pears, and mead. People carried and used their own knives.
There were no forks. Spoons were of silver or wood. People also ate with
their fingers and washed their hands before and after meals. It was
impolite to dig into the salt bowl with a knife not previously wiped on
bread or napkin, which was linen. It was unmannerly to wipe one's knife
or one's greasy fingers on the tablecloth or, to use the tablecloth to
blow one's nose. Feasts were stately occasions with costly tables and
splendid apparel. There were practical jokes, innocent frolics, and
witty verbal debating with repartee. They played chess, checkers, and
various games with cards and dice. Most people could sing and some could
play the lute.

Lighting of the hall at night was by oil lamps or candles on
stands or on wall fixtures. For outside activities, a lantern [a
candle shielded by a metal cage with panels of finely shaved horn:
lant horn] was used. The residence of the lord's family and guests
was at a screened off area at the extreme end of the hall or on a
higher floor. Chests stored garments and jewels. Iron keys and
locks were used for chests and doors. The great bed had a wooden
frame and springs made of interlaced rope or strips of leather. It
was covered with a feather mattress, sheets, quilts, fur covers,
and pillows. Drapery around the bed kept out cold drafts and
provided privacy. There was a water bowl for washing in the
morning. A chamber pot was kept under the bed for nighttime use.
Hay was used as toilet paper. The lord's personal servants slept
nearby on benches or trundle beds. Most of the gentlemen servants
slept communally in a "knight's chamber". The floor of the hall
was strewn with straw, on which common folk could sleep at night.
There were stools on which to sit. Cup boards (boards on which to
store cups) and chests stored spices and plate. One-piece iron
shears were available to cut cloth. Handheld spindles were used
for weaving; one hand held the spindle [a small stick weighted at
one end] while the other hand alternately formed the thread and
wound it around the spindle. On the roofs there were rampart walks
for sentry patrols and parapets from which to shoot arrows or
throw things at besiegers. Each tenant of the demesne of the king
where he had a castle had to perform a certain amount of castle
guard duty for its continuing defense. These knights performing
castle-guard duty slept at their posts. Bathing was done in a
wooden