Chapter XXXIII: Prologue: 1 1 (16)

[a] Thenne the principall servitours, as kerver and sewer, moste have redy a longe towaile applyed dowble, to be cowched uppon the principall ende of the table; and that towell must be iustely drawen thorowe the tabill unto the lower ende, and ij servitours to awayte theruppon that hit be iustely cowched and sprad. after that done, [b] ther muste be ordeyned basyns, and ewers w{i}t{h} water hote or colde as tyme of the yere requerith, and to be sette uppon the tabill, and to stonde unto the g{ra}ce be saide; [c] and incontynent after grace seide, the servitours to be redy to awayte and attende to yeve water, first to the principall messe, [d] and after that to the seconde. [e] incontynent after this done, the towayle and tabill-clothis most be drawen, cowched, and sprad, and so by litill space taken uppe in the myddis of the tabill, [f] and so to be delyvered to the officer of pantery or botery.

[Sidenote: [a] 23. Lay a fresh cloth all along the chief table.
[b] 24. Have ready basons and jugs with hot or cold water; [c] and
after Grace, hand basins and water to the first mess, [d] then the
second. [e] 25. Take off and fold up the towels and cloth, [f] and
give ’em to the Panter.]

[VIII. _Of the Removal of the Table, and the separate Service
to grand Guests in the Chamber._]

[a] Thenne uprysyng, servitours muste attende to avoyde tabills, trestellis, formys and stolys, and to redresse bankers and quyssyons. [b] then the boteler shall avoyde the cupborde, begynnyng at the lowest, p{ro}cede in rule to the hieste, and bere hit in-to his office. Thenne after mete, hit moste be awayted and well entended by servitours yf drinke be asked. [c] and yf ther be knyght or lady or grete gentil-woman, they shall be servid uppon kne with brede and wyne. [d] Thenne it moste be sene yf strangers shalbe brought to chamber, and that the chamber be clenly appareld and dressed according to the tyme of the yere, as in wynter-tyme, fyer, in som{u}r tyme the bedd couerd w{i}t{h} pylawes and hedde-shetys in case that they woll reste. [e] and after this done, they moste have chere of neweltees in the chamber.[14] as [f] Iuncate,[15] cheryes, pepyns, and such neweltees as the tyme of the yere requereth; [g] or ellis grene ginger comfetts,[16] with such thynge as wynter requereth; [h] and swete wynes, as ypocrasse, Tyre, muscadell, bastard vernage, of the beste that may be had, to the honor and lawde of the principall of the house.

[Sidenote: [a] 26. Clear away tables, trestles, forms; and put
cushions on other seats. [b] 27. Butler, put the cups, &c., back
into your office. [c] 28. Serve knights and ladies with bread and
wine, kneeling. [d] 29. Conduct strangers to the Chamber.
[e] 30. Serve them with dainties: [f] junket, pippins, [g] or
green ginger; [h] and sweet wines.]

[IX. _How to Carve._]

to lose and t[i]re or sawse a capon:[17] [a] begynne at the lifte legge first of a Swan;[18] & lyfte a gose y-reared at the right legge first, and soo a [b] wilde fowle. To unlose, tire, or display a crane:[19] cutte away the nekke in a voyde plate, rere legge and whyngge as of a capon; take of ij leches of the briste, and cowche legge and whyngge and lechis into a faire voyde plater; mynse the legge, and poyntes of whinge; sawse hym w{i}t{h} mustard, vinager, and pouder gynger, and serve hit before the sovrayne, and the carcas in a charger besyde: serve it hole before the sovrayne. and he[20] may be served and dressed as a capon, save one thyng, his breste bone.[21] [c] To tyre or ellis to dismember an heronsew:[22] rere legge and whinge as of a crane; cowche them aboute the body on bothe sydes, the hedde and the nekke being upon the golet: s{er}ve him forth, and yf he be mynsed, sawse hym with mustard, burage,[23] suger, and powder of gynger.

[Sidenote: [a] How to carve a Swan, Goose, [b] Wild-fowl, Crane,
[c] Heronsew,]

To lose or untache a bitorn:[24] kitte his nekke, and lay hit by the hedde in the golette; kitte his whynge by the joynte; rere hym legge and whynge, as the heron; serve him fourth; no sawse unto hym but only salte.

[Sidenote: Bittern,]

To lose or spoyle an Egrete[25]: rere uppe his legge and whynge, as of a henne, aboute the carcas: no sawse to him but salte.

[Sidenote: Egret,]

To tyre or to ele[26] a partorich[27] or a quayle[28] y-whyngged: rere uppe whynge and legge, as of an henne; cowche them aboute the carcas; no sawse save salte, or mustard and sugar. To lose or unlase a fesaunt:[29] rere uppe legge and whynge as an henne; cowche legge and whynge aboute the carcas; serve hym fourth; no sawse but salte: but and yf he be mynsed, take whyte wyne, sugur, mustard, and a lyttell of powder gynger.

[Sidenote: Partridge, Quail, Pheasant.]

ffor to make a feste for a bryde.

The ffirst cours: brawne, [a] with the borys hed,[30] lying in a felde, hegge[31] about w{i}t{h} a scriptur, sayng on this wyse;

[b] “Welcombe you bretheren godely in this hall![32]
Joy be unto you all
that en[33] this day it is now fall!
that worthy lorde that lay in an Oxe stalle
mayntayne your husbonde and you, w{i}t{h} your gystys, alle!”

[c] Ffurmente w{i}t{h} veneson, swanne, pigge.
Ffesaunte, w{i}t{h} a grete custard, w{i}t{h} a sotelte,
[d] A lambe stondyng in scriptour, sayng on this wyse:
“I mekely unto you, sovrayne, am sente,
to dwell with you, and ever be present.”[32]

[Sidenote: _A Bridal Feast._ _First Course._ [a] Boar’s head, and
a Device [b] of Welcome. [c] Venison and Custard, with a Device of
[d] Meekness.]

The second course.

Veneson in broth, viaunde Ryalle,[34] veneson rosted, crane, cony, a bake mete, leche damaske,[35] w{i}t{h} a sotelte: An anteloppe sayng[36] on a sele that saith with scriptour

“beith all gladd & mery that sitteth at this messe, and
prayeth for the kyng and all his.”[37]

[Sidenote: _Second Course._ Venison, Crane, &c., and a Device of
Gladness and Loyalty.]

The thirde course.

Creme of Almondys, losynge in syruppe, betour{e}, p{ar}trich, plover, snyte, poud{er} veal, leche veal, wellis[38] in sotelte, Roches in sotelte,[39] Playce in sotelte; a bake mete w{i}t{h} a sotelte: an angell w{i}t{h} a scriptour, “thanke all, god, of this feste.”

[Sidenote: _Third Course._ Sweets, &c., Game, with a Device of
Thankfulness.]

The iiij cours.

Payne puff,[40] chese, freynes,[41] brede hote, with a cake,[42] and a wif lying in childe-bed, w{i}t{h} a scriptour saing in this wyse, “I am comyng toward your bryde. yf ye dirste onys loke to me ward, I wene ye nedys muste.”[43]

[Sidenote: _Fourth Course._ Cheese and a cake with a Device of
Child-bearing and a promise of babies.]

Another course or servise.

Brawne with mustard, umblys of a dere or of a sepe;[44] swanne, capon, lambe.

[Footnote 1: Though it goes against one’s ideas of propriety to
print from a copy, yet when one wants the substance of a MS., it’s
better to take it from a copy, when you can get it, than fret for
five years till the MS. turns up. When it does so, we can print it
if necessary, its owner permitting.]

[Footnote 2: on.]

[Footnote 3: For bread, see § III., p. 352.]

[Footnote 4: Folded. Cf. ‘a towaile applyed dowble’ below. Fr.
_plier_, to fould, plait, plie. Cotgrave.]

[Footnote 5: What is done with these loaves does not appear. The
carver in Motion 12, Section IV., pares the loaves wherewith he
serves the guests.]

