In such frank style the people lived, hating three things with all their hearts: idleness, want, and cowardice; and for the rest, carrying their hearts high, and having their hands full. The[1] hour of rising, winter and summer, was four o'clock, with breakfast at five, after which the labourers went to work and the gentlemen to business, of which they had no little. In the country every unknown face was challenged and examined—if the account given was insufficient, he was brought before the justice; if the village shopkeeper sold bad wares, if the village cobbler made 'unhonest' shoes, if servants and masters quarrelled, all was to be looked to by the justice; there was no fear lest time should hang heavy with him. At twelve he dined; after dinner he went hunting, or to his farm, or to what he pleased.[2] It was a life unrefined, perhaps, but coloured with a broad, rosy, English health.
- ↑ The Earl and Countess of Northumberland breakfasted together alone at seven. The meal consisted of a quart of ale, a quart of wine, and a chine of beef: a loaf of bread is not mentioned, but we hope it may be presumed. On fast days the beef was exchanged for a dish of sprats or herrings, fresh or salt.—Northumberland Household Book, quoted by Hume.
- ↑ Some notion of the style of living sometimes witnessed in England in the old times may be gathered from the details of a feast given at the installation of George Neville, brother of Warwick the King Maker, when made Archbishop of York.The number of persons present including servants was about 3500.The provisions were as follow—
Wheat, 300 quarters.
Ale, 300 tuns.
Wine, 104 tuns.
Ipocras, 1 pipe.
Oxen, 80.
Wild bulls, 6.
Muttons, 1004.
Veal, 300.
Porkers, 300.
Geese, 3000.
Capons, 2300.
Pigs, 2000.
Peacocks, 100.
Cranes, 200.
Kids, 200.
