THE TURKEY. 177 



thumberland Household Book," the price of a peacock 

 for the table in 1512 was twelvepence ; but we must 

 recollect that this was a much larger sum in those days 

 than it is now considered to be. 



Shakespeare has committed a curious anachronism 

 in introducing the domestic Turkey in the play of 

 Henry IV,, the species being unknown in England until 

 the later reign of Henry VIII. The passage referred to 

 runs thus : 



First Carrier. " 'Odsbody ! the turkeys in my pannier 

 are quite starved. What, ostler ! " Henry IV, Part I. 

 Act ii. Sc. i. 



The turkey was imported into Spain by the Spanish 

 discoverers in the New World, early in the sixteenth 

 century, its wild prototype being the Gallipavo Mexicana 

 of Gould, and from Spain it was introduced into England 

 in 1524. In 1525 a rhyme was composed, celebrating the 

 introduction of this bird, as well as other good things, 

 into this country : 



" Turkies, carps, hoppes, piccarell, and beere, 

 Came into England all in one yeare." * 



A writer in the " Encyclopaedia Britannica " says : 

 " This fowl was first seen in France in the reign of 

 Francis I., and in England in that of Henry VIII. By 



* 'Baker's " Chronicle." 



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