Gud[4] bred, alle & wyin, da{er} I well say, ^e boris hede w{i}tt musterd armyd soo gay,

furma{n}te to po^tdtage,[5] w{i}tt we{n}nissu{n} fy, & ^e ho{m}buls of e dow, & all {a}t eu{er} co{m}mis in,

Cappons I-bake w{i}tt ^e pesys of ^e roow, Reysons of corrans, w{i}tt odyr{e} spysis moo,

[incomplete.]

[Footnote 1: "When you print I recommend that the first line of the MS. 'Hey, hey,' &c. should stand alone in two lines. They are the burthen of the song, and were a sort of accompaniment, or under-song, sung throughout, while an upper voice sang the words and tune. You will see numbers of the same kind in Wright's Songs and Carols printed by the Percy Society. It was common in the 14th and 15th centuries." —WM. CHAPPELL.

This Carol is printed in Reliq. Antiq., vol. ii., and is inserted here—copied from and read with the MS.—to fill up a blank page. The title is mine.]

[Footnote 2: ? sewe, stew.]

[Footnote 3: ? the name of a wyne. Recipes for the dish Brouet of Almayne (H. O.), Brewet of Almony, Breuet de Almonde, are in Household Ordinances, p.456; Forme of Cury, p. 29, and Liber Cure Cocorum, p.12.]

[Footnote 4: ? MS. End.]

[Footnote 5: Recipe for Potage de Frumenty in Household Ordinances, p.425.]

[po^tdtage: small "t" printed above "o"]

* * * * * * * * *

Errata (noted by transcriber):

The Babees Book In the printed book, some line numbers were shifted to avoid collision with the pilcrow symbol at the beginning of the stanza. For this e-text, numbers have been restored to multiples of 4.

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

[Transcriber's Note:

The following two selections, The Lytylle Childrenes Lytil Boke or Edyllys be and The Young Children's Book, were printed on facing even/odd pages. They are here presented one after the other, with sidenotes grouped at the end of each selection.

Edyllys Be is given twice: first with all collations and line numbers, then with sidenotes only.]

* * * * * * * * *

The Lytylle Childrenes Lytil Boke or Edyllys be.

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

[Text with collations: see Transcriber's Note above.

Numbered footnotes give readings from the alternative MS, Egerton 1995. Footnotes 9 (three references) and 23 each read: "The parts between square brackets [] are from the Egerton MS." This explanation is also given in an unnumbered note on a later page.

Readings in [[double brackets]] are taken from the Collations section immediately after the Preface, with the MSS. abbreviated here as Adv.: "... part of the Advocates Library MS., fol. 84, back", and Cam.: "... the Cambridge University MS. ... Hem is always written for him in this MS., and so with other words."]

Lytyll{e} children{e}, here ye may lere] Moche curtesy {a}t is wrytyn{e} here; For clerk{is} that the vij arte[gh] cunne, Seyn[1] {a}t curtesy from hevyn come 4 Whan Gabryell{e} oure lady grette, And Eli[gh]abeth with mary mette. l. 1: [[Adv. childur] l. 2: [[Adv. dele at]] [[Cam. for wrytyne read brekeyd]] l. 3: [[Adv. dele For]] l. 4: [1: Egerton MS. 1995, Synne] [[Adv. for with mary, read oure Lady]] [[Cam. for Elizabeth read cortesey]] All{e} vertues arn{e}[2] closid{e} yn curtesye, And all{e} vices yn vylonye. 8 Loke yne hond{is} be[3] wasshe clene, That no fylth{e} on[4] thy nayles be sene. Take {o}u no mete tyll{e} grace[5] be seyd{e}, And tyll{e} {o}u see all{e} thyng arayed{e}. 12 l. 7: [2: ben closyde] [[Adv. for ar read byn]] [[Cam. for closide read clodyd]] l. 9: [[Adv. prefix Forst to Loke]] [3: that thy hondys benne] [[Adv. for wasshe read wasshyd]] l. 10: [4: in] [[Cam. for on read yn]] l. 11: [5: the fyrste gracys] [[Cam. for ou read ye]] l. 12: [[Adv. for tylle read to]] [[Cam. for ou read ye]] Loke, my son, {a}t thow not sytte] Tyll{e} e ruler of e hous the bydde;[6] And at thy[7] mete, yn {e} begynnyng, Loke on[8] pore men that thow thynk, 16 For the full{e} wombe w{i}t{h}out[[9] any faylys] Wot full{e} lytyl[[9] what the hungery aylys.] l. 13: [[Adv. prefix And to Loke] l. 14: [6: the halle the bytte] [[Adv. To he y^t reweleth y^e howse y^e bytt]] [[Cam. for hous the bydde read hall e beyt]] l. 15: [7: Atte the] [[Cam. for e read they]] l. 16: [8: a-pon (and omits that)] [[Adv. put the that between loke and on]] [[Cam. for on read no]] l. 17: [[Adv. for without any faylys read withowtte fayle]] [[Cam. for any faylys read fayle]] l. 18: [[Adv. for hungery aylys read empty ayle]] [[Cam. for aylys read heydyt]] Ete[[9] not thy mete to hastely, A-byde and ete esely. 20 l. 19: [[Cam. for Ete ... hastely read yet ... hastey]] l. 20: [[Adv. for ete esely read etett eysely]] [[Cam. prefix Bot to Abyde]] [[Cam. for esely read all yesley]] 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. l. 23: [[Cam. for Kerue not thy brede read Kot they bred not]] l. 24: [[Cam. is Ne to theke bat be-tweyn]] l. 25: [[Adv. for mosselle read morsselle]] [[Cam. for mosselle read mossels]] [[Cam. for begynnysse to read dost]] l. 26: [[Adv. for in read owt of]] [[Cam. for in read owt of]] Put not thy fyngerys on thy dysche, Nothyr in flesche, nothyr in fysche. 28 l. 27: [[Cam. for on read yn]] l. 28: [[Adv. for Into thy read nor in the;]] [[Adv. for thy salte read hit]] [[Cam. 28-30 are Ne yn they met, feys, ne fleys. Put not thy mete yn ey salt seleyr]] Put not thy mete in-to the salte, In-to thy Seler that thy salte halte,]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 210, back.]]