[Footnote 6: Goblets or cups: ? also ornamental pieces of plate.
‘A _peece_ of wyne’ occurs in _Ladye Bessiye_, Percy Folio,
Ballads & Romances, vol. iii., and in the Percy Society’s
edition. John Lord Nevill of Raby, in 1383, bequeaths 48 silver
salt-cellars ... 32 _peces_, 48 spoons, 8 chargers, 27 jugs, &c.
_Domestic Architecture_, ii. 66. ‘_Diota._ Horat. Any drinking
_peece_ having two eares, a two-eared drinking cup.’ _Nomenclator_
in Nares.]

[Footnote 7: Sewed or served therewith.]

[Footnote 8: salted or pickled.]

[Footnote 9: ? firste. The directions for taking-away seem
repeated here, unless these second ones apply only to the spoons,
napkins, &c. The cups are wanted for dessert.]

[Footnote 10: crumb-brushes were not then invented.]

[Footnote 11: Fr. _ferial_, of or belonging to a holyday. _Vn
ferial beuveur_, a square drinker, a faithfull drunkard; one that
will take his liquor soundly. Cotgrave. _Feries_, Holydaies,
feastiuall daies, properly such holydaies as Monday and Tuesday in
Easter week, &c. Cot.]

[Footnote 12: So “Apples and Cheese scraped with Sugar and Sage”
at the end of the Second Course of the Dinner at the Marriage of
Roger Rockley & Elizabeth Nevile, daughter of Sir John Nevile, the
14th of January in the 17th year of Henry the VIIIth. (A.D. 1526.)
_Forme of Cury_, p. 174.]

[Footnote 13: Wardens are baking pears; costards, apples.]

[Footnote 14: I do not suppose that each guest retired to his own
bed-room, but to the general withdrawing-room,--possibly used as a
general bed-room also, when the Hall had ceased to be it. “The
_camera_ usually contained a bed, and the ordinary furniture of a
bed-chamber; but it must be remembered that it still answered the
purpose of a parlour or sitting-room, the bed being covered over
during the daytime with a handsome coverlid, as is still the
custom in France & other foreign countries to this day.”
--_Domestic Architecture_, iii. 94-5.]

[Footnote 15: See _Ioncate_ in Index, and Russell, l. 82.]

[Footnote 16: See Russell, l. 75, and, for wines, l. 117, and
notes p. 86-91.]

[Footnote 17: There must be some omission here. See Russell,
l. 409, and W. de Worde, pp. 161, 163.]

[Footnote 18: See Russell, l. 403. Wynkyn de Worde, p. 161,
directs the swan to be carved like the goose is, on p. 163.]

[Footnote 19: See Russell, l. 427-32; Wynkyn de Worde, p. 162.
_Rere_ is cut off.]

[Footnote 20: that is, the crane.]

[Footnote 21: See Russell, l. 431 and note; W. de Worde, p. 159,
l. 5; p. 162.]

[Footnote 22: Russell, l. 422; Wynkyn de Worde, p. 162, p. 164,
l. 20.]

[Footnote 23: Borage is a favourite flavouring for cups and other
drinks.]

[Footnote 24: Russell, l. 421; Wynkyn de Worde, p. 162.]

[Footnote 25: Russell, l. 421; Wynkyn de Worde, p. 162.]

[Footnote 26: Fr. _aile_, wing; but _ailer_, to give wings unto.
Cotgrave.]

[Footnote 27: Russell, l. 397, l. 417; W. de Worde, p. 161.]

[Footnote 28: Russell, l. 437; W. de Worde, p. 162.]

[Footnote 29: Russell, l. 417; Wynkyn de Worde, pp. 161, 164.]

[Footnote 30: See the carol from the Porkington MS., “The Boris
hede furste,” in _Reliq. Ant._ vol. ii., and above, p. 264*, and
p. 388.]

[Footnote 31: hedged or edged.]

[Footnote 32: The verse is written as prose.]

[Footnote 33: on]

[Footnote 34: Here is the Recipe in _Household Ordinances_, &c.,
p. 455, for “Viande Riall for xl. Mess:”

Take a galone of vernage, and sethe hit into iij. quartes, and
take a pynte therto, and two pounde of sugre, ii lb. of
chardekoynes [quinces? ‘Quynce, a frute, _pomme de quoyn_,’
Palsgrave], a pounde of paste-roiale, and let hit sethe untyl a
galone of vernage. Take the yolkes of 60 eyren, and bete hom
togeder, and drawe hom thurgh a straynour, and in the settynge
doune of the fyre putte the ȝolkes therto, and a pynte of water of
ewrose, and a quartrone of pouder of gynger, and dresse hit in
dysshes plate, and take a barre of golde foyle, and another of
sylver foyle, and laye hom on Seint Andrews crosse wyse above the
potage; and then take sugre plate or gynger plate, or paste
royale, and kutte hom of losenges, and plante hom in the voide
places betweene the barres: and serve hit forthe.]

[Footnote 35: Leyse Damask. Leland, Coll. iv. p. 226; Leche
Damaske, ibid. vi. p. 5; in _Forme of Cury_, p. 141.]

[Footnote 36: ? Fr. _seoir_, to sit.]

[Footnote 37: Written as prose, which it is.]

[Footnote 38: ? welkis.]

[Footnote 39: Roches or Loches in Egurdouce. _H. Ord._ p. 469.]

[Footnote 40: See the Recipe for it, p. 32, note 2; and in
_Household Ordinances_, p. 450.]

[Footnote 41: flaunes ? see p. 173; or _chese-freynes_ for
cheese-cakes.]

[Footnote 42: Were the cheese and cake meant as a symbol of the
Groaning Cake & Cheese (so called in allusion to the mother’s
complaints at her delivery) mentioned by Brand, _Pop. Ant._ ii.
44, ed. 1841, or was the cake the wedding-cake?]

[Footnote 43: ? must get a baby: or is _ye_ = _I_?]

[Footnote 44: sheep.]

* * * * *
* * * *

Suffer, & hold your tongue.

[Balliol MS. 354, ffl ij Cxv, or leaf 231.]

[Transcriber’s Note:

This selection contains two unusual characters:

--paired final “l” joined by a tilde-like line, shown here as łł
because the more accurate form l͠l is likely to display incorrectly
or not at all
--final “m” with a round flourish, shown here as m̑ although the
actual curve is much larger]

On the subject of this song, compare, among many others, “Whate-ever thow sey, avyse thee welle,” above, p. 244; “I hold hym wyse and wel i-tauȝt, Can ber an horn and blow it nauȝt,” in the Percy Society’s Songs and Carols, p. 23. Lydgate’s “Lyke thyn Audience, so vttyr thy Langage,” in my _Polit. Rel. & Love Poems_, p. 25; &c.

he is wise, so most I goo,
that cañ be mery, & suffer woo.

Be mery, & suffer, as I thé vise.
wher-eu{er} thow sytt or rise,
be wełł ware whom̑ thow dispise.
_thou_ shalt kysse who is thy ffoo.
he is wise, so most I goo,
that cañ be mery, & suffer woo.

Beware to whom̑ {tho}u spek{e} thy wiłł,
ffor thy speche may greve thé yłł;
here & see, & goo than stiłł;
but wełł is he _that_ can do soo.
he is wise, so most I goo,
that cañ be mery, & suffer woo.

Many a ma{n} holdyth hy{m} so stowght,
what-so-eu{er} he thynk{e}, he seyth it owt;
but if he loke wełł a-bowt,
his tonge may be his most ffoo.
he is wise, so most I goo,
that cañ be mery, & suffer woo.

Be mery now, is ałł my songe;
{the} wise ma{n} tawght both old & yonge,
‘who ca{n} suffer & hold his tonge,
he may be mery, & no-thyng woo.’
he is wise, so most I goo,
that cañ be mery, & suffer woo.

Yff any mañ displese thé owght,
Suffer w{i}t{h} a mery thowght,
let care away, & greve {the}e nowght,
& shake thy lappe, & lat it go.
he is wise, so most I goo,
that cañ be mery, & suffer woo.
Explicit.

* * * * *
* * * *

The Houshold Stuff occupied at the Lord Mayor’s Feast, a.d. 1505.

[_Balliol MS. 354, ffl C iii. All the final ll’s are crossed
in the MS._]

here ffolowith suche howshold stuff as must ned{is} be ocupied
at {th}e mayres fest yerely kepte at {th}e yelde hall.

