HOUSEHOLD BOOKS.

A REMARKABLE SERIES OF HOUSEHOLD BOOKS IN MANUSCRIPT FROM THE TOWNSHEND COLLECTION, RECORDING THE MONEY RECEIVED AND DISBURSED BY VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE BACON, BERKELEY, STANHOPE, AND TOWNSHEND FAMILIES, FROM THE EARLY YEARS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH'S REIGN TO THE DAYS OF GEORGE I. THESE, WITH THE RENTALS UNDER THE HEADING OF NORFOLK, CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY GROUPS EVER OFFERED FOR SALE.

530 BAILIFF'S ACCOUNTS. Book containing record of money received and expended by the bailiff of the Patten estate from 1562 to 1566. Written on 114 pages, folio, with a number of pages at the end filled with copies of Orders in Council, etc., 1563, in original vellum binding, wrapping over fore edge. £3 15 0

1562-66

* * An admirable example of an early Elizabethan book.

531 BAILIFF'S ACCOUNT. Book containing details of amounts received from tenants of the Townshend estates in Norfolk from 1590 to 1597, with other transactions concerning the farm lands, etc. Written on 24 pages, 4to, with 50 pages at the end left blank, original limp vellum binding. 4 guineas 1590-97

* * This record covers the period from the death of Sir Roger Townshend to his widow's marriage to Henry, Lord Berkeley; she was the youngest daughter of Sir Michael Stanhope, of Shelford (Nottinghamshire), great grandfather of the first Earl of Chesterfield. These accounts are signed by Alice Stanhope and Myles Corbett, who was one of Sir Roger's creditors, and probably an uncle of Miles Corbet, the regicide. Sir Roger's eldest son Sir John was at this time serving in the Low Countries, and he accompanied Essex to Cadiz in 1596.

532 BAILIFF'S ACCOUNTS. Book containing details of money paid for rent by tenants of farm and other lands on the estates of the Bacon family at Stiffkey, Eccles, Hemsby, and Langham-cum-Merston, from 1599 to 1601, with details of other such transactions as belonged to the duties of bailiffs. Written on 72 pages, folio, original binding of limp vellum. £2 17 6

1599-1601

* * The name of each bailiff is at the head of his account, and it is probable that Nathaniel Bacon (half-brother of the great Francis) was responsible for this record, being entered therein from the details furnished by the bailiffs.

HOUSEHOLD BOOKS.—Continued.

533 'THE CATERS BOOKE.' Two narrow folio volumes, containing a daily record of kitchen expenditure from March 30, 1610, to March 26, 1611. Neatly written on 150 pages of paper, with some left blank at the end. Both in original limp vellum covers, wrapping over fore edges. 3 guineas 1610-1611

* * An extremely well kept record of the prices paid for provisions, naming each item and the quantity. 'A pullett' cost 1/6, 'A Ligge of motten,' 1/7, 'A shoulder of Veale,' 1/6, 'A Chicken,' 8d, 'a new layed eggs,' 4d, whilst thirty more 'eggges' were to be had for 1d. Every detail is entered with scrupulous accuracy, down to the penny paid for 'herbes,' and the weekly, quarterly, and yearly totals for ordinary and extraordinary disbursements are made up with unfailing regularity. The neatness and general arrangement of the accounts are highly creditable to the book-keeper, and it would not be easy to find better examples of household accounts of this period in their pristine state. There are two years' records here, the dates named being in the old style, the new year commencing on March 25th.

534 CLOTHING. Book containing record of amounts paid for the clothing of various members of the Townshend family, from January 1st, 1582, to July, 1590. Written in a neat hand on 164 pages, sm. 4to, original covers of limp vellum. 6 guineas 1582-90

* * Every article of attire for the Elizabethan lady and gentleman is here set down in detail, with its cost (the material being entered at so much per yard), the purpose for which it was required, and often the person's name. Hence we have prices of silk, flannel, lace, linen, tinsele ribbon, fustian, perfumed gloves, satten silk, Spanish tafety, buttons, caps, boots, and innumerable other such articles, with the cost of making up ready for wear. Occasionally they go beyond the realms of clothing: 'for a looking glase VIs. viijd'; 'for a booke of the story of Judith xijd'; 'for a blacke fanne with a silver handle xxijys, iiiijd'; 'for the women prisoners at Newgate vjd.' The book concerns the family of Sir Roger Townshend (1543—1590) the courtier, who served with the fleet against the Armada, and on July 26th, 1588, was knighted at sea by Lord Howard of Effingham. There is a pathetic interest attached to the entries for June and July, 1590, most of them being for mourning for Sir Roger who died in June of that year.

535 HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES. "A Booke of money laid out by Walter Wrangham and paid to severall persons since the yeare of our Lord 1633." Summary of household expenses from 1633 to 1637. Written on 7 pages, folio, with 24 pages left blank, sewn. 25/.

1633-37

536 KITCHEN EXPENSES. 'La Depence du Mois d'Aust 1710' (from August 1710 to March 1711), being a daily itemized record of amounts paid for provisions. Neatly written in French on 138 pages, folio, each month's account kept in a separate brochure, all sewn. £1 10 0

1710-1711

* * During the period covered by these accounts, Charles, second Viscount Townshend, was plenipotentiary at the Hague, so that we have here a record of the household expenses of an English ambassador extraordinary two centuries ago. The French is a little faulty at times; I. Brendel is the name at the close of the last month.

537 LAW. Book containing summary of Law Cases, 1602 to 1606, with names of offenders, nature of offences, amounts paid in fines, and other necessary details. Written on 104 pages, 4to, sewn. 3 guineas 1602-1606

* * Probably a record kept by Nathaniel Bacon as high sheriff of Norfolk, an appointment he held from the year 1599. Some of the entries are illustrative of the methods then in vogue for the treatment of prisoners.

538 MILLER'S BOOK. A Book containing record of quantities of which barley, meflin, etc., delivered to the miller from 1577 to 1579. Written on 42 pages, folio., covers of limp vellum, being leaves from a 15th century manuscript. £3 15 0 1577-79

* * One of the Bacon family account books, the totals being examined by Nathaniel Bacon (half-brother to Francis) and signed by him. When a new miller arrived an inventory of the contents of the mill was taken, and entered in this book, so that we have here an exact list of all the goods and chattels pertaining to an Elizabethan mill.

539 PROVISIONS, &c. "A Booke of payments for the kitching." Two narrow folio volumes containing details of expenditure in provisions, wines, etc., during the years 1630 and 1634. Written on 104 pages, sewn. £2 10 0 1630, 1634

* * A special feature of the 1634 book is a list of the names of guests ("Strangers" they are called) at the end of each week's account, with the period of their stay clearly defined. In another place the whereabouts of various members of the Townshend family are given.

540 PROVISIONS, &c. Two Books containing details of expenditure
upon provisions, etc., during the years 1612 and 1613. Neatly written on 111 pages, folio,
sewn. £2 12 6
1612-1613

'' This kitchen accountant was a man of method, and some little learning. Each page is ruled off into four columns, headed ''Venit,'' ''Expence,'' ''Valet,'' ''Remanet.'' He was not a brilliant Latin scholar, but he was good at figures, and kept the cellars well stocked with wines and beer, and the kitchen well supplied with provisions.

541 PROVISIONS. A Book containing record of amounts paid for provisions each day from August 25th to June 22nd, (circa 1620), in many instances giving names of tradesmen. Neatly written on 52 pages, narrow folio, sewn. 35/- (cirea, 1620)

'' Now and again the accountant sheds a little light on the expenditure, for instance, Provisions sent to Raynham for 1 meale, ''comprise the following: ''Bullocks ij., Capons xi., Chickings xxxviiij., Pulletts ix., Ducklings iiiij., Turkies iiiij., Cheeses x., Salt Fyshes ix., Fresh Butter xxx.1b, Salt Butter x1bl.'' This must have been a feast, although the total cost was only £10 17 10: the price of turkeys was eight pence each. There are other such lists for ''the marriage of Elizabeth Birkett,'' and on another occasion we have names of the ''strangers'' recorded in the margins near a gargantuan feast costing £9 7 3

542 PROVISIONS. "A booke for layinge out and charges in the house."
Details of amounts paid for provisions, etc., from December 1620 to March 1620 [-21].
Written on 50 pages, 4to, sewn. 35/- 1620

'' Some pages at the end contain ''An account of money layed out by me weekly for my Mayster beginning from the 29. of Decemb. 1620.'' These items consist of sundry expenses, such as ''hiring of a coach,'' ''given to the barber and his servant,'' ''given to a woman that washes,'' ''given to the poore,'' etc., etc.

543 STEWARD'S ACCOUNTS. "The Accomppte of Richard Mason for all some of money by him receved and payde or disbursed for the Right honbl Jane Ladye Berkely from the last of September ao. 1606, vntill the firste of Aprill 1607 viz for one halfe yeare;'' (and from April 1607 to September, 1617). Written on 34 pages, folio, sewn. £2 17 6 1606-1617

'' Lady Jane Berkeley was formerly the wife of Sir Roger Townshend, and the above general account is accompanied by another book covering the period from 1613 to 1617, from which it appears that Lady Jane's financial affairs were involved with those of Sir Roger's eldest son. Both books are remarkably fine examples of Jacobean book-keeping.

544 WAGES, ETC. Book containing details of Wages paid for work done
''about the Haven House'' and elsewhere, from May the 12th, 1582, to Nov. 3rd of the same
year, giving names of workmen, number of days they were employed, and wages paid to
them. Neatly written on 50 pages, narrow folio, sewn. 6 guineas 1582

'' One of the Bacon Family account books, this having belonged to Nathaniel, son of Sir Nicholas, and half-brother of the great Francis Bacon. Each week's account and summary was examined by Nathaniel, and has his autograph signature appended, so that he signs his name some sixty times in this book. Sir John Townshend married Nathaniel's eldest daughter, which accounts for the presence of this and other such books amongst the Townshend papers.