of beer a day to each person,
(p.4,) and the beer will not be very strong One hundred and nine fat
beeves are to be bought at Allhallow-tide, at thirteen shillings and
fourpence apiece; and twenty-four lean beeves to be bought at St.
Helens, at eight shillings apiece. These are to be put into the pastures
to feed; and are to serve from Mid-summer to Michaelmas; which is
consequently the only time that the family eats fresh beef. During all
the rest of the year they live on salted meat. (p.5.) One hundred and
sixty gallons of mustard are allowed in a year, which seems indeed
requisite for the salt beef, (p.18.) Six hundred and forty-seven sheep
are allowed, at twentypence apiece; and these seem also to be all eat
salted, except between Lammas and Michaelmas, (p.5.) Only twenty-five
hogs are allowed at two shillings apiece; twenty-eight veals, at
twentypence; forty lambs, at tenpence or a shilling, (p. 7.) These
seem to be reserved for my lord's table, or that of the upper servants,
called the knights' table. The other servants, as they eat salted meat
almost through the whole year, and with few or no vegetables, had a very
bad and unhealthy diet; so that there cannot be any thing more erroneous
than the magnificent ideas formed of "the roast beef of old England." We
must entertain as mean an idea of its cleanliness. Only seventy ells of
linen, at eightpence an ell, are annually allowed for this great family.
No sheets were used. This linen was made into eight table-cloths for my
lord's table, and one table-cloth for the knights, (p.16.) This last, I
suppose, was washed only once a month. Only forty shillings are allowed
for washing throughout the whole year; and most of it seems expended on
the linen belonging to the chapel. The drinking, however, was tolerable,
namely, ten tuns and two hogsheads of Gascogny wine, at the rate of four
pounds thirteen shillings and fourpence a tun. (p.6.) Only ninety-one
dozen of candles for the whole year. (p.14.) The family rose at six
in the morning, dined at ten, and supped at four in the afternoon. The
gates were all shut at nine, and no further ingress or egress permitted,
(p. 314, 318.) My lord and lady have set on their table for breakfast at
seven o'clock in the morning a quart of beer, as much wine; two pieces
of salt fish, six red herrings, four white ones, or a dish of sprats.
In flesh days, half a chine of mutton, or a chine of beef boiled, (p.73,
75.) Mass is ordered to be sai