— = a oe Often 1. ates tate; and itis ony . And thus it often }, > paying the Soe and his children die of hun, - that hich he was to live was > for the — ay Ad there is no doubt that a for the r. of ones there is sometimes a piece of money pe h has come out from the purse of a labourer wh children beg at the gates of those who receive the sai 4 ions. And often the dogs are fed with breag ase with the pennies of the poor labourer on which he was to live. the Journal des états généraux de France tenus an am ed. . Bernier. (Paris, 1835); trans. J.B.R. one eh Life among the English VENETIAN RELAZIONE ©. 1500 HE ENGLisH are, for the most part, both men and women of all ages, handsome and well propor- tioned; though not quite so much so, in my opinion, as it had been asserted to me before your Magnificence went to that kingdom; and I have understood from persons acquainted with these countries that the are much handsomer; and that the English are Sreat lovers of themselve: , and of everything belonging to them; they think that there are no other men than. LIFE AMONG THE ENGLISH ~ 910° and no other world ios England; and themsel y see a handsome foreigner, they sa i ke an Englishman,” and that “it is 4 - that he should not be an Englishman”; and wa they partake of any delicacy with a foreigner, é ask him “whether such a thing is made in their country?” They take great pleasure in having a quan- ty of excellent victuals, and also in remaining a long time at table, being very sparing of wine when they drink it at their own expense. And this, it is said, they do in order to induce their other English guests to drink wine in moderation also; not considering it any inconvenience for three or four persons to drink out of the same cup. Few people keep wine in their own houses, but buy it, for the most part, at a tavern; and. when they mean to drink a great deal, they go to the tavern, and this is done not only by the men but by ladies of distinction. The deficiency of wine, however, is amply supplied by the abundance of ale and beer, to the use of which these people are become so habitu- ated that, at an entertainment where there is plenty of _ wine, they will drink them in preference to it, and in "great quantities. Like discreet people, however, they do not offer them to Italians, unless they should ask for them; and they think that no greater honour can be _ conferred, or received, than to invite others to eat with them, or to be invited themselves; and they would | Sooner give five or six ducats to provide an entertain- ment for a person than a groat to assist him in any a y all from time immemorial wear very fine are extremely polite in their language although it is, as well as the Flemish, deriv rman, has lost its natural harshness, and enough as they pronounce it, In addieno THE CITY OF MAN to their etvil speeches, they have the incredible coup. teay of remaining with their heads uncovered, wiy}, fn adinivable grace, whilst they talk to each other, The are gifted with good understandings, and are ye, quick at everything they apply their minds to, few, however, excepting the clergy, are addicted to the red = loan 7 2 4 rn ae a anyone wl 8 learning, thou 2 a layman, ig called by them * clerk.” And yet they have great advantages for study, there being two general unj. Versities in the kingdom, Oxford and Cambridge; in Which are many colleges founded for the maintenance Of poor scholars. And your Magnificence lodged at one named Magdalen, in the University of Oxford, of Which the founders having been prelates, so the schol- ars are also ecclesiastics, The common people apply themselves to trade, or to fishing, or else they practise navigation; and they are so diligent in mercantile pursuits that they do not to make contracts on usury. Although they all attend Mass every day, and say many Paternosters in public (the women carrying long rosaries in their hands, and any who can read taking the office of Our Lady with them, and with some com- Teciting it in the church verse by verse, in a Voice, after the manner of churchmen), they always hear Mass on Sunday in their parish church, and give tuse they may not offer less than a ete are, however, many who : Concerning religion, “hee high reputation in arms; and from woh French entertain of them, one must justly But I have it on theLIFE AMUNY 25h ESULDN 221 formation, that when the war is raging most oo they will seek for good eating, and all their comforts, without thinking of what harm might Aite See an antipathy to foreigners, and imagine that they never come into their island but to make themselves masters of it, and to usurp their goods; neither have they any sincere and solid friendships amongst themselves, insomuch