A
yeoman ewery washed the hands of the lord and his guests and
supplied the napkins, ewers [pitchers], and basins. A yeoman
cellarer or butler served the wine and beer. The yeoman of the
pantry served the bread, salt, and cutlery. The steward presided
over the table of household officers of gentle birth. The marshall
of the hall, clerk of the kitchen, or other yeomen officers
supervised other tables. Salt and spices were available at all
tables. Most people ate with their fingers, although there were
knives and some spoons. Drinking vessels were usually metal, horn,
or wood. A marshall and ushers kept order. Minstrels played
musical instruments or recited histories of noble deeds or amusing
anecdotes. Reading aloud was a favorite pastime. The almoner
collected the left-overs to distribute to the poor.
In lesser houses people ate off trenchers [a four day old slab of
coarse bread or a piece of wood with the middle scooped out like a
bowl], or plates of wood or pewter [made from tin, copper, and
lead]. They often shared plates and drinking vessels at the table.
Queen Eleanor, a cultivated, intelligent, and educated lady from
the continent, fostered culture and rewarded individual literary
efforts, such as translations from Latin, with grants of her own
money. She patronized Oxford and Cambridge Universities and left
bequests to poor scholars there. She herself had read Aristotle
and commentaries thereon, and she especially patronized literature
which would give cross-cultural perspectives on subjects.
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