University of Virginia Library

VVhen thy parentes downe
to the table shall syt,
In place be ready
For the purpose moste fyt:
With sober countinaunce
Lokynge them in the face,
Thy handes holdynge vp,
this begyn grace:

“Geue thankes to God
with one accorde
For that shall be
Set on this borde.
And be not carefull
what to eate,
To eche thynge lyuynge
the Lorde sends meate;
For foode he wyll not
Se you peryshe,
But wyll you fede,
Foster, and cheryshe;
Take well in worth
what he hath sent,
At this tyme be
therwith content,
[OMITTED]
Praysynge God.”

So treatablie speakyng
as possible thou can,
That the hearers therof
May thee vnderstan.
Grace beynge sayde,
Lowe cursie make thou,
Sayinge “muche good
May it do you.”
Of stature then
yf thou be able,
It shall become thee
to serue the table
In bringynge to it
Suche meate as shall nede
For thy parence vpon
that tyme to fede.
Disshes with measure
thou oughtest to fyll,
Els mayste thou happen
thy seruyce to spyll
On theyr apparell
Or els on the cloth,
whiche for to doe
wolde moue them to wroth.
Spare trenchers with napkyns
haue in redynes
To serue afterwarde,
If there come any gesse.
Be circumspecte;
see nothynge do wante;
Of necessary thynges
that there be no skant,
As breade and drynke,
se there be plentie;
The voyders with bones
Ofte se thou emptie.
At hande be ready,
If any do call,
To fetche or take vp,
If ought fortune to fall.
when they haue done,
then ready make
The table vp fayre
In order to take:
Fyrste the saulte
Se that thou couer,
Hauynge by thee
Eyther one or other
thynges from thy handes
then to conuaye
That from the table
thou shalt take awaye.
A voyder vpon
the table then haue,
The trenchers and napkyns
therein to receaue;
The croomes with a napkyn
together them swepe,
It at the tables ende
In a voyder them kepe.
Then before eche man
A cleane treanchour lay,
The best fyrste seruynge,
As iudge thou soone may;
Then cheese with fruite
On the table set,
With Bisketes or Carowayes,
As you may get.
Wyne to them fyll,
Els ale or beare;
But wyne is metest,
If any there were.
Then on the table
Attende with all diligence,
It for to voyde
when done haue thy parence:
Eche syde of the clothe
Do thou tourne in,
Foldynge it vp,
At the hygher ende begin.
A cleane towell then
On the table spreade,—
The towell wantynge,
the cloth take in steade,—
The bason and ewer
to the table then brynge,
In place conuenient
theyr pleasure abydynge.
when thou shalt see
them redy to washe,
The ewer take vp,
and be not to rashe
In powrynge out water
More then wyll suffise.
The table then voyde
that they may ryse.
All thynges thus done,
forget not thy dutie,
Before the table
Make thou lowe cursie.