[Sidenote: nap{er}y]

ffirst, v diap{er} table clothes // iiij Cowchers[1] of playñ clothe // iiij longe towell{is} of dyap{er} // Ite{m} x doz napkyns / It{em} ij doz Ewry towell{is}. It{em} viij shet{is} for coberde clothes // It{em} a doz cou{er}-payns[2] ffor wafere.

¶ Receyte for ypocras.

¶ Item Cynamo{n} x ll / Gyng{er} iiij ll / Grayns j ll / Sug{er} iiij ll //

¶ Butlers towell{is}.

¶ xxxvj butlers towell{is}, {th}e length of a towell an ell {& a half}[3] // & q{uar}t{er} brode / {tha}t is, iiij towell{is} of an ell {& a half},[3] of ell brode clothe.

¶ ffor {th}e mayres offessers.

¶ ffirst ffor sewers & carwers / iiij towell{is} of fyne clothe, ij ell{is} longe, & half a yarde brode, {summa} iiij ell{is}.

[Sidenote: ffl C iij back]

ffor drawers of ale & wyne.

viij apurns, s{u}m{ma} viij ell{is} ¶ It{em} x portpayns to bere in brede/ ¶ s{um}ma xxxviij ell{is}.

¶ wyne.

Rede wyne, a tonne / Claret wyne, a pipe; whit wyne, a hogg{is}hede / ypocras xl. galons.

¶ Brede.

viij quarters of chet brede / In ma{n}chettis vij^s[4] In tre{n}char brede viij^s / In ob[5] brede iiij; It{e}m in wafers ix^xx messe[6] / & {th}e waferer must brynge Cou{er}payns for to s{er}ue owt his wafers.

¶ Ale pott{is} & Tappis.

xxviij barrell{is} ale / Ertheñ pott{is} for wyne & ale lx doz // pychars xij doz / ij doz stenys[7] It{em} viij C assheñ cuppis / iiij doz tappis.

¶ plate.

It{e}m iiij doz stondyng Cuppis / xxiiij doz boll{is}

It{em} v doz salt{is}: xl doz spones / ij doz gilt sponys / xviij basons w{i}t{h} ewers / a payy{er} of gilt basons // xx silu{er} pott{is}.

Explic{i}t {th}e butlers charge
{tha}t he must spek{e} ffor.

pewt{er} at the feste

ffirst i{n} platters gret & small xij^xx x doze{n}[8]
It{e}m dyshis gret & small--xij^xx x doz{en}[8]
It{em} i{n} saws{er}s gret & small xij^xx x doz{en}[8]
It{em} i{n} chargers gret & small x doz{en}

At {th}e gyvyng vp of {th}e verder of {th}e wardmot Inquest{is}
aft{er} xij^th day.

In dishis xx doz{en} // In plat{er}s x doz{en} //
In saws{er}s iij doz{en} // In chargers j doz{en}

ffor the wacche at mydsomer

In platt{er}s xij doz{en} // In dyshes xxiiij doz{en}

all this was i_n th_e tyme of Iohñ wyngar, mayre of london.

for {th}e hire viij^d {th}e garnyshe of pew{ter}

Lord Mayor Whyngar was Richard Hill’s master. On ffl C lxxvj of the MS. is the entry, “Iste liber p{er}tineth Rycardo Hill, s{er}uant w{i}t{h} M{aster} Wyng{er} ald{er}ma{n} of londo{n}.”

At the back of ffl ijC xx of the MS., in the list of Mayres & Sheryff{is}, is this entry:

[1]505 Johñ Wyngar Roger Acheley }
Will{ia}m brown } A^o xx^o
(Kyng Henry the vij^th).

[Footnote 1: Cp. Russell, l. 187, p. 13.]

[Footnote 2: See Russell’s _portpayne_, l. 262, p. 17.]

[Footnote 3: MS. ell d.]

[Footnote 4: I suppose this and the following s’es to mean
_shillings_.]

[Footnote 5: _ob_ bred is ha’penny bread. On ffl C xviij of the
MS. is

The Assise of Bred with-in London.

The q{uar}t{er} whet at iij^s //
aft{er} v^s.

The fferdyng whit loff coket / xvij oz & d [=½] & ob weight[*]
The ob [ha’penny] whit loff xxxv vnc{is} & j d weight
The q^a[†] symnell xv oz ij d ob in weight
The ob whet loff lij oz d. & j d ob weight
The peny whet loff Cv oz d & q{uar}t{er} & ob weight
The ob lof of all graynes lxx oz & ij d weight]

[Footnote 5*: Half a pennyweight.]

[Footnote 5†: ? _quadranta_, farthing.]

[Footnote 6: ix ^xx = 9 × 20, = 180. _messe_ may be _in effe_:
the long s’es are crossed like f’s.]

[Footnote 7: _Stean_, a stone vessel. ‘A great pot or _stean_,’
Hollyband’s Dictionarie, 1593. Halliwell.]

[Footnote 8: ? (12 × 20 + 10)12 = 3000.]

* * * * *
* * * *

The ordre of goyng or sittyng.[1]

[_Balliol MS. 354, ffl C lxxxxi, or leaf 203, back._]

A pope hath no pere[A]
An emprowr{e} A-lone
A kyng A-lone
An high cardynall
A p{ri}nce, A kyng{is} son
A duk{e} of blod royall
A busshop
A markes
An erle
A vycownt
A legate
A baroñ
An abbot mytered
the ij cheff Iugys
{th}e mayre of londoñ
{th}e chif baroñ of {th}e cheker //
An Abbot w{i}t{h}out myt{er}
A knyght
A pryour{e}
A deañe
An Arche-dekoñ
{th}e M{aste}r of {th}e rollis
{th}e vnder Iugis
{th}e vnd{er} barons of {th}e cheker
the mayre of caleis
A p{ro}vyncyall
A doct{ur} of diuinite
A p{ro}thonotory ys boue[B]
the popes colectour[C]
A doct{ur} of both lawes
A s{er}geant of lawe
the M{aste}rs of cha{n}nsery
A p{er}soñ of Chyrche
A seculer prest
A marchañt
A gentylmañ
An Artificer
A yema{n} of good name

[Textnotes:
A: This is struck through with a heavy black-line.
B: Last letter blotched.
C: Struck through with several thin lines.]

[Footnote 1: Compare with Russell, p. 70-71, and Wynkyn de Worde,
p. 170-1. It differs little from them.]

* * * * *
* * * *

Latin Graces.

(_From the Balliol MS. 354, leaf 2._)

[Transcriber’s Note:

Large boldface initials are marked with a double ++ before the letter. Sidenotes are grouped after each paragraph; where a paragraph is long, individual sidenotes are marked [a], [b] ... Aside from sidenotes and footnotes and their markers, bracketed text is in the original.]

[“These graces are the usual ones still said in all colleges and religious communities abroad, and are for some part those given at the end of each of the four volumes into which our Roman Breviaries for the year are divided. As a youth, while studying at Rome, I used to hear them in our hall; and, knowing them by heart, never found them too long.” --Daniel Rock, D.D.]

The grace {tha}t shuld be said affore mete & aft{er} mete /
ałł the tymes in the yere.

[Sidenote: _A general Grace._]

Benedicite; do{mi}n{u}s. Oculi o{mn}i{u}m i{n} te spera{n}t, domine / et tu das esca{m} illor{um} i{n} tempore oportuno. Aperis tu manu{m} tua{m} / & Imples omne A{n}i{m}al b{e}n{e}dicc{i}o{n}e.

[Sidenote: The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord.]

++Gloria p{a}tri & filio: & sp{irit}ui s{an}cto. Sicut erat i{n} pri{n}cipio, & nu{n}c, et se{m}p{er}: & i{n} secula s{e}c{u}lor{um}. Ame{n}. kyrieleyson, {christ}eleyson, kyrieleyson: pat{er} n{oste}r. Et ne nos: Sed libera nos: Oremus.

[Sidenote: Glory be to the Father, &c. Lord, have mercy upon us.]

++B{e}n{e}dic, domine, nos, & dona tua que de tua largitate sum{us} sumpturi / per / ++Iube d{omi}ne b{e}n{e}dicere.

[Sidenote: Lord, bless us.]

