Chapter XXVII: Prologue: 1 1 (10)

[Footnote 44: See Rogers’s _Agriculture and Prices in England_,
v. 1, p. 280-1. The latest prices he gives for shoeing are in 1400;
“Alton Barnes, Shoeing 5 horses, a year, 6s. 8d. Takley, Shoeing 2
cart horses [a year] 1s. 8d.” A.D. 1466, ‘fore shoyinge ij.d.’
_Manners and Household Expenses_ (ed. Dawson Turner), 1841,
p. 380. (Sir Jn. Howard, Knt., 1462-9.) The Percy allowance in
1512 was “ij s viiij d. every Hors Shoynge for the hole Yere by
estimacion, Viz. a Hors to be shodd oons in iij moneths withowt
they jornay.” p. 24. A horse’s daily allowance was ‘a Peck of
Oats, or 4d. in B{re}ade after iiij Loiffes, 4d. for Provaunder,
from 29th Septr. 8 Hen. VIII. to 3rd May following,’ p. 266.]

[Footnote 45: See Edw. IV.’s Office of Bakehouse, _H. Ord._
p. 68-70. ‘The sergeaunt of thys office to make continually of
every busshell, halfe chiete halfe rounde, besydes the flowre for
the Kinges mouthe, xxvii loves, every one weying, after one daye
olde, xxiii ounces of troye weyghtes.’ p. 69.]

[Footnote 46: In Edward the Fourth’s Court, ‘Knyghts of Household,
XII, bachelers sufficiant, and most valient men of that ordre of
every countrey’ had ‘to serve the King of his bason.’ _H. Ord_.
p. 33.]

[Footnote 47: _Replier_, To redouble, to bow, fould, or plait into
many doublings. Cotgrave.]

[Footnote 48: Napkins? O. Fr. _brueroi_ is _bruyère_, heath.]

[Footnote 49: ? Du. _zijgen_ (_door een zifte ofte Stramijn_), to
runne (through a Sift or a Strainer.). _een Suyle_ a Pale or a
Water-pale. Hexham.]

[Footnote 50: covers. ‘Ovyr quelmyd or ouer hyllyde. _Obvolutus._’
P. Parv.]

[Footnote 51: A.S. _flett_, room, hall.]

[Footnote 52: See The Almonry of Henry VIII. A.D. 1526, _H. Ord._
p. 154, and p. 144; A.D. 1539, _H. Ord._ p. 239.]

[Footnote 53: Edward IV. had ‘Bannerettes, IIII, or Bacheler
Knights, to be kervers and cupberers in his Courte.’ ‘The kerver
at the boarde, after the King is passed it, may chese for hymself
one dyshe or two, that plentie is among.... Theis kervers and
cupberers ... them nedeth to be well spede in taking of degree in
_the schole of urbanytie_.’ _H. Ord._ p. 32-3.]

[Footnote 54: See the ‘Office of Chaundlerye,’ _H. Ord._ p. 82-3.
Paris candles, torches, morters, tortayes, sizes, and smalle
lightes, are mentioned there.]

[Footnote 55: Torche. _Cereus._ P. Parv.]

[Footnote 56: ? same as _tortayes_, p. 192, note 2 [[28]];
p. 204, _n._ [[54]] ]

[Footnote 57: Pryket, of a candylstykke, or other lyke. _Stiga_,
P. Parv. Candlesticks (says Mr Way) in ancient times were not
fashioned with nozzles, but with long spikes or _prykets_....
(See wood cut at the end of this book.) In the Memoriale of Henry,
prior of Canterbury, A.D. 1285, the term _prikett_ denotes, not
the candlestick, but the candle, formed with a corresponding
cavity at one end, whereby it was securely fixed upon the spike.
p. 413, n. 1. Henry VIII.’s allowance ‘unto our right dere and
welbilovede the Lady Lucy,’ July 16, 1533, included ‘at our
Chaundrye barr, in Wynter, every night oon _preket_ and foure
syses of Waxe, with eight Candells white lights, and oon Torche.’
_Orig. Letters_, ed. Ellis, Series I., vol. ii. p. 31.]

[Footnote 58: See note 1, p. 189. [[16]] ]

* * * * *
* * * *

NOTES TO THE BOOK OF CURTASYE.

[Transcriber’s Note:

This section originally appeared near the end of the volume, immediately before the General Index.]

p. 188, l. 377-8, _Statut._ The only Statute about horse-hire that I can find, is 20 Ric. II. cap. 5, A.D. 1396-7, given below. I suppose the _Foure pens_ of l. 376 of the _Boke of Curtasye_ was the price fixed by “the kyngis crye” or Proclamation, l. 378, or by the sheriff or magistrates in accordance with it as the “due Agreement to the party” required by the Statute.

“_Item._ Forasmuch as the Commons have made Complaint, that many great Mischiefs Extortions & Oppressions be done by divers people of evil Condition, which of their own Authority take & cause to be taken royally Horses and other Things, and Beasts out of their Wains Carts and Houses, saying & devising that they be to ride on hasty Messages & Business, where of Truth they be in no wise privy of any Business or Message, but only in Deceit & Subtilty, by such Colour and Device to take Horses, and the said Horses hastily to ride & evil entreat, having no Manner of Conscience or Compassion in this Behalf, so that the said Horses become all spoiled and foundered, paying no manner of Thing nor penny for the same, nor giving them any manner of sustenance; and also that some such manner of people, changing & altering their Names, do take and ride such Horses, and carry them far from thence to another Place, so that they to whom they belong, can never after by any mean see, have again, nor know their said Horses where they be, to the great Mischief Loss Impoverishment & Hindrance of the King’s poor People, their Husbandry, and of their Living: Our Lord the King willing, for the Quietness and Ease of his People, to provide Remedy thereof, will & hath ordained, That none from henceforth shall take any such Horse or Beast in Such Manner, against the Consent of them to whom they be; and if any that do, and have no sufficient Warrant nor Authority of the King, he shall be taken and imprisoned till he hath made due Agreement to the Party.”

That this seizing of horses for the pretended use of the king was no fancied grievance, even in much later times, is testified by Roger Ascham’s letter to Lord Chancellor Wriothesley (? in 1546 A.D.) complaining of an audacious seizure of the horse of the invalid Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, on the plea that it was to carry the king’s fish, whereas the seizer’s own servant was the nag’s real burden: “tentatum est per hominem apud nos valde turbulentum, nomine Maxwellum.” _Ascham’s Works_, ed. Giles, v. 1, p. 99. In vols. ix., x., and xi. of Rymer, I find no Proclamation or Edict about horse-hire. In 1413 Henry V.’s _Herbergeator_ is to provide Henry le Scrop, knight, with all that he wants “Proviso semper quòd idem Henricus pro hujusmodi Fœnis, Equis, Carectis, Cariagiis, & aliis necessariis, per se, seu Homines & Servientes suos prædictos, ibidem capiendis, fideliter solvat & satisfaciat, ut est justum.” _Rymer_, ix. 13.

The general rule shown by the documents in Rymer is that reasonable payments be made.

