Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 47 Bruet of Spayne

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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47.  Bruet of Spayne
Cut vensone yn longe leches & frye hem or rost hem withe poudyres weshe hem in wyne take sygure & mylke of almondys clowys macyz and quibibis boyle hit to gedyr & seson hit up withe poudyr & venyger.

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This recipe is a strong match for recipe 161 in A Noble Boke off Cookry.  I have not found any other examples which include this combination of venison, wine, and almond milk.

To mak bruet of spayne take venyson and mak long lesshes then fry them in buttur and wesshe them in wyn then tak sugur almond mylk clowes maces quybibes and boile them to gedur and sesson them with poudure and venyger and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 46 Bruet of Almayne

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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46.  Bruet of Almayne
Take beef or porke chopyde in pecys cast hem yn a pott grynde almondys draw hem withe swete brothe & put hit yn the flesche boyle hit & put ther to poudyr of pepyr & sygure when hit ys yboyled y nowghe sesyne hit up withe poudyr of gynger & vergeys & coloure hit al rede as blode withe.

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There are similarly titled recipes in other sources, and while they all have some similarities none is a strong match for the one above.

XXXI - FOR TO MAKE BRUET OF ALMAYNE. Tak Partrichys rostyd and checonys and qualys rostyd and larkys ywol and demembre the other and mak a god cawdel and dresse the flesch in a dysch and strawe powder of galentyn therupon. styk upon clowys of gelofre and serve yt forthe.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

Brewet Of Almony. XX.II. VII. Take Conynges or kiddes and hewe hem small on moscels oþer on pecys. parboile hem with the same broth, drawe an almaunde mylke and do the fleissh þerwith, cast þerto powdour galyngale & of gynger with flour of Rys. and colour it wiþ alkenet. boile it, salt it. & messe it forth with sugur and powdour douce.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

Browet Browet of almayne. Take conynges and parboyle hom, and choppe hom on gobettus, and rybbes of porke or of kydde, and do hit in a pot, and fethe hit; then take almondes and grynde hom, and tempur hit up wyth broth of beef, and do hit in a pot; and take clowes, maces, pynes, ginger mynced, and rayfynges of corance ; and take onyons and boyle hom, then cut hom and do hom in the pot; and colour hit with saffron, and let hit boyle; and take the flesh oute from the brothe and caste therto; and take alkenet and frye hit, and do hit in the pot thurgh a streynour; and in the fettynge doun put therto a lytel vynegar, and pouder of gynger medelet togedur, and serve hit forth.  [Ancient Cookery (England, 1425)]

Browet of almayne for x mees. Take iii lb. of almondes, and tempur hom, and drawe hom up with fresshe brothe of beef, and put into a pot; and take conynges parboyled, and choppe hom, and ribbes of porke chopped also; or elles take malardes chopped with the ribbes, and let hom fethe up with the mylke, and make the pottage rennynge; and take maces, clowes, pynes, ginger, mynced reyfynges of corance, sugre, and put therto; and take onyons mynced, and boyle hom in water, and after the first boyle dense hom out of the water, and cast hom into the pot, and let hom fethe up with the mylk, and colour hit with saffron; and take alkenet ii. penyworth, and frie hit in faire grese, and put the grese into a pot thurgh the streynour in the settynge doune; and take a lytel vynegur and pouder of ginger, and medel hit togedur, and cast therto, and dresse hit, and serve hit forthe.  [Ancient Cookery (England, 1425)]

The word "Almayne" in the title of the recipe suggests that it is somehow related to Germany ("Allemagne" in French), but given how the related recipes all contain almonds it may be misnamed due to confusion of the two words or even intentional wordplay.

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 45 Bruet of lumbardy

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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45.  Bruet of lumbardy
Take hennys chikens conyngys or othere flesche sodyne do hit in a morter do ther to mylke of almondys do ther in pepyr and alay hit with bredde & do ther in yolkes of eyron sodyn harde growndyne & drawyn up withe percelly & do ther to a lytylle grece or claryfyde boture or the fat of porke & sesyne hit up with poudyr salt & venyger & make hit rede as blode.

