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.
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: if, must, or, otherwise, unless, until, whereas, who.
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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. 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 Compel. So. Whether.
2 Ill. Nothing. See.
3 Day. Unlucky. Wine.
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.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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