Chapter XXIX: Prologue: 1 1 (12)

A, _for_ argue not _read_ Angre the
B, _omit_ ne; _for_ not to large _read_ thou nat to brode
D, „ „ ; _for_ not _read_ thow nat
E, „ „ ; _for_ to eernesful _read_ ne curyons
F, _for_ fers, famuler, freendli, _read_ Ferde, familier, frenfull{e}
G, _omit_ to; _for_ & gelosie þou hate, _read_ Ne to galaunt never
H, _for_ in þine _read_ off
I, _for_ iettynge _read_ Iocunde;
_for_ iape not to _read_ Ioye thow nat
K, _omit_ to _and_ &; _for_ knaue _read_ knaves
L, _for_ for to leene _read_ ne to lovyng;
_for_ goodis _read_ woordys
M, _for_ medelus _read_ Mellous;
_for_ but as mesure wole it meeue
_read_ ne to besynesse vnleffull{e}
N, _for_ ne use no new iettis _read_ ne nought{e} to neffangle
O, _for_ ouerþwart _read_ ouertwarth{e};
_for_ & ooþis þou hate _read_ Ne othez to haunte
Q, _for_ quarelose _read_ querelous;
_for_ weel ȝoure souereyns _read_ men all{e} abowte
R, _omit the second_ to; _for_ not to rudeli _read_ thou nat but lyte
S, _for_ ne straungeli to stare _read_ Ne starte nat abowte
T, _for_ for temperaunce is best _read_ But temp{er}ate euer{e}
V, _for_ ne &c. _read_ ne violent Ne waste nat to moche
W, _for_ neiþer &c. _read_ Ne to wyse deme the

¶ _for_ is euere þe beste of _read_ ys best for vs

_Add_ =X Y Z= x y wych{e} esed & p{er} se.
Tytell{e} Tytell{e} Tytell{e} thañ Esta Amen.

* * * * *
* * * *

Urbanitatis.

[_MS. Cott. Calig. A. II., ab. 1460 A.D., fol. 88, col. 2._]

Who-so wyll{e} of nurtur lere,
Herken to me & ȝe shall{e} here.
[a] When þ{o}u comeste be-fore a lorde
In halle, yn bowre, or at þe borde, 4
[b] Hoode or kappe þ{o}u of þo.
Ere þ{o}u come hym all{e} vn-to,
[c] Twyse or þryse w{i}t{h}-oute{n} dowte
To þ{a}t lorde þ{o}u moste lowte, 8
W{i}t{h} þy Ryȝth kne lette h{i}t be do,
Thy worshyp þ{o}u mayst saue so.
[d] Holde of þy cappe & þy hood also
Tyll{e} þ{o}u be byden h{i}t on to do; 12
All{e} þe whyle þ{o}u spekest w{i}t{h} hym,
[e] Fayr & louely holde vp þy chyn{n},
So aft{ur} þe nurtur of þe book
[f] In h{i}s face louely þ{o}u loke; 16
[g] Foot & hond þ{o}u kepe full{e} stylle
Fro clawyng or tryppy{n}g, h{i}t ys skylle;
[h] Fro spettyng & snetyng kepe þe also;
[i] Be p{ri}uy of voydance, & lette h{i}t go. 20
And loke þ{o}u be wyse & fell{e},
[k] And þ{er}to also þ{a}t þow gouerne þe well{e}.
[l] In-to þe halle when þ{o}u dost wende
Amonge þe genteles gode & hende, 24
[m] Prece þ{o}u not vp to hyȝ for no þy{n}g,
Nor for þy hyȝ blood, ner{e} for þy ko{n}ny{n}g,
Noþ{ur} to sytte, neþ{ur} to lene,
For h{i}t ys neyþ{ur} good ne clene. 28
[n] Lette not þy co{n}tynaunce also abate,
For good nurt{ur} wyll{e} saue þy state;
Fadyr & modyr, what eu{ur} þey be,
Well{e} ys þe chylde þ{a}t may the: 32
[o] In halle, in chambur, or{e} wher{e} þ{o}u gon,
Nurtur & good maners makeþ man.
To þe nexte degre loke þ{o}u wysely
[p] To do hem Reu{er}ence by and by: 36
Do hem no Reu{er}ens, but sette all{e} i{n} Rowe
But ȝyf þ{o}u þe bett{ur} do hym knowe.

[Sidenote: [Fol. 86, back, col. 1.]]

To þe mete when þ{o}u art sette,
Fayre & honestly thow ete hyt: 40
[q] Fyrste loke þ{a}t þy handes be clene,
And þ{a}t þy knyf be sharpe & kene;
And cutte þy breed & all{e} þy mete
Ryȝth euen as þ{o}u doste h{i}t ete. 44
[r] If þ{o}u sytte be a worthyor man
Then þy self thow art on,
Suffre hym fyrste to towche þe mete
Er{e} þy self any þ{er}-of gete; 48
[s] To þe beste morsell{e} þ{o}u may not stryke
Thowȝ þ{o}u neu{ur} so well{e} h{i}t lyke.
[t] Also kepe þy hondys fayr{e} & well{e}
Fro fylynge of the towell{e}, 52
Ther-on þ{o}u shalt not þy nose wype;
Noþ{ur} at þy mete þy toth þ{o}u pyke;
[v] To depe i{n} þy cuppe þ{o}u may not synke
Thowȝ þ{o}u haue good wyll{e} to drynke, 56
Leste þy eyen water þer{e} by,
Then ys hyt no curtesy.
[x] Loke yn þy mowth be no mete
When þ{o}u begy{n}neste to dry{n}ke or speke; 60
Also when þ{o}u sest any man drynkyng
That taketh hede of þy karpyng,
Soone a-non þ{o}u sece þy tale,
Wheþ{ur} he drynke wyne or Ale. 64
[y] Loke also þ{o}u skorne no mon
In what þe[gre] [A] þ{o}u se hym gon;
Nor þ{o}u shalte no mon Repreue [B]
Ȝyf þ{o}u wylt þy owen worshyp saue, 68
For suche wordys þ{o}u myȝth out kaste
Sholde make þe to lyue i{n} euell{e} reste;
[z] Close þyn honde yn þy feste,
And kepe þe well{e} from hadde-y-wyste. 72

[Sidenote: [Fol. 86, back, col. 2.]]

[aa] In chamb{ur} among ladyes bryȝth,
Kepe þy tonge & spende þy syȝth;
[ab] Lawȝe þ{o}u not w{i}t{h} no grette cry,
Ne Rage þ{o}u not w{i}t{h} Rybawdry. 76
Pley þ{o}u not but w{i}t{h} þy peres;
[ac] Ne telle þ{o}u not þ{a}t þ{o}u heres,
Nor dyskeuer{e} þ{o}u not [C] þyn owen dede
For no myrth nor for no mede; 80
[ad] W{i}t{h} fayr speche þ{o}u may haue þy wyll{e},
And w{i}t{h} þy speche þ{o}u may þe spyll{e}.
[ae] Ȝyf þ{o}u suwe a wordyer mon
Then þy self þ{o}u art on, 84
Lette þy Ryȝth shold{ur} folow h{i}s bakke,
For nurt{ur} þ{a}t ys, w{i}t{h}-owten lakke.
[af] When he doth speke, holde þe style;
When he hath don, say þy wyll{e}; 88
[ag] Loke yn þy speche þ{o}u be fell{e},
And what þou sayste a-vyse þe well{e};
[ah] And be-refe þ{o}u no mon h{i}s tale,
Noþ{ur} at wyne ner{e} at Ale. 92
[ai] Now, c{ri}ste of h{i}s grette g{ra}ce
Ȝeue vs all{e} both{e} wytte & space
Well{e} þ{i}s to knowe & Rede,
[ak] And heuen to haue for o{ur} mede! 96
Amen, Amen, so moot h{i}t be,
So saye we all{e} for charyte!

EXPLICIT T{RA}CTUS VRBANITATIS.

