Murrells' Two Books of Cookery & Carving 1638, Book 2

Historical rabbit holes, for those who are inclined.

These slender booklets from Historical Management Associates are the work of an organization dedicated to historical re-enactment in the UK. They are written with a stickler’s attention to historical precision and a conviction that nothing is too arcane to investigate. Some of the books are simple transcriptions of period manuscripts; others represent significant original research, as in Cattle Farming and Grazing Management, which is 52 pages long but cites 36 sources, many of them published in the 17th century.

From the introduction:

“This second volume contains two books, Murrell’s second book of cookery recipes and the “New Booke of Carving and Sewing” which was anything but being largely based on the Book of Kervynge of 1513. It does however contain fascinating details on the principal servants duties, the method of laying the table, diet during the seasons, sauces and many other details omitted from most period cookery books.”

Staplebound pamphlet. 44 pages.