Leaving Sir John to confer with those doughty disputants, let us follow
the king to supper. Space forbids that we describe the wonders of this
feast, and the dainties that were provided--how the swans were roasted,
and the herons eaten cold--how pies were baked of the red deer, and the
wild boar, not a whit too small for the reception of any moderate-sized
Christian subject of his Majesty's. There were turkeys, quails, poults,
and plovers; but of pheasants only two, and one for the king. The
greatest triumph, however, was reserved for the confections; an
artificial hen was here served of puff-paste; her wings displayed,
sitting upon eggs of the same materials. In each of these was enclosed a
fat lark roasted, and seasoned with pepper and ambergris.
They sat down, but the master of the ceremonies was still absent;
whereupon the king, much distempered thereby, called out to Sir George
Goring--
"Our mummer and our dancer being departed--whilk thing, aforetime, we
did maist righteously inhibit--thinkest thou, he may not henceforth
eschew our service?"
"My liege, your Grace's commands were to seek him a full hour agone, but
the scared deer hath taken to covert.
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