Eero and Leander. 
373 
honour, the herring has since this time worn a coronet on 
his head. Nashe does not continue the story, or tell us 
the result of the conflict, but only reports that— 
“ the herring, from that time to this, hath gone about with an army, 
and never stirres abroade without it: and when he stirs abroade with 
it, he sendes out his scowts or sentinels before him, that oftentimes 
are intercepted, and by theyr parti-coloured liveries descried, whom 
the mariners, after they have tooke, use in this sort: eight or nine 
times they swinge them about the maine mast, and bid them bring 
them so many last of herrings, as they have swinged them times; and 
that shall be theyr ransome, and so throw them into the sea againe.” 
(Iiarleian Miscellany , vol. vi. p. 170.) 
The same writer gives, as the mythological origin of 
the herring, the story of Hero and Leander, and declares 
that after the unfortunate termination of the lovers’ last 
attempt to cross the Hellespont, the gods, commiserating 
the misfortunes of the unhappy pair, transformed Leander 
into the fish ling, and gave him as a habitation the coast 
of Iceland ; Hero they changed into— 
“ the flanting Fabian or Palmerin of England, which is Cadwallader 
Herring: and as their meeting were but seldome, and not so oft as 
welcome, so but seldome should they meete in the heele of the weeker 
at the best men’s table, upon Fridayes and Saturdayes, the holy time of 
Lent exempted; and then they might be at meats and meale for seven 
weekes togither.” (Page 169.) 
Smoked or red herrings seem to have been a common 
article of food. It is related that on Maunday Thursday 
Cardinal Wolsey washed and kissed the feet of fifty poor 
people, gave each person twelve pence, three ells of good 
canvas for shirts, a pair of shoes, and a cask of red herrings 
(Mitchell,, p. 149). Russell, in his Bohe of Nurture, 1450, 
recommends mustard with salt herrings, and with white or 
fresh herrings, white sugar, which does not sound particu¬ 
larly inviting:— 
“ Baken herynge, dressid and disht with white sugure ; 
That white herynge by the bak a brode ye splat hym sure, 
