SIXTEENTH CENTURY 145 
The fact of such a law being necessary indicates that Rooks 
were very numerous. Sir Thomas Browne (1665) speaks of 
the great plenty of Rooks and Rook-groves in Norfolk, while 
another writer of the next century observes that England has 
bred more Crows than any country in Europe, no doubt 
meaning to include Rooks. 
Of items which bear indirectly on Natural History there 
are not a few. The careful diarists put down the price of 
apples and medlars, of the pasty of a stag, and the quarter 
of a porpoise, of a hundred eggs, etc. The King’s falconer 
has his reward, and we are duly told what was paid to the 
bringers of a couple of whelps, or a “ yolle of fresh salmon.’’* 
On page 420 there is an allusion to the shoeing of a 
“‘stawkyng horse.” The stalking horse appears to have 
been in great favour for approaching fowl, and even a stalk- 
ing ox, behind which the fowler could screen himself, and 
so get within short range. 
As a sample of the many good things which passed 
through the buttery door into the hands of the housekeeper 
at Hunstanton Hall, here is the well-kept inventory of one 
week :—t 
Sunday, [November 1519.] One Goose, a Pig, 6 Conies. 
6 Plovers, 2 Mallards, 12 Birds [not named]. 
Monday. Two Geese, 2 Pigs, 1 Crane, 7 Conies, 1 Curlew, 
3 “ Spowes” [i.e., whimbrel], 3 Mallards. 
Tuesday. One Goose, 3 Mallards, 2 Teal, 3 Conies. 
Wednesday. One Pig, 1 Woodcock, 2 Conies, 2 Mallards. 
Thursday. One Goose, 3 Conies, 2 Mallards. 
Friday. One Codling, 10 Plaice. 
Saturday. One Cod, 2 Codling, 10 Plaice, a Salmon- 
Trout and half a Ling, besides Butter, Eggs, Beef, Mutton, 
and Ale. 
This was rather a special week, but there were many 
others nearly as productive. It will be observed that four 
* Mr. Walter Bye observes that “ yolle”’ is a variorum reading of jowl, 
a jaw or head. In that sense the word is used in the Duke of Buckingham’s 
Household Book, and in Russell’s ‘‘ Boke of Nurture ’’ (L. 622). 
+ P. 426. 
