Chapter XXVI: Prologue: 1 1 (9)

¶ Yf mo{n} aske þe good for goddys sake,
And þe wont thyng{e} wher-of to take,
Gyf hym bon{er} wordys on fayre maner{e},
W{i}t{h} glad semblaunt[A] {and} pure good cher. 192

[Textnote A: MS. semblamt]

¶ Also of s{er}uice þ{o}u shall{e} be fre
To eu{er}y mo{n} in hys degré.
Þ{o}u schall{e} neu{er} lose for to be kynde;
That on forȝet{is}, anoþ{er} hase in mynde. 196

¶ Yf Any ma{n} haue part w{i}t{h} þe i{n} gyft,
W{i}t{h} hym þ{o}u make an euen skyft;
Let hit not henge in honde for glose,
Þ{o}u art vncurtayse yf þ{o}u hyt dose. 200

¶ To saynt{is} yf þ{o}u þy gate hase hyȝt,
Thou schall{e} fulfylle h{i}t w{i}t{h} all{e} þy myȝt,
Lest god þe stryk w{i}t{h} grete veniaunce,
And pyt þe in-to sore penaunce. 204

¶ Leue not all{e} me{n} that speke þe fayre,
Wheþ{er} þ{a}t h{i}t ben comyns, burges, or mayr{e};
In swete wordis þe nedder was closet,
Disseyuaunt euer and mysloset; 208
Þ{er}-fore þ{o}u art of adams blode,
W{i}t{h} wordis be ware, but þ{o}u be wode:
A schort worde is comynly sothe
Þ{a}t fyrst slydes fro mo{n}nes tothe. 212

¶ Loke lyȝer neu{er} þ{a}t þ{o}u be-come,
Kepe þys worde for all{e} and somme.
Lawȝe not to of[t] for no solace,
For no kyn myrth{e} þ{a}t any ma{n} mase; 216
Who lawes all{e} þ{a}t me{n} may se,
A schrew or a fole hym semes to be.

¶ Thre enmys in þys worlde þ{er} ar{e}
Þ{a}t coueyteñ alle me{n} to for-fare,-- 220
The deuel, þe flesshe, þe worlde also,
That wyrkyn mankynde ful mykyl wo:
Yf þ{o}u may strye þes þre enmys,
Þ{o}u may be secur of heueñ blys. 224

[Headnote: THE RULE OF GOOD MANNERS.]

¶ Also, my chylde, a-gaynes þy lorde
Loke þ{o}u stryfe w{i}t{h} no kyn w{o}rde,
Ne waiour non w{i}t{h} hym þ{o}u lay,
Ne at þe dyces w{i}t{h} hym to play. 228

¶ Hym that þ{o}u knawes of grett{er} state,
Be not hys felaw in rest ne bate. [Fol. 16.]
Ȝif þ{o}u be stad in strange contré,
Enserche no fyr þen fall{es} to the, 232
Ne take no more to do on honde
Þen þ{o}u may hafe menske of all{e} i{n} londe.

¶ Ȝif þ{o}u se any mon fal by strete,
Lawegh{e} not þer-at in drye ne wete,
But helpe hym vp w{i}t{h} all{e} þy myȝt,
As seynt Ambrose þe teches ryȝt;
Þ{o}u that stondys so sure on sete,
War{e} lest þy hede falle to þy fete. 240

¶ My chylde, yf þ{o}u stonde at þo masse,
At vndur stondis bothe more and lasse,
Yf þo prest rede not at þy wylle,
Rep{re}ue hym noȝt, but holde þe stylle. 244

¶ To any wyȝt þy counsell{e} yf þ{o}u schewe,
Be war þ{a}t he be not a schrewe,
Lest he disclaundyr þe w{i}t{h} tong
Amonge alle me{n}, bothe olde {and} ȝong. 248

¶ Bekenyng, fynguryng, no{n} þ{o}u vse,
And pryué rownyng loke þ{o}u refuse.
Yf þ{o}u mete knyȝt, ȝomo{n}, or knaue,
Haylys hym a-non, “syre, god ȝou saue.” 252
Yf he speke fyrst opon þe þor{e},
Onsware hym gladly w{i}t{h}-oute{n} mor{e}.

¶ Go not forth{e} as a dombe freke,
Syn god hase laft the tonge to speke; 256
Lest meñ sey be sibbe or couthe,[9]
“Ȝond is a mo{n} w{i}t{h}-outen mouthe.”

¶ Speke neu{er} vnhonestly of woma{n} kynde,
Ne let hit neu{er} renne in þy mynde; 260
Þe boke hym call{es} a chorle of chere,
That vylany spekes be weme{n} sere:
For all{e} we ben of wymme{n} borñ,
And oure fadurs vs be-forne; 264
Þ{er}for{e} hit is a vnhonest thyng
To speke of hem in any hethyng.[10]

¶ Also a wyfe be-falle of ryȝt
To worschyp hyr husbonde bothe day {and} nyȝt, 268
To his byddyng be obediente,
And hym to s{er}ue w{i}t{h}-outen offence.

¶ Yf two brether be at debate,
Loke noþ{er} þ{o}u forþ{er} in hor hate, 272
But helpe to staunche hom of malice;
Þen þ{o}u art frende to bothe I-wys.

¶ Ȝif þ{o}u go w{i}t{h} a-noþ{er} at þo gate,
And ȝe be bothe of on astate, 276
Be curtasye and let hym haue þe way,
That is no vylanye, as me{n} me say;
And he be come{n} of gret kynraden,
Go no be-fore þawgh þ{o}u be beden; 280
And yf þ{a}t he þy mayst{ur} be,
Go not be-fore, for curtasé,
Noþ{er} in fylde, wode, noþ{er} launde,
Ne euen hym w{i}t{h}, but he c{om}maunde. 284

¶ Yf þ{o}u schalle on pilg{ri}mage go,
Be not þe thryd felaw for wele ne wo;
Thre oxen in plowgh may neu{er} wel drawe, [Fol. 17.]
Noþ{er} be craft, ryȝt, ne lawe. 288

¶ Ȝif þ{o}u be p{ro}fert to drynk of cup,
Drynke not al of, ne no way sup;
Drynk menskely and gyf agayne,
Þ{a}t is a curtasye, to speke in playne. 292

¶ In bedde yf þou falle herberet to be,
W{i}t{h} felawe, maystur, or her degré,
Þ{o}u schalt enquer{e} be curtasye
In what p{ar}[t] of þe bedde he wylle lye; 296
Be honest and lye þ{o}u fer hym fro,
Þ{o}u art not wyse but þ{o}u do so.

[Headnote: HOW TO BEHAVE.]

¶ W{i}t{h} woso men, boþe fer and negh,
The falle to go, loke þ{o}u be slegh 300
To aske his nome, and qweche he be,
Whidur he will{e}: kepe welle þes thre.

¶ W{i}t{h} freres on pilg{ri}mage yf þ{a}t þ{o}u go,
Þ{a}t þei will{e} ȝyme,[11] wilne þ{o}u also; 304
Als on nyȝt þ{o}u take þy rest,
And byde þe day as tru ma{n}nes gest.

¶ In no kyn house þ{a}t rede mon is,
Ne womo{n} of þo same colour y-wys, 308
Take neu{er} þy Innes for no kyn nede,
For þose be folke þ{a}t ar to drede.

¶ Yf any thurgh sturnes þe oppose,
Onswere hym mekely {and} make hym glose: 312
But glosand wordys þ{a}t falsed is,
Forsake, and alle that is omys.

