DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52829#0207
131
Bas'te anil &r5«.—Before the cleanly custom of using a fork was
practised, the hands were frequently washed during dinner; a basin
and ewer were handed for that purpose by an attendant. At the feast
given by Henry VIII. to the French Ambassadors, there were three ewry-
boards, one for the king, another for the queen, and the third for the
princes. “ The first borde had nine great ewers and basins, all gilte
and playne, the seconde borde had three great gilte basins chased, and
three paire of covered basyns chased, all gilte, with cups of assaie; they
were so great, that every lord grudged to bear them: the third ewry had
nine basyns, and two were so massye, that they troubled sore the
bearers.”
Gremio, enumerating the furniture of his house, says he has
“ Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands.”—Taming the Shrew.
And Petruchio, in the same play, farther illustrates the usage.
Preparing to sit down to the bridal supper, he says,
“ Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily.”
In “ The Mirrour of Madnes”* a rich man’s house is described; and
among other articles of plate, which “ are adorned after the richest,
costlieste, and most gloryous maner,” is “ the greate basen and ewer, both
of silver and golde ; filled at convenient tymes with sweete and pleasaunt
waters, wherewith my delicate hands may be washed, my heade
recreated, and my nose refreshed.”
—At the conclusion of Queen Anne Bulleyn’s coro-
nation dinner, she took wafers and ipocras; “ the table was then taken
* 1576.
t After a banquet given in 1519, by King Henry, “ a voidee of spices” was served in sixty
spice-plates of silver and gilt, “ as great as men with ease might beare.”—Holingshed.
Bas'te anil &r5«.—Before the cleanly custom of using a fork was
practised, the hands were frequently washed during dinner; a basin
and ewer were handed for that purpose by an attendant. At the feast
given by Henry VIII. to the French Ambassadors, there were three ewry-
boards, one for the king, another for the queen, and the third for the
princes. “ The first borde had nine great ewers and basins, all gilte
and playne, the seconde borde had three great gilte basins chased, and
three paire of covered basyns chased, all gilte, with cups of assaie; they
were so great, that every lord grudged to bear them: the third ewry had
nine basyns, and two were so massye, that they troubled sore the
bearers.”
Gremio, enumerating the furniture of his house, says he has
“ Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands.”—Taming the Shrew.
And Petruchio, in the same play, farther illustrates the usage.
Preparing to sit down to the bridal supper, he says,
“ Come, Kate, and wash, and welcome heartily.”
In “ The Mirrour of Madnes”* a rich man’s house is described; and
among other articles of plate, which “ are adorned after the richest,
costlieste, and most gloryous maner,” is “ the greate basen and ewer, both
of silver and golde ; filled at convenient tymes with sweete and pleasaunt
waters, wherewith my delicate hands may be washed, my heade
recreated, and my nose refreshed.”
—At the conclusion of Queen Anne Bulleyn’s coro-
nation dinner, she took wafers and ipocras; “ the table was then taken
* 1576.
t After a banquet given in 1519, by King Henry, “ a voidee of spices” was served in sixty
spice-plates of silver and gilt, “ as great as men with ease might beare.”—Holingshed.