CAXTON'S BOOK OF CURTESYE

Printed at Westminster about 1477-8 A. D. And Now Reprinted, with Two Ms. Copies of the Same Treatise, from the Oriel Ms. 79, and the Balliol Ms. 354

Edited by

FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL, M. A. 

Editor of 'The Babees Book, Etc. ' ('Manners and Meals in Olden Time'), Etc. Etc. 

London:Published for the Early English Text Societyby Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, Amen House, E. C. 4

1868 (reprinted 1882, 1898, 1932)

PREFACE

Though no excuse can be needed for including in our Extra Series areprint of a unique Caxton on a most interesting subject, yet this Bookof Curtesye from Hill's MS. Was at first intended for our originalseries, I having forgotten lately that Caxton had written to 'lytylIohn, ' though some months back I had entered the old printer's book formy second collection of Manners and Meals tracts for the Society. Afterthe copy of Hill--which Mr W. W. King kindly made for hisfellow-members--had gone to press, Mr Hazlitt reminded me of the Caxton, and its first and last lines in Mr Blades's admirable book showed thatHill's text was the same as the printed one. I accordingly went toCambridge to copy it, and there, before tea, Mr Skeat showed me the copyof _The Vision of Piers Plowman_ which the Provost and Fellows of Orielhad been good enough to lend him for his edition of 'Text B. ' Havingenjoyed the vellum Vision, I turned to the paper leaves at its end, andwhat should they contain but an earlier and better version of the Caxtonthat I had just copied part of?[1] I drank seven cups of tea, and eatfive or six large slices of bread and butter, in honour of the event;[2]and Mr Skeat, with his never-failing kindness, undertook to copy andedit the Oriel text for the Society. With three texts, therefore, inhand, I could not well stick them at the end of the Postscript to the_Babees Book, &c. _, [3] and as I wanted Caxton's name to this Book ofCurtesye to distinguish it from what has long been to me THE Book ofCourtesy, --that from the Sloane MS. 1986, edited by Mr Halliwell for thePercy Society, and by me for our own E. E. T. S. --and as also Caxton's nameis one 'to conjure withal, ' I have, with our Committee's leave, madethis little volume an Extra Series one, and called it Caxton's, thoughhis text is not so good as that of the Oriel MS. 

[Footnote 1: Mr Bradshaw was kind enough to copy the rest, and to readthe whole of the proof with Caxton's original. ]

[Footnote 2: I must be excused for not having found the poem before, asit is not in the Index to Mr Coxe's Catalogue. In the body of the workit is entered as "A father's advice to his son; with instructions forhis behaviour as a king's or nobleman's page. Ff. 88, 89, 78. Beg. 

 "Kepeth clene and leseth not youre gere. "]

[Footnote 3: The Treatises in _The Babees Book, &c. _, and the Index atthe end, should be consulted for parallel and illustrative passages tothose in Caxton's text. ]

On this latter point Mr Skeat writes:

"The Oriel copy is evidently the best. Not only does it give betterreadings, but the lines, as a rule, run more smoothly; and it has anextra stanza. This stanza, which is marked 54, occurs between stanzas 53and 54 of the other copies, and is of some interest and importance. Itshows that Lidgate's pupil, put in mind of Lidgate's style by the verymention of his name, introduces a ballad of three stanzas, in whichevery stanza has a burden after the Lidgate manner. The recurrence ofthis burden no doubt caused copyists to lose their place, and so thestanza came to be omitted in other copies. Its omission, however, spoilsthe ballad. Both it and the curious lines in Piers Ploughmans Crede, "For aungells and arcangells / all Þei whijt vseÞ And alle aldermen / Þat ben _ante tronum_, "i. E. All the elders before the throne, allude to Rev. Iv. 10. This Credepassage has special reference to the _Carmelites_ or _White_ Friars. 

"The first two leaves of the Oriel copy are misplaced inside out at theend; but this is not the only misarrangement. The poem has evidentlybeen copied into this MS. From an older copy having a leaf capable ofcontaining _six stanzas at a time_; which leaves were out of order. Hence the poem in the Oriel MS. Is written in the following order, asnow bound up, Stanzas 11 (l. 5)-18, 25-30, 37-42, 19-24, 49-54, 31-36, 43-48, 55-76, 8-11 (l. 4), 4 (l. 5)-7, 1-4 (l. 4). "

As an instance of a word improved by the Oriel text, may be cited the'_brecheles_ feste' of Caxton's and Hill's texts, l. 66, and l. 300, ffor truste ye well ye shall you not excuse ffrom _brecheles feste_, & I may you espye Playenge at any game of rebawdrye. --_Hill_, l. 299-301. 

Could it be 'profitless, ' from A. -Sax. _bréc_, gain, profit; or'breechless, ' a feast of birch for the boy with his breeches off? Thelatter was evidently meant, but it was a forced construction. The Oriel_byrcheley_ set matters right at once. 

Another passage I cannot feel sure is set at rest by the Oriel text. Hill's and Caxton's texts, when describing the ill-mannered servantwhose ways are to be avoided, say of him, as to his hair, that he is

 Absolon with disheveled heres smale, lyke to a prysoner of saynt Malowes, [1] _a sonny busshe able to the galowes_. --_Hill_, l. 462. 

[Footnote 1: An allusion to the strong castle built at St Malo's byAnne, Duchess of Bretayne. --Dyce. ]

For the last line the Oriel MS. Reads, _a sonny bush myght cause hym to goo louse_, and Mr Skeat says, --"This is clearly the right reading, of which_galowes_ is an unmeaning corruption. The poet is speaking of the_dirty_ state of a bad and ill-behaved servant. He is as dirty as a mancome out of St Malo's prison; a sunny bush would cause him to go andfree himself from minute attendants. A 'sunny bush' probably means nomore than a warm nook, inviting one to rest, or to such quiet pursuitsas the one indicated. That this is really the reading is shown by thenext stanza, wherein the poet apologizes for having spoken too bluntly;he ought to have spoken of such a chase by saying that he goes_a-hawking_ or _a-hunting_. Such was the right euphemism required by'norture. '"

If this is the meaning, we may compare with it the old poet's reproof tothe proud man:

 Man, of Þi schuldres and of Þi side Þou mi3*te hunti luse and flee: of such a park i ne hold no pride; Þe dere nis nau3*te Þat Þou mighte sle. 

 _Early English Poems_, ed. F. J. F. , 1862, p. 1, l. 5. 

and remember that one of the blessings of the early Paradisaical _Landof Cokaygne_ is:

 Nis Þer flei, fle, no lowse, In cloÞ, in toune, bed, no house. 

 _Ib. _, p. 157, l. 37-8. 

We may also compare the following extract about Homer's death from"Pleasant and Delightfull Dialogues in Spanish and English: Profitableto the Learner, and not vnpleasant to any other Reader. By _JohnMinsheu_, Professor of Languages in London. 1623, " p. 47. 

"F . .. A foole with his foolishnesse framed in his owne imagination maygiue to a hundred wise men matter to picke out. 

"I, So it hapned to the Poet Homer, that as he was with age blinde, andwent walking by the sea shoare, & heard certaine Fishermen talking, thatat that time were a _lowsing_ themselues, and as he asked them, whatfish they caught, they vnderstanding that he had meant their lice, theyanswered, Those that we [1]haue, we seeke for, and those that we [2]hauenot wee finde, but as the good Homer could not see what they did, andfor this cause could not vnderstand the riddle, it did so grieue hisvnderstanding to obtaine the secret of this matter, which was asufficient griefe to cause his death. "

[Footnote 1: i. Haue in their clothes. I. Lice. ]

[Footnote 2: i. Haue not in hand. ]

But the subject is not a very pleasant one for discussion, though theoccupation alluded to in the Oriel Text must have been one of thepastimes of many people in Early England. 

The book itself, _Lytill Johan_, is by a disciple of Lydgate's--see l. 366, p. 36-7--and contains, besides, the usual directions how to dress, how to behave in church, at meals, and when serving at table, a wiseman's advice on the books his little Jack should read, the best Englishpoets, --then Gower, Chaucer, Occleve, and Lydgate, --not the Catechismand Latin Grammar. It was very pleasant to come off the directions notto conveye spetell over the table, or burnish one's bones with one'steeth, to the burst of enthusiasm with which the writer speaks of ourold poets. He evidently believed in them with all his heart; and itwould have been a good thing for England if our educators since hadfollowed his example. If the time wasted, almost, in Latin and Greek byso many middle-class boys, had been given to Milton and Shakspere, Chaucer and Langland, with a fit amount of natural science, we shouldhave been a nobler nation now than we are. There is no more promisingsign of the times than the increased attention paid to English ineducation now. 

But to return to our author. He gives Chaucer the poet's highest gift, Imagination, in these words, what ever to say he toke in his entente, his langage was so fayer & pertynante, yt semeth vnto manys heryng _not only the worde, but veryly the thyng_. (l. 343. )

And though the writer has the bad taste to praise Lydgate more thanChaucer, yet we may put this down to his love for his old master, andmay rest assured that though the cantankerous Ritson calls the Buryschoolmaster a 'driveling monk, ' yet the larking schoolboy who robbedorchards, played truant, and generally raised the devil in his earlydays (_Forewords to Babees Book_, p. Xliv. ), retained in later yearsmany of the qualities that draw to a man the boy's bright heart, thedisciple's fond regret. We too will therefore hope that old Lydgate's

 sowle be gon (To) the sterred paleys above the dappled skye, Ther to syng _Sanctus_ insessavntly Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall, Before the hyeste Iubyter of all. (l. 381-5. )

In old age the present poem was composed (st. 60, p. 42-3); 'a lytillnewe Instruccion' to a lytle childe, to remove him from vice & make himfollow virtue. At his riper age our author promises his boy thesurplusage of the treatise (st. 74, p. 50-1); and if a copy of itexists, I hope it will soon fall in our way and get into type, for 'themore the merrier' of these peeps into old boy-life. 

On one of the grammatical forms of the Oriel MS. , Mr Skeat writes:

"It is curious to observe the forms of the imperative mood plural whichoccur so frequently throughout the poem in the Oriel copy. The formsending in _-eth_ are about 31 in number, of which 17 are of French, and14 of A. S. Origin. The words in which the ending _-eth_ is dropped are42, of which 18 are of French, and 24 of A. S. Origin. The threefollowing French words take _both_ forms; _avyse_ or _avyseth_, _awayte_or _awayteth_, _wayte_ or _wayteth_; and the five following A. S. Words, _be_ or _beth_, _kepe_ or _kepeth_, _knele_ or _knelyth_, _loke_ or_loketh_, _make_ or _maketh_. Thus the poet makes use, on the whole, ofone form almost as often as the other (that is, supposing the scribe tohave copied correctly), and he no doubt consulted his convenience intaking that one which suited the line best. It is an instance of whatfollowed in almost every case of naturalization, that A. S. Inflectionswere added to the French words quite as freely as to those of nativeorigin. Both the _-eth_ and _-e_ forms are commonly used without theword _ye_, though. _Be ye_ occurs in l. 58. In the phrase _avise you_(l. 78), _you_ is in the accusative. "

Commenting also on l. 71 of Caxton and Hill, Mr Skeat notices how theyhave individualised the general 'child' of the earlier Oriel text:

"71. Here we find _child_ riming to _mylde_. In most other places it is_Johan_. The rime shows that the reading _child_ is right, and _Johan_is a later adaptation. The Oriel MS. Never uses the word _Johan_ at all;it is always _child_. "

I may remark also, that on the question lately raised by Mr Bradshaw, 'who before Hampole, [1] or after him, used _you_ for the nominative aswell as the correct _ye_, ' Hill uses both _you_ and _ye_, see l. 47, 51, 52, &c. , though so far as a hasty search shows, Lydgate, in his MinorPoems at least, uses _ye_ only, as do Lord Berners in his _Arthur ofLytil Brytayne_, ab. 1530, the Ormulum, Ancren Riwle, Genesis andExodus, William of Palerne, Alliterative Poems, Early Metrical Homilies, &c. [2]

[Footnote 1: _Pricke of Conscience_, p. 127, l. 4659; and p. Xvii. ]

[Footnote 2: Mr Skeat holds that in the various reading _3*ow drieth_from the Univ. Coll. Oxford MS. (of the early part of the 15th century)to the Vernon MS. _þou drui3*est_, l. 25, Passus 1, of the Vision ofPiers Plowman, the 3*ow is an accusative, "exactly equivalent to theGothic in the following passage--'_hwana_ þaursjai, gaggai du mis, i. E. _whom_ it may thirst, let him come to me. ' John vii. 37. I conclude that3*ow is accusative, not dative. The same construction occurs in Germanconstantly, '_es dürstet mich_' = it thirsts me, I thirst. "]

The final _d_, _f_, _t_, of Hill's MS. , often have a tag to them. Asthey sometimes occur in places where I judge they must mean nothing, Ihave neglected them all. Every final _ll_ has a line through it, whichmay mean _e_. Nearly every final _n_ and _m_ has a curly tail or lineover it. This is printed _e_ or _[=n]_, though no doubt the tail andline have often no value at all. The curls to the _r_s are printed _e_, because _ther_ with the curly _r_, in l. 521, Hill, rimes to _where_ ofl. 519. 

At the end of Caxton's final _d_ and _g_ is occasionally a crook-backedline, something between the line of beauty and the ordinary knocker. This no doubt represents the final _e_ of MSS. , and is so printed, as MrChilds has not the knocker in the fount of type that he uses for theSociety's work. Caxton's _[=n]_ stands for _u_n in the _-aunce_, _-aunte_, of words from the French. No stops or inverted commas havebeen put to Caxton's text here, but the stanzas and lines have beennumbered, and side-notes added. 