that they do not trust each other to discuss either public or private affairs to- gether, in the confidential manner we do in Italy. And although their dispositions are somewhat licentious, I never have noticed anyone, either at court or amongst the lower orders, to be in love; whence one must neces- sarily conclude either that the English are the most discreet lovers in the world or that they are incapable of love. I say this of the men, for I understand it is quite the contrary with the women, who are very violent in their passions. Howbeit the English keep a very jealous guard over their wives, though anything may be compensated, in the end, by the power of money. The want of affection in the English is strongly manifested towards their children; for after having kept them at home till they arrive at the age of seven or nine years at the utmost, they put them out, both males and females, to hard service in the houses of other peo- ple, binding them generally for another seven or nine years. And these are called apprentices, and during that time they perform all the most menial offices; and few are born who are exempted from this fate, for everyone, Tich he may be, sends away his children into (fie houses of others, whilst he, in return, receives those rs into his own. And on inquiring their reason Severity, they answered that they did it in922 ‘THE CITY OF MAN order that their children might learn bette But I, for my part, believe that they do it ba like to enjoy all their comforts themselves, are better served by strangers than the be by their own children. Besides which the yeti being great epicures and very avaricious }y agish, indulge in the most delicate fare themselves and their household the coarsest bread, and haa vei cold meat baked on Sunday for the week han or they allow them in great abundance, that = a their own children at home, they w “i obliged to give them the same food th + snide of for themselves. That if the English sea ee fi. dren away from home to learn virtue ad oa a and took them back again when their a fe a pees oes nel en perhaps, be cme bis im, for the girls are settled th ft patrons, and the boys make the best marria 4s bh can, and, assisted by thei eo als) ed by their patrons, not by their fathers pen a house and strive diligent! is means to make some fortune fi ape ler’ Bie a e for themselves; whence it So Beyiall heco ate oe peepee inheri- m0 ah i: clean a atin that they feel ese = a e love of God,” for attributed, that th ane y) and to this it may be against the lower ie By injury that can be committed atoned for by mo s of the English, that may not be The riches of Engld : other country in ee are greater than those of any oldest and ‘urope, as I have most experienced been told by the myself can vouch, Fn gag and also as I the first a it I have seen. This is such gies e great fertility of the soil, nothing from th the exception of wine, they abroad for their subsistence. Nex, Marner ASE hex, ¥ I that eeu ‘ 5 ae TH e Msi oe tii ne “ = ri LI such ordi age i i A a high ah i : “d seen In ord price an a be 5 a kaw, ry, whe! oly “3 : : : : a os ota repu' of wi ey di of eee that no has ce it oe the lt - i And ied 0 money, en in Oe ua é ° = : ve _ oper: red. th and ughe ryone whi ingland gold ation f Hey) Ds ro ; the on. 0 mak ~ i - = with of thi es a ae a . : does an ms ve ¥ . in a iy : = ay 1 ‘ | agi ted ing a Mind se the no o1 is tabl and e, fo beg ne : hi amou me Ww come er : : us, i is pee of Eee i a - : is consid ier least not a dishes and : = in the cage b to Be banded i < : : in the church But y, the Ei und: i nn : cand] kin; trea: above ono pn - codes, sures; al te = | e : ; E a be rlin, have ron cens mea r the heir oe re eo mvent ers, i a : i es re mt to pos ot same ornam< sam endi , and ‘0 po are a what metal, ents . Sea : a s : tine, the Yo worth: cles oat " ~ 3 deco: ur M: ry of ees c ss : i Carth ati agnifi a silve er c : oa = ides ie o ene . church a have at ie more terci asi yi : that as lik ee . : RAS rs e bi maa se = : Si M: aroni ih " < = = mn ie enedic: fas oe : Clegsiaad fea es = taordinary size, ies t, ami a > "2 I posse: on, a o ‘ : = ~ erb ey j asl ve al uni other He at : . ee thi a : te 9 d I * “ jorns a = i te any saint! ; ter} 7: oe have Splendid as St.204 THE CITY OF MAN Oswald, St. Edmund, and St. Edward, Relation . . . of the Island of England . . . c. 1500, eK Sneyd (London; Camden Society, 1847) 50 trans, sy The Manner of the World Nowadayes JOHN SKELTON (?) all kings nd ©. 1500 So many pointed caps Laced with double flaps, And so gay felted hats, Saw I never: So many good lessons, So many good sermons, And so few devotions, Saw I never. So many gardest worn, Jagged and all to-torn,