_De Equis pro Cariagio Gunnorum Regis capiendis._

A.D. 1413 (1 Sept.), An. 1. Hen. V. Pat. 1, Hen. V. p. 3, m. 19. Rex, Dilectis sibi, _Johanni Sprong_, Armigero, & _Johanni Louth_ Clerico, Salutem.

Sciatis quod Assignavimus vos, conjunctim & divisim, ad tot Equos, Boves, Plaustra, & Carectas, quot pro Cariagio certorum Gunnorum nostrorum, ac aliarum Rerum pro eisdem Gunnis necessarium, a Villa Bristolliæ usque Civitatem nostram Londoniæ, indiguerint, tàm infra Libertates, quàm extea (Feodo Ecclesiæ dumtaxat excepto) pro Denariis nostris, in hac parte rationabiliter solvendis Capiendum & Providendum. _Rymer_, ix. p. 49.

So in 1417 the order to have six wings plucked from the wing of every goose (except those commonly called _Brodoges_--? brood geese--) to make arrows for our archers, says that the feathers are _rationabiliter solvendis_. See also p. 653.

p. 188, l. 358. _The stuarde_ and his _stafe_. Cp. Cavendish’s Life of Wolsey (ed. Singer, i. 34), “he had in his hall, daily, three especial tables furnished with three principal officers; that is to say, a Steward, which was always a dean or a priest; a Treasurer, a knight; and a Comptroller, an esquire; _which bare always within his house their white staves._

“Then had he a cofferer, three marshals, two yeomen ushers, two grooms, and an almoner. He had in the hall-kitchen two clerks of his kitchen, a clerk comptroller, a surveyor of the dresser, a clerk of his spicery.” See the rest of Wolsey’s household officers, p. 34-9.

p. 190, l. 409. _Ale._ See in _Notes on the Months_, p. 418, the Song “Bryng us in good ale,” copied from the MS. song-book of an Ipswich Minstrel of the 15th century, read by Mr Thomas Wright before the British Archæological Association, August, 1864, and afterwards published in _The Gentleman’s Magazine_. P.S.--The song was first printed complete in Mr Wright’s edition of _Songs & Carols_ for the Percy Society, 1847, p. 63. He gives Ritson’s incomplete copy from Harl. MS. 541, at p. 102.

Bryng us in good ale, and bryng us in good ale;
For owr blyssyd lady sak, bryng us in good ale.

Bryng us in no browne bred, fore that is made of brane,
Nor bryng us in no whyt bred, for therin is no game;
But bryng us in good ale.

Bryng us in no befe, for there is many bonys;
But bryng us in good ale, for that goth downe at onys,
And bryng us in good ale.

Bryng us in no bacon, for that is passing fate;
But bryng us in good ale, and gyfe us i-nought of that,
And bryng us in good ale.

Bryng us in no mutton, for that is often lene,
Nor bryng us in no trypes, for thei be syldom clene;
But bryng us in good ale.

Bryng us in no eggys, for ther ar many schelles;
But bryng us in good ale, and gyfe us no[th]yng ellys,
And bryng us in good ale.

Bryng vs in no butter, for therin ar many herys
Nor bryng us in no pygges flesch, for that will make us borys;
But bryng us in good ale.

Bryng us in no podynges, for therin is al Godes-good;
Nor bryng us in no venesen, for that is not for owr blood;
But bryng us in good ale.

Bryng us in no capons flesch, for that is ofte der;
Nor bryng us in no dokes flesche, for thei slober in the mer;
But bryng us in good ale.

See also the other ale song at p. 81 of the same volume, with the burden

Doll thi ale, doll; doll thi ale, doll;
Ale mak many a mane to have a doty poll.

p. 191, l. 435, _Gromes._ “the said four groomes, or two of them at the least, shall repaire and be in the King’s privy chamber, at the farthest between six and seven of the clock in the morning, or sooner, as they shall have knowledge that the King’s highnesse intendeth to be up early in the morning; which groomes so comen to the said chamber, shall not onely avoyde the pallets, but also make ready the fire, dresse and straw the chamber, purgeing and makeing cleane of the same of all manner of filthynesse, in such manner and wise as the King’s highnesse, at his upriseing and comeing thereunto, may finde the said chamber pure, cleane, whollsome, and meete, without any displeasant aire or thing, as the health, commodity, and pleasure of his most noble person doth require.” _Household Ordinances_, p. 155, cap. 56, A.D. 1526.

* * * * *
* * * *

Errata (noted by transcriber):

de Worde, _Boke of Keruynge_

M.CCCC.xiij. [_text unchanged: end of selection has “CCCCC“_]
[Sidenote: _ewynge of_]
[_text shown as printed: probably “Sewynge of Flesshe”
with printing defect_]
[Sidenote: _Keruynge of Flesshe._]
[_editor’s spelling; the same sidenote is used in the “Seruyce”
section, following_]
[Sidenote: _Rittern._ Salt, the sauce.]
[_text unchanged: error for “Bittern“?_]
[Sidenote: Carp, Trout, Conger, Thornback]
[_comma after “Carp” added_]
The Marshall and the vssher muste knowe ...
[_in the list following, line-final punctuation is as in the
original_]
all these may svt two or thre
[_text unchanged: printing error for “syt”?_]
Σαλαγξ [Σαλάχξ]
_Sele turrentyne_, p. 166, l. 8 [l, 8]

_Boke of Curtesye_

l. 201
[Sidenote: Go on the pilgrimages (?) ....]
[_“pilgrim / ages” at line break with room for hyphen_]
[_question mark in original_]
l. 267 Also a wyfe be-falle of ryȝt
[_corrected by editor from “be, falle”_]
l. 394-5 (unnumbered header between lines) Sidenote
Fire shall burn in the Hall.
[_corrected by editor from final comma; Corrigenda gives line
reference as 393_]
ll. 462-64 ... hete ... sett; ... let,
[_Line-ending punctuation changed by editor from_
... hete. ... sett, ... let;]
ll. 468-69 ... sett / In syce;
[_Punctuation changed by editor from_
... set, / In syce]
l. 676
[Sidenote: ... and the spoon handle by it.]
[_“spoon handle” changed by editor from “steel spoon”_]
[Footnote 15: ... p. *30]
[_asterisked number in original_]
[Footnote 27: ... P. Parv. See note 3, p. 160.]
[_reference is to P. Parv., not to present book_]
[Footnote 34: See the ‘Countroller of this houshold royall,’ ...]
[“Countroller...]
[Footnote 55: ... _H. Ord._ p. 32-3.]
[_final period (full stop) missing_]
[Footnote 58: ...]
[Footnote 60: ...]
[_footnote numbers in double brackets added by transcriber_]

_Boke of Curtesye_: notes

the order to have six wings plucked from the wing of every goose
[_text unchanged: error for “six feathers”?_]

* * * * *
* * * *
* * * * *

The Booke of
Demeanor

and

the Allowance and
Disallowance

of

certaine Misdemeanors

in

Companie,

[From the reprint by Bensley & Sons (in 1817) of
“The Booke of Demeanor from Small Poems entitled
_The Schoole of Vertue_ by Richard Weste,” 1619, 12mo.]

To the Reader.

