EXTRACTS. FROM. ANCIENT RECORDS. 
LTHOUGH Yorkshire does not possess evidence so definite or so 
complete as that which exists for some other counties, there are records 
extant which in some degree serve to throw light on the fauna which once 
inhabited the district. A brief summary of the animals mentioned in three 
of the principal documents will not be devoid of interest. 
In 1466, as Leland writes in his ‘ Collectanea,’ a great feast was given in 
the archiepiscopal palace at Cawood, on the occasion of the ‘intronization’ 
of ‘George Nevell, Archbishop of York, and Chauncelour of Englande, in 
the vj. yere of the raigne of Kyng Edwarde the fourth’; the goodly provision 
made for which included 
Wylde Bulles, vj5 . . . Swannes, CCCC.; Geese, MM; 
- . . Plovers, iili.C.; Quayles, C. dosen.; Of the fowles called Rees, CC. 
dosen.; In Peacockes, Ciiii.; Mallardes and Teales, iiii.M.; In Cranes, 
Gai, was Aa 3 Pigeons, iiii.M.; Conyes, iiii.M.; In Bittors, CC.1iii.; 
Heronshawes, iiii.C.; Fessauntes, CC.; Partriges, v.C.; Woodcockes, iiii.C. ; 
Curlewes, C.; Egrittes, M.; Stagges, Buckes, and Roes, v.C. and mo.; Pykes 
and Breames, vi.C. and viii.; Porposes and Seales, xii.’ 
The fish dinners included ‘ Red Herrynges ; Salt fysch; Luce salt ; Salt ele; 
Kelyng, Codlyng and Hadocke . . .; Thirlepoole . . .; Pyke in 
Harblet; Eles baked; Samon chynes . .; Freshe Salmon jowles; 
Salt Sturgion; Whytynges; Pylchers; =: -. Makerels; Places . <5 
Barbelles;; “Conger = <5) ‘route; Tamprey 3 <5 < Bret; -lurbute 
Roches; Lynge =  .; Tench <  -;  freshe Sturcion; (Great Beles 
Cheuens; Breames; Rudes; Lamprones; Small Perches . .3 
Smeltes . .; Small Menewes ;’ besides ‘ crabbes’ and ‘lopster.’ 
The document next in point of age dates 1512 and is entitled ‘The 
Regulations and Establishment of the Household of Henry Algernon Percy, 
the Fifth Earl of Northumberland, at his castles of Wresill and Lekin- 
field in Yorkshire. Begun Anno domini M.D.XII.’ This valuable book, 
usually called the ‘ Northumberland Household Book,’ well shows the almost 
regal state maintained by the Percys, and no doubt other great nobles, in the 
time of Henry the Eighth. 
Therein we find that while ‘ chekyns’ cost a halfpenny each and ‘hennys’ 
2d. each, it was ‘thought good that no pluvers be bought at noo Season bot 