++Mense celest{is} p{ar}ticipes faciat nos Rex et{er}ne glorie / Ame{n} / ++Deus caritas e{st}: & q{u}i manet in aritate, i{n} deo manet, & deus i{n} eo: Sit de{us} in nobis, & nos maneam{us} in ipso. Amen.

[Sidenote: Make us partakers of the heavenly table.]

post pra{n}diu{m}.

[Sidenote: _Grace after Dinner._]

++Deus pacis & dileccio{n}is maneat se{m}p{er} nobiscu{m}: Tu aut{em}, d{omi}ne, miserere n{ost}ri: Deo gr{aci}as / ++Confiteant{u}r t{ib}i, d{omi}ne, o{mn}ia tua. Et s{an}cti tui b{e}n{e}dica{n}t tibi / Glo{r}ia: ++Agim{us} t{ib}i gr{aci}as, o{mn}ipote{n}s de{us}, p{ro} vniu{er}sis b{e}n{e}ficijs tuis. Qui viuis & regnas de{us}: P{er} o{mn}ia secula seculor{um}: Amen.

[Sidenote: May the God of peace be with us! We thank thee, O Lord,
for thy benefits.]

++Laudate d{omi}n{u}m, o{mn}es ge{n}tes: laudate eu{m}, o{mn}es populi. Q{uonia}m co{n}firmata est sup{er} nos mi{sericordi}a eius: & veritas d{omi}ni manet i{n} et{er}nu{m}. Gloria p{at}ri: Sicut erat: kyrieleyson, {christ}eleyso{n}, kirieleyson / ++P{ate}r {nost}er / Et ne nos. S{ed} libera.

[Sidenote: Lord, have mercy upon us! Christ, have mercy upon us!]

++Disp{er}sit, dedit pauperibus: ++Iusticia eius manet i{n} seculu{m} s{e}c{u}li: [a] ++B{e}n{e}dica{m} d{omi}n{u}m i{n} o{mn}i te{m}pore: Se{m}per laus ei{us} i{n} ore meo: ++In d{omi}no laudabitur a{n}i{m}a mea: Audiant ma{n}sueti, & letent{u}r: ++Magnificate d{omi}n{u}m mecu{m}. Et exaltem{us}[D] nome{n} ei{us} i{n} id ip{su}m: [b] ++Sit nomen d{omi}ni b{e}n{e}dictu{m}: Ex hoc nu{n}c & vsq{ue} i{n} s{e}c{u}l{u}m: Oremus: ++Retribuere dignare, d{omi}ne deus, o{mn}ib{us} nobis bona ffacientib{us} p{ro}pt{er} nome{n} sanct{u}m, tuu{m}, vita{m} et{er}nam: Amen: B{e}n{e}dicamus d{omi}no: Deo gra{cia}s. [c] ++Aue regina celor{um}, mat{er} reg{is} angelor{um}: [d] O maria, flos v{er}ginu{m}, velut rosa vel liliu{m}, fu{n}de p{re}ces ad filiu{m} p{ro} salute fideliu{m}. Aue maria. ++Merit{is} & p{re}cib{us} sue pie matris, b{e}n{e}dicat nos fili{us} dei p{at}ris / Ame{n}.

[Sidenote: [a] I will bless the Lord alway. [b] May the name of
the Lord be blessed for ever! [c] Hail, Queen of Heaven,
[d] flower of virgins! pray thy Son to save the faithful!]

[Textnote D: MS. exultem{us}.]

On ffisshe days.

[Sidenote: _Grace on Fish-Days._]

++B{e}n{e}dicite; d{omi}n{u}s. [a] Ede{n}t pauperes, & saturabu{n}t{u}r: et laudabu{n}t d{omi}num q{u}i requiru{n}t eu{m}; viue{n}t corda eor{um} in s{e}c{u}l{u}m s{e}c{u}li: [b] Gl{or}ia p{at}ri. Sicut erat &c. kyrieleyson. {christ}eleyson / kyrieleyson / p{at}er n{ost}er. Et ne nos: S{ed} libera: Orem{us}: ++Benedic d{omi}ne: ++Iube d{omi}ne: ++Cibo sp{irit}ualis alimonie reficiat nos rex eterne glorie / Ame{n}. [c] ++Gracia d{omi}ni nostri Ih{es}u {christ}i, & caritas dei, & co{m}municacio s{an}cti sp{irit}us [d] sit semp{er} cu{m} o{mn}ib{us} nobis. Ame{n} / [e] & in lent leve / Gr{aci}a d{omi}ni // & say // [f] ++Frange esurienti pane{m} tuu{m}, & egenos vagosq{u}e induc i{n} domu{m} tua{m}: cu{m} videris nudu{m} operi eu{m}. [et c]arne{m} tua{m} ne despexeris: ait d{omi}nus o{mni}pote[ns].

[Sidenote: [a] The poor shall eat and be satisfied. [b] Glory be
to the Father, &c. [c] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [d] be
with us all. [e] _In Lent._ [f] Break thy bread to the hungry,
and take the wanderer to thy home.]

Grace aft{er} dyner{e}.

[Sidenote: _Grace after Dinner._]

++Deus paci[s &c. Memori]a{m}[E] fecit mirabiliu{m} suoru{m} misericors & [miserator d{omi}n{u}]s; esca{m} dedit time{n}tib{us} se. Gloria. Sic[ut erat, &c.]

[Textnote E: Only half the ã is left.]

[Sidenote: _Four Short Graces._]

Short g{r}ace affore dyn{er}.

[Sidenote: 1. _Before Dinner._]

++B{e}n{e}dicite; d{omi}n{u}[s].[F] .... Apponenda b{e}n{e}dicat dei dextera. [In nomine patris &] filii & sp{irit}us s{anc}ti / ame{n}.

[Textnote F: An inch of the MS. broken away.]

[Sidenote: [leaf 2, back.]]

Shorte grace aft{er} dyn{er} / & aft{er} sop{er} / bothe.

[Sidenote: 2. _After Meals._]

++Pro tali co{n}uiuio b{e}n{e}dicam{us} d{omi}no: Deo gr{aci}as. ++Mat{er}, ora filiu{m} vt post hoc exiliu{m} nobis donet gaudiu{m} sine fine. ++Aue maria: / Oremus. Meritis & p{re}cibus.

[Sidenote: Bless the Lord for this meal. Mary, pray for us!]

Grace affore sop{er}.

[Sidenote: 3. _Before Supper._]

++Benedicite[G]; d{omi}n{u}s: Cena{m} sa{n}ctificet q{u}i nobis o{mn}ia prebet: In no{m}i{n}e p{at}ris.

[Sidenote: Giver of all, sanctify this supper.]

[Textnote G: MS. Benedictus, _altered to_ Benedicite.]

¶ Grace aft{er} soper.

[Sidenote: 4. _After Supper._]

++Benedict{u}s deus in donis suis: Et s{an}ctus in o{mn}ib{us} operib{us} suis / ++Adiutoriu{m} n{ost}r{u}m i{n} no{m}i{n}e d{omi}ni: Qui fecit celu{m} et t{er}ra{m}. Sit nome{n} d{omi}ni b{e}n{e}dictu{m} / Ex hoc nu{n}c, et vsq{ue} in s{e}c{u}l{u}m / Oremus: Meritis et p{re}cib{us} sue pie matris b{e}n{e}dicat nos fili{us} dei patris.

[Sidenote: The Lord is holy in all his works. Blessed be the name
of the Lord.]

¶ ++In vigilia pasche.

[Sidenote: _On Easter-Eve._]

++B{e}n{e}dicite; d{omi}n{u}s. ++Edent pauperes &c. ++Glo{r}ia p{at}ri, Sicut erat: kirieleyson. {christ}eleyson. kyrieleyson. P{ate}r n{oste}r: Et ne nos. Set libera. Orem{us} / Benedic d{omi}ne: ++Iube d{omi}ne b{e}n{e}dicere / ++Cibo sp{irit}ualis alimonie & c{etera} / leccio / Si co{n}surrexist{is} cu{m} {christo}, que sursu{m} su{n}t, querite vbi {christu}s est in dextera dei sedens.

[Sidenote: Christ, have mercy upon us! Seek those things that are
above.]

post prandiu{m}.

