THE BULES OF S. KOBERT 137 



The seventeenth kule teaches you how you ought to 

 seat your people at meals in your house. 



Make your free men and guests sit as far as possible at 

 tables on either side, not four here and three there. And 

 all the crowd of grooms shall enter together when the free- 

 men are seated, and shall sit together and rise together. 

 And strictly forbid that any quarrelling be at your meals. 

 And you yourself always be seated at the middle of the high 

 table, that your presence as lord or lady may appear openly 

 to all, and that you may plainly see on either side all the 

 service and all the faults. And be careful of this, that each 

 day at your meals you have two overseers over your house- 

 hold when you sit at meals, and of this be sure, that you 

 shall be very much feared and reverenced. 



THE EIGHTEENTH RULE TEACHES YOU HOW YOU OUGHT TO 

 GIVE LEAVE TO YOUR PEOPLE WHO BEAR OFFICE IN YOUR 

 HOUSE TO GO TO THEIR OWN HOME. 



As little as possible give leave to those who keep office 

 in your house to go to their own homes, and when you give 

 leave, give them a short time to return to you, if they wish 

 to serve you ; and if any of them speak back or grumble, 

 tell them that you will be lord or lady, and that you will 

 that all serve your will and pleasure, and whoever will 

 not do so send away, and get others who will serve your 

 pleasure — of whom you will find enough. 



The nineteenth rule teaches you how your hostel 

 ought to be served at meals. 



Command that your panter with the bread and your 

 butler with the cup come before you to the table, foot by foot, 

 before grace, and that three valets be assigned by the mar- 

 shal each day to serve the high table and the two tables 

 at the side with drink. And no vessel with ale shall be 