But ley it fayr{e}[10] on i trencher{e} The byfore,[11] and at is yn{e} honor{e}. 32 l. 31: [10: Egerton MS. omits fayre] [[Adv. for fayre on i read on a]] l. 32: [11: To-fore the] [[Adv. for The byfore read Byfore the]] [[Adv. dele yne]] [[Cam. is Be-fore the, that ys worschep]] Pyke not yn{e} Eris ne thy nost{re}ll{is}; If[12] {o}u do, men woll{e} sey {o}u come of cherl{is}.[13] And[14] whyll{e} i mete yn i mouth is, Drynk ow not; for-gete not this. 36 l. 33: [[Cam. for ne read nother]] l. 34: [12: And] [13: comyste of karlys] [[Cam. for If read And]] [[Cam. for come read comest]] [[Adv. Pyke not y^i tethe wyth y^i knyfe Whyles y^u etyst be y^i lyfe]] l. 35: [14: But] [[Cam. for And read Seche]] [[Cam. put the is before yn]] Ete i mete by small{e} mosselles; [m] Fylle not thy mouth as done[15] brothell{is}. [n] Pyke not i teth{e} with thy knyfe; In no company begynne ow stryfe.[16] 40 l. 37: [[Cam. for Ete ... by read Kot ... yn]] l. 38: [15: dothe] [[Cam. prefix And to Fylle;]] [[Cam. omit done]] l. 40: [16: Whyle {o}u ettyste by thy lyffe] [[Cam. is Weyles thou hetys, bey they leyffe]] And whan {o}u hast i potage doon{e},[17] Out of thy dyssh ow put thi spone. Ne spitte ow not[18] over the[19] tabyll{e}, Ne therupon, for that is no ing abyll{e}.[20] 44 l. 41: [17: Idone] l. 42: [[Cam. for ow put read take owt]] l. 43: [18: Spette not] [19: thy] [[Cam. for Ne read Nether]] l. 44: [20: Nor a-pon hyt, for hyt ys not able] [[Cam. is For no cortesey het ys not habell]] Ley not yn{e} Elbowe nor[21] thy fyst Vpon the tabyll{e} whyl{is} {a}t thow etist.[22] Bulk not as a Been{e} were yn i throte, [As a ka]rle {a}t comys oute of a cote. 48 l. 45: [21: nothyr] [[Cam. for Elbowe ... fyst read Elbowhes ... fystys]] l. 46: [22: whyle {o}u este] [[Cam. for whylis at read wheyle]] l. 47: [[Cam. is Bolk not as a bolle yn the crofte]] l. 48: [[Cam. for karle at read charle]] [[Cam. for cote read cotte]] [[23] 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. l. 50: [[Cam. for of hyt or ou art read the or ye be]] l. 51: [[Cam. for sterke read lowde]] l. 52: [[Cam. is all of curtesy loke ye carpe]] l. 53: [[Cam. for at read all]] [[Cam. omit loke ou]] l. 54: [[Cam. for Loke ou rownde not read And loke ye]] 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. l. 55: [[Cam. omit thy]] l. 56: [[Cam. for and read ne]] [[Cam. for doo read make]] l. 57: [[Cam. for laughe not read noer laughe]] l. 58: [[Cam. for with moche speche read thow meche speke]] [[Cam. for mayst read may]] Mete ne drynke loke {o}u ne spylle, But sette hit downe fayre and stylle.] 60 l. 59: [[Cam. for first ne read ner]] [[Cam. for the second ne read not]] l. 60: [[Cam. for fayre and stylle read stere het not]]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 207.]]

