A few additions to horsemeat discussion.
Horse bone was present at early medieval monastery at Iona and horse
leather was also noted (PSAS 1979). This pre-dates Gregory's edict of
732. Early Irish laws state that horse flesh is unsuitable for
sick people implying that it was acceptable in other circumstances.
There is a nice reference to eating of horse by the garrison during the
siege of Berwick and Tweed of 1315 suggestin it was a Christian taboo -
"Whenever a horse dies in the town the men-at arms carry off the flesh and
boil and eat it not letting the foot(men) touch it until they have had what
they will. Pity to see Christians leading such a life" (Edinburgh Castle
excavation monograph).
Variation on horse eating: Giraldus Cambrensis (circa 1185) notes that
in the inaugeration of a king in a 'farther part of Ulster' the new king
has 'beastial intercourse' with a white mare. 'The mare is then killed
immediately, cut up in pieces, amd boiled in water. A bath is prepared
for the man afterwards in the same water. He sits in the bath surrounded
by all his people, and all, he and they, eat of the meat of the mare
which is brought them. He quaffs and drinks of the broth in which he is
bathed, not in any cup, or using his hand, but just dipping his mouth
into it around him. When this uprightous rite has been carried out, his
kingship and dominion have been conferred'. Does anyone know of other
examples of this quaint custom
Finbar McCormick
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