"The _Book of Curtesye_, " says Mr Bradshaw, "is known from three earlyeditions. The first, without any imprint, but printed at Westminster byCaxton ab. 1477-78, [1] the only known copy of which is here reproduced. The second (with the colophon 'Here endeth a lytyll treatyse called thebooke of Curtesye or lytyll John. Emprynted atte Westmoster') is onlyknown from a printer's proof of two pages[2] preserved among the Doucefragments in the Bodleian. It must have been printed by Wynkin de Wordein Caxton's house ab. 1492. In the third edition it was reprinted at theend of the _Stans puer ad Mensam_ by Wynkin de Worde ab. 1501-1510. TheCambridge copy is the only one known to remain of this edition. "

[Footnote 1: In his type No. 2, _Blades_, ii. 63. ]

[Footnote 2: In Caxton's type No. 5, _Blades_, ii. 235 (not 253 as inIndex). ]

I have no more to say: but, readers, remember this coming New Year to domore than last for what Dr Stratmann calls "the dear Old English. " Thinkof Chaucer when his glad spring comes, and every day besides; forgetnot Langland or any of our early men:

 reporte & revyue _th_e lawde of the_m_ th_a_t were famovs i_n_[1] owr_e_ langage, these faders dere, whos sowles i_n_ blis, god et_er_nall avaunce, _th_at lysten so[2] owr_e_ langage to enhavnce!

 (_Hill_, l. 430-4. )

[Footnote 1: Founders of, _Oriel_ MS. ]

[Footnote 2: some, _Hill_; so, _Oriel_. ]

_3, St George's Square, N. W. 

15 Dec. , 1867. _

The Book of Curtesye. 

[The Book of Curtesy. ]

[_From the Oriel MS. Lxxix. _]

[1]

Lytle childe, sythen youre tendre infancie Stondeth as yett vndir yndyff[e]rence, To vice or vertu to moven[1] or Applie, 3[Sidenote 1: MS. Coorven] And in suche Age ther is no prouide_n_ce, Ne comenly no sadde intelligence, But ryght as wax receyueth printe and figure, So chylder ben disposed of nature, [2]

Vice or vertu to Folowe and ympresse In mynde; and therfore, to stere and remeveYou from vice, and to vertu thou[1] dresse, 10[Sidenote 1: _Read_ you] That on to folow, and the other to eschewe, I haue devysed you this lytill newe Instrucc_i_on according to your_e_ age, Playne in sentence, but playner in langage. 14

(_Richard Hill's Commonplace Book, or Balliol MS. 354, ffl C lx. _)

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

Here begynnyth lytill[e] Ioh_a_n. 

¶ Lytell[e] Iohan, sith yo_u_r tender_e_ enfancye Stondyth as yet vnder_e_ Indyfference To vyce or vertu to mevyn or applie, & in suche age _ther_[1] ys no p_ro_vydence, 4 Ne come_n_ly no sage Intelygence, But as wax receyvith prynt or fygure, So chyldren bene disposed of nature

[Footnote 1: The _th_ is the same as the _y_. ]

¶ Vyce or vertu to folowe, & enpresse 8 In mynde; & _ther_for to styre & remeve you frome vice, & to vertu addresse, That on to folow, & _tha_t o_ther_ to eschewe, I haue devysed you this lytill[e] newe 12 Instrucc_i_on[1] accordyng vnto yo_u_r age, playn In sentence, but playner_e_ In langage. 

[Footnote 1: The mark of contraction is over the _n_: t. I. The _n_ hasits tail curled over its back like a dog's. ]

[The Book of Courtesye. ]

[_Caxton's Text. _]

[1]

[Sidenote: Leaf 1 a. ]

 Lytyl Iohn syth your tendre enfancye Stondeth as yet vnder / in difference[Sidenote: As Infancy is indifferent]To vice or vertu to meuyn or applye 3[Sidenote: whether it follows vice or virtue, ]And in suche age ther is no prouidenceNe comenly no sad_e_ IntelligenceBut as waxe resseyueth prynte or figureSo children ben disposid_e_ of nature 7

[2]

Vyce or vertue to folowe and_e_ enpresseIn mynde / and_e_ therfore / to styre & remeueYou from vice / and_e_ to vertue addresse 10That one to folowe / and that other tescheweI haue deuysed you / this lytyl newe[Sidenote: I have written this new treatise to draw you from vice, andturn you to virtue. ]Instrucc_i_on / acordyng_e_ vnto your agePlayne in sentence / but playner in la_n_gage 14

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[3]

Taketh hede therfore and herkyn what I say, And yeueth therto hooly your_e_ adu_er_tence, Lette not your_e_ eye be here and your_e_ hert away, 17 But yeueth herto your_e_ besy diligence, And ley aparte alle wantawne insolence, Lernyth to be vertues and well thewid; Who wolle not lere, nedely must be lewid. 21

[4]

Afore all thyng, fyrst and principally, In the morowe when ye[1] shall vppe ryse, [Sidenote 1: MS. He. ]To wyrship god haue in your_e_ memorie; 24 Wyth cristis crosse loke ye blesse you thriese, Youre pater-nosteir seyth in devoute wyse, Aue maria wyth the holy crede, Than alle the after the bettir may ye spede. 28

[5]

And while ye be Abouten honestely To dresse your_e_-self and don on your_e_ aray, Wyth your_e_ felawe well and tretably 31 Oure lady matens Avyseth that you say, And this obseruaunce vseth eu_e_ry day, Wyth prime and owris, and wythouten drede The blyssed lady woll graunte you your_e_ mede. 35

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ Take hede _ther_for, & harken what I saye, & geve _ther_to yowr_e_ good advertence, 16 lette not yo_u_r ere be here, & yo_u_r herte awaye, But pute you _ther_to besy delygence, Laying a-p_ar_te all[e] wanton Insolence, lernyd to be v_er_tuvs & well[e] thewed; 20 who will[e] not lerne, nedely he must be lewed. 

¶ Afore all[e] thyng, & pryncypally In the mornyng wha_n_ ye vp ryse, To worship god haue in memory; 24 w_i_t_h_ cryst_is_ crosse loke ye blesse ye thryse, yo_u_r pater_e_ nost_er_ say i_n_ devoute wyse, Aue maria / w_i_t_h_ the holy crede; The_n_ all[e] _th_e day the bett_er_ shall ye spede. 28

¶ And while ye dresse yo_u_r selfe, honestly To dresse yo_u_r selfe & do on yo_u_r araye, w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r felowe well[e] & tretably Owr_e_ lady matens loke _tha_t you say; 32 And this obs_er_vance vse ye eu_er_y day, w_i_t_h_ pryme & owers w_i_t_h_-owt drede. _th_e blessyd lady will quyte you yo_u_r mede. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[3]

Take hede therfore / and herkne what I saye[Sidenote: Attend therefore to what I say. ]And_e_ gyue therto / your good_e_ aduertenceLete not your ere be here & your herte awaye 17But put ye therto / besy diligenceLeyng_e_ aparte al wantown InsolenceLerneth to be vertuous / and wel thewed_e_[Sidenote: Learn good manners. ]Who wil not lerne / nedely he must be lewed 21

[4]

[Sidenote: Leaf 1 b. ]

Afore alle thing_e_ / and_e_ principallyIn the morenyng_e_ / whan ye vp rise[Sidenote: On rising, ]To worshipe god_e_ / haue in memorie 24With crystes crosse / loke ye blesse you thrise[Sidenote: cross yourself, ]Your pater noster / saye in deuoute wyse[Sidenote: say your Pater Noster, Ave, and Creed. ]Aue maria / with the holy credeThenne alle the day / the better shal ye spede 28

[5]

And while that ye be aboute honestlyTo dresse your self / & do o[=n] your araye[Sidenote: While dressing, ]With your felawe / wel and tretably 31Oure lady matyns / loke that ye saye[Sidenote: say our Lady's Matins, ]And_e_ this obserua[=n]ce / vse ye every dayeWith pryme and ouris / withouten drede[Sidenote: Prime, and Hours. ]The blessid_e_ lady / wil quyte you your mede 35

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[6]

Kembe your_e_ hede and loke ye kepe hit clene, Your_e_ eris twayne suffre not foule to be;In your_e_ visage wayteth no spotte be sene, 38 Purge your_e_ nase, let hit not combred be Wyth foule matiers Ayenst all oneste, But wyth bare hande no matier from hit feche, For that is a foule and an vncurtays teche. 42

[7]

Youre handes wassheth, that is an holsom thyng, Youre nayles loke they be not geet blake, Suffre hem not to ben ouer long growyng; 45 To your_e_ aray good hede I warne you take, That manerly ye seet hit vp and make, Your_e_ hode, your_e_ gowne, your_e_ hose, and eke your_e_ scho, Wyth all array longyng your_e_ body to. 49

[8]

Kepeth clene and leseth not your_e_ gere, And or ye passen oute of your_e_ loggyng, Euery garment that ye schulle vppon you were, 52 Awayteth welle that hit be so syttyng As to your_e_ degre semeth moost on accordyng; Than woll men sey, 'for soth this childe is he That is well taught and loueth honeste. ' 56

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

[Sidenote: ffl C lx back. ]

¶ Kembe yo_u_r hede, & loke you kepe yt clene; 36 yo_u_r eres twayn suffre not fowle to be; In yo_u_r wysage loke no spote be sene; purge yo_u_r nose; lett no ma_n_ in yt se The vile matter; yt ys none honeste; 40 Ne w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r bare hond no fylth fro_m_ yt feche, ffor _tha_t ys fowle, & an vncurtoys teche. 

¶ Yo_u_r hond_is_ wasshe; yt ys an holsom thyng; yo_u_r naylis loke they be not gety blake, 44 Ne suffre not the_m_ over longe growyng. To yo_u_r A-raye I warne you good hede take, Manerly & ffyte loke you yt make; yo_ur_ hood / gown_e_ / hosen / & eke yo_u_r sho, 48 w_i_t_h_ all yo_u_r araye longyng yo_u_r body to. 

¶ Kepe you clene, & lose not yo_u_r gere; & or you passe owt of yo_u_r lodgyng, Eu_er_y garment _tha_t ye shall[e] were, 52 Awayte well[e] _tha_t yt be so syttyng & to yo_u_r degre semed accordyng; Tha_n_ will[e] me_n_ say, "for sothe _th_is child ys he _tha_t ys well[e] tawght, & loweth honeste. " 56

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[6]

Kembe your hede / & loke ye kepe it clene[Sidenote: Comb your head;]Your eres tweyne / suffre not fowl to be[Sidenote: clean your ears]In your visage / wayte no spot be sene 38Purge your nose / lete noman in it see[Sidenote: and nose;]The vile mater / it is none honesteNe with your bare honde / no filth fro it fecche[Sidenote: don't pick it. ]For that is fowl / and an vncurtoys teche 42

[7]

[Sidenote: Leaf 2 a. ]

Your hondes wesshe / it is an holsom thing_e_Your naylis loke / they be not gety blackeNe suffre not hem / to be ou_er_ longe growyng 45[Sidenote: Wash your hands; don't keep your nails jet-black or toolong. ]To your araye / I warne you good hede takeThat manerly ye fytte it vp and make[Sidenote: Wear fit clothes, that fit well]Your hood_e_. Gowne. Hosyn / & eke your shoWith al your aray longyng your body to 49

[8]

Kepe you clene / and lose not your gereAnd or ye passe / out of your loggyng_e_Euery garment / that ye shal on were 52Awayte wel / that it be so syttyng_e_As to your degre / semeth accordyng_e_[Sidenote: and suit your station;]The_n_ne wil men saye / forsoth this childe is he[Sidenote: the men will praise you. ]That is wel taught / and louyth honeste 56

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[12]

Avise you well Also for eny thyng, The schirche of prayer is the house and place, Be ware ther_e_-for_e_ of clappe or Ianglyng, 80 For in the schirche that is full gret trysspace, And A token of hem that lacken grace; Ther beth demur_e_ and kepeth your_e_ sylence, And serueth god wyth all your_e_ deligence. 84

[13]

To helpe the prest whan he shall sey the masse, Whan hit shall happen you or be-tyde, Remeue not ferr_e_ ne from his p_re_sence passe, 87 Kneleth or stondeth deuoutly hym be-syde, And not to nyghe; your_e_ tounge mooste be applied To Answere hym wyth[1] v[o]ice full moderate;[Sidenote 1: MS. Wyth hym wyth. ] Avyse you well, my lityll childe, Algate 91

[14]

To mynystre wyth de-voute Reuerence, Loke that ye do your_e_ humble obseruaunceDebonarly wyth [dewe] obideence, 94 Cyrcum-spectly, wyth eu_er_[y] circumstaunce Of porte, of chere, demevir_e_ of countenaunce, Remembryng, the lord aboue is he Whom to serue is grettest liberte. 98

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ Avyce you well[e] also for any thynge, The chyrche, of p_ra_yer ys howse & place; be ware _ther_for of clappe or Iangelynge, 80 ffor i_n_ the chyrche yt ys a full[e] gret trespas, & a token of suche as lacketh g_ra_ce. Ther be ye demvre, & kepe ye scilence, And s_er_ve ye god w_i_t_h_ all yo_u_r delygence. 84

[Sidenote: ffl C lxj. ]

¶ To helpe _th_e P_re_est wha_n_ he sayth masse, wha_n_ yt shall[e] happen you or betyde, Remeve not fer, ne fro_m_ his p_re_sence passe; knele or stonde you devovtly hy_m_ besyde, 88 & not to ny[=g]h: yo_u_r tonge mvst be applyde To answere hy_m_ w_i_t_h_ woyce moderate. Avyce you well, my lytill child, algate

¶ To mynyster w_i_t_h_ devout reverence; 92 loke ye do yo_u_r hu_m_ble observaunce Debonerly wyth dewe obedyence, Circu_m_spectly w_i_t_h_ euery circu_m_stavnce Of poort, & chere of goodly covntenavnce, 96 Remembryng well _th_e lorde a-bove ys he, whome to s_er_ve ys grettest lyberte. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[12]

Auyse you wel also / for ony thingeThe chirche of prayer / is hous and placeBeware therfore / of clappe or Iangelyng_e_ 80[Sidenote: Don't chatter, ]For in þ^e chirche / it is a ful grate trespaasAnd a token of suche / as lackyth graceThere be ye demure / and kepe ye scilence[Sidenote: but be silent, and serve God. ]And serue ye god / with al your diligence 84

[13]

[Sidenote: Leaf 3 a. ]

To helpe the preest / whan he saith masse[Sidenote: When you help the priest at Mass, ]Whan it shal happen you or betydeRemeue not fer / ne from his presence passe 87Knele or stonde ye / deuoutly hym besyde[Sidenote: kneel or stand near him, ]And not to nyg[=h] your to_n_ge muste be applideTanswere hym / with voys ful moderate[Sidenote: and answer him in a moderate tone. ]Auyse you wel / my lityl childe algate 91

