From “Orders for Household Servantes; first devised by John Haryngton, in the Yeare 1566, and reneued by John Haryngton, Sonne of the saide John, in the Yeare 1592”
VI. Item, That no man make water within either of the courts, uppon paine of, every tyme it shal be proved, 1d.
VII. Item, That no man teach any of the children any unhonest speeche, or baudie word, or othe, on paine of 4d.
VIII. Item, That no man waite at the table without a trencher in his hand, except it be uppon some good cause, on paine of 1d.
You can just imagine the servingmen grumbling about all these new-fangled rules and controls…
From: Hughey, R. John Harington of Stepney: Tudor Gentleman. His Life and Works, Ohio State University Press, Columbus, 1971.
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