porks. 263

At about the same time they were not known inSweden . 6

From the history of the travels of our countrymanCoryate, intituled Crudities, first published in 1611, andrepublished in 1776, the author says he first saw them inItaly , and he was also the first person who used them inEngland. As his account of them is curious, we may beexcused giving an extract.

“ Here j will mention a thing that might have been" spoken of before in discourse of the first Italian towne.“ J observed a custome in all those Italian cities and townes“ throngh the which j passed, that is not used in any other“ country that j saw in may travels, neither doe j thinke“ that any other nation of Christendome doth use it, but“ only Italy . The Italian , and also most strangers that are“ commorant in Italy , do alwaies at their Hieales use a“ little forke when they cut their meat. For while with“ their knife which they hold in one hand they cut the“ ineate out of the dish, they fasten the forke, which they“ hold in their other hand, upon the same dish; so that“ whatsoever he be that sitting in the company of any“ others at meale, should unadvisedly touch the dish of“ meate with his fingers from which all at the table doe“ cut, he will give occasion of offence unto the company,“ as having transgressed the Jawes of good manners, inso-“ much that for his error he shall be at least brow beaten“ if not reprehended in wordes. This forme of feeding“ j understand is generally used in all places of Italy ;“ their forkes being for the most part made of yron or“ steele, and some of silver, but those are used only by“ Gentlemen. The reason of this their curiosity is, because“ the Italian cannot by any means indure to have his dish“ touched with fingers, seeing all men’s fingers are not“ alike cleane. Hereupon j myselfe thought good to imitate“ the Italian fashion by this forked cutting of meate, not“ only while j was in Italy , but also in Germany , and often-“ times in England since j came home, being once quipped“ for that frequent using of my forke by a certain learned“ Gentleman, a familiar friend of mine, one JVlr. Laurence“ AVhitaker, who in his merry humour doubted not to call“ me at table furcifer, only for using a forke at feeding,“ but for no other cause.”

In many parts of Spain , we understand that, at present,

6 Dalin Geschichte des Reiches Schweden, iii. 1. p. V.)l.