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.
Hill’s Text.
¶ Take hede therfor, & harken what I saye,
& geve therto yowr_e_ good advertence, 16
lette not yo_u_r ere be here, & yo_u_r herte awaye,
But pute you therto besy delygence,
Laying a-p_ar_te all[e] wanton Insolence,
lernyd to be v_er_tuvs & well[e] thewed;
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] the 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 that 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.
the 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_ aduertence
Lete not your ere be here & your herte awaye 17
But put ye therto / besy diligence
Leyng_e_ aparte al wantown Insolence
Lerneth to be vertuous / and wel thewed_e_
[Sidenote: Learn good manners.]
Who wil not lerne / nedely he must be lewed 21
[4]
Leaf 1 b.
Afore alle thing_e_ / and_e_ principally
In the morenyng_e_ / whan ye vp rise
[Sidenote: On rising,]
To worshipe god_e_ / haue in memorie 24
With 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 crede
Thenne alle the day / the better shal ye spede 28
[5]
And while that ye be aboute honestly
To dresse your self / & do o[=n] your araye
[Sidenote: While dressing,]
With your felawe / wel and tretably 31
Oure lady matyns / loke that ye saye
[Sidenote: say our Lady’s Matins,]
And_e_ this obserua[=n]ce / vse ye every daye
With pryme and ouris / withouten drede
[Sidenote: Prime, and Hours.]
The blessid_e_ lady / wil quyte you your mede
[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;
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
Hill’s Text.
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;
Ne w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r bare hond no fylth fro_m_ yt feche,
ffor that 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 that ye shall[e] were, 52
Awayte well[e] that yt be so syttyng
& to yo_u_r degre semed accordyng;
Tha_n_ will[e] me_n_ say, “for sothe this child ys he
that 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 38
Purge your nose / lete noman in it see
[Sidenote: and nose;]
The vile mater / it is none honeste
Ne with your bare honde / no filth fro it fecche
[Sidenote: don’t pick it.]
For that is fowl / and an vncurtoys teche 42
[7]
Leaf 2 a.
Your hondes wesshe / it is an holsom thing_e_
Your naylis loke / they be not gety blacke
Ne suffre not hem / to be ou_er_ longe growyng
[Sidenote: Wash your hands; don’t keep your nails jet-black or too
long.]
To your araye / I warne you good hede take
That manerly ye fytte it vp and make
[Sidenote: Wear fit clothes, that fit well]
Your hood_e_. gowne. hosyn / & eke your sho
With al your aray longyng your body to 49
[8]
Kepe you clene / and lose not your gere
And or ye passe / out of your loggyng_e_
Euery garment / that ye shal on were 52
Awayte 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
[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,
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 obseruaunce
Debonarly 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
Hill’s Text.
¶ Avyce you well[e] also for any thynge,
The chyrche, of p_ra_yer ys howse & place;
be ware therfor of clappe or Iangelynge,
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
ffl C lxj.
¶ To helpe the 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 the lorde a-bove ys he,
whome to s_er_ve ys grettest lyberte.
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[12]
Auyse you wel also / for ony thinge
The chirche of prayer / is hous and place
Beware therfore / of clappe or Iangelyng_e_
[Sidenote: Don’t chatter,]
For in þ^e chirche / it is a ful grate trespaas
And a token of suche / as lackyth grace
There be ye demure / and kepe ye scilence
[Sidenote: but be silent, and serve God.]
And serue ye god / with al your diligence 84
[13]
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 betyde
Remeue not fer / ne from his presence passe 87
Knele or stonde ye / deuoutly hym besyde
[Sidenote: kneel or stand near him,]
And not to nyg[=h] your to_n_ge muste be applide
Tanswere 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 obseruance
Debonairly / with due obedyence 94
Circumspectly / with euery circumstaunce
[Sidenote: and circumspectly.]
Of poort and chere / of goodly counte[=n]ance
Remembryng_e_ wel the lord_e_ / a boue is he
Whom to serue / is grettest liberte 98
[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—’
[16]
‘Yn hert,’ he seyth, ‘who that is inconstaunte,[1]
[Sidenote 1: MS. inconstaunce]
A waveryng eye, glyddryng but sodenly
From 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,
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
Hill’s Text.
¶ And wha_n_ ye speke, loke me_n_ in the face
w_i_t_h_ sobre chere & goodly semblavnce;
Caste not eye a-side in no other_e_ place,
ffor that 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 that 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 the thyng_is_,’ the wysma_n_ sayth sekerly,
‘Off suche a wayghte that 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 semblaunce
Caste not your eye a syde / in other place 101
For that is a token of wantou[=n] inconsta_n_ce
Whiche wil appeyre your name & disaua[=n]ce
The 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
[16]
Leaf 3 b.
In herte he seith / who that is inconsta[=n]te
A 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 108
That in no place / abydeth stably
These ben þ^e signes / the wisema_n_ seith sikerly
Of suche a wight / as is vnmanerly nyce
And 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 be
Applye you for to be seruysable
[Sidenote: be attentive and tidy,]
That no defaute in you founden be
Loke / who doth best / and hym ensiewe ye
And in especyal / vse ye attendaunce
[Sidenote: specially to well-off men.]
Wherein ye shal your self best auaunce 119