six
o'clock
A gentleman usher acted as butler , and a yeoman was always at hand to keep out strange dogs , snuff candles , and light to bed the guests , who were not always in a condition to find their way upstairs without his help . The hours at this time were nine or ten o'clock for dinner -LRB- except on fast-days , when it was at noon -RRB- , and three or four for supper . Two meals a day were thought sufficient for all men who were not invalids . The sick and women sometimes had a `` rear-supper '' at six o'clock or later . As to breakfast , it was a meal taken only by some persons , and then served in the bedchamber or private boudoir at convenience . Wine , with bread sopped in it , was a favourite breakfast , especially for the old . Very delicate or exceptionally temperate people took milk for breakfast ; but though the Middle Ages present us with examples of both vegetarians and total abstainers , yet of both there were very few indeed , and they were mainly to be found among the religious orders .