¶ Also yf þ{o}u haue a lorde,
And stondes by-for{e} hym at þe borde, 316
While þ{a}t þ{o}u speke, kepe well{e} þy honde,
Thy fete also in pece let stonde,

¶ His curtasé nede he most breke,--
Stirraunt fyngurs toos whe{n} he shall{e} speke. 320
Be stabull{e} of cher{e} and sumwhat lyȝt,
Ne ou{er} alle wayue þ{o}u not thy syȝt;

¶ Gase not on walles w{i}t{h} þy neghe[12],
Fyr ne negh, logh ne hegh{e}; 324
Let not þe post be-cum þy staf,
Lest þ{o}u be callet a dotet daf;
Ne delf þ{o}u neu{er} nose thyrle
W{i}t{h} thombe ne fyngur, as ȝong gyrle; 328

¶ Rob not þy arme ne noȝt hit claw,
Ne bogh not dou{n} þy hede to law;
Whil any man spekes w{i}t{h} grete besenes,
Herken his wordis w{i}t{h}-oute{n} distresse. 332

¶ By strete or way yf þ{o}u schalle go,
Fro þes two þynges þ{o}u kepe þe fro,
Noþ{er} to harme chylde ne best,
W{i}t{h} castyng, turnyng west ne est; 336
Ne chaunge þ{o}u not in face coloure,
For lyghtnes of worde in halle ne bour{e};
Yf þy vysage chaunge for noȝt,
Men say ‘þe trespas þ{o}u hase wroȝght.’ 340

¶ By-for{e} þy lorde, ne mawes þ{o}u make
Ȝif þ{o}u wyll{e} curtasie w{i}t{h} þe take.
W{i}t{h} hondes vnwasshen take neu{er} þy mete;
Fro alle þes vices loke þ{o}u þe kepe. 344

¶ Loke þ{o}u sytt--{and} make no stryf-- [Fol. 18.]
Wher{e} þo est[B] co{m}mau{n}dys, or ellis þo wyf.
Eschewe þe heȝest place w{i}t{h} wyn,[13]
But þ{o}u be beden to sitt þ{er}-in. 348
Of curtasie her{e} endis þe secu{n}de fyt,
To heuen crist mot our{e} saules flyt!

[Text note B: Read _ost_]

[Sidenotes:
[141] If you go to school you shall learn: 1. Cross of Christ, 2.
Pater Noster, 3. Hail Mary and the Creed, 4. In the name of the
Trinity, 5. of the Apostles, 6. the Confession. [155] Seek the
kingdom of God, and worship Him. [159] At church, take holy water;
pray for all Christian companions; kneel to God on both knees, to
man only on one. [167] At the Altar, serve the priest with both
hands. [171] Speak gently to your father and mother, and honour
them. [175] Do to others as you would they should do to
you. [179] Don’t be foolishly meek. [181] The seed of the
righteous shall never beg or be shamed. [185] Be ready forgive,
and fond of peace. [189] If you cannot give an asker goods, give
him good words. [193] Be willing to help every one. [197] Give
your partner his fair share. [201] Go on the pilgrimages (?) you
vow to saints, lest God take vengeance on you. [205] Don’t believe
all who speak fair: the Serpent spoke fair words (to Eve).
[210] Be cautious with your words, except when angry. [213] Don’t
lie, but keep your word. [215] Don’t laugh too often, or you’ll be
called a shrew or a fool. [219] Man’s 3 enemies are: the Devil,
the Flesh, and the World. [223] Destroy these, and be sure of
heaven. [225] Don’t strive with your lord, or bet or play with
him. [231] In a strange place don’t be too inquisitive or fussy.
[235] If a man falls, don’t laugh, but help him up: [240] your own
head may fall to your feet. [241] At the Mass, if the priest
doesn’t please you, don’t blame him. [245] Don’t tell your secrets
to a shrew. [249] Don’t beckon, point, or whisper. [251] When you
meet a man, greet him, or answer him cheerily if he greets you:
don’t be dumb, lest men say you have no mouth. [259] Never speak
improperly of women, for we and our fathers were all born of
women. [267] A wife should honour and obey her husband, and serve
him. [271] Try to reconcile brothers if they quarrel. [275] At a
gate, let your equal precede you; go behind your superior and your
master unless he bids you go beside him. [285] On a pilgrimage
don’t be third man: 3 oxen can’t draw a plough. [289] Don’t drink
all that’s in a cup offered you; take a little. [293] If you sleep
with any man, ask what part of the bed he likes, and lie far from
him. [299] If you journey with any man, find out his name, who he
is, where he is going. [303] With friars on a pilgrimage, do as
they do. [307] Don’t put up at a red (haired and faced) man or
woman’s house. [312] Answer opponents meekly, but don’t tell lies.
[315] Before your lord at table, keep your hands, feet, and
fingers still. [322] Don’t stare about, or at the wall, or lean
against the post. [327] Don’t pick your nose, scratch your arm, or
stoop your head. [331] Listen when you’re spoken to. [335] Never
harm child or beast with evil eye (?) [337] Don’t blush when
you’re chaffed, or you’ll be accused of mischief. [341] Don’t make
faces. [342] Wash before eating. [345] Sit where the host tells
you; avoid the highest place unless you’re told to take it.]

[Headnote: OF THE PORTER, AND MARSHAL OF THE HALL.]

THE THIRD BOOK.

¶ De officiarijs in curijs d{omi}nor{um}.

++Now speke we wylle of officiers
Of court, and als of her mestiers. 352
Foure me{n} þ{er} beñ þ{a}t ȝerdis schall{e} bere,
Port{er}, marshall{e}, stuarde, vsshere;
The port{er} schall{e} haue þe lengest wande,
The marshall{e} a schort{er} schall{e} haue i{n} hande; 356
The vssher of chamb{ur} smallest schall{e} haue,
The stuarde in honde schall{e} haue a stafe,
A fyngur gret, two whart{er}s long,
To reule þe meñ of court ymong. 360

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Officers in Lords’ Courts._
[353] Four bear rods; three wands: 1. Porter, the longest,
2. Marshal, 3. Usher, the shortest, 4. Steward, a staff, a finger
thick, half a yard long.]

¶ De Ianitor{e}.[14]

¶ The port{er} falle to kepe þo ȝate,
Þe stokkes w{i}t{h} hym erly {and} late;
Ȝif any mañ hase in court mys-gayne,
To port{er} warde he schall{e} be tane, 364
Þ{er} to a-byde þe lordes wyll{e},
What he wille deme by ryȝtwys skyll{e}.
For wessell{e} clothes, þ{a}t noȝt be solde,
Þe po[r]ter hase þ{a}t warde in holde. 368
Of strang{er}s also þ{a}t comen to court,
Þo porter schall{e} warne s{er} at a worde.
Lyu{er}ay he hase of mete and drynke,
And sett{is} w{i}t{h} hym who so hym thynke. 372
When so eu{er} þo lorde remewe schall{e}
To castell{e} til oþ{er} as h{i}t may falle,
For cariage þe port{er} hors schall{e} hyre,
Foure pens a pece w{i}t{h}-in þo schyr{e}; 376
Be statut he schall{e} take þ{a}t on þe day.
Þ{a}t is þe kyng{is} crye in faye.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Porter._
[361] He keeps the Gate and Stocks, takes charge of misdoers
till judged, also of clothes, and warns strangers. [371] He is
found in meat and drink. [373] On his lord’s removing, he hires
horses at 4d. a piece, the statute price.]

¶ De Marescallo aule.[15]

[Text note: [C MS. spekle.]]

¶ Now of marschall{e} of hall{e} wyll{e} I spelle,[C]
And what falle to hys offyce now wyll{e} y telle; 380
In absence of stuarde he shall{e} arest
Who so eu{er} is rebell{e} in court or fest;
Ȝomo{n}-vsshere, and grome also,
Vndur hym ar þes two: 384
Þo grome for fuell{e} þ{a}t schall{e} brenne
In hall{e}, chambur, to kechyn, as I þe kenne,
He shall{e} delyu{er} hit ilke a dele,
In hall{e} make fyre at yche a mele 388
Borde, trestuls, and formes also,
Þe cupborde in his warde schall{e} go,
Þe dosurs cortines to henge i{n} halle.
Þes offices nede do he schall{e}; 392
Bryng in fyre on alhalawgh day,
To condulmas euen, I dar well{e} say.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Marshal of the Hall_
[381] He shall arrest rebels, when the steward is away.
Yeoman-Usher and Groom are under him. [385] The Groom gets fuel
for the fire, and makes one in all for every meal; looks after
tables, trestles, forms, the cup-board, and hangings of the Hall.
[393] Fires last from Allsaints’ Day to Candlemas Eve, (Nov. 1
to Feb. 2.) [395] and thus long, Squires receive their daily
candle? (see l. 839.) [403] The Marshal shall seat men in the
Hall.]

