The Portable Medieval Reader

by James Bruce Ross

  At this time [1454] my gracious master, Duke Albert, was with his court at Rottenburg-on-the-Neokar. I presented myself to his grace and was very graciously and well received by him, as well as by the courtiers and all the nobles and knights. The duke presented me also with the princely Order of the Salamander, and I remained a whole year with his grace at court, but my desire still was to follow the profession of knighthood. I was preferred by his grace above all other lords and nobles, and became his chief chamberlain. It happened in that year that his grace spoke frequently with me on many matters touching on my sea journeys, and I made his grace aware of my desire, that as soon as I heard of a worthy expedition of knights to attach myself to them, with his gracious consent, and to follow their fortunes, carrying myself therein in such wise as to bring distinction to his grace’s name. With this the duke was well content. But at that time there were, so far as I could learn, no warlike disturbances in the country of any king or prince, for peace prevailed in all the kingdoms of the Christian world. And I began to think that it was useless for me to waste my time thus sitting still, for my gracious master also had then no particular business in hand, and spent the time at his court at Rottenburg or at Freiburg very pleasantly in racing, tourneys, and dancing, and suchlike pastimes, wherein I also took part as best I could, and applied myself very diligently thereto. For my late father said always that slothfulness was a great vice in young and old. I hoped also by such exercises to obtain practice and facility which would profit me in my knightly undertakings and be very serviceable to me, for I contemplated visiting the most famous kingdoms of Christendom, intending to wander from one country to another until I met with serious and important affairs.

  From The Diary of jörg von Ehingen, trams. M. Letts (London: Oxford University Press, H. Milford, 1929).

  The Rules of Courtly Love

  ANDREAS CAPELLANUS

  Twelfth century

  LOVE is a certain inborn suffering derived from the sight of and excessive meditation upon the beauty of the opposite sex, which causes each one to wish above all things the embraces of the other and by common desire to carry out all of love’s precepts in the other’s embrace.

  THE RULES

  I. Marriage is no real excuse for not loving.

  II. He who is not jealous cannot love.

  III. No one can be bound by a double love.

  IV. It is well known that love is always increasing or decreasing.

  V. That which a lover takes against the will of his beloved has no relish.

  vi. Boys do not love until they arrive at the age of maturity.

  VII. When one lover dies, a widowhood of two years is required of the survivor.

  vm. No one should be deprived of love without the very best of reasons.

  IX. No one can love unless he is impelled by the persuasion of love.

  x. Love is always a stranger in the home of avarice.

  xi. It is not proper to love any woman whom one would be ashamed to seek to marry.

  XII. A true lover does not desire to embrace in love anyone except his beloved.

  xm. When made public love rarely endures.

  XIV. The easy attainment of love makes it of little value; difficulty of attainment makes it prized

  xv. Every lover regularly turns pale in the presence of his beloved.

  xvi. When a lover suddenly catches sight of his beloved his heart palpitates.

  XVII. A new love puts to flight an old one.

  XVIII. Good character alone makes any man worthy of love.

  XIX. If love diminishes, it quickly fails and rarely revives.

  xx. A man in love is always apprehensive.

  xxi. Real jealousy always increases the feeling of love.

  xxn. Jealousy, and therefore love, are increased when one suspects his beloved.

  XXIII. He whom the thought of love vexes eats and sleeps very little.

  XXIV. Every act of a lover ends in the thought of his beloved.

  xxv. A true lover considers nothing good except what he thinks will please his beloved.

  XXVI. Love can deny nothing to love.

  XXVII. A lover can never have enough of the solaces of his beloved.

  XXVIII. A slight presumption causes a lover to suspect his beloved.

  XXIX. A man who is vexed by too much passion usually does not love.

  XXX. A true lover is constantly and without intermission possessed by the thought of his beloved.

  XXXI. Nothing forbids one woman being loved by two men or one man by two women.

  From The Art of Courtly Love, trans. J. J. Parry (New York: Columbia University Press, 1941).

  A Noble Household

  JEAN FROISSART

  Fourteenth century

  ON ENTERING his presence the count received me most handsomely, and retained me in his household. Our acquaintance was strengthened by my having brought with me a book which I had made at the desire of Winceslaus of Bohemia, duke of Luxembourg and Brabant; in which book, called Le Meliador, are contained all the songs, ballads, roundelays, and virelays, which that gentle duke had composed. Every night after supper I read out to the count parts of it, during which time he and all present preserved the greatest silence; and when any passages were not perfectly clear, the count himself discussed them with me, not in his Gascon language, but in very good French.