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This recipe is almost identical to recipe 160 from A Noble Boke off Cookry, and is very similar to another in Forme of Cury.

To mak Bruet of lombardye tak hennes conys or other flesshe soden tender and try it and put it in a pot do ther to mylk bred and yolks of eggs sodden hew and grind them and drawe them upe with juic of parsly put ther to grece or claryfied butter or the fat of pork and sesson it and salt and put ther to venygar and mak it lik blod with alkaned and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

XXXII - FOR RO MAKE BRUET OF LOMBARDYE. Tak chekenys or hennys or othere flesch and mak the colowre als red as any blod and tak peper and kanel and gyngyner bred and grynd hem in a morter and a porcion of bred and mak that bruer thenne and do that flesch in that broth and mak hem boyle togedere and stury it wel and tak eggys and temper hem wyth Jus of Parcyle and wryng hem thorwe a cloth and wan that bruet is boylyd do that therto and meng tham togedere wyth fayr grees so that yt be fat ynow and serve yt forthe.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

The word "Lombardy" in the name is kind of an odd one.  It appears in the name of a diverse array of medieval dishes, but there is no clear link between them.  It may be that the recipes all came from the Lombardy region of Italy, or that the recipes were simply attributed to that region to make them sound more exotic.

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 44 Bonse desyre

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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44.  Bonse desyre
Take blaunche almondez grynde them drawe theme up wythe swete brothe and swete wyne do ther do a quantite of white sugur do hit in a pott and cast ther do take porke wel sodyne tender and grynde hit smalle and medille hit wythe yolkys of eyrone pouder and salt and make pelettes ther of [61v] the gretnys of the yolke have a bature of yolkes of eyrene & paryd floure turne the pelets ther yne take hem frye hem rolle hem up in a panne that they may be rounde lay ham hote yne dysches dresse the sewe a bovyne loke hit be renynge and on do the fische dayes thou may withe pike haddok or codlynge do in the same maner.

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In spite of the odd spelling in the title, this recipe is a variation of "Blanche Desyre", which is believed to be a corruption of the French "Blanc de Syrie" meaning "White of Syria".  There are dozens of versions of this recipe, including two in A Noble Boke off Cookry.

To mak bland sorre tak the mylk of almondes blanched mad with capon brothe then tak the braun of a capon and bet it in a mortair and mele the fishe and the mylk to gedur in the mortair with the pestelle and thik it with flour of rise and boile it put ther to sugur or hony and mak it stondinge then lesk it in dyshes and diaper it with turnsole and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

To mak blank de fire tak ryse and wesshe it and grind it small and temper it up with almond mylk and boile it then tak the braun of capon or henne and hew it small and grind it with myed bred and sesson it with sugur and florishe it with almondes and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

The most notable aspect of the Wagstaff version of the recipe is that it appears to be the only one that calls for pork.  The majority of the others call for capon or chicken as the meat to be use, with one or two that include an option for beef or veal.

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 43 Chaudone of Pigges fete

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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43.  Chaudone of Pigges fete
Take swynes fete clene scallyde the groyne and the erys boylide in fresshe brothe take hem up kut them smalle do hit in a potte trye the brothe drawe a thyn lyoure of white brede and wyne and put hit to gedire and make a thyn foyle of past cutt yn smale pelettez frye them sesone theme up wythe pouder of pepire and safrone and salt and do the pelettez hote in dysshes and do the sewe a bove.

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This recipe is very clearly a match for recipe 159 from A Noble Boke off Cookry.

To mak chaudron of piggs feet take swines feet clene skalded and boile the [word illegible] and the eres in freche brothe then take them up and cutt them small and put them in a pot and the brothe and draw liour of whit bred and wyne and put them to gedur and mak foilis of past and cut iij small pilotes and frye them and sesson them up with pouder of pepper and salt and colour it to saffron and put the pilottes hote in disshes and put the sewe above and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

The item in Noble marked "[word illegible]" matches the word "groin" in Wagstaff.  I would be comfortable stating that this is correct for both recipes, but the first letter in the word in Wagstaff is difficult to determine - it's clearly visible, but given the handwriting of the time I'm not sure if it's a "G" or a "E" or even a "C".  I've gone with "G" as it's the only possibility that makes a recognizable word.