R Ightly conceiue me, and obserue me well,
I Doe what heere is done for Childrens good,
C Hrist in his Gospell (as S. Marke doth tell)
H Ath not forbidden Children, nor withstood
A Ny that should but aske the ready way,
R Egarding Children, not to say them nay.
D Irecting all that came, how faith should be,

W Hat they should crave of Gods high Majestie,
E Ven Salvation, through their faithful Prayer,
S Ending their contemplations into the ayre,
T O his high throne, whose love so guide us all
E Ven to the end we neuer cease to call.

[N.B.--The stops and sidenotes are those of the original,
but that has no Headlines.]

The Booke of

Demeanor.

[Sidenote: Serving at the table.]

Stand straight vpright, and both thy feet
together closely standing,
Be sure on’t, ever let thine eye
be still at thy commanding. 4

Observe that nothing wanting be
which should be on the bord.

[Sidenote: Silence]

Vnlesse a question moved be,
be carefull: not a word. 8

[Sidenote: Serving or filling drinke.]

If thou doe give or fill the drinke,
with duty set it downe,
And take it backe with manlike cheere
not like a rusticke Lowne. 12

[Sidenote: [p. 6.]]

[Sidenote: If on an errand.]

If on an errand thou be sent,
make haste and doe not stay,
When all have done, observe the time,
serve God and take away. 16

[Sidenote: To schoole againe.]

When thou hast done and dined well,
remember thou repaire
To schoole againe with carefulnesse,
be that thy cheefest care. 20

And marke what shall be read to thee,
or given thee to learne,
That apprehend as neere as may be,
wisdome so doth warne. 24

With stedfast eye and carefull eare,
remember every word
Thy Schoole master shall speake to thee,
as memory shall afford. 28

[Sidenote: [p. 7.]]

[Sidenote: To use the browes.]

Let not thy browes be backward drawn,
it is a signe of pride,
Exalt them not, it shewes a hart
most arrogant beside. 32

[Sidenote: The eyes.]

Nor let thine eyes be gloting downe,
cast with a hanging looke:
For that to dreamers doth belong,
that goodnesse cannot brooke. 36

[Sidenote: The forehead.]

Let forehead joyfull be and full,
it shewes a merry part,
And cheerefulnesse in countenance,
and pleasantnesse of heart. 40

[Sidenote: Countenance.]

Nor wrinckled let thy countenance be,
still going to and fro:
For that belongs to hedge-hogs right,
they wallow even so. 44

[Sidenote: [p. 8.]]

[Sidenote: The nose.]

Nor imitate with Socrates,
to wipe thy snivelled nose
Vpon thy cap, as he would doe,
nor yet upon thy clothes. 48

But keepe it cleane with handkerchiffe,
provided for the same,
Not with thy fingers or thy sleeve,
therein thou art too blame. 52

[Sidenote: Blowing or breathing.]

Blow not alowd as thou shalt stand,
for that is most absurd,
Iust like a broken winded horse.
it is to be abhord. 56

[Sidenote: Snuffling in the nose when you speake.]

Nor practize snufflngly to speake,
for that doth imitate
The brutish Storke and Elephant,
yea and the wralling cat. 60

[Sidenote: [p. 9.]]

[Sidenote: Neezing.]

If thou of force doe chance to neeze,
then backewards turne away
From presence of the company,
wherein thou art to stay. 64

[Sidenote: The Cheekes.]

Thy cheekes with shamefac’t modesty,
dipt in Dame Natures die,
Not counterfet, nor puffed out,
observe it carefully. 68

[Sidenote: Breathing.]

Keepe close thy mouth, for why, thy breath
may hap to give offence,
And other worse may be repayd
for further recompence. 72

[Sidenote: Lips.]

Nor put thy lips out like a foole
as thou wouldst kisse a horse,
When thou before thy betters art,
and what is ten times worse, 76

[Sidenote: [p. 10.]]

[Sidenote: Yawning.]

To gape in such unseemely sort,
with ugly gaping mouth,
Is like an image pictured
a blowing from the south. 80

Which to avoyd, then turne about,
and with a napkin hide
That gaping foule deformity,
when thou art so aside. 84

[Sidenote: Laughing.]

To laugh at all things thou shalt heare,
is neither good nor fit,
It shewes the property and forme
of one with little wit. 88

[Sidenote: Biting the lip.]

To bite the lip it seemeth base,
for why, to lay it open,
Most base dissembling doggednesse,
most sure it doth betoken. 92

[Sidenote: [p. 11.]]

[Sidenote: Biting the upper lip.]

And so to bite the upper lip
doth most uncomely shew,
The lips set close (as like to kisse)
in manner seeme not so. 96

[Sidenote: The tongue.]

To put the tongue out wantonly,
and draw it in agen,
Betokens mocking of thy selfe,
in all the eyes of men, 100

[Sidenote: Spitting.]

If spitting chance to move thee so
thou canst it not forbeare,
Remember do it modestly,
consider who is there. 104

If filthiness, or ordure thou
upon the floore doe cast,
Tread out, and cleanse it with thy foot,
let that be done with haste. 108

[Sidenote: [p. 12.]]

[Sidenote: Hammering in speech.]

If in thy tale thou hammering stand,
or coughing twixt thy words,
It doth betoken a liers smell,
that’s all that it affords. 112

[Sidenote: Belching.]

To belch or bulch like _Clitipho_,
whom _Terence_ setteth forth,
Commendeth manners to be base,
most foule and nothing worth. 116

[Sidenote: Vomiting.]

If thou to vomit be constrain’d,
avoyd from company:
So shall it better be excus’d,
if not through gluttony. 120

[Sidenote: Keeping the teeth cleane.]

Keep white thy teeth, and wash thy mouth
with water pure and cleane,
And in that washing, mannerly
observe and keep a meane. 124

[Sidenote: Kembing the head.]

[Sidenote: [p. 13.]]

Thy head let that be kembd and trimd,
let not thy haire be long,
It is unseemely to the eye,
rebuked by the tongue. 128

[Sidenote: Hanging down the head]

And be not like a slothfull wight,
delighted to hang downe
The head, and lift the shoulders up,
nor with thy browes to frowne. 132

[Sidenote: Carriage of the body.]

To carry up the body faire,
is decent, and doth shew
A comely grace in any one,
Where ever he doth goe. 136

[Sidenote: Hanging the head aside.]

To hang the head on any side,
doth shew hypocrisie:
And who shall use it trust him not,
he deales with policie. 140

[Sidenote: [p. 14.]]

[Sidenote: Privy members.]

Let not thy privy members be
layd open to be view’d,
It is most shamefull and abhord,
detestable and rude. 144

[Sidenote: Urine or winde.]

Retaine not urine nor the winde,
which doth thy body vex,
So it be done with secresie,
let that not thee perplex. 148

[Sidenote: Sitting.]

And in thy sitting use a meane,
as may become thee well,
Not straddling, no nor tottering,
and dangling like a bell. 152

[Sidenote: Curtesie.]

Observe in Curtesie to take
a rule of decent kinde,
Bend not thy body too far foorth,
nor backe thy leg behind. 156

[Sidenote: The gate in going.]

[Sidenote: [p. 15.]]

In going keep a decent gate,
not faining lame or broken,
For that doth seeme but wantonnesse,
and foolishnesse betoken. 160

[Sidenote: Apparrell.]

