THE KITCHEN. 699 



1622, 6s. &/. in 1627, 6s. in 1632, 8s. in 1675, and 9^. in 1694. 

 It was probably a large broad and solid blade, with a handle 

 along the back with which the cook minced the meat in a 

 wooden bowl, or on a chopping-board, priced in 1636 at $s. 6d. 

 The scrape knife of 1685, which cost 6s., must have been of the 

 same character. 



The chipping or chopping knife is more difficult of inter- 

 pretation. It is often bought in pairs. If there be a distinc- 

 tion between the two kinds, the chipping knife appears to be 

 the dearest, as I find this knife at $s. 4d. in 1585, at $s. in 

 1639, and at 3^. in 1697, while the highest-priced chopping- 

 knives are at 2s. 6d. But in several years when the two names 

 are found, there is no material difference between the two, the 

 price being occasionally as low as 3d. The chopping-knife 

 is once, in 1613, spoken of as a mincing-knife also. But in this 

 year the price of the pair is only 2s. 6d. It was probably a 

 long and stout kitchen knife, with a good cutting edge and a 

 fair amount of weight in the blade. 



The voiding-knife was apparently used for dressing poultry, 

 and would have a sharp point, a slender blade, and a keen 

 edge. The lowest price at which I have found it is 6d., the 

 highest is. Sd. I find it as late as 1672. The average price of 

 sixteen entries is about is. 6$d. the pair. It is generally found 

 in pairs. 



Meat-baskets were used to receive the beef from the butcher, 

 and to hold it. The information as to this article comes prin- 

 cipally from King's College, and is found for thirty-two years 

 between 1592 and 1649. The price ranges between is. id. and 

 is. 6d., according to size. The dripping-pan under the roasting 

 meat is of various prices, as low as 2s. 6d. t as high as 23^. 4</. 

 The latter is bought by New College, and is described as a 

 new dripping-pan. The cheapest is said to be a latten drip- 

 ping-pan, and is a Cambridge purchase in 1626. In 1631 a 

 dripping-pan and brass pot are bought together at the aggre- 

 gate price of 48^. Sd. Brass ladles vary in price from 8d. to 

 /. The cheapest is bought by Shuttleworth in 1599, the 