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 42 Chaudone of Veel

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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42.  Chaudone of Veel
Take the bowels of veel make hem clene sethe them in fresshe brothe cut hem smalle take pouder and wyne or veneger and alay hit withe brede take past of floure of whete and make pelettez and them in grece and put to gedere.

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This is another odd recipe, a sort of veal tripe with dumplings, and appears to be unique.  The closest recipe I could find was from the 17th century A NEVV BOOKE of Cookerie.

To bake a Calues Chaldron. Parboyle it, and coole it, and picke out the Kernels, and cut it in small pieces: then season it with Pepper, Salt, and Nutmeg: put in a few sweet Hearbes chopt, a piece of sweet Butter, sprinckle it with Uergis, and so close it. When you serue it in, put to it a little of a Cawdle, made with Nutmeg, Uinegar, Butter, Sugar, and the yolkes of two newe layde Egges, a spoonefull of Sack, and the iuyce of an Orenge.  [A NEVV BOOKE of Cookerie (England, 1615)]

There are other recipes for "chaudron", which is an archaic word for "entrails", usually calling for the offal of game birds but sometimes fish, and there's even a meatless version that uses nuts.

Chawdwyn. Take Gysers, lyuers, and hertes of Swannes, or of wilde gese; And if the guttes be fatte, slytte hem, and cast hem there-to, And boile hem in faire water; And then take hem vppe, And hew hem smale, and caste into the same broth ayene, but streyne hit thorgh a streynour firste; And caste thereto pouder of peper and of canell, and salt, and vinegre, And lete boile; And then take the blode of the swan, and fressh broth, and brede, and drawe hem thorgh a streynour and cast thereto, And lete al boyle togidre; And then take pouder of Gynger, whan hit is al-moost ynough, And caste there-to, And serue it forthe.  [Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books (England, 1430)]

Chaudewyne. Take the Guttes of fressh Samon, and do awey the gall; and slytte hem, and caste hem in a potte, and boyle hem in water right well; And ley hem vpon a borde, and hewe hem; And then stepe brede in the same licour, And cast som of the samon broth thereto, And drawe all thorgh a streynour; and then caste the hewen guttes and the drawen brede in a potte, and a litull wyn, pouder of Canell, or saffron, And lete boyle togidre; And cast there-to pouder of peper, Vinegre, and salt; And lete hit be rennyng.  [Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books (England, 1430)]

To mak chawdwen de boyse tak noot kirnelles and fry them in oile then sethe them in almond mylk put ther to flour of ryse and other poudures and fry not kirnelles and colour them with saffron and serue them.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 41 Soupes

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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41.  Soupes
Take marye do hit yn a pot withe hony poudyr of pepyr poudyre of gyngere canelle & a leye hit take brede cut hit yne gobettys tost hem couche hem yne dysches loke thy syryp be salt ghyf hit a coloure of safrone and serve hit forthe.

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This recipe is an oddity.  If followed as written, the result would likely be honey-covered marrow on toast.  Given that the other recipes for "sops", such as the ones given below, generally use almond milk as a base, I suspect that this recipe is a copying error.

To mak soupes dorrey tak almondes and bray them asid wring them up and boile them with wyn and temper them with wyne and salt then toost whit bred and lay it in a disshe and enbane it with wyne and pour it ouer the met and florisshe it with sugur and guingere and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

Sowpes Dorry. XX.IIII. II. Take Almaundes brayed, drawe hem up with wyne. ooile it, cast þeruppon safroun and salt, take brede itosted in wyne. lay þerof a leyne and anoþer of þe sewe and alle togydre. florish it with sugur powdour gyngur and serue it forth.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

