EXTRACTS FROM ANCIENT RECORDS. 



A 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, vj.; . . . Swannes, CCCC.; Geese, MM.; 

 . . . Plovers, iiii.C.; Quayles, C. dosen.; Of the fowles called Rees, CC. 

 dosen.; In Peacockes, Ciiii.; Mallardes and Teales, iiii.M.; In Cranes, 

 CC.iiii. ; .... Pigeons, iiii.M.; Conyes, iiii.M.; In Bittors, CC.iiii.; 

 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 Scales, 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 . . 

 Barbelles ; Conger . . ; Troute ; Lamprey . . ; Bret ; Turbut 

 Roches ; Lynge . . ; Tench . . ; freshe Sturgion ; Great Eeles 

 . . . Cheuens ; Breames ; Rudes ; Lamprones ; Small Perches 

 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 