[Sidenotes:
[a] When you come before a lord [b] take off your cap or hood,
[c] and fall on your right knee twice or thrice. [d] Keep your cap
off till you’re told to put it on; [e] hold up your chin; [f] look
in the lord’s face; [g] keep hand and foot still; [h] don’t spit
or snot; [i] get rid of it quietly; [k] behave well. [l] When you
go into the hall, [m] don’t press up too high. [n] Don’t be
shamefaced. [o] Wherever you go, good manners make the man.
[p] Reverence your betters, but treat all equally whom you don’t
know. [q] See that your hands are clean, and your knife sharp.
[r] Let worthier men help themselves before you eat. [s] Don’t
clutch at the best bit. [t] Keep your hands from dirtying the
cloth, and don’t wipe your nose on it, [v] or dip too deep in your
cup. [x] Have no meat in your mouth when you drink or speak; and
stop talking when your neighbour is drinking. [y] Scorn and
reprove no man. [z] Keep your fingers from what would bring you
to grief. [aa] Among ladies, look, don’t talk. [ab] Don’t laugh
loud, or riot with ribalds. [ac] Don’t repeat what you hear.
[ad] Words make or mar you. [ae] If you follow a worthier man, let
your right shoulder follow his back, and [af] don’t speak till he
has done. [ag] Be austere (?) in speech; [ah] don’t stop any man’s
tale. [ai] Christ gives us all wit to know this, [ak] and heaven
as our reward. Amen!]

[Text notes:
A Marg. has _gre_ for insertion.
B _repraue_ is written above the line.
C _not_ put in by a later hand.]

* * * * *
* * * *

The Boris hede furst.

[_Porkington MS. No. 10, fol. 202; ? ab. 1460-70 A.D._]

Hey, hey, hey, hey, þe borrys hede is armyd gay![1]
The boris hede i{n} hond I bryng
W{i}tt garlond gay in porttoryng.

[Sidenote: [Fol. 202b.]]

I pray yow all w{i}tt me to synge
W{i}tt hay.

¶¶ Lordys, knyȝtt{is}, and skyers,
Persons, prystis and wycars,
The boris hede ys þe fur[s]t mes,
W{i}tt hay.

¶¶ The boris hede, as I yow say,
He takis his leyfe, & gothe his way
Soñ aft{ur} þe xij theylffyt day,
W{i}tt hay.

¶¶ The{n} co{m}mys i{n} þe secund kowrs w{i}th mekyll pryde,
þe crann{is} & þe heyrrou{n}s, þe bytt{ur}is by þe syde,
þe p{ar}trychys & þe plowers, þe wodcok{is} & þe snyt,
W{i}tt hay.

¶¶ Larkys i{n} hoot schow,[2] ladys for to pyk,
Good drynk þ{er}to, lycyvs and fyñ,
Blwet of allmayñ,[3] ro{m}nay and wyin,
W{i}tt hay.

¶¶ Gud[4] bred, alle & wyin, da{er} I well say,
þ^e boris hede w{i}tt musterd armyd soo gay,

¶¶ furm̅a{n}te to po^tdtage,[5] w{i}tt we{n}nissu{n} fyñ,
& þ^e ho{m}buls of þe dow, & all þ{a}t eu{er} co{m}mis in,

¶¶ Cappons I-bake w{i}tt þ^e pesys of þ^e roow,
Reysons of corrans, w{i}tt odyr{e} spysis moo,

[_incomplete._]

[Footnote 1: “When you print I recommend that the first line of
the MS. ‘Hey, hey,’ &c. should stand alone in two lines. They are
the burthen of the song, and were a sort of accompaniment, or
under-song, sung throughout, while an upper voice sang the words
and tune. You will see numbers of the same kind in Wright’s Songs
and Carols printed by the Percy Society. It was common in the 14th
and 15th centuries.” --WM. CHAPPELL.

This Carol is printed in _Reliq. Antiq._, vol. ii., and is
inserted here--copied from and read with the MS.--to fill up a
blank page. The title is mine.]

[Footnote 2: ? sewe, stew.]

[Footnote 3: ? the name of a wyne. Recipes for the dish _Brouet of
Almayne_ (H. O.), _Brewet of Almony_, _Breuet de Almonde_, are in
Household Ordinances, p. 456; Forme of Cury, p. 29, and Liber Cure
Cocorum, p. 12.]

[Footnote 4: ? MS. End.]

[Footnote 5: Recipe for _Potage de Frumenty_ in Household
Ordinances, p. 425.]

[po^tdtage: small “t” printed above “o”]

* * * * *
* * * *

Errata (noted by transcriber):

_The Babees Book_
_In the printed book, some line numbers were shifted to avoid
collision with the pilcrow symbol at the beginning of the stanza.
For this e-text, numbers have been restored to multiples of 4._

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

[Transcriber’s Note:

The following two selections, _The Lytylle Childrenes Lytil Boke or Edyllys be_ and _The Young Children’s Book_, were printed on facing even/odd pages. They are here presented one after the other, with sidenotes grouped at the end of each selection.

_Edyllys Be_ is given twice: first with all collations and line numbers, then with sidenotes only.]

* * * * *
* * * *

The Lytylle Childrenes Lytil Boke or Edyllys be.

[_Harl. MS. 541, fol. 210; and Egerton MS. 1995; ab. 1480 A.D._]

[Text with collations: see Transcriber’s Note above.

Numbered footnotes give readings from the alternative MS, Egerton
1995. Footnotes 9 (three references) and 23 each read:
“The parts between square brackets [] are from the Egerton MS.”
This explanation is also given in an unnumbered note on a later page.

Readings in [[double brackets]] are taken from the Collations
section immediately after the Preface, with the MSS. abbreviated
here as Adv.:
“... part of the Advocates Library MS., fol. 84, back”,
and Cam.:
“... the Cambridge University MS. ... _Hem_ is always written
for _him_ in this MS., and so with other words.”]

Lytyll{e} children{e}, here ye may lere]
Moche curtesy þ{a}t is wrytyn{e} here;
For clerk{is} that the vij arteȝ cunne,
Seyn[1] þ{a}t curtesy from hevyn come 4
Whan Gabryell{e} oure lady grette,
And Eliȝabeth with mary mette.
l. 1: [[Adv. childur]
l. 2: [[Adv. _dele_ þat]]
[[Cam. _for_ wrytyne _read_ brekeyd]]
l. 3: [[Adv. _dele_ For]]
l. 4: [1: Egerton MS. 1995, Synne]
[[Adv. _for_ with mary, _read_ oure Lady]]
[[Cam. _for_ Elizabeth _read_ cortesey]]
All{e} vertues arn{e}[2] closid{e} yn curtesye,
And all{e} vices yn vylonye. 8
Loke þyne hond{is} be[3] wasshe clene,
That no fylth{e} on[4] thy nayles be sene.
Take þ{o}u no mete tyll{e} grace[5] be seyd{e},
And tyll{e} þ{o}u see all{e} thyng arayed{e}. 12
l. 7: [2: ben closyde]
[[Adv. _for_ arñ _read_ byn]]
[[Cam. _for_ closide _read_ clodyd]]
l. 9: [[Adv. _prefix_ Forst _to_ Loke]]
[3: that thy hondys benne]
[[Adv. _for_ wasshe _read_ wasshyd]]
l. 10: [4: in]
[[Cam. _for_ on _read_ yn]]
l. 11: [5: the fyrste gracys]
[[Cam. _for_ þou _read_ ye]]
l. 12: [[Adv. _for_ tylle _read_ to]]
[[Cam. _for_ þou _read_ ye]]
Loke, my son, þ{a}t thow not sytte]
Tyll{e} þe ruler of þe hous the bydde;[6]
And at thy[7] mete, yn þ{e} begynnyng,
Loke on[8] pore men that thow thynk, 16
For the full{e} wombe w{i}t{h}out[[9] any faylys]
Wot full{e} lytyl[[9] what the hungery aylys.]
l. 13: [[Adv. _prefix_ And _to_ Loke]
l. 14: [6: the halle the bytte]
[[Adv. To he y^t reweleth y^e howse y^e bytt]]
[[Cam. _for_ hous the bydde _read_ hall þe beyt]]
l. 15: [7: Atte the]
[[Cam. _for_ þe _read_ they]]
l. 16: [8: a-pon (and omits _that_)]
[[Adv. _put the_ that _between_ loke _and_ on]]
[[Cam. _for_ on _read_ no]]
l. 17: [[Adv. _for_ without any faylys _read_ withowtte fayle]]
[[Cam. _for_ any faylys _read_ fayle]]
l. 18: [[Adv. _for_ hungery aylys _read_ empty ayle]]
[[Cam. _for_ aylys _read_ heydyt]]
Ete[[9] not thy mete to hastely,
A-byde and ete esely. 20
l. 19: [[Cam. _for_ Ete ... hastely _read_ yet ... hastey]]
l. 20: [[Adv. _for_ ete esely _read_ etett eysely]]
[[Cam. _prefix_ Bot _to_ Abyde]]
[[Cam. _for_ esely _read_ all yesley]]
Tylle þ{o}u haue thy fulle seruyse,
Touche noo messe in noo wyse.
Kerue not thy brede to thynne,
Ne breke hit not on twynne: 24
The mosselle that þ{o}u begynnysse to touche,
Cast them not in thy pouche.
l. 23: [[Cam. _for_ Kerue not thy brede
_read_ Kot they bred not]]
l. 24: [[Cam. _is_ Ne to theke bat be-tweyn]]
l. 25: [[Adv. _for_ mosselle _read_ morsselle]]
[[Cam. _for_ mosselle _read_ mossels]]
[[Cam. _for_ begynnysse to _read_ dost]]
l. 26: [[Adv. _for_ in _read_ owt of]]
[[Cam. _for_ in _read_ owt of]]
Put not thy fyngerys on thy dysche,
Nothyr in flesche, nothyr in fysche. 28
l. 27: [[Cam. _for_ on _read_ yn]]
l. 28: [[Adv. _for_ Into thy _read_ nor in the;]]
[[Adv. _for_ thy salte _read_ hit]]
[[Cam. 28-30 _are_ Ne yn they met, feys, ne fleys.
Put not thy mete yn þey salt seleyr]]
Put not thy mete in-to the salte,
In-to thy Seler that thy salte halte,]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 210, back.]]

