Then the herald taketh into his hand from the other child the cluster
of grapes, which is of gold, both the stalk and the grapes. But the
grapes are daintily enamelled; and if the males of the family be the
greater number, the grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set
on the top; if the females, then they are enamelled into a greenish
yellow, with a crescent on the top. The grapes are in number as many
as there are descendants of the family. This golden cluster the
herald delivereth also to the Tirsan; who presently delivereth it over
to that son that he had formerly chosen to be in house with him: who
beareth it before his father as an ensign of honour when he goeth in
public, ever after; and is thereupon called the Son of the Vine.

After the ceremony endeth the father or Tirsan retireth; and after
some time cometh forth again to dinner, where he sitteth alone under
the state, as before; and none of his descendants sit with him, of
what degree or dignity soever, except he hap to be of Salomon's House.
He is served only by his own children, such as are male; who perform
unto him all service of the table upon the knee; and the women only
stand about him, leaning against the wall. The room below the
half-pace hath tables on the sides for the guests that are bidden; who
are served with great and comely order; and towards the end of dinner
(which in the greatest feasts with them lasteth never above an hour
and an half) there is an hymn sung, varied according to the invention
of him that composeth it (for they have excellent posy) but the
subject of it is (always) the praises of Adam and Noah and Abraham;
whereof the former two peopled the world, and the last was the Father
of the Faithful: concluding ever with a thanksgiving for the nativity
of our Saviour, in whose birth the births of all are only blessed.

Dinner being done, the Tirsan retireth again; and having withdrawn