SC - wait people in period?
Laura C. Minnick
lcm at efn.org
Fri Mar 3 11:49:53 PST 2000
Timothy Buxton wrote:
>
> The subject of "wait people" brought a question to my mind: do we have a
> good source which lists the assorted servants, servers, butlers, cooks, etc.
> in a period household? I've seem smidgeons of this information here and
> there, but would love to have (or put together) some kind of semi-solid
> list.
Yup- in fact I'd been going through stuff to answer the question about
hand-washing and serving that was posted, uh, about a week ago (sorry
guys! I'm working on it!)
The short list of specific servants:
Marshal of the Hall (a sort of Maitre d' Hotel)
Usher (facilities director- cleanliness, furnishings, etc.)
Steward
Carver
Ewerer
Sewer/Surveyor (a head server- actually carries dishes, not just
management)
Pantler
Butler
assorted servers and other help
The short list of sources that I have used:
_The Boke of Curtasye_ Sloane MS. 1986, British Museum, 1430-1440.
In _Early English Meals and Manners_ pp.175-205.
Wynkyn de Worde _The Boke of Kervynge_ 1413. in EEM&M, pp 149-174.
John Russell _The Boke of Nurture_ Harleian MS 4011, British Museum mid
15th c.
In EEM&M pp 1-112.
_Ffor to Serva a Lord_ early 16th c., in EEM&M, pp. 349-360.
F.J.Furnival, ed. _Early English Meals and Manners_ London, Early
English Text Society, 1868.
Henisch, Bridget Ann. _Fast and Feast_, University park, Pennsylvania:
Pennslylvania State University Press, 1976.
I also have a booklet written by my friend Ray Lischner called "Servers
and Serving in the Middle Ages and Renaissance" that he wrote in 1991,
but I have no idea where it is right now- probably In The Basement.
Just as a note- the EEM&M and EETS stuff usually has a glossary, so
don't let the Middle English bits freak you out.
Hope this gives you a good start- holler if you have more questions!
'Lainie
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