Christmas In The Castle

 

During the Christmas of 1507, Edward Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham, held a Christmas celebration in Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire. Throughout the twelve days he provided lavish hospitality and gave a number of banquets.

The last banquet of the holiday, held on the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th) was the most magnificent of all when 459 people sat down to eat. Not only were there 134 noblemen and gentry all with their attendants, but there were such guests as the local abbot, the doctor, the chaplain, a hermit, a brickmaker and a joiner.

A household book was kept by the Duke�s secretary which included every item of food and drink consumed as well as items such as tapers, candles and hay for the horses of the guests. Among the provisions consumed were:-

36 rounds of beef, 20 snipe, 21 roach,
2 carcasses of mutton, 10 capons, 4 dogfish,
2 calves, 108 great birds, 10 whiting,
4 pigs, 72 little birds, 1 fresh conger,
6 suckling pigs, 36 larks, 17 flounders,
2 lambs, 9 quail, 2 tench,
22 rabbits, 9 mallard, 3 plaice,
3 swans, 23 widgeon 7 bream,
6 geese, 18 teal, 6 large eels,
2 peacocks, 100 lampreys, 400 eggs,
2 herons, 200 oysters, 24 dishes of butter,
18 chickens, 1 fresh salmon, 3 flagons of cream,
16 woodcock, 1 fresh cod, 2 gallons of frumenty,
1 salt sturgeon, 259 gallons of ale and 
many gallons of different kinds of wine

Bon Appetit!

 

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