Part 7

Of the baker now speak I will, And what belongs his office till. Of a London bushel he shall bake Twenty loaves I undertake: Manchet[278] and cheat,[279] to make brown bread hard For chandler and greyhound and hunt reward.

_De Venatore et suis Canibus_[280]

A ha’penny the hunt takes on the day, For every hound, the sooth to say. Two cast[281] of bread has the fewterer,[282] If two leash of greyhounds there are, To each a bone, that is to tell, If I the sooth to you shall spell, Besides his vantage[283] that may befall Of skins and other things withal. That hunters better can tell than I, And therefore I leave it utterly.

_De Aquario_[284]

And speak I will of other gear That falls to court, as ye may hear. An ewerer in hall there needs to be, And candles shall have and all napery. He shall give water to gentlemen, And also to all yeomen, “_Qui debent manus lavare et in quorum domibus_,”[285] In king’s court and duke’s also, There yeomen shall wash and no mo. In Duke John’s[286] house a yeoman there was For his reward prayed such a grace. The duke got grant thereof in land Of the king, his father, I understand. Whosoever gives water in king’s chamber, In presence of lord or lady dear, He shall kneel down upon his knee, Else he forgets his courtesy. This ewerer shall cover his lord’s board With double napery, at a bare word, The selvage toward the lord’s side; And down shall hang that other wide.[286] The uppercloth shall double be laid, To the outer side the selvage braid;[287] The other selvage he shall over fold As towel it were, fair to behold. Napkins he shall cast thereupon, That the lord shall cleanse his fingers on; The lady and whosoever sits in hall, All napkins shall have, both great and small.

_De Panetario_[288]

Then comes the panter with loaves three, That square are carven for trencher free, Two set within and one without, And salt-cellar covered and set _en route_;[289] With the overmost loaf it shall be set, To make up the square, without let. Two carving knives are placéd soon, The third to the lord, and also a spoon.

_De Cultellis Domini_[290]

Of the two the hafts shall outward be, Of the third the haft inward lays he. The spoon handle shall be laid thereby, More trenchers and loaves there full nigh He sets, and ever must he bear To duchess his wine that is so dear. Two loaves of trenchers and salt too, He sets before his son also. A loaf of trenchers and salt at last At board’s end he sets in haste. Then bread he brings in towel wrapped aright; Three loaves shall be given of the white, A cheat-loaf[291] to the alms-dish, Whether he served be with flesh or fish. At either end he casts a cope,[292] Laid down on board, the ends turned up. That he assays kneeling on knee— The carver him pares a slice[293] so free— And touches the loaves in a circle[294] about; The panter it eats without a doubt. The ewerer through towels straineth clean His water into the basins sheen. The over-basin thereon shall close, A towel thereon, as I suppose, That folded shall be with full great lore, Two quarters in length and somewhat more. A white cup of wood thereby shall be, Therewith with water assay shall he, Covers it again before all men. The carver the basins takes up then, The announcing squire or else a knight, The towel down takes by full good right; The cup he takes in hand also, The carver pours water the cup into. The knight the carver holds anon to, He assays it ere he more shall do. The cup then voided is in hall away; The ewerer takes it without delay. The towel two knights together shall bear, Before the lord’s sleeves that be so dear. The over-basin they hold, never the whether,[295] While the carver pours water into the nether; For a pipe there is inside so clean, That water devoids,[296] of silver sheen. Then sets he the nether, I understand, In the over and voids with either hand, And brings to the ewerer where he came fro. To the lord’s boards again doth go, And lays four trenchers the lord before, The fifth above, by good lore. By himself three shall he dress To cut upon the lord’s mess. Small towel upon his neck shall be seen, To cleanse his knives that be so keen.

_De Elemosinario_[297]

The almoner by this hath said grace And the alms-dish has set in place; Therein the carver a loaf shall set To serve God first without let; These other loaves he pares about, Lays it amid dish without a doubt; The small loaf he cuts even in twain The over-dole[298] in two he lays again. The almoner a rod shall have in hand, As office for alms, I understand. All the broken meat he keeps, I wot, To deal to poor men at the gate; And drink that is left served in hall, Of rich and poor, both great and small. He is sworn to oversee the service well, And deal it to the poor every deal. Silver he deals riding by the way, And his alms dish, as I you say, To the poorest man that he can find, Or else, I wot, he is unkind.