Soppes Dorre. Take rawe Almondes, And grynde hem in A morter, And temper hem with wyn and drawe hem thorgh a streynour; And lete hem boyle, And cast there-to Saffron, Sugur, and salt; And then take a paynmain, And kut him and tost him, And wete him in wyne, And ley hem in a dissh, and caste the siryppe thereon, and make a dregge (Note: dredge. Douce MS. dragge) of pouder ginger, sugur, Canell, Clowes, and maces, And cast thereon; And whan hit is I-Dressed, serue it forth fore a good potage.  [Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books (England, 1430)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 40 Chikens yne caudelle

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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40.  Chikens yne caudelle
Take chikens & perboyle heme yne goode licoure tyl they be ynowghe coloure the brothe withe safrone take up the chikens rese the whyngez and the thyys & the brestys a ley up the brothe with yolkez of eyrone in the maner of a caudell sesyne hit up with sygure & salt couche the chikens yne dishches & dresse the sewe a bovyne & strew one poudyre of gyngere & serve hit forthe.

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A caudle is sort of hot, thickened wine usually served as a beverage or soup.  There is a recipe in A Noble Book off Cookry that is very similar to the one above, though it doesn't include the instructions on how to arrange the chicken.

To mak chekins in cawdelle tak your chekins and boile them in good brothe and allay the brothe with yolks of eggs then tak poudur of guingere saffron and salt and set it on the fyere and serue it with the chekins in the disshe and the cawdell ther on.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

Other versions from Forme of Cury and Liber cure cocorum are almost identical to the one in A Noble Boke off Cookry, with the minor addition of stating that the chicken can be whole or sectioned.

Chykenns In Cawdel. XXXIII. Take Chikenns and boile hem in gode broth and ramme hem up. þenne take zolkes of ayrenn an þe broth and alye it togedre. do þerto powdour of gynger and sugur ynowh safroun and salt. and set it ouere the fyre withoute boyllyng. and serue the Chykenns hole oþer ybroke and lay þe sowe onoward.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

Chekyns in Cawdel. In brothe þou boyle þy chekyns gode. Take 3olkes of eyren, Syr, for þo rode, Alye hom up with brothe forsayde. Take powder gynger, abrayde, And sugur, and rew, and safron clere, And salt, and set hit over þo fyre. With owtyn boylyng messe hit forthe þenne. Þy chekyns hole take, I þe kenne, Of þay be brokyn, on dysshe hom lay, Helde hom þe sewe, as I þe say.  [Liber cure cocorum (England, 1430)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 39 Capons yne conceps

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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39.  Capons yne conceps
Take capons halfe rostyde do hem yne a pott put ther to swete brothe & a perty of gode wyne stew hit up to gedyre that hit be ynowghe trye the brothe yf thu wylte thu may do ther to a lytylle lyoure of payndemayne take eyrone sodyne harde hew the white do ther to sigure safrone & salt set hit one the fyre whene hit boyles a lay hit up withe yolkes of eyrone loke hit be rennynge sesyne hit up withe poudyr of gynger & vergeys a rese the thyys & the whyngez & the brestz of the capons loke that they honge by ley hem yne disches plante heme withe harde yolkes of eyrone ande poudyr & the sewe a bovyne.

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There is a recipe in A Noble Book off Cookry that is clearly related to the one above, however it is much more abbreviated.

To mak capons in couns tak a capon and sethe it and hew it then grind pepper and bred and temper it with the capon then tak the whit of egg herd sodene and hew them small and boile the capons and colour it with saffron and lay yolks of eggs in the disshe hole and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

A recipe from Forme of Cury seems to be a much closer match, with much the same spicing and even including the instruction that the capon be half roasted.

Capouns In Councys. XXII. Take Capons and rost hem right hoot þat þey be not half y nouhz and hewe hem to gobettes and cast hem in a pot, do þerto clene broth, seeþ hem þat þey be tendre. take brede and þe self broth and drawe it up yferer, take strong Powdour and Safroun and Salt and cast þer to. take ayrenn and seeþ hem harde. take out the zolkes and hewe the whyte þerinne, take the Pot fro þe fyre and cast the whyte þerinne. messe the disshes þerwith and lay the zolkes hool and flour it with clowes. [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 38 Creteyney

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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38.  Creteyney
Take capons and othre fowlys perboile hem dyse hem cast hem yne a pott withe cowe mylke & boyle hit ther withe drawe payndmayne withe som of the mylke and put to gedyre take sodyn eyrone hew the white & cast ther to sesyne hit up with poudyr sigure & safferyne & salt and a ley hit up withe yolkes of eyrone sodyne harde & frye heme a lytylle ley heme in disches poure the sewe a bouyne and floresche hit withe anneys in comfite.

