The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-04-28
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Table Etiquette Five Hundred Years
Ago,


Five hundred years ago, when the battles Of
Cressy and Poictiers had just been fought-ere
4 printing had been invented or America discoY-
ered and before Chaucer had written his Can
terbury Tales-at this time some philanthropie
individual whose name was passed away into
the darkness of ages has seized with the idea
of writing Boke of Curtasye, or what would be
called in the present day the " Gentleman's Pock-
ct Companion"
This curious manuscript was found in after
centuries aud incorporated with the Sloane
INNS, which now belong to the British Musuem.
A few years since it was hauled out from it's
dusty obscurity, and printed exclusively for the
member of a club ofliterary antiduarians But
in our possession may be considered as good as
manuscript.
The work is divided into the three parts, and
contains in all some eight hundred and fifty lines
The first part treats of behavior at table, the sec
ond treats principally of the moral obligations,
whilst the third gives special directions as to
the duties Of the different officers around a great
mans house. Where we have to use the words
of the old author, we shall modernize them as
much as possible.
"Whoso will learn of curtasye (saith the old
writer) may find it in this book, whether he be
gentleman, yeoman or knave. When thou come
to a lords gate thou must leave thy weapon with
the porter at the gate, and ask lsave to speak
u: Al I.
tented.
For if he be of high degree,
Then him it falls to come to thee
If he be gentleman of kim
The porter will lead thee to him.
Take off thy gloves and thy hood at hall
door, and if the company be at meat salute the
steward, counselor, and treasurer; then bow
without noise to the gentlemen sitting at the
right and left of the hall Stand before the
screen uaWs the marshal or ushar bid thee sit at
the table, when act quietly and decently.
spare thy bread in two, the upper crust
from the under. Cut the upper portion into
Jour quarters, and set them together as if whole.
Cut the lower crust in three, turn it donW, and
lay it before thy trencher. Sit upright nor
touch bread or wine, drink or ale, until thy mess
of meat be offered thee, lest men say thou are a
gluten. Keep thy nails clean, lest thy neighbor
be disguised
Bite not thy bread and lay it down,
That Isl curasye to use in town;
But break much as thou wilt eat,
The remnant for the poor thou shalt let.
Eat in peace and avoid disputes and games.
Let never thy cheek be made too greet
With morse of bread that thou shalt eat?
An apes mouth men say he makes,
That bread and flesh in his cheek bakes
Do not laugh or speak with thy mouth full,
nor sup thy pottage noisily. Let not thy spoon
stand in thy dish, nor lay it on thy dish side,
but cleanse it. Soil not the cloth with thy
fingers. Wipe thy mouth ere drinking. Call
| not for dish that has been taken from the
board. Spit not on the board nor play with
thy dog"
From the direction relative to cleaning the
nose at table, it seems pocket hahkerchiefs and
napkins were not in fashion, as fashion, as the
diner is directed to whpe his fingers in his tip
pet or his skirt
Cleanse not thy teeth at meat sitting
With knife straw, stick nor wand
Whilst thou hold meat in thy mouth beware
/ To drink that is unhonest cheer
And also physic forbids it,
And says thou may be choaked by that bit
iii 60 thy wrong throat into,
ft And stop thy wind, thou art fordo."
Don't tell scandalous tales at table !; don't
stroak the cat Avoid fouling the board-cloth
with thy knife. Blow not on thy meat, nor eat
with thy knife. Wipe not thy teeth with the
board-cloth. Lean not on thine elbow, nor dip
thy thumb into thy drink Dip not thy fish or
meat into the saltceller. Spit not in the basin
where thou washest after meat, nor spit like a
vagabond at any time"
A woman is either worth great dealer moth