_De Ferculario_[299]

This while the squire to kitchen shall go away, And bring above meat for assay. The cook assays the meat undight, The sewer, he takes and covers aright. Whosoever takes that meat to bear, Shall not be so hardy the coverture to rear, For cold nor hot, I warn you all, For suspicion of treason, as may befall. If the silver dish be over hot, A subtlety I will that thou wot: Take the bread carven[300] and lay between, And keep thee well it be not seen; I teach it for no courtesy, But for thine ease[301]— When the sewer comes unto the board, All the meat he assays at a bare word, The pottage first with bread y-carven,[302] Covers them again lest they be starven;[303] With fish or flesh if they be served, A morsel thereof for him shall be craved, And touches the mess over all about; The sewer it eats without a doubt. With baken meat, if he served be so, The lids up-reared ere he further go; The pasty or pie he assays within, Dips bread in gravy, no more no myn.[304] If the baked meat be cold as may befall, A gobbet of the same he assays withal. But thou that bearest meat in hand, If the sewer stand, look thou stand, If he kneel, kneel thou so long for aught, Till meat be assayed that thou hast brought. As oft at high board, if of bread be need, The butler two loaves takes indeed, That one sets down, that other again He bears to cupboard in towel plain.[305] As oft as the carver fetches drink, The butler assays it, how good him think. In the lord’s cup what is left undrunk, Into the alms-dish it shall be sunk. The carver anon without thought, Uncovers the cup that he has brought, Into the coverture wine he pours out, Or into a spare piece without doubt, Assays and gives the lord to drink, Or sets it down, as good him think. The carver shall carve the lord’s meat, Of what sort of piece that he will eat;[306] And on his trencher he it lays, In this manner, without displays. In alms-dish he lays each deal, That he is served with at the meal, Unless he send to any stranger, A piece that is him lief and dear;[306] And send him his pottage also, That shall not to the alms go. Of carver more if must I tell, Another fit then must I spell; Therefore I let it here over pass, To make our talking some deal less. When the lord has eaten, the sewer shall bring The surnape on his shoulder to him, A narrow towel, a broad beside, And off his hands he lets it slide. The usher leads that one end right, The almoner the other away shall dight. When the usher comes to the end of the board, The narrow towel he stretches well toward, Before the lord and lady so dear; Double he folds the towel there. When they have washen and said is grace, Away he takes the towel apace, Lowers the board unto the floor, Takes away the trestles that be so store.[307]

_De Candelario_[308]

Now will I speak a little while, Of the chandler, without guile, That torches and tapers and prickets can make, Perchers,[309] small candles, I undertake; Of wax these candles all that bren, And mortar of wax, as I well ken. The snuff of them he does away With close scissors, as I you say. The scissors be short and closed round, With plate of iron on the end bound. In chamber no light there shall be brent, But of wax thereto, if ye take tent. In hall at supper shall candles bren Of Paris, therein that all men ken, Each mess a candle from All Hallows’ Day, To Candlemas, as I you say. Of candles delivery squires shall have So long if it is that man will crave. Of bread and ale also the butler, Shall make delivery throughout the year, To squires, and also wine to knight, Or else he does not his office right. Here endeth the third speech. Of all our sins Christ be our leech, And bring us to his dwelling-place! “Amen,” say ye, for his great grace. Amen, par charite.

SYMON’S LESSON OF WISDOM FOR ALL MANNER CHILDREN

All manner children, ye listen and hear A lesson of wisdom that is written clear. My child, I advise thee be wise, take heed of this rhyme, Which old men in proverb said in old time: “A child were better to be unborn Than to be untaught and so to be lorn.” The child that has his will alway, Shall thrive late, I thee well say. And therefore, every good man’s child, That is too wanton and too wild, Learn well this lesson certainly, That thou the better man may be. Child, I warn thee in all wise, That thou tell truth and make no lies. Child, be not froward, be not proud, But hold up thy head and speak aloud; And when any man speaketh to thee Doff thy hood and bow thy knee. And wash thy hands and thy face, And be courteous in every place. And when thou comest where is good cheer In hall or bower, bid “God be here!” Look thou cast to no man’s dog, With staff nor stone at horse nor hog. Look that thou not scorn nor jape Neither with man, maiden nor ape. Let no man of thee make plaint. Swear not by God, neither by saint. Look thou be courteous standing at meat, And that men giveth thee, take and eat. And look thou neither cry nor crave, Saying, “That and that would I have!” But stand thou still before the board, And look thou speak no loud word. And child, worship thy father and thy mother; Look that thou grieve neither one nor other, But ever, among them thou shalt kneel down, And ask their blessing and benison. And child, keep thy clothes fair and clean; Let no foul filth on them be seen. Child, climb not over house nor wall,[310] For no fruit, birds nor ball. Child, over men’s houses no stones fling, Nor at glass windows no stones sling. Nor make no crying, jokes, nor plays In holy church on holy days. And child, I warn thee of another thing, Keep thee from many words and wrangling. And child, when thou goest to play, Look thou come home by light of day. And child, I warn thee of another matter, Look thou keep thee from fire and water. Be ware and wise how that thou look Over any brink, well, or brook. And when thou standest at any schate[311] Be ware and wise that thou catch no stake; For many child without dread, Through evil heed is deceived or dead. Child, keep thy book, cap, and gloves, And all thing that thee behoves.

