14 WHALE-nSHEllV. 



The great I3'Aiissy, who has given a valuable 

 work on the private life of the French*, quotes a 

 manuscript of the thirteenth century, where mention 

 is made of the flesh of the whale being used for 

 food. Pie also quotes a fable f, tending to prove 

 the same point ; and as he makes it appear, that 

 the flesh, and particularly the tongue, was publicly 

 sold in the markets of Bayonne, Cibourre, and Beariz, 

 and that it was esteemed as a delicacy ; it is pre- 

 sumed that it was sold in its fresh state, and that 

 they took tlie whales at a little distance from the 

 coast, in the manner practised in Normandy. In 

 support of this opinion, it may be observed, that 

 Edward III. King of England, had a revenue of 

 6/. Sterling, upon every whale taken and brought 

 into the harbour of Beariz; which, in 1338, was so 

 considerable, that it became the subject of petition 

 by Peter de Puyanne, Admiral of the English 

 fleet stationed at Bayonne, and it seems was 

 awarded to him, in consideration of his services in 

 the capacity of Admiral, in which he was employ- 

 ed t 



'" " La Vie jirivee des Fran^ais." 



t " BataUle de Charnage et de Careme ;" — " La Vie privee/' 

 Ac. vol. ii. 66. 6S. 



X Rymer's '' Focdera." Tom. v. p. 46. 12, Edw. IIL 