Kepe thy cloth clene the byforn{e}, And bere the so[24] thow haue no scorn{e}. Byte not i mete, but kerve it[25] clene, Be well{e} war{e} no[26] drop be sene. 64 Whan {o}u etyst, gape not to wyde That i mouth be sene on ych{e} a[27] syde. l. 61: [[Cam. for thy read the]] l. 62: [24: that] l. 63: [25: cut hit] l. 64: [26: that noo] l. 66: [27: be in euery] [[Cam. omit a]] And son, bewar{e}, I rede, of[28] on thyng, Blow ne{er}[29] yn thi mete nor yn i[30] drynk. 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,[31] Drynk {o}u not tyll{e} he haue done. 72 l. 67: [28: be ware of] [[Cam. for I rede of read of j redde e of]] l. 68: [29: {o}u not] [30: mete not] [[Cam. for neer read neuer]] [[Cam. omit yn i before drynk]] l. 69: [[Cam. for at read they]] l. 71: [31: morowe, (and omits next line.)] Vpon i trencher no fyllth{e} {o}u see,[32] It is not honest, as I telle the; Ne drynk[33] behynd{e} no mannes bakke, For yf {o}u do, thow art to lakke.[34] 76 l. 73: [32: be sene] [[Cam. for ou see read be saye]] [[Cam. for ou read yow]] l. 75: [33: Drynke {o}u not] l. 76: [34: blame] [[Cam. for thow art read yow ar]] And chese com{e} forthe,[35] be not to gredy,[36] Ne cutte ow not therof to hastely.[37] Caste not i bones ynto the flore, But ley em[38] fayre on i trenchor{e}. 80 l. 77: [35: by-fore the] [36: redy] [[Cam. for forthe read before yow]] l. 78: [37: To cut there-of be not to gredy.] [[Cam. omit ow not]] l. 79: [[Cam. for ynto read yn]] l. 80: [38: hem] Kepe clene i cloth byfor{e} e[39] alle; And sit {o}u stylle, what so be-falle,[40] Tyll{e} grace be said vnto e ende, And tyll{e} {o}u haue wasshen w{i}t{h} i frend. 84 l. 81: [39: e omitted.] l. 82: [40: stylle w{i}t{h}alle] l. 83: [[Cam. for ende read hendyng]] l. 84: [[Cam. for wasshen read was]] Let the more worthy an[41] thow Wassh to-fore[42] e, & that is i prow; And spitte not yn[43] i basyn{e}, My swete son, {a}t ow wasshist yn{e}; 88 l. 85: [41: thenne] [[Cam. for worthy read wortheyor]] l. 86: [42: by-for{e}] [[Cam. for to- read be-]] [[Cam. omit &]] [[Cam. for i prow read gentyll cortesey]] l. 87: [43: Spete not on (and omits next line.)] And aryse up soft & stylle,[44] And iangyll{e} nether with Iak ne Iylle, l. 89: [[Cam. 88, 89, are omitted.]] [44: And ryse w{i}t{h} hym that sate w{i}t{h} the stylle, And thanke hym fayre and welle: Aftyr, Iangely not w{i}t{h} Iacke ne gylle.] l. 90: [[Cam. for nether read not]] [[Cam. for ne read ne with]]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 207, back.]]

But take i leve of the hede[45] lowly, And ank hym w{i}t{h} thyn{e} hert hyghly, 92 And all{e} e gentyll{is}[46] togydr{e} yn same, And bare the so[47] thow haue no blame; Than men wyll{e}[48] say therafter That a gentyll{e}man was heere. 96 l. 91: [45: lorde] [[Cam. omit i]] [[Cam. for the hede read they lorde]] l. 92: [[Cam. for hyghly read mekeley]] l. 93: [46: e gentylles omitted.] [[Cam. for togydre ynsame read yn the same manere]] l. 94: [47: soo that] [[Cam. for no blame read the same]] l. 95: [48: wylle they sey] [[Cam. for therafter read hereafter]] l. 96: [[Cam. after that add he ys]] [[Cam. for was heere read ere aftyr]] And he {a}t dispiseth this techyng, He is not worthy, w{i}t{h}oute lesyng, Nether at[49] good mannes tabull{e} to[50] sitte, Ner[51] of no worship{e} for to wytte. 100 l. 97: [[Cam. omit And]] [[Cam. for dispiseth read dispise]] l. 99: [49: Neuyr at a] [50: for to] [[Cam. for Nether read neuer]] l. 100: [51: Nothyr] [[Cam. for Ner read ne]] [[Cam. after for add sent]] And therfor{e}, chyldren, for[52] charyte, Louyth this boke though yt lytil be![53] l. 101: [52: pur] l. 102: [53: Lernythe thys boke that ys callyd Edyllys be] [[Cam. for Louyth this boke read Loren this lesen]] And pray for hym {a}t made it thus,[54] That hym may helpe swete Ih{esus} 104 To lyve & dye among his frendes, [55] And neu{er} to be combred w{i}t{h} no fendes; And geve vs grace yn Ioy to be; Amen, Amen, for charytee![55] 108 l. 103: [54: made thys] [[Cam. omit and]] [[Cam. for made read wret]] l. 106: [[Cam. is omitted.]] l. 107: [[Cam. before vs put hem and]] l. 108: [[Cam. for the first Amen read Sey all]] [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. Passages 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[gh] cunne, Seyn{a}t curtesy from hevyn come 4 Whan Gabryell{e} oure lady grette, And Eli[gh]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 wasshe 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 brothell{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 wasshen w{i}t{h} i frend. 84 Let the more worthy anthow Wassh to-foree, & that is i prow; And spitte not yni basyn{e}, My swete son, {a}t ow wasshist 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 [gh]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[gh]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 god 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 trespasse. To whom {o}u metys come by e weye, Curtasly 'gode morne' {o}u sey. 20 When {o}u hast done, go breke thy faste W{i}t{h} mete & drynke of god{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 space;— 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 gode, 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. God & 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 "god 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[gh]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 gode 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[gh]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} [gh]ong{e} At the scowle {a}t byde not long{e}: 148 Sone it may be conyd & had, And make them gode iff {e}i be bad. God 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 Mass. [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 God 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 "God 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]God grant them grace to be virtuous!]

[[Footnote 1a: ? sense, reading corrupt.]]