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Child, be thou neither liar nor thief, Be thou no meecher[312] for mischief. Child, make thou no mows nor knacks,[313] Before no men nor behind their backs. But be of fair semblance and countenance, For by fair manners men may thee advance. Child, when thou goest in any street, If thou any good man or woman meet, Avale[314] thy hood to him or to her, And bid “God speed, dame, or sir!” And be they small or great thou hast met, This lesson that thou not forget; For it is seemly to every man’s child, And mannerly, to clerks to be meek and mild. And child, rise betimes and go to school, And fare not as wanton[315] fool; And learn as fast as thou may and can, For our bishop is an old man, And therefore thou must learn fast, If thou wilt be bishop when he is passed.[316] Child, I bid thee on my blessing, That thou forget not this for nothing; But look, thou hold it well in thy mind, For the best thou shalt it find. For, as the wise man saith and proveth, A wise child, lore he behoveth; And as men say that learned be, Who spareth the rod, the child hateth he; And as the wise man saith in his book, Of proverbs and wisdoms, who will look: “As a sharp spur maketh a horse to move, Under a man that should war prove, Right so a yard may make a child, To learn well his lesson and to be mild.” Lo! children, here may ye all hear and see, How all children chastised should be. And therefore, childer, look ye do well, And no hard beating shall you befall. Thus may ye all be right good men, God grant you grace so to preserve you! Amen. [Quoth] SYMON.

HUGH RHODES’S BOOK OF NURTURE AND SCHOOL OF GOOD MANNERS

ALL ye that would learn and then would be calléd wise, Obedience learn in youth, in age it will avoid vice.

I am blind in poet’s art, thereof I have no skill; All eloquence I put apart, and follow mine own will.

Corrupt in speech my briefs and longs[317] to know, Born and bred in Devonshire, my terms will well show.

Take the best and leave the worst, of truth I mean no ill; If the matter be not curious, the intent is good, mark it well.

Pardon I ask if I offend thus boldly for to write, To master or servant (young and old) I do myself submit.

I would reform both youth and age, if anything be amiss; To you will I shew my mind, reform ye where need is.

All that have young people, good manners set them to learn; To their elders with gentle conditions let do nor say no harm.

If they do ill, wise men may report their parents soon; How should they teach other good, belike themselves can[318] none.

A good father maketh good children, if wisdom be them within, Such as of custom use it in youth, in age they will begin.

He that lacketh good manners is little set by; Without virtue or good conditions, a man is not worth a fly.

Reverence father and mother (of duty), kind[319] doth thee bind; Such children increaseth, and likely to recover virtue by kind.[319]

Against father and mother multiply no words, be you[320] sure; It will be to thee laud and to thy friends joyful to hear.

A plant without moisture may not bring forth his flower; If youth be void of virtue, in age he shall lack honour.

First dread God, next flee sin, all earthly things are mortál; Stand not too fast in thy conceit, for pride will have a fall.

Use early rising in the morning, for it hath properties three; Holy, healthy, wealthy—in my youth thus my father taught me.

At six of the clock at farthest, accustom thee to rise; Look thou forget not to bless thee once or twice.

In the morning use some devotion, and let for no need; Then all the day afterward the better shalt thou speed.

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Sponge and brush thy clothes clean that thou shalt on wear; Cast up your bed, and take heed ye lose none of your gear.

Make clean thy shoes, comb thy head, mannerly thee brace; See thou forget not to wash both thy hands and face.

Put on thy clothing for thy degree,[321] honestly do it make. Bid your fellow good morrow, ere ye your way forth take.

To your friends and to father and mother look ye take heed; For any haste do them reverence, the better shalt thou speed.

Dread the cursing of father and mother, for it is a heavy thing; Do thy duty to them, the contrary will be to thy dispraising.

