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lately carved and enriched, and having doors or arches, over which wasthe minstrels’ gallery.* At Haddon Hall, one of the most curious and per-fect now remaining in England, there opened from this passage “ four largedoors, with high-pointed arches : the first of these still retains its ancientdoor of strong oak, with a little wicket in the middle, just big enough toput a trencher in or out, and was clearly the butler’s station, for the roomwithin still retains a strong chest of oak, with divisions for bread. Apassage down steps leads from this room to a large apartment, which isarched with stone, and supported by pillars similar to the crypt of achurch. This was the beer-cellar. The second door-way is an entranceto a long, narrow passage, leading with a continued descent to the greatkitchen, having in the mid-way a half door or hatch, with a broad shelfon the top of it, whereon to place dishes, to which, and no farther, theservants in waiting were to have access.f A third door-way opened to avery small vaulted room, which Mr. King says was certainly the wine-cellar ; for when wine was considered merely a cordial or dram, thestock was not very large. The fourth great arch conducted, by a steepstaircase, to a variety of small apartments,” or lodging-rooms.

The fire was made against a reredoss in the middle of the floor, the

* During the time the yeomen of the guard were bringing the dinner to Queen Elizabeth’stable, twelve trumpets and two kettle-drums made the hall ring for half an hour together.—Hentzner’s Travels.

t The servants were to receive all the dishes at the hatch. A regulation of SirJohn Haryngton’s household was: “ That no man come to the kitchen without reasonablecause, on paine of Id., and the cook likewise to forfeit Id.” When the dinner was ready, thecook summoned the serving-men to carry it to the table by knocking with his knife on thedresser. One of the duties of the Usher of the Hall was to “ warn to the dresser.”

“ When the dresser, the cook’s drum, thunders, come on,”says Beaufort’s steward in Massinger 's Unnatural Combat.