Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/362

 270 RENT-ROLL OF THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. presented the pleasing picture of a well-disciplined court, "where the sons of noblemen and gentlemen were educated. Whitino;, the last abbot, whose cruel treatment — his murder we may call it — was equalled only by the bloody deeds of Judge Jefferies in the same part of England in a later age, had himself bred up nearly 300 3'oung men of good birth in the short space of fifteen years, besides others of inferior degree, who were fitted for the Universities. He sometimes entertained 500 persons of rank at one time. On Wednesdays and Fridays all the poor in the neighbourhood were relieved, and when he went abroad he was attended by upwards of 100 persons. Yet this vast household, and this extensive hospitahty, with the expenses attached to a great monastic establishment, the due performance of Divine service, the maintenance of buildings, and countless other outgoings, were sustained, as we see, for about 3.508/. per annum. To another monastery we will refer, as we have the accoimts before us. About 1533 the sum expended at Whalley Abbey, in Lancashire, upon animal food alone was 143/. 18s. 2d., which multiplied by ten would be equivalent to 1400/. of our money, and giving so many pounds of meat to each person (when animal food formed a much larger proportion of diet than at present) would have fed 162 persons daily at the Abbot's table. Other large monasteries or rehgious houses were valued at the Dissolution, at the following sums : — Westminster at 3977?. (Speed)— 3471?. (Dugdale). Saint Alban'sat 2510?. Tewkesbury at 1598?. SioD, the best endowed Nunnery in the kingdom, at 1994?.* The vast quantities of food which were furnished from the estates of noblemen and of religious houses, would, of course, materially' reduce the cost of maintaining their immense establishments. Let us next take a review of the expenses of the household of a powerful and wealth}^ nobleman. By the Northumber- land Household Book, it appears that, in 1512 (65 years after the date of this rental), 1000/. was annually assigned for keeping the Earl's house. The number of the household was not less than 166 persons; the weekly sum to each
 * Taylor's Index Monasticas, Diocese of Norwich, p. viii.