[14]

To mynystre / with deuoute reuerence[Sidenote: Minister reverently]Loke ye do / youre humble obseruanceDebonairly / with due obedyence 94Circumspectly / with euery circumstaunce[Sidenote: and circumspectly. ]Of poort and chere / of goodly counte[=n]anceRemembryng_e_ wel the lord_e_ / a boue is heWhom to serue / is grettest liberte 98

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[15]

And whan ye speke, loketh men in the face[1][Sidenote 1: MS. Visage. ] Wyth sobre chere and goodly semblaunce;Cast not your_e_ eye asyde in odir place, 101 For that is a tokyn of wantowne inconstaunce, Which wolle appeyre your_e_ name, and disauau_n_ce; The wyse man seyth, 'who hathe this signes thre Ne is not like a good man [for] to be--' 105

[16]

'Yn hert, ' he seyth, 'who that is inconstaunte, [1][Sidenote 1: MS. Inconstaunce] A waveryng eye, glyddryng but sodenlyFrom place to place, and A fote[2] variaunte[3] 108[Sidenote 2: MS. Fore. ][Sidenote 3: MS. Variaunce. ] That in no place abydeth stabully-- Thes ben signes, ' the wyse man seyth sekerly, 'Of suche a wyght as is vnmanerly nyce, And is full like dissposed be to vice. ' 112

[17]

And wayte, my childe, whan ye stond at the table, Of souereyne or maister whether hit be, Applieth you [for] to be seruysable, 115 That no defaute in you may founde be; Loke who doth best and hym envyeth ye, And specially vseth attendaunce, Whiche is to souereyne thyng of gret plesaunce. 119

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ And wha_n_ ye speke, loke me_n_ in _th_e face w_i_t_h_ sobre chere & goodly semblavnce; 100 Caste not eye a-side in no other_e_ place, ffor _tha_t ys a token of a wanton constavnce which will[e] apayre yo_ur_ name, & dysavance. The wyse ma_n_ sayth, 'who hath these thy_ngis_ iij, 104 ys not lyke a good man for to be:'

¶ 'In herte, ' he sayth, 'who _tha_t ys Inco_n_stavnte, A waverynge eye, glydyng sodenly ffro place to place, & a foote varyavnte 108 that in no place a-bydyth stabli, 'Thyse bene _th_e thyng_is_, ' _th_e wysma_n_ sayth sekerly, 'Off suche a wayghte _tha_t be vnmanerly nyce, & be full[e] lykely dysposed vnto vyce. ' 112

¶ Awayte, my chyld, wha_n_ ye stonde at table, Off mayster or soverayne whe_ther_ yt be, Applye you for to be servysable That no defawte in you fownden be; 116 loke who dothe best, & hym folow ye, & in especyall[e] vse ye attendavnce wheryn ye shall[e] yo_u_r selfe best avaunce. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[15]

And whan ye speke / loke men in the face[Sidenote: When you speak to men, look 'em in the face. ]With sobre chere / and_e_ goodly semblaunceCaste not your eye a syde / in other place 101For that is a token of wantou[=n] inconsta_n_ceWhiche wil appeyre your name & disaua[=n]ceThe wise ma_n_ saith who hath these thi_n_gis thre[Sidenote: The wise Man says]Is not lyke a good_e_ man for to be 105

[16]

[Sidenote: Leaf 3 b. ]

In herte he seith / who that is inconsta[=n]teA waueryng eye / glydyng sodeynly[Sidenote: an inconstant man with a wavering eye and a wandering foot]Fro place to place / & a foot varia[=n]te 108That in no place / abydeth stablyThese ben þ^e signes / the wisema_n_ seith sikerlyOf suche a wight / as is vnmanerly nyceAnd is ful likely disposid vnto vyce 112[Sidenote: will turn to vice. ]

[17]

Awayte my chylde / whan ye sta_n_de atte table[Sidenote: When you serve at table, ]Of maister or souerayn / whether it beApplye you for to be seruysable 115[Sidenote: be attentive and tidy, ]That no defaute in you founden beLoke / who doth best / and hym ensiewe yeAnd in especyal / vse ye attendaunce[Sidenote: specially to well-off men. ]Wherein ye shal your self best auaunce 119

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[18]

A[s] ye be comaundyd, so ye do algate, Beth not wyth-oute cause from the tabul absent;Hit is plesaunce vnto the gret astate 122 To se theyr_e_ saruaunt about them p_re_sent; Haunteth no halkes, for then ye woll be schent. Lette maner and Mesure be your_e_ guydes twey, So shall ye best please, I dare well sey. 126

[19]

Rewarde all-way the loke and countenaunce Of your_e_ master, or of your_e_ souereine, Ther shall ye best preue what is plesaunce, 129 And what displesaunce; this is the soth serteyne, The chere discureth often tyme both twayne, And eke the chere may some tyme you addresse In thyng that langage may not þan expresse. 133

[20]

And what ye here there, loke ye kepe hit secre, Besy report of mystrust is cheff norice;Mekell langage may not all fautles be; 136 Than doth, my childe, as teicheth you the wyse, Whiche vnto you this wysdome dothe devise, 'Here and see, be still in euery prees, [1][Sidenote 1: MS. 'in euery place and in prees. ' _Place_ was to havebeen the last word; _and in prees_ was carelessly _added_, instead ofstriking out _place_. --Sk. ] Passe forth your_e_ way in silence and in pees. '

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ As ye be co_m_avnded, so do ye algate; 120 be not cavseles fro _th_e table absente; yt ys a grete pleasure to _th_e high estate[1][Sidenote 1: noble, lord. ] To se his s_er_vaunttes abowte hy_m_ presente. Havnte no halke, for the_n_ ye will[e] be shente; 124 lette maner_e_ & mesure be yo_u_r gydes twayne; so shall[e] ye best please, I dare savely sayne. 

¶ Reward also thy loke & contenavnce, Off yo_u_r master or of yo_u_r soverayne, 128 so shall[e] ye best p_re_ve what ys his plesavnce or ell_is_ his dysplesavnce: this ys s_er_tayne, The chere discovereth oftyn both[e] twayn, & eke the chere su_m_tyme may yow addresse 132 In thyn_gis_ the langage may not the_n_ expresse. 

[Sidenote: ffl C lxj, back. ]

¶ And _tha_t ye here, loke ye kepe always secre; besy reporte, of myschefe ys chese noryse; Mykyll[e] langage may not all[e] fawtles be; 136 The_n_ do, my chyld, as techeth you _th_e wyse whiche vnto you _th_is lessu_n_ doth devyce: here & see, & be styll[e] in eu_er_y prees, passe forthe yo_u_r way i_n_ scilence & i_n_ pees. 140

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[18]

As ye be comanded_e_ / so do ye algateBe not causeles / fro the table absent[Sidenote: Don't absent yourself from table, ]It is a grete plesure / to the hyghe estate 122To see his seruantis aboute hym presentHaunte no halke / for the_n_ne ye wil be shente[Sidenote: or stick yourself in a corner. ]Lete maner & mesure / be your gydes tweyne[Sidenote: Let Manners and Moderation guide you. ]So shal ye best plese / I dar sauely seyne 126

[19]

[Sidenote: Leaf 4 a. ]

Rewarde also the loke and_e_ contenaunceOf your maister / or of your souereyne[Sidenote: Look at your master's face;]So shal ye best preue what is his plesa[=n]ce 129Or els displesaunce / this is soth serteyne[Sidenote: that'll show whether he's pleased or not. ]The chere discouerith / often bothe tweyneAnd eke þ^e cher_e_ / somtyme may you addresseIn thi_n_gis / þ^t la_n_gage may not them expresse 133

[20]

And_e_ that ye her loke / kepe alway secree[Sidenote: Keep secret all you hear. ]Besy reporte / of mischief is chief noryseMykyl langage / may not al fawtles bee 136Then_n_e do my childe / as techeth you the wyseWhiche vnto you / this lesson doth deuyseHere and see / and_e_ be styll_e_ in euery preesPasse forth your way in scilence & in pees 140[Sidenote: Hear, see, and go your way. ]

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[21]

And yit in Aventure ye, if the caase require, Ye most speke as hit may doo percace;[Sidenote 1: MS. Precace. ]Seuen condic_i_ons obserue as ye shall hire, 143 Avise you well what ye sey and in what place, Of whom, and to whom, in your_e_ mynde compace; Howe ye shall speke, and whan, taketh good hede, This couns_e_illeth the wyse man wyth-outen drede. 

[22]

A wayte, my childe, ye haue you manerly, Whan at your_e_ mete ye sittyn at your_e_ table;In euery pres, in euery company, 150 Disposeth you to be so componable, That men may you reporte for comendable; For tristeth well, vppon your_e_ bering Men woll you blame or yeven you preysing. 154

[23]

And printeth chiefly in your_e_ memorie, For A principalle poynt offeire norture, Ye depraue no man absent especially; 157 Seint AustynAmonishith wyth besy cure, Howe at the table men shull them assure, Thatthere escapeth them no suche langage, As myght turne other folke todisparage. 161 */

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. ]

¶ And yet i_n_ aduenture, yf _th_e caas requyre, ye may speke, but ye must p_er_caas Seven[1] co_n_dyc_i_ons obs_er_ve, as ye may here:[Sidenote: Six they are at p. 358, _Babees Book_, of the Wise Man. ] Avyce ye well[e] what ye say, & i_n_ what place, 144 Off whom, & to whom, i_n_ yo_u_r mynd co_m_pace; how ye shall[e] speke, & wha_n_, take good hede: _th_is cow[n]syled _th_e wyse ma_n_ w_i_t_h_owten drede. 

¶ A-wayte, my chyld, ye behaue you man_er_ly 148 wha_n_ at yo_u_r mete ye sytte at the table; In eu_er_y prees & In en_er_y cu_m_pany Dyspose you to be so cu_m_penable _th_at me_n_ may of you reporte for co_m_me_n_dable; 152 ffor, trustyth well[e], vpon yo_u_r beryng Men will[e] you blame or gyve p_ra_ysyng. 

¶ And prynte ye truly _th_is in yo_u_r memorye for a pryncypall[e] poynt of fayer noretvre, 156 _th_at ye deprave no ma_n_ absente specyally. Saynt Austyne amonessheth w_i_t_h_ besy cure, howe me_n_ att table shulde the_m_ assure _tha_t _ther_ escape the_m_ no suche langage 160 As myght hurte or bryng folke to disparage. 

CAXTON'S TEXT

[21]

And yet in auenture / yf the caas requireYe may speke / but ye muste thenne p_er_caasSeue_n_ co_n_dic_i_ons obserue / as ye may now hyre 143[Sidenote: If you must speak, observe the seven conditions. ]Auyse you wel / what ye saye / & in what placeOf whom / & to whom in your mynde co_m_paceHow ye shal speke / & whan take good hedeThis co_u_ncelith the wise man withoute drede 147

[22]

[Sidenote: Leaf 4 b. ]

Awayte my chylde / ye be haue you manerlyWhan at your mete / ye sitte at the table[Sidenote: When you're at meals, ]In euery prees and in euery company 150Dispose you to be so compenable[Sidenote: be companionable]That men may of you reporte for _com_me_n_dableFor trusteth wel / vpon your beryng_e_Men wil you blame or gyue preysyng_e_ 154

[23]

And prynte ye trewly your memorieFor a princypal point of fair noretureYe depraue no man absent especyally 157[Sidenote: and don't run down absent men. ]Saynt austyn amonessheth with besy cure[Sidenote: St. Austin. ]How men atte table / shold hem assureThat there escape them / no suche langageAs myght other folke hurte to disparage 161

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT

[24]

This curteise clarke writeth in ryght this wyse, Rebukyng the vice of vile detracc_i_ou_n_;'What man hit be that of custome and guise 164 Hurteth wyth his toung wyth foule corrosiou_n_ The absent wight, for that abusiou_n_ Suche detractoure [wayue][1] from this table[Sidenote 1: A word loss. ] As vn-worthe, not to be reprocheable. 168

[25]

Whan ye sitten therfor at your_e_ repaste, Annoyethe no man present nor absent, But speketh feyre, for and ye make waste 171 Off [large] langage, for soth ye most be schent; And wan ye speke, speketh wyth good entent Of maters appendyng to myrth and plesaunce, But nothyng that may causen men greuaunce. 175

[26]

Eschewe also taches of foule rauenyng, Of gredy lust the vncurteyce appetite;Pres not to sone to your_e_ viaunde, restraine 178 Your_e_ handis a while wyth manerly respytte; Fedith for necessite, not for delite, Demeneth you in mete and drink soo sobrely, That ye be not infecte wyth gloteny. ' 182

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ This curteys clerke wryteth i_n_ _th_is wyse, Rebukyng the vyce of vyle detracc_i_on: what may yt be _tha_t of custu_m_ & gvyse 164 hurteth w_i_t_h_ tonge or by fowle colusyon The absente / weyne[1] ye for _tha_t abusyon[Sidenote 1: or weyne] Suche a detractowr_e_ from the table As vnworthy & also reprocheable. 168

¶ Whan ye sytte _ther_for at yo_u_r repast, Annoye ye no ma_n_ present nor absente, but speke ye fewe; for yff ye make wast of large langage, for soth ye must be shent. 172 & wha_n_ ye speke // speke w_i_t_h_ good Intent Off maters accordyng vnto plesavnce, but no thy_n_ge _tha_t may cavse me_n_ grevaunce. 