  I shall now tell you several particulars respecting the count and his household. Count Gascon Phoebus de Foix, at the time of which I am speaking, was about fifty-nine years old; and although I have seen very many knights, squires, kings, princes, and others, I never saw any one so handsome. He was so perfectly formed that no one could praise him too much. He loved earnestly the things he ought to love, and hated those which it became him to hate. He was a prudent knight, full of enterprise and wisdom. He never allowed any men of abandoned character to be about him, reigned prudently, and was constant at his devotions. There were regular nocturnals from the psalter, prayers from the rituals to the Virgin, to the Holy Ghost, and from the burial service. He had, every day, distributed, as alms at his gate, five florins, in small coin, to all comers. He was liberal and courteous in his gifts, and well knew how to take and how to give back. He loved dogs above all other animals; and during summer and winter amused himself much with hunting. He never indulged in any foolish works or ridiculous extravagances, and took account every month of the amount of his expenditure. He chose twelve of the most able of his subjects to receive and administer his finances, two serving two months each, and one of them acting as comptroller. He had certain coffers in his apartment, whence he took money to give to different knights, squires, or gentlemen, when they came to wait on him, for none ever left him without a gift. He was easy of access to all, and entered very freely into discourse, though laconic in his advice and in his answers. He employed four secretaries to write and copy his letters, and these were to be in readiness as soon as he left his room. He called them neither John, Walter, nor William, but his good-for-nothings, to whom he gave his letters, after he had read them, to copy or to do anything else which he might command. In such manner lived the Count de Foix. When he quitted his chamber at midnight for supper, twelve servants bore each a lighted torch before him. The hall was full of knights and squires, and there were plenty of tables laid out for any who chose to sup. No one spoke to him at table unless he first began the conversation. He ate heartily of poultry, but only the wings and thighs. He had great pleasure in hearing minstrels, being himself a proficient in the science. He remained at table about two hours, and was pleased whenever fanciful dishes were served up to him—not that he desired to partake of them, but having seen them, he immediately sent them to the tables of his knights and squires. In short, everything considered, though I had before been in several courts, I never was at one which pleased me more, nor was ever anywhere more delighted with feats of arms. Knights and squires were to be seen in every chamber, hall, and court, conversing on arms and armour. Everything honourable was to b
e found there. All intelligence from distant countries was there to be learnt; for the gallantry of the count had brought together visitors from all parts of the world.

  From Chronicles, trans. T. Johnes (Everyman’s Library [1906]).

  Offices in a Noble Household

  JOHN RUSSELL

  Fifteenth century

  THE duty of a chamberlain is to be diligent in office, neatly clad, his clothes not torn, hands and face well washed and head well kempt.

  He must be ever careful—not negligent—of fire and candle. And look you give diligent attendance to your master, be courteous, glad of cheer, quick of hearing in every way, and be ever on the lookout for things to do him pleasure; if you will acquire these qualities, it may advance you well.

  See that your lord has a clean shirt and hose, a short coat, a doublet, and a long coat, if he wear such, his hose well brushed, his socks at hand, his shoes or slippers as brown as a water-leech.

  In the morning, against your lord shall rise, take care that his linen be clean, and warm it at a clear fire, not smoky, if [the weather] be cold or freezing.

  When he rises make ready the foot-sheet, and forget not to place a chair or some other seat with a cushion on it before the fire, with another cushion for the feet. Over the cushion and chair spread this sheet so as to cover them; and see that you have a kerchief and a comb to comb your lord’s head before he is fully dressed.

  Then pray your lord in humble words to come to a good fire and array him thereby, and there to sit or stand pleasantly; and wait with due manners to assist him. First hold out to him his tunic, then his doublet while he puts in his arms, and have his stomacher well aired to keep off harm, as also his vamps and socks, and so shall he go warm all day.

  Then draw on his socks and his hose by the fire, and lace or buckle his shoes, draw his hosen on well and truss them up to the height that suits him, lace his doublet in every hole, and put round his neck and on his shoulders a kerchief; and then gently comb his head with an ivory comb, and give him water wherewith to wash his hands and face....

  If your lord wishes to bathe and wash his body clean, hang sheets round the roof, every one full of flowers and sweet green herbs, and have five or six sponges to sit or lean upon, and see that you have one big sponge to sit upon, and a sheet over so that he may bathe there for a while, and have a sponge also for under his feet, if there be any to spare, and always be careful that the door is shut. Have a basin full of hot fresh herbs and wash his body with a soft sponge, rinse him with fair warm rose-water, and throw it over him; then let him go to bed; but see that the bed be sweet and nice; and first put on his socks and slippers that he may go near the fire and stand on his foot-sheet, wipe him dry with a clean cloth, and take him to bed to cure his troubles....

  An usher or marshal, without fail, must know all the estates of the Church, and the excellent estate of a king with his honourable blood. This is a notable nurture, cunning, curious, and commendable.

  The estate of the pope has no peer, an emperor is next him everywhere and a king is correspondent, a high cardinal next in dignity, then a king’s son (ye call him prince), an archbishop his equal; a duke of the blood royal; a bishop, marquis, and earl coequal; a viscount, legate, baron, suffragan, and mitred abbot; a baron of the exchequer, the three chief justices, and the mayor of London; a cathedral prior, unmitred abbot, and knight bachelor; a prior, dean, archdeacon, knight, and body esquire; the master of the rolls (as I reckon aright), and puisne judge; clerk of the crown and the exchequer, and you may pleasantly prefer the mayor of Calais.

