AN INVENTORY OF 1627. 43 



a dozen napkins, but only nine towels. Baths are not 

 mentioned, but they appear to have been dropped when the 

 Romans left England, and are quite modern institutions, Early 

 Victorian, I think, if not later, and perhaps in 50 years more 

 will be considered as dangerous to health as they probably 

 were at the time I am speaking of. There were several 

 chests, coffers, and cupboards in the house, and one livery 

 cupboard ; only three chairs, but not much else in the way 

 of furniture besides what I have already mentioned. In the 

 Kitchen were many pewter utensils, three salts, a flagon, 18 

 platters (as well as 10 dozen wooden trenchers), two dozen 

 pottingers, two dozen saucers, two basins, two plats (I suppose 

 dishes), two dozen spoons, also a basin and ewer, perhaps of 

 this material, in the Guest's Chamber only, no means of 

 washing being found elsewhere. There were no knives 

 (except two mincing knives) or forks (except garden forks), 

 and probably each used his own knife which he carried about 

 with him in a sheath, and his fingers. There were of brass, 

 four pots, six kettles, six pans, one ladle, and perhaps other 

 kitchen things, the material of which is not mentioned. The 

 only silver was one silver salt and seven silver spoons, valued at 

 5 13s. 4d. What would they not fetch now ? There was a sum 

 of 70 in money in the house, and the wearing apparel was 

 priced at 20 . In the kitchen were two muskets and other arms . 

 A good part of the Inventory is occupied with the farm stock 

 14 kine, 10 bullocks and 10 other beasts, nine carthorses and 

 two mares, 88 wethers, 76 ewes, 61 hogs and four fat swine, 

 besides 17 other pigs, 1 worth of unnumbered poultry, 

 besides all the wheat, barley, oats, and peas, and farm 

 implements. The last items are 14 flitches of bacon 

 4 13s. 4d., bees in the garden 5s. Od., and one chattell lease 

 in Woodcotte 100, the total being stated to be 659 17s. 6d., 

 which I think is incorrect. I make it 675 17s. 6d. 



The spelling of the names of the various articles is fairly 

 consistent, though not in accordance with our practice, and 

 some of them are not well known in the present day. A 

 " sull " is a plough of some sort ; a " willy," a large wicker 



