A Drink For The King

It was no simple matter to serve drinks to the King at his supper. The post of cup-bearer to the King was a very prestigious one and whomever happened to hold it often added cups to his personal crest. When the King was seated the cup-bearer would walk up to the royal table, bow and take his place behind the King's chair.

Whenever the King wanted something to drink the cup-bearer shouted aloud "The drink for the King!". Having thus announced the King's desire to drink the cup-bearer would make his way to a sideboard where the Master of Wine had prepared two decanters of wine and water respectively. Then, the cup-bearer, the Master of Wine and the royal taster all head to the King and bows. A small silver cup is filled and the royal taster tries the wine to make sure that it is not poisoned. Another cup is given to a gentleman-servant. Both cups are returned to the Master of Wine's assistant. The gentleman servant bows and hands the golden cup and salver with the decanters. The King makes his choice and hands them back. With another bow they all return to their stations.

When these gentlemen had returned to their posts the Dauphin would step forward and hand a damp napkin to the King which would be used to wipe his lips.

Crystal ewer (the Netherlands) of the
same style as Louis XIV would have
used