Did the English eat in silence in the 15th century?

Question

I'm reading a book on the War of the Roses.  The author says that the Lord High Mayor of London threw a banquet for 1000 people that lasted ten hours and that the most impressive thing, to visiting Venetians, was that the whole thing was conducted in silence.  This caused the Venetians to remark on the great politeness of the English.

I know mores change with the centuries, but it seems unendurable to sit for 10 hours and not speak.  

What am I missing about this?  Did people actually eat and leave, no one staying the full ten hours?  Was it actually just the serving crew that didn't speak?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I seriously doubt that.  Around this time the English were notorious in mainland Europe for their bad manners and potty mouths, so I don't think they would put on such a show just for some Venetians.

What source does your book get that information from?  Is it from an actual Venetian report, and if so, who were these Venetians to be important enough to seal everyone's mouths for so long?  Was the mayor trying to woo Venice for some reason?  Is it possible something got lost in translation from Italian to English?  Would the Venetians have something to gain from exaggerating about it?  Too many unanswered questions about the source, if you ask me.

The thing about the story that makes it so questionable is that it's told in absolutes.  NO ONE talked for ten hours, eh?  Does that mean if a man spilled his wine all over his bench-mate's dress, he said nothing?  Highly unlikely.

tiradodore81 · Answer

unclear, traditions can change with time, location and class.  I'm sure that the typical english person did not eat in silence

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Did the English eat in silence in the 15th century?

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