Early English Meals and Manners

by Unknown

Now, soñ, y perceue þat for dyuerse cawses / as welle as for ignoraunce,

a merchalle is put oft tymes in gret comberaunce

For som lordes þat ar of blod royalle / & litelle of lyvelode per chaunce,

and some of gret lyvelode / & no blode royalle to avaunce;

And som knyght is weddid / to a lady of royalle blode,

and a poore lady to blod ryalle, manfulle & myghty of mode:

þe lady of blod royalle shalle kepe þe state / þat she afore in stode,

the lady of low blode & degre / kepe her lordis estate, y make hit good.

The substaunce of lyvelode is not so digne / as is blode royalle,

Þerfore blode royalle opteyneth þe souereynte in chambur & in halle,