Page:The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth century (1887) - Volume 2.djvu/590

FOURTH PERIOD 574 SUMMARY corresponding progression downwards. At the head of the table where there were neighbouring chiefs or distinguished strangers, claret and French cookery graced the board. The next department was occupied by the Duihne wassels, who enjoyed beef and mutton, with a glass of some humbler wine. The sturdy commoners of the clan would occupy the next range, feeding on sheep heads, and drinking whiskey or ale. In further progress the fare degenerated with the feeders, and clustering on the castle green in sunshine, or cowering in the outhouses in foul weather, were congregated the ragamuffins of the clan to gnaw the bones and devour the other offal. It was a rule of the house that the day's provender, whatever it might be, should be consumed ; and if the deer- stalker or the salmon-spearer had been more fortunate than usual, the rumour would spread fast enough to bring an immediate demand for the supply. This practice gave much temptation to the troop of servants who attended the table, to snatch away unfinished dishes; and many amusing instances have been recorded of the necessity of the guest at Castle Dounie preserving a ceaseless watch over his plate, and of the certainty of its instantaneously disappearing during any moment of negligence. When the chief's distinguished clerical relative, Dr. Gum- ming of Relugas, arrived at Castle Dounie one night, tired and hungry, after crossing the mountains, there was not a morsel of food to be found, not an egg or a crust of bread ; but a plentiful provision for the day's consumption was brought in next morning." We have seen that keeps or peles of the smaller kind continued to be erected even in the seventeenth century, as the manor-houses of the smaller proprietors. In many cases these were no doubt occupied by the Border chiefs and their followers, in the same way as the earlier keeps had been by the nobles and their retainers, and the rude mode of living of the earlier period was thus prolonged into later times. This is well illustrated by the above quotation from the Life of Lord Lovat. But a number of these small keeps of late date must have been the dwellings of more peaceful occupants who kept no following of retainers ready to prey upon the stranger or their neighbours ; and for a single family of that description the accommodation would suffice. In the larger mansions of the seventeenth century the amelioration of manners is very distinctly shown by the enlarged and improved nature of their accommodation. Besides the hall, drawing-rooms, galleries, reception-rooms, and private parlours, now became common. Bedrooms with dressing-rooms and private suites of apartments were also not unusual. As the other public rooms increased in number, the size and importance of the hall gradually diminished, till at length it dwindled down to the dimensions of the modern dining-room. As modern manners prevailed, the family life increased, and life in common in the hall dis- appeared. Hence the provision of separate kitchens for the servants, of