[55-55: And vs graunte in Ioy to a-byde!

Say ye alle Amen for charyde in euery syde]

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

Expl.: [56: AMEN.

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

EXPLICIT. AMEN.]

[[Cam. _for the_ Explicit &c.

_read_ Expleycyt the Boke of cortesey.]]

The Lytylle Childrenes Lytil Boke or Edyllys be.

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

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

Lytyll{e} children{e}, here ye may lere Moche curtesy {a}t is wrytyn{e} here; For clerk{is} that the vij arte? cunne, Seyn{a}t curtesy from hevyn come 4 Whan Gabryell{e} oure lady grette, And Eli?abeth with mary mette.

All{e} vertues arn{e}closid{e} yn curtesye, And all{e} vices yn vylonye. 8 Loke yne hond{is} be wa.s.she clene, That no fylth{e} on thy nayles be sene.

Take {o}u no mete tyll{e} grace be seyd{e}, And tyll{e} {o}u see all{e} thyng arayed{e}. 12 Loke, my son, {a}t thow not sytte Tyll{e} e ruler of e hous the bydde; And at thy mete, yn {e} begynnyng, Loke on pore men that thow thynk, 16 For the full{e} wombe w{i}t{h}out [any faylys]

Wot full{e} lytyl [what the hungery aylys.]

Ete [not thy mete to hastely, A-byde and ete esely. 20 Tylle {o}u haue thy fulle seruyse, Touche noo messe in noo wyse.

Kerue not thy brede to thynne, Ne breke hit not on twynne: 24 The mosselle that {o}u begynnysse to touche, Cast them not in thy pouche.

Put not thy fyngerys on thy dysche, Nothyr in flesche, nothyr in fysche. 28 Put not thy mete in-to the salte, In-to thy Seler that thy salte halte,]

But ley it fayr{e} on i trencher{e} The byfore, and at is yn{e} honor{e}. 32 Pyke not yn{e} Eris ne thy nost{re}ll{is}; If {o}u do, men woll{e} sey {o}u come of cherl{is}.

Andwhyll{e} i mete yn i mouth is, Drynk ow not; for-gete not this. 36 Ete i mete by small{e} mosselles; Fylle not thy mouth as done broth.e.l.l{is}.

Pyke not i teth{e} with thy knyfe; In no company begynne ow stryfe. 40 And whan {o}u hast i potage doon{e}, Out of thy dyssh ow put thi spone.

Ne spitte ow notover thetabyll{e}, Ne therupon, for that is no ing abyll{e}. 44 Ley not yn{e} Elbowe northy fyst Vpon the tabyll{e} whyl{is} {a}t thow etist.

Bulk not as a Been{e} were yn i throte, [As a ka]rle {a}t comys oute of a cote. 48 [And thy mete be o]f grete pryce, [Be ware of hyt, or {o}u arte n]ot wyse.

[Speke noo worde stylle ne sterke; And honowre and curtesy loke {o}u kepe, 52 And at the tabylle loke {o}u make goode chere; Loke {o}u rownde not in nomannys ere.

W{i}t{h} thy fyngerys {o}u towche and taste Thy mete; And loke {o}u doo noo waste. 56 Loke {o}u laughe not, nor grenne; And w{i}t{h} moche speche {o}u mayste do synne.

Mete ne drynke loke {o}u ne spylle, But sette hit downe fayre and stylle.] 60 Kepe thy cloth clene the byforn{e}, And bere the sothow haue no scorn{e}.

Byte not i mete, but kerve itclene, Be well{e} war{e} nodrop be sene. 64 Whan {o}u etyst, gape not to wyde That i mouth be sene on ych{e} asyde.

And son, bewar{e}, I rede, ofon thyng, Blow ne{er}yn thi mete nor yn idrynk. 68 And yif thi lord drynk at at tyde, Drynk {o}u not, but hym abyde; Be it at Evyn{e}, be it at noone, Drynk {o}u not tyll{e} he haue done. 72 Vpon i trencher no fyllth{e} {o}u see, It is not honest, as I telle the; Ne drynkbehynd{e} no mannes bakke, For yf {o}u do, thow art to lakke. 76 And chese com{e} forthe, be not to gredy, Ne cutte ow not therof to hastely.

