THE RULES OF S. ROBERT 139 



placed on the table, but under the table, and wine only 

 shall be plaeed on the table ; but at the table where you are, 

 wine and ale shall be under the table, except before you only 

 shall drink be on the table. Command that your marshal 

 be careful to be present over the household, and especially 

 in the hall, to keep the household within doors and without 

 respectable, without dispute or noise, or bad words. And at 

 each course call the servers to go to the kitchen, and they 

 themselves to go always before your seneschal as far as you 

 until your dishes be set before you, then go and be in the 

 middle of the chief hall, and see that all servants with 

 meats go orderly, and without noise to one part and another 

 of the hall to those who shall be assigned to divide the meats, 

 so that nothing be placed or served disorderly. Especially 

 do you yourself keep a watch over the service until the 

 meats are placed in the hostel, and then attend to your own 

 meals, and command that your dish be so refilled and heaped 

 up, and especially with the light dishes, that you may 

 courteously give from your dish to all the high table on the 

 right and on the left, and where you shall please they shall 

 soon have what you yourself had before you. 



The twentieth rule teaches you how you shall take an 

 example from the serving at dinner and supper in 

 the house of a good man. 



And know the establishment of the house of the Bishop 

 of Lincoln ; know that each quarter of wheat shall make 

 nine score loaves of white and brown bread together, that 

 is loaves of the weight of five marks, and the hostel at meat 

 is served with two meats, large and full, to increase the alms, 

 and with two lighter dishes also full for all the freemen, and 

 at supper with one dish not so substantial, and also light 

 dishes, and then cheese. And if strangers come to supper 

 they shall be served with more according as they have 

 need. 