Let thy apparrell not exceede,
to passe for sumptuous cost,
Nor altogether be too base,
for so thy credit’s lost. 164

Be modest in thy wearing it,
and keep it neat and cleane,
For spotted, dirty, or the like,
is lothsome to be seene. 168

This for thy body may suffice,
how that must ordred be:
Now at the Church thou shalt observe
to God how all must be. 172

[_No doubt incomplete, or to be inserted before _Cap. v._
of _Weste’s Schoole of Vertue_, at the end of this Part._ F. J. F.]

* * * * *
* * * *

+Bp. Grossetest’s Household Statutes.+

[_Sloane MS._ 1986, _p._ 193, _ab._ 1450-60.
_The last page mentions the 19th year of Henry VI.,_ A.D. 1440-1.]

[Transcriber’s Note:

The _Statutes_ were printed as a single paragraph. The text has been broken up for readability, using the original paragraph marks ¶. Sidenotes that do not correspond to numbered items are marked with lower-case letters. The first three sidenotes, from the original MS, were printed in larger type.]

Incipiunt statuta familie bone Memorie do{m}pni Rob{er}ti Grossetest, lincoln{i}e ep{iscop}i.

[a] Let alle men be warned þ{a}t s{er}uen ȝou, and warnyng be ȝeue to all{e} me{n} that be of howseholde, to {ser}ue god and ȝou trewly & diligently and to p{er}formyng, or the wyllyng of god to be p{er}formed and fulfyllydde.

[Sidenote: +p{ri}m{us} u{e}r{sicu}l{us}+]

[b] Fyrst let s{er}uaunt{is} doo p{er}fytely in all{e} thyng{is} youre wylle, and kepe they ȝoure {com}maundement{is} after god and ryȝthwysnesse, and w{i}t{h}-oute co{n}dicioñ and also w{i}t{h}-oute gref or offense. And sey ȝe, that be p{ri}ncipall{e} heuede or prelate to all{e} ȝoure s{er}uaunt{is} both{e} lesse and mor{e}, that they doo fully, reedyly, and treuly, w{i}t{h}-oute offense or ayenseyng, all{e} youre wille & co{m}maundement that is not ayeynys god.

[Sidenote: +2^us+]

[Sidenotes:
[a] All servants should serve truly God and their Master;
[b] doing fully all that their Master orders, without answering.]

T the secunde ys, that [a] ȝe co{m}maunde them that kepe and haue kepyng of ȝoure howseholde, a-fore ȝoure meynye, that bothe w{i}t{h}-in and w{i}t{h}-oute the meynye be trewe, honest, diligent, both{e} chast and p{ro}fitabulle.

[Sidenote: +3^us+]

¶ the thrydde: co{m}maunde ye that [b] nomañ be admittyd in ȝoure howseholde, nother inwarde nother vtwarde, but hit be trustyd and leuyd that ȝe be trewe and diligent, and namely to that office to the whiche he is admyttyd; Also þ{a}t he be of goode man{er}s

[Sidenotes:
[a] The upper servants must be honest and diligent, [b] and engage
no untrusty or unfit man.]

¶ The fowreth{e}: be hit sowȝht and examined ofte tymys yf ther be ony [a] vntrewman, vnkunnyng, vnhonest, lecherous, stryffull{e}, drunke[p. 194]lewe, vnp{ro}fitabull{e}, yf there be ony suche yfunde or diffamydde vppon these thyng{is}, that they be caste oute or put fro the howseholde.

[Sidenotes:
iv. [a] Dishonest, quarrelsome, and drunken servants must be
turned out.]

¶ The fyft: co{m}maunde ȝe that in no wyse be in the howseholde men debatefull{e} or stryffull{e}, but that all{e} be of ooñ a-corde, of ooñ wylle, euen lyke as in them ys oon mynde and oon sowle.

¶ The sixte: co{m}maunde ȝe that all{e} tho that s{er}uen in ony offyce be obedient, and redy, to the{m} that be a-bofe them in thyng{is} that p{er}teynyñ to there office.

¶ The seuenth{e}: co{m}maunde ȝe that ȝoure gentilmen yome{n} and other, dayly bere and were there robis in ȝoure p{re}sence, and namely at the mete, for ȝoure worshyppe, and not oolde robis and not cordyng to the lyu{er}ey, nother were they oolde schoon ne fylyd.

[Sidenotes:
v. All must be of one accord, vi. obedient to those above them,
vii. dress in livery, and not wear old shoes.]

¶ The viij: Commaunde ȝe that ȝoure almys be kepyd, & not sende not to boys and knafis, nother in the hall{e} nothe out{e} of þe hall{e}, ne be wasted in soperys ne dyners of gromys, but wysely, temp{er}atly, w{i}t{h}-oute bate or betyng, be hit distribute and the[n] dep{ar}tyd to powre meñ, beggers, syke folke and febull{e}.

¶ The ix.: Make ȝe ȝoure owne howseholde to sytte in the all{e}, as muche as ye mow or may, at the bordis of oon p{ar}te and of the other p{ar}te, and lette them sitte to-gedur as mony as may, not here fowre and thre there: and when youre chef maynye be sett, then all{e} gromys may [p. 195] entre, sitte, And ryse

[Sidenotes:
viii. Order your Alms to be given to the poor and sick. ix. Make
all the household dine together in the Hall.]

¶ The x.: Streytly for-bede ȝe that no wyfe[A] be at ȝoure mete. [a] And sytte ȝe eu{er} in the myddul of the hye borde, that youre fysegge and chere be schewyd to all{e} meñ of bothe p{ar}tyes, and that ȝe may see lyȝhtly the s{er}uic{is} and defawt{is}: and diligently see ȝe that eu{er}y day in ȝoure mete seson be two men ordeyned to ou{er}-se youre mayny, and of that they shall{e} drede ȝou

¶ The xi: co{m}maunde ȝe, and yeue licence as lytul tyme as ye may w{i}t{h} honeste to them that be in ȝoure howseholde, to go home. And whenne ȝe yeue licence to the{m}, Assigne ȝe to them a short day of comyng a yeyne vnd{ur} peyne of lesyng ther{e} s{er}uice. [b] And yf ony mañ speke ayen or be worth{e},[B] say to hym, “what! wille ye be lorde? ye wylle þ{a}t y s{er}ue you after ȝoure wylle.” and they that wylle not here that ȝe say, effectually be they ywarnyd, and ye shall{e} p{ro}uide other s{er}uant{is} the which{e} shall{e} s{er}ue you to your{e} wylle or plesyng.

[Sidenotes:
x. Let no woman dine with you. [a] Let the Master show himself to
all. [b] Don’t allow grumbling. xi. Let your servants go to their
homes.

¶ The xij is: {comman}d the panyt{r}ere w{i}t{h} youre brede, & the botelare w{i}t{h} wyne and ale, come to-gedur afore ȝou at the tabull{e} afore gracys, [a] And let be there thre yome{n} assigned to s{er}ue the hye tabull{e} and the two syde tabullis in solenne dayes;

¶ And ley they not the vessels deseruyng for ale and wyne vppon the tabull{e},[p. 196] but afore you, But be thay layid vnder þe tabull{e}.