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There are a number of recipes with names similar to "cretonne", and in general they involve a broth made from milk thickened or colored with eggs.  The version in Forme of Cury is shorter and less complicated than the one above, but still fits the stereotype.

TXXIV - FOR TO MAKE CRAYTOUN. Tak checonys and schald hem and seth hem and grvnd gyngen' other pepyr and comyn and temper it up wyth god mylk and do the checonys theryn and boyle hem and serve yt forthe.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

There is also a cretonne recipe in Noble, but it reads more like a recipe for fried chicken than a sort of soup.  I suspect that it may be an error in which the start of a cretonne recipe was joined with the end of a recipe for funnel cakes.

To mak cratonnes tak chekins and sethe them fley them and quarter them then grind pepper bred and comyne and boile the chekins in mylk then swinge eggs flour and hony togedure and put faire grece in a possuet and cast in the bater and stirr it till it be in many and serue it as friturs. [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 37 Chikens in gretney

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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37.  Chikens in gretney
Boyle chikens in brothe goode brothe and rese the thyys and the wyngys & the brestys take mylke of almondys unblanchede draw up withe the same brothe & poudyre of canelle & a perty of wyne sygure saffron & salt do hit to gedyre yn a pott set one the fyre stere hit whene hit boyles sesyne hit up with poudyr of gyngere & vergeus lay the chikenys hote yne dysches have yolkes of eyrone sodyne harde & fryede a lytylle couche one a boute the wyngez & the thyes.

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While the title of the recipe most likely brings to mind the word "gratineé", it is much more likely to be a mispelling of "kirtin" as there are several contemporary recipes titled "chickens in kirtin", including one in A Noble Boke off Cookry.

To dight chekins in kirtyn tak iij pound of almondes made with good pik mylk with swet brothe and put it in a pot and put ther to clowes mace sugur and pynes hole and let it boile to gedur till it be honging and put ther to an unce of ginger and vinigar and put it in the pot then tak chekins ehalvyd / for a lord tak hole chekins and sethe them a litille then pull of the skyne and fry them in swete grece and put them in large dillies and pour on the ceripe and do ther on sugur and pouder of ginger and serue.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 36 Oystres in Cyve

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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36.  Oystres in Cyve
Shele oystrys perboyle heme in fayre watyre and the selfe owet & wasche heme yne fayre watyre pyke and trye the broth thorow a streynoure do to gedyr make heme up as thy dyde the conyngys al save the blode & coloure heme withe saunders.

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There are a handful of other recipes for "Oysters in Civey", but none of them are quite the same as this one.  Some could be due to steps being omitted and replaced with the phrase "make heme up as thy dyde the conyngys al save the blode", but it's not completely clear which recipe is being referred to.  Most likely they mean recipe 33 (Conynggez in Cyve).  With that for context, the following recipe from Forme of Cury seems to be the closest.

OYSTERS IN CYNEE. XX.VI. III. Take Oysters parboile hem in her owne broth, make a lyour of crustes of brede & drawe it up wiþ the broth and vynegur mynce oynouns & do þerto with erbes. & cast the oysters þerinne. boile it. & do þerto powdour fort & salt. & messe it forth.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 35 Oysters in grave

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

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35.  Oysters in grave
Schelle oystrys in to a pott and swette ther withe put ther to fayre watyre perboyle heme take hem up put hem yn fayre watyre peke heme clene blaunche almondys grynde hem tempyre heme up withe the same brothe draw up a goode mylke do hit in a pott withe onyons and hole spycez and a lytylle poudyre of sygure boyle hit to gedyre & doo the oystres ther to & serve hit forthe & caste ther yne zoure[?] dragge of hole spicys a bovyne & blaunche poudyre.

