8o 
Mr. pennant’s Account 
even to Canada ; but at this time are extremely 
rare in . a wild ftate, except in the more diftant 
parts, where they are ftill found in vaft abun- 
dance. 
When firft It was from Mexico or Yucatan that they were 
introduced firft introduced into Europe ; for it is certain, that 
into Europe, they were imported into England as early as the 
year 1524, the 15th of henry viii *. 
We probably received them from Spain, with 
which we had great intercourfe till about that 
time. They were mod fuccefsfully cultivated in 
our kingdom from that period ; infomuch, that 
they grew common in every farm-yard, and be- 
came even a di(h in our rural feafts by the year 
1585 ; for we may certainly depend on the word 
of old tusser, in his Account of the Chriftmas 
Hulbandlie Fare +. 
Beefe, Mutton, and Porke, fhred pies of the beft, 
Pig, Veale, Goofe, and Capon, and Turkie well dreft, 
Cheefe, Apples, and Nuts, jolie carols to heare, 
As then in the countrie, is counted good cheare. 
But at this very time they were fo rare in 
France, that we are told, that the very firft which 
was eaten in that kingdom appeared at the nuptial 
feaft of Charles ix. in 1570 J. 
* baker’s Chr. Anderson’s DiCt. Com. I. 354. hackluyt, II. 165. 
makes their introduction about the year 1532. barnady googe, one of our 
early writers on Hufbandry, fays, they were not feen here before 1530. He highly 
commends a Lady hales of Kent, for her excellent management of thefe fowl, p. 1 66. 
f Five Hundred Points of good Hulbandrie, p. 57, 
1 anderson’s DiCt. Comm. I. 410. 
Te 