¶ The 13: co{m}maunde ye the stywarde þ{a}t he be besy and diligent to kepe the maynye i{n} hys owne p{er}sone i{n}warde and vtwarde, and namely in the hall{e} and at mete, that they be-haue them selfe honestly, w{i}t{h}-out stryffe, fowlespekyng, and noyse; And that they that be ordeynyd to sette messys, [b] bryng them be ordre and c{on}tinuelly tyl all{e} be s{er}ued, and not inordinatly, And thorow affeccion [C] to p{er}sonys or by specialte; And take ȝe hede to this tyl messys be fully sett in the hall{e}, and aft{er} tende ye to ȝoure mette.

[Sidenotes:
xii. Tell your Panter and Butler to come to the table before
grace. [a] Tell off three yeomen to wait at table. xiii. Tell the
Steward to keep good order in the Hall, [b] and serve every one
fairly.]

¶ The xiiij: c{om}maunde ȝe þ{a}t youre dysshe be well{e} fyllyd and hepid, and namely of ent{er}mes, and of pitance w{i}t{h}-oute fat, carkyng that ȝe may p{ar}te coureteysly to thoo that sitte beside, bothe of the ryght hande and the left, thorow all{e} the hie tabulle, and to other as plesyth{e} you, thowȝght they haue of the same that ye haue. At the sop{er} be s{er}uant{is} s{er}uid of oon messe, & byȝth met{is}, & aft{er} of chese. ¶ And yf the[r] come gest{is}, s{er}uice schall{e} be haued as nedyth{e}. ¶ The xv: co{m}maunde ye the officers that they admitte youre knowlechyd men, familiers frendys, and strangers, w{i}t{h} mery chere, the wh[i]che they knowen you to wille for to admitte and receyue, and to them the whiche wylle you worschipe, and [p. 197] they wylleñ to do that ye wylle to do, that they may know them selfe to haue be welcome to ȝou, and to be welle plesyd that they be come. ¶ And al so much{e} as ȝe may w{i}t{h}-oute p{er}il of sykenes & werynys ete ȝe in the halle afore ȝoure meyny,

¶ For that schall{e} be to ȝou p{ro}fyte and worshippe.

[Sidenotes:
xiv. Have your dish well filled that you may help others to it.
xv. Always admit your special friends, and show them you are glad
to see them.]

¶ The xvj: when your{e} ballyfs comyn a-fore ȝoure, speke to the{m} fayr{e} and gentilly in opyñ place, and not in p{ri}uey,

¶ And shew them mery cher{e}, & serche and axe of them “how fare owr{e} meñ & tenaunt{is}, & how cornys dooñ, & cart{is}, and of owr{e} stor{e} how hit ys m{u}ltiplyed,” Axe suche thyng{is} ope{n}ly, and knowe ȝe certeynly that they wille the more drede ȝou.

¶ The xvij: co{m}maunde ȝe that din{er}is and sopers p{ri}uely i{n} hid plase be not had, & be thay forbeden that there be no suche dyn{er}s nother sopers oute of the hall{e}, For of such{e} cometh{e} grete destr[u]ccion, and no worshippe therby growyth{e} to the lorde.

¶ Expliciu{n}t Statuta Familie bone Memorie.

[Sidenotes:
xvi. Talk familiarly to your Bailiffs, ask how your tenants and
store do. xvii. Allow no private meals; only those in Hall.]

[Textnotes:
A MS. wyse
B t.i. wroth
C MS. affecciori]

Prof. Brewer has, I find, printed these _Statuta_ in his most interesting and valuable _Monumenta Franciscana_, 1858, p. 582-6. He differs from Mr Brock and me in reading _drunkelewe_ (drunken, in Chaucer, &c.) as ‘drunke, lewe,’ and _vessels_ as ‘bossels,’ and in adding _e_’s[1] to some final _g_’s. He says, by way of Introduction, that, “Though entitled Ordinances for the Household of Bishop Grostete, this is evidently a Letter addressed to the Bishop on the management of his Household by some very intimate friend. From the terms used in the Letter, it is clear that the writer must have been on confidential terms with the Prelate. I cannot affirm positively that the writer was Adam de Marisco, although to no other would this document be attributed with greater probability. No one else enjoyed such a degree of Grostete’s affection; none would have ventured to address him with so much familiarity. Besides, the references made more than once by Adam de Marisco in his letters to the management of the Bishop’s household, greatly strengthen this supposition. See pp. 160, 170 (_Mon. Francisc._). The MS. is a small quarto on vellum, in the writing of the 15th century. It is in all probability a translation from a Latin original.”

[Footnote 1: In this he is probably right. The general custom of
editors justifies it. Our printers want a pig-tailed or curly _g_
to correspond with the MS. one.]

* * * * *
* * * *

Stanzas and Couplets of Counsel.

[_From the Rawlinson MS., C. 86, fol. 31,
in the Bodleian Library._]

Vtter thy langage wyth good avisement;
Reule the by Reasou{n} in thy termoȝ all{e};

[Sidenote: Never mistrust or fail your friend.]

Mystruste not thy frende for non{e} accusement,
Fayle him neu{er} at nede, what so eu{er} befall{e}; 4
Solace þi selfe when men{n} to sporte þee call{e};

[Sidenote: Don’t talk too much.]

Largely to speke be wele ware for þ{a}t cause;
Roll{e} faste this reasou{n} & thynke wele on þ{i}s clause.

[Sidenote: Spare your master’s goods as your own.]

What man{n} þ{o}u s{er}uyst, all{e} wey him drede; 8
His good as þyñ owne, eu{er} þ{o}u spare.
Lette neu{er} þy wyll{e} þy witt ou{er} lede,
But be glad of eu{er}y mannys welfare.

Folus lade polys; wisemen{n} ete þe fysshe; 12
Wisemen{n} hath in þ{er} hondis ofte þ{a}t folys aft{er} wyssh{e}.

[Sidenote: A lawless youth, a despised old age.]

Who so in youthe no vertu vsith,
In age all{e} hono{ur} him refusith.

Deame þ{e}e best in eu{er}y doute 16
Tyl þe trouthe be tryed oute.

[Sidenote: A Gentleman says the best he can of every one.]

It is þe properte of A gentilman{n}
To say the beste þ{a}t he can{n}.

Si vieȝ doler{e} tua crimina die miserer{e} 20
Permiserere mei frangitur ira dei

[Follows:--Policronica.

Josephus of Iewes þ{a}t Nobyl was, the firste Aucto{ur} of
the booke of Policronica, &c.]

* * * * *
* * * *

The schoole

of Vertue, and booke of

good Nourture for chyldren, and
youth to learne theyr dutie by,
Newely perused, corrected,
and augmented by the
fyrst Auctour
F. S.[eager]

With a briefe declaracion of the
dutie of eche degree.

Anno. 1557.

Dispise not councel, rebuking foly
Esteme it as, nedefull and holy.

¶ Imprinted at London in Paules
Churchyarde at the signe of
the Hedgehogge by
Wyllyam Seares.

¶ THE AUCTOURS NAME IN VERDYT.

