64

68

72

76

80

84

88

*92

96

And giue God thanks for thy good rest

when thou openest thyn eyes. Pray him also to prosper thee

and thyne affayres in deede : All the day after, assure thy selfe,

the better shalt thou speede.

Or from thy chamber thou doe passe,
see thou purge thy nose cleane,
And other fylthy thinges lyke case,

thou knowest what I meane.

Brush thou, and spunge thy cloaths to,

that thou that day shalt weare:

In comly sorte cast vp your Bed,

lose you none of your geare.

Make cleane your shoes, & combe your head,

and your cloathes button or lace:

And see at no tyme you forget

to wash your hands and face. Put on clothing for thy degree, and cleanly doe it make:

Bid

your fellow a good morrow
or you your way forth take.
To friends, father and mother,
looke that ye take good heede :
For any haste them reuerence,

the better shalt thou speede.
Dread the curse of Parents thyne,

it is a heauy thing:

Doe thou thy duety vnto them,

from thee contempt doe flyng. When that thy parents come in syght, doe to them reuerence:

Aske them blessing if they haue

bene long out of presence. Cleanly appoynt you your array, beware then of disdayne:

thank God

and say your prayers,

clean your nose

and other filthy things,

spunge your
clothes,

make up your bed,

clean your shoes, button your clothes,

wash your hands

and face.

Wish your mates good morning,

pay your respects to your Parents,

do them reverence when you see. them.

Have your dress clean.

Be gentle then of speech ech tyde,

good manners doe retayne.

As you passe by in towne or streete,

sadly go forth your way :

Gase you, ne scoffe, nor scold; with man

nor chyld make ye no fray.

Fayre speech gets grace, & loue showes well alwayes a gentle blood:

Foule speech deserues a double hate,

it prooues thou canst small good.
When that thou comest to the Church,
thy prayers for to say,

See thou sleepe not, nor yet talke not,
deuoutly looke thou pray,

Ne cast thyne eyes to ne fro,

as thinges thou wouldst still see ; So shall wyse men iudge thee a foole, and wanton for to bee.

When thou are in the Temple, see1

thou do thy Churchly warkes; Heare thou Gods word with diligence,

craue pardon for thy factes.
When those thinges you haue done,

repayre you to your dinner;
Draw home to your maysters presence,

there doe your true indeuour.
If it be your hap to serue, to syt,
or eate meate at the Table,
Enclyne to good maners, and to

nurture your selfe inable.
And if your soueraygne call you

wyth him to dyne or sup,
Giue him preheminence to begin,
of meate and eake of Cup.
And of this thing beware, I wish,

prease not thy selfe to hye;

Syt in the place appoynted thee,

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for that is curtesye :

sit in the place appointed you.

At Table,

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And when thou arte set, and Table

couered thee before,

Pare not thy nayles, fyle not the cloth;

see thou obserue this lore.

And if thy mayster speake to thee,

take thy cap in thy hande;

If thou syt at meate when hee talketh

to thee, see thou stande.

Leane not asyde when thou shalt speke,
vpright be thou standing;

Hold still thy hands, moue not thy feete,

beware thou of tryfling.

Stand sadly in telling thy tale.

whensoeuer thou talkest;

Tryfle thou with nothing, stand vpright

whensoeuer thou speakest.

Thwart not thou with thy fellow,

nor speake wyth hye voyce: Poynt not thy tale with thy fynger,

vse thou no such fond toyes.

Haue audyence when thou speakest,

speake with authoritye,

Else if thou speake of wisedomes lore,

little will it auayle thee. Pronounce thy speeche distinctly,

160

don't pare your nails.

When your

Master speaks to you, take off your

cap,

and stand up.

When speaking, stand upright, keep your hands and feet still

stand quiet,

and don't play with anything.

Don't cross your companions or

point your tale with your finger.

Speak with
authority.

Pronounce your words distinctly.

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be ware wyth whome ye Talke not to thy soueraygne

no tyme when he doth drinke; When he speaketh, giue audyence, and from him doe not shrinke. Before that you doe syt, see that your knyues be made bright,

Mind whom you jest with.

Listen when your master speaks.,

Have your knives bright

Your hands cleane, your nayles parde:

it is a goodlye sight.

When thou shalt speake to any man,

role not to fast thyne eye,

Gase thou not to and fro as one

thats voyde of curtesye,

For a mans countenaunce ofte tymes,

discloseth still his thought:

His lookes with his speeche, trust thou me,
will iudge him good or nought.

Looke that your knyfe be sharp & kene
to cut your meate withall;

So the more cleanlyer, be sure,

cut

your meate you shall.

Or thou put much bread in thy pottage, looke thou doe it assay:

Fill not thy spoone to full, least thou

loose somewhat by the way.

If any man eate of your dish,

crom you therein no Bread

Lest that your hands be found sweaty;
thereof take ye good heede :
They maye be corrupt, that causeth it,

for it is no fayre vsage.

Of bread, slyce out fayre morsels

to put into your pottage;

Fill it not to full of bread,

for it may be reprooueable

Least that thou leaue parte, for then to measure thou arte varyable.

And suppe not lowde of thy Pottage,

no tyme in all thy lyfe:

Dip not thy meate in the Saltseller,
but take it with thy knyfe.
When thou haste eaten thy Pottage,
doe as I shall thee wish:

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Wype cleane thy spone, I do thee reed,

leaue it not in the dish;

Lay it downe before thy trenchoure,

thereof be not afrayde;

And take heede who takes it vp,
for feare it be conuayde.

Cut not the best peece for thy selfe,

leaue thou some parte behynde:
Bee not greedye of meate and drinke;

be liberall and kynde.

Burnish no bones with thy teeth,

for that is vnseemely;

Rend not thy meate asunder,

for that swarues from curtesy ;

And if a straunger syt neare thee,

euer among now and than

Reward thou him with some daynties :

shew thy selfe a Gentleman.

If your

fellow sit from his meate

and cannot come thereto,

Then cutte for him such as thou haste;

he may lyke for thee doe.

Belche thou neare to no mans face

with a corrupt fumosytye,

But turne from such occasyon, friend,

hate such ventositye.

Eate you small morsels of meate,

not to great in quantitye;

If ye lyke such meates, yet follow not

euer your owne fantasye.

Defyle not thy lips with eating much,

as a Pigge eating draffe;

Eate softly, and drinke manerly,

take heede you doe not quaffe. Scratche not thy head with thy fyngers when thou arte at thy meate;

Wipe your spoon clean, put it down before your trencher,

and take care it is not stolen.

Don't be greedy.

Burnish no bones with your teeth,

tear not your meat asunder.

Help strangers

to dainties,

and for absent mates cut off their shares.

Belch near to no man's face.

Eat only small pieces,

and not too much, like a pig at wash.

Eat and drink quietly.

Don't scratch your head at meals.