But ley it fayr{e}[10] on þi trencher{e}
The byfore,[11] and þat is þyn{e} honor{e}. 32
l. 31: [10: Egerton MS. omits _fayre_]
[[Adv. _for_ fayre on þi _read_ on a]]
l. 32: [11: To-fore the]
[[Adv. _for_ The byfore _read_ Byfore the]]
[[Adv. _dele_ þyne]]
[[Cam. _is_ Be-fore the, that ys worschep]]
Pyke not þyn{e} Eris ne thy nost{re}ll{is};
If[12] þ{o}u do, men woll{e} sey þ{o}u come of cherl{is}.[13]
And[14] whyll{e} þi mete yn þi mouth is,
Drynk þow not; for-gete not this. 36
l. 33: [[Cam. _for_ ne _read_ nother]]
l. 34: [12: And]
[13: comyste of karlys]
[[Cam. _for_ If _read_ And]]
[[Cam. _for_ come _read_ comest]]
[[Adv. Pyke not y^i tethe wyth y^i knyfe
Whyles y^u etyst be y^i lyfe]]
l. 35: [14: But]
[[Cam. _for_ And _read_ Seche]]
[[Cam. _put the_ is _before_ yn]]
Ete þi mete by small{e} mosselles;
[m] Fylle not thy mouth as done[15] brothell{is}.
[n] Pyke not þi teth{e} with thy knyfe;
In no company begynne þow stryfe.[16] 40
l. 37: [[Cam. _for_ Ete ... by _read_ Kot ... yn]]
l. 38: [15: dothe]
[[Cam. _prefix_ And _to_ Fylle;]]
[[Cam. _omit_ done]]
l. 40: [16: Whyle þ{o}u ettyste by thy lyffe]
[[Cam. _is_ Weyles thou hetys, bey they leyffe]]
And whan þ{o}u hast þi potage doon{e},[17]
Out of thy dyssh þow put thi spone.
Ne spitte þow not[18] over the[19] tabyll{e},
Ne therupon, for that is no þing abyll{e}.[20] 44
l. 41: [17: Idone]
l. 42: [[Cam. _for_ þow put _read_ take owt]]
l. 43: [18: Spette not]
[19: thy]
[[Cam. _for_ Ne _read_ Nether]]
l. 44: [20: Nor a-pon hyt, for hyt ys not able]
[[Cam. _is_ For no cortesey het ys not habell]]
Ley not þyn{e} Elbowe nor[21] thy fyst
Vpon the tabyll{e} whyl{is} þ{a}t thow etist.[22]
Bulk not as a Been{e} were yn þi throte,
[As a ka]rle þ{a}t comys oute of a cote. 48
l. 45: [21: nothyr]
[[Cam. _for_ Elbowe ... fyst _read_ Elbowhes ... fystys]]
l. 46: [22: whyle þ{o}u este]
[[Cam. _for_ whylis þat _read_ wheyle]]
l. 47: [[Cam. _is_ Bolk not as a bolle yn the crofte]]
l. 48: [[Cam. _for_ karle þat _read_ charle]]
[[Cam. _for_ cote _read_ cotte]]
[[23] And thy mete be o]f grete pryce,
[Be ware of hyt, or þ{o}u arte n]ot wyse.
[Speke noo worde stylle ne sterke;
And honowre and curtesy loke þ{o}u kepe, 52
And at the tabylle loke þ{o}u make goode chere;
Loke þ{o}u rownde not in nomannys ere.
l. 50: [[Cam. _for_ of hyt or þou art _read_ the or ye be]]
l. 51: [[Cam. _for_ sterke _read_ lowde]]
l. 52: [[Cam. _is_ all of curtesy loke ye carpe]]
l. 53: [[Cam. _for_ at _read_ all]]
[[Cam. _omit_ loke þou]]
l. 54: [[Cam. _for_ Loke þou rownde not _read_ And loke ye]]
W{i}t{h} thy fyngerys þ{o}u towche and taste
Thy mete; And loke þ{o}u doo noo waste. 56
Loke þ{o}u laughe not, nor grenne;
And w{i}t{h} moche speche þ{o}u mayste do synne.
l. 55: [[Cam. _omit_ thy]]
l. 56: [[Cam. _for_ and _read_ ne]]
[[Cam. _for_ doo _read_ make]]
l. 57: [[Cam. _for_ laughe not _read_ noþer laughe]]
l. 58: [[Cam. _for_ with moche speche _read_ thow meche speke]]
[[Cam. _for_ mayst _read_ may]]
Mete ne drynke loke þ{o}u ne spylle,
But sette hit downe fayre and stylle.] 60
l. 59: [[Cam. _for_ first ne _read_ ner]]
[[Cam. _for the second_ ne _read_ not]]
l. 60: [[Cam. _for_ fayre and stylle _read_ stere het not]]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 207.]]