[S] Saye well some wyll by this my labour
[E] Euery man yet Wyll not say the same
[A] Amonge the good I doubt not fauour
[G] God them forgeue For it me blame
[E] Eche man I wyshe It shall offende
[R] Reade and then iudge Where faulte is amende

Face aut Tace.

[Transcriber’s Note:

Headnotes are interlaced with the table of contents; they will also appear in their original locations in the text. On the title page the name SEAGER was printed vertically, enclosed in a single box.

The verse lines described in the editor’s note have been re-split for this e-text. Line numbers that were omitted or skipped have been regularized to multiples of 4, as in other selections. Large-print (original) sidenotes are shown with a smaller indentation; almost all are names or Biblical citations.]

CONTENTS.

(_Taken from the headings in the Text._)

PAGE
The mornynge prayer 225
Cap. i. Howe to order thy selfe when thou rysest,
and in apparelynge thy body 226
[Headnote: HOW TO RISE AND DRESS IN THE MORNING.]
Cap. ii. Howe to behaue thy selfe in going by the streate
and in the schoole 227
[Headnote: HOW TO BEHAVE IN SCHOOL AND STREET.]
Cap. iii. Howe to behaue thi selfe in seruynge the table 229
[Headnote: HOW TO SERVE AT DINNER.]
Cap. iiii. Howe to order thy selfe syttynge at the table 231
[Headnote: HOW TO BEHAVE AT ONE’S OWN DINNER.]
Cap. v. Howe to order thy selfe in the Churche 233
Cap. vi. The fruites of gamynge, vertue and learnynge 234
[Headnote: AGAINST GAMING, AND FOR VIRTUE.]
Cap. vii. How to behaue thy selfe in taulkynge with any man 235
Cap. viii. How to order thy selfe being sente of message 236
[Headnote: HOW TO CARRY A MESSAGE.]
Cap. ix. A-gainste Anger, Enuie, and malice 236
Cap. x. The fruites of charitie, loue, and pacience 237
Cap. xi. A-gainge (_so_) the horrible vice of swearynge 238
[Headnote: AGAINST SWEARING.]
Cap. xii. A-gainste the vice of filthy talkynge 239
Cap. xiii. A-gainste the vice of lyinge 239
[Headnote: AGAINST LYING.]
A praier to be saide when thou goest to bedde 240
[Headnote: A NIGHTLY PRAYER.]
The dutie of eche degred. (_so_) brefely declared 241
[Headnote: THE DUTY OF ALL DEGREES OF MEN.]

[N.B. The even lines (2, 4, &c.) of the original are printed here opposite the odd ones (1, 3, &c.), instead of after them, to save space. The lines must therefore be read right across the page. The sidenotes in large type, ‘Cato, Isocra, &c.,’ are those of the original. The rest are the editor’s, and he has added headlines, some stops, &c.]

The schoole of vertue.

[Sidenote: First, say this prayer: “O God!]

[Sidenote: [sign. A. ii.]]

First in the mornynge
when thou dost awake,
To God for his grace
thy peticion then make; 4
This prayer folowynge
vse dayly to say,
Thy harte lyftynge vp;
Thus begyn to pray 8

¶ The mornynge prayer.

++“O God, from whom
al good gifts procede!

[Sidenote: enable us to follow virtue.]

To thee we repayre
in tyme of our nede, 12
That with thy grace
thou wouldst vs endue
Vertue to folowe
and vyce to exchue: 16
Heare this our request,
and graunt our desyre,

[Sidenote: [sign. A. ii.b.]]

O lorde! moste humbly
we do the requyre! 20

[Sidenote: Defend us this day.]

This day vs defende,
that we walkynge aryght
May do the thynge
acceptable in thy syght, 24
That as we in yeares
And body do growe,

[Sidenote: Let us abound with virtues, flee from vice,
and go forward in good doing to our live’s end.”]

So in good vertues
we may lykewyse flowe 28
To thy honour,
and ioy of our parentes,
Learninge to lyue well,
and kepe thy co{m}maund mentes; 32
In flyinge from all
Vice, synne, and cryme,
Applyinge our bookes,
not losynge our tyme, 36
May fructifye and go forwarde
here in good doynge
In this vale of miserie
vnto oure lyuees endynge, 40

[Sidenote: [sign. A. iii.]]

That after this lyfe
here transitory
We may attayne
to greater glory.” 44

[Sidenote: Repeat the Lord’s Prayer night and morning.]

The Lordes prayer then
se thou recyte,
So vsynge to do
at mornynge and nyght. 48

[Headnote: HOW TO RISE AND DRESS IN THE MORNING.]

[Sidenote: _How to wash and dress yourself._]

¶ Howe to order thy selfe when thou rysest,
and in apparelynge thy body.

Capitulo .i.

[Sidenote: Cato.]

++Flye euer slouthe
and ouer much slepe;

[Sidenote: Don’t sleep too long.]

In health the body
therby thou shalte kepe. 52
Muche slepe ingendereth
diseases and payne,
It dulles the the wyt
and hurteth the brayne. 56

[Sidenote: Rise early; cast up your bed, and don’t let it lie.]

[Sidenote: [sign. A. iii.b.]]

Early in the mornynge
thy bed then forsake,
Thy rayment put on,
thy selfe redy make. 60
To cast vp thy bed
It shalbe thy parte,
Els may they say
that beastly thou art; 64
So to departe
and let the same lye,
It is not semynge
nor yet manerly. 68

[Sidenote: Go down, salute your parents, wash your hands,
comb your head, brush your cap and put it on.]

Downe from thy chamber
when thou shalte go,
Thy parentes salute thou,
and the famely also; 72
Thy handes se thou washe,
and thy hed keame,
And of thy rayment
se torne be no seame; 76

[Sidenote: [sign. A. iiii.]]

Thy cappe fayre brusht,
thy hed couer than,
Takynge it of
In speakynge to any man. 80

[Sidenote: Cato.]

Cato doth councel thee
thyne elders to reuerence
Declarynge therby
thy dutye and obedience. 84

[Sidenote: Tie on your shirt-collar, fasten your girdle, rub your
breeches, clean your shoes, wipe your nose on a napkin, pare your
nails, clean your ears, wash your teeth.]

Thy shyrte coler fast
to thy necke knyt;
Comely thy rayment
loke on thy body syt. 88
Thy gyrdell about
thy wast then fasten,
Thy hose fayre rubd
thy showes se be cleane. 92
A napkyn se that
thou haue in redines
Thy nose to clense
from all fylthynes. 96

[Sidenote: [sign. A. iiii.b.]]

Thy nayles, yf nede be,
se that thou payre;
Thyne eares kepe cleane,
thy teath washe thou fayre. 100

[Sidenote: Have your torn clothes mended, or new ones obtained.]

If ought about thee
chaunce to be torne,
Thy frendes therof shewe
howe it is worne, 104
And they wyll newe
for thee prouyde,
Or the olde mende,
In tyme beinge spyde, 108

[Sidenote: Get your satchell and books, and haste to School,
taking too pen, paper, and ink, which are necessary for use at
school.]

This done, thy setchell
and they bokes take,
And to the scole
haste see thou make. 112
But ere thou go,
with thy self forthynke.
That thou take with thee
pen, paper, and ynke; 116
For these are thynges
for thy study necessary,
Forget not then
with thee them to cary. 120
The souldiar preparynge
hym selfe to the fielde

[Sidenote: [sign. A. v.]]

