viii early tracts on cookery, including this, would be a curious and even valuable addition to archæo logical literature. Those who are engaged in researches of this nature, frequently feel a difficulty in ascertaining the precise meaning of early technical terms in the various arts and sciences; the inconvenience of which would at least be considerably decreased by compilations of the kind just mentioned. J. O. H. THE BOKE OF CURTASYE. HERE BEGYNNETHE THE FIRST BOKE OF CURTASYE. Qwoso wylle of curtasy lere, In this boke he may hit here; Yf thow be gentylmon, 30mon, or knave, To speke with lorde, lady, squyer, or grome, Ther to the nedys to take the tome; ffor yf he be of logh degré, Than hym falles to come to the; Yf he be gentylmon of kynne, B 5 10 When thow come tho halle dor to, ffirst to the ryght honde thou shalle go, In myddys the halle opon the flore, Whille marshalle or ussher come fro the dore, 30 In fowre thou kutt tho over dole, Sett hom togedur as hit where hole; 35 And turne hit downe, lerne this at me. 40 And lay thy trenchour the before, And sitt upryzht for any sore. Spare brede or wyne, drynke or ale, To thy messe of kochyne be sett in sale; Lest men sayne thou art honge betene, A velany thou kacches or ever thou rise. That brede and fleshe in hys cheke bakes. That is a schame for alle the host. 45 50 55 60 On bothe halfe thy mouthe, yf that thou ete, Thou shalle not lauzhe ne speke no thyng, Nother potage ne other thyng. Let not thi spone stond in thy dysche, Whether thou be served with fleshe or fische; Ne lay hit not on thy dishe syde, But clense hit honestly withouten pride. 65 70 Loke no browyng on thy fynger pore, In thi dysche yf thou wete thy brede, To cast agayne thy dysche into, Thou art unhynde yf thou do so. Drye thy mouthe ay wele and fynde, When thou shalle drynke other ale or wyne. Ne calle thou nozt a dysche a3ayne, That ys take fro the borde in playne; Or ellis thurgh thi tepet that is so gay. 75 80 85 90 With knyfe ne stre, styk ne wande. While thou holdes mete in mouthe, be war 95 To drynke, that is anhonest char, And also fysike forbedes hit, And sais thou may be choket at that byt; Yf hit go thy wrang throte into, 100 To harme or shame thy felawe in sale; ffor if he then witholde his methe, Eftsone he wylle forcast thi dethe. |