Early English Meals and Manners

by Unknown

Then must ye draw & reyse / þe vpper parte of þe towelle,

Ley it with-out ruffelynge streiȝt to þat oþer side, y þe telle;

þañ at euery end þerof convay half a yarde or an elle,

þat þe sewere may make a state / & plese his mastir welle.

[ whan] þe state hath wasche, þe surnap drawne playne,

þeñ must ye bere forþe þe surnape before youre souerayne,

and so must ye take it vppe withe youre armes twayne,

and to þe Ewery bere hit youre silf agayne.

[ a-bowt youre nekke a towelle ye bere, so to serue youre lorde,]

þañ to hym make curtesie, for so it wille accorde.