Skip to main content
The Collation

Don't try this at home (unless you are a professional brewer)

Here’s a little transcription exercise for our Crocodile readers:

recipe title

Folger MS V.a.429, fol. 29r.

This is the title of a recipe in a book of culinary and medical receipts compiled between approximately 1675 and 1750 by a few generations of related women: Rose Kendall and Ann (Kendall) Cater of Kempstone, Bedfordshire, 1682; Elizabeth Clarke; and Anna Maria Wentworth of Wolley, Yorkshire, whose grandfather was Giles Clarke of Lyons Inn, London, and who later married Peter Bold of Bold Hall, Lancashire, 1725/26 (I’ve taken this information directly from the Hamnet record).

When paleography students encounter the title, they typically provide three alternatives for the third word. For example:

variant readings

Three variant readings for the title of the recipe.

Comments

This is terrific, Heather! I may even know someone willing to give the recipe a whirl…

Katie Will — September 4, 2013

Reply

So someone on twitter (@pixelparchment) found that someone has made Cock Ale! I’m still a bit skeptical…

http://www.kaiserpenguin.com/ye-olde-cock-ale/

Sarah Werner — September 4, 2013

Reply

“And there was only the subtlest hint of sweet baked-chicken flavor.” Yikes.

Erin McCarthy — September 5, 2013

Reply

There is a similar recipe in Charlie Papazian’s Joy of Homebrewing.

Pete — September 5, 2013

Reply

Ah, I see that’s also the reference from Kaiser Penguin.

Pete — September 5, 2013

Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *