Nor do I found such an assertion only upon the conveniency of the place in general, upon its being sheltered from both sun and rain, upon its being plentifully stocked with the necessary implements for serving corrections of the kind we mention, or possessing other advantages of a like nature; but I ground it upon precise facts. We see, for instance, that executions of a similar culinary kind, are expressly founded upon the law of this Country, and are the means provided by it for avenging the honour of the Sovereign, when insulted in his own house. Thus, if a Man dares to strike another in the King’s _Court_, or within two hundred feet from the Palace Gate (which kind of offence has been always looked upon by Kings as a great piece of insolence) all the different Officers in the Kitchen are to co-operate in the Man’s punishment. The Serjeant of the _Wood-yard_ is to bring a block of wood to fasten the Culprit’s hands to: for the punishment is no less than to have it cut off. The Yeomen of the _Scullery_, and of the _Poultry_, are likewise to concur in the operation in one manner; the Groom of the _Saucery_ and the _Master Cook_ in another; the Serjeant of the _Ewry_, again in another: even the concurrence of the Serjeant of the _Larder_ has been deemed necessary, and a proper share has been likewise assigned him in the ceremony: nay, the chief Officers of the _Cellar_ and _Pantry_ are also ordered to lend their assistance; and their allotted function is to solace the sufferer, when the sad operation is over, by offering him a _cup of red wine_ and a _manchet_. Another proof of the reality of the culinary executions we mention, as well as of the great share which the people of the Kitchen bore in former times, in supporting the dignity of Kings, is to be found in the description of the manner in which the Knights of the Bath are to be installed, according to the Statutes of the Order. The installed Knight is, on that occasion, to receive admonitions, not only from the Dean of the Order, but also from the Master Cook of the Sovereign, who repairs purposely on that day to Westminster Church; though the place be rather distant from his district. After the different ceremonies of the installation, such as taking the Oath, hearing the exhortation of the Dean, and the like, are over, the installed Knight, invested with the _insignia_ of his dignity, places himself on the one side of the door; the Cook, invested with the _insignia_ of his own, viz. his white linen apron and his chopping-knife, places himself on the other, and addresses the Knight in the following eloquent speech: _Sir, you know what great oath you have taken; which if you keep, it will be great honour to you: but if you break it, I shall be compelled, by my office, to hack off your spurs from your heels._