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Some time ago there was a justice in England named Master Vavesour, a very homely man with a ruddy complexion, who hated to spend money. This Master Vavesour, while riding his circuit through the north country, had made all agreement with the Sheriff concerning travelling expenses. The Sheriff paid a certain amount, but at every inn and lodging house Master Vavesour had to pay his own expenses.

It happened that when the judge came to a certain lodging, he ordered Turpin, his servant, to be as economical as possible, and to save all leftovers to be used as provisions on the next part of the journey. This Turpin, doing his master's bidding, took all the uneaten bread, meat, and other things and put them in his master's clothes sack.

The wife of the house, perceiving the servant putting all the leftover food into the sack, brought in soup which had been left in the pot. The minute Turpin had turned his back, she poured the soup into the sack. It ran all over the judge's scarlet robe and soaked his other garments, soiling them dreadfully. Turpin, suddenly turning around, saw what had happened and began to berate the woman. Then he ran to his master and told him what had taken place. Master Vavesour immediately called the woman and shouted at her, "You miserable slattern, what have you done? Why have you poured the soup into my clothes sake and soiled my garments?"

"Oh sir," quoth the woman, ''I know well that you are a judge of the realm, and I understand that you mean to serve justice, and to keep what belongs to you. Since you intend to keep everything you have paid for, both scraps of meat and everything else, and since I saw your servant putting these things into your clothes sack, I decided to put the leftover soup in there as well, because you have truly paid for it. If I were to have held back on anything you paid for, you might have gotten me into trouble with the law next time."

Here you may see that he who plays the miser too much sometimes suffers a loss as a result.

* * *

This darling little tale, collected from A Hundred Merry Tales, or A Shakespeare Jestbook that was first published in 1525, tells a lot about English justice, official and non-official...English love of moral tales...strong Englishwomen...and classic British humor. It also gives me a perfect opportunity to recommend to you a really lovely--and filling--onion soup from that period. Don't pour any leftovers into your bedroom chest of drawers: the soup stains dreadfully.

SOWPYS DORRY (to serve 4-6 people)

• 1/3 cup skinless almonds, ground finely
• 1 cup dry white wine (dry white vermouth is good)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 onions, sliced thinly
• 2 cups same dry white wine
• 3 cups water or stock (chicken stock is especially good)
• salt to taste

Garnish: 4-6 thick bread slices, toasted in a 325-degree oven to a dry hardness (one for each person)

Soak the ground almonds in 1 cup wine.

Heat oil in a large saucepan, add onions, and cook over low heat for 20 minutes (onions will be golden and soft). Add the remaining 2 cups of wine and the water, bring to a boil, cover the pot, and let simmer for 20 minutes. Pour in the almond mixture, reboil, then turn down the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.

When ready to serve, put a slice of toasted bread--or "sop"-- in each bowl, then ladle soup over. Serve immediately.

Best wishes,
Pat Solley
www.soupsong.com

p.s. For more on English soup customs, see Surprising English Soups and English Soups.

Resources: Tale 18: Of the Woman Who Poured the Soup into the Judge's Sack, from A C. Mery Talys (A 100 Merry Tales), or the Shakespeare Jestbook, first published in 1525 (New York, Citadel Press, modernized by F. S. Klaf and B. J. Hurwood).

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