Knole and the Sackvilles

by V. Sackville-West

1 Jelly of Tench, Jelly of Hartshorn 2 White Gingerbread 3 Puits [peewits] 4 Curlew 5 Ruffes [sic] 6 Fried perches 7 Fried Eels 8 Skirret Pie 9 Larks (3 doz.) 10 Plovers (12) 11 Teals (12) 12 Fried Pickrell 13 Fried tench 14 Salmon soused 15 Soused eel 16 Escanechia [sic] 17 Seagulls (6) 18 Ham of bacon 19 Sturgeon 20 Lark pie 21 Lobster pie 22 Crayfishes (3 doz.) 23 Dried tongues 24 Anchovies 25 Hartechocks [artichokes] 26 Peas 27 Fool 28 Second porridge 29 Reddeeve pie [sic] 30 Cherry tart 31 Laid tart 32 Carps (2) 33 Polony sasag [sic]

There is also a list of “household stuff” dated the year of Lord Dorset’s succession.

“A Note
of household stuff sent by SYMONDES to KNOLE the 28th of July 1624.”
Packed up in a fardel, viz.: in ye black bed chamber	IMPRIMIS. A fustian down bed, bolster and a pair of pillows, a pair of Spanish blankets, 5 curtains of crimson and white taffeta, the valance to it of white satin embroidered with crimson and white silk and a deep fringe suitable; a test and tester of white satin suitable to the valance. A white rug. All these first packed up in 2 sheets and then packed in a white and black rug and an old blanket.
Packed in another fardel, viz.: next ye chapel chamber	IT: A feather bed and bolster, a pair of down pillows, 2 mattrasses, 5 curtains and valances of yellow cotton trimmed with blue and yellow silk fringes and lace suitable, a tester to it suitable, a cushion case of yellow satin, a pair of blankets to wrap these things in, there is also in the fardel a yellow rug, and a white and black rug.
In ye black bedchamber	IT: Two bedsteads whereof one of them is gilt, which with the posts, tests, curtains, etc., are in all 11 parcels whereof 4 are matted.
In ye black bedchamber	IT: Packed up in mats 2 high stools, 2 low stools, and a footstool of cloth of tissue and chair suitable.
Next ye Chaplain’s chamber	IT: There goes a yellow satin chair and 3 stools, suitable with their buckram covers to them. All the above written came from Croxall.
	IT: Packed in mats my lady’s coach of cloth of silver, and 2 low stools that came from Croxall, and a said bag, wherein are 9 cups of crimson damask laid with silver parchment lace, and 6 gilt cups for my lord’s couch bed and canopy, and 8 gilt cups for the bed that came from Croxall.
	IT: In a wicker trunk, 2 brass branches for a dozen lights apiece; and 2 single branches with bosses and bucks heads to them, also a wooden box with screws for the said 2 bedsteads, a dozen of spiggots to draw wine and beer, a bundle of marsh mallow roots, and 2 papers of almonds.
	IT: A round wicker basket, wherein are 9 dozen of pewter vessels of 9 sorts or sizes.
	IT: 4 back stools of crimson and yellow stuff with silk fringe suitable, covered with yellow baize.
	IT: 6 pairs of mats to mat chambers with gt 30 yards apiece.
	IT: 2 walnut tree tables to draw out at both ends with their frames of the same.
	IT: A round table and its frame.
	IT: 2 green broad cloth chairs, covered all over, laced, and set with green silk fringe and a back stool suitable, covered with green buckram.
	IT: A box containing 3 dozen of Venice glasses.
	IT: A basket wherein are 20 dozen of maple trenchers.

And finally, for I fear lest the detailing of these old papers should grow wearisome, there is a letter which so well illustrates the humour, the coarseness, and the difficulties of life at that time, that I make no apology for including it:

Letter

from ELIZA COPE to her sister the COUNTESS of BATH

19th Jan. 1639. Brewerne

Dear Sister,

I am glad to hear of your jollity. I could wish myself with you a little while sometimes. I have played at cards 4 or 5 times this Christmas myself, after supper, which makes me think I begin to turn gallant now. Some of my neighbours put a compliment upon me this Christmas, and told me the old Lady Cope would never be dead so long as I was alive, they liked their entertainment so well, when my gilt bowl went round amongst them, which saying pleased me very well, for she was a discreet woman and worthy the imitating. I am as well pleased to see my little man make legs and dance a galliard, as if I had seen the mask at Court. I am glad you got well home for we have had extreme ill weather almost ever since you went, but now I will take the benefit of this frost to go visit some of my neighbours on foot to-morrow about seven miles off, but I will have a coach and 6 horses within a call, against I am weary. You know the old saying, it is good going on foot with a horse in the hand.

Commend my service to your lord, and wishing to hear you were puking a-mornings I bid ye good-night in haste.