Leaues not at home
his sworde and his shielde, 124
No more shulde a scoler
forget then truly
what he at scole
shulde nede to occupy. 128

[Sidenote: Then start off.]

These thynges thus had,
Take strayght thy way
Vnto the schole
without any stay. 132

[Sidenote: _How to behave going to, and at, School._]

Howe to behaue thy selfe in going by
the streate and in the schoole .ii.

[Sidenote: Take off your cap to those you meet; give way to
passers by.]

++In goynge by the way
and passynge the strete,

[Sidenote: Isocra.]

Thy cappe put of,
Salute those ye mete; 136

[Sidenote: Cato.]

In geuynge the way
to suche as passe by,
It is a poynte
of siuilitie. 140

[Sidenote: [sign. A. v.b.]]

[Sidenote: Call your playmates on your road.]

And thy way fortune
so for to fall,
Let it not greue thee
thy felowes to call. 144

[Sidenote: At School salute your master, and the scholars.]

when to the schole
thou shalte resort,
This rule note well
I do the exhort: 148
Thy master there beynge,
Salute with all reuerence,
Declarynge thereby
thy dutye and obedience; 152
Thy felowes salute
In token of loue,
Lest of inhumanitie
they shall the reproue. 156

[Sidenote: Go straight to your place, undo your satchell, take out
your books and learn your lesson; stick well to your books.]

Vnto thy place
appoynted for to syt,
Streight go thou to,
and thy setchel vnknyt, 160
Thy bokes take out,
thy lesson then learne

[Text note: [A _Orig._ Huubly]]

[Sidenote: [sign. A. vi.]]

Humbly [A] thy selfe
Behaue and gouerne. 164
Therein takynge payne,
with all thyne industry
Learnynge to get
thy boke well applye: 168
All thynges seme harde
when we do begyn,

[Sidenote: Virgil.]

But labour and diligence
yet both them wyn; 172
we ought not to recken
and coumpt the thyng harde
That bryngeth ioye
and pleasure afterwarde; 176

[Sidenote: If you don’t work, you’ll repent it when you grow up.]

Leaue of then laboure,
and the lacke rue,
Lament and repent
when age doth insue. 180

[Sidenote: Who could now speak of famous deeds of old, had not
Letters preserved them?]

Deades that deserued
Fame and greate prayse,
Buried had ben,
we se in olde dayes; 184

[Sidenote: [sign. A. vi.b.]]

If letters had not then
brought them to lyght 188
The truth of suche thynges
who coulde nowe resyght?
Applye thy minde
to learnynge and scyence,

[Sidenote: Cato.]

For learnynge in nede
wyll be thy defence. 192
Nothinge to science
compare we may well,

[Sidenote: Cicero.]

The swetenes wherof
all thynges doth excell. 196
And Cato the wyse
this worthy sayinge hath,

[Sidenote: Cato.]

That man wantinge learnynge
is as the image of death. 200

[Sidenote: Aristot.]

The rootes of learnynge
most bytter we deme;
The fruites at last
Moste pleasaunt doth seme. 204

[Sidenote: Work hard then, and you’ll be thought worthy to serve
the state.]

Then labour for learnynge
whyle here thou shalt lyue,

[Sidenote: [sign. A. vii.]]

The ignoraunt to teache,
and good example geue; 208
So shalte thou be thought
A membre most worthy
The common welth to serue

[Text note: [B _Orig._ ryme]]

In tyme[B] of necessitie. 212
Experience doth teache
And shewe to thee playne

[Sidenote: Men of low birth win honour by Learning, and then are
doubly happy.]

That many to honour
By learninge attayne 216
That were of byrthe
But symple and bace,--
Suche is the goodnes
Of Gods speciall grace,-- 220
For he that to honour
by vertue doth ryse,
Is double happy,
and counted most wyse. 224

[Sidenote: When you doubt, ask to be told.]

If doubte thou doest,
Desyre to be toulde,
No shame is to learne,
Beinge neuer so oulde; 228

[Sidenote: [sign. A. vii.b.]]

Ignoraunce doth cause
Great errors in vs
For wantynge of knowledge
Doubts to discusse; 232
Then learne to discerne
the good from the yll,

[Sidenote: Wish well to those who warn you.]

And suche as thee warne,
Bere them good will. 236

[Headnote: HOW TO BEHAVE IN SCHOOL AND STREET.]

[Sidenote: On your way home walk two and two orderly (for which
men will praise you); don’t run in heaps like a swarm of bees
like boys do now.]

when from the schoole
ye shall take your waye,
Or orderly then go ye,
twoo in aray, 240
your selues matchynge
So equall as ye may,
That men it seynge
May well of you saye 244
In commendynge this
your laudable wayes,
whiche must nedes sounde
to your great prayse, 248
Not runnynge on heapes
as a swarme of bees,
As at this day
Euery man it nowe sees; 252

[Sidenote: [sign. A. viii.]]

Not vsynge, but refusynge,
Suche foolyshe toyes
As commonly are vsed
In these dayes of boyes, 256

[Sidenote: Don’t whoop or hallow as in fox-hunting don’t chatter,
or stare at every new fangle, but walk soberly, taking your cap
off to all, and being gentle.]

As hoopynge and halowynge
as in huntynge the foxe,
That men it hearynge
Deryde them with mockes. 260
This foolyshnes forsake,
this folly exchewynge,
And learne to followe
this order insuynge. 264
In goynge by the way
Neyther talke nor iangle,
Gape not nor gase not
at euery newe fangle, 268
But soberly go ye
with countinaunce graue;

[Sidenote: Isocra.]

Humblye your selues
towarde all men behaue; 272

[Sidenote: [sign. A. viii.b.]]

Be free of cappe
and full of curtesye;
Greate loue of al men
you shall wyn therby. 276
Be lowly and gentyll
and of meke moode;
Then men con not
but of you say good. 280

[Sidenote: Do no man harm; speak fair words.]

In passynge the strete
Do no man no harme;
Vse thou fewe wordes,
and thy tounge charme, 284
Then men shal see
that grace in the groweth
From whom vertues
So aboundantly floweth. 288

[Sidenote: On reaching home salute your parents reverently.]

when thou arte come
where thy parentes do dwell,
Thy leaue then takynge
Byd thy felowes farewell; 292
The house then entrynge,
In thy parence presence

[Sidenote: [sign. B. i.]]

Humbly salute them
with all reuerence. 296

[Sidenote: _How to wait at table._]

¶ Howe to behaue thi selfe in seruynge
the table. Cap. iii.

++VVhen thy parentes downe
to the table shall syt,
In place be ready
For the purpose moste fyt: 300

[Sidenote: Look your parents in the face, hold up your hands,
and say]

With sober countinaunce
Lokynge them in the face,
Thy handes holdynge vp,
this begyn grace: 304

[Sidenote: Grace before meate.]

++“Geue thankes to God
with one accorde
For that shall be
Set on this borde. 308

[Sidenote: Grace before Meat.]

And be not carefull
what to eate,
To eche thynge lyuynge
the Lorde sends meate; 312
For foode he wyll not
Se you peryshe,

[Sidenote: [sign. B. i.b.]]