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While there are a number of other recipes with the same title in surviving cookbooks, the closest one is the following.

Oystres in grauey. Take almondes, and blanche hem, and grinde hem, and drawe hem thorgh a streynour with wyne, and with goode fressh broth into gode mylke, and sette hit on the fire and lete boyle; and cast thereto Maces, clowes, Sugur, pouder of Ginger, and faire parboyled oynons myced; And then take faire oystres, and parboile hem togidre in faire water; And then caste hem there-to, And lete hem boyle togidre til they ben ynowe; and serue hem forth for gode potage.  [Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books (England, 1430)]

The use of almond milk instead of dairy suggests that this was intended as a recipe for fish days.

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 34 Conyngges yne clere brothe

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

-=-=-

34.  Conyngges yne clere brothe
Chop conyngys in pecys wesche heme clene do heme yn a pott put ther to clene brothe & redd wyne boyle hem tille they be y nowghe loke hit nowght muche of the brothe sesyne hit up withe poudyre of gyngere a grete quantyte and vergyes and draw hit thorow a streynoure loke hit be salt & serve hit forthe.

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This recipe for "clear rabbit soup" is very similar to one by the same name in Forme of Cury.

Connynges In Clere Broth. XX.III. VI. Take Connynges and smyte hem in gobetes and waissh hem and do hem in feyre water and wyne, and seeþ hem and skym hem. and whan þey buth isode pyke hem clene, and drawe the broth thurgh a straynour and do the flessh þerwith in a Possynet and styne it. and do þerto vynegur and powdour or gynger and a grete quantite and salt after the last boillyng and serue it forth.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

There are a couple of minor differences.  Wagstaff uses broth instead of water, and omits the vinegar in favor of verjuice (both of which would add tartness), but otherwise the recipes are essentially the same.

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 33 Conynggez in Cyve

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

-=-=-

33.  Conynggez in Cyve
Chop conyngys in pecys do hem in a pott take onyons and good herbes y choppyd to gedyre boyle hem up in swete brothe do ther to poudyre of pepyre make a lyour of paryngys of crustys of swete bredde drawyne withe wyne and a lytle blode alay hit up but a lytylle do there to poudyre of canele a grete dele sesyne hit up withe poudyre of gyngere wenggur [vinegar?] & salt.

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Rabbit in onion gravy was apparently a very popular dish, enough so that most medieval cookbooks have one or more version of the recipe.  The version in Wagstaff includes aspects of several of them.

Connynges In Cynee. XXV. Take Connynges and smyte hem on peces. and seeþ hem in gode broth, mynce Oynouns and seeþ hem in grece and in gode broth do þerto. drawe a lyre of brede. blode. vynegur and broth do þerto with powdour fort.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

To mak conys in cevy smyt conys in small peces and sethe them in good brothe put ther to mynced onyons and grece and draw a liour of broun bred and blod and sesson it with venygar and cast on pouder and salt and serve it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

Conynges in cyne. Take conynges and parboyle hom, and smyte hom on gobettes and sethe hom; and take onyons and mynce hom, and frye hom in grees, and do therto; and take bred steped in brothe and blode, and drawe up a lyoure (mixture) wyth brothe and vynegur, and do therin; and pouder of pepur and of clowes, and serve hit forthe.  [Ancient Cookery (England, 1425)] 

As with the above, the Wagstaff version calls for cut up chicken and onions, and is thickened using bread crumbs and blood.  However the Wagstaff version also adds "good herbs", and uses wine in the thickening step instead of broth.  In this way it is rather unusual.

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 32 Conynggez in gravee

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

-=-=-

32.  Conynggez in gravee
Perboile conyngges in gode brothe take them up smyte them in peces make hem clene do hem in a pott with hole clowis macys & onyons y cut somedel grete in poudere blaunche almondys grynde hem & draw up withe the same brothe a thike mylke & do to gedyre sugere boyle hit loke hit be salt messe hit forthe cast ther one a dragge of clowys macys a mynsyde gyngere and blaunche poudyre.

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While there are a handful of recipes for various meats in onion gravy, this particular combination of rabbit, spices, and almond milk appears to be unique.  The closest recipe I could find that had all these ingredients is the following one from Ancient Cookery, however it adds several other items.

