Women, Food Exchange, and Governance in Early Modern England (Early Modern Literature in History)

This book is about the relationship of food and food practices to discourses and depictions of domestic and political governance in early modern women’s writing. It examines the texts of four elite women spanning approximately forty years: the Psalmes of Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke; the maternal nursing pamphlet of Elizabeth Clinton, Dowager Countess of Lincoln; the diary of Margaret, Lady Hoby; and Mary Sidney, Lady Wroth’s prose romance, __Urania__. It argues that we cannot gain a full picture of what food meant to the early modern English without looking at the works of women, who were the primary managers of household foodways. In examining food practices such as hospitality, gift exchange, and charity, this monograph demonstrates that women, no less than men, engaged with vital social, cultural and political processes. Women, Food Exchange, and Governance in Early Modern England 4 Acknowledgements 7 Contents 9 1 Introduction 10 The Politics of Food Exchange 15 Women’s Food, Women’s Governance 21 Notes 25 2 Providential Gifts and Agricultural Plenty: The Psalmes of Mary Sidney Herbert 32 Psalm Discourse and Protestant Militancy 35 Providential Nourishment 38 The Psalmes and the English Nation 41 Agriculture and National Ethics 44 God’s Husbandry 48 Royal Husbandry 51 Agricultural Production and Good Governance 53 Agricultural Prosperity and Militant War 57 Notes 64 3 The Milk of Wholesome Government: Elizabeth Clinton’s The Covntesse of Lincolnes Nvrserie 74 Puritanism and the Clintons 78 Nursing and Governance 80 Nursing and Spiritual Authority 86 Nursing: A Local Food 91 Nursing and Secessionist Renewal 98 Notes 105 4 Prayerful Dining: The Diary of Margaret Hoby 111 A Regional Governance 114 Dining and Self-Governance 116 Dining and Spiritual Practice 122 Dining and Household Governance 126 Dining, Hospitality, and Regional Authority 130 Dining, Fasting, and National Public Health 135 Notes 140 5 The Quintessence of Good Governance: Humanist Hospitality in Mary Wroth’s Urania 147 Court, Country, and Hospitality 151 ‘Brittany’ and the Ethics of Hospitality 153 Food and Excess at James’s Court 156 Luxurious Hospitality 162 Restorative Hospitality 165 Tacitean Hospitality 168 Advisory Hospitality 172 Notes 177 6 Shaping the Body Politic: Mobile Food and Transnational Exchange in Urania 184 Women and Transnationalism 186 Food and the Body Politic 188 Food Gifts and Mobile Fruit 193 Gifts of Fruit and Political Metamorphosis 198 The Marriage Feast and Political Consolidation 201 Hospitality and Political Usurpation 205 Notes 213 7 Epilogue 219 Notes 224 Works Cited 225 Primary Sources 225 Secondary Sources 231 Index 243 This Book Is About The Relationship Of Food And Food Practices To Discourses And Depictions Of Domestic And Political Governance In Early Modern Women's Writing. It Examines The Texts Of Four Elite Women Spanning Approximately Forty Years: The Psalmes Of Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess Of Pembroke; The Maternal Nursing Pamphlet Of Elizabeth Clinton, Dowager Countess Of Lincoln; The Diary Of Margaret, Lady Hoby; And Mary Sidney, Lady Wroth's Prose Romance, Urania. It Argues That We Cannot Gain A Full Picture Of What Food Meant To The Early Modern English Without Looking At The Works Of Women, Who Were The Primary Managers Of Household Foodways. In Examining Food Practices Such As Hospitality, Gift Exchange, And Charity, This Monograph Demonstrates That Women, No Less Than Men, Engaged With Vital Social, Cultural And Political Processes. Providential Gifts And Agricultural Plenty: The Psalmes Of Mary Sidney Herbert -- The Milk Of Wholesome Government: Elizabeth Clinton's The Covntesse Of Lincolnes Nvrserie -- Prayerful Dining: The Diary Of Margaret Hoby -- The Quintessence Of Good Governance: Humanist Hospitality In Mary Wroth's Urania -- Shaping The Body Politic: Mobile Food And Transnational Exchange In Urania. Madeline Bassnett. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 219-236) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-ix Introduction....Pages 1-22 Providential Gifts and Agricultural Plenty: The Psalmes of Mary Sidney Herbert....Pages 23-64 The Milk of Wholesome Government: Elizabeth Clinton’s The Covntesse of Lincolnes Nvrserie ....Pages 65-101 Prayerful Dining: The Diary of Margaret Hoby....Pages 103-138 The Quintessence of Good Governance: Humanist Hospitality in Mary Wroth’s Urania ....Pages 139-175 Shaping the Body Politic: Mobile Food and Transnational Exchange in Urania ....Pages 177-211 Epilogue....Pages 213-218 Back Matter....Pages 219-248