¶ Eschewe also tacches of fowle ravayne, of gredy luste; w_i_t_h_ vncurteys appetyte 177 prece not to sone; fro yo_u_r vyande restrayn_e_ yo_u_r hand a while w_i_t_h_ manerly respyte; ffede you for necessyte, & not for delyte. 180 Demene you w_i_t_h_ mete & dry_n_ke so soberly That ye not be Infecte wyth glotony. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[24]

This curtoys clerk / writeth in this wiseRebukyng_e_ the vice / of vyle detracc_i_on[Sidenote: rebukes the vice of detraction, ]What man it be / that of custom & guyse 164Hurteth with tunge / or by foule colusi[=o]nThabsente / weyue ye for that abusio[=n]Suche a detractour / from the table[Sidenote: and bids you turn all backbiters from the table]As vnworthy / and also reprochable 168

[25]

[Sidenote: Leaf 5 a. ]

Whan ye sitte therfore at your repasteAnnoye ye noman presente nor absenteBut speke ye fewe / for yf ye make waste 171[Sidenote: Speak little. ]Of large langage / for sothe ye must be shentAnd whan ye speke / speke ye with good e_n_te_n_t[Sidenote: and that pleasantly. ]Of maters acordyng_e_ vnto plesanceBut nothi_n_g / that may cause men greua[=n]ce 175

[26]

Eschewe also tacches of foule Raueyne[Sidenote: Don't be ravenous, ]Of gredy luste / with vncurteys appetyte[1]Prece not to sone / fro your viand restreyne 178Your honde a while / with manerly respite[Sidenote: but keep your hands from your food for a time. ]Fede you for necessite / & not for deliteDemene you with mete / & drynke so sobrelyThat ye not ben enfecte with glotony 182

[Footnote 1: _Orig. _ appetyce. ]

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[27]

Embrewe not your_e_ vesselle ne your_e_ cuppe[1][Sidenote 1: _Sic. _ Read "napery. "] Ouer mesure and maner, but saue them clene;Ensoyle not your_e_ cuppe, but kepe hit clenely, 185 Lete no fatte ferthyng of your_e_ lippe be sen. For that is foule; wotte you what I mene? Or than ye drincke, for your_e_ owne honeste, Your_e_ lippis wepe, and klenly loke they be. 189

[28]

Blowe not in your_e_ drincke ne in your_e_ potage, Ne farsith not your_e_ disshe to full of brede, Ne bere not your_e_ knyf towarde your_e_ vysage, 192 For ther_e_-in is parell and mekell drede. Clawe not your_e_ face ne touche not your_e_ hede Wyth your_e_ bare hande, sittyng at the table, For in norture that is reprouable. 196

[29]

Lowse not your_e_ gyrdyll syttyng at your_e_ table, [1][Sidenote 1: _Sic. _ Read "mete. "] For that is a tache of vncurtesye, But and ye seme ye be enbrasyde streite, 199 Or than ye sitte amende hit secrely, So couertly that no wyght hit espie. Be ware also no breth from you rebounde Vppe ne downe, be ware that shamefull sounde. 

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

[Sidenote: ffl C lxij. ]

¶ Enbrewe not yo_u_r vessell ne yo_u_r naprye over maner & mesure, but kepe the_m_ clene; 184 Ensoyle not yo_u_r cuppe, but kepe yt clenly, lete no farsyone on yo_u_r lyppis be sene, ffor _tha_t ys fowle; ye wott what I mene. Or than ye drynke, for yo_u_r own honeste 188 yo_u_r lyppys wype, & clenly loke they be. 

¶ Blowe not i_n_ yo_u_r drynke ne i_n_ yo_u_r pottage. Ne ferce not yo_u_r disshe to full[e] of brede; bere not yo_u_r knyf toward yo_u_r vysage, 192 ffor _ther_yn ys peryll[e] & mykell[e] drede; Clawe not yo_u_r visage, tovch not yo_u_r hede w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r bare honde syttyng at _th_e table, ffor i_n_ norture suche thyng_is_ be rep_ro_veable. 196

¶ Lose not yo_u_r gyrdyll[e] syttyng at yo_u_r mete, ffor _tha_t is a tache of vncurtesye; but yff ye seme ye be enbrased streyte, or than ye sytte, amend yt secretly 200 So wysely _th_at no wyght you aspye. Be ware also no breth fro you rebownd Vp ne down_e_, lest ye were shamfull[e] fownd. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[27]

Enbrewe not your vessel / ne your naprye[Sidenote: Don't dirty your cloth or cup. ]Ouer maner & mesure / but kepe hem cleneEnsoyle not your cuppe / but kepe it clenlye 185Lete no fat farssine / on your lippes be seneFor that is fowle / ye wote what I meneOr than ye drynke / for your owen honeste[Sidenote: Wipe your lips before you drink. ]Your lippes wype / and clenly loke they be 189

[28]

[Sidenote: Leaf 5 b. ]

Blowe not in your dri_n_ke ne in your potage[Sidenote: Don't blow on your food, ]Ne farse not your dishe to ful of bredeBere not your knyf / to ward_e_ your visage 192[Sidenote: or put your knife to your face, ]For therin is parell_e_ / and mykyl dredeClawe not your visage / touche not your hede[Sidenote: or scratch it or your head. ]With your bare honde / sittyng atte tableFor in norture / suche thing is reprouable 196

[29]

Lose not your gyrdel / sittyng at your mete[Sidenote: Don't undo your girdle at table;]For that is a tacche / of vncurtesyeBut yf ye seme / ye be embraced streite 199[Sidenote: if it's tight, let it out before you sit down. ]Or then ye sytte / amende it secretlySo couertly that no wight you espyeBeware also / no bret[=h] fro you rebounde[Sidenote: Don't break wind up or down. ]Vp ne dou[=n] / leste ye were shameful founde 203

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[30]

Beth huste in chambre, cilent in the halle, Herkenyth well, yeueth good audience;Yef vsher or marchall for eny romour calle, 206 Putting Ianglers to rebuke and cilence, Beth mylde of langage, demure of eloquence; Enforcith you to them confourmyde be, That can most good and haue humanyte. 210

[31]

Touche not wyth mete salt in the saler, Lest folke Appoynt you of vncunnyngnesse, Dresse hit apparte vppon a clene tranchere; 213 Force not your_e_ mouth to fulle for wantannesse, Lene not vppon the table, that is but rudesse, And yf I shall to you so playnly say, Ouer the table ye shull not spette convey 217

[32]

Yif ye be seruid wyth metis delicate, Departith wyth your_e_ fellowys in gentyl wyse, The clarke seith, 'nature is content and saciate 220 Wyth meane diete, and lytill shall suffice. ' Departyth therfor_e_, as I to you devise; Engrosith not vnto your_e_ silven all, For gentilnesse will ay be lyberall. 224

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ Be ye husht i_n_ chambre, scylente i_n_ hall[e]; herkyn well[e], & geve good audyence 205 yff vsshar or marchall[e] for any rvmowr_e_ call[e]; putt ye yanglers to rebuke for scilence. Be ye myld of la_n_gage, demvre of eloquence; 208 Enforce you vnto hy_m_ co_n_formed to be _tha_t ca_n_ most good, & hathe humanyte. 

¶ Towch not w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r mete salte i_n_ _th_e saler, leest folke apoynte you of vnco_n_nyngnesse; 212 Dresse yt aparte vpon a clene trensher_e_. Ffarste not yo_u_r movth to full[e] for wantonesse; lene not on _th_e table, for _tha_t rvde ys; & yff I shall[e] to you playnly saye, 216 over _th_e table ye shall[e] not spetell[e] co_n_veye. 

¶ Yff ye be s_er_vede w_i_t_h_ met_is_ delycate, Departe w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r felawe i_n_ gentill[e] wyse; _th_e clerke seyth, 'nature ys co_n_tent & sacyate 220 w_i_t_h_ mene dyete, & lytill[e] shall[e] suffyce;' Departe therfor, as I you devyce, Engrose not vnto yowr_e_ selfe all[e], ffor gentylnesse will[e] ay be lyberall[e]. 224

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[30]

Be ye husht in chambre / scylent in halle[Sidenote: Be silent, ]Herken wel and_e_ gyue good_e_ audienceYf vssher or marchal for ony Rumour calle 206Put ye Ianglers to rebuke for silence[Sidenote: and put chatterers to rebuke. ]Be ye myld_e_ of langage / demure of eloque_n_ceEnforce you vnto hym conformed to be[Sidenote: Imitate him who has humanity. ]That can moste good / and_e_ hath humanyte 210

[31]

[Sidenote: Leaf 6 a. ]

Touche not with your mete / salt i_n_ the saler[Sidenote: Don't dip your meat in the saltcellar, ]Lest folk apoynte you of vnconnyngnesseDresse it aparte / vpon a clene trencher 213Farse not your mouth to ful / for wa_n_tonesseLene not vpon the table / for that rude is[Sidenote: lean on the table, ]And yf I shal to you playnly sayeOuer the table / ye shal not spetel conueye 217[Sidenote: or spit over it. ]

[32]

Yef ye be serued / with metes delicate[Sidenote: Share dainties with your fellows:]Departe with your felowe / in gentil wiseThe clerck saith / nature is conte_n_t & saciate 220With mene diete / and litil shall suffyseDeparte therfore / as I you deuyseEngrose not / vnto your self all_e_For gentilnes / wil aye be liberall_e_ 224[Sidenote: gentleness is liberal. ]

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[33]

And wan p_er_cace your_e_ seruice is not large, Grucchith not wyth frownyng countenaunce, Ne maketh not ther-of to mekell charge, 227 Disposeth you to goodly sufferaunce, And what ye haue, take hit for suffisaunce; Holde you pleased wyth that god hath you sent, He hath Inough[1] that can hold hym content. 231[Sidenote 1: MS. Inought. ]

[34]

Burnysh no bonys wyth your_e_ tethe, be ware, That houndis tecche fayleth of curtesie;But wyth your_e_ knyff make the bonys bare; 234 Handell your_e_ mete so well and so clenly, That ye offenden not the company Where ye be sette, as ferre-forth as ye can; Remembre well that man_er_ maketh man. 238

[35]

And whan your teeth shall cutte your_e_ mete small, Wyth open mouth be ware that ye not ete, But loke your_e_ lippis be closede as a wall, 241 Whan to &[1] fro ye trauers your_e_ mete;[Sidenote 1: MS. A. ] Kepe you so close that men haue no conceite To seyn of you langage of vilonye, Be cause ye ete your_e_ mete vnma[ne]rly. 245

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ And wha_n_ p_er_caas yo_u_r s_er_vyce ys not large, Groge not w_i_t_h_ frownynge covntenavnce, Ne make ther-of not to mykyll[e] charge; Dyspose you to goodly suffravnce, 228 & what ye haue, take yt in suffysavnce; be you plesid w_i_t_h_ suche as god hath you sent; he ha[=th] ynowgh Þat ca_n_ hold hy_m_ co_n_tente. 

[Sidenote: ffl C lxij back. ]

¶ Burnysshe no bonys w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r te[=th], be ware, 232 Suche hownd_is_ tacches fallen of vncurtesye, but w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r knyfe make the bonys bare. Handle yo_u_r mete so well[e] & so clenly That ye offende not the company 236 wher ye be sette, as ferforthe as ye can, Reme_m_bryng well[e] _th_at maners make man. 

¶ And whan _tha_t ye ete yo_u_r mete small[e], w_i_t_h_ open mowth be ware ye not ete, 240 but loke / yo_u_r lyppes be closed as a wall[e]; wha_n_ to & fro ye traverse yo_u_r mete, kepe you so cloos _tha_t men haue no co_n_ceyte To saye of you any langage or vylonye 244 by cavse ye ete yo_u_r mete so vnmanerly. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[33]

And whan percaas your seruise is not largeGruccheth not / with frownyng contena_u_nce[Sidenote: If your helping is not large, don't grumble, ]Ne make therof / not to mykyl charge 227Dispose you to goodly suffra_u_nceAnd what ye haue / take it in suffysa_u_nceBe ye plesid with suche as god hath you sent[Sidenote: but be content. ]He hath ynough / that can hold_e_ hym conte_n_t 231

[34]

[Sidenote: Leaf 6 b. ]

Burnysshe no bones / with your teth / beware[Sidenote: Don't burnish bones with your teeth. ]Suche houndis tacches / falle of vncurtesyeBut with your knyf / make the bones bare 234Handle your mete / so wel and so clenly[Sidenote: Handle your food cleanly, ]That ye offende not the companyWhere ye be sette / as ferfort[=h] as ye canReme_m_bryng wel / that manners make ma[=n]. 238[Sidenote: for Manners make Man. ]

[35]

And_e_ whan that / ye ete your mete small_e_With open mout[=h] / beware ye not ete[Sidenote: Eat with your lips closed]But loke your lippea / be closed as a wall_e_ 241Whan to and_e_ fro / ye trauerse your meteKepe you so cloos / that men haue no co_n_seiteTo say of you / ony langage or vilonyeBicause ye ete your mete / vnmanerly 245

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[36]

Be ware, my child, of laughing ou_er_ mesure, Ye shall not Also at the borde your_e_ naylis pare, Ne pike not your_e_ teth wyth your_e_ knyff, I you ensure, Ete at your_e_ messe, and odir folkes spare; 249 A glottou_n_ can but make dissches bare, And of Inough he taketh neu_er_ hede, He fedith for lust more than[1] he doth for nede. [Sidenote 1: MS. That. ]

[37]

And whan the borde is then [as] of s_er_uice, 253 Not replenyshide wyth gret diuercite, Of mete and drincke good chere may than suffice, Hit is A signe of gret humanite, 256 Wyth gladsom chere than fulsom for to be; The poet seyth howe that the poure borde Men may encrese wyth cherefull wille and worde. 

[38]

And o thing, my childe, I warne you vndirstonde, Specially for your_e_ owne honeste, In the water wasschith so clene your_e_ hande, 262 That your_e_ towell neuer ensoyled be So foule that hit be lothely vnto se; Wasschith wyth watir_e_ till your_e_ handis be clene, And in your_e_ clothe ther shall no spotte be sene. 