[Sidenote: _Grace after Dinner._]

[a] ++Deus pacis & dileccionis: ++Memoria{m} fecit / Glo{r}ia p{at}ri Sicut erat; [b] ++Agimus t{ib}i gracias. ++Laudate d{omin}um o{mn}es gentes: Q{uonia}m co{n}firma[ta]: Glo{r}ia p{at}ri: Sicut erat. D{omi}n{u}s vobiscu{m}: Et cu{m} sp{irit}u tuo. Orem{us} / [c] Sp{iritu}m in nobis, d{omi}ne, tue caritat{is} infu{n}de, vt quos sacrame{n}t{is} paschalib{us} saciasti: tua facias pietate co{n}cordes // [d] Per eu{n}dem d{omin}um n{ost}r{u}m ih{esu}m {christu}m, filiu{m} tuu{m}: q{u}i tecu{m} viuit & regnat i{n} vnitate eiusdem sp{irit}uss{an}cti, deus / p{er} o{mn}ia s{e}c{u}la seculor{um}. Ame{n}.

[Sidenote: [a] God of Peace, [b] We give thee thanks, O Lord.
[c] Pour into us thy Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord.]

¶ ++In die pasche.

[Sidenote: _On Easter-Day._]

++B{e}n{e}dicite. d{omi}n{us}. [a] Hec dies qua{m} fecit d{omi}n{us}, exultem{us} & letemur in ea. Glo{r}ia p{at}ri. Sicut: kirieleyso{n}. {christ}eleyson. kyrieleyson: P{ate}r n{oste}r / Et ne / Orem{us}. [b] B{e}n{e}dic d{omi}ne: ++Iube d{omi}ne b{e}n{e}dicere / ++Mense celest{is} ++Expurgate vetus ferme{n}tum[H] vt sitis noua co{n}sp{er}sio, sicut estis asimi: [c] Eteni{m} pascha n{ost}r{u}m i{m}molatus est {christu}s, itaq{ue} epulemur in domino.

[Sidenote: [a] This is the day which the Lord hath made: Let us
rejoice and be glad in it. [b] Bless us, O Lord! [c] Our passover
is slain, even Christ.]

[Textnote H: MS. serme{n}tum.]

¶ post pra{n}diu{m}.

[Sidenote: _After Dinner._]

++Qui dat esca{m} o{mn}i carni, co{n}fitemini deo celi. ++Tu aute{m}: ++Laudate d{omin}um. Q{uonia}m co{n}firmata / Glo{r}ia p{at}ri. ++In resurreccione tua, {christ}e. Celi & t{er}ra lete{n}t{u}r / all{elui}a. Orem{us}. Spiritu{m} in nobis &c{etera}. ++P{er} eu{n}de{m}: ++In vnitate eiusde{m}. B{e}n{e}dicam{us} domino, deo gracias / ¶ Eode{m} modo dicit{u}r p{er} tota{m} ebdomad{am}. ++Retribuere.

[Sidenote: Of thy resurrection, Christ, the heavens and the earth
are glad. Thanks be to God!]

Ante cenam.

[Sidenote: _Before Supper._]

B{e}n{e}dicite. d{omi}n{us}. cena{m} s{an}ctificet q{u}i nobis o{mn}ia p{re}bet / ++In no{m}i{n}e p{at}ris & filii & sp{irit}uss{an}cti: Ame{n}.

¶ post cenam.

[Sidenote: _After Supper._]

++Hec dies / : / v{er}s{us}. ++In resurreccione tua, {christ}e / Celi & t{er}ra letent{u}r. all{elui}a. D{omi}n{us} vobiscu{m}: Et cu{m} sp{irit}u tuo. Sp{iritu}m in nobis: B{e}n{e}dicamus d{omi}no: Deo gr{aci}as.

[Sidenote: This is the day, &c. Hallelujah. Let us bless the
Lord!]

Explicit.

Having thus given the Graces as they stand in the Manuscript, I add the scheme of them which Mr Bradshaw has had the kindness to draw out. He says, “Here is a case in which nothing but parallel arrangement can afford a clue to the apparent confusion. The people who used these services were so thoroughly accustomed to them, that a word or two was enough to remind them of what was to follow--sometimes a whole series of prayers, or verses and responds, or suffrages. If your object is to give people of the present day an idea of the meaning of these things, it is almost useless to print them straight as they are in the MS. Even as I have written them out, _inserting_ nothing whatever except the names of the speakers in a bracket, you will perhaps not catch much of the thread. You may remember that at Trinity even now it takes two people to say what is substantially the same Grace as this.”

[Transcriber’s Note:

The following section was printed in columns on five sets of facing pages, labeled 1.1, 1.2... In this e-text the four versions are interlocked, distinguished by different indentations; notations such as [[1.2, 1.3, 1.4 same]] in double brackets mean that the remaining columns contain the same text. The designation [_blank_] and the sets of four dots .... are in the original text. There are no numbered footnotes.]

THE GRACE THAT SHULD BE SAID AFFORE METE AND AFTER METE
ALL THE TYMES IN THE YERE. 1.1

ON FISSHE DAYS. 1.2

IN VIGILIA PASCHE. 1.3

IN DIE PASCHE. 1.4

(_Sacerdos_) Benedicite.

(_Resp._) Dominus.

[[1.2, 1.3, 1.4 same]]

(_Psalm_) Oculi omnium in te sperant, domine: et tu das escam
illorum in tempore oportuno.

Aperis tu manum tuam: et imples omne animal benediccione.

(_Psalm_) Edent pauperes, et saturabuntur, et laudabunt dominum
qui requirunt eum: vivent corda eorum in seculum seculi.

(_Psalm_) Edent pauperes ....

(_Psalm_) Hec dies quam fecit dominus: exultemus et letemur
in ea.

Gloria patri et filio: et spiritui sancto.
Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: in secula seculorum.
Amen.
Kyrieleyson.
Christeleyson.
Kyrieleyson.
Pater noster .... [i.e. the Lord’s prayer.]

[[1.2, 1.3, 1.4 same]]

(_Sacerdos_) Et ne nos [inducas in tentationem.]

(_Resp._) Sed libera nos [a malo.]

[[1.2, 1.3, 1.4 same]]

(_Sacerdos_) Oremus.
Benedic, domine, nos, et dona tua que de tua largitate sumus sumpturi.
Per [christum dominum nostrum.]

[_Resp._ Amen.]

[[1.2, 1.3, 1.4 same]]

(_Lector_) Iube domine benedicere.

[[1.2, 1.3, 1.4 same]]

(_Sacerdos_) Mense celestis participes faciat nos rex eterne glorie.
Amen.

(_Sacerdos_) Cibo spiritualis alimonie reficiat nos rex eterne
glorie. Amen.

(_Sacerdos_) Cibo spiritualis alimonie, &c.

(_Sacerdos_) Mense celestis ....

(_Lectio_) Deus caritas est, et qui manet in caritate, in deo manet,
et deus in eo. Sit deus in nobis, et nos maneamus in ipso.

(_Resp._) Amen.

[*](_Lectio_) Gracia domini nostri ihesu christi, et caritas dei,
et communicatio sancti spiritus, sit semper cum omnibus nobis.

(_Resp._) Amen.

(_Leccio_) Si consurrexistis cum christo, que sursum sunt
querite, ubi christus est in dextera dei sedens.

[_Resp._ Amen.]

(_Lectio_) Expurgate vetus fermentum, ut sitis nova conspersio
sicut estis asimi: etenim pascha nostrum immolatus est christus.
Itaque epulemur in domino.

[_Resp._ Amen.]

[Footnote *: _And in lent leve_ ‘Gracia Domini,’ _and say_:
(_Lectio_) Frange esurienti panem tuum, et egenos vagosque induc
in domum tuam; cum videris nudum, operi eum, et carnem tuam ne
despexeris. Ait dominus omnipotens.
[_Resp._ Amen.]]

POST PRANDIUM. 2.1

[_On Fish Days._]
GRACE AFTER-DYNER. 2.2

[_On Easter Eve._]
POST PRANDIUM. 2.3

[_On Easter Day._]
POST PRANDIUM. 2.4

(_Sacerdos_) Deus pacis et dileccionis maneat semper nobiscum.
Tu autem domine, miserere nostri.

(_Resp._) Deo gracias.

(_Sacerdos_) Deus pacis ....

(_Sacerdos_) Deus pacis et dileccionis....

