Hir white legges, and seid “ma dame,
Youre shin boones might doo vs blame;
Abide,” she seid, “so mot I thee,
More slotered thei most be.”
Asshes with the water she menged,
And her white legges al be-sprenged.
ab. 1440 A.D., Syr Generides, p. 218, ll. 7060-8.
NAKED SCULLIONS AND DIRTY STREETS.
If in Henry the Eighth’s kitchen, scullions lay about naked, or tattered and filthy, what would they do elsewhere? Here is the King’s Ordinance against them in 1526:
“And for the better avoydyng of corruption and all uncleannesse out of the Kings house, which doth ingender danger of infection, and is very noisome and displeasant unto all the noblemen and others repaireing unto the same; it is ordeyned by the Kings Highnesse, that the three master cookes of the kitchen shall have everie of them by way of reward yearly twenty marks, to the intent they shall prouide and sufficiently furnish the said kitchens of such scolyons as shall not goe naked or in garments of such vilenesse as they now doe, and have been acustomed to doe, nor lie in the nights and dayes in the kitchens or ground by the fireside; but that they of the said money may be found with honest and whole course garments, without such uncleannesse as may be the annoyance of those by whom they shall passe”...