William.
¶ Yea marye: this is the olde facion when all is done, that Tiranny hath now abolished and put away from amõg vs: I think Christ liued iump[[6]] after this maner on the earth when he was here conuersaunt with his Apostles.
Bertulphe.
¶ After they be all set, in commeth the frowning minion againe, and once more falleth to recken what company he hathe there: by and by retourning he layeth euery one a trenchar, and a spone of the same siluer: and then after that, hee setteth downe a drinkinge glasse and within a while bringes in bread which euery manne (at leysure) chippeth and pareth for him selfe, whiles the potage is a sethinge. They sit mopinge after thys manner, otherwhiles a whole houre together, ere they can get any thinge to eate.
William.
¶ Why? Doe none of the guestes call earnestlye vpon them to haue in the Supper all this while?
Bertulphe.
¶ No, none of them all that knowes the Facion of the countrye. At the laste they are serued with Wyne: but youe woulde wonder to see what small geare it is, Scoolemen or Sophisters shoulde drinke none other by myne aduise, because it is so thinne and tarte: how bee it if a guest shoulde chaunce (beside his shotte) to offer Monye to one, and desyre him to gette some better Wyne thenne that some other where, because he lykes it not: they firste make as though they hearde him not: but yet they bee eye hym with suche a bigge an frowning countenaunce as if the Deuyl should loke ouer LINCOLN (as they doe saye) If you will not linne[[7]] callinge vppon them, thenne they make youe this aunswere. So many EARLES and MARQUESES, haue lodged here in our house, & yet the time is yet to come, that euer they founde any fault with our wine. And therefore if ye fancy it not, get ye packing in the name of God, and seeke an other Inne where ye liste. For they accompt great men and noble men for men onely in their contrye I tell you, setting their armes abroade in euery corner of their house for a shewe. Now by this time they are serued with a soupe, to alay and pacify their pore hongry and crookling stomackes, well nigh loste for meat, hard at the heeles of that comes forthe the dishes with greate ceremonie, pompe or solemnitie. For the firste course they haue soppes or slices of bread, soaked in fleshe brothe, or if it be a fishe day, in the broth of pulce. Then nexte they haue an other brothe: and after that they are serued wyth fleshe twise sod[[8]], or fishe twise het. And yet, after this, they haue potage once againe, immediatly after, they haue some stiffer meate til suche time as they world beinge well amended with them, they set roste on the table, or sodde[[8]] freshe fishe, whiche a man can not all together mislike. But when it comes to that once they make spare and whip it away at a sodaine I warraunt you, they facion out euery thinge in his dew time & place. And as the players of Enterludes or comedies, are wonte in their Scenes, to entermedle theyr Chories, so doe these Duche men serue forthe to their guests, Soppes and Potage enterchañgeably or by course. But they prouide that the latter inde of the feast be best furnished.
William.
¶ And this (I tell you) is the poynte of a good Poet.