(_Sacerdos_) Qui dat escam omni carni: confitemini deo celi.
Tu autem ....

[_Resp._ Deo gracias.]

(_Psalm_) Confiteantur tibi, domine, omnia tua: et sancti tui
benedicant tibi.

Gloria [patri] ....

(_Psalm_) [Memoriam] fecit mirabilium suorum misericors, et
miserator dominus: escam dedit timentibus se.

Gloria ....
Sic[ut erat .... (_an inch of the MS. broken away._) ....]

(_Psalm_) Memoriam fecit....

Gloria....
Sicut erat....

....

(_Capitulum_) Agimus tibi gracias, omnipotens deus, pro universis
beneficiis tuis, qui vivis et regnas deus per omnia secula seculorum.
amen.

(_Capitulum_) Agimus tibi gracias ....

....

(_Psalm_) Laudate dominum omnes gentes: laudate eum omnes populi.

Quoniam confirmata est super nos misericordia ejus: et veritas domini
manet in eternum.

[[1.3, 1.4 same]]

Gloria patri ....
Sicut erat ....
Kyrieleyson.
Christeleyson.
Kyrieleyson.
Pater noster ....

[[1.3, 1.4 same]]

(_Sacerdos_) Et ne nos ....

(_Resp._) Sed libera ....

....

....

(_Sacerdos_) Dispersit, dedit pauperibus:

(_Resp._) Iustitia ejus manet in seculum seculi.

....

(_Sacerdos_) In resurrectione tua, Christe:

(_Resp._) Celi et terra letentur. alleluia.

(_Sacerdos_) Benedicam dominum in omni tempore:

(_Resp._) Semper laus ejus in ore meo.

(_Sacerdos_) In domino laudabitur anima mea:

(_Resp._) Audiant mansueti, et letentur.

(_Sacerdos_) Magnificate dominum mecum:

(_Resp._) Et exaltemus nomen ejus in id ipsum.

[_After Dinner._] 3.1

[_On Fish Days._] 3.2

[_On Easter Eve._] 3.3

[_On Easter Day._] 3.4

(_Sacerdos_) Sit nomen domini benedictum:

(_Resp._) Ex hoc nunc, et usque in seculum.

[_Blank._]

....

(_Sacerdos_) Dominus vobiscum:

(_Resp._) Et cum spiritu tuo.

(_Sacerdos_) Oremus.
Retribuere dignare, domine deus, omnibus nobis bona facientibus,
propter nomen sanctum tuum, vitam eternam. amen.

(_Sacerdos_) Oremus.
Spiritum in nobis, domine, tue caritatis infunde, ut quos
sacramentis paschalibus saciasti, tua facias pietate concordes.
_Per eundem_ dominum nostrum ihesum christum, filium tuum, qui
tecum vivit et regnat _in unitate_ ejusdem spiritus sancti, deus
per omnia secula seculorum. amen.

(_Sacerdos_) Oremus.
Spiritum in nobis, &c. Per eundem &c., in unitate....

(_Sacerdos_) Benedicamus domino:

(_Resp._) Deo gracias.

....

(_Sacerdos_) Benedicamus domino:

(Resp.) Deo gracias.

_Et eodem modo dicitur per totam ebdomadam._

Retribuere....

(_Antiphona de sancta maria._)
Ave regina celorum
Mater regis angelorum
O maria flos verginum
Velut rosa vel lilium
Funde preces ad filium
Pro salute fidelium.

(_Vers._) Ave Maria....

(_Oratio_) Meritis et precibus sue pie matris, benedicat nos filius
dei patris. amen.

....

SHORT GRACE AFFORE DYNER. 4.1

[_On Fish Days._] 4.2

[_On Easter Eve._] 4.3

[_On Easter Day._] 4.4

(_Sacerdos_) Benedicite.

(_Resp._) Dominus.

[_Blank._]

[_Blank._]

[_Blank._]

(_Sacerdos_) .... apponenda benedicat dei dextera .... [In nomine
patris et] filii et spiritus sancti. amen.

SHORTE GRACE AFTER DYNER & AFTER SOPER BOTHE.

(_Sacerdos_) Pro tali convivio benedicamus domino.

(_Resp._) Deo gracias.

(_Antiphona de sancta maria_)

Mater ora filium
Ut post hoc exilium
Nobis donet gaudium
Sine fine.

(_Vers._) Ave Maria ....

(_Sacerdos_) Oremus Meritis et precibus....

GRACE AFFORE SOPER. 5.1

[_On Fish Days._] 5.2

[_On Easter Eve._] 5.3

[_On Easter Day._]
ANTE CENAM. 5.4

(_Sacerdos_) Benedicite.

(_Resp._) Dominus.

[_Blank._]

[_Blank._]

(_Sacerdos_) Benedicite.

(_Resp._) Dominus.

(_Sacerdos_) Cenam sanctificet qui nobis omnia prebet. In nomine
patris ....

(_Sacerdos_) Cenam sanctificet qui nobis omnia prebet. In
nomine patris, et filii, et spiritus sancti. amen.

GRACE AFTER SOPER.

POST CENAM.

(_Sacerdos_) Hec dies ....

(_Sacerdos_) Benedictus deus in donis suis:

(_Resp._) Et sanctus in omnibus operibus suis.

(_Sacerdos_) In resurrectione tua, christe:

(_Resp._) Celi et terra letentur. alleluia.

(_Sacerdos_) Adjutorium nostrum in nomine domini:

(_Resp._) Qui fecit celum et terram.

(_Sacerdos_) Sit nomen domini benedictum:

(_Resp._) Ex hoc nunc et usque in seculum.

....

(_Sacerdos_) Dominus vobiscum:

(_Resp._) Et cum spiritu tuo.

(_Sacerdos_) Oremus.
Meritis et precibus sue pie matris, benedicat nos filius dei patris.

(_Sacerdos._) Spiritum in nobis....

(_Sacerdos_) Benedicamus domino:

(_Resp._) Deo gracias.

EXPLICIT.

SCHEME OF THE LATIN GRACES.

Common Fast Easter Easter
Days. Days. Eve. Day.
+-------+-------+--------+---------+
Before | 1.1| 1.2| 1.3| 1.4| Before
dinner | A | D | H | L | dinner
| | | | |
+-------+-------+--------+---------+
| 2.1| 2.2| 2.3| 2.4|
| B | E | I | M |
{ | | | | |}
After { +-------+-------+--------+---------+} After
dinner { | 3.1| 3.2| 3.3| 3.4|} dinner
| C | blank | K | N |
| | | | |
+=======+=======+========+=========+
Short | 4.1| 4.2| 4.3| 4.4| Short Graces for
Graces | F | blank | blank | blank | either dinner
| | | | | or supper
+=======+=======+========+=========+
Before | 5.1| 5.2| 5.3| 5.4| Before
and after | G | blank | blank | O | and after
_supper_ | | | | | _supper_
+-------+-------+--------+---------+
Common Fast Easter Easter
Days. Days. Eve. Day.

The alphabetical order is that in which the matter is found written in the manuscript.

HENRY BRADSHAW.

* * * * *
* * * *

Symon’s Lesson of Wysedome for all Maner Chyldryn.

[_From MS. Bodl. 832, leaf 174._]

[Transcriber’s Note:

This selection was printed with long “s” (ſ).]

[The Rev. J. R. Lumby has kindly sent me the following amusing ‘lesson of wysedome’ to ‘all maner chyldryn’, signed Symon, which he found in the Bodleian. Mr G. Parker has read the proof with the MS. Lydgate sinned against most of its precepts. It makes the rod the great persuader to learning and gentleness.]

[Sidenote: Children, attend. You’d be better unborn than
untaught.]

All man{er} chyldryn, ye lyſten & ler{e}
A leſſon of wyſedome þ{a}t ys wryte her{e}!
My chyld, y rede þ{e} be wys, and take hede of þ{i}s ryme!
Old men yn p{ro}u{er}be ſayde by old tyme 4
‘A chyld wer{e} bet{er} to be vnbor{e}
Than to be vntaught, and ſo be lor{e}.’[1]

[Sidenote: You mustn’t have your own way always.]

