Turkey (1504?)

[Bapopik at AOL.COM]

   I plugged "tomato" into EEBO full text, without success.  I then tried
"turkey" and came up with this.  OED and MERRIAM-WEBSTER have 1555 for
"turkey."  See what you think about it.


HERE BEGYNNETH THE BOKE CALLED THE EXAMPLE OF VERTU
by Stephen Hawes (d. 1523?)
London: Wynkyn de Worde
1504?

Forth than we went vnto the habytacle
Of dame hardynes moost pure and fayre
Aboue all places a ryght fayre spectacle
Strowyd with floures that gaue good eyer
Of vertuous turkeys there was a cheyr
Wherein she sate in her cote armure
Berynge a shelde the felde of asure.