THE MIDDLE AGES. 43 



The sumptuary enactments of Edward VI. and Eliza- 

 beth were as stringent as in the days of Papal ascendency. 

 The statutes of Edward (cap. 6) aim at maintaining with 

 rigour the better observance of Fridays and Saturdays, 

 and other days of accustomed abstinence; and likewise 

 for other two purposes : that fishermen may be set to 

 work, and that much flesh may be saved and increased. 

 In addition to Fridays and Saturdays, Elizabeth added 

 Wednesdays, allowing, however, on this day, one dish of 

 flesh, provided there were consumed at the same meal 

 three dishes of sea-fish. At certain seasons this indulgence 

 did not extend to beef or veal. 



The sumptuary laws of France ordained (1294) that a 

 meagre-dinner should consist of two herring-pottages, and 

 only one sort of fish. Louis XII, who was a great epi- 

 cure, appointed six fishmongers to supply his table with 

 fresh- water fish ; Francis I had twenty-two, and Henry 

 the Great, twenty-four. In the reign of Louis XIY, there 

 was quite a mania about fish, chiefly from the circum- 

 stance that one of the royal cooks had acquired the 

 marvellous talent of cooking all kinds of fish so as to 

 taste like the most delicate game. And we have a story 

 grounded on this circumstance respecting Vatel, one of 

 the most illustrious officers of the Prince of Conde. 

 This major-domo understood that a dinner without fish 

 was a heartless and cheerless one. One day when his 

 noble master entertained Louis XIV at a royal banquet, 

 at Chantilly which the genius of Vatel rendered more 



