A document which especially serves to show the manner of life of the ancient noblesse is the earl of Northumberland’s “Household Book” in the early part of the sixteenth century.  By this we see the great magnificence of the old nobility, who, seated in their castles, lived in a state of splendor scarcely inferior to that of the court.  As the king had his privy council, so the earl of Northumberland had his council, composed of his principal officers, by whose advice and assistance he established his code of economic laws.  As the king had his lords and grooms of the chamber, who waited in their respective turns, so the earl was attended by the constables of his several castles, who entered into waiting in regular succession.  Among other instances of magnificence it may be remarked that not fewer than eleven priests were kept in the household, presided over by a doctor or bachelor of divinity as dean of the chapel.

An account of how the earl of Worcester lived at Ragland Castle before the civil wars which began in 1641 also exhibits his manner of life in great detail:  “At eleven o’clock the Castle Gates were shut and the tables laid:  two in the dining-room; three in the hall; one in Mrs. Watson’s appartment, where the chaplains eat; two in the housekeeper’s room for my ladie’s women.  The Earl came into 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, Mr. Blackburn, and the daily waiters with many gentlemen’s sons, from two to seven hundred pounds a year, bred up in the Castle; my ladie’s Gentleman Usher, Mr. Harcourt; my lord’s Gentlemen of the Chamber, Mr. Morgan and Mr. Fox.

“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 honorable gentlemen attended by footmen.

“In the hall at the first table sat Sir R. Blackstone, Steward, the Comptroller, Secretary, Master of the Horse, Master of the Fishponds, my Lord Herbert’s Preceptor, with such gentlemen as came there under the degree of knight, attended by footmen and plentifully served with wine.

“At the third table in the hall sate the Clerk of the Kitchen, with the Yeomen, officers of the House, two Grooms of the Chamber, etc.

“Other officers of the Household were the Chief Auditor, Clerk of Accounts, Purveyor of the Castle, Usher of the Hall, Closet Keeper, Gentleman of the Chapel, Keeper of the Records, Master of the Wardrobe, Master of the Armoury, Master Groom of the Stable for the 12 War-horses, Master of the Hounds, Master Falconer, Porter and his men, two Butchers, two Keepers of the Home Park, two Keepers of the Red Deer Park, Footmen, Grooms and other Menial Servants to the number of 150.  Some of the footmen were Brewers and Bakers.

“Out offices.—­Steward of Ragland, Governor of Chepstow Castle, Housekeeper of Worcester House in London, thirteen Bailiffs, two Counsel for the Bailiffs—­who looked after the estate—­to have recourse to, and a Solicitor.”