* * * * * * * * *

[Transcriber's Note:

The following two versions of Stans Puer ad Mensam were printed on facing even/odd pages. They are here presented twice: first as consecutive independent texts, and then in alternating stanzas. In the first version, text notes are grouped after each seven-line stanza. In the original book, the editor's sidenotes were printed only on the right-hand pages; they have been duplicated here.]

Stans Puer ad Mensam.

ASCRIBED TO JOHN LIDGATE.[[1a]]

[MS. Harl. 2251, ? about 1460 A.D., fol. 153 or 148. The parts between brackets [ ], and various readings, are from Mr Halliwell's print in Reliqui Antiqu, v. 1, p.156-8, of a 15th-century MS. Q. [Gamma]. 8, fol. 77, r^o, in the Library of Jesus College, Cambridge.]

[[Footnote 1a: Lowndes calls the original of Stans Puer ad Mensam the Carmen Juvenile of Sulpitius.]]

[My dere childe, first thiself enable With all thin herte to vertuous disciplyne Afor thi soverayne standing at the table, Dispose thi youth aftir my doctryne 4 To all norture thi corage to enclyne. First when thu spekist be not rekles, Kepe feete and fingeris and handes still in pese.]

[Sidenote: When you stand before your sovereign, speak not recklessly, and keep your hands still.]

+Be symple of chiere, cast nat thyn ye aside, 8 Agenst the post lete nat thy bak abyde; Gaase nat aboute, to{ur}nyng ou{er}all{e}; Make nat thy myrro{ur} also of the wall{e}, Pyke nat thy nose, and in especiall{e} 12 Be right wele ware, and sette hieron thi thought, By-fore thy sou{er}ayne cracche ne rubbe nought.

[Sidenote: Don't stare about, lean against a post, look at the wall, pick your nose, or scratch yourself.]

Who spekith{e} to the in any man{er} place, Rudely[1] cast nat thyn ye[2] adowne, 16 But with a sadde chiere loke hym in the face; Walke demurely by strete in the towne, Advertise the with{e} wisdom and Reasoun{e}. With{e} dissolute laughters do thow non offence 20 To-fore thy sou{er}ayn, whiles he is in presence.

[Sidenote: When spoken to, don't lumpishly look at the ground. Walk demurely in the streets, and don't laugh before your lord.]

[1: Rel. Ant., Lumbisshly] [2: hede]

Pare clene thy nailes, thyn handes wassh{e} also To-fore mete, and whan thow dooest arise; Sitte in that place thow art assigned to; 24 Prease nat to hye in no man{er} wise; And til thow se afore the thy service, Be nat to hasty on brede for to byte, Of gredynesse lest men wolde the endwyte.[3] 28

[Sidenote: Clean your nails and wash your hands. Sit where you're told to, and don't be too hasty to begin eating.]

[3: a-wite.]

Grennyng and mowes at the table eschowe; Cry nat to lowde; kepe honestly silence; To enboce thy Iowis with{e} mete[4] is nat diewe; With{e} ful mowth{e} speke nat, lest thow do offence; 32 Drynk nat bretheles[5] for hast ne necligence; Kepe clene thy lippes from fat of flessh{e} or fissh{e}; Wype clene[6] thi spone, leve it nat in thy dissh{e}.

[Sidenote: Don't grin, shout, or stuff your jaws with food, or drink too quickly. Keep your lips clean, and wipe your spoon.]

[4: brede it] [5: bridlid] [6: fayre]

Of brede I-byten no soppis that thow make; 36 In ale nor wyne with{e} hande leve no fattenes; With{e} mowth{e} enbrewed thy cuppe thow nat take; Enbrewe[7] no napery for no rekelesnes; For to souppe [loude] is agenst gentiles; 40 [N]eu{er} at mete begynne thow nat[8] stryf; Thi teth{e} also thow pike nat with{e} no knyf.

[Sidenote: Don't make sops of bread, or drink with a dirty mouth. Don't dirty the table linen, or pick your teeth with your knife.]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 153, back.]]

[7: Foul] [8: be warre gynne no]

Of honest myrth{e} late be thy daliaunce; Swere none othes, speke no ribawdrye; 44 The best morsel, have in remembraunce, Hole to thyself alwey do nat applie; Part with{e} thy felaw, for that is curtesie: Laade nat thy trencho{ur} with{e} many remyssailes; 48 And from blaknes alwey kepe thy nayles.

[Sidenote: Don't swear or talk ribaldry, or take the best bits; share with your fellows. Eat up your pieces, and keep your nails clean.]

Of curtesye also agenst the lawe, With{e} sowne[9] dishonest for to do offence; Of old surfaytes abrayde nat thy felawe; 52 Toward thy sou{er}ayne alwey thyn aduertence; Play with{e} no knyf, take heede to my sentence; At mete and soupp{er} kepe the stille and soft; Eke to and fro meve nat thy foote to oft. 56

[Sidenote: It's bad manners to bring up old complaints. Don't play with your knife, or shuffle your feet about.]

[9: Which sou]

Droppe nat thi brest with{e} sawce ne with{e} potage; Brynge no knyves vnskoured to the table; Fil nat thy spone, lest in the cariage It went beside, whiche were nat comendable; 60 Be quyke and redy, meke and s{er}uisable, Wele awaityng to fulfille anone What that thy sou{er}ayn{e} comav[{n}]dith{e} the to be done.

