The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 02Hakluyt, Richard
History
The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 02
Hakluyt, Richard
Discoveries in geography -- English; Voyages and travels
Hauing taken downe their houses from off their cartes, and turning the
doores Southward, they place the bed of the master of the house, at the
North part thereof. The womens place is alwaies on the East side, namely on
the left hand of the good man of the house sitting vpon his bed with his
face Southwards; but the mens place is vpon the West side, namely at the
right hand of their master. Men when they enter into the house, wil not in
any case hang their quiuers on the womens side. Ouer the masters head is
alwayes an image, like a puppet, made of felte, which they call the masters
brother: and another ouer the head of the good wife or mistresse, which
they call her brother being fastened to the wall: and aboue betweene both
of, them, there is a little leane one, which is, as it were the keeper of
the whole house. The good wife or mistresse of the house placeth aloft at
her beds feete, on the right hand, the skinne of a Kidde stuffed with wooll
or some other matter, and neare vnto that a little image or puppet looking
towards the maidens and women. Next vnto the doore also on the womens side,
there is another image with a cowes vdder, for the women that milke the
kine. For it is the duety of their women to milke kine. On the other side
of the doore next vnto the men, there is another image with the vdder of a
mare, for the men which milke mares. And when they come together to drinke
and make merie, they sprinckle parte of their drinke vpon the image which
is aboue the masters head: afterward vpon other images in order: then goeth
a seruant out of the house with a cuppe full of drinke sprinckling it
thrise towards the South, and bowing his knee at euery time: and this is
done for the honour of the fire. Then perfourmeth he the like superstitious
idolatrie towards the East, for the honour of the ayre: and then to the
West for the honour of the water: and lastly to the North in the behalfe of
the dead. When the maister holdeth a cuppe in his hande to drinke, before
he tasteth thereof, hee powreth his part vpon the ground. If he drinketh
sitting on horse backe, hee powreth out part thereof vpon the necke or
maine of his horse before hee himselfe drinketh. After the seruaunt
aforesaide hath so discharged his cuppes to the fower quarters of the
world, hee returneth into the house: and two other seruants stand ready
with two cuppes, and two basons, to carrie drinke vnto their master and his
wife, sitting together vpon a bed. And if he hath more wiues than one, she
with whome hee slept the night before, sitteth by his side the daye
following: and all his other wiues must that day resorte vnto the same
house to drinke: and there is the court holden for that day: the giftes
also which are presented that daye are layd vp in the chests of the sayd
wife. And vpon a bench stands a vessell of milke or of other drinke and
drinking cuppes.
De potibus eorum et qualiter prouocant alios ad bibendum. Cap. 4.
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