The chyld þ{a}t hath hys wyll alway
Shal thryve late, y thei[2] wel ſay, 8
And þ{er}-for eu{er}y gode ma{n}nys chyld
That is to wanton and to wyld,
Lerne wel this leſſon for ſ{er}tayn,
That thou may be þ^e bet{er} man. 12
Chyld, y warne þ{e}e yn al wyſe

[Sidenote: Tell the truth, don’t be froward, hold up your
head, take off your hood when you’re spoken to.]

That þu tel trowth & make no lyes.
Chyld, be not froward, be not prowde,
But hold vp þy hedde & ſpeke a-lowde; 16
And when eny man ſpekyth to the,
Do of þy hode and bow thy kne,

[Sidenote: Wash your hands and face. Be courteous.]

And wayſch thy hand{es} & þy face,
And be curteys yn eu{er}y place. 20
And wher{e} þ{o}u comyſt, w{i}t{h} gode chere
In halle or bowr{e}, bydde “god be her{e}!”

[Sidenote: Don’t throw stones at dogs and hogs. Mock at no
one. Don’t swear.]

Loke þ{o}u caſt to no ma{n}nes dogge,
W{i}t{h} ſtaff ne ſtone at hors ne hogge; 24
Loke þ{a}t þ{o}u not ſcorne ne iape
Noþ{er} w{i}t{h} man, maydyn, ne ape;
Lete no ma{n} of þ{e}e make playnt;
Swer{e} þ{o}u not by god noþ{er} by ſaynt. 28

[Sidenote: Eat what’s given you, and don’t ask for this and
that.]

Loke þ{o}u be c{ur}teys ſtondyng at mete;
And þ{a}t men ȝeuyth þ{e}e, þ{o}u take & ete;
And loke that þ{o}u nother crye ne crave,
And ſay “that and that wold y have;” 32
But ſtond þ{o}u ſtylle be-for{e} þ^e borde,
And loke þ{o}u ſpeke no lowde worde.

[Sidenote: Honour your father and mother: kneel and ask their
blessing. Keep your clothes clean.]

And, chyld, wyrſhep thy fad{er} and thy mod{er},
And loke þ{a}t þ{o}u greve noþ{er} on ne oþ{er}, 36
But eu{er} among þ{o}u ſhalt knele adowne,
And aſke her{e} bleſſyng and her{e} beneſowne.
And, chyld, kepe thy cl{o}þ{e}s fayr{e} & clene,
And lete no fowle fylth on hem be ſene. 40

[Sidenote: Don’t go bird’s-nesting, or steal fruit, or throw
stones at men’s windows, or play in church.]

Chyld, clem þ{o}u not ou{er} hows ne walle
For no frute[3], brydd{es}, ne balle;
And, chyld, caſt no ſtonys ou{er} men hows,
Ne caſt no ſtonys at no glas wyndowys; 44
Ne make no crying, yapis, ne playes,
In holy chyrche on holy dayes.

[Sidenote: Don’t chatter. Get home by daylight.]

And, chyld, y warne þ{e}e of anoþ{er} thynge,
Kepe þ{e}e fro many word{es} and yangelyng. 48
And, chyld, whan þ{o}u goſt to play,
Loke þ{o}u come home by lyght of day.

[Sidenote: Keep clear of fire and water, and the edges of
wells and brooks.]

And, chyld, I warne the of a-noþ{er} mat{er},
Loke þ{o}u kepe þ{e}e wel fro fyr{e} and wat{er}; 52
And be war{e} and wyſe how þ{a}t þ{o}u lokys
Ou{er} any brynk, welle, or brokys;
And when þ{o}u ſtondyſt at any ſchate[4],
By war{e} and wyſe þ{a}t þ{o}u cacche no ſtake, 56
For meny chyld w{i}t{h}-o{u}t drede
Ys dede or dyſſeyuyd throw ywell hede.

[Sidenote: (leaf 175.)]

[Sidenote: Take care of your book, cap, and gloves, or you’ll
be birched on your bare bottom.]

Chyld, kepe thy boke, cappe, and glouys,
And al thyng þ{a}t þ{e}e behouys; 60
And but þ{o}u do, þ{o}u ſhat far{e} the wors,
And þ{er}-to be bete on þe bar{e} ers.

[Sidenote: Don’t be a liar or thief, or make faces at any man.]

Chyld, be þ{o}u lyer noþ{er} no theffe;
Be þ{o}u no mecher[5] for myſcheffe. 64
Chyld, make þ{o}u no mowys ne knakk{es}
Be-for{e} no men, ne by-hynd her{e} bakk{es},
But be of fayr{e} ſemelaunt and co{n}tenaunce,
For by fayr{e} man{er}ys men may þ{e}e a-vaunce. 68

[Sidenote: When you meet any one, lower your hood and wish ’em
“god speed.”]

Chyld wha{n} þ{o}u goſt yn eny ſtrete,
Iff þ{o}u eny gode man or woma{n} mete,
Avale thy hode to hym or to her{e},
And bydde, “god ſpede dame or ſer{e}!” 72
And be they ſmalle or grete,
This leſſon þ{a}t þ{o}u not for-gete,--
For hyt is ſemely to eu{er}y ma{n}nys chylde,--

[Sidenote: Be meek to clerks. Rise early, go to school, and
learn fast if you want to be our bishop.]

And namely to clerk{es} to be meke & mylde. 76
And, chyld, ryſe by tyme and go to ſcole,
And far{e} not as Wanton fole,
And lerne as faſt as þ{o}u may and can,
For owr{e} byſchop is an old man, 80
And þ{er}-for þ{o}u moſt lerne faſt
Iff þ{o}u wolt be byſſhop when he is paſt.
Chyld, y bydde þe on my bleſſyng
That þ{o}u for-ȝete nat þ{i}s for no thyng, 84

[Sidenote: Attend to all these things, for a good child needs
learning, and he who hates the child spares the rod.]

But þ{o}u loke, hold hyt wel on þy mynde,
For þ^e beſt þu ſhalt hyt fynde;
For, as þe wyſe man ſayth and p{re}uyth,
A leve chyld, lor{e} he be-houyth; 88

[Sidenote: (leaf 175 b.)]

And as men ſayth þ{a}t ben leryd,
He hatyth þ^e chyld þ{a}t ſparyth þ^e rodde;
And as þe wyſe man ſayth yn his boke
Off p{ro}u{er}bis and wyſedomes, ho wol loke, 92

[Sidenote: As a spur makes a horse go, so a rod makes a child
learn and be mild.]

“As a ſharppe ſpor{e} makyth an hors to renne
Vnd{er} a man that ſhold werre wynne,
Ryȝt ſo a ȝerde may make a chyld
To lerne welle hys leſſon, and to be myld.” 96
Lo, chyldryn, her{e} may ȝe al her{e} and ſe
How al chyldryn chaſtyd ſhold be;

[Sidenote: So, children, do well, and you’ll not get a sound
beating. May God keep you good!]

And þ{er}for, chylder{e}, loke þ{a}t ye do well,
And no harde betyng ſhall ye be-falle: 100
Thys may ȝe al be ryght gode men.
God g{ra}unt yow g{ra}ce ſo to p{re}ſ{er}ue yow.

Amen!
------
Symon.
------

[Footnote 1: Compare “Better vnfedde then vntaughte” in _Seager’s
Schoole of Vertue_, above, p. 236, l. 725.]

[Footnote 2: thee]

[Footnote 3: Cp. Lydgate’s Tricks at School, _Forewords_,
p. xliv.]

[Footnote 4: ? meaning. _Skathie_, a fence. Jamieson. _Skaith_,
hurt, harm. Halliwell.]

[Footnote 5: A mychare seems to denote properly a sneaking thief.
Way. Prompt., p. 336. _Mychare_, a covetous, sordid fellow.
Jamieson. Fr. _pleure-pain_: m. A niggardlie wretch; a puling
_micher_ or miser. Cotgrave.]

* * * * *
* * * *

The Birched School-Boy

of about 1500 A.D.

