Note 1 — THE CENTURY OF INVENTIONS.
Reading edition
Some idea of the almost Regal splendour of the noble possessor of Ragland castle at this period, and an interesting picture of baronial manners in the early part of the seventeenth century, may be found in the following authentic document, which has been accurately copied from the original MS.
List of the Household, &c.
At eleven o'clock in the forenoon the castle gates were shut, and the tables laid, viz. two in the dining-room, three in the hall, one in Mrs. Watson's apartment, where the chaplains eat, (Sir Toby Matthews being the first,) and two in the house-keeper's room, for the ladies women.
The Earl entered the dining-room attended by his gentlemen.
As soon as he was seated, Sir Ralph Blackstone, steward of the house, retired.
The comptroller, Mr. Holland, attended with his staff, as did the sewer, the daily waiters, and many gentlemen's sons, with estates from two to seven hundred pounds a year, who were bred up in the castle: and my lady's gentlemen of the chamber.
At the first table, sat
The noble family, and such of the nobility as came there.
At the second table, in the dining-room, sat
Knights and honourable gentlemen, attended by footmen.
In the hall, at the first table, sat
Sir Ralph Blackstone, Steward—The Comptroller. The Secretary—The Master of the Horse—The Master of the Fish Ponds, my Lord Herbert's preceptor, with such gentlemen as came there under the degree of a knight, attended by footmen, and plentifully served with wine.
At the second table in the hall, served from my Lord's table, and with other hot meats, sat
The Sewer, with the gentlemen waiters, and pages, to the number of twenty-four.
At the third table in the hall, sat
The Clerk of the Kitchen, with the yeomen, officers of the house, two grooms of the chamber, &c.
The other officers of the household, were
Chief Auditor—Clerk of the Accounts—Purveyor of the Castle—Ushers of the Hall—Closet Keeper—Gentlemen of the Chapel—Keeper of the Records—Master of the Wardrobe—Master of the Armoury—Twelve master Grooms of the Stables, for the War horses—Master of the Hounds—Master Falconer—Porter and his man—two keepers of the Home Park—two keepers of the Red deer Park—and footmen, grooms, and other menial servants, to the number of one hundred and fifty!