Evelyn K. Wells in The Ballad Tree theorizes that "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme" may once have been an herb charm.
I doubt this. Sounds like cookery to me. My belief is that the male plaintiff in the case is trying to convey that, not only must the lady be able to make a cambric shirt without stitching or needlework (extruded rayon, maybe?) and do all those other marvelous things, she also had better be able to spice her meat properly---no mean accomplishment before refrigeration, when spices had to do double duty in concealing the taste of meat that was "off."