¶ P{er} q{uan}tu{m} te{m}p{us} armig{er}i h{ab}eb{un}t lib{er}ata{m}
{et} ignis ardeb{i}t i{n} a{ul}a.

[Sidenote:
_How long Squires shall have allowances, and Fire shall burn
in the Hall[[15a]]._]

So longe squier{s} lyu{er}és shall{e} hafe,[16]
Of grome of halle, or ellis his knafe; 396
But fyre shall{e} brenne in hall{e} at mete,
To _Cena d{omi}ni_ þ{a}t me{n} base ete;
Þ{er} browȝt schall{e} be a holyn kene, [Fol. 19.]
Þ{a}t sett schall{e} be in erber grene, 400
And þ{a}t schall{e} be to alhalawgh day,
And of be skyfted, as y þe say.
In hall{e} marshalle all{e} men schall{e} sett
After here degré, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} lett.[17] 404

[Headnote: OF THE BUTLER AND PANTER.]

¶ De pinc{er}nario, panetario, {et} cocis sibi s{er}uie{n}tib{us}.

¶ The botelar, pantrer, and cokes also,
To hym ar s{er}uaunt{is} w{i}t{h}-oute{n} mo;
Þ{er}-fore on his ȝerde skor{e} shall{e} he[19]
Alle messys in halle þ{a}t s{er}uet be, 408
Co{m}maunde to sett bothe brede {and} ale
To all{e} men þ{a}t seruet ben i{n} sale;

¶ To gentilme{n} w{i}t{h} wyne I-bake,
Ellis fayles þo seruice, y vnder-take; 412
Iche messe at vj^d breue shall{e} he
At the countyng house w{i}t{h} oþ{er} mené;
Yf þo koke wolde say þ{a}t were more,
Þ{a}t is þo cause þ{a}t he hase hit in skore. 416
Þe panter[18] also yf he wolde stryfe,
For rewarde þ{a}t sett schall{e} be be-lyue.
Wheñ brede faylys at borde aboute,
The marshall{e} gares sett w{i}t{h}-oute{n} doute 420
More brede, þ{a}t calde is a rewarde,
So shall{e} h{i}t be preuet be-fore stuarde.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Butler, Panter, and Cooks serving him._
[405] They are the Marshal’s servants. [406] He shall score up
all messes served, and order bread and ale for men, but wine for
gentlemen. [413] Each mess shall be reckoned at 6d. [415] and be
scored up to prevent the cook’s cheating. [419] If bread runs
short, the Marshal orders more, ‘a reward.’]

¶ De offic{i}o pinc{er}narij.[19]

¶ Botler shall{e} sett for yche a messe
A pot, a lofe, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} distresse; 424
Botler, pantrer, felawes ar ay,
Reken hom to-gedur full{e} wel y may.
The marshall{e} shall{e} herber all{e} men in fere,
That ben of court of any mestere; 428
Saue þe lordys chamb{ur}, þo wadrop to,
Þo vssher of chamb{ur} schall{e} tent þo two.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Butler’s duties._
[423] He shall put a pot and loaf to each mess. [425] He is the
panter’s mate. [427] The Marshal shall see to men’s lodging.
[429] The Lord’s Chamber and Wardrobe are under the Usher of
the Chamber.]

¶ De hostiario {et} suis s{er}uientib{us}.[20]

¶ Speke I wylle A lytull{e} qwyle
Of vssher of chambur, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} gyle. 432
Þ{er} is gentylme{n}, ȝomo{n}-vssher also,
Two gromes at þo lest, A page þ{er}-to.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Usher and Grooms of the Chamber._
[432] 1. Usher, 2. Yeoman-usher, 3. Two grooms and a Page.]

[Headnote: OF THE GROOMS AND USHER OF THE CHAMBER.]

¶ De Offic{i}o garc{i}onu{m}.[21]

¶ Gromes palett{is} shyn fyle {and} make liter{e},[22]
ix fote on lengthe w{i}t{h}-out diswer{e}; 436
vij fote y-wys hit shall{e} be brode,
Wele wat{er}ed, I-wrythen, be craft y-trode,
Wyspes drawen out at fete {and} syde,
Wele wrethyn and t{ur}nyd a-ȝayne þ{a}t tyde; 440
On legh vnsonken hit shall{e} be made,
To þo gurdylstode hegh on lengthe {and} brade.
For lordys two beddys schall{e} be made,
Bothe vtter and inner, so god me glade, 444
Þ{a}t henget shall{e} be w{i}t{h} hole sylo{ur},[23]
W{i}t{h} crochett{is}[24] and loupys sett on lyour;[25]

¶ Þo valance on fylour[26] shall{e} henge w{i}t{h} wy{n},
iij curteyns streȝt drawen w{i}t{h}-inne, 448
Þ{a}t reche schall{e} euen to grounde a-boute,
Noþ{er} mor{e}, noþ{er} lesse, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} doute;
He strykes hom vp w{i}t{h} forket wande,
And lappes vp fast a-boute þe lyft hande; 452
Þo knop vp turnes, and closes on ryȝt,

¶ As bolde by nek þ{a}t henges full{e} lyȝt. [Fol. 20.]
Þo count{ur}pynt he lays on beddys fete,
Qwysshenes on sydes shyn lye full{e} mete. 456
Tapet{is}[27] of spayne on flor{e} by syde,
Þ{a}t sprad shyn be for pompe and pryde;
Þo chambur sydes ryȝt to þo dor{e},
He henges w{i}t{h} tapet{is} þ{a}t ben full{e} stor{e}; 460
And fuel to chymné hym fall{e} to gete,
And screnes in clof to y-saue þo hete
Fro þo lorde at mete when he is sett;
Borde, trestuls, and fourmes, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} let, 464

¶ Alle thes þynges kepe schall{e} he,
And wat{er} in chafer for laydyes fre;
iij p{er}chers of wax þen shall{e} he fet,
A-boue þo chymné þ{a}t be sett 468
In syce[28]; ichoñ from oþ{er} shall{e} be
Þe lenghthe of oþ{er} þ{a}t me{n} may se,[[28a]]
To brenne, to voide, þ{a}t dronkyn is,
Oþ{er} ellis I wote he dose Amys. 472
Þo vssher alle-way shall{e} sitt at dor{e}
At mete, and walke schall{e} on þe flor{e},
To se þat all{e} be s{er}uet on ryȝt,
Þat is his office be day {and} nyȝt, 476
And byd set borde when tyme schall{e} be,
And take hom vp when tyme ses he.

¶ The wardrop[29] he herbers and eke of chamb{ur}
Ladyes w{i}t{h} bedys of corall{e} and lamb{ur}, 480
Þo vsshere schall{e} bydde þo wardroper{e}
Make redy for all{e} nyȝt be-for{e} þe fere;
Þen bryng{is} he forthe nyȝt gou{n} also,
And spredys a tapet and qwysshens two, 484
He layes hom þen opon a fourme,
And foteshete þ{er}-on {and} hit returne.

