The Penn's Grove record., 1882-04-22
How Princess cicely Lived.

How Princess Cicely Lived
A curious old document was I'M
earthed from the obscurity of a semi
nriyate collection of manuscripts-for
it is not, properly speaking, a record
and it is well worth attention, not
only as a memento of a distinguished
lady. but as evidence of what may be
considered as the usual regime of a
pious household in the middle ages.
It is a detailed account of the daily
life of the Princess Cicely, mother Of
Edward ", and in the original ex-
tends over several pages of foolscap a
few of the most salient points, how
ever. are all that can be noted here.
The Princess spent her time as fol
lows She rose at seven and began the
day with mathis, after which she had
breakfast. This over, she returned to
her religious exercises, and continued
so employed till eleven o'clock, when
she with all her household dined.
Having concluded her dinner and
given an hours audience to such ten
ants or others as might desire that
privilege, the Princess slept for aquar-
ter of an hour, and rising, it IS to be
hoped refreshed, from a singularly
short siesta, she returned to her pray
ers, and so continued till "e~ven-song,"
to which ceremony she Immediately
proceeded, allowing only a short inter
val for the consumption AS we are told,
of"wine or ale" Even song concluded
at five O'Clock, she went to supper,
and, on edifying thoughts intent, du-
ring the progress of that meal recited
the lecture she had heard at dinner to
those about her.
Relief, however, was at hand, and
the Princess's sufferings for the day
were over-stern duty was to be sue
ceeded by mild dissipation, for on
rising from the table, she gave herself
up, as we are informed, to an hours
"mirth ~ History is silent as to the
pc uliar kind of jollity INDUCED in by
tbs pious lady, but, after the supper
and its accompanying lecture, even
chess must have appeared a reckless
indulgence, and the frolics of a jester,
or the stately measure of a Dance pos
tive orgy. The hour of gayety being
spent, the Princess Cicely went up
stairs and, alter praying again, re
tired to bed, reaching that haven at
eight o'clock. The touch of sly humor
which the courtly old chronicler, who
apparently finds the lady's daily ex-
ercises too much for his gravity, m
serts at the end of his account, is
worth quoting 81 trust" says he,
tour Lords mercy that this noble
Princess thus devydeth the hours to
His high pleasure"
The account is not yet concluded:
the following information as to the
menoge of the household may be ofin-
terest.
The dinners on Sunday, Tuesday
and Thursday consisted principally of
boiled beef and mutton, N roast
joint in addition being allowed; on
Monday and Wednesday the meal
was much the same as OF the other
days of the week, with the omission
of the roast. The suppers uniformly
consisted of roast beef and mutton.
The dinner on Saturday was salt and
fresh fish and butter-the supper being
salt fish and eggs. Friday is not men,
toned but, as it was a fast day, the
meals were probably worse than those
of Saturday.
The head officers alone had break
fast, and to them also was allowed the
luxury of bread and ale for supper.
The two following rules, almost
Draeopian in their severity, must
conclude the notice Of this interesting
document:
By the constitution OF the house, if
any man comes late to mathis, etc,
he has only bread and water for his
supper.
Every man at Easter must bling a
certificate to show where ne was shri-
ven or received the Sacrament, Oh he
loses his place.
1t is probable that such q WY Of
life was rare, even in those days Of
priestly influence; and surely there
could be but few servants found 70
subpnff n q -v,Ta q uS,-as - ~x+ -
Edwards mother. But the br1ac
features of the case have their value,
and would probably apply TO most
regimes of the period