10. A couple of Capons. 11. A dish
of Partridges. 12. A fricacy of Fowls. 13. A dish of Wild Ducks.
14. A dish of cram'd chickens. 15. A dish of stewed oysters. 16.
A Marchpane. 17. A dish of Fruits. 18. An umble pye."
The fare suggested for "Fish days" is no less various and abundant;
twelve dishes are enumerated for the first course, and sixteen for the
second. Looking at the character of these viands, some of which would
not discredit the genius of a Soyer or a Mrs. Glasse, {55} it seems
pretty evident that in the article of food the labouring classes have
been the greatest gainers since 1687.
Few things are more suggestive of queries--as everybody knows from
experience--than the products of culinary art. I will not, however,
further trespass on space which may be devoted to a more dignified
topic, than by submitting the following.
_Query._--Does the phrase "to eat humble pie," used to signify a forced
humiliation, owe its origin to the "umble pye" specified above?
J.T. HAMMACK
* * * * *
BISHOP BARNABY.
Mr. Editor,--Legour asks, why the people in Suffolk call a lady-bird
"Bishop Barnaby?"
I give the following from the late Major Moor's _Suffolk Words_.
"Bishop-Barney. The golden bug. See Barnabee. In Tasser's _Ten
Unwelcome Guests in the Dairy_, he enumerates 'the Bishop that
burneth' (pp.
Pages:
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31