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ Beware, my chyld, of laughynge ou_er_ mesure; Ne at _th_e borde ye shall[e] no nayles pare, Ne pyke yo_u_r teth w_i_t__h knyf, I you ensure. 248 Ete at yo_u_r messe, & other_e_ folk_i_s spare; A gloton ca_n_ but make _th_e bonys bare, & of ynowgh he takyth never_e_ hede, he ffedyth more for lust than for nede. 252

¶ And wha_n_ _th_e borde ys thyn as of s_er_vyce, Nowght replenysshed w_i_t_h_ gret dyversite of mete & drynke, gud chere may tha_n_ suffice, w_i_t_h_ honest talkyng; & also owght ye 256 w_i_t_h_ gladsu_m_ chere the_n_ fulsome for to be: The poete seyth how _tha_t 'a powre borde Me_n_ may enryche w_i_t_h_ cherfull[e] will[e] & worde. ' 259

¶ And on thyng, my child, ye vnderstond, In especyall[e] for yo_u_r own honeste: In _th_e wat_er_ wasshe so clene yo_u_r hond _tha_t yo_u_r towell[e] never ensoyled be So fowle _tha_t yt be lothsome on to see; 264 wasshe w_i_t_h_ wat_er_ yo_u_r hond_is_ so clene _tha_t in _th_e towell[e] shall[e] no spote be sene. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[36]

Beware my child_e_ / of laughyng ou_er_ mesureNe at the borde / ye shall no naylis pare[Sidenote: Don't pare your nails at table, ]Ne pyke your teth / with knyf / I you ensure 248[Sidenote: or pick your teeth with a knife. ]Ete at your messe / and other folkes spareA gloton can but make the bones bareAnd_e_ of ynough / he taketh neuer hedeHe fedith more for lust / than for nede 252

[37]

[Sidenote: Leaf 7 a. ]

And whan þ^e borde is thynne / as of seruyseNought replenesshed with, grete diuersite[Sidenote: When there are not many dishes, ]Of mete & dri_n_ke good chere may the[=n] suffise 255With honest talkyng / and also ought yeWith gladsom chere / thenne fulsom for to be[Sidenote: be satisfied with chatting cheerily. ]The poete saith / hou that a poure bordeMen may enriche / with cheerful wil & worde 259

[38]

And one thyng my chylde / ye vnderstondeIn especyall_e_ / for your owne honesteIn the water / wasshe so clene your honde 262That your towel / neuer enfoyled be[Sidenote: Wash your hands clean in the water, so as to leave no dirt on your towel. ]So fowle / that it be lothsom on to seeWasshe with water / your hondes so cleeneThat in the towel shal no spotte be sene 266

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[39]

Leue not your_e_ spone in your_e_ dissche standyng, Ne vppon the brede hit shall not lie;Lette your_e_ trenchoure be clene for eny thyng, 269 Yif ye haue no chaunge, yit as honestly As ye can, maketh avoydie, So that no fragment from your_e_ trenchour_e_ falle; Do this, my childe, in chambre and in halle. 273

[40]

Whan Another speketh at the table, Be ware ye interrupte[1] not is tale nor langage, [Sidenote 1: MS. _corruptly has_ nattiripte. ]For that is a thing discommendable, 276 And hit is no signe of folkes sage To ben of wordis besy and outrage; For the wyse man seyth pleinly in sentence, 'He shall be wyse that yevith Audience. ' 280

[41]

Vndre-stondeth ther-for_e_ or than ye speke, Printyng in your_e_ mynde clerely the sentence, He that vseth A mannes tale to breke 283 Lettyth vncurtesly the Audience, And hurtyth hym-sylf for lacke of silence; He may not yeue answere convenyent That herith not fynally what is ment. 287

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ lete not yo_u_r spone in yo_u_r_e_ disshe stond, Ne vpon _th_e table yt shuld not lye; 268 lete yo_u_r trenchowre be clen_e_ for any thyng, & yf ye haue, change yet as honestly As ye ca_n_; make avoyde manerly So _th_at no fragme_n_t fro yo_u_r tre_n_cher_e_ fall[e]: 272 Do thus, my child, i_n_ chamber_e_ & i_n_ hall[e]. 

¶ And wha_n_ a-nother ma_n_ spekyth at _th_e table, be ware ye int_er_rupte not his langage, for _tha_t ys a thyng on-comendable, 276 & yt ys not no signe of folk_is_ sage To be of langage besy & owtrage; ffor the wyse sayd in his sentence 'he shuld be bold [& be wyse][1] _tha_t gevyth audyence. ' 280[Sidenote 1: In a later hand, above the line. ]

[Sidenote: ffl C lxiij. ]

¶ Vnd_er_stond _ther_for or than ye speke; prynt i_n_ yo_u_r mynde clerly _th_e sentence; who _tha_t vsyth a ma_n_ys tale to breke, lettyth vncurteysly all[e] the audyence 284 And hurteth hy_m_ self for lake of scyence; he maye not geve answere co_n_venyente _tha_t heryt[=h] not fynally what ys mente. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[39]

Lete not your spone / in your disshe sto_n_ding[Sidenote: Don't leave your spoon in your dish or on the table. ]Ne vpon the table / it shold not lyeLete your trenchour / be clene for ony thing 269[Sidenote: Keep your trencher clean. ]And yf ye haue cha[=n]ge / yet as honestlyAs ye can / make a voyde manerlySo that no fragme_n_t / fro your tre_n_cher falleDo thus my childe / in chambre & in halle 273

[40]

[Sidenote: Leaf 7 b. ]

And whan another man / spekith atte tableBeware ye enterrupte not / his langage[Sidenote: Don't interrupt man in his talk]For that is a thinge discomendable 276And_e_ it is no signe of folkes sageTo be of langage / besy and_e_ outrageFor the wyse man said_e_ / in his sentenceHe shold_e_ be wyse / that gyueth audience 280

[41]

Vnderstonde therfore or than ye spekePrynte in your mynde / clerly the sentence[Sidenote: Before you speak, settle in your mind what you have to say. ]Who that vsith / a mannes tale to breke 283Letteth vncurteysly / alle the audyenceAnd_e_ hurteth hym self / for lack of scienceHe may not gyue answers conuenyenteThat herith not fynally / what is mente 287

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[42]

Be ware Also, my childe, of rehersaille Of materis whiche ben at the table mevide;Hit grevith ofte and dothe men disavaylle, 290 Full many a man that vice hath mysschevide, Of evill thyng saide is wors often contrivide; Suche reportis alway loke ye esschewe, As may of olde frendis make enemyes newe. 294

[43]

Avise you well whan ye take your_e_ disporte, Honest games that ye haunte and vse, And suche as ben of violente reporte, 297 I counsell you, my childe, that ye refuse; For trustith well ye shall nout you excuse From berchely fest, yef I may you aspie Playng at[1] eny game of rebaudie. 301[Sidenote 1: MS. Or. ]

[44]

Itt is to A goodly childe well syttyng, To vse disportis of myrth and plesaunce, To harpe and lute, or lustely to syng, 304 And in the pres ryght manerly to daunce; When men se A childe of suche gouernaunce, They seyn, 'gladde may this [childes] frendis be To haue a sone soo manerly as he. ' 308

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ But beware, my child, also of rehersayle Off maters whiche be at _th_e table meved: 289 It grewet[=h][1] ofte, & dot[=h] me_n_ dysavayle;[Sidenote 1: The line is over the _th_. ] ffull[e] many a ma_n_ _th_at vyce hathe myscheved; Off evyll[e] thynke sayd, ys worse co_n_tryved; 292 Suche reportes alwaye, my child, eschewe, As may of olde frend_is_ make enmyes newe. 

¶ Avyse you well[e] wha_n_ ye take yo_u_r dysporte, honeste games _th_at ye hawnt & vse; 296 & suche as bene of vyleyns report, I cownsell[e] you, my child, _tha_t ye refuse; ffor truste ye well[e] ye shall[e] you not excuse ffro_m_ brecheles feste, & I may you espye 300 Playenge at any game of rebawdrye. 

¶ Ytt ys to a goodly child well[e] syttyng To vse dysportes of myrth & plesavnce, to harpe, to lute, or lustyly to synge, 304 Or i_n_ the prees right manerly to davnce. Wha_n_ me_n_ se a child of suche governavnce, _the_i saye, 'glade may _th_is child_is_ frendys be To haue a child so manerly as ys he. ' 308

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[42]

But beware my child_e_ / also of rehersayll_e_[Sidenote: Don't repeat what you hear at table. ]Of maters / whiche ben atte table meuid_e_It greuith ofte / and_e_ doth men disauayle 290Ful many a man / þ^t vice hath myscheuid_e_Of euyl thing_e_ said_e_ / is werse contryuid_e_Suche reportis / alway my child_e_ escheweAs may of olde fre_n_dis / make enemyes newe 294

[43]

[Sidenote: Leaf 8 a. ]

Aduise you wel whan ye take your disporteHonest games / that ye haunte and_e_ vse[Sidenote: Play only at proper games. ]And suche as ben of vylayns reporte 297I counceyl you my chyld / that ye refuseFor truste ye wel / ye shal you not excuseFrom brecheles feste / and I may you espyePlayng_e_ at ony game of Rybawdrye 301

[44]

It is to a godly chyld wel syttyng_e_To vse disportes of myrthe & plesa[=n]ceTo harpe or lute / or lustely to synge 304[Sidenote: You should harp, lute, sing or dance. ]Or in the prees right manerly to daunceWhan men se a chyld of suche gouernanceThey saye / glad may this chyldis fre_n_dis beTo haue a chylde / so manerly as is he 308

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[45]

Exersice your_e_-selfe also in redyng Of bokys enournede wyth eloquence;Ther shall ye fynde both pleasaunce and lernyng, 311 And so ye may in eu_er_y good presence Some [what] fynde and see as in sentence, That shall accorde the tyme to ocupie, That ye not nede to stondyn idelie. 315

[46]

Itt[1] is fare to be cominycatyfe[Sidenote 1: MS. Iit. ] In matires vnto purpoos according, So that a wight sume not excessyfe, 318 For trusteth well, hit is tedious thyng For to here a childe multiplie talkyng, Yif hit be not to the purpose applied, And also wyth goodly termys aleyde. 322

[47]

Redith Gower in his writyng moralle, That au[=n]cient faders memorie, Redith his bokis clepide 'confessionalle, ' 325 Wyth many anodir vertuous tretie, Full of sentence sette so frutuously, That them to rede shall yeue you corage, So is he fulle of sentence and langage. 329

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ Excersyse also yo_u_r selfe in redyng Off bokes enorned wit[=h] eloquence, _ther_ shall[e] ye fynde bot[=h] plesyre & lernynge, so _th_at ye may in eu_er_y good presence 312 Some-what fynde as in sentence _th_at shall[e] accorde the tyme to occupye, That ye not nede to stonde ydellye. 

¶ It ys fayer to be comynycatyfe In maters vnto purpose accordyng, 317 So _th_at a wyghte seme exersyfe; ffor trustyth well[e] yt ys a tedyovs thy_n_g ffor to here a child multyply talkyng 320 yf yt be not to _th_e purpose applyed, & also w_i_t_h_ goodly termes alyed. 

¶ Redyt[=h] gover i_n_ his wrytyng morall[e], That Auncyente ffader of memorye, 324 Redyt[=h] his bookes called co_n_fessyonall[e], w_i_t_h_ many a-nother_e_ vertuvs tretye ffull[e] of sentence sett full[e] fructvously, That hy_m_ to rede shall[e] geve you covrage, 328 he ys so full[e] of frute, se_n_tence, & langage. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[45]

Excersise your self also in redyng_e_Of bookes enorned_e_ with eloquence[Sidenote: Practice reading of eloquent books. ]Ther shal ye fynde / bothe plesir & lernyng_e_ 311So that ye may / in euery good presenceSomwhat fynde / as in sentenceThat shal acorde / the tyme to ocupyThat ye not nede / to stonden ydelly 315

[46]

[Sidenote: Leaf 8 b. ]

It is fayr / for to be comynycatyfIn maters vnto purpose acordyng_e_[Sidenote: It is right to talk pertinently, ]So that a wyght seme excersyf 318For trusteth wel / it is a tedyous thyng_e_For to here a chylde / multeplye talkyngYf it be not to the purpose applyed_e_[Sidenote: but a bore if the talk is irrelevant. ]And_e_ also with / goodly termys alyed_e_ 322

[47]

Redeth gower in his wrytyng_e_ morall_e_[Sidenote: Read Gower's]That auncyent[1] fader of memorye[Sidenote 1: Orig. Anucyent. ]Redeth his bookes / called_e_ confessionall_e_ 325[Sidenote: _Confessio Amentis_. ]With many another vertuous trayttyeFul of sentence / set ful fructuoslyThat hym to rede / shal gyue you corageHe is so ful of fruyt, sente_n_ce and langage 329

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[48]

O Fader and Founder of eternate eloquence, That eluminede all this oure britaigne;To sone we lost his lauriate presence, 332 O lusty licoure of that fulsom_e_ fountaigne; Cursed deth, why hast thou this poete slayne, I mene Fadir chaucers, mastir Galfride? Allas! the while, that eu_e_r he from vs diede. 336

[49]

Redith his bokys fulle of all plesaunce, Clere in sentence, in longage excellent, Brefly to wryte suche was his suffesaunce, 339 What-euer to sey he toke in his entent, His longage was so feyre and p_er_tinent, That semed vnto mennys heryng, Not[1] only the worde, but verrely the thing. 343[Sidenote 1: MS. But. ]

[50]

Redith, my child, redith his warkys all, Refuseth non, they ben expedient;Sentence or langage, or both, fynde ye shall 346 Full delectable, for that fader ment Of all his purpos and his hole entent Howe to plese in euery audience, And in our_e_ tou_n_g was well of eloquence. 350

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

[Sidenote: ff C lxiij back. ]

¶ O fader & fownder of ornate eloquence _tha_t Illumyned hast all[e] owre bretayne! To sone we loste thy lavreat science, 332 O lusty lyqvovre of _tha_t fulsu_m_ fontayn_e_! O cursed det[=h]! why hast _tho_u _tha_t poete slayn_e_, I mene fader chavucer, mayst_er_ galfryde? Alas _th_e while _tha_t ever he from vs dyed! 336

¶ Redyt[=h] his werkes full[e] of plesavnce, Clere in sentence, I_n_ langage excellente: Bryefly to wryte, such was his suffysavnce, What-ever_e_ to say he toke i_n_ his entente, 340 his langage was so fayer_e_ & p_er_tynente, yt semet[=h] vnto manys heryng Not only the worde, but veryly _th_e thyng. 343

¶ Redyth, my child, redyth his bookes all[e], Refusith Non, they ben expedyente; sentence or langage, bot[=h] fynd ye shall[e]; ffull[e] delectablé that good fader mente, for all[e] his purpose & his hole entente 348 [was] how to please in eu_er_y audyence, & In owr_e_ tonge was well[e] of Eloquence. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[48]

[Sidenote: Leaf 163, back. ]

