, there is 'The good huswifes handmaide for the kitchen'
(1594?), published by Stuart Peachey in 1992. -- In this text, before
the recipes, there is a section about the seasons, in which pheasants
are mentioned twice:

<<<
[4] To knowe the due
seasons for the use of al maner of
meats throughout the yeare.

Brawn is best from the holy Rood day til Lent, and at no
other time commonlie used for service. Bacon, Beefe and
Mutton, is good at all tymes, but the woorst tyme for
Mutton is from Easter to Midsommer. A fatte yoong Pig is
never out of season. A Goose is worst at Midsommer, +
best in stubble tyme, but they be best of all when they
be young green Geese. Veale is all tymes good, but best
in Januarie and Februarie. Kidde and young Lambe is best
between Christmasse + Lent, + good from Easter to
Whitsontide, but Kid is ever good. Hennes be all times
good, but best from Alhallowntyde to Lent. fatte Capons be
ever good. Peacocks bee ever in season, but when they be
yoong and of a good stature, they be as good as Feasants,
+ so be yoong Grouces. Sinets be best betweene Alhallowen
day and Lent. A Mallard is good after a frost, til
Candlemas, so is a Teal and other wild foule that
swimmeth. A Woodcocke is best from October to Lent, and
so be all other birdes, as Ousels, Thrushes and Robins,
and such other. Herons, Curlewes, Crane, Bittour,
Bustard, be at all times good, but best in Winter.
Feasant, Partridge and Raile, be ever good, but best when
they bee taken with a Hawke, Quaile + Larks be ever good
Connies be ever in season, but best from October to Lent
A gelded Deare, whether he be fallow or red, is ever
good. A Pollard is speciallie good in May, at Midsommer
he is a Bucke, and verie good till Holy Rood day before
Michaelmas, so like wise is a stagge, but he is principal
in Maie. A barren Doe is best in Winter. A Pricket and a
Sorell syster is ever in season. Chickens bee ever good:
and so be yoong Pigeons.
<<<

More later,
Thomas

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