But wyll you fede,
Foster, and cheryshe; 316
Take well in worth
what he hath sent,
At this tyme be 320
therwith content,
Praysynge God.”

¶ So treatablie speakyng
as possible thou can, 324
That the hearers therof
May thee vnderstan.

[Sidenote: Make a low curtesy; wish your parents’ food may
do ’em good.]

Grace beynge sayde,
Lowe cursie make thou, 328
Sayinge “muche good
May it do you.”

[Headnote: HOW TO SERVE AT DINNER.]

[Sidenote: If you are big enough, bring the food to table.]

Of stature then
yf thou be able, 332
It shall become thee
to serue the table
In bringynge to it
Suche meate as shall nede 336

[Sidenote: [sign. B. ii.]]

For thy parence vpon
that tyme to fede.

[Sidenote: Don’t fill dishes so full as to spill them on your
parents’ dress, or they’ll be angry.]

Disshes with measure
thou oughtest to fyll, 340
Els mayste thou happen
thy seruyce to spyll
On theyr apparell
Or els on the cloth, 344
whiche for to doe
wolde moue them to wroth.

[Sidenote: Have spare trenchers ready for guests.]

Spare trenchers with napkyns
haue in redynes 348
To serue afterwarde,
If there come any gesse.
Be circumspecte;
see nothynge do wante; 352

[Sidenote: See there’s plenty of everything wanted.]

Of necessary thynges
that there be no skant,
As breade and drynke,
se there be plentie; 356

[Sidenote: Empty the Voiders often.]

The voyders with bones
Ofte se thou emptie.

[Sidenote: [sign. B. ii.b.]]

At hande be ready,
If any do call, 360

[Sidenote: Be at hand if any one calls.]

To fetche or take vp,
If ought fortune to fall.

[Sidenote: When the meat is over, clear the table: 1. cover the
salt, 2. have a tray by you to carry things off on, 3. put the
trenchers, &c., in one Voider, 4. sweep the crumbs into another,
5. set a clean trencher before every one, 6. put on Cheese, Fruit,
Biscuits, and 7. serve Wine, Ale or Beer.]

when they haue done,
then ready make 364
The table vp fayre
In order to take:
Fyrste the saulte
Se that thou couer, 368
Hauynge by thee
Eyther one or other
thynges from thy handes
then to conuaye 372
That from the table
thou shalt take awaye.
A voyder vpon
the table then haue, 376
The trenchers and napkyns
therein to receaue;
The croomes with a napkyn
together them swepe, 380

[Sidenote: [sign. B. iii.]]

It at the tables ende
In a voyder them kepe.
Then before eche man
A cleane treanchour lay, 384
The best fyrste seruynge,
As iudge thou soone may;
Then cheese with fruite
On the table set, 388
With Bisketes or Carowayes,
As you may get.
Wyne to them fyll,
Els ale or beare; 392
But wyne is metest,
If any there were.

[Sidenote: When these are finished, clear the table, and fold up
the cloth.]

Then on the table
Attende with all diligence, 396
It for to voyde
when done haue thy parence:
Eche syde of the clothe
Do thou tourne in, 400
Foldynge it vp,
At the hygher ende begin.

[Sidenote: Then spread a clean towel, bring bason and jug, and
when your parents are ready to wash, and when your parents are
ready to wash, pour out the water.]

[Sidenote: [sign. B. iii. b.]]

A cleane towell then
On the table spreade,-- 404
The towell wantynge,
the cloth take in steade,--
The bason and ewer
to the table then brynge, 408
In place conuenient
theyr pleasure abydynge.
when thou shalt see
them redy to washe, 412
The ewer take vp,
and be not to rashe
In powrynge out water
More then wyll suffise. 416

[Sidenote: Clear the table; make a low curtsey.]

The table then voyde
that they may ryse.
All thynges thus done,
forget not thy dutie, 420
Before the table
Make thou lowe cursie.

[Headnote: HOW TO BEHAVE AT ONE’S OWN DINNER.]

[Sidenote: [sign. B. iiii.]]

[Sidenote: _How to behave at your own dinner._]

¶ Howe to order thy selfe syttynge at the table.

Capitulo .iiii.

++O Chyldren! geue eare
your duties to learne, 424
Howe at the table
you may your selues gouerne.

[Sidenote: Socra. Cato.]

Presume not to hyghe,
I say, in no case; 428

[Sidenote: Let your betters sit above you.]

In syttynge downe,
to thy betters geue place.

[Sidenote: See others served first, then wait a while before
eating.]

Suffer eche man
Fyrste serued to be, 432
For that is a poynte
Of good curtesie.
when they are serued,
then pause a space, 436
For that is a sygne
of nourture and grace.

[Sidenote: Take salt with your knife, cut your bread, don’t fill
your spoon too full, or sup your pottage.]

Saulte with thy knyfe
then reache and take, 440

[Sidenote: [sign. B. iiii.b.]]

The breade cut fayre,
And do not it breake.
Thy spone with pottage
to full do not fyll, 444
For fylynge the cloth,
If thou fortune to spyll,
For rudnes it is
thy pottage to sup, 448
Or speake to any,
his head in the cup.

[Sidenote: Have your knife sharp.]

Thy knyfe se be sharpe
to cut fayre thy meate; 452
Thy mouth not to full
when thou dost eate;

[Sidenote: Don’t smack your lips or gnaw your bones: avoid such
beastliness.]

Not smackynge thy lyppes,
As comonly do hogges, 456
Nor gnawynge the bones
As it were dogges;
Suche rudenes abhorre,
Suche beastlynes flie, 460
At the table behaue
thy selfe manerly.

[Sidenote: Keep your fingers clean, wipe your mouth before
drinking.]

[Sidenote: [sign. B. v.]]

Thy fyngers se cleane
that thou euer kepe, 464
Hauynge a Napkyn
thereon them to wype;
Thy mouth therwith
Cleane do thou make, 468
The cup to drynke
In hande yf thou take,
Let not thy tongue
At the table walke, 472

[Sidenote: Plato.]

[Sidenote: Don’t jabber or stuff.]

And of no matter
Neyther reason nor talke.
Temper thy tongue
and belly alway, 476
For “measure is treasure,”
the prouerbe doth say,

[Sidenote: Cicero.]

And measure in althynges
Is to be vsed; 480
what is without measure
Ought to be refused.

[Sidenote: Silence hurts no one, and is fitted for a child at
table.]

For silence kepynge
thou shalt not be shent, 484

[Sidenote: [sign. B. v.b.]]

where as thy speache
May cause thee repent.

[Sidenote: Isocra.]

Bothe speache and silence
are commendable, 488
But sylence is metest
In a chylde at the table.

[Sidenote: Cato.]

And Cato doth saye,
that “in olde and yonge 492
The fyrste of vertue
Is to kepe thy tonge.”

[Sidenote: Don’t pick your teeth, or spit too much.]

Pyke not thy teethe
at the table syttynge, 496
Nor vse at thy meate
Ouer muche spytynge;
this rudnes of youth
Is to be abhorde; 500

[Sidenote: Behave properly.]

thy selfe manerly
Behaue at the borde.