[Sidenote: Don't spill your broth on your chest, or use dirty knives, or fill your spoon too full. Be quick to do whatever your lord orders.]

And whereso eu{er} that thow dyne or soupe, 64 Of gentilesse take salt with{e} thy knyf; And be wele ware thow blow nat in the cuppe. Reu{er}ence thy felawe, gynne with{e} hym no stryf; Be thy power{e} kepe pees al thy lyf. 68 Interrupt nat, where so thow wende, None other mans tale, til he have made an ende;

[Sidenote: Take salt with your knife; don't blow in your cup, or begin quarrels. Interrupt no man in his story.]

With{e} thy fyngres make[10] thow nat thy tale; Be wele avised, namly in tendre age, 72 To drynk by mesure both{e} wyne and ale; Be nat copious also of langage; As tyme requyrith{e}, shewe out thy visage, To gladde ne to sory, but kepe atwene tweyne, 76 For losse or lucre or any case sodayne.

[Sidenote: Drink wine and ale in moderation. Don't talk too much, but keep a middle course.]

[Sidenote: [Fol. 154 or 149.]]

[10: Rel. Ant., marke]

Be meke in mesure, nat hasti, but tretable; Ou{er} moche is nat worth{e} in no man{er} thyng; To children it longith{e} nat to be [vengeable,[11]] 80 Sone meeved and sone forgyvyng; And as it is remembrid bi[12] writyng, Wrath{e} of children is sone ou{er}gone, With{e} an apple the p{ar}ties be made atone. 84

[Sidenote: Be gentle and tractable, but not too soft. Children must not be revengeful; their anger is appeased with a bit of apple.]

[11: MS. Harl., tretable] [12: Rel. Ant., by olde]

In children werre[13] now myrth{e} and now debate, In theyr quarel no grete violence; Now pley, now wepyng, sielde in one estate; To theyr playntes gyve no credence; 88 A Rodde refo{ur}myth{e} al theyr insolence; In theyr corage no Ranco{ur} doth{e} abyde; Who sparith{e} the yerd, al vertu set aside.

[Sidenote: Children's quarrels are first play, then crying; don't believe their complaints; give 'em the rod. Spare that, and you'll spoil all.]

[13: Rel. Ant., In childre]

LENVOYE.

Go, litel bille, bareyn of eloquence, 92 Pray yonge children that the shal see or Reede, Though{e} thow be compendious of sentence, Of thi clauses for to taken heede, Whiche to al vertu shal theyr yowth{e} leede. 96 Of the writyng, though{e} ther be no date, If ought be mysse,—worde, sillable, or dede,— Put al the defaute vpon Iohn{e} Lydegate.

[Sidenote: Young children, pray take heed to my little ballad, which shall lead you into all virtues. My mistakes I submit to correction.]

* * * * * * * * *

The Book of Curteisie

That is Clepid

Stans Puer ad Mensam.

[Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 A.D., page 150, back. Part written as prose.]

+Mi dere sone, first i silf able w{i}t{h} al in herte to vertuose discipline,— A-fore i souereyn stondinge at e table Dispose ou {e}e aftir my doctryne— 4 To al nortur i corage to encline. First while ou spekist, be not richelees; Kepe boe fyngir and hond stille in pees;

[Sidenote: When you stand before your sovereign, speak not recklessly, and keep your hands still.]

[Sidenote: [Page 151.]]

+Be symple in cheer; caste not i looke a-side, 8 gase not about, t{ur}nynge i si[gh]t ou{er}al. a[gh]en e post lete not i bak abide, nei{er} make i myrro{ur} also of e wal. Pike not pi nose; & moost in especial 12 be weel waar, sette her-on i ou[gh]t, to-fore i sou{er}eyn cratche ne picke {e}e nou[gh]t.

[Sidenote: Don't stare about, lean against a post, look at the wall, pick your nose, or scratch yourself.]

Who-so speke to {e}e in ony man{er} place, lu{m}pischli caste not in heed a-dou{n}, 16 but w{i}t{h} a sad cheer loke him in e face. walke demurely bi streetis in e tou{n}, And take good hede bi wisdom & resou{n} at bi no wantowne lau[gh]inge {o}u do noo{n} offence 20 To-fore i sou{er}eyne while he is i{n} p{re}sence.

[Sidenote: When spoken to, don't lumpishly look at the ground. Walk demurely in the streets, and don't laugh before your lord.]

+Pare clene i nailis; i{n} hondis waische also to-fore i mete, [&] wha{n}ne ou doist arise. sitte {o}u in {a}t place {a}t {o}u art a-signed to; 24 Prece not to hie in no maner wise; And wha{n}ne ou seest afore {e}e i seruice, be not to hasti upon breed to bite lest men {er}of Do ee edwite. 28

[Sidenote: Clean your nails and wash your hands. Sit where you're told to, and don't be too hasty to begin eating.]

[Sidenote: [Page 152.]]

+Gre{n}nynge & mowy{n}ge at i table eschewe; Crie not to lowde: honestli kepe silence. To enbrace i iowis w{i}t{h} breed, it is not dewe; w{i}t{h} ful mou speke not lest {o}u do offence; 32 Drinke not bridelid for haste ne necligence; Kepe clene i lippis from fleisch & fische; Wipe faire i spoon; leue it not i{n} i dische.

