In 1170, some ten years after Peter wrote his letter, King Henry II took the unusual step, for England, of crowning his own son Henry (1155-1183) as junior King. Young Henry proved a rebellious son, but died before he could inherit his father’s crown. This miniature, from a French verse narrative of the controversy between Henry II and Thomas Becket (in which Peter of Blois was intimately involved), shows the moment at the coronation feast when Henry joked that it was rare for a King to serve a mere princeling. ‘But it is not unusual’ the princeling shot back, thinking of his grandfather Geoffrey Count of Anjou, ‘for the son of a Count to serve the son of a King!’
Introduction
Hollywood has made us familiar with the image of medieval kings at table with their nobles, the tables groaning under the weight of platters of venison and flagons of wine, and everyone rejoicing in plenty. What Hollywood does not tell us, but Henry II’s courtier Peter of Blois (?1130-?1211) does, is that most of it was well past its sell-by date.
I OFTEN wonder how anyone who has been used to the service of scholarship and the camps of learning can endure the annoyances of a court life. A priest or a soldier attached to the court has bread put before him which is not kneaded, nor leavened, made of the dregs of beer; bread like lead, full of bran and unbaked; wine spoiled either by being sour or mouldy - thick, greasy, rancid, tasting of pitch and vapid. I have sometimes seen wine so full of dregs put before noblemen that they were compelled rather to filter than drink it, with their eyes shut and teeth closed. The beer at court is horrid to taste and filthy to look at.
On account of the great demand, meat is sold whether it be fresh or not. The fish one buys is four days old, yet the fact that it stinks does not lessen its price. The servants care nothing whatever whether the unlucky guests become ill or die, provided they load their masters’ tables with dishes.
Abridged
Abridged from a letter written in 1160 by Peter of Blois (?1130-?1211), collected in ‘Petri Blesensis Opera Omnia’ Vol. 1 (1847) ed. J. A. Giles, and translated in ‘Readings in English Social History’ Vol. 1 (1921) ed. R. B. Morgan.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
Eyewitness Peter of Blois complained of the poor quality of food served at the court of King Henry II. The bread was not properly baked, the beer and wine were thick with dregs and the meat and fish served were long past their best. Yet the King’s servants did not care so long as tables were full. (57 / 60 words)
Eyewitness Peter of Blois complained of the poor quality of food served at the court of King Henry II. The bread was not properly baked, the beer and wine were thick with dregs and the meat and fish served were long past their best. Yet the King’s servants did not care so long as tables were full.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, despite, if, just, ought, until, whereas, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Demand. Stink. Use.
2 Guest. Make. Rather.
3 Bread. Not. Unlucky.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
ncls (5)
enclose. inclose. nucleus. uncles. uncoils.
Post Box : Ask Nicholas
Grok : Ask Grok
You are welcome to share your creativity with me, or ask for help with any of the exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
See more at Post Box.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
Related Posts
In the days of King James I, Thomas Coryat visited Italy and came home with an affected Continental habit: eating with a fork.
Picture: By James Gillray (1756-1815), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted May 9 2020
George served in the Roman army and lies buried in Israel, yet he makes an ideal patron for England.
Picture: © Josep Renalias, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0.. Source.
Posted November 22 2019
Anglo-Saxon poet Cynewulf imagines the farewell between Jesus and his Apostles, forty days after his resurrection.
Picture: © Trevor Littlewood, Geograph. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.
Posted May 25 2017
,_f._3r_-_BL_Loan_MS_88.jpg){kind=link}
The eighth-century English bishop and poet Cynewulf takes us to the threshold of God’s holy city, and gives us a choice.
Picture: © Kevin King, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 2.0.. Source.
Posted April 1 2017