Napery from the Book of Courtesy

[bunnyjadwiga]

MS. Sloane 1986, dated about 1460.
Transcription from The Babees' Book; Medieval Manners for the Young: Done into Modern English from Dr. Furnivall's Texts by Edith Rickert. (New York: Cooper Square Publishers, 1966) p. 112-113.

"This ewerer shall cover his lord's board
with double napery, at a bare word,
The selvage toward the lord's side;
and down shall hang that other wide.
The uppercloth shall double be laid,
To the outer side the selvage braid;
The other selvage he shall over fold
As towel it were, fair to behold.
Napkins he shall cast thereupon,
That the lord shall cleanse his fingers on;
The lady and whoever sits in hall,
All napkins shall have, both great and small.