Section 72

V v are
314- Natural Magigk. Soo^ij.
arcfalfe ; for bow fhoutd Sheeps flefhgrow tender by the Wolfes breath, I under- ftand knot : For other creatures that are killed by their enemies , and flefhof * contrary nature doth alfo grow tender , where there are no hot vapours. But I think that the abfence of blood, makes the flefh tender , for thefe reafons. Quails and Phcafants killed by Hawks, are very tender, but their hearts are found full of blood , and hard within them. Deer and Bores, killed by Dogs,are more tender . but harder if by Guns : and about,the heart the parts arc fo hard, that they can fcarcc be boiled. Fear of death drives the blood to the heart ; the other parts are blood* lefs, as fhall appear by the following experiments. As
How Geefr, Duck* Phcafants, Quails, and other Birds become mcfl tender ; This is eafily done, if we hunt them and fly Hawks, and other birds of prey,tt them . for whilft they fight , they ftrive to be gone , and they are fometimc held in the Falcons Tallents , and are wounded with divers flrokes ; and this makes them fo tender that it is wonderful: Wherefore, when we would eat crammed Birds we ftiould purpofely fly a Hawk at them , and being killed by them, (hould grow more tender to be defired. So
That Ox-ficfl) may grow tender ; cfpecially of old Oxen } for they are dry and hard , and will not eafily boil. The Butchers fet hounds at them , and let them prey upon them, and they will for fome hours defend themfelves with their horns : at laft, being overcome by multitudes of Dogs, they fall with their ears torn , and bit in their skin; thefe brought into the Humbles, and cut one , are more tender than ordinary. Some of them fighting openly with Bears, and fometimes kill'd by them, if any of the body be left, it will be fo tender that it will melt in a mans mouth. We may do the fame, if we keep creatures fometimein fear of death, and the longer yon keep them, fo the tender they will be. For
To make Hens tender,
we flight them off from high Towers ; fo wedoTurkies, Peacocks: and when they cannot fly away by the weight of their bodies, for fear of death, with great pains and fhaking of their wings, they fall down, that they may take no hurt by falling. Thofe that are fc killed with fear of death, grow very tender. So old Pigeons that by chance had fallen into deep pits, when they had long laboured , ftruggling with their fluttering wings above the waters to fave themfelves from drowning , with Arugling and fear of death they grew very tender ; and by this accident we have learned , that when we would have them very tender , we purpofely drive them in. Horace in Serm. faith almoft the fame.
How a CocJ{ may grow tender, if you moft fuddenly fet him before your friends , and cannot help it. If that a gneft do come by chance at night , and if the cock be tough , not fit to eat, drownM him alive in Mufcadel outright, and he will fooncouaeto be tender meat. We ufe to hang up Turkics alive by the bills, at the fadlcbow, when we ride ; and thefe being thus racket and toffed with great pains,at the journeys end yon (Kail find them dead, *nd very tender.
Chap. II.
How fiefh maj grow tender fyfecret propriety.