[Sidenote: Don't grin, shout, or stuff your jaws with food, or drink too quickly. Keep your lips clean, and wipe your spoon.]

+Of breed w{i}t{h} i tee no soppis ou make; 36 Lowde for to soupe is a[gh]en gentilnes: W{i}t{h} mou enbrowide i cuppe {o}u not take, In ale ne i{n} wiyn w{i}t{h} hond leue no fatnes; Defoule not e naprie bi no richelesnes. 40 Be waar {a}t at e mete {o}u bigy{n}ne no striif; i tee also at e table picke w{i}t{h} no knyf.

[Sidenote: Don't make sops of bread, or drink with a dirty mouth. Don't dirty the table linen, or pick your teeth with your knife.]

+Of honest mire eu{er}e be i daliaunce; Swere noo{n} oois; speke no ribaudie. 44 e beste morsels,—haue is i{n} reme{m}brau{n}ce,— Holli alwey i silf to take do not applie. P{ar}te w{i}t{h} i felawis, for at is curteisie. Lete not i trencho{ur} be w{i}t{h} many morsels; 48 And fro blaknes kepe weel i nailis.

[Sidenote: Don't swear or talk ribaldry, or take the best bits; share with your fellows. Eat up your pieces, and keep your nails clean.]

[Sidenote: [Page 153.]]

+Of curtesie it is a[gh]en e lawe, W{i}t{h} dishoneste, sone, for to do difence; Of oolde forfetis vpbraide not i felawe; 52 Towarde i sou{er}eyn do eu{er}e reu{er}ence. Pleie w{i}t{h} no knif, take hede to my sentence; At mete & at sop{er} kepe ee stille & softe, And eek to & fro meeue not i fee to ofte. 56

[Sidenote: It's bad manners to bring up old complaints. Don't play with your knife, or shuffle your feet about.]

+Droppe n{o}t i brest w{i}t{h} seew & o{er} potage, Bri{n}ge no foule knyues vnto e table; Fille not i spoon lest i{n} e cariage It scheede bi side, it were not co{m}mendable. 60 Be quik & redi, meke & seruiable, Weel awaiti{n}ge to fulfille anoo{n} What {a}t i sou{er}eyn co{m}maundi to be doon.

[Sidenote: Don't spill your broth on your chest, or use dirty knives, or fill your spoon too full. Be quick to do whatever your lord orders.]

+And whe{re}-so-eu{er}e {o}u be to digne or to suppe, 64 Of gentilnes take salt w{i}t{h} i knyf, {and} be weel waar {o}u blowe n{o}t i{n} e cuppe. Reu{er}ence i felawis; bigy{n}ne w{i}t{h} he{m} no strijf; To i power kepe pees al i lijf. 68 Intrippe no ma{n} whe{re} so at ou wende, No man in his tale, til he haue maade an eende.

[Sidenote: Take salt with your knife; don't blow in your cup, or begin quarrels. Interrupt no man in his story.]

[Sidenote: [Page 154.]]

W{i}t{h} i fyngris marke n{o}t i tale; be weel avysid, & nameli in tendir age, 72 To dri{n}ke mesurabli boe wiyn & ale. Be n{o}t to copiose of langage; As tyme req{ui}ri schewe out i visage, To glad, ne to sory, b{u}t kepe {e}e euene bitwene 76 For los, or lucre, or ony case sodene.

[Sidenote: Drink wine and ale in moderation. Don't talk too much, but keep a middle course.]

+Be soft i{n} mesure, not hasti, but treteable; Ouer soft is nou[gh]t in no maner ing To childre{n} longi not to be ve{n}geable, 80 Soone meued and soone fi[gh]tinge; And as it is reme{m}brid bi writynge, wrae of childre{n} is ou{er}come soone, W{i}t{h} e p{ar}tis of an appil be{n} made at oon. 84

[Sidenote: Be gentle and tractable, but not too soft. Children must not be revengeful; their anger is appeased with a bit of apple.]

+In childre{n} werre is now mire & now debate, In her quarel is no violence, now pleie, now wepi{n}ge, & seelde i{n} oon state; to her pleyntis [gh]eue no credence; 88 A rodde reforme al her necligence; in her corage no ranco{ur} doo abide, who {a}t spari e rodde all u{er}tues setti a-side.

[Sidenote: Children's quarrels are first play, then crying; don't believe their complaints; give 'em the rod. Spare that, and you'll spoil all.]

[Sidenote: [Page 155.]]

+A! litil balade, voide of eloquence, 92 I p{ra}ie [gh]{o}u [gh]onge children {a}t is schal se & rede, ou[gh] [gh]e be copious of sentence, [Gh]it to ese clausis for to take hede Which al i{n}to v{er}tues schal [gh]o{ur}e [gh]oue lede. 96 In is writynge, ou[gh] er be no date, Yf ou[gh]t be mys i{n} word, sillable, or dede, I submitte me to correcciou{n} w{i}t{h}oute ony debate.

[Sidenote: Young children, pray take heed to my little ballad, which shall lead you into all virtues. My mistakes I submit to correction.]

Thus eendith e book of curteisie {a}t is clepid stans puer ad mensam.

* * * * * * * * *

Stans Puer ad Mensam

[Combined texts omitting all notes: see Transcriber's Note at beginning of selection. Lines are numbered by multiples of 7.]