Browet Browet of almayne. Take conynges and parboyle hom, and choppe hom on gobettus, and rybbes of porke or of kydde, and do hit in a pot, and sethe hit; then take almondes and grynde hom, and tempur hit up wyth broth of beef, and do hit in a pot; and take clowes, maces, pynes, ginger mynced, and raysynges of corance; and take onyons and boyle hom, then cut hom and do hom in the pot; and colour hit with saffron, and let hit boyle; and take the flesh oute from the brothe and caste therto; and take alkenet and frye hit, and do hit in the pot thurgh a streynour; and in the fettynge doun put therto a lytel vynegar, and pouder of gynger medelet togedur, and serve hit forth.  [Ancient Cookery (England, 1425)]

If the almond milk is omitted then the recipe isn't too far off from recipe 133 in A Noble Boke off Cookry.

To mak cony or malard in cevy tak cony henne or malard and rost them till they be almost enoughe or els chope them and fry them in freche grece and fry onyons mynced and put them in a pot and cast ther to freche brothe and half wyne clowes maces pouder of guinger and pepper and draw it with venygar and when it is boiled cast ther to thy licour and pouder of guingere and venygar and sesson it and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry  (England, 1468)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 31 Hare yne talbut

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

-=-=-

31.  Hare yne talbut
Choppe a hare yne pecys perboyle hyme yne goode brothe withe hys awne blode trye the flesche yne a potte grynde almondys unblaunchede tempyre heme up withe the same brothe & put mylke there to and do therto onyonys perboylde hole spicer and powdyr for the sesyne hit up poudir and salt a quantite of wyne and a lytil sugure.

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There are a few other recipes for "hares in talbotes" in surviving cookbooks, and the closest to the one above is from Forme of Cury.  The seasoning is slightly different, and there are a couple of minor steps added, but otherwise it is essentially the same.

Hares In Talbotes. XXIII. Take Hares and hewe hem to gobettes and seeþ hem with þe blode unwaisshed in broth. and whan þey buth y nowh: cast hem in colde water. pyke and waisshe hem clene. cole the broth and drawe it thurgh a straynour. take oþer blode and cast in boylyng water seeþ it and drawe it thurgh a straynour. take Almaundes unblaunched. waisshe hem and grynde hem and temper it up with the self broth. cast al in a pot. tak oynouns and parboile hem smyte hem small and cast hem in to þis Pot. cast þerinne Powdour fort. vynegur an salt.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 30 Hare yne papalde

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

-=-=-

30.  Hare yne papalde
Take a hare chop hyme pecys perboyle hyme yne watyre claryfe the brothe put to thy flesche boyle hyt sesone hit up withe douce poudyre & salt take losyngez of past frydde of wafrons cowche heme in a dysches & poudyre the sewe a boyvyne.

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This recipe appears to be a parallel of recipe 223 in A Noble Boke off Cookry.

To mak haires in pardolous tak an haire and parboille hir in good brothe swong eggs ther to and hew fleshe smalle and cast it in the sewe and sethe them well then tak obleys or waiffurs and couche them in a platter and salt the sewe and put it upon the obleys and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

While the most of the pieces are there and seem to be in the same order, the Wagstaff version is missing the eggs and seems to be slightly more cryptic.  Versions of this recipe from other sources more closely match the one in Noble, which suggests the omission of the eggs may have been a copying error.

Hares In Papdele. XXIIII. Take Hares parboile hem in gode broth. cole the broth and waisshe the fleyssh. cast azeyn to gydre. take obleys oþer wafrouns in stede of lozeyns. and cowche in dysshes. take powdour douce and lay on salt the broth and lay onoward an messe forth.  [Forme of Cury (England, 1390)]

Harus in Perdoylyse. Take harys and perboyle hom, I rede, In goode brothe, kele hit for drede, And hew þy flesshe and cast þerinne. Take swongen eggus, no more ne myn, And cast in þy sewe and sethe hit þenne. Take obles and wafrons, as I þe kenne, Close hom in dysshes fare and wele. Salt þe sewe, so have þou cele, And lay hit above as gode men done, And messe hit forthe, Syr, at þo none.  [Liber cure cocorum (England, 1430)]

