[Sca-cooks] what did they do with dirty tableware?

[Laura C. Minnick]

At 01:42 PM 5/7/02 -0700, you wrote:
>'Lainie scolded me with:
>--------
>Stefan! Bad! No biscuit! Don't wipe your knife on the tablecloth- on your
>napkin maybe, but nor the tablecloth. Nor do you wipe your face on the
>tablecloth.
>--------
>
>I thought napkins were a post-period development. Let's assume
>a 14th Century feast here.

Okay- you asked for it. I'd rather be napping, but-

"Also eschewe, with-outen strife/ to foule the borde clothe with thy knife"
	_The Boke of Curtasye_ (Sloane- c. 1460, also appears in a 14th BOC,
edited by Halliwell for the Percy Society)

"Enbrewe not the table clothe/ but wype upon your napkin"
	_The Boke of Kervynge_ (Wynkyn de Worde- c 1413)

That's just what I have on the shelf here...

>-------
>No biscuit, and you should go help the laundresses for a few days!
>-------
>
>I'm asking about when I am a guest at someone else's Manor, what is
>proper. At my own manor, I hire the laundresses or more exactly,
>my household staff does. If I want to wipe my knife on the
>tablecloth, I will. If they don't like it, I will give them my
>permission to seek work elsewhere.

But if your table-mates know that it is bad manners to wipe your knife on
teh cloth (and they surely will) it will bring you no honor to do so- and
even less to take it out on the laundresses. (Good ones aren't easy to come
by, either).

Your social standing is very dependent on your manners, and at table is a
very big part of that.

>Stefan li Rous
>Head of the Manor

Elaine de Montgris
Regent for the young Lord of Montgris, Lady of the lands of L'Abri and all
those attached, Lady of Perewode near Oxford (lately seized by Somerton)
and also of diverce small holdings in Anjou and Poitou. Holding wardship of
several eligible young ladies (bids may be sent privately) and also pleased
to be the much Worshippful Lady of the honored Edouard de Brueyerecourt,
who is seneschal and servant to the Prince of the Summits.

Nyah!
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