[Sca-cooks] Duties of a Cook, 13th Century

[Johnna Holloway]

While doing the search on the "dish of butter," the Venedotian Code as  
found in the volume on Google Books
I came across a list of duties for the Cooks who served the King and  
the Queen in Wales.

Ancient laws and institutes of Wales; comprising laws supposed to be  
enacted by Howel the Good: and anomalous laws, consisting principally  
of institutions which by the statute of Ruddlan were admitted to  
continue in force. London] Printed by command of His Late Majesty King  
William IV under the direction of the Commissioners on the Public  
Records of the Kingdom, 1841.


page 47 and 49 with the Welsh on 46 and 48 for The King’s Cook

XXI. [OF THE COOK.]
1. The fifteenth is the cook.
2. He is to have his land free; his horse in attendance; his linen  
from the queen, and his woollen from the king.
3. He is to inhabit the kitchen ; and he is to have his necessaries  
from the steward and the land maer.
4. He is to have skins of all the small animals which come to the  
kitchen with their skins on; that is to say, he is to have one third,  
and the steward two thirds.
5. He is to taste each dish that he shall season.
6. He is to have the fragments, and the tallow, and the entrails.
7. He is himself to bring the last dish, and place it before the king;  
and then the king is to present him with meat and drink.
8. His protection is, from the time he shall begin to prepare the  
first dish until he shall place the last before the king, to convey an  
offender away.
9. The steward is to supply him with all herbs to season his dishes;  
such as pepper, and other herbs.
10. He is to eat with the servants.
11. His lodging is with the steward.
12. He is to have one share of the supper silver.
13. "His saraad is six kine, and six score of silver, to be augmented.
14. His worth is six score and six kine, ^to be augmented/

page 59

xxix. Of The Queen's Cook, This Treats.
1. The seventh is her cook.
2. He is to have his land free; his horse in attendance; and his linen  
from the queen, and his woollen from the king.
3. He is to be supplied by the steward with all his necessaries for  
the kitchen.
4. He is to taste each dish that he may prepare.
5. His protection is the same as that of the king's cook.
6. His lodging is with the steward of the king.
7. His saraad is six kine, and six score of silver.
8. His worth is six score and six kine, to to be augmented.'

The Venedotian Code is dated early 13th century.

Hope you enjoy it

Johnna