[My dere childe, first thiself enable With all thin herte to vertuous disciplyne Afor thi soverayne standing at the table, Dispose thi youth aftir my doctryne To all norture thi corage to enclyne. First when thu spekist be not rekles, Kepe feete and fingeris and handes still in pese.] 7

+Mi dere sone, first i silf able w{i}t{h} al in herte to vertuose discipline,— A-fore i souereyn stondinge at e table Dispose ou {e}e aftir my doctryne— To al nortur i corage to encline. First while ou spekist, be not richelees; Kepe boe fyngir and hond stille in pees; 7

+Be symple of chiere, cast nat thyn ye aside, Agenst the post lete nat thy bak abyde; Gaase nat aboute, to{ur}nyng ou{er}all{e}; Make nat thy myrro{ur} also of the wall{e}, Pyke nat thy nose, and in especiall{e} Be right wele ware, and sette hieron thi thought, By-fore thy sou{er}ayne cracche ne rubbe nought. 14

+Be symple in cheer; caste not i looke a-side, gase not about, t{ur}nynge i si[gh]t ou{er}al. a[gh]en e post lete not i bak abide, nei{er} make i myrro{ur} also of e wal. Pike not pi nose; & moost in especial be weel waar, sette her-on i ou[gh]t, to-fore i sou{er}eyn cratche ne picke {e}e nou[gh]t. 14

Who spekith{e} to the in any man{er} place, Rudely cast nat thyn ye adowne, But with a sadde chiere loke hym in the face; Walke demurely by strete in the towne, Advertise the with{e} wisdom and Reasoun{e}. With{e} dissolute laughters do thow non offence To-fore thy sou{er}ayn, whiles he is in presence. 21

Who-so speke to {e}e in ony man{er} place, lu{m}pischli caste not in heed a-dou{n}, but w{i}t{h} a sad cheer loke him in e face. walke demurely bi streetis in e tou{n}, And take good hede bi wisdom & resou{n} at bi no wantowne lau[gh]inge {o}u do noo{n} offence To-fore i sou{er}eyne while he is i{n} p{re}sence. 21

Pare clene thy nailes, thyn handes wassh{e} also To-fore mete, and whan thow dooest arise; Sitte in that place thow art assigned to; Prease nat to hye in no man{er} wise; And til thow se afore the thy service, Be nat to hasty on brede for to byte, Of gredynesse lest men wolde the endwyte. 28

+Pare clene i nailis; i{n} hondis waische also to-fore i mete, [&] wha{n}ne ou doist arise. sitte {o}u in {a}t place {a}t {o}u art a-signed to; Prece not to hie in no maner wise; And wha{n}ne ou seest afore {e}e i seruice, be not to hasti upon breed to bite lest men {er}of Do ee edwite. 28

Grennyng and mowes at the table eschowe; Cry nat to lowde; kepe honestly silence; To enboce thy Iowis with{e} mete is nat diewe; With{e} ful mowth{e} speke nat, lest thow do offence; Drynk nat bretheles for hast ne necligence; Kepe clene thy lippes from fat of flessh{e} or fissh{e}; Wype clene thi spone, leve it nat in thy dissh{e}. 35

+Gre{n}nynge & mowy{n}ge at i table eschewe; Crie not to lowde: honestli kepe silence. To enbrace i iowis w{i}t{h} breed, it is not dewe; w{i}t{h} ful mou speke not lest {o}u do offence; Drinke not bridelid for haste ne necligence; Kepe clene i lippis from fleisch & fische; Wipe faire i spoon; leue it not i{n} i dische. 35

Of brede I-byten no soppis that thow make; In ale nor wyne with{e} hande leve no fattenes; With{e} mowth{e} enbrewed thy cuppe thow nat take; Enbrewe no napery for no rekelesnes; For to souppe [loude] is agenst gentiles; [N]eu{er} at mete begynne thow nat stryf; Thi teth{e} also thow pike nat with{e} no knyf. 42

+Of breed w{i}t{h} i tee no soppis ou make; Lowde for to soupe is a[gh]en gentilnes: W{i}t{h} mou enbrowide i cuppe {o}u not take, In ale ne i{n} wiyn w{i}t{h} hond leue no fatnes; Defoule not e naprie bi no richelesnes. Be waar {a}t at e mete {o}u bigy{n}ne no striif; i tee also at e table picke w{i}t{h} no knyf. 42

Of honest myrth{e} late be thy daliaunce; Swere none othes, speke no ribawdrye; The best morsel, have in remembraunce, Hole to thyself alwey do nat applie; Part with{e} thy felaw, for that is curtesie: Laade nat thy trencho{ur} with{e} many remyssailes; And from blaknes alwey kepe thy nayles. 49

+Of honest mire eu{er}e be i daliaunce; Swere noo{n} oois; speke no ribaudie. e beste morsels,—haue is i{n} reme{m}brau{n}ce,— Holli alwey i silf to take do not applie. P{ar}te w{i}t{h} i felawis, for at is curteisie. Lete not i trencho{ur} be w{i}t{h} many morsels; And fro blaknes kepe weel i nailis. 49

Of curtesye also agenst the lawe, With{e} sowne dishonest for to do offence; Of old surfaytes abrayde nat thy felawe; Toward thy sou{er}ayne alwey thyn aduertence; Play with{e} no knyf, take heede to my sentence; At mete and soupp{er} kepe the stille and soft; Eke to and fro meve nat thy foote to oft. 56