(_From the Balliol MS. 354, ffl ij C xxx._)

[As old Symon talks of the rod (p. 383-4, ll. 62, 90), as Caxton in his Book of Curtesye promises his ‘lytyl John’ a breechless feast, or as the Oriel MS. reads it, a ‘byrchely’ one,[1] & as the Forewords have shown that young people did get floggings in olden time, it may be as well to give here the sketch of a boy flea-bitten, no doubt, with little bobs of hazel twigs, that Richard Hill has preserved for us. Boys of the present generation happily don’t know the sensation of unwelcome warmth that a sound flogging produced, and how after it one had to sit on the bottom of one’s spine on the edge of the hard form, in the position recommended at College for getting well forward in rowing. But they may rest assured that if their lot had fallen on a birching school, they’d have heartily joined the school-boy of 1500 in wishing his and their masters at the devil, even though they as truant boys had been ‘milking ducks, as their mothers bade them.’]

hay! hay! by this day!
what avayleth it me thowgh I say nay?

[Sidenote: Learning is strange work; the birch twigs are so sharp.]

¶ I wold ffayñ be a clarke;
but yet hit is a strange werke;[2]
the byrchyñ twygg{is} be so sharpe,
hit makith me haue a faynt harte.
what avaylith it me thowgh I say nay?

[Sidenote: I’d sooner go 20 miles than go to school on Mondays.]

¶ On mo{n}day i{n} {th}e mornyng whañ I shall rise
at vj. of the clok,[3] hyt is the gise
to go to skole w{i}t{h}out a-vise
I had lever go xx^ti myle twyse!
what avaylith it me thowgh I say nay?

[Sidenote: My master asks where I’ve been. ‘Milking ducks,’
I tell him,]

¶ My master lokith as he were madde:
“wher hast {tho}u be, thow sory ladde?”
“Milked dukk{is}, my moder badde:”
hit was no m{er}vayle thow I were sadde.
what vaylith it me thowgh I say nay?

[Sidenote: and he gives me pepper for it.]

¶ My mast{er} pep{er}ed my ars w{i}t{h} well good spede:
hit was worse thañ ffynkll sede;
he wold not leve till it did blede.
Myche sorow haue be for his dede!
what vaylith it me thowgh I say nay?

[Sidenote: I only wish he was a hare, and my book a wild cat,]

¶ I wold my mast{er} were a watt[4]
& my boke a wyld Catt,
& a brase of grehownd{is} in his toppe:
I wold be glade for to se that!
what vayleth it me thowgh I say nay?

[Sidenote: and all his books dogs. Wouldn’t I blow my horn!
Don’t I wish he was dead!]

¶ I wold my mast{er} were an hare,
& all his bok{is} hownd{is} were,
& I my self a Ioly hontere:
to blowe my horñ I wold not spare!
ffor if he were dede I wold not care.
what vaylith me thowgh I say nay?

Explicit.

[Footnote 1: See Caxton’s Book of Curtesye, in the Society’s
Extra Series, 1868.]

[Footnote 2: Compare the very curious song on the difficulty of
learning singing, in _Reliquiæ Antiquæ_, i. 291, from Arundel MS.
292, leaf 71, back.]

[Footnote 3: See Rhodes, p. 72, l. 61; and Seager, p. 226, l. 58.]

[Footnote 4: a hare.]

* * * * *
* * * *

The Song of the School Boy at Christmas.

[Printed also in _Reliquiæ Antiquæ_, i. 116, ‘From MS. Sloane, No. 1584, of the beginning of the sixteenth century, or latter part of the fifteenth, fol. 33^ro., written in Lincolnshire or Nottinghamshire, perhaps, to judge by the mention of persons and places, in the neighbourhood of Grantham or Newark.’ J. O. Halliwell.]

+Ante ffine{m}+ t{er}mini Baculus portamus,
Caput hustiarii ffranger{e} debemus;
Si p{re}ceptor nos petit quo debemus Ire,
Breuiter respondem{us}, “no{n} est tibi scire.”
O p{ro} nobilis docter, Now we youe pray,
Vt velitis conceder{e} to gyff h{us} leff to play.
Nunc p{ro}ponimus Ire, w{i}t{h}out any ney,
Scolam dissolver{e}; I tell itt youe in fey,
Sicut istud festum, merth-is for to make,
Accipim{us} n{ost}ram diem, owr leve for to take.
Post natale festu{m}, full sor shall we qwake,
Qu{um} nos Revenim{us}, latens for to make.
Ergo nos Rogamus, hartly and holle,
Vt isto die possimus, to brek upe {th}e scole.

Non min{us} hic peccat q{u}i sens{um} condit in agro,
Qua{m} qui doctrinam Claudet in ore suo.

* * * * *
* * * *

The Boar’s Head.

[_Balliol MS. 354, ffl_ ij C xij, _or leaf 228._]

Caput Apri Refero, } fote[1]
Resonens laudes do{mi}no. }

The boris hed In hond{is} I brynge
with garlond{is} gay & byrd{is} syngynge;
I p{ra}y you all helpe me to synge,
Qui estis in conviuio.

The boris hede, I vnderstond,
ys cheff{e} s{er}uyce in all this londe:
wher-so-ever it may he fonde,
Seruitur cu{m} sinapio.

The boris hede, I dare well say,
anon after the xij^th day
he taketh his leve & goth a-way,
Exiuit tu{n}c de patria.

See other carols on the Boar’s Head, in _Songs and Carols_, Percy Soc., p. 42, 25; Ritson’s _Ancient Songs_; Sandys’s _Carols_, and _Christmastide_, p. 231, from Ritson,--a different version of the present carol,--&c.

[Footnote 1: I suppose this means the _foot_, the burden.]

* * * * *
* * * *

Errata (noted by transcriber):

Ffor to serve a lord.
[Footnote 34: ... ‘Quynce, a frute, _pomme de quoyn_,’]
[_close quote missing_]

Latin Graces, col. 1.1.
(_Sacerdos_) Mense celestis participes faciat
[_opening parenthesis invisible_]

The Boar’s Head
wher-so-ever it may he fonde [_text unchanged_]

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

_Collected Sidenotes_

[This section was added by the transcriber. It contains the editor’s summaries of each selection, given in the form of sidenotes.]

Russell’s _Boke of Nurture_: Sidenotes

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, God keep me! I am an Usher to a Prince, and delight in teaching the inexperienced. It is charitable to teach ignorant youths. If any such won’t learn, give them a toy. One May I went to a forest, and by the Forester’s leave walked in the woodland, where I saw three herds of deer in the sunshine. A young man with a bow was going to stalk them, but I asked him to walk with me, and inquired whom he served. ‘No one but myself, and I wish I was out of this world.’ ‘Good son, despair is sin; tell me what the matter is. When the pain is greatest the cure is nearest!’ ‘Sir, I’ve tried everywhere for a master; but because I know nothing, no one will take me.’ ‘Will you learn if I’ll teach you? What do you want to be?’ ‘A Butler, Sir, Panter, Chamberlain, and Carver. Teach me the duties of these.’ ‘I will, if you’ll love God and be true to your master.’ A Panter or Butler must have three knives: 1 to chop loaves, 1 to pare them, 1 to smooth the trenchers. Give your Sovereign new bread, others one-day-old bread; for the house, three-day bread; for trenchers four-day bread; Have your salt white, and your salt-planer of ivory, two inches broad, three long. Have your table linen sweet and clean, your knives bright, spoons well washed, two wine-augers some box taps, a broaching gimlet, a pipe and bung. To broach a pipe, pierce it with an auger or gimlet, four fingers- breadth over the lower rim, so that the dregs may not rise. Serve Fruit according to the season, figs, dates, quince-marmalade, ginger, &c. Before dinner, plums and grapes after, pears, nuts, and hard cheese. After supper, roast apples, &c. In the evening don’t take cream, strawberries, or junket, unless you eat hard cheese with them. Hard cheese keeps your bowels open. Butter is wholesome in youth and old age, anti-poisonous, and aperient. Milk, Junket, Posset, &c., are binding. Eat hard cheese after them. Beware of green meat; it weakens your belly. For food that sets your teeth on edge, eat almonds and cheese, but not more than half an ounce. If drinks have given you indigestion, eat a raw apple. Moderation is best sometimes, at others abstinence. Look every night that your wines don’t ferment or leak Always carry a gimlet, adze, and linen cloths; and wash the heads of the pipes with cold water. If the wine boil over, put to it the lees of red wine, and that will cure it. Romney will bring round sick sweet wine.

_The names of Sweet Wines._