To begin with, I believe some form of place mat is essential. In spite of the fact that these days a revel usually has tablecloths available, it is the prudent reveller who has a place mat just in case. This will also establish the seat that you have reserved for yourself and perhaps also identify your utensils.
My first place mat was a simple rectangle of cloth, neatly hemmed, with my runic initials embroidered in one corner. Since then I have been very fortunate to receive two place mats as gifts, the first is beautifully embroidered with my device at its centre and is quite small, while the second is simply a larger square of material with my initial once again in the corner.
I now use the two of these at revels, the larger to accommodate my utensils and the other for identification.
Once your place at the tables is established, we should next discuss exactly what utensils we are going to use.
For the beginner, it is my opinion that a bowl is sufficient for most needs. I say a bowl rather than a plate because the latter doesn't hold liquids so well.
However, once a person has decided that they wish to continue with this pastime it is not unreasonable to suggest that they will acquire a plate and thus use one for liquids (e.g. stews) and the other for solids (e.g. pies). This is also useful, for instance, when some dishes are served quickly and space is required for the food you are not yet ready to eat.
Now what will you be eating with? A spoon is, for the beginner, more than adequate. However, eventually you will add a knife and probably a fork (if your persona would have access to such an item) though fingers are more than acceptable, providing they are clean.
Your choice of spoon is pretty wide. Medieval forks had only two prongs and are perhaps a bit harder to come across - but an ordinary fork will suffice. The complications with eating utensils these days will be concerning your knife. The current legislation prohibits the carrying of a knife with a blade longer than six inches unless you have a good reason. I have tried to enquire about this at my local police station to little effect. It seems that a good reason will depend on Court decisions, and at the moment there are no decisions on which to refer as a precedent.
The final utensil which you may require is a bowl for your leftovers as, with revels running to some twenty dishes these days, it is only realistic to expect that you won't eat everything.
Having discussed what you will use for your food, I would like to move on to what you will use for your drink.
The first item that springs to mind is, of course, a goblet. These will run from pottery to silver plated, but any medium is possible, e.g. wood. However a goblet is not the only possibility: I have seen Bishop Theophilus drink from a wooden bowl and others use a tankard. How about an ordinary pottery cup (minus the handle of course)?
Storing your drink is the next consideration, no modern bottles immediately springs to mind. So what else can you do? Well, if soaking the labels from the bottles is not sufficient then how about covering it? This can be done using cloth, paper or leather. Otherwise, you can use a jug or some form of pot. Ideally this jug or pot will have a lid, even better if it is airtight. However, in no way am I suggesting that your refreshment should be transported in anything but its original container or a suitable bottle.
Now, how are you going to see what you've got? Naturally the halls we choose will have a form of electric light but it's hardly appropriate - that's why we turn the lights off, so we need Candles.
A candle alone is not sufficient however, the wax will drip and be unsightly. Therefore a candle holder is required. This need not be elaborate; as the autocrat for one revel I used foil-covered cardboard with a drawing pin pushed through. Now Camcairndryth have purchased glass bases which are somewhat more durable (and washable).
Whatever your choice of base, I recommend using small wide candles wherever possible rather than tall ones. I have two reasons for this. The first is a matter of balance - tall candles are very simple to topple over. Secondly, it is very difficult for a server to reach across a table and avoid the candles at the same time. To be honest I consider the circumstances of our revels to make tall candles downright dangerous.
Well I think that just about covers everything; of course, if you can improve upon this please do so. Now that you are suitably equipped to sit and eat the only thing left to say is: Enjoy your meal.
Astrid Stormtongue.
© 1991, Gillian Dickson.