O fader and founder of ornate eloquence[Sidenote: and the Father and Founder of Eloquence, ]That enlumened hast alle our bretayneTo soone we loste / thy laureate scyence 332O lusty lyquour / of that fulsom fontayneO cursid deth / why hast thou þ^t poete slayneI mene fader chaucer / maister galfryde[Sidenote: mayster Galfryde Chawcer, ]Alas the whyle / that euer he from vs dyde 336

[49]

[Sidenote: Leaf 9 a. ]

Redith his werkis / ful of plesaunce[Sidenote: whose works are full of pleasaunce, ]Clere in sentence / in langage excellentBriefly to wryte / suche was his suffysa[=n]ce 339What euer to saye / he toke in his ententeHis langage was so fayr and pertynenteIt semeth vnto mannys heeryng_e_Not only the worde / but verely the thynge 343[Sidenote: whose language seems not only words, but truly things. ]

[50]

Redeth my chylde / redeth his bookes alleRefuseth none / they ben expedyente[Sidenote: Read _all_ his books; refuse none:]Sentence or langage / or bothe fynde ye shall_e_ 346Ful delectable / for that good fader mente[Sidenote: he is delightful. ]Of al his purpose / and his hole ententeHow to plese in euery audyenceAnd in our tunge / was welle of eloquence 350

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[51]

Beholde Oclyff in his translac_i_on, In goodly langage and sentence passing wyse, Yevyng the prince suche exortac_i_on 353 As to his highnesse he coude best devyse. Of trouth, peace, of mercy, and of Iustice, And odir vertuys, sparing for no slouthe To don his devere, and quiten hym, as trouth 357

[52]

Required hym, anenste his souereyne, Most dradde and louyd, whos excellent highnesseHe aduertysede by his writing playne, 360 To vertue p_er_teynyng to the nobles Of a prince, and berith wyttenesse His trety entitlede 'of regyment, ' Compyled of most entier true entent. 364

[53]

Loketh Also vppon dan Iohn lidgate, My mastir_e_, whilome clepid monke of bury, Worthy to be renownede laureate, 367 I pray to god_e_, in blis his soule be mery, Synging 'Rex Splendens, ' the heuenly 'kery, ' Among the muses ix celestiall, Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all. 371

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ Behold Ocklyf in his transslacion, [1][Sidenote 1: transflacion] In goodly langage & se_n_tence passyng wyse 352 howe he gewyth his p_ri_nce such exortac_i_on As to the hyeste he covld best devyse Off trowt[=h] / pees / m_er_cy / & Iustyse, & vertu, lettyng for no slowth 356 To do his devoyre & qvyte hy_m_ his trowth. 

¶ Requyre hy_m_ As Agaynst his soverayn_e_, moste Drade & loved, whose excellent hyenes he advertysed by his wrytyng playn_e_ 360 To vertu ap_er_teynyng to nobles Off a p_ri_nce, as beryt[=h] god wytnes, hys treatye entytled of regemente, Compyled of entyer trewe entente. 364

¶ Loke also than vpon Ioh_a_n lydgate, My mayrster, whylom monke of bury, worthy to be renomed As poete lavreate; I p_ra_y to god in blysse his sowle be mery, 368 Syngyng / Rex splendens / _tha_t hevenly Kyrye, Amonge _th_e mvses nyne celestyall[e] be-fore _th_e hyghest Iubyter of all[e], CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[51]

Beholde Ocklyf in his translac_i_on[Sidenote: Read Occleve too, ]In goodly langage / & sente_n_ce passyng wyseHow he gyueth his prynce / suche exortac_i_on 353[Sidenote: who gave his Prince such wise advice]As to the hyest / he coude best deuyseOf trouthe. Pees. Mercy. And IustiseAnd vertues / leetyng for no sloutheTo do his deuoir & quite him of his trouthe 357

[52]

[Sidenote: Leaf 9 b. ]

Required_e_ hym / as ayenst his souerayneMost drad_e_ & louyd_e_ / wos excellent hyeuesHe aduertysed_e_ / by his wrytyng_e_ playne 360To vertu / apperteynyng to noblesOf a prynce / as bereth good_e_ witnesHis traytye / entitled_e_ of regymente[Sidenote: in his treatise _De Regimine Principum_. ]Compyled_e_ of entyer trewe entente 364

[53]

Loke also / vpon dan Io[=h]n lydgateMy maister whylome / monke of berye[Sidenote: John Lydgate, too, my master. ]Worthy to be renomed_e_ / as poete laureate 367I praye to god_e_ in blysse his soule be mercySyngyng_e_ Rex splendens that heuenly kyrye[Sidenote: I pray God his soul is singing _Rex splendens_. ]Amonge the muses nyne celestyall_e_Byfore the hyest Iubyter of all_e_ 371

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[54]

I not why deth my mastir_e_ dide envie, But for he shuld_e_ chaunge his habite;Pety hit is that suche a man shulde die! 374 But nowe I trist he be a carmylite; His amyse blacke is chaunged into white, Among the muses ix celestiall, Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all; 378

[55]

Passing the muses all of elicon_e_, Where is ynympariable of Armonye, Thedir I trist my mastir-is soule is gon_e_, 381 The sterrede palays aboue dapplede skye, Ther to syng 'sanctus' incessantly Among the muses ix celestiall, Affore the highest Iubiter of all. 385

[56]

Redith is volumes that ben so large and wyde, Souereynly sitte in sadnesse of sentence, Elumynede wyth colouris fresshe on eu_er_y syde, 388 Hit passith my wytte, I haue no eloquence To yeue hym lawde aftir his excellence, For I dare say he lefte hym not on lyue, That coude his cu_n_nyng suffisantly discreue. 392

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

[Omitted. See Preface, p. Ii] 372

 376

¶ Passyng the mvses nyne of elycon, Wher ys no pareyll[e] of Armonye; 380 Thyder I trust my Maysters sowle be gon, The sterred paleys above _th_e dappled skye, Ther to syng snactus insessavntly 384 Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall[e], Before _th_e hyeste Iubyter of all[e]. 

¶ Redyth hys volumes _tha_t be large & wyde, Severyly sette in sadnes of sentence, Enlumined w_i_t_h_ colovres fresshe on eu_er_y side. 388[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij. ] Me lakketh wytt, I haue non eloquence, To geve hy_m_ lawde after his excellence, ffor I dare saye he lefte hy_m_ not alyve That covde his cu_n_yng ssufficiently discryve. 392

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[54]

[Omitted. See Preface, p. Ii. ]

374

378

[55]

Passyng_e_ the muses nyne of Elyco[=n]Where is non pareyl of armonyeThider I truste my meistres soule begone 381The sterrid_e_ paleys / aboue the dapplyd skye[Sidenote: in the starred palace above the dappled sky, before the]There to synge sanctus incessantlyAmonge the muses ix celestyall_e_Byfore the hyest / Iubiter of all_e_ 385[Sidenote: highest Jupiter of all. ]

[56]

[Sidenote: Leaf 10 a. ]

Redeth his volumes / that ben large & wyde[Sidenote: Read his large volumes]Seueryly set / in sadnes of sentenceEnlumyned with colours fressh on euery side 388[Sidenote: illuminated with fresh colours. ]Me lacketh witte / I haue none eloquenceTo gyue hym lawde / after his excellenceFor I dar saye / he lefte hym not a lyueThat coude his co_n_nyng / sufficiently discriue 392

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[57]

But his werkys his laude moste nede conquere, He may neuer oute of remembrance die, His werkys shall his [name[1]] conuey and bere 395[Sidenote: MS. _here repeats_ werkys. ] Aboute the world all-most eternallie; Lette his owne werkys prayse hym and magnifie; I dare not preyse, for fere that I offende, My lewde langage shuld rather appeyre than amend. 

[58]

Lo, my childe, thes good faders Au[=n]cient Repide the feldis fresshe of fulsumnesse, The floures feyre they gadderid vp and hent, 402 Of siluereus langage the tresoure and richesse; Who wolle hit haue, my litle childe, doutelesse Must of hem begge, ther is no more to say, For of our_e_ toung they were bothe locke and key. 

[59]

There can no man ther_e_ fames nowe disteyne, Thanbawmede toung and aureate sentence, Men gette hit nowe by cantelmele, and gleyne 409 Here and there wyth besy diligence, And fayne wolde riche the crafte of eloquence; But be the glaynes is hit often sene, In whois feldis they glayned haue and ben_e_. 413

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ But his werkes his lavde must nede co_n_quere; _the_i may never owt of reme_m_bravnce dye; hys werkes shall[e] his name co_n_veye & bere Abowte _th_e world almoste eternelly. 396 lete his own_e_ werk_is_ p_ra_yse hy_m_, & magnyfye; I dare not p_ra_yse, leest for fere I offende; My langage shuld rather_e_ apayer_e_ tha_n_ amend. 

¶ Loo, my child, this faders avncyente Repen _th_e fyldes ffresshe of fulsomnes; 401 _th_e flowres fresshe thei gadered vp, & hente. Off syluer langage _th_e greate ryches who will[e] yt haue, my child, dowtles 404 Muste of the_m_ bege: ther_e_ ys no more to saye, ffor of owr_e_ tonge _the_i were both loke & keye;

¶ Ther ca_n_ no ma_n_ _ther_ werkes dysteyne: The enbamed tonge & avreat sentence, 408 Me_n_ gete yt now by ca_n_telmele, & glene here & ther_e_ by besy delygence, & fayne wold reche _ther_ crafte of eloqvence; & by _the_ gleyne ytt ys full[e] ofte sene 412 In whose fylde the gleners haue bene. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[57]

But his werkis / his laude / must nede co_n_q_ue_re[Sidenote: His works]They may neuer / out of remembraunce dyeHis werkis shal [=h]is name conueye & bere 395Aboute the world_e_ / almost eternely[Sidenote: shall bear his name about the world almost eternally. ]Lete his owe_n_ werkis preyse hym & magnefieI dar not preyse / for fere lest I offendeMy la_n_gage / shold rather apeyre than amende 399

[58]

[Sidenote: Leaf 10 b. ]

Loo my child_e_ / these faders auncyenteRepen the feldes fresshe of fulsomnes[Sidenote: These fathers reaped the fields, ]The flours fresh they gadred vp & hente 402[Sidenote: and gathered the flowers. ]Of siluer langage / the grete richesWho wil it haue my lityl childe doutlesMuste of hem begge / ther is no more to saye[Sidenote: He who wants silver words must beg of them. ]For of our tunge / they were both lok & kaye 406

[59]

Ther can noma[=n] now her werkis disteyneThe enbamed tunge / and aureate sentenceMen gete it now / by cantelmele & gleyne 409[Sidenote: Now we only glean, ]Here and there by besy diligenceAnd fayne wold reche / her craft of eloque_n_ceAnd by the gleyne / it is ful oft seneIn whos felde / the gleyners haue bene 413[Sidenote: and by the gleaning one sees in whose fields thegleaners have been. ]

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[60]

As vnto me Age hath bede good morowe, I am not able clenly for to gleyne, Nature is feyne of crafte here eien to borowe, 416 Me fayleth clerenesse of myn eien tweyne; Begge I may, I can no gleyn certeyn, Ther-for that werke I wolle playnly remytte To folke yong, more p_er_saunt clere of wytte. 420

[61]

And syke also, and in case ye fynde Suche gleynes fresch as hath some apparenceOf fayre langage, yet take them and vnbynde, 423 And preueth what they beth in existence, Coloured in langage, savory in sentence, And dou[te]th not, my childe, wythoute drede, Hit woll profite such thyng to se and rede. 427

[62]

Yit eft-sonnys, my child_e_, let us resorte To the intente of our_e_ fyrst matier_e_Digresside, somwhat fulle we wolld reporte, 430 And reuyue the lawde of them that were Founders of our_e_ langage, thilke fadyrs dere, Who-is soulis god [aboue] in b[l]esse inhaunce That lusten so our_e_ langage to Avaunce. 434

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ And unto my age bot good morowe I am not able clerly for to gleyne, Nature ys fayn_e_ of crafte her eyen to borow; 416 Me lakketh clernes of myn_e_ eyen twayn_e_; Begge I may / gleyn_e_ I may not c_er_teyn_e_; _ther_fore _tha_t werke I will[e] playnly remytte To folk_is_ yong, more passyng clere of wyte. 420

¶ Seche ye _ther_fore, & in caas ye fynde suche glenars fresshe as haue su_m_ apparens Off fayer la_n_gage, yet take the_m_, & vnbynde, & preve ye what _the_i be i_n_ existence 424 Colovred i_n_ langage, saverly i_n_ sentence, & dowte not, my child, w_i_t_h_-owt drede yt will[e] p_ro_fet to se such thy_n_g_is_, & rede. 427

¶ Ye, efte-soones, my child, let vs resorte To _th_e yntent of yo_u_r fyrst matere Degressed somwhat, for we wolde reporte & revyue _th_e lawde of the_m_ _tha_t were famovs i_n_ owr_e_ langage, thise faders dere 432 who_s_[1] sowles i_n_ blis, god et_er_nall[e] avaunce, [Sidenote 1: The _s_ is by a later hand. ] _th_at lysten sone owr_e_ langage to enhavnce!

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[60]

And vnto me / age hath bode good moroweI am not able clenly / for to gleyne[Sidenote: I cannot glean, ]Nature is fay[=n] of craft / her eyen to borowe 416Me lacketh clerenes / of myn eyen tweyneBegge I maye / gleyne I can not certeyne[Sidenote: I can only beg:]Therfore Þ^t werck / I wil playnly remytteTo folkis yong / more passyng clere of witte 420[Sidenote: gleaning I give up to younger folks. ]

[61]

Seche ye therfore / and in caas ye fynde[Sidenote: If you find such gleaners, ]Such gleynors fressh as haue so[=m] appare_n_ceOf fayr langage / yet take hem & unbynde 423[Sidenote: unbind their sheaves:]And preue ye / what they be in existenceColourd in langage / sauerly in sentence[Sidenote: their fair speech]And doubte not my childe / withoute dredeIt wil prouffite to see suche thingis & red[e][1] 427[Sidenote: will profit you. ]

[Footnote 1: A hole in the paper. ]

[62]

[Sidenote: Leaf 11 a. ]

Yet eft sones my child_e_ / lete vs resorte[Sidenote: But let us return to our first subject. ]To thentente of yur first matereDegressed somwhat / for we wold reporte 430And reuiue the laude of hem that wereFamous in our langage / these faders dereWhos sowles in blysse / god et_er_nel aua_u_nceThat lysten so our langage to enhaunce 434

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[63]

Than, litle childe, I councelle you that ye Take hede vnto the norture that men vse, Newe founden or Auncient whet[h]er hit be, 437 So shall no man your_e_ curteyse refuse; The guise and custome shall you, my childe, excuse; Mennys werkys haue often entirchaunge, That nowe is norture, sumtyme had ben full straunge. 