  A provincial, doctor of divinity, and prothonotary may dine together; and you may place the pope’s legate or collector with a doctor of both laws. An ex-mayor of London ranks with a serjeant-at-law, next a master of chancery, and then a worshipful preacher of pardons, masters of arts, and religious orders, parsons and vicars, and parish priests with a cure, the bailiffs of a city, a yeoman of the crown, and serjeant-of-arms with his mace, with him a herald, the king’s herald in the first place, worshipful merchants and rich artificers, gentlemen well-nurtured and of good manners, together with gentlewomen and lords’ foster-mothers-all these may eat with squires.

  From “Book of Nurture” in The Babees’ Book, trans. E. Rickert (London: Chatto and Windus, 1923)

  Private Lives of the English Gentry

  AN ENGLISH SCHOOLBOY, C. 1380

  SIRE and God’s servant: Know, if you please, that I have seen your son Edmund and have observed his condition for two nights and a day. His illness grows less from day to day, and he is no longer in bed; but when the fever returns, he lies somewhat ill for about two hours, after which he rises and, according to the demands of the time, goes to school and eats and walks about, well and happy, so that there seems to be nothing dangerous in his condition. And of his own accord he sent his respects to you and to his lady, and his greetings to the others. He is beginning to learn Donatus slowly and modestly, as is proper. He has that copy of Donatus which I feared was lost. Truly I have never seen a boy have such care as he has had during his illness. The master and his wife desire that some of his clothes should be left home, because he has far too many and fewer would suffice, and it is possible that, through no fault of theirs, his clothes might easily become torn and spoiled. I send to you descriptive titles of the books contained in one volume which the owner will not sell for less than twelve shillings; in my opinion and that of others, it is worth that. And if he sells it, he wants to be paid promptly. So, if you please, send me by your boy a reply concerning your wishes about these things. Farewell, in the power of Christ and in the merits of the Virgin and Mother Mary, from your devoted

  Brother Edmund

  To the honourable Sir Edmund de Stonor.

  THE FURNISHINGS OF AN ENGLISH MANOR HOUSE, 1474

  Also these are permanent furnishings of Stonor that shall remain in the Manor of Stonor from heir to heir.

  First, one standing cup of silver gilded with a cover ing and two images in the bottom. Likewise, the companion piece of the same cup, gilded without a foot. Likewise a great Bowl of silver with the arms of Stonor and Kyrkeby on the bottom.

  Also this is the stuff that is left within the manor of Stonor that shall remain in the said manor from heir to heir. First, in the hall a pair of cobirons left there for permanent furniture. Also, the same hall hung with black say [fine cloth, like serge]. Also, the little chamber annexed to the parlour, the hanging there of striped cloth, purple and green. Also, three chambers hung with striped say, red and green, with a bed of the same. Also, the chamber at the lower end of the hall is hung with green worsted, and the hanging for a bed of white. Also, for the bed in the parlour chamber two pairs of blankets, a pair of sheets, and a red coverlet with green chaplets. Also, a feather bed, which the said Jane Stoner left there in loan to the said chamber. Also, a green coverlet with pots and ostrich feathers, in the same chamber; a pair of sheets, one pair of blankets, and a mattress for the truckle bed in the same chamber. Also, an andiron for the same chamber, and a tin basin. Also, one fire fork for the hall. Also, a chafing-dish of latten [an alloy similar to brass]. Also, two plain chains. Also, one turned chain, two cushions covered with grey skins. Also, two cushions covered with red worsted. Also, two cushions of tapestry work with knots.

  Also, in the buttery is left one basin and an ewer of latten. Also, one basin and ewer of tin. Also, a chafing-dish of latten. Also, five canisters of latten. Also, two table cloths of diaper. Also, a long tablecloth and a short. Also, a cupboard cloth with three towels, and one trencher knife, and three leather pots, and two salts of tin. Also, in the kitchen, two large pots, one medium pot, one little pot, two hanging racks for pots, two costrels [a bottle or wooden keg with ears by which it could be hung], two racks to rest them on, two large gridirons, two old pans, two frying pans, and one stone mortar, one broad grate, one large spit, one medium spit, one bird spit, two dressing knives, one meat axe, one wood axe, one meathook, one skimmer of latten, a wooden sca
le ... one set of pewter vessels. Also in the back-house there is left one mashing vat, one eel-tub, seven covers, nine barrels, one large cauldron, one trivet, two bolting-pipes [vessels for sifting meal], one cable, one axe, one wedge of iron.

  Likewise, five jacks, three sallets [a light head-piece], two glaives [spears or halberds], and a boar-spear.

  A LOVE LETTER, 1476