anying the words, "What we are about to take
may Trinity in Unity bless. Amen." This is a literal translation.
It indicates that there were probably three other knives in the
set so ornamented, one with the soprano, one alto, and one tenor,
so that four persons sitting down to table together might chant
their "grace" in four-part harmony, having the requisite notes
before them! It was a quaint idea, but quite in keeping with the
taste of the sixteenth century.

[Illustration: IVORY KNIFE HANDLES, WITH PORTRAITS OF QUEEN ELIZABETH
AND JAMES I. ENGLIS]

The domestic plate of Louis, Duke of Anjou, in 1360, consisted of
over seven hundred pieces, and Charles V. of France had an enormous
treasury of such objects for daily use. Strong rooms and safes were
built during the fourteenth century, for the lodging of the household
valuables. About this time the Dukes of Burgundy were famous for
their splendid table service. Indeed, the craze for domestic display
in this line became so excessive, that in 1356 King John of France
prohibited the further production of such elaborate pieces, "gold or
silver plate, vases, or silver jewelry, of more than one mark of gold,
or silver, excepting for churches." This edict, however, accomplished
little, and was constantly evaded. Many large pieces of silver made
in the period of the Renaissance were made simply with a view to
standing about as ornaments. Cellini alludes to certain vases which
had been ordered from him, saying that "they are called ewers, and
they are placed upon buffets for the purpose of display."

The salt cellar was always a _piece de resistance_, and stood in
the centre of the table. It was often in the form of a ship in
silver. A book entitled "Ffor to serve a Lorde," in 1500, directs
the "boteler" or "panter," to bring forth the principal salt, and to
"set the saler in the myddys of the table." Persons helped themselves
to salt with "a clene kniffe." The seats of honour were all about
the salt, while those of less degree were at the lower end of the
table, and were designated as "below the salt." The silver ship was
commonly an immense piece of plate, containing the napkin, goblet,
and knife and spoon of the host, besides being the receptacle for
the spices and salt. Through fear of poison, the precaution was
taken of keeping it covered. This ship was often known as the "nef,"
and frequently had a name, as if it were the family yacht! One is
recorded as having been n