Caste not i bones ynto the flore, But ley emfayre on i trenchor{e}. 80 Kepe clene i cloth byfor{e} ealle; And sit {o}u stylle, what so be-falle, Tyll{e} grace be said vnto e ende, And tyll{e} {o}u haue wa.s.shen w{i}t{h} i frend. 84 Let the more worthy anthow Wa.s.sh to-foree, & that is i prow; And spitte not yni basyn{e}, My swete son, {a}t ow wa.s.shist yn{e}; 88 And aryse up soft & stylle, And iangyll{e} nether with Iak ne Iylle, But take i leve of the hedelowly, And ank hym w{i}t{h} thyn{e} hert hyghly, 92 And all{e} e gentyll{is}togydr{e} yn same, And bare the sothow haue no blame; Than men wyll{e}say therafter That a gentyll{e}man was heere. 96 And he {a}t dispiseth this techyng, He is not worthy, w{i}t{h}oute lesyng, Nether atgood mannes tabull{e} tositte, Nerof no worship{e} for to wytte. 100 And therfor{e}, chyldren, forcharyte, Louyth this boke though yt lytil be!

And pray for hym {a}t made it thus, That hym may helpe swete Ih{esus} 104 To lyve & dye among his frendes, And neu{er} to be combred w{i}t{h} no fendes; And geve vs grace yn Ioy to be; Amen, Amen, for charytee! 108

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

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

[Sidenotes (by line number): [3] Clerks say that courtesy came from heaven when Gabriel greeted our Lady. [7] All virtues are included in it.

[9] See that your hands and nails are clean. [11] Don't eat till grace is said, or sit down till you're told. [15] First, think on the poor; the full belly wots not what the hungry feels. [19] Don't eat too quickly. [21] Touch nothing till you are fully helped.

[23] Don't break your bread in two, [26] or put your pieces in your pocket, your fingers in the dish, or your meat in the salt-cellar.

[33] Don't pick your ears or nose, [35] or drink with your mouth full, [38] or cram it full. [39] Don't pick your teeth with your knife. [41] Take your spoon out when you've finished soup.

[43] Don't spit over or on the table, that's not proper. [45] Don't put your elbows on the table, [47] or belch as if you had a bean in your throat. [49] Be careful of good food; and be courteous and cheerful. [54] Don't whisper in any man's ear. Take your food with your fingers, and don't waste it. [57] Don't grin, or talk too much, or spill your food. [61] Keep your cloth before you. [63] Cut your meat, don't bite it. [65] Don't open your mouth too wide when you eat, [68] or blow in your food. [69] If your lord drinks, always wait till he has done. [73] Keep your trencher clean.

[75] Drink behind no man's back. [77] Don't rush at the cheese, [79] or throw your bones on the floor. [82] Sit still till grace is said [84] and you've washed your hands, [87] and don't spit in the basin. [89] Rise quietly, don't jabber, [91] but thank your host and all the company, [95] and then men will say, 'A gentleman was here!' [97] He who despises this teaching isn't fit to sit at a good man's table. [101] Children, love this little book, [103]

and pray that Jesus may help its author to die among his friends, and not be troubled with devils, but be in joy for ever. Amen!]

The Young Children's Book.

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

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

Aryse be tyme oute of thi bedde, And blysse i brest & thi forhede, 12 Than wasche thi hond{es} & thi face, Keme i hede, & Aske G.o.d g{ra}ce The to helpe in All i werkes; Thow schall spede bett{er} what so {o}u carpes. 16 Than go to e chyrch{e}, & here A messe, Ther{e} aske m{er}sy for{e} i trespa.s.se.

To whom {o}u metys come by e weye, Curtasly 'G.o.de morne' {o}u sey. 20 When {o}u hast done, go breke thy faste W{i}t{h} mete & drynke of G.o.d{e} repaste: Blysse i mouthe or {o}u it ete, The bett{er} schall{e} be i dyete. 24 Be-for{e} i mete sey {o}u i g{ra}ce, Yt ocupys bot lytell s.p.a.ce;-- For{e} oure mete, & drynke, & vs, Thanke we owre lord Ih{esu}s;-- 28 A pat{er} nost{er} & Aue mary Sey for{e} e saulys {a}t in peyn{e} ly; Than go labo{ur} as {o}u arte bownde, And be not Idyll{e} in no stounde: 32 Holy scrypto{ur} {us} it seyth To e {a}t Arte of cristen feyth, "Yff{e} {o}u labo{ur}, {o}u muste ete That w{i}t{h} i hond{es} {o}u doyst{e} gete;" 36 A byrd{e} hath weng{es} forto fle, So man hath Armes laboryd to be.

