pounds--equivalent to at least
twenty thousand dollars now.

A document which especially serves to show the manner of life of the
ancient noblesse is the earl of Northumberland's "Household Book"
in the early part of the sixteenth century. By this we see the great
magnificence of the old nobility, who, seated in their castles, lived
in a state of splendor scarcely inferior to that of the court. As
the king had his privy council, so the earl of Northumberland had
his council, composed of his principal officers, by whose advice and
assistance he established his code of economic laws. As the king had
his lords and grooms of the chamber, who waited in their respective
turns, so the earl was attended by the constables of his several
castles, who entered into waiting in regular succession. Among other
instances of magnificence it may be remarked that not fewer than
eleven priests were kept in the household, presided over by a doctor
or bachelor of divinity as dean of the chapel.

An account of how the earl of Worcester lived at Ragland Castle before
the civil wars which began in 1641 also exhibits his manner of life
in great detail: "At eleven o'clock the Castle Gates were shut and the
tables laid: two in the dining-room; three in the hall; one in Mrs.
Watson's appartment, where the chaplains eat; two in the housekeeper's
room for my ladie's women. The Earl came into the Dining Room attended
by his gentlemen. As soon as he was seated, Sir Ralph Blackstone,
Steward of the House, retired. The Comptroller, Mr. Holland, attended
with his staff; as did the Sewer, Mr. Blackburn, and the daily waiters
with many gentlemen's sons, from two to seven hundred pounds a year,
bred up in the Castle; my ladie's Gentleman Usher, Mr. Harcourt; my
lord's Gentlemen of the Chamber, Mr. Morgan and Mr. Fox.

"At the first table sat the noble family and such of the nobility as
came there. At the second table in the Dining-room sat Knights and
honorable gentlemen attended by footmen.

"In the hall at the first table sat Sir R. Blackstone, Steward, the
Comptroller, Secretary, Master of the Horse, Master of the Fishponds,
my Lord Herbert's Preceptor, with such gentlemen as came there under
the degree of knight, attended by footmen and plentifully served with
wine.

"At the third table in the hall sate the Clerk of the Kitchen, with
the Yeomen, officers of the House, two Grooms of the Chamber, etc.

"Other officers of the Household were the Chie