SOme things there are, that by fecret propriety make flefh tender. I (hall record two prodigious miracles of Nature. One, that hung on a fig-tree,
Cocks flejh grows tender,
and fo fhort, that it is wonderful : Another, that wild Cocks bound to a fig-tree, will
gro#
Of Cookery*
grow cacne , and ftand immoveable. Plutarch in his Sympofacks , gives the reafon, why the Sacrifices of Cooks tiling to a Fig-tree didprefentiy grow tender and fhort, when the Cook of Ariftian, amongft other meats, offered to Hercules a tender dunghil-Cock, newly flain, that was cxtreamfinort x'Anftio gives the reafon of this tendernefs to be the Fig-tree ; and he maintaned , that thefe killed , though they be hard, will grow tender, if they be hanged up on a Fig-tree. It is cer- tain, as we may judge by fight , that the Fig-tree fends forth a vehement and ftrong vapour. This alfo confirms that which is commonly fpoken of Bulls, that the fiercer! of them bound to a Fig-tree,will grow tame prefently, and will endure to be touch- ed wich your hand, and to bear the yoke ; and they puff out all their anger, and lay afide their courage that thus fails them : for fo forcible is the acrimony of the vapour of that Tree, that though the Bull rage never fo much ,'yet this will tame him. For the Fig-tree is more full of Milky juice, then other Trees are ; fo that the Wood, Boughs, Figs, are almoft all full of it : wherefore, when it is burnt, the fmoke it fends forth,doth bite and tear one very much ; and a lixivium made of them burnt, is very detergeor, and cleanfing : alfo Chcefe is curdled with Fig-tree milk, that comes forth of the Tree , if you cut the green bark. Some would have the heat to be the caufe, that the Milk curds, by the juice of the Fig-tree caft in , which melts the watry fub- ftance of the humour ; wherefore the Fig-tree fends forth a hot and fharp vapour, and thac is digesting, and dries and conco&s the flefh of Birds, fothat they grow ten- der. So
Ox flefh may fa made tender^ If vou pu* the ftalks of wilde Fig-trees into the pot , wherein Ox flefh is boil'd,they will be boil 'd much the fooner, by reafon of the wood. Pliny, I gave you the reafon of it before from Antipathy. The Egyptians alluding to this, when they would de- fcribeaman that wa Fig-tree : For when he rores, if he be bound to a wilde Fig-tree, he will prefently grow tame. If we will have
Pttlfegrow tender,
becaufe I fee that there is great antipathy between Pulfe and Choke fitch, that de- ftroys and ftrangles them. Some call this Lions Herbe: for as a Lion doth with great rage and furioufly kill Cattle and Sheep, fodoth choke fitch all Pulfe: where- fore this Herbe put to Pulfe, when they boil, will make them boil the fooner. But
To make meats boil the fooner, All kinds of Docks, though they be dry and juicelefs, will doit, that allflelb. will grow tender, and become fit to eat. Wherefore the Antients always fed on it, that it might digeft the meat in their ftomacks, and loofe their bellies. Alfo the root of wilde Nettles boil'd with flefh, will make them tender. Pliny.
Chap. III.
How Flefh may be made tender othermfe*
T Here be other ways to make flefh tender: Firft, if flefh killed be rtiJDg in the open Air , for they will grow tender, as beginning to corrupt , but they muft not ftay there fo long till they corrupt indeed. Wherefore you muft know their
quality, which will keep longeft, and which not. For example ,;
W'lu v"» .>ouci \-y owl rlt a ;> « i v?'.j 315 n** r rpcj dikT £9U i»w aiod i .ear.
Peacocks, Partrtdge, Pheafants to be made tender. ; I Ifaac faith, That a Peacock killed will be kept two days, and three in winter, that the hard fl fh of it may grow foft. Haiiabas hangs thtm up three days , hanging ftories to their feet. Savanrola hangs their) i up ten days without weights. Simeon Sethi faith, That Patridge newly killed areYnbt to be cat, but after a dtyor two,thac they may lofe their hardnefs. Pheafants in Summer tiling up twddays, and three days in winter, after they are killed, will be fit meat. Arnolm* And to avoid tedi- •ttfnefs, the fame muft be done with other rWh. The like
Vv 2 That
y6 Natural Magic k. 2?0O^ i^..
That B.rds may grow tender. If you hang thofc in Moon-light, that were killed io the nighr,they will grow more tender by boiling : For the Moon hath grtatvertue to make flefh tender, for it is but a kit d of corruption. Therefore wood cot by Moon-light, will fooncr grow rotten, and fruit fooncr grow ripe. Vaphnss the Phyfitian in jithenatu.
Chap. IV. How SheU-crtamres may grow more tender*
Before T end to (peak of ways to make fkfh more render • Tc will not be amifs to make Crabs tender, and by another way then I fhcw'd before. How we may make
frah-jijh tender fiel'd.