Luke {o}u be trew in word{e} & dede, Yn All{e} i werkes a{n} schall {o}u spede: 40 Treuth wyt neu{er} his mast{er} schame, Yt kepys hy{m} out off{e} sy{n}ne & blame.

The weys to heue{n} {e}i bene {us} tweyn{e}, M{er}cy & treuthe, As clerk{es} seyn{e}; 44 Who so wyll come to e lyfe of blysse, To go e weys he may not mysse.

Make no p{ro}mys bot it be G.o.de, And kepe {o}u it w{i}t{h} myght & mode; 48 For{e} eu{er}y p{ro}mys, it is dette, That w{i}t{h} no falsed muste be lette.

G.o.d & i neybores lufe all wey; Welle is e, than may {o}u sey, 52 For{e} so {o}u kepys All e lawe W{i}t{h}-oute Any fer{e}, drede, o{r} awe.

Vn-callyd go {o}u to no counsell{e}; That long{es} to e, w{i}t{h} {a}t thow melle. 56 Scorne not e pore, ne hurte no man{e}; Lerne of hy{m} {a}t the tech{e} cane; Be no gloser{e} no{r} no moker{e}, Ne no s{er}ua{n}t{es} no wey loker{e}. 60 Be not prowd, bot meke & lynd, And w{i}t{h} thi bett{er} go {o}u be-hynd.

When i bett{er} schewys his wylle, To he haue seyd {o}u muste be stylle. 64 When {o}u spekes to Any man{e}, Hand{e}, fote, & fyng{er}, kepe {o}u styll an, And luke {o}u vppe i{n} to his face, And c{ur}tase be in eu{er}y place. 68 W{i}t{h} i fyng{er} schew {o}u no thyng{e}, No{r} be not lefe to telle tydinge.

Yff Any man sey welle of e, Or of thi frend{es}, thankyd muste be. 72 Haue few word{es}, & wysly sette, For{e} so {o}u may thi worschyppe gete.

Vse no sueryng{e} no{er} lyeng{e}, Yn thi sellyng{e} & thi byeng{e}, 76 For{e} & {o}u do {o}u arte to blame, And at e last {o}u wyll{e} haue scham{e}.

Gete i gowd w{i}t{h} trewe[t]h & wy{n}ne, And kepe e out of dette & sy{n}ne. 80 Be loth to greue, & leffe to ples; Seke e pes, & lyfe in es.

Off{e} whom{e} {o}u spek{es}, wher{e} & when, A-vyse e welle, & to what men. 84 When {o}u co{m}mys vn to A dore, Sey "G.o.d be here," o{r} {o}u go ferre: W{er}-eu{er} {o}u co{m}mys, speke honestly To s{er} or dame, or {er} meny. 88 Stand, & sytte not furth-w{i}t{h}-all{e} Tyll{e} he byde e {a}t rewlys e halle; Wher{e} he bydis, {er} must {o}u sytte, And for{e} non{e} o{er} change ne flyte; 92 Sytt vp-ryght And honestly, Ete & drinke, & be feleyly, Parte w{i}t{h} hem {a}t sytes e by; Thus teches e dame c{ur}tasy. 96 Take e salt w{i}t{h} thi clen{e} knyfe; Be cold of spech, & make no stryfe; Bakbyte no man {a}t is A-wey{e}, Be glad of All{e} men wele to sey. 100 Here & se, & sey thou nought, Than schall {o}u not to p{ro}fe be brought.

W{i}t{h} mete & drynke be-for{e} e sette, Hold e plesyd, & aske no bette. 104 Wype thi mouthe when {o}u wyll drinke, Lest it foule thi copys brinke; Kepe clen{e} thi fyng{er}es, lypes, & chine, For{e} so {o}u may thi wyrschype wy{n}ne. 108 Yn i mouth when i mete is, To drinke, o{r} speke, o{r} lau?h, I-wys Dame c{ur}tasy for{e}-byd{es} it the: Bot p{ra}yse thi fare, w{er}-so-eu{er} {o}u be, 112 For{e} be it G.o.de o{r} be it badde, Yn gud worth it muste be had.

Whe{n} {o}u spyt{es}, be welle were Wher{e} so {o}u spyt{es}, ny?e or fer{e}; 116 Hold i hand be-fore thi mouth When {o}u spyt{es}, & hyde it couth.