Kepe thy cloth clene the byforn{e},
And bere the so[24] thow haue no scorn{e}.
Byte not þi mete, but kerve it[25] clene,
Be well{e} war{e} no[26] drop be sene. 64
Whan þ{o}u etyst, gape not to wyde
That þi mouth be sene on ych{e} a[27] syde.
l. 61: [[Cam. _for_ thy _read_ the]]
l. 62: [24: that]
l. 63: [25: cut hit]
l. 64: [26: that noo]
l. 66: [27: be in euery]
[[Cam. _omit_ a]]
And son, bewar{e}, I rede, of[28] on thyng,
Blow neþ{er}[29] yn thi mete nor yn þi[30] drynk. 68
And yif thi lord drynk at þat tyde,
Drynk þ{o}u not, but hym abyde;
Be it at Evyn{e}, be it at noone,[31]
Drynk þ{o}u not tyll{e} he haue done. 72
l. 67: [28: be ware of]
[[Cam. _for_ I rede of _read_ of j redde þe of]]
l. 68: [29: þ{o}u not]
[30: mete not]
[[Cam. _for_ neþer _read_ neuer]]
[[Cam. _omit_ yn þi _before_ drynk]]
l. 69: [[Cam. _for_ þat _read_ they]]
l. 71: [31: morowe, (and omits next line.)]
Vpon þi trencher no fyllth{e} þ{o}u see,[32]
It is not honest, as I telle the;
Ne drynk[33] behynd{e} no mannes bakke,
For yf þ{o}u do, thow art to lakke.[34] 76
l. 73: [32: be sene]
[[Cam. _for_ þou see _read_ be saye]]
[[Cam. _for_ þou _read_ yow]]
l. 75: [33: Drynke þ{o}u not]
l. 76: [34: blame]
[[Cam. _for_ thow art _read_ yow ar]]
And chese com{e} forthe,[35] be not to gredy,[36]
Ne cutte þow not therof to hastely.[37]
Caste not þi bones ynto the flore,
But ley þem[38] fayre on þi trenchor{e}. 80
l. 77: [35: by-fore the]
[36: redy]
[[Cam. _for_ forthe _read_ before yow]]
l. 78: [37: To cut there-of be not to gredy.]
[[Cam. _omit_ þow not]]
l. 79: [[Cam. _for_ ynto _read_ yn]]
l. 80: [38: hem]
Kepe clene þi cloth byfor{e} þe[39] alle;
And sit þ{o}u stylle, what so be-falle,[40]
Tyll{e} grace be said vnto þe ende,
And tyll{e} þ{o}u haue wasshen w{i}t{h} þi frend. 84
l. 81: [39: _þe_ omitted.]
l. 82: [40: stylle w{i}t{h}alle]
l. 83: [[Cam. _for_ ende _read_ hendyng]]
l. 84: [[Cam. _for_ wasshen _read_ was]]
Let the more worthy þan[41] thow
Wassh to-fore[42] þe, & that is þi prow;
And spitte not yn[43] þi basyn{e},
My swete son, þ{a}t þow wasshist yn{e}; 88
l. 85: [41: thenne]
[[Cam. _for_ worthy _read_ wortheyor]]
l. 86: [42: by-for{e}]
[[Cam. _for_ to- _read_ be-]]
[[Cam. _omit_ &]]
[[Cam. _for_ þi prow _read_ gentyll cortesey]]
l. 87: [43: Spete not on (and omits next line.)]
And aryse up soft & stylle,[44]
And iangyll{e} nether with Iak ne Iylle,
l. 89: [[Cam. 88, 89, are omitted.]]
[44: And ryse w{i}t{h} hym that sate w{i}t{h} the stylle,
And thanke hym fayre and welle:
Aftyr, Iangely not w{i}t{h} Iacke ne gylle.]
l. 90: [[Cam. _for_ nether _read_ not]]
[[Cam. _for_ ne _read_ ne with]]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 207, back.]]

But take þi leve of the hede[45] lowly,
And þank hym w{i}t{h} thyn{e} hert hyghly, 92
And all{e} þe gentyll{is}[46] togydr{e} yn same,
And bare the so[47] thow haue no blame;
Than men wyll{e}[48] say therafter
That a gentyll{e}man was heere. 96
l. 91: [45: lorde]
[[Cam. _omit_ þi]]
[[Cam. _for_ the hede _read_ they lorde]]
l. 92: [[Cam. _for_ hyghly _read_ mekeley]]
l. 93: [46: _þe gentylles_ omitted.]
[[Cam. _for_ togydre ynsame _read_ yn the same manere]]
l. 94: [47: soo that]
[[Cam. _for_ no blame _read_ the same]]
l. 95: [48: wylle they sey]
[[Cam. _for_ therafter _read_ hereafter]]
l. 96: [[Cam. _after_ that _add_ he ys]]
[[Cam. _for_ was heere _read_ þere aftyr]]
And he þ{a}t dispiseth this techyng,
He is not worthy, w{i}t{h}oute lesyng,
Nether at[49] good mannes tabull{e} to[50] sitte,
Ner[51] of no worship{e} for to wytte. 100
l. 97: [[Cam. _omit_ And]]
[[Cam. _for_ dispiseth _read_ dispise]]
l. 99: [49: Neuyr at a]
[50: for to]
[[Cam. _for_ Nether _read_ neuer]]
l. 100: [51: Nothyr]
[[Cam. _for_ Ner _read_ ne]]
[[Cam. _after_ for _add_ sent]]
And therfor{e}, chyldren, for[52] charyte,
Louyth this boke though yt lytil be![53]
l. 101: [52: pur]
l. 102: [53: Lernythe thys boke that ys callyd Edyllys be]
[[Cam. _for_ Louyth this boke _read_ Loren this lesen]]
And pray for hym þ{a}t made it thus,[54]
That hym may helpe swete Ih{esus} 104
To lyve & dye among his frendes,
[55] And neu{er} to be combred w{i}t{h} no fendes;
And geve vs grace yn Ioy to be;
Amen, Amen, for charytee![55] 108
l. 103: [54: made thys]
[[Cam. _omit_ and]]
[[Cam. _for_ made _read_ wret]]
l. 106: [[Cam. is omitted.]]
l. 107: [[Cam. _before_ vs _put_ hem and]]
l. 108: [[Cam. _for the first_ Amen _read_ Sey all]]
[55-55: And vs graunte in Ioy to a-byde!
Say ye alle Amen for charyde in euery syde]

EXPLICIT. lerne or be lewde q{uod} Whytyng.[56]

Expl.: [56: AMEN.
Here endythe the boke of Curtesy that ys fulle necessary
vnto yonge chyldryn that muste nedys lerne the
maner of curtesy.
EXPLICIT. AMEN.]
[[Cam. _for the_ Explicit &c.
_read_ Expleycyt the Boke of cortesey.]]

* * * * *
* * * *

The Lytylle Childrenes Lytil Boke or Edyllys be.

[Text with sidenotes: see Transcriber’s Note at beginning of
previous text. Passages in [brackets] are from the Egerton MS;
lower-case letters in brackets are sidenote references.]

[_Harl. MS. 541, fol. 210; and Egerton MS. 1995; ab. 1480 A.D._]