[64]

Thinges whilome vside ben layde aside, And new fetis dayly ben contryvyde, Men[nys actes] can in no plight abyde, 444 They ben chaungeable and oft mevide, Thing some-tyme alowide is nowe reprevide, And aftir this shall thingis vppe aryse, That men sette nowe but [at] litle a prise. 448

[65]

Thus mene I, my childe, that ye shull vse and haunte The guise of them that don most man_er_ly, But be ware of vnthrefte ruskyn galaunte, 451 Counterfetour_e_ vncunnyng of curtesie, His tecches ben infecte wyth vilonye, Vngerde, vnblesside, seruyng at the table, Me semeth hym s_er_u_a_unt full pendable. 455

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text_. ]

[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij back. ]

¶ Then litill[e] Ioh[=n], I co_n_sayle you _tha_t ye Take hede to _th_e nortvres _tha_t me_n_ vse, 436 newe fownd or avncyent, whe_ther_ yt be; So shall[e] no ma_n_ yo_u_r curtesye refuse; _the_ gyse & custu_m_, my child, shall[e] you excuse. Menys werkes haue oftyn enterchavnce; 440 _tha_t now ys norture, so_m_tyme hath be stravnge;

¶ Thyng_is_ whylom vsed be now layd a-syde, & newe fetes dayly be co_n_tryved: Menys actes ca_n_ in no plyte abyde, 444 They be chavngable & ofte meved; thynges su_m_tym_e_ alowed be now rep_re_ved; & after this shall thynges vp a-ryse that me_n_ sett now but at lytill[e] pryse: 448

¶ This mene I, my child, _tha_t ye shall[e] havnte _th_e gyse of the_m_ _tha_t do most manerly; but be ware of onthryft[1] ruskyn gallavnte, [Sidenote 1: A later hand has added _y_. ] Co_n_terfetter[2] of vnco_n_nyng curtessy, 452[Sidenote 2: The _r_ is by a later hand. ] hys taches ben enfecte w_i_t_h_ vylonye; Vngerte / vnblessed / s_er_vyng at table, Me semeth hy_m_ a s_er_vavnte no thyng able;

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[63]

Then_n_e lityl Io[=h]n / I counceyl you that ye[Sidenote: Little Jack, ]Take hede to the norture / that men vse[Sidenote: take heed to the manners of your time, ]Newe founde / or auncyent whether it be 437So shal no man / your curtoisye refuseThe guyse & custom / my child shal you excuseMe_n_ys werkis / haue often entercha[=n]ge[Sidenote: for customs change, ]That nowe is norture / so_m_tyme had be stra[=n]ge 441

[64]

Thingis whilom vsed / ben now leyd a sydeAnd newe feetis / dayly ben contreuid_e_[Sidenote: new ways are invented every day, ]Mennys actes / can in no plyte abyde 444They be changeable and_e_ ofte meuid_e_Thingis somtyme alowed / is now repreuidAnd after this / shal thinges vp aryse[Sidenote: and will be hereafter. ]That men set now / but at lytyl pryse 448

[65]

[Sidenote: Leaf 11 b. ]

This mene I my childe / þ^t ye shal haunteThe guyse of them / that do most manerlyBut beware of vnthryft Ruskyn gala[=n]te 451[Sidenote: Imitate the well-mannered, and beware of ruskyn gallants]Counterfeter of vnconnyng curtoisyeHis tacchis ben enfecte with vilonye[Sidenote: of bad habits, ]Vngyrte. Vnblyssed. Seruyng atte table[Sidenote: serving ungirt, ]Me semeth hym a serua[=n]t nothing able 455

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[66]

Wynter ne somer to his souerayne Chappron hardy no bonet lust avale, For euery worde yeuyng his maister tweyne, 458 Vaunparlere in euery mannes tale, Absolon wyth the disculede heres smalle; Lyke to A presener of seint Malouse, A sonny bush myght cause hym to goo louse. 462

[67]

O I passe norture! fy! fy! for schame! I shuld haue seide he myght go hauke and hunt, For that schuld be A gentilmannys game, 465 To suche disportis thes gentis folkys be wounte; I seide to ferre, my langage was to blounte, But of this galaunte, loo! loke a while & fele, He feccheth his compace whan he shall bowe or knele, [68]

Braced so straytly th[at h]e[1] may not plie, [Sidenote 1: MS. The. ] But gaderith hit in by man_er_ of wyndlese, And 3*if he wrenche aside or lytil wrye, 472 His gere stonte all in pertous[2] case, [Sidenote 2: _Read_ perlous?] The scho, the hose, the point, doublet, and lace; And if ought breke, som_m_e thing_es_[3] that ben badde[Sidenote 3: _Read_ toung_es_. ] Shall sey anon, 'a knaue hath broke a ladde. ' 476

[Sidenote: _ Hill's Text. _]

¶ Wynter & somer to his soverayn_e_ Capron hardy, no bonet lyst to avayle, 457 For eu_er_y worde geveyng his mayst_er_ twayn_e_, avavntp_ar_ler In eu_er_y manys tale, Absolon w_i_t_h_ disheveld heres smale, 460 lyke to a prysoner of saynt malowes, A sonny busshe able to the galowes. 

¶ O! I passe nortvre! fy, fy, for sham! I myght haue said he shuld go havke & honte, 464 ffor _tha_t shuld be a gentylman[i]s game, To suche dysport_is_ gentill[e] folk_is_ be wonte; I sayd to ferre, my langage was but blonte; but yet, sir gallavnt, wha_n_ ye shall[e] bowe or knele 468 he got[=h] by co_m_passe rovnd as doth a whele. 

¶ Brased so streyte þat he may not plye, but gaderyth yt by maner_e_ of a wyndlas; & he awght wrench a-side, or a litill[e] wrye, 472 hys gere stondyt[=h] the_m_ i_n_ full[e] p_ar_lovs caas, hys sho / his hose / doblet, poynt & laas; & yff owght breke, su_m_ tonges _tha_t be bade will[e] moke & say, "A knave hath broke a lade. " 476

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[66]

Wynter and somer to his souereyneCapron hardy / no bonet lyste to auale[Sidenote: not doffing his cap to his master, ]For euery word / gyui_n_g his maister tweyne 458Auauntparler / in euery mannys tale[Sidenote: forward in speech, ]Absolon with disheueld heeris smale[Sidenote: rough-haired, ]Lyke to a prysoner of seynt malowis[Sidenote: and lousy-headed, ]A sonny busshe / able to go to the galowis 462

[67]

O I passe norture fy fy for shame[Sidenote: (though it's hardly good manners to say so. )]I myght haue said he shold go hauke & honteFor that shold be a gentilmans game 465To such disportes / gentil folkes be wonteI sayd to ferre / my langage was to blonteBut yet sir gala_n_te wha_n_ ye shal bowe or knele[Sidenote: When he tries to kneel, he works round like a wheel, ]He goth by compace round as doth a whele 469

[68]

[Sidenote: Leaf 12 a. ]

Braced so strayt / that he may not plye[Sidenote: being braced so tight that he can't bend. ]But gaderith it / by maner of a wyndelasAnd he ought wrenche a syde / or a litil wrie 472[Sidenote: If he twists, a lace is like to crack. ]His geer stondeth then_n_e / in ful parlo_us_ caasHis sho / his hose / doblet / point & laasAnd yf ought breke / som_m_e tu_n_ges þ^t be bad_e_Wil mocke & saie / a knaue hath broke a lad 476

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[69]

Lat galaunte go, I mene, recheles ruskyn; Take hede, my childe, to suche as ben cu_n_nyng, So shall ye wyrship best conquere and wynne, 479 Enforsith you in all your_e_ demenyng To sewe vertu, and[1] from foly declynyng;[Sidenote 1: _Omit_ and] And, my childe, that ye loue of honeste. Which is accordyng wyth humanyte. 483

[70]

That is, to you to vndirstond And knowe, That your_e_ aray be manerly and resonable, Not appeissh knawen[1] and to mowe, 486[Sidenote 1: _Sic. _] I[n] nyse aray that is not couenable, Fetis founde be folkys vnp_ro_fitable, That maketh this world_e_ so pleynly t_ra_nsformate, That men semen almost effeminate. 490

[71]

Pley not Iakke mAlaperte, that is to sey, Be ware of p_re_sumpc_i_oun, be ware of pride, Take not the fyrst place, my childe, be no way, 493 Till odir be sette manerly abyde, Presomcion is often sette asyde, And Avalith f[r]om his highe[1] de-gre, [Sidenote 1: MS. Hight. ] And he sette vppe that hath humanite. 497

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ Lete gallant go! I mene, recheles ruskyn: Take hede my child to suche as be co_n_nyng, so shall[e] ye best worship co_n_qvere & wynne; Enforce you i_n_ all[e] yo_u_r demenyng 480 To folowe vertu, & fro foly declynnyng; & weyte well[e] _tha_t ye love honeste which ys accordyng vnto humanyte. 

[Sidenote: Ihu 1503 per Richard Hill: ffl C lxv]

¶ That ys for you to vnd_er_stond & knowe, _th_at yo_u_r araye be manerly resonable, 485 Not apysshe ynto moke ne to mowe; To nyce araye _tha_t ys not co_m_mendable, ffetys, newe fonden by foolis vnp_ro_fytable, 488 _th_at make _th_e worlde so playnly transformate _th_at me_n_ seme_n_ Almost enfemynate. 

¶ Playe not Iacke maleperte, _tha_t ys to say, be ware of presumpc_i_on, be ware of pryde; 492 take not _th_e first place, my child, by _th_e waye; till[e] oder be sette, ryght manerly a-byde, presumtvous be ofte sette a-syde & all[e] day avaled, as me_n_ may see, 496 & he ys sette vp _th_at hat[=h] humylyte. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[69]

Lete galante go / I mene recheles rusky[=n][Sidenote: Let Reckless Ruskyn go!]Take hede my chyld to suche as be connyng[Sidenote: You follow skilful men, ]So shal ye best worship conquere & wynne 479Enforce you in al your demenyng_e_To folowe vertu / & fro folye declynyng_e_[Sidenote: virtue and]And waite wel that ye loue honeste[Sidenote: honesty. ]Whiche is acordynge[1] vnto humanyte 483

[Footnote 1: _Orig. _ accrdynge. ]

[70]

[Sidenote: Leaf 12 b. ]

That is for you / to vnderstonde & knoweThat your araye / be manerly resonable[Sidenote: Don't dress]Not apysshe / on to mocken ne to mowe 486[Sidenote: apishly]To nyce araye / that is not commendable[Sidenote: or foppishly. ]Fetis newe founden[1] by foolis vnp_ro_uffitableThat make þ^e world so plainly transformateThat men semen almoste enfemynate 490

[Footnote 1: _Orig. _ fonuden. ]

[71]

Playe not Iack malapert / that is to saye[Sidenote: Don't play Jack Malapert, that is, ]Beware of presump_ci_on / beware of pryde[1][Sidenote: don't be presumptuous. ]Take not þ^e first place my child by the waye 493Tyl other be sette / right manerly abyde[Sidenote: Wait till others are seated. ]Presumptuo_us_ ben often set a syde. And_e_ alleday aualyd_e_ / as men may seeAnd he is sette vp / that hath humylyte 497

[Footnote 1: _Orig. _ pryte. ]

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[72]

To[1] cu_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take, [Sidenote 1: MS. The. ] Where ye be sette in right atentif wyse, Connyng folke cu_n_nyng folke shulde make, 500 To theire goodnesse ye shalle make your_e_ su_m_mise, And as thei do, ye mosten deuyse; For this, my childe, is as the gospell treue, Whoo wolle be cu_n_nyng muste the cu_n_nyng sewe. 

[73]

And o thing I charge you speciall[ie], To womanhode good kepe you take alway, And them to serue loke that ye haue an eie, 507 Ther comau_n_dementis, my child_e_, loke ye obey, Plesaunt wordis to them I warne you saye, And in all wyse do your_e_ dilligence, To do them plesur_e_, honoure, and reuerence. 511

[74]

As at this tyme this tretice shall suffice, Disposeth you to kepe in your_e_ myndeThe doctrines whiche for you I deuyse, 514 And douteth not, fulle welle ye shall hit fynde; To youre honoure enrolle hit vp and bynde Ryght in your_e_ brest, and in your_e_ ryper age I shall wryten you here-of the surplusage. 518

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ To co_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take, wher ye be sette, right i_n_ ententyf wyse; Co_n_nyng folke co_n_nyng me_n_ shall[e] make; 500 to _ther_ co_n_nyng ye shall[e] make yo_u_r surmyse, & as _the_i do, ye must yo_u_r selfe devyse; ffor this, my child, ys as _th_e gospell[e] trewe, 'who will[e] be co_n_nyng, he must co_n_nyng sewe. ' 504

¶ And on thyng I warne you specyally: to woma_n_hede take awe alway, & the_m_ to s_er_ve loke ye haue an eye, & _ther_ co_m_avndment_is_ _tha_t ye obeye; 508 Plesaunt word_is_ I avyse you to the_m_ saye, & in all[e] wyse do ye yo_u_r delygence To do the_m_ plesyre and reverence. 511

¶ And at this tyme _th_is treatise shall[e] suffice; Do pose you to kepe it in yo_u_r mynde, _th_e doctryne which for you I devyse; & dowteth not, full[e] well[e] ye shall[e] yt fynde To yo_u_r honowr_e_; enrolle yt vp & bynde 516 Rig[=h]t i_n_ yo_u_r brest, & at yo_u_r ryper age I shall[e] write you here-of the surplusage. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[72]

To connynd_e_ perso[=n]s regarde ye take[Sidenote: Watch knowing folk, and]Where ye be sette / right in ententyf wyseConnyng folk / connyng men shal make 500To their co_n_nyng ye shal make your surmise[Sidenote: their skill. ]And as they do / ye muste your self deuyseFor this my child_e_ / is as the gospel treweWho wil be co_n_nyng / he must þ^e co_n_nyng sewe 504

[73]

And one thing / I warne you specyallyTo womanhede / take awe alweye[Sidenote: Specially attend to women, and]And them to serue / loke ye haue an eye 507And theire com_m_andementis that ye obeyePlesant wordes I auyse you to them seye[Sidenote: speak pleasant words to them. ]And in alle wyse / do ye your diligenceTo do them plesure / and reuerence 511

[74]

And at this tyme this tretye shal suffise[Sidenote: This is enough for the present. ]Dispose you / to kepe it in your mynde[Sidenote: Mind you attend to it, ]The doctrine whiche for you I deuyse 514And doubteth not / ful wel ye shal it findeTo your honour / enrolle it vp and byndeRight in your breste / and at your riper ageI shal wryte to you / herof the surplusage 518[Sidenote: and when you're older I'll write you the rest. ]

 * * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT. 