When thy father and mother come in sight, do them reverénce, And ask them blessing if they have been long out of presénce.

Cleanly appoint you your array, beware then of disdain; Then be gentle of speech and mannerly you retain.

And as ye pass the town or street, sadly[322] go forth your way, [Nor] gaze nor scoff, nor scold, with man nor child make no fray.

Fair speech doth great pleasure; it seemeth of gentle blood; Gentle is to use fair speech; it requireth nothing but good.

And when thou comest into the church thy prayers for to say, Kneel, sit, stand or walk, devoutly look thou pray.

Cast not your eye to and fro, all things for to see; Then shalt thou be judged plainly a wanton for to be.

When thou art in the church, [see thou] do churchly works; Communication use thou not to women, priests nor clerks.

When your devotion is done and time is toward dinner; Draw home to your master’s presence, there do your [en]deavour.

An ye be desired to serve, or sit, or eat meat at the table, Incline to good manners, and to nurture yourself enable.

If your sovereign call you with him to dine or sup, Give him reverence to begin, both of meat and cup.

And beware for anything, press[323] not thyself too high; To sit in the place appointed thee—that is courtesy.

And when thou art set, and table served thee before, Pare not your nails, ’file[324] not your cloth—learn ye that lore.

An thy master speak to thee, take thy cap in hand, If thou sit at meat, when he talketh [to thee] see thou stand.

Lean not to the one side when thou speakest, for nothing, Hold still both hand and foot, and beware of trifling.

Stand sadly[325] in telling thy tale whenas thou talkest; Trifle with nothing, and stand upright when thou speakest.

Thwart[326] not thou with thy fellow, nor speak with high voice; Point not thy tale with thy fingers, use not such toys.[327]

Have audience when thou speakest, speak with authority, Else if thou speak wisdom, little will it avail thee.

Pronounce thy speech with a pause, mark well thy word; It is good hearing a child; beware with whom ye bourd.[328]

Talk not to thy sovereign, no time when he doth drink; When he speaketh, give him audience—that is good, I think.

Before that you sit, see that your knife be bright, Your hands clean, your nails pared is a good sight.

When thou shalt speak, roll not too fast thine eye; Gaze not to and fro, as one that were void of courtesy.

For a man’s countenance often times declareth his thought; His look with his speech will judge him, good or naught.

And see your knife be sharp to cut your meat withal; So the more cleanlier cut your meat you shall.

Ere thou put much bread in thy pottage, look thou it assay; Fill not thy spoon too full, lest thou lose somewhat by the way.

If men eat of your dish, crumb therein no bread, Lest your hands be sweaty, thereof take ye good heed.

They may be corrupt[329] that causeth it, it is no fair uságe. Of bread slice out fair morsels to put in your pottáge.

Fill it not too full of bread, for it may be to thee reprovable; Lest thou leave part, then to measure thou art variable.[330]

And sup not loud of thy pottage, no time in all thy life. Dip not thy meat in the salt-cellar, but take it with a knife.

When thou hast eaten thy pottage, do as I shall thee wish; Wipe clean thy spoon and leave it not in thy dish.

Lay it down before thy trencher, thereof be not afraid; And take heed who taketh it up, lest it be conveyed.[331]

Cut not the best morsel for thyself, leave part behind. Be not greedy of meat and drink, be liberal and kind.

Burnish no bones with your teeth, for it is unseemly. Rend not thy meat asunder, for to courtesy it is contrary.

An a stranger sit near thee, ever among now and then, Reward him with some dainties, like a gentleman.

If thy fellow sit from his meat, and cannot come thereto, Then cut him such as thou hast, that is gently [to] do.

Belch near no man’s face with a corrupt fumosity;[332] Turn from such occasion, it is a stinking ventosity.[333]

Eat small morsels of meat, not too great in quantity, If ye like such meats, yet follow not ever thy phantasy.[334]

Corrupt not thy lips with eating, as a pig in draff; Eat softly and drink mannerly; beware ye do not quaff.

Scratch not thy head with[335] thy fingers, when thou art at meat, Nor spit you over the table-board, see thou do not forget.

Pick not thy teeth with thy knife nor finger-end, But with a stick[336] or some clean thing, then do ye not offend.

If your teeth be putrified, methinks it is no right To touch meat that other should eat, it is no cleanly sight.

Pick not thy hands nor play with thy knife; Keep still foot and hand; at meat begin ye no strife.

Wipe thy mouth when thou shalt drink ale or wine On thy napkin only; and see all things be clean.