404 
Beet-Root (Beta Vulgaris). The Red Beet is very well known, and a 
large variety of the White Garden Beet has been lately introduced from 
abroad, under the titles of Racine de disette, Root of Scarcity, and Mangel 
Wurzel. This last is much cultivated in many parts of the continent, not 
only in gardens, but likewise in the open fields; being much more in esteem, 
and perhaps really better than with us. Its qualities, and the quantity 
of its produce, have been greatly magnified, in common with most other 
things newly introduced. The leaf and root are said to be excellent food 
for man and beast: it is affirmed not to be liable to destruction by in¬ 
sects; nor to be affected by drought, fee. -The leaves are recommended as 
equal in quality to Spinach: and being from thirty to forty inches long, and 
from twenty-two to twenty-five broad, exceed it greatly in quantity. These 
may be gathered every twelve or fifteen days during the season. 
The roots have an earthy taste; and are mawkishly sweet, either boiled, 
pence a load, p. 22 . This is a proof that grates were not then used. Observe this article. It is de¬ 
vised that from henceforth no capons to he bought but only for my lord's own mess, and that the 
said capons shall be bought for two-pence apiece, lean, and fed in the poultry, and master 
chamberlain and the stewards be fed with capons, if there be straYigers sitting with them, p. 102 . 
Pigs are to be bought at three-pence or a groat apiece: geese at the same price: chickens at a half¬ 
penny : hens at two-pence, and only for the abovementioned tables. Here is another article. Item, 
It is thought good that no plovers be bought at no season but only in Christmas and principal 
feasts, and my lord to be served therewith, at his board end, and none other, and to be bought 
for a penny apiece, or a penny halfpenny at most, p.103. Woodcocks are to be bought at the same 
price. Partridges at two-pence, p. 104, 105. Pheasants a shilling; peacocks the same, p. 106 . My 
lord keeps only twenty-seven horses in his stable at his own charge: his upper servants have allow¬ 
ance for maintaining their own horses, p. 120. These horses are, sis gentle horses as they are called, 
at hay and hard meat throughout the whole year, four palfreys, three hobbies and nags, three sump ter. 
horses, six horses for those servants to whom my lord furnishes a horse, two sumpter horses more, 
and three mill horses, two for carrying the corn, and one for grinding it; whence we may infer, that 
mills, either water or wind-mills, were then unknown, at least very rare: besides these, there are 
seven great trotting horses for the chariot or waggon. He allows a peck of oats a day, besides loaves 
made of beans, for his principal horses; the oats at twenty pence, the beans at two shillings a quar¬ 
ter. The load of hay is at two shillings and eight-pence. When my lord is on a journey, he carries 
thirty-six horsemen along with him ; together with bed and other accommodation, p. 1 5 /. The inns, 
it seems, could afford nothing tolerable. My lord passes the year in three country seats, all in York¬ 
shire, Wrysel, Leckenfield, and Topclyffe ? 'but he has furniture only for one : he carries every thing 
along with him, beds, tables, chairs, kitchen utensils, all which, we may conclude, were so coarse, 
that they could not be spoilt by the carriage: yet seventeen carts and one waggon suffices for the 
whole, p. 391 . One cai;t suffices for all his kitchen utensils, cooks’ beds, &c. p. 388. One remark¬ 
able circumstance is, that he has eleven priests in his house, besides seventeen persons, chanters, 
musicians, &c, belonging to his chapel: yet he has only two cooks fora family of two hundred and 
twenty-three persons, p. 325. Their meals were certainly dressed in the slovenly manner of a ship’s 
company. It is amusing to observe the pompous and even royal style assumed by this Tartar chief: 
he does not give any orders, though only for the right making of mustard, but it is introduced with 
this preamble, It seemed good to us and our council. 