Lytyll{e} children{e}, here ye may lere
Moche curtesy þ{a}t is wrytyn{e} here;
For clerk{is} that the vij arteȝ cunne,
Seynþ{a}t curtesy from hevyn come 4
Whan Gabryell{e} oure lady grette,
And Eliȝabeth with mary mette.
All{e} vertues arn{e}closid{e} yn curtesye,
And all{e} vices yn vylonye. 8
Loke þyne hond{is} be wasshe clene,
That no fylth{e} on thy nayles be sene.
Take þ{o}u no mete tyll{e} grace be seyd{e},
And tyll{e} þ{o}u see all{e} thyng arayed{e}. 12
Loke, my son, þ{a}t thow not sytte
Tyll{e} þe ruler of þe hous the bydde;
And at thy mete, yn þ{e} begynnyng,
Loke on pore men that thow thynk, 16
For the full{e} wombe w{i}t{h}out [any faylys]
Wot full{e} lytyl [what the hungery aylys.]
Ete [not thy mete to hastely,
A-byde and ete esely. 20
Tylle þ{o}u haue thy fulle seruyse,
Touche noo messe in noo wyse.
Kerue not thy brede to thynne,
Ne breke hit not on twynne: 24
The mosselle that þ{o}u begynnysse to touche,
Cast them not in thy pouche.
Put not thy fyngerys on thy dysche,
Nothyr in flesche, nothyr in fysche. 28
Put not thy mete in-to the salte,
In-to thy Seler that thy salte halte,]
But ley it fayr{e} on þi trencher{e}
The byfore, and þat is þyn{e} honor{e}. 32
Pyke not þyn{e} Eris ne thy nost{re}ll{is};
If þ{o}u do, men woll{e} sey þ{o}u come of cherl{is}.
Andwhyll{e} þi mete yn þi mouth is,
Drynk þow not; for-gete not this. 36
Ete þi mete by small{e} mosselles;
Fylle not thy mouth as done brothell{is}.
Pyke not þi teth{e} with thy knyfe;
In no company begynne þow stryfe. 40
And whan þ{o}u hast þi potage doon{e},
Out of thy dyssh þow put thi spone.
Ne spitte þow notover thetabyll{e},
Ne therupon, for that is no þing abyll{e}. 44
Ley not þyn{e} Elbowe northy fyst
Vpon the tabyll{e} whyl{is} þ{a}t thow etist.
Bulk not as a Been{e} were yn þi throte,
[As a ka]rle þ{a}t comys oute of a cote. 48
[And thy mete be o]f grete pryce,
[Be ware of hyt, or þ{o}u arte n]ot wyse.
[Speke noo worde stylle ne sterke;
And honowre and curtesy loke þ{o}u kepe, 52
And at the tabylle loke þ{o}u make goode chere;
Loke þ{o}u rownde not in nomannys ere.
W{i}t{h} thy fyngerys þ{o}u towche and taste
Thy mete; And loke þ{o}u doo noo waste. 56
Loke þ{o}u laughe not, nor grenne;
And w{i}t{h} moche speche þ{o}u mayste do synne.
Mete ne drynke loke þ{o}u ne spylle,
But sette hit downe fayre and stylle.] 60
Kepe thy cloth clene the byforn{e},
And bere the sothow haue no scorn{e}.
Byte not þi mete, but kerve itclene,
Be well{e} war{e} nodrop be sene. 64
Whan þ{o}u etyst, gape not to wyde
That þi mouth be sene on ych{e} asyde.
And son, bewar{e}, I rede, ofon thyng,
Blow neþ{er}yn thi mete nor yn þidrynk. 68
And yif thi lord drynk at þat tyde,
Drynk þ{o}u not, but hym abyde;
Be it at Evyn{e}, be it at noone,
Drynk þ{o}u not tyll{e} he haue done. 72
Vpon þi trencher no fyllth{e} þ{o}u see,
It is not honest, as I telle the;
Ne drynkbehynd{e} no mannes bakke,
For yf þ{o}u do, thow art to lakke. 76
And chese com{e} forthe, be not to gredy,
Ne cutte þow not therof to hastely.
Caste not þi bones ynto the flore,
But ley þemfayre on þi trenchor{e}. 80
Kepe clene þi cloth byfor{e} þealle;
And sit þ{o}u stylle, what so be-falle,
Tyll{e} grace be said vnto þe ende,
And tyll{e} þ{o}u haue wasshen w{i}t{h} þi frend. 84
Let the more worthy þanthow
Wassh to-foreþe, & that is þi prow;
And spitte not ynþi basyn{e},
My swete son, þ{a}t þow wasshist yn{e}; 88
And aryse up soft & stylle,
And iangyll{e} nether with Iak ne Iylle,
But take þi leve of the hedelowly,
And þank hym w{i}t{h} thyn{e} hert hyghly, 92
And all{e} þe gentyll{is}togydr{e} yn same,
And bare the sothow haue no blame;
Than men wyll{e}say therafter
That a gentyll{e}man was heere. 96
And he þ{a}t dispiseth this techyng,
He is not worthy, w{i}t{h}oute lesyng,
Nether atgood mannes tabull{e} tositte,
Nerof no worship{e} for to wytte. 100
And therfor{e}, chyldren, forcharyte,
Louyth this boke though yt lytil be!
And pray for hym þ{a}t made it thus,
That hym may helpe swete Ih{esus} 104
To lyve & dye among his frendes,
And neu{er} to be combred w{i}t{h} no fendes;
And geve vs grace yn Ioy to be;
Amen, Amen, for charytee! 108

EXPLICIT. lerne or be lewde q{uod} Whytyng.

Here endythe the boke of Curtesy that ys fulle necessary
vnto yonge chyldryn that muste nedys lerne the
maner of curtesy.

[Sidenotes (by line number):
[3] Clerks say that courtesy came from heaven when
Gabriel greeted our Lady. [7] All virtues are included in it.
[9] See that your hands and nails are clean. [11] Don’t eat till
grace is said, or sit down till you’re told. [15] First, think on
the poor; the full belly wots not what the hungry feels. [19] Don’t
eat too quickly. [21] Touch nothing till you are fully helped.
[23] Don’t break your bread in two, [26] or put your pieces in your
pocket, your fingers in the dish, or your meat in the salt-cellar.
[33] Don’t pick your ears or nose, [35] or drink with your mouth
full, [38] or cram it full. [39] Don’t pick your teeth with your
knife. [41] Take your spoon out when you’ve finished soup.
[43] Don’t spit over or on the table, that’s not proper. [45] Don’t
put your elbows on the table, [47] or belch as if you had a bean in
your throat. [49] Be careful of good food; and be courteous and
cheerful. [54] Don’t whisper in any man’s ear. Take your food with
your fingers, and don’t waste it. [57] Don’t grin, or talk too
much, or spill your food. [61] Keep your cloth before you. [63] Cut
your meat, don’t bite it. [65] Don’t open your mouth too wide when
you eat, [68] or blow in your food. [69] If your lord drinks,
always wait till he has done. [73] Keep your trencher clean.
[75] Drink behind no man’s back. [77] Don’t rush at the cheese,
[79] or throw your bones on the floor. [82] Sit still till grace
is said [84] and you’ve washed your hands, [87] and don’t spit in
the basin. [89] Rise quietly, don’t jabber, [91] but thank your
host and all the company, [95] and then men will say, ‘A gentleman
was here!’ [97] He who despises this teaching isn’t fit to sit at
a good man’s table. [101] Children, love this little book, [103]
and pray that Jesus may help its author to die among his friends,
and not be troubled with devils, but be in joy for ever. Amen!]

* * * * *
* * * *

The Young Children’s Book.

[_From the Ashmolean MS. 61 (Bodleian Library), ab. 1500 A.D.,
fol. 20._]

Who so eu{er} wyll{e} thryue or the,
Muste v{er}tus lerne, & c{ur}tas be;
For{e} who in ȝowth{e} no v{er}tus vsythe,
Yn Age All men hy{m} refusythe. 4
Clerkys þ{a}t ca{n}ne þe scyens seuen{e},
Seys þ{a}t c{ur}tasy came fro heue{n}
When gabryell owre lady grette,
And elyȝabeth w{i}t{h} her{e} mette. 8
All v{er}tus be closyd{e} in c{ur}tasy,
And All{e} vyces i{n} vilony.

