The following advice about table manners comes from thirteenth-century France. The original was written in rhyming lines, so the rules would be easy to remember.

No one should take food before the blessing has been made,
Nor should he take a place other than that assigned to him by the one in charge of the meal.
Refrain from eating until the dishes have been placed before you,
And let your fingers be clean, and your fingernails well-groomed.
Once a morsel has been touched, let it not be returned to the plate.
Do not touch your ears or nose with your bare hands.
Do not clean your teeth with a sharp iron while eating.
The salt is not to be touched with the food where it sits in the salt dish.
If you can, I ask again, refrain from belching at...