7HE KITCHEN. 703 



35.$-. nd. All are bought in Oxford. Again, though I am not 

 clear that it is kitchen furniture, a wainscot cupboard costs 

 28s. in 1580, a livery cupboard 2$s. in 1614, and one of walnut- 

 tree wood in the same year 26s. 



Salt-cellars of common metal, tin or pewter, are found at 

 from $d. to u., a pair of mustard querns in 1588 at 6s. 8*/., 

 and a mustard pot in 1587 at $d. 



In connection with the kitchen, it may be convenient to 

 refer to what after salt and mustard was the commonest 

 condiment, aleger or malt vinegar, and wine vinegar. The 

 former, used exclusively, at least under this name, by the Cam- 

 bridge Colleges, and especially King's College, was generally 

 bought by the kilderkin, but sometimes by the barrel ; and 

 there does not seem to be any difference, if one can infer from 

 the price, between the two measures. Up to nearly the end 

 of the sixteenth century, aleger is between 4^-. and 55. 6d. the 

 kilderkin, variations in price occurring in the same year and 

 at the same place. From 1598 to 1615, when its use appears 

 to be discontinued, or, as is quite probable, the entry of its 

 cost is merged in other purchases, it is from Js. 6d. to 6s., the 

 latter being the commonest price. Bereager, i. e. sour hopped 

 liquor, which was found at an earlier date in Cambridge (vol. 

 iv. p. 618), has entirely disappeared. 



Vinegar in the proper sense of the word is found in two 

 quantities, by the gallon (I have calculated by the dozen 

 gallons) from the earlier years till near the conclusion of the 

 period, and by the cask. It is obviously much dearer when 

 it is bought so to speak on draught, than when it is purchased 

 by bulk. i.e. by kilderkin, barrel or hogshead. My first entry 

 of vinegar by the gallon is a purchase by Shuttleworth in 

 1587, when he buys at the rate of 14^. the dozen. In 1604 

 the Archers buy a small quantity at $d. a pint, or 24^. the dozen. 

 In 1609 Shuttleworth again buys at i6s., in 1611 at 2oj., de- 

 scribing it as white- wine vinegar. In 1614 Caryll buys white 

 vinegar at I2s. the dozen gallons, and red at los. In 1617 

 Shuttleworth buys white wine vinegar at i6s. the dozen. In 



