¶ De aquario. [In Edward the Fourth's Court, 'Knyghts of Household, XII, bachelers sufficiant, and most valient men of that ordre of every countrey' had 'to serve the King of his bason.' H. Ord. p. 33.]
¶ And speke I wylle of oþer mystere
Þat falles to court, as ȝe mun here;
Line 640
An euwere in halle þere nedys to be,
And chandelew schalle haue and alle napere;
He schalle gef water to gentilmen,
And als in alle ȝomen.
Line 644
¶ Qui debent manus lauare et in quorum domibus.
¶ In kynges court and dukes also,
Þer ȝomen schynne wasshe and no mo;—
In duke Ionys house a ȝoman þer was,
For his rewarde prayde suche a grace;
Line 648
Þe duke gete graunt þer-of in londe,
Of þe kyng his fader, I vndudurstonde.—(so)
Wosoeuer gefes water in lordys chaunber,
In presens of lorde or leuedé dere,
Line 652
He schalle knele downe opon his kne,
Ellys he forȝetes his curtasé;
Þis euwer schalle hele his lordes borde,
With dowbulle napere at on bare worde:
Line 656
The seluage to þo lordes syde with-inne,
And doun schalle heng þat oþer may wynne;
Þo ouer nape schalle dowbulle be layde,
To þo vttur syde þe seluage brade;
Line 660
Þo ouer seluage he schalle replye, [Replier, To redouble, to bow, fould, or plait into many doublings. Cotgrave.]
As towelle hit were fayrest in hye;
Browers [Napkins? O. Fr. brueroi is bruyère, heath.] he schalle cast þer-opon,
Þat þe lorde schulle clense his fyngers [on],
Line 664
Þe leuedy and whoseuer syttes with-inne,
Alle browers schynne haue bothe more and myn.
