La Manier de se Contenir à Table

Knigge for Knights

Let thee courteous mind these rules.
Pare your mails frequently
Wash your hands before dinner and supper.
Say grace before eating.
Sit where your host tells you.
Take first bread and wine; wait for other food
don't spit chewed food into your dish, or dip meat in the salt-cellar, or pick your teeth with the point of your knife, or spit; that's bad manners.
Don't roll your napkin into a rope. Keep the cloth clean ; put your voids in a vessel.
Don't stuff.
Don't go to sleep at table, or belch, or break wind.
Don't ask your host for too much wine, or let your tongue ran away with you, or speak with a full mouth.
Don't keep your hands under the table, or wipe your teeth with the cloth.
Be cheerful and cultured; and if you joke, despise no one.
Among great folk be silent.
Don't offer your leftovers to anyone.
If your dish is taken away, say nothing.
Drink moderately so as not to muddle your head; and don't fill your belly to spoil your face.
If anyone gives you books, put them in your sleeve or bosom.
Don'I keep the wine waiting while you dispute.
If you sup from a glass, drink all the wine or throw it away.
Don't eat unwashcd fruit
Don't be greedy after cheese, take a little.
Of walnuts, take only two or three.
Don't spit in the washing-basin.
Keep in your place while grace is said, and remember you sins.
Thank your host before taking leave of the company.
If drink is given after grace, let the host drink first, then you.
Whoso attends to these things will be wiser; whoso will not, is not worthy to sit at table.