Aryse be tyme oute of thi bedde,
And blysse þi brest & thi forhede, 12
Than wasche thi hond{es} & thi face,
Keme þi hede, & Aske god g{ra}ce
The to helpe in All þi werkes;
Thow schall spede bett{er} what so þ{o}u carpes. 16
Than go to þe chyrch{e}, & here A messe,
Ther{e} aske m{er}sy for{e} þi trespasse.
To whom þ{o}u metys come by þe weye,
Curtasly ‘gode morne’ þ{o}u sey. 20
When þ{o}u hast done, go breke thy faste
W{i}t{h} mete & drynke of god{e} repaste:
Blysse þi mouthe or þ{o}u it ete,
The bett{er} schall{e} be þi dyete. 24
Be-for{e} þi mete sey þ{o}u þi g{ra}ce,
Yt ocupys bot lytell space;--
For{e} oure mete, & drynke, & vs,
Thanke we owre lord Ih{esu}s;-- 28
A pat{er} nost{er} & Aue mary
Sey for{e} þe saulys þ{a}t in peyn{e} ly;
Than go labo{ur} as þ{o}u arte bownde,
And be not Idyll{e} in no stounde: 32
Holy scrypto{ur} þ{us} it seyth
To þe þ{a}t Arte of cristen feyth,
“Yff{e} þ{o}u labo{ur}, þ{o}u muste ete
That w{i}t{h} þi hond{es} þ{o}u doyst{e} gete;” 36
A byrd{e} hath weng{es} forto fle,
So man hath Armes laboryd to be.
Luke þ{o}u be trew in word{e} & dede,
Yn All{e} þi werkes þa{n} schall þ{o}u spede: 40
Treuth wyt neu{er} his mast{er} schame,
Yt kepys hy{m} out off{e} sy{n}ne & blame.
The weys to heue{n} þ{e}i bene þ{us} tweyn{e},
M{er}cy & treuthe, As clerk{es} seyn{e}; 44
Who so wyll come to þe lyfe of blysse,
To go þe weys he may not mysse.
Make no p{ro}mys bot it be gode,
And kepe þ{o}u it w{i}t{h} myght & mode; 48
For{e} eu{er}y p{ro}mys, it is dette,
That w{i}t{h} no falsed muste be lette.
God & þi neybores lufe all wey;
Welle is þe, than may þ{o}u sey, 52
For{e} so þ{o}u kepys All þe lawe
W{i}t{h}-oute Any fer{e}, drede, o{r} awe.
Vn-callyd go þ{o}u to no counsell{e};
That long{es} to þe, w{i}t{h} þ{a}t thow melle. 56
Scorne not þe pore, ne hurte no man{e};
Lerne of hy{m} þ{a}t the tech{e} cane;
Be no gloser{e} no{r} no moker{e},
Ne no s{er}ua{n}t{es} no wey loker{e}. 60
Be not prowd, bot meke & lynd,
And w{i}t{h} thi bett{er} go þ{o}u be-hynd.
When þi bett{er} schewys his wylle,
To he haue seyd þ{o}u muste be stylle. 64
When þ{o}u spekes to Any man{e},
Hand{e}, fote, & fyng{er}, kepe þ{o}u styll þan,
And luke þ{o}u vppe i{n} to his face,
And c{ur}tase be in eu{er}y place. 68
W{i}t{h} þi fyng{er} schew þ{o}u no thyng{e},
No{r} be not lefe to telle tydinge.
Yff Any man sey welle of þe,
Or of thi frend{es}, thankyd muste be. 72
Haue few word{es}, & wysly sette,
For{e} so þ{o}u may thi worschyppe gete.
Vse no sueryng{e} noþ{er} lyeng{e},
Yn thi sellyng{e} & thi byeng{e}, 76
For{e} & þ{o}u do þ{o}u arte to blame,
And at þe last þ{o}u wyll{e} haue scham{e}.
Gete þi gowd w{i}t{h} trewe[t]h & wy{n}ne,
And kepe þe out of dette & sy{n}ne. 80
Be loth to greue, & leffe to ples;
Seke þe pes, & lyfe in es.
Off{e} whom{e} þ{o}u spek{es}, wher{e} & when,
A-vyse þe welle, & to what men. 84
When þ{o}u co{m}mys vn to A dore,
Sey “god be here,” o{r} þ{o}u go ferre:
W{er}-eu{er} þ{o}u co{m}mys, speke honestly
To s{er} or dame, or þ{er} meny. 88
Stand, & sytte not furth-w{i}t{h}-all{e}
Tyll{e} he byde þe þ{a}t rewlys þe halle;
Wher{e} he bydis, þ{er} must þ{o}u sytte,
And for{e} non{e} oþ{er} change ne flyte; 92
Sytt vp-ryght And honestly,
Ete & drinke, & be feleyly,
Parte w{i}t{h} hem þ{a}t sytes þe by;
Thus teches þe dame c{ur}tasy. 96
Take þe salt w{i}t{h} thi clen{e} knyfe;
Be cold of spech, & make no stryfe;
Bakbyte no man þ{a}t is A-wey{e},
Be glad of All{e} men wele to sey. 100
Here & se, & sey thou nought,
Than schall þ{o}u not to p{ro}fe be brought.
W{i}t{h} mete & drynke be-for{e} þe sette,
Hold þe plesyd, & aske no bette. 104
Wype thi mouthe when þ{o}u wyll drinke,
Lest it foule thi copys brinke;
Kepe clen{e} thi fyng{er}es, lypes, & chine,
For{e} so þ{o}u may thi wyrschype wy{n}ne. 108
Yn þi mouth when þi mete is,
To drinke, o{r} speke, o{r} lauȝh, I-wys
Dame c{ur}tasy for{e}-byd{es} it the:
Bot p{ra}yse thi fare, w{er}-so-eu{er} þ{o}u be, 112
For{e} be it gode o{r} be it badde,
Yn gud worth it muste be had.
Whe{n} þ{o}u spyt{es}, be welle were
Wher{e} so þ{o}u spyt{es}, nyȝe or fer{e}; 116
Hold þi hand be-fore thi mouth
When þ{o}u spyt{es}, & hyde it couth.
Kepe þi knyfe both clen{e} & scherpe,
And be not besy forto kerpe; 120
Clens þi knyfe w{i}t{h} som{e} cutte bred,
Not w{i}t{h} thi cloth, As I þe rede:
W{i}t{h} Any fylth to fowle þe clothe,
A c{ur}tase man{e} he wyll{e} be lothe. 124
In þi dysch sett{e} not þi spone,
Noþ{er} on þe brynk{e}, as vn-lernyd don{e}.
When þ{o}u sopys, make no no[y]se
W{i}t{h} thi mouth As do boys. 128
The mete þ{a}t on þi trencher is,
Putt{e} it not in-to þi dysch.
Gete þe sone A voyd{er},
And sone A-voyd þ{o}u thi trencher{e}. 132
When thi bett{er} take þe tho coppe,
Drinke thi selffe, & sett{e} it vppe,
Take tho coppe w{i}t{h} thi hond{es}.
Lest it fall{e} þ{er} As þ{o}u stond{es}. 136
When thi bett{er} spek{es} to the,
Do off{e} thi cape & bow þi kne.
At thi tabull noþ{er} crache ne claw,
Than men wyll{e} sey þ{o}u arte A daw. 140
Wype not thi nose nor þi nos-thirlys,
Than men{e} wyll{e} sey þ{o}u com{e} of cherlys.
Make þ{o}u noþ{er} cate ne hond (_so in MS._) [[1a]]
Thi felow at þ{o}u tabull round; ( „ „ ) 144
Ne pley{e} w{i}t{h} spone, trencher{e}, ne knyffe.
Yn honesty & clenys lede þ{o}u thi lyffe.
This boke is made fo{r} chyld{er} ȝong{e}
At the scowle þ{a}t byde not long{e}: 148
Sone it may be conyd & had,
And make them gode iff þ{e}i be bad.
God gyff{e} them g{ra}ce, v{er}tuos to be,
For{e} than þ{e}i may both thryff & the. 152

Amen! q{uod} Kate.

[Sidenotes (by line number):
[1] Whoever will thrive, must be courteous, and begin in his
youth. [5] Courtesy came from heaven, and contains all virtues, as
rudeness does all vices. [11] Get up betimes; cross yourself; wash
your hands and face; comb your hair; say your prayers; [17] go to
church and hear Mass. [19] Say ‘Good Morning’ to every one you
meet. [21] Then have breakfast, first crossing your mouth. [25] Say
grace, thank Jesus for your food, [29] and say an Ave for the souls
in pain. [31] Then set to work, and don’t be idle. [33] Scripture
tells you, if you work, you must eat what you get with your hands.
[39] Be true in word and deed; [41] truth keeps a man from blame.
[44] Mercy and Truth are the two ways to heaven, fail not to go by
them. [47] Make only proper promises, and keep them without
falsehood. [51] Love God and your neighbours, and so fulfil all the
Law. [55] Meddle only with what belongs to you. [57] Scorn not the
poor; flatter no one; [60] oppress (?) not servants. Be meek, and
[63] wait till your better has spoken. [65] When you speak to a man,
keep still, and look him in the face. [70] Don’t be a tale-bearer.
[71] Thank all who speak well of you. [73] Use few words; don’t
swear or lie in your dealings. [79] Earn money honestly, and keep
out of debt. [81] Try to please; seek peace; mind whom you speak
to and what you say. [85] Wherever you enter, say “God be here;”
and speak courteously to master and man. [89] Stand till you are
told to sit at meat, and don’t leave your seat before others.
[93] Sit upright; be sociable, and share with your neighbours.
[97] Take salt with a clean knife; [99] talk no scandal, but speak
well of all. [101] Hear and see; don’t talk. [103] Be satisfied with
what’s set before you. [105] Wipe your mouth before you drink;
[107] keep your fingers and lips clean. [109] Don’t speak with your
mouth full. [112] Praise your food for whether it’s good or bad, it
must be taken in good part. [115] Mind where you spit, [117] and put
your hand before your mouth. [119] Keep your knife clean, and don’t
wipe it on the cloth. [125] Don’t put your spoon in the dish, or
make a noise, like boys, when you sup. [129] Don’t put meat off
your plate into the dish, but into a voider. [133] If your superior
hands you a cup, drink, but take the cup with two hands. [137] When
he speaks to you, doff your cap and bend your knee. [139] Don’t
scratch yourself at table, wipe your nose, [145] or play with your
spoon, &c. [147] This book is for young children who don’t stay
long at school. [151] God grant them grace to be virtuous!]

