Healths improvement: or, Rules comprizing and discovering the nature, method, and manner of preparing all sorts of food used in this nation. Written by that ever famous Thomas Muffett, Doctor in Physick: corrected and enlarged by Christopher Bennet, Doctor in Physick, and fellow of the Colledg of Physitians in London.

PAVONES.

Peacocks are (as Poets fain) the beloved Birds of Juno: which none durst kill in old time, for fear of that jealous and revengeful Goddesses displeasure. Among the Ro∣mans

Quintus Hortensius was the first that ever brought them to the table; whose commendation made them so desired, that within a while a Peacocks egg was sold for ten pieces of silver, and his kacrsas for twenty times as much. Afterwards Marcus Lurco seeing that old and lean Peacocks grew to such a rate, he began to cram them fat whilst they were young, and gained thereby in a short time six thousand Sesterties.

Leo the tenth (that noble Epicurean Pope) made their brawnes into Sausages, allowing therefore every year ma∣ny hundred Ducats. It is strange that S. Austin writes of Peacocks flesh, namely that in a twelve month it cor∣rupteth not after it is drest: Nay Kiranides avoucheth, that a Peacocks flesh will not putrifie in thirty years, but remaineth then as sound and sweet as if it had been new killed; which whether it proceed of the toughness and si∣newy constitution, or the feeding upon Serpents (as some imagine) I will not now determin: this I onely observe, that being once above a year old, their flesh is very hard, tough, and melancholick, requiring a strong stomack, much wine, and afterwards great exercise to overcome it. It is very ill for them that are molested with the Hemor∣rhoids, and such as live slothfully.

Concerning their preparation, Galen appointeth them to hang upon a hook fifteen daies, but Haliabbas twise fifteen before they are drest. The Italians after they are drawn, stuff their bodies full of nettles (which softneth the hardest cheese being laid amongst them, and then they either bury it in sand, or hang it in a cold dry place, with a great weight at his heels; and so within a fornight it becomes very tender. Plutarch reports out of his countri∣ments experiments, that an old Cock, or an old Peacock, or any hard flesh, hanging but one night on a fig-tree, waxeth very tender by morning: others ascribe as much to the

hanging of them upon a brasen hook, which I permit to trial; and wish both as true in effect, as the reasons why they should be so are learnedly disputed. As for young Peacocks, fed at home, with wholesome and pure meat (as bread corn and curds) no doubt they are very good meat, yeelding not onely a taste extraordinarily strange and pleasant, but also giving good nourishment: the older sort is best roasted with lard; the younger without lard, both should be well sowced in pure wine; for without it they are unwholesome.

Notes

• Macrob. 3. sat. cap. 13.
• Pli. l. 10. ••. 20.
• Paul Jov. in vi∣ta Leon. X.
• l. de civit. Dei.
• Gal. 3 de alim. fac. Halyab: s. theo.
• Plut symp. 7▪ quest. 10.