¶ Þo lorde schall{e} skyft hys gowñ at nyȝt,
Syttand on foteshete tyl he be dyȝt. 488
Þen vssher gose to þo botré,
“Haue in for all{e} nyȝt, syr,” says he;
Fyrst to þe chaundeler he schall{e} go,
To take a tortes lyȝt hym fro; 492

¶ Bothe wyne and ale he tase indede,
Þo botler says, w{i}t{h}-outen drede,
No mete for mo{n} schall{e} sayed[30] be,
Bot for kynge or prynce or duke so fre; 496
For heiers of paraunce also y-wys,
Mete shall{e} be sayed, now thenkys on this.
Þen to pantré he hyȝes be-lyue,

¶ “Syrs, haue in w{i}t{h}-oute{n} stryffe;” 500
Manchet and chet[31] bred he shalle take,
Þo panter{e} assayes þat h{i}t be bake;
A mort{er} of wax ȝet will{e} he bryng,
Fro chamb{ur}, syr, w{i}t{h}-out lesyng; 504
Þ{a}t alle nyȝt brennes in bassyn cler{e},
To saue þo chamb{ur} on nyȝt for fyre.

¶ Þen ȝomo{n} of chambur shynne voyde w{i}t{h} ryme,
The torches han holden wele þ{a}t tyme; 508
Tho chamb{ur} dore stekes þo vssher thenne,
W{i}t{h} p{re}ket and tortes þ{a}t conne brenne;
Fro cupborde he brynges both{e} brede {and} wyne,
And fyrst assayes hit wele a[nd] fyne. 512
But fyrst þe lorde shall{e} vasshe I-wys,
Fro þo fyr hous when he come{n} is; [Fol. 21.]
Þen kneles þe vssher {and} gyfes hym drynke,
Brynges hym in bed wher{e} he shall{e} wynke; 516
In strong styd on palet he lay,
At home tase lefe {and} gose his way;
Ȝomo{n} vssher be-for{e} þe dore,
In vttur chamb{ur} lies on þe flore. 520

[Sidenotes:
_The Duties of the Grooms of the Chamber._
[435] They shall make palets of litter 9 ft. long, 7 broad,
watered, twisted, trodden, with wisps at foot and side, twisted
and turned back; from the floor-level to the waist. [443] For
lords, 2 beds, outer and inner, hung with hangings, hooks and eyes
set on the binding; the valance hanging on a rod (?), four
curtains reaching to the ground; these he takes up with a forked
rod. [455] The counterpane is laid at the foot, cushions on the
sides, tapestry on the floor and sides of the room. [461] The
Groom gets fuel, and screens. [463] The Groom keeps the table,
trestles, and forms for dinner; and water in a heater. [467] He
puts 3 wax-lights over the chimney, all in different syces.
[473] _The Usher of the Chamber_ walks about and sees that all is
served right, [477] orders the table to be set and removed, takes
charge of the Wardrobe and Bedchamber, bids the _Wardroper_ get
all ready before the fire, nightgown, carpet, 2 cushions, a form
with a footsheet over it; on which the lord changes his gown.
[489] The Usher orders what’s wanted from the Buttery: a link from
the Chandler, and ale and wine. [495] (No meat shall be assayed
except for King, Prince, Duke or Heirs-apparent.) [498] From the
Pantry the Usher takes fine and coarse bread, and a wax-light that
burns all night in a basin. [507] (The Yeoman-Usher removes the
torches.) [509] The Usher puts lights on the Bedroom door, brings
bread and wine, (the lord washing first,) offers the drink
kneeling; puts his lord to bed, and then goes home himself. The
Yeoman-Usher sleeps at the Lord’s door.]

[Headnote: OF THE STEWARD.]

¶ De seneschallo.[32]

¶ Now speke I wyll{e} of þo stuarde als,

[Text note: [D MS. _and_]]

Few ar trew, but fele ar[D] fals.
Þo clerke of kechyn, countrollo{ur},
Stuarde, coke, and surueyour, 524
Assente{n} in counsell{e}, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} skorne,
How þo lorde schall{e} fare at mete þo morne.
Yf any deyntethe in countré be,
Þo stuarde schewes h{i}t to þo lorde so fre, 528
And gares by hyt for any cost,
Hit wer{e} grete syn and hit wer{e} lost.
Byfore þe cours þo stuarde comes þen,
Þe seruer h{i}t next of alle kyn me{n} 532
Mays way and stondes by syde,
Tyl all{e} be s{er}ued at þ{a}t tyde.
At countyng stuarde schall{e} ben,
Tylle all{e} be breuet of wax so grene, 536
Wrytten in-to bokes, w{i}t{h}-out let,
Þ{a}t be-fore in tabuls hase ben sett,
Tyl countes also þ{er}-on ben cast,
And somet vp holy at þo last. 540

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Steward._
[522] Few are true, but many false. He, the clerk, cook and
surveyor consult over their Lord’s dinner. [527] Any dainty that
can be had, the Steward buys. [531] Before dishes are put on, the
Steward enters first, then the Server. [535] The Steward shall
post into books all accounts written on tablets, and add them up.]

¶ De cont{ra}rotulatore.[33]

¶ The Countrollo{ur} shall{e} wryte to hym,
Taunt resceu, no more I myn;
And taunt dispendu þ{a}t same day,
Vncountabull{e} he is, as y ȝou say. 544

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Controller._
[541] He puts down the receipt and consumption of every day.]

¶ De sup{er}uisore.[34]

¶ Surueour and stuarde also,
Thes thre folke and no mo,
For noȝt resayue{n} bot eu{er} sene
Þ{a}t noþyng fayle {and} alle be whene; 548
Þ{a}t þo clerke of kechyn schulde not mys,
Þ{er}-fore þo countrollo{ur}, as hafe I blys,
Wrytes vp þo somme as eu{er}y day,
And helpes to count, as I ȝou say. 552

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Surveyor._
[546] He, the steward, and controller, receive nothing, but see
that all goes straight. [550] The Controller checks daily the
Clerk of the kitchen’s account.]

¶ De Clerico coquine.[35]

¶ The clerke of þe cochyñ shall{e} all{e} þyng breue,
Of men of court, bothe lothe and leue,
Of achat_is and_ dispenses þen wrytes he,
And wages for gromes and ȝeme{n} fre; 556
At dresso{ur} also he shalle stonde,
And fett forthe mete dresset w{i}t{h} honde;
Þe spicery and store w{i}t{h} hym shall{e} dwelle,
And mony thynges als, as I noȝt telle, 560
For clethyng of officers alle i{n} fere,
Saue þe lorde hym self and ladys dere.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Clerk of the Kitchen._
[553] He shall keep account of all purchases, and payments, and
wages, shall preside at the Dresser, and keep the spices, stores,
&c., [561] and the clothes of the officers.]

[Headnote: OF THE CHANCELLOR AND TREASURER.]

¶ De cancellario.[36]

¶ The chaunceler answer{es} for hor clothyng,
For ȝome{n}, faukeners, {and} hor horsyng, 564
For his wardrop and wages also;
And asseles patenti{s} mony {and} mo; [Fol. 22.]
Yf þo lorde gyf oȝt to t{er}me of lyf,
The chaunceler h{i}t seles w{i}t{h}-oute{n} stryf; 568

[Text note: [E MS. þ{er}]]

_Tan come nos plerra_ me{n} seyne,
þ{at}[E] is _q{ua}n{do} nob{is} placet_,
Þ{a}t is, whille vs lykes hym noȝt omys;
Ou{er}-se hys londes þ{a}t all{e} be ryȝt:
On of þo grete he is of myȝt. 572

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Chancellor._
[563] He looks after the servants’ clothes, and horses, seals
patents, and grants of land, &c., for life, or during the lord’s
pleasure. [571] He oversees the land too, and is a great man.]

