Page 614 of 788

What the Seneschal read, understood, and proclaimed, that

straightway did the skilful cooks carry out. The work seethed:

fifty knives clattered on the tables; scullions black as demons

rushed about, some carrying wood, others pails of milk and wine;

they poured them into kettles, spiders, and stew-pans, and the

steam burst forth. Two scullions sat by the stove and puffed at

the bellows; the Seneschal, the more easily to kindle the fire,

had given orders to have melted butter poured on the wood-this

bit of extravagance is permitted in a well-to-do household. The

scullions stuffed bundles of dry brushwood into the fire; others

of them placed upon spits immense roasts of beef and venison, and

haunches of wild boars and of stags; still others were plucking

whole heaps of birds of all sorts- clouds of down flew about, and

grouse, heath cocks, and hens were stripped bare.