At Rome they do fo, and it becomes pleafant and excellent meat for Noble mens Tables. 1 fpeakof thole Crabs bred mfrefh waters : For at Veni ;e l have eaten them that bred naturally tender in fair-waters ; they call (hem commonly Mollecas: but they are not fo fwect , as they are ande at Rome $ snd they ask a Julius apiece. The way is, in the Moneths cf June, ',u/yy ■dugHft, and September, the ( rabs nfe to caft their fhels, and put iff their old coar ; at that time fiflaer-men fearcb about the banks of Rivers, where they find their holes and caves half ltr.pt, and by that they knew (he time h ccme to cafl their (hells ; for the more their (he; Is grow tender, the more they fhut up their holes. They grow tendei fitrt about the feet , and by de- grees it afcends over rheir whole bcd.es. When they have taken them, thev bring them home, and put them every one in feveral earthen pots ; and they pur in wa- ter, that it may cover half their bodies, andfo they let them remain eight or ten days, chancing the water every day , and their (hells will grow more tender every day. When it is all fofr, that it is tranfparent as Cry Hal, they fry then with butter and milk, and bring them to the Table. So
Squils grow tender.
We muff do as we did to Crabs, for thev caft their (heljs as Crabs do: and Natnre did this for fome end ; for when their (hells are grown too thick and weighty , they can ic2rce crawl; wherefore by the excrements that go into it, that are contained to make a new (hell within, the former that was made is broken, and falls off.
Chap. V.
That living fteatptret may be made more fat and welltajled,
I Shall endeavour to fhrw how living Creatures may be made more fat and well ta- ped, that we may fct more favory meats before our gueifs. The Antients were not negligent in this matters Wherefore you (hall find many ways , not oncly-a- mongfl Cooka,but fuch as write concerning Husbandry. Liccorifh Gluttons found cut the ways to fat Cattle, that they might feed on them more plentifully and dain- tily. Hen. e they called them cram'd, becaufethey were full fed, and had erofs bel- lies. Thofc were called Bird pens, where they fatted all forts of Birds. iJM-. Letita Strab*> was the fiift that appointed this ; and he appointed Crammers to take care of them, and* ordered how much every crammed bird (hould ear. They will fat belie: in winter than in fummcx, becaufe Birds at that time of the year are bclf, be- ing rjot fo torch wafted with yongj and Cocks will fat better then Hens , ard fuch as never iro^Uaor made cgsjs. In fummer, when it is at an end, and the fowie Grapes hang yet upon the Vines, they are at the beff . I fh all therefore teach
How H
, ( y ChOofc
Of Cool^ery. py
Choofe a place that is hct and obfcure ; fhut ihcm ail up aparr, and fo clcfc in their pens, ihat they cannot ccme together, nor tern ; and make two holes, one fcr their heads- to tut forth, and the other for their tails , that they may botb car their meat acd (nlie it cut again when it is digelied. Lay loft hay under them j for if they lye hard, they will never fat. Pull off all the feathers frcm their heads, thigh*, and frcm under their wings;there,that it may breed no lice ; here, that the dung corrupt it rot. For meat, give them gobbets of Barley-Meal,madc up with water ; at the firti fcr feme time, more fparirgly, then after give thtm as much as they can digeft ; and you mutt give them no new mear, till you feel their crops that all the old is digetted. When the Bird is full, let him go a while, not to w ander abroad ; but if there be any thing that urgeth him, be may pick it off with his bill. Lethim not be fet to fatting before five, or after twenty Moncths old. Yong Pigeons or Chickens, will fat better with their dams, if you full off a few of their feathers , and bruife their legs, that they may ftay in their places ; and if ycugive meat plentifully to their dams , that ihey may feed tbemfelves , and their yorg ones {efficiently. Turtles are heft fatted in fummer : give them nothing buc meat, elpecially Mrllet-feed, for they much delight to eat that; but Geefe in winter: Theymuft be put up to fat fourMoneths, you need give them rcthingelfe but Barley- Meal, and Wheat-meal three times a day 5 fo that you cive them water enough to drink , and bo liberty to walkabout ; thus they will fat in two Moneths. Buc tender Pullets will not be made fat in forty days. Ducks will grew fat with all nutriment, if it be abundance • elpecially with Wheat, Millet -feed, Barley, and with Water- fquils, Locufts, and Creatures found intakes. Lelumeta. Pheafants, Partridges, Heath-cocks, and Turky-hcns, will fat be ing fhut up ; acd the firft day they eat meat, the next fet them water or good lxrong w ine to drirk : Let their meat be raw Barley-Meal, made up with water, giving them it by degrees; or tlfe broken andgrennd Beans and Barley fod with water, and whole Millet-feed, Linfeed boil'd and dry, mingled with Barley-meal: to theft you may add Oyl, and make gobbets of them, and give them to cat to the full , and they will grow fat ac longeit in fixty days, Now I flhall (hew how
Four-footed Beafis are fatted.