[[Footnote 1a: ? sense, reading corrupt.]]

* * * * *
* * * *

[Transcriber’s Note:

The following two versions of _Stans Puer ad Mensam_ were printed on facing even/odd pages. They are here presented twice: first as consecutive independent texts, and then in alternating stanzas. In the first version, text notes are grouped after each seven-line stanza. In the original book, the editor’s sidenotes were printed only on the right-hand pages; they have been duplicated here.]

Stans Puer ad Mensam.

ASCRIBED TO JOHN LIDGATE.[[1a]]

[MS. Harl. 2251, ? about 1460 A.D., fol. 153 or 148. The parts
between brackets [ ], and various readings, are from Mr Halliwell’s
print in _Reliquiæ Antiquæ_, v. 1, p. 156-8, of a 15th-century MS.
Q. Γ. 8, fol. 77, r^o, in the Library of Jesus College, Cambridge.]

[[Footnote 1a: Lowndes calls the original of _Stans Puer ad
Mensam_ the _Carmen Juvenile_ of Sulpitius.]]

¶ [My dere childe, first thiself enable
With all thin herte to vertuous disciplyne
Afor thi soverayne standing at the table,
Dispose thi youth aftir my doctryne 4
To all norture thi corage to enclyne.
First when thu spekist be not rekles,
Kepe feete and fingeris and handes still in pese.]

[Sidenote: When you stand before your sovereign, speak not
recklessly, and keep your hands still.]

++Be symple of chiere, cast nat thyn ye aside, 8
Agenst the post lete nat thy bak abyde;
Gaase nat aboute, to{ur}nyng ou{er}all{e};
Make nat thy myrro{ur} also of the wall{e},
Pyke nat thy nose, and in especiall{e} 12
Be right wele ware, and sette hieron thi thought,
By-fore thy sou{er}ayne cracche ne rubbe nought.

[Sidenote: Don’t stare about, lean against a post, look at the
wall, pick your nose, or scratch yourself.]

¶ Who spekith{e} to the in any man{er} place,
Rudely[1] cast nat thyn ye[2] adowne, 16
But with a sadde chiere loke hym in the face;
Walke demurely by strete in the towne,
Advertise the with{e} wisdom and Reasoun{e}.
With{e} dissolute laughters do thow non offence 20
To-fore thy sou{er}ayn, whiles he is in presence.

[Sidenote: When spoken to, don’t lumpishly look at the ground.
Walk demurely in the streets, and don’t laugh before your lord.]

[1: _Rel. Ant._, Lumbisshly]
[2: hede]

¶ Pare clene thy nailes, thyn handes wassh{e} also
To-fore mete, and whan thow dooest arise;
Sitte in that place thow art assigned to; 24
Prease nat to hye in no man{er} wise;
And til thow se afore the thy service,
Be nat to hasty on brede for to byte,
Of gredynesse lest men wolde the endwyte.[3] 28

[Sidenote: Clean your nails and wash your hands. Sit where you’re
told to, and don’t be too hasty to begin eating.]

[3: a-wite.]

¶ Grennyng and mowes at the table eschowe;
Cry nat to lowde; kepe honestly silence;
To enboce thy Iowis with{e} mete[4] is nat diewe;
With{e} ful mowth{e} speke nat, lest thow do offence; 32
Drynk nat bretheles[5] for hast ne necligence;
Kepe clene thy lippes from fat of flessh{e} or fissh{e};
Wype clene[6] thi spone, leve it nat in thy dissh{e}.

[Sidenote: Don’t grin, shout, or stuff your jaws with food, or
drink too quickly. Keep your lips clean, and wipe your spoon.]

[4: brede it]
[5: bridlid]
[6: fayre]

¶ Of brede I-byten no soppis that thow make; 36
In ale nor wyne with{e} hande leve no fattenes;
With{e} mowth{e} enbrewed thy cuppe thow nat take;
Enbrewe[7] no napery for no rekelesnes;
For to souppe [loude] is agenst gentiles; 40
[N]eu{er} at mete begynne thow nat[8] stryf;
Thi teth{e} also thow pike nat with{e} no knyf.

[Sidenote: Don’t make sops of bread, or drink with a dirty mouth.
Don’t dirty the table linen, or pick your teeth with your knife.]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 153, back.]]

[7: Foul]
[8: be warre gynne no]

¶ Of honest myrth{e} late be thy daliaunce;
Swere none othes, speke no ribawdrye; 44
The best morsel, have in remembraunce,
Hole to thyself alwey do nat applie;
Part with{e} thy felaw, for that is curtesie:
Laade nat thy trencho{ur} with{e} many remyssailes; 48
And from blaknes alwey kepe thy nayles.

[Sidenote: Don’t swear or talk ribaldry, or take the best bits;
share with your fellows. Eat up your pieces, and keep your nails
clean.]

¶ Of curtesye also agenst the lawe,
With{e} sowne[9] dishonest for to do offence;
Of old surfaytes abrayde nat thy felawe; 52
Toward thy sou{er}ayne alwey thyn aduertence;
Play with{e} no knyf, take heede to my sentence;
At mete and soupp{er} kepe the stille and soft;
Eke to and fro meve nat thy foote to oft. 56

[Sidenote: It’s bad manners to bring up old complaints. Don’t play
with your knife, or shuffle your feet about.]

[9: Which sou]

¶ Droppe nat thi brest with{e} sawce ne with{e} potage;
Brynge no knyves vnskoured to the table;
Fil nat thy spone, lest in the cariage
It went beside, whiche were nat comendable; 60
Be quyke and redy, meke and s{er}uisable,
Wele awaityng to fulfille anone
What that thy sou{er}ayn{e} comav[{n}]dith{e} the to be done.

[Sidenote: Don’t spill your broth on your chest, or use dirty
knives, or fill your spoon too full. Be quick to do whatever your
lord orders.]

¶ And whereso eu{er} that thow dyne or soupe, 64
Of gentilesse take salt with{e} thy knyf;
And be wele ware thow blow nat in the cuppe.
Reu{er}ence thy felawe, gynne with{e} hym no stryf;
Be thy power{e} kepe pees al thy lyf. 68
Interrupt nat, where so thow wende,
None other mans tale, til he have made an ende;

[Sidenote: Take salt with your knife; don’t blow in your cup, or
begin quarrels. Interrupt no man in his story.]

¶ With{e} thy fyngres make[10] thow nat thy tale;
Be wele avised, namly in tendre age, 72
To drynk by mesure both{e} wyne and ale;
Be nat copious also of langage;
As tyme requyrith{e}, shewe out thy visage,
To gladde ne to sory, but kepe atwene tweyne, 76
For losse or lucre or any case sodayne.

[Sidenote: Drink wine and ale in moderation. Don’t talk too much,
but keep a middle course.]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 154 or 149.]]

[10: _Rel. Ant._, marke]

¶ Be meke in mesure, nat hasti, but tretable;
Ou{er} moche is nat worth{e} in no man{er} thyng;
To children it longith{e} nat to be [vengeable,[11]] 80
Sone meeved and sone forgyvyng;
And as it is remembrid bi[12] writyng,
Wrath{e} of children is sone ou{er}gone,
With{e} an apple the p{ar}ties be made atone. 84

[Sidenote: Be gentle and tractable, but not too soft. Children
must not be revengeful; their anger is appeased with a bit of
apple.]

[11: MS. Harl., tretable]
[12: _Rel. Ant._, by olde]

¶ In children werre[13] now myrth{e} and now debate,
In theyr quarel no grete violence;
Now pley, now wepyng, sielde in one estate;
To theyr playntes gyve no credence; 88
A Rodde refo{ur}myth{e} al theyr insolence;
In theyr corage no Ranco{ur} doth{e} abyde;
Who sparith{e} the yerd, al vertu set aside.