¶ De thesaurizario.[37]

¶ Now speke y wylle of tresurer{e},
Husbonde and houswyf he is in fer{e};
Of þe resayu{er} he shall{e} resayue,
All{e} þ{a}t is gedurt of baylé and grayue,[38] 576
Of þe lordes courtes and forfet{is} als,
Wheþ{er} þay ben ryȝt or þay ben fals.
To þo clerke of cochen he payes moné
For vetayle to bye opon þo countré: 580
The clerke to kat{er} and pult{er} is,
To baker and butler bothe y-wys
Gyffys seluer to bye in all{e} thyng
Þ{a}t longes to here office, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} lesyng. 584
Þe tresurer schall{e} gyfe alkyn wage,
To squyer, ȝomo{n}, grome, or page.
Þo resayuer and þo tresurer,
Þo clerke of cochyn and chaunceler, 588
Grayuis, and baylys, and parker,
Schone come to acountes eu{er}y ȝere
By-fore þo audito{ur} of þo lorde onone,
Þ{a}t schulde be trew as any stone; 592
Yf he dose hom no ryȝt lele,
To A baron of chekker þay mu{n} h{i}t pele.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Treasurer._
[574] He takes from the Receiver what is collected from bailiff
and grieve, courts and forfeits. [579] He gives the Kitchen clerk
money to buy provisions with, and the clerk gives some to the
baker and butler. [585] The Treasurer pays all wages. [587] He,
the Receiver, Chancellor, Grieves, &c., [590] account once a year
to the Auditor, from whom they can appeal to a Baron of the
Exchequer.]

¶ De receptore firmar{um}.

¶ Of þe resayuer speke wyll{e} I,
Þ{a}t fermys[39] resayuys wytt{ur}ly 596
Of grayuys, and hom aquetons makes,
Sex pons þ{er}-fore to feys he takes,
And pays feys to parkers als I-wys,

[Text note: [F _Or_ loned.]]

Þ{er}-of at acountes he loued[F] is, 600
And ou{er}-seys castels, man{er}s a-boute,
Þ{a}t noȝt falle w{i}t{h}-in ne w{i}t{h}-oute.
Now let we þes officers be,
And telle we wylle of smaller mené. 604

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Receiver of Rents._
[597]: He gives receipts, and gets a fee of 6d. [599] He pays fees
to park-keepers, and looks after castles and manor-houses.]

¶ De Auenario.[40]

¶ Þe Aueyn{er} schall{e} ordeyn p{ro}uande[41] good won,
For þo lordys horsis eu{er}ychon;
Þay schyn haue two cast[42] of hay,
A pek of p{ro}uande on a day; 608
Eu{er}y horse schall{e} so muche haue,
At racke and mang{er} þ{a}t standes w{i}t{h} staue.
A mayst{ur} of horsys a squyer[43] þ{er} is,
Aueyn{er} and fero{ur} vnd{ur} hym I-wys; 612
Þose ȝome{n} þ{a}t olde sadels schyn haue,
Þ{a}t schyn be last for knyȝt and knaue,
For yche a hors þ{a}t ferrour{e}[44] schall{e} scho,
An halpeny on day he takes hym to; 616
Vnd{ur} ben gromes and pages mony one,
Þat ben at wage eu{er}ychone;
Som at two pons on a day, [Fol. 23.]
and som at iij ob., I ȝou say; 620
Mony of hem fote-me{n} þer ben,
Þ{a}t renne{n} by þe brydels of ladys shene.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Avener._
[605] He shall give the horses in the stable two armsful of hay
and a peck of oats, daily. [611]: A Squire is Master of the Horse;
under him are Avener and Farrier, (the Farrier has a halfpenny a
day for every horse he shoes,) and grooms and pages hired at 2d.
a day, or 3 halfpence, and footmen who run by ladies’ bridles.]

[Headnote: OF THE BAKER AND HUNTSMAN.]

¶ De pistore.[45]

¶ Of þo baker now speke y wylle,
And wat longes his office vntylle; 624
Of a lunden buschell{e} he shall{e} bake
xx louys, I vndur-take;

[Text note: [G _Read_ broun, brown.]]

Manchet and chet to make brom[G] bred hard,
For chaundeler and grehoundes {and} hu{n}tes reward. 628

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Baker._
[625] Out of a London bushel he shall bake 20 loaves, fine and
coarse.]

¶ De venatore {et} suis canib{us}.

¶ A halpeny þo hunte takes on þe day
For eu{er}y hounde, þo soth{e} to say:
Þo vewt{er}, two cast of brede he tase,
Two lesshe of grehoundes yf þ{a}t he hase; 632
To yche a bone, þat is to telle,
If I to ȝou þe sothe shall{e} spelle;
By-syde hys vantage þ{a}t may be-fall{e},
Of skynnes and oþ{er} thynges w{i}t{h}-all{e}, 636
Þat hunt{er}es con tell{e} bett{er} þa{n} I,
Þ{er}-fore I leue h{i}t wytt[{ur}]ly.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Huntsman and his Hounds._
[629] He gets a halfpenny a day for every hound. [631] The
Feuterer 2 lots of bread if he has 2 leash of Greyhounds, and a
bone for each, besides perquisites of skins, &c.]

¶ De aquario.[46]

¶ And speke I wyll{e} of oþ{er} myster{e}
Þ{a}t falles to court, as ȝe mu{n} her{e}; 640
An euwer{e} in hall{e} þere nedys to be,
And chandelew schall{e} haue and all{e} naper{e};
He schall{e} gef wat{er} to gentilme{n},
And als in all{e} ȝome{n}. 644

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Ewerer or Water-bringer._
[641] He has all the candles and cloths and gives water to every
one.]

¶ Qui d{eb}ent manus lauar{e} {et} i{n} q{u}or{um} domib{us}.

¶ In kynges court and dukes also,
Þ{er} ȝome{n} schynne wasshe and no mo;--
In duke Ionys house a ȝoma{n} þ{er} was,
For his rewarde p{ra}yde suche a g{ra}ce; 648
Þe duke gete graunt þ{er}-of in londe,
Of þe kyng his fader, I vndudurstonde.--(_so_)
Wosoeuer gefes wat{er} in lordys chaunber,
In p{re}sens of lorde or leuedé dere, 652
He schall{e} knele downe opoñ his kne,
Ellys he forȝetes his curtasé;
Þis euwer schall{e} hele his lordes borde,
W{i}t{h} dowbull{e} napere at on bar{e} worde: 656
The seluage to þo lordes syde w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne,
And douñ schall{e} heng þ{a}t oþ{er} may wynne;
Þo ou{er} nape schall{e} dowbull{e} be layde,
To þo vttur syde þe seluage brade; 660
Þo ou{er} seluage he schall{e} replye,[47]
As towell{e} h{i}t were fayrest in hye;
Browers[48] he schall{e} cast þ{er}-opon,
Þ{a}t þe lorde schull{e} clense his fyngers [on], 664
Þe leuedy and whoseuer syttes w{i}t{h}-inne,
All{e} browers schynne haue bothe mor{e} {and} myñ.

[Sidenotes:
_Who may wash his hands, and where._
[651] The bringer of Water shall kneel down. [655] The Ewerer
shall cover the lord’s table with a double cloth, the lower with
the selvage to the lord’s side; the upper cloth shall be laid
double, the upper selvage turned back as if for a towel. [664] He
shall put on cleaners for every one.]

[Headnote: OF THE PANTER, THE LORD’S KNIVES, ETC.]

¶ De panetario.

¶ Þenne comes þe pantere w{i}t{h} loues thre,
Þat squar{e} are coruyn of trencho{ur} fre, 668
To sett w{i}t{h}-inne {and} oon w{i}t{h}-oute,
And saller y-cou{er}yd and sett in route;
W{i}t{h} þo ouemast lofe h{i}t shall{e} be sett, [Fol. 24.]
W{i}t{h}-oute forthe square, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} lett; 672
Two keruyng knyfes w{i}t{h}-oute one,
Þe thrydde to þo lorde, and als a spone.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Panter._
[667] He carries 3 loaves cut square for trenchers, and the
covered Saltcellar, 2 Carving-knives, and sets the 3rd, and a
spoon to his lord.]

¶ De Cultellis d{omi}ni.

