Desiderius Erasmus

“ When the guestes be going awaye, they embrace them, and take their leaue sweetlye with suche kindnes and curtesye, as if they were all brethern, or (at least) nighe a kinne the one to the other.
Bertulphe.
¶ This behauiour doth well beseme Frenchmen peraduenture, how be it the fashions of Duche lande [1] shall go for my monye when all is done, which are altogether manlike.
William.
¶ Yt was neuer my chaunce to see the Contreye yet: and therfore I pray you take so muche paine as to tell in what sorte they entertaine a straunger with them. ”

“ They that are acquainted with those markes or skoares, doe laye downe their monye, after them an other, then another, vntill suche time as the trenchoure bee couered, then markinge those whiche layed downe anye thinge, he counteth or maketh reckening softely vnto him selfe: if he misse nothing of that which the reckening comes to, hee maketh a becke or dieugard with his hed. ”

“ And yet, after this, they haue potage once againe, immediatly after, they haue some stiffer meate til suche time as they world beinge well amended with them, they set roste on the table, or sodde [8] freshe fishe, whiche a man can not all together mislike. But when it comes to that once they make spare and whip it away at a sodaine I warraunt you, they facion out euery thinge in his dew time & place. ”

“ William.
¶ And is there none that speaketh againste this vnegall reckening?
Bertulphe.
¶ No, none that hathe any witte in his head, for by and by they woulde saye thus vnto hym. What kinde of man arte thou? I tell thee thou shalt paye no more for thy Supper heere, then other men do.
William.
¶ Marye this kinde of people is franke and free I see wel.
Bertulphe.
¶ But if one (beeinge werye with trauaile) should desire to go to bed as soone as Supper is done, they will him tarye, till all the other go to bed to. ”

“ In the stoue, you pul of youre Bootes, you pull on youre Shooes, you chaunge youre Shirt if you bee so minded, you hange vp youre clothes all weate, with raine harde by the Chimney, and to make youre selfe drye doe stande by the same your selfe, you haue also water sette readye for your handes, which moste commonly is so clenlye, that you muste after seeke other water, to washe of that water againe. ”

“ What should a man do? They haue thus vsed them selues euermore, and it is a token of constancy and stabilitie neuer to varye or geue ouer that whiche they haue once taken in hand.
William.
¶ But aboue twentye yeeres agone, there was nothinge more vsed amonge the Brabanders, then the common Bathes. And now adaies, the same are laied a side euery where: for this straũg scabbe (I speake of) hathe taught men to come no more thether. ”

“ Nowe those that are acquainted with the facion of the country, doe sit downe euery man, where he listeth him selfe, for there is no diuersitie or cursye I tell you there, betweene the poore man and the riche, betweene the Master and his seruaunt. ”