Derricke's 1581 Ireland - dining and cooking
John Derricke wrote in his The Image of Irelande about English victories over the Irish... and describing an image of cooking and a feast. Not having a pot, the beef was cooked in it's skin.
Following the images and poem, are a few upcoming zoom talks.
"This plate, which is the most curious of
the set, represents the chief of the Mac Sweynes seated at dinner. In his
letter to the "Good and gentle Reader" (p. 11), Derricke refers to
this plate, and states that it shews the habits of a people, "out of the
Northe, whose vsages I behelde after the fashion there sette doune." He
further states that they were sprung from "Macke Swine, a barbarous
ofspring come from that nation, which mai bee perceiued by their hoggishe
fashion." Without this plate Derricke's letter is not fully intelligible.
An account of the feast is also given at pp. 52-54 of the poem. The want of
tables is noticed at p. 107. [Ed.]
The following lines are printed below :
—
A Now when into their fenced holdes the
knaues are entred in.
To smite and knocke ths cattell downe, the hangmen doe beginne.
One plucketh off the Oxes cote, which he euen now did weare,
Another lacking pannes, to boyle the flesh his hide prepare.
C These theeues attend vpon the fire for
seruing vp the feast,
B And fryer smelfeast sneaking in, doth
preace amongst the best.
Who play'th in Romish toyes the Ape, by
counterfetting Paull ;
For which they doe award him then, the
highest room of all.
Who being set, because the cheere is
deemed little worth.
Except the same be intermixt and lac'de
with Irish myrth.
D Both Barde and Harper is preparde,
which by their cunning art,
Doe strike and cheare vp all the gestes
with comfort at the hart.
Derricke, John.
The Image of Irelande… 1581 AD edited by John Small.
Edinburgh: 1883.
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John Derricke wrote in his The Image of Irelande about English victories over the Irish... and describing an image of cooking and a feast. Not having a pot, the beef was cooked in it's skin.
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Great blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
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