A second petition takes one’s breath away with its magnificent insolence:
The Earl of Dorset to the King. Certain islands on the south of New England, viz: Long Island, Cole Island, Sandy Point, Hell Gates, Martin’s [? Martha’s] Vineyard, Elizabeth Islands, Block Island, with other islands near thereunto, were lately discovered by some of your Majesty’s subjects and are not yet inhabited by Christians. Prays a grant thereof with like powers of government as have been granted for other plantations in America.
Underneath this is scribbled:
Reference to the Attorney-General to prepare a grant. Whitehall, 20th Dec., 1637.
One would wish to evoke for a brief hour the spectres of those of his Majesty’s subjects who found these localities uninhabited by Christians.
Returning to Knole after this seems paltry; yet even there Lord Dorset was conducting his affairs on a proportionately large scale. He said himself that he spent £40,000 after his son’s marriage, and one can believe it when one reads a sample of the bill of fare provided for a banquet. At the top is written:
To perfume the room often in the meal with orange flower water upon a hot pan. To have fresh bowls in every corner and flowers tied upon them, and sweet briar, stock, gilly-flowers, pinks, wallflowers and any other sweet flowers in glasses and pots in every window and chimney.
BANQUET at KNOLE 3rd July 1636
1 Rice Pottage 2 Barley broth 3 Buttered pickrell 4 Butter and burned eggs 5 Boiled teats 6 Roast tongues 7 Bream 8 Perches 9 Chine of Veal roast 10 Hash of mutton with Anchovies 11 Gr. Pike 12 Fish chuits [sic] 13 Roast venison, in blood 14 Capons (2) 15 Wild ducks (3) 16 Salmon whole, hot 17 Tenches, boiled 18 Crabs 19 Tench pie 20 Venison pasty of a Doe 21 Swans (2) 22 Herons (3) 23 Cold lamb 24 Custard 25 Venison, boiled 26 Potatoes, stewed 27 Gr. salad 28 Redeeve [sic] pie, hot 29 Almond pudding 30 Made dishes 31 Boiled salad 32 Pig, whole 33 Rabbits
Another Menu