Nervously father
awaited his turn to bask for one anxious moment in the sunshine of
royal favor and touch a king's hand.
I slipped away unperceived to the kitchen, knowing well the premises
of this fine old castle which was kept in good repair by the city of
Hamburg, its present owner. It had been won by conquest of arms in
1394 A.D. from the noble family "Von Lappe."
The principal occupation of these knights was the waylaying and
robbing of merchants; but the wrecking of ships was their favorite,
most profitable pastime.
The kitchen was in the basement of the castle and great in size, its
floor paved with slabs of stone, the walls and ceilings were paneled
in oak. On one side of the room were stone-hearths with blazing
fires, over which hung pots and brazen kettles. Game and meats
broiled on spits, there being no cook-stoves in those days. Heavy
doors, strapped with great wrought iron hinges and studded with
ornamental scroll-work led into pantries and cellars.
The place swarmed with liveried servants and cooks; also the king had
brought his "chef de cuisine and own butler. The latter, a lordly
Englishman, was a grand, haughty person who superintended the
extravagant preparations for the entertainment of royalty.
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