Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/386

 366 Hijiory of Domejiic Mcmiiers The floor of the hall was uiually paved with tiles, or with flag ftones, and very little care appears to have been lliown to cleanlinels, as far as it was concerned, except that it was ufual to Ilrew it with rulhes. Among the various French metrical " Contenances de Table," or directions for No. 238. Reception of the Mwjirel. behaviour at table, of the fifteenth century, the perfon inftrufted is told that he mull noijyit upon the talle at dinner time — Ne craiche par deffus la table. Car c'eji chofe dejcon-uenable , which is neceflarily an intimation that he muft I'pit upon the floor. In another of thefe pieces he is told that when he waflies his mouth at table, he mulf not rcjeit the water into the bafin — Sluant ta botiche tu la-veras, Ou bacin point ne cracker ai. The reafon for this rule was evidently the circumflance that one bafin mis;ht