Notes and Queries, Number 04, November 24, 1849 | Page 6

or "turkey pye,"
has given in his Diary many curious notices of the most approved
dishes of his day. The following "Bills of fare" of the period referred to
speak, however, directly to the point; they are taken from a work
entitled, _The accomplisht Lady's Delight, in Preserving, Physick,
Beautifying, and Cookery_. London, printed for B. Harris, 1683.
"_A Bill of fare for a Gentleman's House about Candlemas._
"1. A Pottage with a Hen. 2. A _Chatham_-pudding. 3. A Fricacie of
Chickens. 4. A leg of mutton with a Sallet. Garnish your dishes with
Barberries.
"_Second Course._ 1. A chine of Muton. 2. A chine of Veal. 3.
Lark-pye. 4. A couple of Pullets, one larded. Garnished with orange
slices.
"_Third Course._ 1. A dish of Woodcocks. 2. A couple of Rabbits. 3. A
dish of Asparagus. 4. A Westphalia Gammon.
"_Last Course._ 1. Two orange tarts, one with herbs. 2. A Bacon Tart.
3. An apple Tart. 4. A dish of Bon-chriteen pears. 5. A dish of Pippins.
6. A dish of Pearmains.
"_A Banquet for the same Season._
"1. A dish of Apricots. 2. A dish of marmalade of Pippins. 3. A dish of
preserved Cherries. 4. A whole red Quince. 5. A dish of dryed

sweet-meats.
"_A Bill of Fare upon an extraordinary Occasion._
"1. A collar of brawn. 2. A couple of Pullets boyled. 3. A bisk of Fish.
4. A dish of Carps. 5. A grand boyled Meat. 6. A grand Sallet. 7. A
venison pasty. 8. A roasted Turkey. 9. A fat pig. 10. A powdered Goose.
11. A haunch of Venison roasted. 12. A Neats-tongue and Udder
roasted. 13. A Westphalia Ham boyled. 14. A Joll of Salmon. 15.
Mince pyes. 16. A Surloyn of roast beef. 17. Cold baked Meats. 18. A
dish of Custards.
"_Second Course._ 1. Jellies of all sorts. 2. A dish of Pheasants. 3. A
Pike boyled. 4. An oyster pye. 5. A dish of Plovers. 6. A dish of larks. 7.
A Joll of Sturgeon. 8. A couple of Lobsters. 9. A lamber pye. 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. 142. 144.), in an ambiguous way, which his commentator

does not render at all clear. I never heard of this calumniated insect
being an unwelcome guest in the dairy; but Bishop-Barney, or Burney,
and Barnabee, or Burnabee, and Bishop-that-burneth, seem, in the
absence of explanation to be nearly related--in sound at any rate. Under
Barnabee it will be seen that burning has some connection with the
history of this pretty insect."
"Barnabee," writes the Major, "the golden-bug, or lady-bird; also
Bishop-Barney: which see. This pretty little, and very useful insect, is
tenderly regarded by our children. One settling on a child is always sent
away with this sad valediction:--
"Gowden-bug, gowden-bug, fly away home, Yar house is bahnt deown
and yar children all gone."
To which I add another nursery doggerel less sad:--
"Bishop, Bishop-Barnabee, Tell me when your wedding be, If it be
to-morrow day Take your wings and fly away."
The Major adds, "It is sure to fly off on the third repetition."
"Burnt down," continues the Major, "gives great scope to our country
euphonic twang, altogether inexpressible in type; bahnt deeyown comes
as near to it as my skill in orthography will allow."
Ray, in his _South and East Country Words_, has this:--
"Bishop, the little spotted beetle, commonly called the lady-cow or
lady-bird. I have heard this insect in other places called golden-knop,
and