[Sidenotes: _Of the Lord’s Knive, (_Bread, and Washing.)_ [675] The hafts of 2 are laid outwards, that of the 3rd inwards, and the spoon handle by it. [678] More trencher loaves are set, and wine served to the Duchess. [681] 2 Trencher-loaves, and salt, to the lord’s son; and 1 loaf and saltcellar set at the end of the table. [685] Then 3 loaves of white bread are brought, and 1 coarse loaf is put in the Alms-dish. [691] To assay bread, the Panter kneels, the Carver cuts him a slice, and he eats it. [695] The Ewerer strains water into his basins, on the upper one of which is a towel folded dodgily. [701] Then the water is assayed in a cup of white wood. [704] The Carver takes up the basins; a knight takes down the towel, and wipes the cup, into which the Carver pours water; the knight hands it to him; he assays it, and empties the cup. [713] Two knights hold the towel before the lord’s sleeves, and hold the upper basin while the Carver pours water into the lower; then he puts the lower into the upper, and empties both, takes them to the Ewerer, returns to the lord’s table, lays 4 trenchers for him, with 1 above. [725] The Carver takes 3 to cut the lord’s messes on, and has a cloth round his neck to wipe his knives on.] [Headnote: OF THE ALMONER AND DISH-SERVER.] ¶ De Elemosinario.[52] ¶ The aumener{e} by þis hathe sayde g{ra}ce, And þo almes dysshe hase sett in place; Þ{er}-in þe keru{er} a lofe schall{e} sette, To s{er}ue god fyrst w{i}t{h}-oute{n} lette; 732 Þese oþ{er} lofes he parys a-boute, Lays h{i}t myd dysshe w{i}t{h}-oute{n} doute. Þe small{e} lofe he cutt{is} eue{n} i{n} twynne, Þo ou{er} dole in two lays to hym. 736 The aumener{e} a rod schall{e} haue in honde, As office for almes, y vndurstonde. Alle þe broken met he kepys y wate, To dele to por{e} me{n} at þe ȝate. 740 And drynke þ{a}t leues s{er}ued in halle; Of ryche {and} pore bothe grete {and} small{e}. He is sworne to ou{er}-se þe s{er}uis wele, And dele hit to þe pore eu{er}y dele; 744 Selu{er} he deles rydand by way; And his almys dysshe, as I ȝou say, To þe porest ma{n} þ{a}t he can fynde, Oþ{er} ellys I wot he is vnkynde. 748 [Sidenotes: _Of the Almoner._ [729]: He says grace, sets down the Alms-dish, and the Carver puts the first loaf in it. [733] The other loaves he pares round, cuts one in two, and gives the upper half in halves to him. [737] The Almoner has a staff in his hand. [739] He keeps the broken food and wine left, for poor men at the gate, and is sworn to give it all to them. [745] He distributes silver as he rides.] ¶ De ferculario.