Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Boke of Kervynge, part 10 (into modern English)

a few different transcriptions of the book were used, other relevant info may be found here.

and now for the last part of a "Boke of Kervynge"

________________



The Chamberlain
The chamberlain must be diligent and cleanly in his office with his head combed and so his sovereign that he be not reckless and see that he has a clean shirt, breeches, petticoat [in this case, an undercoat worn by a man] and doublet/ then brush his hose [both] inside and out and see his shoes and slipper be made clean/ and at morning, when your sovereign will arise, warm his shirt by the fire/ and see [that] he has a foot sheet made in this manner. First set a chair by the fire with a cushion and [an]other under his feet/ then spread a sheet over the chair and have ready a kerchief and a comb/ then warm his petticoat, his doublet and his stomacher/ and then put on his hose and his shoes or slippers, then strike up his hose mannerly, and tie them up then lace his doublet hole by hole and lay the cloth about[around] his neck and comb his head/ then see [that] you have a basin and ewer with warm water and a towel and wash his hands/ then kneel upon your knee and ask your sovereign what robe he will wear and bring him such as your sovereign command and put it on him, then do [up] his girdle around him and take your leave mannerly and go to the church or chapel to your sovereigns closet [private room] and lay carpets and cushions and lay down his book of prayers/ then draw the curtains and take your leave goodly and go to your sovereigns chamber and cast all the clothes of his bed [his bedclothes] and beat the featherbed and the bolster/ but see [that] you waste no feathers, then shake the blanks and see [that] the sheets be fair and sweet or else see [that] you have clean sheets/ then make up his bed mannerly then lay the head sheet and the pillows/ then take up the towel and basin and lay carpets around the bed or windows and cupboards laid with carpets and cushions. Also see [that] there is a good fire burning bright, see [that] the house of easement [Russel’s book of nurture refers to the “priv-house of esement” being the privy]is sweet and clean and the privy board covered with a green cloth and a cushion/ then see [that] there is a blanket “donne” [possibly the colour dunn] or cotton for your sovereign/ and see [that] you have basin and ewer with water and a towel for your sovereign/ then take off his gown and bring him to the fire and take off his shoes and his hose, then take a fine kerchief of “reines” [a fine linen cloth] and comb his head and put on his kerchief and his bonnet/ then spread down his bed, lay the head sheet and the pillows/ and when your sovereign is to bed, draw the curtains/ then see [that] there be mortar [bowl, here set with oil for use as a lamp] or wax or candles/ then drive out dog or cat and see [that] there is a basin and urinal set near your sovereign/ then take your leave mannerly [so] that your sovereign may take his rest merrily.

Here ends of the chamberlain.


Here follows of the Marshal and the Usher.

The Marshal and the Usher must know all the estates of the church and high estate of a king with the royal blood.

The estate of a Pope has no peer
The estate of an Emperor is next
The estate of a king
The estate of a cardinal
The estate of a king’s son, a prince
The estate of an archbishop
The estate of a duke
The estate of a bishop
The estate of a Marquess
The estate of an earl
The estate of a viscount
The estate of a baron
The estate of an abbot with a miter [headdress]
The estate of the three chief Judges and the mayor of London.
The estate of a knight bachelor
The estate of the prior, dean, archdeacon or knight
The estate of the master of rolls
The estate of other Justices and barons of the checker
The estate of the mayor of Calays
The estate of a provincial a doctor divine [theologian]
The estate of a prothonotary, he is above the popes collector and a doctor of both laws.
The estate of a master of the chancery and other worshipful preachers of pardon and clerks that are graduated/ and all other orders of chaste persons and priests, worshipful merchants and gentlemen, all these may sit at the squires table.
An archbishop and duke may not keep the hall, but each estate by themselves in chamber or in pavilion that they may not see each other.
Bishops, Marquess, Earls and Viscounts, all these may sit two to a mess [dish/serving].
A baron and the mayor of London and three chief Judges and the speaker of the parliament and an abbot with a miter, all these may sit three or four at a mess.
And all other estates may sit three or four at a mess.

Also the Marshal must understand and know the royal blood [who has royal blood] for some lords are of royal blood and [are] of small livelihood. And some knights are wedded to a lady of royal blood, she shall keep the estate that she has before. And a lady of lower degree, shall keep the estate of her lords blood/ and therefore the royal blood shall have the reverence as I have showed you here before.
Also, a Marshal must take heed of the birth and next of line of the royal blood.
Also he must take heed of the kings officers of the Chancellor, Steward, Chamberlain, Treasurer and Controller.
Also, the Marshal must take heed unto strangers and put them to worship and reverence for, and they have good cheer, it is your sovereign’s honour.
Also, a Marshal must take heed if the king sends a knight [to] receive him as a baron/ and if he sends a squire [to] receive him as a knight/ and if he sends a yeoman [to] receive him as a squire/ and if he sends a groom [to] receive him as a yeoman.
Also, it is no rebuke to a knight to set a groom of the king at his table.


Here ends the book of service and carving and sewing and all manner of office in his kind unto a princ or any other estate and all the feasts in the year.
Printed by Wynkyn de Worde at London in the Fleet Street at the sign of the sun. The year of our lord, 1508.

No comments:

Post a Comment