¶ Of þo two þo haftes schynne outwarde be,
Of þe thrydd þe hafte inwarde lays he, 676
Þe spony stele þ{er} by schall{e} be layde;
Moo loues of trenchirres at a brayde
He settes, {and} seruys euyr in fer{e}
To duches his wyne þ{a}t is so der{e}. 680
Two loues of trenchors {and} salt þo,
He settes be-fore his son also;
A lofe of trencho{ur}s and salt on last,
At bordes ende he settes in hast. 684
Þen brede he brynges, in towell{e} wrythyñ,
Thre lofys of þo wyte schall{e} be geuyñ;
A chet lofe to þo elmys dyshe,
Weþ{er} he seruyd be w{i}t{h} flesshe or fysche; 688
At aþ{er} ende he castes a cope,
Layde dowñ on borde, þe endys plyed vp.
That he assayes knelande on kne,
Þo keru{er} hym parys a schyu{er} so fre; 692
And touches þo louys y{n} quer{e} a-boute,
Þo pantere hit etys w{i}t{h}-oute dowte;
Þo euwer{e} thurgh towell{e} syles[49] clene
His wat{er} into þo bassynges shene; 696
Þo ou{er} bassyn þ{er}-on schall{e} close,
A towell{e} þ{er}-on, as I suppose,
Þ{a}t folden schall{e} be w{i}t{h} full{e} grete lore,
Two quart{er}s on lenketh{e} and su{m}dele mor{e}; 700
A qwyte cuppe of tre þ{er}-by shall{e} be,
Þ{er}-w{i}t{h} þ{o} wat{er} assay schall{e} he;
Quelmes[50] h{i}t agayn by-for{e} all{e} me{n};
Þo keru{er} þe bassynges tase vp þenne; 704
Annaunciande sq{u}ier, or ellis a knyȝt,
Þo towell{e} dowñ tase by full{e} good ryȝt;
Þo cuppe he tase in honde also,
Þo keru{er} powres wat[er] þe cuppe into; 708
The knyȝt to þo keru{er} haldes anon,
He says h{i}t ar he m{o}r{e} schall{e} doñ;
Þo cuppe þen voyde is in þo flette,[51]
Þe euwer h{i}t takes w{i}t{h}-oute{n} lette. 712
The towell{e} two knyȝht{is} schyn halde i{n} fer{e},
Be-fore þe lordes sleues, þat ben so der{e};
The ou{er} bassyn þay halde neu{er} þe queder,
Quyll{e} þo keru{er} powre wat{er} in-to þe ned{ur}. 716
For a pype þ{er} is insyde so clene,
Þ{a}t wat{er} deuoydes, of selu{er} schene;
Þen settes he þe nethyr, I vnd[u]rstonde,
In þe ou{er}, and voydes w{i}t{h} bothe is honde; 720
And brynges to þe euwer þ{er} he come fro;
To þo lordys bordes aȝayn con go;
And layes iiij trencho{ur}s þo lorde be-fore,
Þe fyft aboue by good lore; 724
By hym self thre schall{e} he dresse,
To cut opon þe lordes messe; [Fol. 25.]
Smale towell{e} a-boute his necke shall{e} bene,
To clens his knyfys þ{a}t ben so kene. 728

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Lord’s Knive, (_Bread, and Washing.)_
[675] The hafts of 2 are laid outwards, that of the 3rd inwards,
and the spoon handle by it. [678] More trencher loaves are set,
and wine served to the Duchess. [681] 2 Trencher-loaves, and salt,
to the lord’s son; and 1 loaf and saltcellar set at the end of
the table. [685] Then 3 loaves of white bread are brought, and
1 coarse loaf is put in the Alms-dish. [691] To assay bread, the
Panter kneels, the Carver cuts him a slice, and he eats it.
[695] The Ewerer strains water into his basins, on the upper one
of which is a towel folded dodgily. [701] Then the water is
assayed in a cup of white wood. [704] The Carver takes up the
basins; a knight takes down the towel, and wipes the cup, into
which the Carver pours water; the knight hands it to him; he
assays it, and empties the cup. [713] Two knights hold the towel
before the lord’s sleeves, and hold the upper basin while the
Carver pours water into the lower; then he puts the lower into
the upper, and empties both, takes them to the Ewerer, returns
to the lord’s table, lays 4 trenchers for him, with 1 above.
[725] The Carver takes 3 to cut the lord’s messes on, and has a
cloth round his neck to wipe his knives on.]

[Headnote: OF THE ALMONER AND DISH-SERVER.]

¶ De Elemosinario.[52]

¶ The aumener{e} by þis hathe sayde g{ra}ce,
And þo almes dysshe hase sett in place;
Þ{er}-in þe keru{er} a lofe schall{e} sette,
To s{er}ue god fyrst w{i}t{h}-oute{n} lette; 732
Þese oþ{er} lofes he parys a-boute,
Lays h{i}t myd dysshe w{i}t{h}-oute{n} doute.
Þe small{e} lofe he cutt{is} eue{n} i{n} twynne,
Þo ou{er} dole in two lays to hym. 736
The aumener{e} a rod schall{e} haue in honde,
As office for almes, y vndurstonde.
Alle þe broken met he kepys y wate,
To dele to por{e} me{n} at þe ȝate. 740
And drynke þ{a}t leues s{er}ued in halle;
Of ryche {and} pore bothe grete {and} small{e}.
He is sworne to ou{er}-se þe s{er}uis wele,
And dele hit to þe pore eu{er}y dele; 744
Selu{er} he deles rydand by way;
And his almys dysshe, as I ȝou say,
To þe porest ma{n} þ{a}t he can fynde,
Oþ{er} ellys I wot he is vnkynde. 748

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Almoner._
[729]: He says grace, sets down the Alms-dish, and the Carver
puts the first loaf in it. [733] The other loaves he pares round,
cuts one in two, and gives the upper half in halves to him.
[737] The Almoner has a staff in his hand. [739] He keeps the
broken food and wine left, for poor men at the gate, and is sworn
to give it all to them. [745] He distributes silver as he rides.]

¶ De ferculario.

¶ This wyle þo squyer to kechyn shall{e} go,
And brynges a bof for assay þo;
Þo Coke assayes þe mete vngryȝt,
Þo sewer he takes and kou{er}s on ryȝt; 752
Wo so eu{er} he takes þ{a}t mete to bere,
Schall{e} not so hardy þo cou{er}tour{e} rer{e},
For colde ne hote, I warne ȝou all{e},
For suspecyoñ of tresou{n} as may befalle. 756
Yf þo sylu{er} dyssh{e} wyll{e} algate brenne,
A sotelté I wylle þe kenne,
Take þe bredde coruyn {and} lay by-twene,
And kepe þe well{e} h{i}t be not sene; 760

¶ I teche hit for no curtayse,
But for þyn ese.
When þe sewer comys vnto þe borde,
Alle þe mete he sayes at on bare worde, 764
Þe potage fyrst w{i}t{h} brede y-coruyn,
Cou{er}ys hom agayn lest þey ben storuyn;
W{i}t{h} fyssh{e} or flessh yf [they] be s{er}ued,
A morsell{e} þ{er}-of shalle he be keruyd; 768
And touche þe messe ou{er} all{e} aboute,
Þo sewer h{i}t et{is} w{i}t{h}-oute{n} doute.
W{i}t{h} baken mete yf he s{er}uyd be þo,
Þo lydes vp-rered or he fyr go, 772
Þe past or pye he sayes w{i}t{h}-inne,
Dippes bredde in graué no mor{e} ne mynne;
Ȝif þe baken mete be colde, as may byfall{e},
A gobet of þo self he sayes w{i}t{h}-all{e}. 776
But þ{o}u þ{a}t berys mete in hande,
Yf þo sewer stonde, loke þ{o}u stande;
Yf he knele, knele þ{o}u so longe for oȝt,

¶ Tylle mete be sayde þ{a}t þ{o}u hase broght. [Fol. 26.] 780
As oft at hegh borde yf brede be nede,
The butler two louys takys indede;
Þat on settes down, þ{a}t oþer agayn
He barys to cupborde in towell{e} playn. 784
As oft as þe keru{er} fettys drynke,
Þe butler assayes h{i}t how good hy{m} thynke;
In þe lordys cupp þ{a}t leuys vndrynken,
Into þe almesdisshe h{i}t schall{e} be sonken. 788
The keru{er} anon w{i}t{h}-oute{n} thouȝt,

[Headnote: OF THE CARVER, SURNAPE-LAYERS, AND CHANDLER.]

