One thing I likid exceedingly yn one of the Towers, that was a Study, caullid Paradise; where was a Closet in the midle, of 8 squares latised aboute, and at the Toppe of every square was a Desk ledgid to set Bookes on Cofers withyn them, and these semid as yoinid hard to the Toppe of the Closet; and yet by pulling, one or al wold cum downe briste higthe in rabettes,[56] and serve for Deskes to lay Bokes on. Footnote 56: _Rabbets_ are grooves cut in the edge of a piece of wood. Much interesting information as to life in a mediæval castle can be gleaned from what is known as _The Northumberland Household Book_.[57] The original manuscript of this was prepared in 1512 by the orders of Henry the Magnificent, and gives a detailed account of the estimated household expenditure for a year and of the regulations of the household. Footnote 57: A reprint was published in 1905 by A. Brown & Sons, Ltd. From this book we learn that the staff at Wressle Castle consisted of 166 persons, of whom eleven were priests, and that ‘the Hole Expensys ... for oone hole Yere amounted to DCCCCXXXIIJ_L._ VJ_S._ VIIJ_D._’ It is strange to find that beds, hangings, and furniture were moved from one residence to another when the Earl travelled, and that there is no mention of glass among the table requisites, vessels for eating and drinking being solely of wood or pewter. For travelling and for hunting the Earl’s stables contained _vj Gentle Hors_, _iiij Palfreis_ (one for my Lady and three for my Lady’s gentlewomen), _iij Naggs_, _iij Sumpter Hors_ and _Mail Hors_ (for carrying the bed, coffers, and coats of mail), vij Hors for the use of servants, and _vij Charriot-hors to drawe in the Charriot_. * * * * * Very precise rules are given for the serving of meals. Breakfast was served at eight, and dinner at eleven, each morning. Among the rules to be observed for the serving of meals are these:— First when they go to Cover, Hee [the Usher] must go before them through the Hall, crying ‘By your leaves Gentlemen, stand by.’ If any unworthy Fellow do unmannerly sett himself down before his Betters, he must take him up and place him lower. Let the best fashioned and apparrelled Servants attend above the Salte, the Rest belowe. If one Servant have occasion to speak to another about Service att the Table, let him whisper, for noyse is uncivil. What my Lord and Lady had to eat for breakfast is shown in the following extracts:— BRAIKFASTIS OF FLESCH DAYS DAYLY thorowte the Yere. BRAIKFASTIS for my Lorde and my Lady. FURST a Loof of Brede in Trenchors ij Manchetts[58] j Quart of Bere a Quart of Wyne Half a Chyne of Mutton or ells a Chyne of Beif boilid. Footnote 58: Small loaves of white bread.