22 



RUDHALL, HEREFORDSHIRE. 



To the Editor of the Analyst. 



Sir, — Conceiving the intention of your Magazine to be for the 

 purpose of preserving from decay memorials of the manners 

 and customs of past ages, I am induced to send you the bill of 

 fare annually on new year's eve set before the tenants of the 

 Westfaling family assembled at Rudhall, near Ross, in this county. 

 The dinner was instituted by Herbert Westfaling, Esq. son of- 

 the Bishop of Hereford, who, in the latter part of Queen 

 Elizabeth's reign, married Miss Rudhall, the heiress. The late 

 Mrs. Westfaling, the last of the family, died between three and 

 four years ago, and the reversion to the property having been 

 purchased by Alexander Baring, Esq., M. P., the furniture and 

 pictures were sold soon after. Here I bought the portrait of the 

 above-mentioned Herbert Westfaling, the two table cloths used 

 for this dinner, dated H. W., 1598, and H. W., 1601, and twenty- 

 seven napkins, dated H. W., 1622, with the pewter dishes and 

 plates, but, I regret to say, the leathern jacks which held the ale 

 had been destroyed. The dinner was spread on a large thick- 

 legged table of the period, and there were four three-cornered 

 ones placed in the angles of the room. The dinner was thus : — 



FIRST COURSE. 



Six large fowls, replenished as often as wanted. 



Large mince pies, in patty pans, shaped like hearts and stars. 



Vegetables. 



Baked currant bread pudding. 



Mutton pasty. 



Vegetables. 



Large mince pies, as before. 



Gammon of bacon. 



SECOND COURSE. 



Loin of Veal. 



Large mince pies, as before. 



Vegetables. 



Roast goose. 



Apple pie. 



Pigeon pie. 



Apple pic. 



Iloast goose. 



Vegetables. 



Large mince pies, as before. 



Surloin of beef. 



Two of the corner tables held boiled legs of mutton, another a boiled rump of 



beef, and on the fourth was a large boiled plum suet pudding. 



The ancient house of Rudhall was burnt down in the latter 

 part of the reign of James 1st, during the absence on the Con- 



