The Metropolitan Posies

The Metropolitan Posies are named for a lovely set in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (64.101.1566-1577). Their excellent website has readable color pictures. This grouping of posies is also used on sets of trenchers in the Museum of London (A7382), British Museum (1888,1110.45.b-l and BM 1921,0216.35.b-m), and the Victoria and Albert (6896-1860). Another unlocated set is described and pictured in Domestic Utensils of Wood by Owen Evan-Thomas.

8 of the posies are male-voiced, 2 are female-voiced and the remaining 2 are neutral.  6 posies are anti-woman accusing her of the various sins of dominance, inconstancy, lust, outspokenness, shrewishness, and martial violence. 1 posy is anti-man; his sin is over-spending. 8 posies advise against marriage, and 0 are for marriage

( modern spelling under the cut )