Vnkou{er}s þe cup þ{a}t he hase brouȝt;
Into þe cou{er}tour{e} wyn he powr{e}s owt,
Or in-to a spare pece, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} doute; 792
Assayes, an gefes þo lorde to drynke,
Or settes h{i}t doun as hym goode thynke.
Þo keru{er}[53] schall{e} kerue þo lordes mete,
Of what kyn pece þ{a}t he wyll{e} ete; 796
And on hys trenchour he hit layes,
On þys maner w{i}t{h}-out displayes;
In almesdysshe he layes yche dele,
Þ{a}t he is w{i}t{h} serued at þo mele; 800
But he sende h{i}t to ony stronger{e},
A pese þ{a}t is hym leue and dere,
And send hys potage also,
Þ{a}t schall{e} not to þe almes go. 804
Of keru{er} more, yf I shulde telle,
Anoþ{er} fytt þenne most I spelle,
Ther-fore I let h{i}t her{e} ou{er} passe,
To make oure talkyng su{m}medelasse. 808
When þe lorde hase eten, þo sewer schall{e} bryng
Þo surnape on his schulder bryng,
A narew towell{e}, a brode be-syde,
And of hys hondes he lettes h{i}t slyde; 812
Þe vssher ledes þ{a}t on hed ryȝt,
Þo aumener þo oþ{er} away shall{e} dyȝt.
When þe vssher comys to þe borde ende,
Þo narow towell{e} he strecches vnkende; 816
Be-for{e} þo lorde and þe lady so dere,
Dowbell{e} he playes þo towell{e} þere;
Whenne þay haue wasshen and g{ra}ce is sayde,
Away he takes at a brayde; 820
Awoydes þo borde in-to þo flore,
Tase away þo trest{is} þ{a}t ben so store.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Sewer (or setter-on of Dishes)._
[751] The Cook assays the meat before it’s dished. [752] The
Sewer puts the cover on it, and the cover must never be raised
for fear of treason. [757] (A Dodge: If the silver dish burns you,
put bits of bread under it.) [763] The Sewer assays all the food:
potage with a piece of bread; fish or flesh, he eats a piece;
baked meats hot, he lifts up the crust, and dips bread in the
gravy; baked meats cold, he eats a bit. [777] The meat-bearer
stands or kneels as the Sewer does. [782] When bread is wanted,
the Butler puts one loaf on the table, the other on the cupboard.
[785] The Butler assays all the wine. [787] What is left in the
lord’s cup goes to the Alms-dish. [790 The Carver fills the empty
cup, assays it, and gives it the lord or puts it down. [795] He
carves the lord’s meat, and lays it on his trencher, putting a
piece of every thing in the Alms-dish, except any favourite piece
or potage sent to a stranger. [805] (To say more about the Carver
would require another section, so I pass it over.) [809] After
dinner the Sewer brings the Surnape, a broad towel and a narrow,
and slides it down. [813] The Usher takes one end of the broad
one, the Almoner the other, and when it is laid, he folds the
narrow towel double before his lord and lady. [819] After grace
removes them, lays the table on the floor, and takes away the
trestles.]

¶ De candelario.[54]

¶ Now speke I wylle a lytull{e} whyle
Of þo chandeler, w{i}t{h}-oute{n} gyle, 824
Þ{a}t torches[55] {and} tortes[56] {and} preketes[57] con make,
P{er}chours,[58] smale condel, I vnder-take;
Of wax þese candels all{e} þat brenne{n},
And morter of wax þ{a}t I wele kenne; 828
Þo snof of hom dose a-way
W{i}t{h} close sesours, as I ȝow say;
Þe sesours ben schort {and} rownde y-close,
W{i}t{h} plate of irne vp-on bose. 832
In chamb{ur} no lyȝt þ{er} shall{e} be brent,
Bot of wax þ{er}-to, yf ȝe take tent;
In hall{e} at soper schall{e} caldels ({so}) brenne [Fol. 27.]
Of parys, þ{er}-in þ{a}t all{e} me{n} kenne; 836
Iche messe a candell{e} fro alhalawgh{e} day
To candelmesse, as I ȝou say;
Of candel liu{er}ay squiyers schall{e} haue,
So long, if hit is mon will{e} kraue. 840
Of brede and ale also þo boteler
Schall{e} make lyu{er}é thurgh-out þe ȝere
To squyers, and also wyn to knyȝt,
Or ellys he dose not his office ryȝt. 844
Her{e} endys the thryd speche.
Of all{e} oure synnes cryst be oure leche,
And bryng vs to his vonyng place!
Ame{n}, sayes ȝe, for hys grete grace! 848

¶ Amen, par charite.

[Sidenotes:
_Of the Chandler._
[825] He can make all kinds of candles, little and big, and
mortars of wax. [829] He snuffs them with short scissors. [833] In
bed-chambers wax lights only shall be burnt; in hall, Candles of
Paris, each mess having one from Nov. 1 to Feb. 2 (see l. 393),
and squires one too. [841] The Butler shall give Squires their
daily bread and ale all the year, and Knights their wine.
[846] May Christ bring us to His dwelling-place. Amen!]

[Footnote 1: Toom or rymthe. _Spacium, tempus, oportunitas._
P. Parv.]

[Footnote 2: AS. _wræsten_, to writhe, twist.]

[Footnote 3: grace, civility; from AS. _mennise_, human; cp. our
double sense of _humanity_. H. Coleridge.]

[Footnote 4: courteous.]

[Footnote 5: AS. _flytan_, dispute, quarrel.]

[Footnote 6: Mowe, or skorne. _Vangia, vel valgia, cachinna._
Promptorium.]

[Footnote 7: _an_ privative, unhonest.]

[Footnote 8: AS. _mod_, mood, passion, violence.]

[[Footnote 8a: Croscrist. _La Croix de par Dieu._ The
Christs-crosse-row; or, the hornebooke wherein a child learnes it.
Cotgrave. The alphabet was called the _Christ-cross-row_, some say
because a cross was prefixed to the alphabet in the old primers;
but as probably from a superstitious custom of writing the
alphabet in the form of a cross, by way of charm. This was even
solemnly practised by the bishop in the consecration of a church.
See Picart’s Religious Ceremonies, vol. i. p. 131. _Nares_.]]

[Footnote 9: to relation or friend.]

[Footnote 10: contempt, scorn, O.N. _heðung._ H. Coleridge.]

[Footnote 11: AS. _gýman_, attend, regard, observe, keep.]

[Footnote 12: thine eye]

[Footnote 13: AS. _win_, contention, labour, war; _win_, _wyn_,
joy, pleasure.]

[Footnote 14: See the duties of Prince Edward’s Porters, A.D.
1474, in _Household Ordinances_, p. *30, and of Henry VIII.’s
Porters, _ibid._ p. 239.]

[Footnote 15: Though Edward IV. had Marshals (_Household
Ordinances_, p. 84, &c.), one of whom made the Surnape when the
King was in the Hall (p. 32), or Estate in the Surnape (p. 38),
yet there is no separate heading or allowance for them in the
_Liber Niger_. Two yeomen Ushers are mentioned in p. 38, but the
two yeomen Ewars, their two Grooms and Page, p. 84, perform
(nearly) the duties given above to the Usher and his Grooms.]