[75]

Goo, litle childe, and who doth you Appose, Seying, your_e_ quaire kepeth non accordaunce, Tell [hym], as yite neyther of ryme ne prose 521 Ye be experte; pray hym of sufferaunce; Childer must be of childly gouernaunce, And they must also entredet[1] be[Sidenote 1: _Read_ entreted] Wyth esy thyng, [and not] of subtilte. 525

[76]

Your_e_ lytil quaier su_m_mitteth euery where To corecc_i_on and beneuolence, But where enuie is, loke hit come not there, 528 For eny thing kepith your_e_ trety thense; Enuie is full of frowarde reprehense, And howe to hurte liethe eu_er_e in awayte, Kepeth your_e_ quaier_e_, that hit be not her baite. 

EXPLICIT. 

DOMINE, SALUU_M_ FAC REGEM. 

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text. _]

¶ Go, litill[e] Ioh[=n], & who doth you oppose, sayenge yo_u_r quayre, kepeth no_n_ accordavnce; 520 Tell[e] hy_m_ as 3*et neyther_e_ i_n_ ryme ne p_r_ose ye ben exp_er_te; p_ra_y hy_m_ of suffraunce. Chyldren[1] muste be of childy gou_er_navnce, [Sidenote 1: MS. Clyldren. ] & also _the_i muste entreted be 524 W_i_t_h_ easy thynge, & not w_i_t_h_ subtilte. 

¶ Go, lytill[e] quayer, submyte you eu_er_y where vnder correcc_i_on of benevolence; & wher envy ys, loke you cu_m_ not ther_e_, 528 ffor any thyng kepe yo_u_r treatye thens; Envye ys full of froward reprehens, & how to hurte lyeth ever i_n_ a-wayte; kepe yo_u_r quayre _th_at yt be not ther bayte. 532

 Here endyth A lytyll[e] treatyse called _th_e boke of curtesy or litill[e] Ioh_a_n. 

CAXTON'S TEXT. 

[75]

Go lytyl Io[=h]n / and who doth you appose[Sidenote: Whoever questions you, ]Sayng your quayer / kepe non accordanceTelle hym as yet / neyther in ryme ne prose 521Ye ben expert / praye hym of suffra[=n]ce[Sidenote: say you are not yet up in rime or prose. ]Chyldren muste be / of chyldly gouerna[=n]ceAnd also they muste entretyd_e_ beWith esy thing / and not with subtylte 525

[76]

Go lytil quayer / submytte you euery whereVnder correct_i_on of benyuolence[Sidenote: Little book, I submit you to correction:]And where enuye is / loke ye come not there 528[Sidenote: but go not where envy is. ]For ony thing_e_ / kepe your tretye thensEnuye is ful of froward reprehensAnd how to hurte / lyeth euer in a wayteKepe your quayer / that it be not ther bayte 532

Explicit the book of curtesye. 

INDEX. 

H. Stands for Hill's MS. At the bottom of the pages, O. For the OrielMS. On the even pages. Cot. Is for Cotgrave's Dictionary. 

Absolom with dissheveled hair, l. 460. 

Amyse, l. 376, amice. Fr. _amict_, an Amict or Amice, part of a massingpriest's habit. Cot. From L. _amicire_, to throw round; _am_ and_jacere_. Mahn. 

Annoy no man, l. 170. 

Apayer, l. 399 H. , appeyre, O. , worsen, impair. 

Apish, don't let your dress be, l. 486. 

Appose, l. 519, question. _See_ Oppose. 

Avale, l. 457, lower, take off. 

Ave Maria, say, l. 27, 77. 

Avoyde, l. 271, emptying. 

Austin, St, tells men how to behave at table, l. 158. 

Author is old, l. 414-18. 

Authors, the right ones to read, l. 323, 335, 351, 365, 393. 

Bearing, men praised or blamed for their, l. 153. 

Belch not, l. 202. 

Beware of ruskyn, l. 451. 

Birds and beasts, don't throw stones at, l. 64. 

Blow not in your drink, l. 190. 

Brecheles, l. 300, without breeches, of flogging. 

Breth, l. 203, wind. 

Capron, H. , chappron, O. , l. 457. O. Fr. _Chaperon_, "habillement detête. " Roquefort. Provençal, _capayron, _ from Lat. _caput_. Skeat. _Chaperon_ . .. Any hood, bonnet . .. _Vn Chaperon fait à i'en veux_, Anotable whipster or twigger; a good one I warrant her. Cotgrave. 'Capronhardy' must then be 'a bold or saucy young scamp. '

Cantelmele, l. 409, piecemeal: _cantel_, a corner, bit. 

CHAUCER, read his works full of pleasance, l. 335-350. 

Chere, l. 131, face, expression on it. 

Childly, _adj. _ l. 523, O. , childy, H. , fitted for children. 

Children are like wax, l. 6. 

Church, how to behave at, l. 71-98. 

Clappe, l. 80, noise. 

Claw not your visage, l. 194. 

Comb your head, l. 36. 

Communicative, be, l. 316. 

Compace, l. 469. Fr. _compas_, a compasse, a circle, a round. 

Constaunce, l. 102. Fr. _constance_, stabilitie, firmenesse. Cot. 

Couenable, l. 487. Fr. _convenable_, apt, fit, meet for, beseeming, seemlie, &c. Cot. 

Crede, say it, l. 77. 

Cross yourself on rising, l. 25. 

Cumpenable, l. 151. Fr. _compagnable_, companable, friendlie, sociable. 

Cunning, (knowing) men, take heed to them, l. 478, l. 498-504. 

Cup, soil not yours, l. 186. 

Dancing, right for a child, l. 305. 

Deprave, l. 157, backbite, run down. Fr. _despraver_, spoyle, marre, make crooked, wrest, wry to bad purposes. Cot. 

Detraction, the vice of, l. 163. 

Disauayle, l. 290, harm, damage. 

Discreue, l. 392, describe. 

Disculede, l. 460, O. , dissheveled. 

Disteyne, l. 407, stain, spot. 

Dogs, don't irritate them, l. 67. 

Dress, to be manerly, l. 47, 52; to be reasonable, l. 485. 

Ears, clean yours, l. 37. 

Entredet, l. 524, O. , entretyde, H. , taught. 

Envy, keep clear of, l. 528. 

Estate, l. 122, lord noble. 

Exercyse, excersyf, l. 318, _?_ practised, able to handle a subject. Fr. _exercer_, to handle, manage. Cot. 

Eye, cast not yours aside, l. 101. 

Face, have no spots on it, l. 38. 

Farsyone, l. 186, H. , stuffing: _farse_ (or _ferce_, 1. 191), to stuff;_farsure_, stuffing. Cp. Chaucer's _ferthyng_, of the Prioress, _Prol. Cant. T. _, and the Oriel text. 

Fetis, l. 443, O. , fashions. Fr. _faict_, feat, pranke, part. Cot. 

Fewe, l. 171, little, few words. 

First place, don't take it, l. 493. 

Follow virtue, l. 481. 

Founders of our language; revive their praise, l. 431. 

Fulsom, l. 257, _?_ full, satisfied; or helpful, A. S. _fylst_, help, assistance. 

Fulsomnes, l. 401, fulness, plenty. 'Fulnesse or plente (fulsu_m_nesse, K. H. P. ) _Habundancia, copia_. ' Promptorium. 

Games, play only at proper ones, l. 296. 

Girdle, don't loose yours at table, l. 197. 

Glaynes, l. 412, O. , gleynes, l. 422, O. , gleanings. Fr. _glane_, agleaning; also the corne thats gleaned or left for the gleaner. Cot. 

Gluttonous, don't be, l. 180. 

Good cheer, make it serve for a scanty table, l. 253-5. 

GOWER'S moral writings, read them, l. 323; and his _Confessio Amantis_, l. 325. 

Halke, l. 124, generally means corner; A. S. _heal_, an angle, a corner;but another _heal_ is a hall, place of entertainment, inn, which may bethe meaning here. 

Hands, wash yours, l. 43; wash 'em clean at table, l. 262-5. 

Hanging, the servant that deserves it, st. 65, O. 

Harping recommended, l. 304. 

Head, don't scratch it at table, l. 194. 

Holy water, l. 72. 

Humanite, l. 497, Fr. _humanité_, courtesie, ciuilitie, gentlenesse. Cot. 

Inhaunce, l. 433, put forward, up. Lat. _in antea_, Prov. _enansar_, toadvance, exalt. Wedgwood. 

Interrupt no man's talk, l. 275, 283. 

Is, l. 386, O. , his. 

Iubiter, l. 371, 378, God. 

Jangelynge, l. 80, chattering. 

Kery, l. 369, [Greek: kyrie], Lord, [have mercy upon us!]

Knife, don't put it near your face, l. 192. 

Ladde, l. 476, O. , lade, H. , a thong of leather, a shoe-latchet. Halliwell. 

Language, silver, is to be learnt only from our old poets, st. 58, l. 400-6. 

Lewed (ignorant), he must be who will not learn, l. 21. 

Lips, wipe yours before drinking, l. 186, 189. 

Look men, you speak to, in the face, l. 99. 

Louse, l. 462, catching lice. 

Luting recommended, l. 302. 

LYDGATE, Jo[=h]n, my master, l. 365; read his volumes large and wide, l. 379. 

Malapert, Jack, don't play, l. 491. Fr. _Müiere_, malapert, outrageous, ever doing one mischiefe or other. _Marmiton_, a saucie, malapert, orknauish fellow. Cot. 

Malouse, l. 461, Malo's. 

Manner & measure should guide you, l. 125. 

Manners make man, l. 238. 

Mass, help the priest at, l. 85. 

Matins, our Lady's, l. 32. 

Mouth, eat with it shut, l. 241. 

Multiply talking, don't, l. 320. 

Nails, clean yours, l. 44; don't pare them at table, l. 247. 

Norture, l. 436, deportment, manners. 

Nose, clean it, l. 39; don't pick it, l. 41. 

OCKLYF; read his translation of _De Regimine Principum_, l. 351-64. 

Oppose, l. 518, 'I oppose one, I make a tryall of his lernyng, or I layea thyng to his charge, _ie appose_. ' Palsgrave. See Towneley Mysteries, pp. 193-95. Way, in Promptorium. 

 We may bi oure law examyne hym fyrst. .. . . .. Let me _oppose_ hym . .. 

 _T. Myst_, p. 195. 

Outrage, l. 278, outrageous, beyond bounds, too talkative. _See_Malapert. 

Owers, l. 34, see _pryme_. 

Pater noster, say yours, l. 26, 77. 

Pendable, l. 455, O. , Fr. _pendable_, hangable, that deserves hanging, thats fit to be hanged. Cot. 

Poor table, men to be cheerful at, l. 253. 

Presumption, beware of, l. 492. 

Pride, beware of, l. 492. 

Print your words in your mind before you speak them, l. 282. 

Pryme & owers, l. 34. 'The _prime_ and other _hours_ are the services_Ad primam horam_, _Ad tertiam_, _Ad sextam_, and _Ad nonam_, found inthe Primer, or layman's prayer-book. They are sometimes called themiddle hours, as distinguished from Matins and Vespers. ' H. Bradshaw. 

Quaire, l. 520, 526, 532, quire, pamphlet, treatise. 

Ravenous, don't be, l. 176. 

Read eloquent books, l. 310. 

Rehersaylle, l. 288, rehearsal, repetition. 

Repeat conversations, don't, l. 288. 

Report (tale-telling) is the chief nurse of mischief, l. 135. 

Reward, l. 127, look at, watch. 

Rising, what to do on, l. 23. 

Secret, keep what you hear, l. 134. 

Sewe, l. 481, follow, pursue. 

Silence, keep, l. 140; in hall, l. 204. 

Siluerous, l. 403, O. , silvern. 

Singing lustily is good for a child, l. 304. 

Speak fair to folks, l. 60. 

Speaking, the conditions to be observed in, l. 143. 

Spoon, don't put it in your dish or on the table, l. 267. 

Surplusage, l. 518, rest, remainder. 

Syttyng, l. 302, fit, suitable. 'Syttyng or convenyent--m. _asseant . .. Aduenant_. ' Palsgrave. 

Table, how to wait at, l. 113. 

Tacches, l. 176, tache, l. 198; Fr. _tache_, a spot, staine, blemish. Cot. 

Taches, H. , teches, O. , l. 453, manners. 

Teeth, don't pick 'em with your knife, l. 248. 

Terre, l. 67; _tar_, to set on, provoke; O. Fr. _atarier_. They have_terrid_ thee to ire. Wiclif, Psalms. Sc. _tirr_, to snarl; quarrelsome, crabbed. Wedgwood. 

Thewed, l. 20, mannered. 

Towel, don't soil it, l. 263, 266. 

Traverse, l. 242, change from side to side. 

Trencher; keep yours clean, l. 269. 

Trety, l. 529, treatise. 

True as the gospel, l. 503. 

Weyne, l. 166, A. S. _wanian_, to diminish, take away. 

Wind, break not, up or down, l. 202. 

Wise man, the; his marks of a youth likely to be had, l. 104;--hiscounsel as to speaking, l. 137, 147. 

Women, always take good heed to them, l. 506. 

Wyndlese, l. 471, windlass. 

Yanglers, l. 207, chatterers. 

Ydellye, l. 315, idly. 

Ynympariable, l. 380, unequalled, L. _par_, Fr. _pareil_, equal, like.