They didn't care about the rancid meat, smell, taste. In the middle-ages meat was commonly hung in bags and nets and would be "aged". One of the reasons why the brits regularly boiled all their meat.
12 posted on 12/09/2004 11:14:01 AM PST by RJS1950
(The rats are the "enemies foreign and domestic" cited in the federal oath)
I've heard that even now an aged steak -- one which has hung and then had the mold removed -- is supposed to be a gourmet treat. I think I'd pass, though.