The Sow will fooccft fat , for in fixty days fhe will be far. Firft kept hungry three days, as all the reft mufi be. She grows fat with Barley, Miller, Acorn?, Figs, Pears, Cucumbers } reft, and rot wandrirg. But Sews will growfacter by wal- lowing in the mire. Figs andChkk-peafon, will fat them fooneft ; and they defire change of meats. Varro* The Sow is fed with Beans, Barley, and other Grain j for thele wi 1 not cnely fat them, but give them a good rellifh. The Olive, wilde Oj live, Tares, Corn ir ftraw, Grafs : and they are all the better fprinklcd with brine; but the more effectual will they be, if (be faft three days before. Artfiotle. Bean- hur-ks.anc Coleworts aref leafart meat for them; Salt put to them, will make them have a fir mack, which in fummer put into their troughs will feafon their meat , acd make them eat it up ; and by that feafoning of it , they will dtink acd eat the more. Columella. Oxen will grow fat with Corn and Grafs, Tare?, ground Beans, and Bean- fblks: Alfo with Barky, whole or broken, and parted from the hulls: alfobyfweec things, as preflea Figs, Wine, Elm-bcngbs, and with a Lotion of hot water, thri- ftode. We feed th Cows , and thus being fed with abundance of Milk, they can fcatcego for far. Al- fo in their cratches we ftrew Salt ftcres, that they may lick them, and fo drink, and they will grow exceeding fat and tender. ,
Cha>. VI.
How the fiefh of Animals it made fweetef.
NOw Chall I fhew with feme Meats, acd Arts , How not ocely the parts of Ani- mals, but their whole be dies are made fat, tender, acd more delicate. And
feflg
^iS NaturalMagick. "Beof^ 14..
How to fat the Ltvers of Geefe.
Our wife Anceftours, faith P//»/, who knew ihe goodncfsof a Goofe liver, tau°ht how by cramming to make ic grow great j alfo taken forth, it is augmented by fweet Milk. And it is not wichout canfe demanded, who was the firft man that found out fo profitable a thing : Whether it were Scipio Metellus, that was Conful , or Mar. Sejttif that in the fame age was a Gentleman of Rome. Palladia* taught the way how; when Gsefe have been fatting thirty days, if youdefircto have °their livers tender , you (hall bruife old Figs , and fteep them in water , and make gobbets of them,and feed the Geefc with them twenty days together. But QuimiliHi way is when they grow fat, you (hall break dry wilde Radifh in fmall pieces, and tempering them with wa:er, give them this to drink for twenty days. Some, that the liver may be made great, and the Geefe fat, feed them thu«. They {hut up the Goofe, and catt to him Wheac fleeped in water, or Barley the fame way. Wheat makes him fat quickly, but Barley makes the flefh white. Let her be fed with the faid Tain, but feverally with them both, for twenty days, giv ing to her twice a day a moyft Medica- ment made thereof ; fo that feven of thofe meats, may be given her for the firft five days, and by degrees the days following, increafe the number of thefe meats, un- til twenty five days be paft, that the days in the whole may be thirty: and when they are over, heat Mallows, and in the deco&ion thereof, being yet hot, give her leaven moyftned therewith ; do fo for four days, and in the fame days give her wa- ter and honey j changing it thrice every day, not nfing the lame again : and do this the days following, till fixty days: mingle dry Figs, bruifed all this time with the faid leaven, and after fixty daysvoumay eat the Goofe, and its liver,that willbe white and tender. Which being taken forth, mufY be put into a large veffet, wherein there is hoc water , that mail be changed again and again. But the Bodies and Livers of the females are beft , but let them be Geefe not of one year , but from two years old to four. Horace in Serm. fpeaks of this,