"It is lawfull for euerie man to feed vpon what soeuer he is able to purchase, except it be vpon those daies whereon eating of flesh is especiallie forbidden by the lawes of the realme, which order is taken onelie to the end our numbers of cattell may be the better increased, and that aboundance of fish which the sea yeeldeth, more generallie receiued. Beside this, there is great consideration had in making of this law for the preseruation of the nauie, and maintenance of conuenient numbers of sea faring men, both which would otherwise greatlie decaie, if some meanes were not found whereby they might be increased."—Harrison, Descript. of Eng. part i. p. 144.
The following menu for a fish day is given in the Liber Cure Cocorum, p. 54, ed. Morris:
"For a servise on fysshe day.
Fyrst white pese and porray þou take,
Cover þy white heryng for goddys sake;
Þen cover red heryng, and set abufe,
And mustard on heghe, for goddys lufe;
Þen cover salt salmon on hast,
Salt ele þer wyth on þis course last.
For þe secunde course, so god me glad,
Take ryse and fletande fignade,
Þan salt fysshe and stok fysshe take þou schalle,
For last of þis course, so fayre me falle.
For þe iii cours sowpys done fyne,
And also lamprouns in galentyne,
Bakun turbut and sawmon ibake
Alle fresshe, and smalle fysshe þou take
Þerwith, als troute, sperlynges, and menwus with al,
And loches to horn sawce versance shal."
See also the Babees Book, ed. Furnivall, p. 50.
[E56] "Setteth his soule vpon sixe or on seauen," that is, risks his life on the cast of a die.
[E57] "Sit downe Robin and rest thee." I was inclined to think that this was the burden of some ballad, but Mr. Chappell, to whom I applied, is of opinion that it was not.
"An habitation inforced," etc., i.e. it is better to settle down, even late in life, than not at all. Comp. [chap. 10, stanza 8], p. 19.
[E58] For a great portion of the year the only animal food eaten was in a salted state. In the autumn as much meat was cured as would last the winter; and until the pastures had been for some time abundant, that is, not until Midsummer, there were no means of fattening cattle. After the winter months, veal and bacon were welcomed as the precursors of fresh beef; and those who lived near the sea-coast enjoyed the addition of fresh fish; but the state of the roads prevented the inland parts of the country partaking of this benefit. The consumption of fish during Lent and on other fast-days, comprising a great part of the year, being expressly directed by statute, the people, even after the abolition of the old religion, provided themselves at several large fairs held almost expressly for the sale and distribution of salt-fish.
[E59] "Veale and Bakon is the man," i.e. is the proper food, or is in season.