Kepe i knyfe both clen{e} & scherpe, And be not besy forto kerpe; 120 Clens i knyfe w{i}t{h} som{e} cutte bred, Not w{i}t{h} thi cloth, As I e rede: W{i}t{h} Any fylth to fowle e clothe, A c{ur}tase man{e} he wyll{e} be lothe. 124 In i dysch sett{e} not i spone, No{er} on e brynk{e}, as vn-lernyd don{e}.

When {o}u sopys, make no no[y]se W{i}t{h} thi mouth As do boys. 128 The mete {a}t on i trencher is, Putt{e} it not in-to i dysch.

Gete e sone A voyd{er}, And sone A-voyd {o}u thi trencher{e}. 132 When thi bett{er} take e tho coppe, Drinke thi selffe, & sett{e} it vppe, Take tho coppe w{i}t{h} thi hond{es}.

Lest it fall{e} {er} As {o}u stond{es}. 136 When thi bett{er} spek{es} to the, Do off{e} thi cape & bow i kne.

At thi tabull no{er} crache ne claw, Than men wyll{e} sey {o}u arte A daw. 140 Wype not thi nose nor i nos-thirlys, Than men{e} wyll{e} sey {o}u com{e} of cherlys.

Make {o}u no{er} cate ne hond (_so in MS._) [[1a]]

Thi felow at {o}u tabull round; ( ) 144 Ne pley{e} w{i}t{h} spone, trencher{e}, ne knyffe.

Yn honesty & clenys lede {o}u thi lyffe.

This boke is made fo{r} chyld{er} ?ong{e} At the scowle {a}t byde not long{e}: 148 Sone it may be conyd & had, And make them G.o.de iff {e}i be bad.

G.o.d gyff{e} them g{ra}ce, v{er}tuos to be, For{e} than {e}i may both thryff & the. 152

Amen! q{uod} Kate.

[Sidenotes (by line number): [1] Whoever will thrive, must be courteous, and begin in his youth. [5] Courtesy came from heaven, and contains all virtues, as rudeness does all vices. [11] Get up betimes; cross yourself; wash your hands and face; comb your hair; say your prayers; [17] go to church and hear Ma.s.s. [19] Say 'Good Morning' to every one you meet. [21] Then have breakfast, first crossing your mouth. [25] Say grace, thank Jesus for your food, [29] and say an Ave for the souls in pain. [31] Then set to work, and don't be idle. [33] Scripture tells you, if you work, you must eat what you get with your hands.

[39] Be true in word and deed; [41] truth keeps a man from blame.

[44] Mercy and Truth are the two ways to heaven, fail not to go by them. [47] Make only proper promises, and keep them without falsehood. [51] Love G.o.d and your neighbours, and so fulfil all the Law. [55] Meddle only with what belongs to you. [57] Scorn not the poor; flatter no one; [60] oppress (?) not servants. Be meek, and [63] wait till your better has spoken. [65] When you speak to a man, keep still, and look him in the face. [70] Don't be a tale-bearer.

[71] Thank all who speak well of you. [73] Use few words; don't swear or lie in your dealings. [79] Earn money honestly, and keep out of debt. [81] Try to please; seek peace; mind whom you speak to and what you say. [85] Wherever you enter, say "G.o.d be here;"

and speak courteously to master and man. [89] Stand till you are told to sit at meat, and don't leave your seat before others.

[93] Sit upright; be sociable, and share with your neighbours.

[97] Take salt with a clean knife; [99] talk no scandal, but speak well of all. [101] Hear and see; don't talk. [103] Be satisfied with what's set before you. [105] Wipe your mouth before you drink; [107] keep your fingers and lips clean. [109] Don't speak with your mouth full. [112] Praise your food for whether it's good or bad, it must be taken in good part. [115] Mind where you spit, [117] and put your hand before your mouth. [119] Keep your knife clean, and don't wipe it on the cloth. [125] Don't put your spoon in the dish, or make a noise, like boys, when you sup. [129] Don't put meat off your plate into the dish, but into a voider. [133] If your superior hands you a cup, drink, but take the cup with two hands. [137] When he speaks to you, doff your cap and bend your knee. [139] Don't scratch yourself at table, wipe your nose, [145] or play with your spoon, &c. [147] This book is for young children who don't stay long at school. [151] G.o.d grant them grace to be virtuous!]