[[Footnote 15a: Fires in Hall lasted to _Cena Domini_, the
Thursday before Easter: see l. 398. Squires’ allowances of lights
ended on Feb. 2, I suppose. These lights, or _candle_ of l. 839,
would be only part of the allowances. The rest would continue all
the year. See _Household Ordinances & North. Hous. Book_. Dr Rock
says that the _holyn_ or holly and _erbere grene_ refer to the
change on Easter Sunday described in the _Liber Festivalis_:-- “In
die paschẽ. Good friends ye shall know well that this day is
called in many places God’s Sunday. Know well that it is the
manner in every place of worship at this day _to do the fire out
of the hall;_ and the black winter brands, and all thing that is
foul with smoke shall be done away, and there the fire was, shall
be gaily arrayed with fair flowers, and strewed with green rushes
all about, showing a great ensample to all Christian people, like
as they make clean their houses to the sight of the people, in the
same wise ye should cleanse your souls, doing away the foul
brenning (burning) sin of lechery; put all these away, and cast
out all thy smoke, dusts; and strew in your souls flowers of faith
and charity, and thus make your souls able to receive your Lord
God at the Feast of Easter.” --Rock’s _Church of the Future_, v.
iii. pt. 2, p. 250. “The holly, being an evergreen, would be more
fit for the purpose, and makes less litter, than the boughs of
deciduous trees. I know some old folks in Herefordshire who yet
follow the custom, and keep the grate filled with flowers and
foliage till late in the autumn.” --D. R. On Shere-Thursday, or
_Cena Domini_, Dr Rock quotes from the _Liber Festivalis_--“First
if a man asked why Sherethursday is called so, ye may say that in
Holy Church it is called ‘Cena Domini,’ our Lord’s Supper Day; for
that day he supped with his disciples openly.... It is also in
English called Sherethursday; for in old fathers’ days the people
would that day sheer their heads and clip their beards, and poll
their heads, and so make them honest against Easter-day.” --Rock,
_ib._, p. 235.]]

[Footnote 16: Edward IV.’s Esquiers for the Body, IIII, had ‘for
wynter lyverey from All Hallowentide (Nov. 1) tyll Estyr, one
percher wax, one candell wax, ij candells Paris, one tallwood and
dim{idium}, and wages in the countyng-house.’ _H. Ord._ p. 36. So
the Bannerettes, IIII, or Bacheler Knights (p. 32), who are
kervers and cupberers, take ‘for wynter season, from
Allhallowentyde till Estyr, one tortays, one percher, ii candelles
wax, ii candelles Paris, ii talwood, ii faggotts,’ and rushes,
litter, all the year; which the Esquiers have too. The Percy
household allowance of Wax was cciiij score vij lb. dimid. of Wax
for th’ expensys of my House for oone hole Yere. Viz. Sysez,
_Pryketts_, Quarions, and _Torches_ after ix d. the lb. by
estimacion; p. 12.]

[Footnote 17: The Liber Niger of Edw. IV. assigns this duty to one
of the Gentylmen Usshers. _H. Ord._ p. 37.]

[Footnote 18: See the Office of Panetry, _H. Ord._ p. 70.]

[Footnote 19: See the Office of Butler of Englond, _H. Ord._
p. 73.]

[Footnote 20: See Gentylmen Usshers of Chaumbre, IIII, _H. Ord._
p. 37. ‘This name ussher is a worde of Frenshe,’ p. 38.]

[Footnote 21: Compare _H. Ord._ p. 39. ‘Yeomen of Chambre, IIII,
to make beddes, to bere or hold torches, to sette bourdes, to
apparayle all chaumbres, and suche other servyce as the
chaumberlayn, or usshers of chambre command or assigne.’ Liber
Niger Edw. IV. See also _H. Ord._ p. 40, Office of Warderobe of
Beddes, p. 41, Gromes of Chambyr, X; and the elaborate directions
for making Henry VII.’s bed, _H. Ord._ p. 121-2.]

[Footnote 22: _Hoc stramentum_, lyttere, (the straw with which the
bed was formerly made) p. 260, col. 2, Wright’s Vocabularies.]

[Footnote 23: Sylure, of valle, or a nother thynge (sylure of a
walle), _Celatura_, _Celamen_, Catholicon, in P. Parv. Fr. _Ciel_,
Heauen, pl. _Ciels_, a canopie for, and, the Testerne and Valances
of a Bed. Cotgrave. A tester over the beadde, _canopus_. Withals.]

[Footnote 24: _Crochet_, a small hooke.]

[Footnote 25: Lyowre, to bynde wythe precyows clothys.
_Ligatorium._ P. Parv.]

[Footnote 26: Fylowre, of barbours crafte, _Acutecula_,
_filarium_. P. Parv. See note 3, p. 160.]

[Footnote 27: Tapet, a clothe, _tappis_. Palsgrave, 1530. _Tapis_,
Tapistrie, hangings, &c., of Arras. Cotgrave, 1611. _Tapis_,
carpet, a green square-plot. Miege, 1684. The hangynges of a house
or chambre, in plurali, _aulæa ... Circundo cubiculum aulæis_, to
hange the chambre. The carpettes, _tapetes_. Withals.]

[Footnote 28: And he (a Grome of Chambyr) setteth nyghtly, after
the seasons of the yere, torchys, tortays, candylles of wax,
mortars; and he setteth up the _sises_ in the King’s chambre,
_H. Ord._ p. 41, ‘these torches, five, seven, or nine; and as many
_sises_ sett upp as there bee torches,’ _ib._ p. 114; and dayly
iiii other of these gromes, called wayters, to make fyres, to sett
up tressyls and bourdes, with yomen of chambre, and to help dresse
the beddes of sylke and arras. _H. Ord._ p. 41.]

[[Footnote 28a: ? some omission after this line.]]

[Footnote 29: Wardroppe, or closet--_garderobe_. Palsgrave.]

[Footnote 30: See the duties of Edward IV.’s Sewar, _H. Ord._
p. 36.]

[Footnote 31: Manchet was the fine bread; chet, the coarse. Fr.
_pain rouffet_, Cheat, or boulted bread; houshold bread made of
Wheat and Rie mingled. Cotgrave.]

[Footnote 32: See the ‘Styward of Housholde,’ _H. Ord._ p. 55-6:
‘He is head officer.’]

[Footnote 33: See the ‘Countroller of this houshold royall,’
_H. Ord._ p. 58-9.]

[Footnote 34: See the duties and allowances of A Surveyour for the
Kyng, in _Household Ordinances_, p. 37.]

[Footnote 35: See the ‘chyef clerke of kychyn,’ t. Edw. IV.,
_H. Ord._ p. 70; and Henry VIII.’s Clerke of the Kitchen, A.D.
1539, _ib._ p. 235.]

[Footnote 36: The duties of the Chauncellor of Englond are not
stated in Edw. IV.’s Liber Niger, _H. Ord._ p. 29; but one of the
two Clerkys of Grene-Clothe was accustomed to ‘delyver the
clothinge of housholde,’ p. 61.]

[Footnote 37: See the ‘Thesaurere of Housholde’ in Edw. IV.’s
Liber Niger, _H. Ord._ p. 56-8: ‘the grete charge of polycy and
husbandry of all this houshold growyth and stondyth moste part by
hys sad and dylygent pourveyaunce and conduytes.’]

[Footnote 38: AS. _gerefa_, reeve, steward, bailiff.]

[Footnote 39: Rents, in kind or money; AS. _feorme_, food, goods.]

[Footnote 40: The Avener of Edw. IV. is mentioned in _H. Ord._
p. 69. See the Charge of Henry VIII.’s Stable, A.D. 1526, _ib._
p. 206-7.]

[Footnote 41: Prouender or menglid corne--fovrraige ...
_provende_. Palsgrave.]

[Footnote 42: See ‘two _cast_ of brede,’ l. 631. ‘One caste of
brede’ for the Steward’s yeoman, _H. Ord._ p. 56, &c.]

[Footnote 43: Mayster of the horses--_escvier de escvirie_.
Palsg.]