Part 35 (2/2)

ey ar boe abbot{es} of name, & not lyke of fame to fande; ?et Tynterne w{i}t{h} Westmynster shall{e} now{er} sitte ne stande. 1144

[Sidenote: the Prior of Canterbury above the Prior of Dudley,]

-- Also e Pryour{e} of Caunturbury,[271]

a cheff churche of dignyte, And e priour{e} of Dudley,[272] no yng{e} so digne as he:-- ?et may not e priour{e} of dudley, symple of degre, Sitte w{i}t{h} e priour{e} of Caunturbury: {er} is why, a dyu{er}site. 1148

[Sidenote: the Prior who is Prelate of a Cathedral Church above any Abbot or Prior of his diocese,]

-- And reme{m}br{e} eu{er}mor{e} / an rule {er} is generall{e}: A p{ri}our{e} at is a p{re}late of any churche Cathedrall{e}, above abbot or priour{e} w{i}t{h}-in the diocise sitte he shall{e}, In churche / in chapell{e} / in chambur / & in hall{e}. 1152

[Sidenote: a Doctor of 12 years' standing above one of 9 (though the latter be the richer),]

-- Right so reu{er}end docturs, degre of xij. yer{e}, em ye must a.s.signe to sitte aboue hym / at co{m}mensed hath but .ix.

and augh{e} e yonger may larger spend gold red & fyne, ?et shall{e} e eldur sitte aboue / whe{ur} he drynke or dyne. 1156

[Sidenote: the old Aldermen above the young ones, and 1. the Master of a craft, 2. the ex-warden.]

-- like wise the aldremen, ?ef ey be eny wher{e}, e yonger{e} shall{e} sitte or stande benethe e elder ri?t er{e}; and of eu{er}y crafft e mastir aftur rule & maner{e}, and en e eldest of em, {a}t warden was e for{e} yer{e}. 1160

[Sidenote: Before every feast, then, think what people are coming, and settle what their order of precedence is to be.]

-- Soche poyntes, w{i}t{h} many o{er}, belongeth{e} to a m{er}shall; erfor{e} whensoeu{er} your{e} sovereyn a feest make shall, demeene what estates shall{e} sitte in the hall, an reson w{i}t{h} your{e} self lest your{e} lord yow call{e}; 1164

[Sidenote: If in doubt, ask your lord or the chief officer,]

-- Thus may ye devise your{e} marshallyng{e}, like as y yow ler{e}, e honour{e} and wors.h.i.+pp{e} of your{e} sou{er}eyn eu{er}y wher{e}; And ?eff ye haue eny dowt / eu{er} looke {a}t ye enquer{e}, Resorte eu{er} to your{e} souereyn{e} / or to e cheff officer{e}; 1168

[Sidenote: and then you'll do wrong to no one, but set all according to their birth and dignity.]

-- Thus shall{e} ye to any state / do wronge ne pr{e}iudice, to sette eu{er}y p{er}sone accordyng{e} w{i}t{h}-owten mys, as aftur e birthe / livelode / dignite / a-fore y taught yow this, all{e} degrees of high{e} officer{e}, & worthy as he is. 1172

[Headnote: THE DUTIES OF THE USHER AND MARSHAL.]

[Sidenote: Now I have told you of Court Manners, how to manage in Pantry, b.u.t.tery, Carving, and as Sewer, and Marshal,]

-- ++Now good son, y hau{e} shewed the / & brought e in vre, to know e Curtesie of court / & these ow may take in cur{e}, In pantry / botery / or celler{e} / & in kervyng{e} a-for{e} a sovereyn{e} demewr{e}, A sewer / or a m{er}shall{e}: in es science / y suppose ye byn sewr{e}, 1176

[Sidenote: as I learnt with a Royal Prince whose Usher and Marshal I was. All other officers have to obey me.]

-- Which in my dayes y lernyd with{e} a prynce full{e} royall{e}, with whom vscher{e} in chambur was y, & m{er}shall{e} also in hall{e}, vnto whom all{e} ese officer{es} for{e}seid / ey eu{er} ente{n}d{e} shall{e}, Evir to fulfill{e} my co{m}maundement when at y to em call{e}: 1180

[Headnote: THE USHER AND MARSHAL IS THE CHIEF OFFICER.]

[Sidenote: Our office is the chief, whether the Cook likes it or not.]

For we may allow & dissalow / our{e} office is e cheeff In celler{e} & spicery / & the Cooke, be he looth{e} or leeff.[273]

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