heraldryofyorkmi01custuoft

THE CLIFFORDS. 261
In the "great well chamb'r," the tester was of "grene tawnsy vell-
" vett and tynsell, with armes on, and also curtains of grene and yalowe
" sarcenett, and frynges of silk."
Several pieces of hangings are mentioned with " Adam and Eve,"
"The Distruccon of Troye," "The Storie of David," and "Hunting and
"Hawking" thereon; and "carpetts" are mentioned, one called a "coucher,"
but they seem to be for tables (i.e. covers).
A certain, though not considerable, amount of plate is mentioned
"bowles," "cupps," "playtes," "great saltes," with "dragons" and lybard-
" heads," and with "percullions and the rose graven."
The stock of cattle and horses is also mentioned ; the latter seem to
have been named from friends, or those from whom they had been purchased
:
"Grey Clifford," "White Dacre,"
" Sorell Tempest," "Bay Middleton."
The list, too, of "cassens," "yron slyngges," " deculverons," " harquebers,"
"corsletts," "lawnces," " briganteens," "mawles," " battell axes," seems to
shew that the castle was well armed, and that the arms were well
disposed throughout the building.
About twenty years later, viz. 1591, another inventory was made,
which mentions at least some articles of furniture the :
drawing chamber
has " three hangings of arrisworke, bought of Mr. Yorke one ;
hanging or
" counter point of forcet worke, with Clifford armes ;
two cheares of estate
" of clothe of silver ;
three long quisheons, suited to the same ; one low
" stoole, suitable ;
five buffetts covered with crimson velvet, and five with
" grene velvet." Hangings of dornix (perhaps damask) are mentioned.
During the twenty years, paintings had found their way to Skipton,
for " in the wardropp were xiii. Herculas pictures, and xxiii. Vislereus."
The list of books in the " high court " (the library of the castle), was
certainly not very extensive: "i booke of Bocas; i greatt owld bowke;
"
i
great bowke or grele for singing ; i trunk of wickers covert with lether
" with bowks and scrowles in."
The pantry contained
"
:
sylv spoones,
vi. ; knives ii. case ; and iv.
" glasses, ii. gilt with one cover ; trenchers, iv. dozen."
Upon the death of the last Earl, in 1643, another inventory was
taken, which indicates a further advance, not only in the quantity but the
quality of the furniture. Amongst many other things, we find mentioned
in the great hall " 7 large pieces of hangings with the Earl's arms at
" large in every one of them, and poudered with the severall coates of the
"house; i fayre
brass lantern; i iron cradle with wheells for charcoal"
a movable (i.e. grate, the fumes from which should escape through the
cupola above). The " alms tubb," from which the oatmeal would be doled
out to the poor. The " Church Bible and Booke of Common Prayer."
" In the parler
: i oval table,
i side boarde, i payre of organs, i harpsicon.
K 2