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 29 Hare yne cyve

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

-=-=-

29.  Hare yne cyve
Smyte a hare in smalle pecys perboyle heme yne swete brothe withe hys owne blodd cast hyme yne a colde watyre peke hyme clene do hyme yne a pott claryfyde claryfye the brothe clene do ther to onyons & herbes mynsyde take hole clowys macys & powdyr & draw ther yne a lyoure of crustys with rede wyne boyle hit tyl hit be ynowghe sesyne hit up withe powdyre of gyngere venygere & salt & loke hit be a goode coloure of blode.

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"Civey" recipes usually involve meat and onions in a red-colored gravy.  The meat is most commonly rabbit or hare, but can also be chicken.

There is a recipe in Noble Boke off Cookry for hare in civey, but the wording and instructions are notably different.

To make haires in covy boile a haire, rost hir and lard here then fry her in grece with pepper ale and onyons mynced small and colour it with saffron then lay the hair in a platter and pour on the covy and serue it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

Interestingly, the same source has a recipe for rabbit in civey that is a slightly closer match.

To mak conys in cevy smyt conys in small peces and sethe them in good brothe put ther to mynced onyons and grece and draw a liour of broun bred and blod and sesson it with venygar and cast on pouder and salt and serve it.  [A Noble Boke off Cookry (England, 1468)]

While there are numerous other recipes for rabbit or hare in civey, none of them that I have found include the step of putting the boiled hare in cold water and picking them clean.

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany - 28 Purpayse or Venysone ine brothe

Recipes from the Wagstaff Miscellany (Beinecke MS 163)

This manuscript is dated about 1460.

The 200 (approx.) recipes in the Wagstaff miscellany are on pages 56r through 76v.

Images of the original manuscript are freely available on the Yale University Library website.

I have done my best to provide an accurate, but readable transcription. Common abbreviations have been expanded, the letters thorn and yogh have been replaced with their modern equivalents, and some minor punctuation has been added.

Copyright © 2013 by Daniel Myers, MedievalCookery.com

-=-=-

28.  Purpayse or Venysone ine brothe
Take chikenys of purpas and more of the fysche yf thu wylte chopp hit in pecys withe onyons & herbes cut grete & hole clowys & macys powdyre of pepyre & canelle & do to gedyre in a pott wythe fayre watyre or withe brothe of the fysche and withe a perty of wyne boyle hit up yf the fysche be goode hit wille a lay hit sylfe or els draw a lytylle lyoure of crustys & do ther to poudyre of gyngere & salt and make venysone in brothe in the same maner.

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That this recipe starts off calling for "chickens of porpoise" suggests that there was a copying or translation error somewhere.  There are no other recipes that use this phrase, nor are there any that include all of the words "porpoise", "venison", and "chicken".  The closest I could find to this one are the following recipes for fish in gravy.

Elys in Sorre. Take eles, and fle hem, and choppe hem in faire colpons, And wassh hem clene, and putte hem in a faire potte; and then take parcelly, oynons, and shrede togidre to the eles; And then take pouder of peper, and broth of fissh, and set hit ouer the fire, and lete hem boyle togidre; And then take a lofe of brede, and alay the brede in the the same broth, And drawe hit thorgh a streynour; And whan the eles ben almoost y-sodde ynowe, caste there-to; And lete hem boile togidre; and take hem vp fro the fire, and cast ther-to salte, vinegre, And serue hit forth. [Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books (England, 1430)]

Sore Sengle. Take Elys or Gurnard, and parte hem half in Wyne, and half in watere, in-to a potte; take Percely and Oynonys and hewe hem smalle; take Clowes or Maces and caste ther-on; take Safroun, and caste ther-to, and sette on the fyre, and let boyle tylle it be y-now; then sette it a-doun; take poudere Gyngere, Canelle, Galyngale, and temper it vppe with Wyne, and cast on the potte and serue forth.  [Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books (England, 1430)]