The English Huswife

The English Huswife

The English Huswife is a comprehensive guidebook written by Gervase Markham in 1615. It provides a detailed insight into the domestic life of the 17th century, outlining the duties and responsibilities of a typical English housewife during that period. The book is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on medical recipes and the second part on cooking recipes, brewing, and household management.

Author

Gervase Markham (1568–1637) was an English poet and writer, best known for his works on agriculture and rural domestic life. He wrote extensively on a variety of topics, including horse training, hunting, and household management.

Content

The English Huswife is a comprehensive guide that covers a wide range of topics. The first part of the book is dedicated to medical recipes, providing remedies for various ailments. The second part focuses on cooking recipes, brewing, and household management.

Medical Recipes

The first part of The English Huswife contains a collection of medical recipes. These recipes were intended to treat a variety of ailments, from common illnesses to more serious conditions. The remedies were made from herbs, plants, and other natural ingredients that were readily available in the 17th century.

Cooking Recipes

The second part of the book is dedicated to cooking recipes. These recipes range from simple dishes to more complex meals, providing a glimpse into the culinary practices of the 17th century. The recipes include instructions for preparing meats, fish, vegetables, and desserts.

Brewing and Household Management

In addition to cooking recipes, The English Huswife also provides instructions on brewing and household management. The brewing section includes recipes for making beer, ale, and other beverages. The household management section provides advice on various aspects of running a household, including cleaning, laundry, and childcare.

Influence

The English Huswife had a significant impact on domestic life in the 17th century. It served as a practical guide for housewives, providing them with valuable information on cooking, brewing, and household management. The book's influence extended beyond the 17th century, as it continued to be used as a reference for domestic life in subsequent centuries.

Legacy

The English Huswife remains a valuable resource for historians and researchers studying the domestic life of the 17th century. It provides a detailed insight into the duties and responsibilities of a typical English housewife during that period, offering a unique perspective on the social and cultural history of the time.

See Also

• Gervase Markham
• 17th Century English Literature
• History of Domestic Life

References

• Markham, Gervase. The English Huswife. 1615.
• Wall, Wendy. Recipes for Thought: Knowledge and Taste in the Early Modern English Kitchen. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016.
• Spiller, Elizabeth. Seventeenth-Century English Recipe Books: Cooking, Physic and Chirurgery in the Works of Elizabeth Talbot Grey and Aletheia Talbot Howard. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., 2008.

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The English Huswife

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  The English Huswife

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  Banbury Cake from Gervase Markham's 1615 book

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  Banbury cake