Chapter Mate to Maunds of M by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Maunciples Tale A mediæval version of Ovid's tale about Coronis (Met. ii. 543, etc.). Phœbus had a crow which he taught to speak; it was downy white, and as big as a swan. He had also a wife whom he dearly loved, but she was faithless to him. One day when Phœbus came home his bird 'gan sing “Cuckoo! cuckoo! cuckoo!” Phœbus asked what he meant, and the crow told him of his wife's infidelity. Phœbus was very angry, and, seizing his bow, shot his wife through the heart; but no sooner did she fall than he repented of his rashness and cursed the bird. “Nevermore shalt thou speak,” said he; “henceforth thy offspring shall be black.” Moral- “Lordlings, by this ensample, take heed what you say; be no tale-bearers, but-

`Wher-so thou comest amongst high or low,
Keep wel thy tong, and think upon the crow.”
Chaucer: Canterbury Tales.

Maunds (Royal). Gifts distributed to the poor on Maundy Thursday (q.v.). The number of doles corresponds to the number of years the monarch has been regnant, and the doles used to be distributed by the Lord High Almoner. Since 1883 the doles have been money payments distributed by the Clerk of the Almonry Office. The custom began in 1368, in the reign of Edward III. James I. distributed the doles personally.

“Entries of `al maner of things yerly yevin by my lorde of his Maundy, and my laidis, and his lordshippis children.”'- Household Book of the Earl of Northumberland, 1512.