Nicholas Breton: The Hours - Ten of the clock

Ten of the clock. Peter Kenny reads this description of daily life in early modern Britain. From Nicholas Breton’s Fantasticks, 1626. Ten of the Clocke. IT is now the tenth houre, and now preparation is to bée made for dinner: The Trenchers must be scraped, and the Napkins folded, the Salt couered, and the Kniues scoured, and the cloth layed, the Stooles set ready, and all for the Table: there must bee haste in the Kitchin for the Boyld and the Roste, prouision in the sellar for Wyne, Ale, and Beere: The Pantler and the Butler must bee ready in their Office, and the Usher of the Hall must marshall the Seruingmen: The Hawke must bee set on the Pearch, and the Dogges put into the Kennell, and the Guests that come to Dinner, must bee inuited against the houre: The Schollers now fall to construe and parce, and the Lawyer makes his Clyent either a Man or a Mouse: The Chapmen now draw home to their Innes, and the Shopmen fall to folding vp their Wares: The Ploughman now beginnes to grow towards home, and the Dayry mayd, after her worke, falls to clensing of her Uessels: The Cooke is cutting soppes for Broth, and the Butler is chipping of loaues for the Table: The Minstrels beginne to goe towards the Tauernes, and the cursed Crue visit the vyle places: In summe, I thus conclude of it: I hold it the Messenger to the stomacke, and the spirits recreation. Farewell.