There are in the British Museum some interesting records of contracts made in the ninth year of Henry VIII.’s reign for joyner’s work at Hengrave, in which the making of ‘livery’ or service cupboards is specified.

   “Ye cobards they be made ye facyon of livery y is w’thout doors.”

These were fitted up by the ordinary house carpenters, and consisted of three stages or shelves standing on four turned legs, with a drawer for table linen.  They were at this period not enclosed, but the mugs or drinking vessels were hung on hooks, and were taken down and replaced after use; a ewer and basin was also part of the complement of a livery cupboard, for cleansing these cups.  In Harrison’s description of England in the latter part of the sixteenth century the custom is thus described: 

“Each one as necessitie urgeth, calleth for a cup of such drinke as him liketh, so when he hath tasted it, he delivereth the cup again to some one of the standers by, who maketh it clean by pouring out the drinke that remaineth, restoreth it to the cupboard from whence he fetched the same.”

It must be borne in mind, in considering the furniture of the earlier part of the sixteenth century, that the religious persecutions of the time, together with the general break-up of the feudal system, had gradually brought about the disuse of the old custom of the master of the house taking his meals in the large hall or “houseplace,” together with his retainers and dependants; and a smaller room leading from the great hall was fitted up with a dressoir or service cupboard, for the drinking vessels in the manner just described, with a bedstead, and a chair, some benches, and the board on trestles, which formed the table of the period.  This room, called a “parler” or “privee parloir,” was the part of the house where the family enjoyed domestic life, and it is a singular fact that the Clerics of the time, and also the Court party, saw in this tendency towards private life so grave an objection that, in 1526, this change in fashion was the subject of a court ordinance, and also of a special Pastoral from Bishop Grosbeste.  The text runs thus:  “Sundrie noblemen and gentlemen and others doe much delighte to dyne in corners and secret places,” and the reason given, was that it was a bad influence, dividing class from class; the real reason was probably that by more private and domestic life, the power of the Church over her members was weakened.

[Illustration:  Chair Said To Have Belonged to Anna Boleyn, Hever Castle. (From the Collection of Mr. Godwin, F.S.A.)]

In spite, however, of opposition in high places, the custom of using the smaller rooms became more common, and we shall find the furniture, as time goes on, designed accordingly.

[Illustration:  Tudor Cabinet in the South Kensington Museum. (Described below.)]