[Sidenote: Children’s quarrels are first play, then crying; don’t
believe their complaints; give ’em the rod. Spare that, and you’ll
spoil all.]

[13: _Rel. Ant._, In childre]

LENVOYE.

¶ Go, litel bille, bareyn of eloquence, 92
Pray yonge children that the shal see or Reede,
Though{e} thow be compendious of sentence,
Of thi clauses for to taken heede,
Whiche to al vertu shal theyr yowth{e} leede. 96
Of the writyng, though{e} ther be no date,
If ought be mysse,--worde, sillable, or dede,--
Put al the defaute vpon Iohn{e} Lydegate.

[Sidenote: Young children, pray take heed to my little ballad,
which shall lead you into all virtues. My mistakes I submit to
correction.]

* * * * *
* * * *

The Book of Curteisie

That is Clepid

Stans Puer ad Mensam.

[_Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 A.D., page 150, back. Part written
as prose._]

++Mi dere sone, first þi silf able
w{i}t{h} al þin herte to vertuose discipline,--
A-fore þi souereyn stondinge at þe table
Dispose þou þ{e}e aftir my doctryne-- 4
To al nortur þi corage to encline.
First while þou spekist, be not richelees;
Kepe boþe fyngir and hond stille in pees;

[Sidenote: When you stand before your sovereign, speak not
recklessly, and keep your hands still.]

[Sidenote: [Page 151.]]

++Be symple in cheer; caste not þi looke a-side, 8
gase not about, t{ur}nynge þi siȝt ou{er}al.
aȝen þe post lete not þi bak abide,
neiþ{er} make þi myrro{ur} also of þe wal.
Pike not pi nose; & moost in especial 12
be weel waar, sette her-on þi þouȝt,
to-fore þi sou{er}eyn cratche ne picke þ{e}e nouȝt.

[Sidenote: Don’t stare about, lean against a post, look at the
wall, pick your nose, or scratch yourself.]

¶ Who-so speke to þ{e}e in ony man{er} place,
lu{m}pischli caste not þin heed a-dou{n}, 16
but w{i}t{h} a sad cheer loke him in þe face.
walke demurely bi streetis in þe tou{n},
And take good hede bi wisdom & resou{n}
þat bi no wantowne lauȝinge þ{o}u do noo{n} offence 20
To-fore þi sou{er}eyne while he is i{n} p{re}sence.

[Sidenote: When spoken to, don’t lumpishly look at the ground.
Walk demurely in the streets, and don’t laugh before your lord.]

++Pare clene þi nailis; þi{n} hondis waische also
to-fore þi mete, [&] wha{n}ne þou doist arise.
sitte þ{o}u in þ{a}t place þ{a}t þ{o}u art a-signed to; 24
Prece not to hie in no maner wise;
And wha{n}ne þou seest afore þ{e}e þi seruice,
be not to hasti upon breed to bite
lest men þ{er}of Do þee edwite. 28

[Sidenote: Clean your nails and wash your hands. Sit where you’re
told to, and don’t be too hasty to begin eating.]

[Sidenote: [Page 152.]]

++Gre{n}nynge & mowy{n}ge at þi table eschewe;
Crie not to lowde: honestli kepe silence.
To enbrace þi iowis w{i}t{h} breed, it is not dewe;
w{i}t{h} ful mouþ speke not lest þ{o}u do offence; 32
Drinke not bridelid for haste ne necligence;
Kepe clene þi lippis from fleisch & fische;
Wipe faire þi spoon; leue it not i{n} þi dische.

[Sidenote: Don’t grin, shout, or stuff your jaws with food, or
drink too quickly. Keep your lips clean, and wipe your spoon.]

++Of breed w{i}t{h} þi teeþ no soppis þou make; 36
Lowde for to soupe is aȝen gentilnes:
W{i}t{h} mouþ enbrowide þi cuppe þ{o}u not take,
In ale ne i{n} wiyn w{i}t{h} hond leue no fatnes;
Defoule not þe naprie bi no richelesnes. 40
Be waar þ{a}t at þe mete þ{o}u bigy{n}ne no striif;
Þi teeþ also at þe table picke w{i}t{h} no knyf.

[Sidenote: Don’t make sops of bread, or drink with a dirty mouth.
Don’t dirty the table linen, or pick your teeth with your knife.]

++Of honest mirþe eu{er}e be þi daliaunce;
Swere noo{n} ooþis; speke no ribaudie. 44
Þe beste morsels,--haue þis i{n} reme{m}brau{n}ce,--
Holli alwey þi silf to take do not applie.
P{ar}te w{i}t{h} þi felawis, for þat is curteisie.
Lete not þi trencho{ur} be w{i}t{h} many morsels; 48
And fro blaknes kepe weel þi nailis.

[Sidenote: Don’t swear or talk ribaldry, or take the best bits;
share with your fellows. Eat up your pieces, and keep your nails
clean.]

[Sidenote: [Page 153.]]

++Of curtesie it is aȝen þe lawe,
W{i}t{h} dishoneste, sone, for to do difence;
Of oolde forfetis vpbraide not þi felawe; 52
Towarde þi sou{er}eyn do eu{er}e reu{er}ence.
Pleie w{i}t{h} no knif, take hede to my sentence;
At mete & at sop{er} kepe þee stille & softe,
And eek to & fro meeue not þi feeþ to ofte. 56

[Sidenote: It’s bad manners to bring up old complaints. Don’t play
with your knife, or shuffle your feet about.]

++Droppe n{o}t þi brest w{i}t{h} seew & oþ{er} potage,
Bri{n}ge no foule knyues vnto þe table;
Fille not þi spoon lest i{n} þe cariage
It scheede bi side, it were not co{m}mendable. 60
Be quik & redi, meke & seruiable,
Weel awaiti{n}ge to fulfille anoo{n}
What þ{a}t þi sou{er}eyn co{m}maundiþ to be doon.

[Sidenote: Don’t spill your broth on your chest, or use dirty
knives, or fill your spoon too full. Be quick to do whatever your
lord orders.]

++And whe{re}-so-eu{er}e þ{o}u be to digne or to suppe, 64
Of gentilnes take salt w{i}t{h} þi knyf,
{and} be weel waar þ{o}u blowe n{o}t i{n} þe cuppe.
Reu{er}ence þi felawis; bigy{n}ne w{i}t{h} he{m} no strijf;
To þi power kepe pees al þi lijf. 68
Intrippe no ma{n} whe{re} so þat þou wende,
No man in his tale, til he haue maade an eende.

[Sidenote: Take salt with your knife; don’t blow in your cup, or
begin quarrels. Interrupt no man in his story.]

[Sidenote: [Page 154.]]

¶ W{i}t{h} þi fyngris marke n{o}t þi tale;
be weel avysid, & nameli in tendir age, 72
To dri{n}ke mesurabli boþe wiyn & ale.
Be n{o}t to copiose of langage;
As tyme req{ui}riþ schewe out þi visage,
To glad, ne to sory, b{u}t kepe þ{e}e euene bitwene 76
For los, or lucre, or ony case sodene.

[Sidenote: Drink wine and ale in moderation. Don’t talk too much,
but keep a middle course.]

++Be soft i{n} mesure, not hasti, but treteable;
Ouer soft is nouȝt in no maner þing
To childre{n} longiþ not to be ve{n}geable, 80
Soone meued and soone fiȝtinge;
And as it is reme{m}brid bi writynge,
wraþþe of childre{n} is ou{er}come soone,
W{i}t{h} þe p{ar}tis of an appil be{n} made at oon. 84

[Sidenote: Be gentle and tractable, but not too soft. Children
must not be revengeful; their anger is appeased with a bit of
apple.]

++In childre{n} werre is now mirþe & now debate,
In her quarel is no violence,
now pleie, now wepi{n}ge, & seelde i{n} oon state;
to her pleyntis ȝeue no credence; 88
A rodde reformeþ al her necligence;
in her corage no ranco{ur} dooþ abide,
who þ{a}t spariþ þe rodde all u{er}tues settiþ a-side.