+Of curtesie it is a[gh]en e lawe, W{i}t{h} dishoneste, sone, for to do difence; Of oolde forfetis vpbraide not i felawe; Towarde i sou{er}eyn do eu{er}e reu{er}ence. Pleie w{i}t{h} no knif, take hede to my sentence; At mete & at sop{er} kepe ee stille & softe, And eek to & fro meeue not i fee to ofte. 56

Droppe nat thi brest with{e} sawce ne with{e} potage; Brynge no knyves vnskoured to the table; Fil nat thy spone, lest in the cariage It went beside, whiche were nat comendable; Be quyke and redy, meke and s{er}uisable, Wele awaityng to fulfille anone What that thy sou{er}ayn{e} comav[{n}]dith{e} the to be done. 63

+Droppe n{o}t i brest w{i}t{h} seew & o{er} potage, Bri{n}ge no foule knyues vnto e table; Fille not i spoon lest i{n} e cariage It scheede bi side, it were not co{m}mendable. Be quik & redi, meke & seruiable, Weel awaiti{n}ge to fulfille anoo{n} What {a}t i sou{er}eyn co{m}maundi to be doon. 63

And whereso eu{er} that thow dyne or soupe, Of gentilesse take salt with{e} thy knyf; And be wele ware thow blow nat in the cuppe. Reu{er}ence thy felawe, gynne with{e} hym no stryf; Be thy power{e} kepe pees al thy lyf. Interrupt nat, where so thow wende, None other mans tale, til he have made an ende; 70

+And whe{re}-so-eu{er}e {o}u be to digne or to suppe, Of gentilnes take salt w{i}t{h} i knyf, {and} be weel waar {o}u blowe n{o}t i{n} e cuppe. Reu{er}ence i felawis; bigy{n}ne w{i}t{h} he{m} no strijf; To i power kepe pees al i lijf. Intrippe no ma{n} whe{re} so at ou wende, No man in his tale, til he haue maade an eende. 70

With{e} thy fyngres make thow nat thy tale; Be wele avised, namly in tendre age, To drynk by mesure both{e} wyne and ale; Be nat copious also of langage; As tyme requyrith{e}, shewe out thy visage, To gladde ne to sory, but kepe atwene tweyne, For losse or lucre or any case sodayne. 77

W{i}t{h} i fyngris marke n{o}t i tale; be weel avysid, & nameli in tendir age, To dri{n}ke mesurabli boe wiyn & ale. Be n{o}t to copiose of langage; As tyme req{ui}ri schewe out i visage, To glad, ne to sory, b{u}t kepe {e}e euene bitwene For los, or lucre, or ony case sodene. 77

Be meke in mesure, nat hasti, but tretable; Ou{er} moche is nat worth{e} in no man{er} thyng; To children it longith{e} nat to be [vengeable,] Sone meeved and sone forgyvyng; And as it is remembrid bi writyng, Wrath{e} of children is sone ou{er}gone, With{e} an apple the p{ar}ties be made atone. 84

+Be soft i{n} mesure, not hasti, but treteable; Ouer soft is nou[gh]t in no maner ing To childre{n} longi not to be ve{n}geable, Soone meued and soone fi[gh]tinge; And as it is reme{m}brid bi writynge, wrae of childre{n} is ou{er}come soone, W{i}t{h} e p{ar}tis of an appil be{n} made at oon. 84

In children werre now myrth{e} and now debate, In theyr quarel no grete violence; Now pley, now wepyng, sielde in one estate; To theyr playntes gyve no credence; A Rodde refo{ur}myth{e} al theyr insolence; In theyr corage no Ranco{ur} doth{e} abyde; Who sparith{e} the yerd, al vertu set aside. 91

+In childre{n} werre is now mire & now debate, In her quarel is no violence, now pleie, now wepi{n}ge, & seelde i{n} oon state; to her pleyntis [gh]eue no credence; A rodde reforme al her necligence; in her corage no ranco{ur} doo abide, who {a}t spari e rodde all u{er}tues setti a-side. 91

LENVOYE.

Go, litel bille, bareyn of eloquence, Pray yonge children that the shal see or Reede, Though{e} thow be compendious of sentence, Of thi clauses for to taken heede, Whiche to al vertu shal theyr yowth{e} leede. Of the writyng, though{e} ther be no date, If ought be mysse,—worde, sillable, or dede,— Put al the defaute vpon Iohn{e} Lydegate. 99

+A! litil balade, voide of eloquence, I p{ra}ie [gh]{o}u [gh]onge children {a}t is schal se & rede, ou[gh] [gh]e be copious of sentence, [Gh]it to ese clausis for to take hede Which al i{n}to v{er}tues schal [gh]o{ur}e [gh]oue lede. In is writynge, ou[gh] er be no date, Yf ou[gh]t be mys i{n} word, sillable, or dede, I submitte me to correcciou{n} w{i}t{h}oute ony debate. 99

Thus eendith e book of curteisie {a}t is clepid stans puer ad mensam.

* * * * * * * * *

Errata (noted by transcriber):

The Lytylle Childrenes Lytil Boke, collations: l. 59: [[CU for first ne read ner]] [text reads "fist" for "first"]

* * * * * * * * *

The Notes to the Book of Curtasye originally appeared in this location, immediately before the Index. They have been moved to accompany the primary text.

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

[Transcriber's Note:

The Table of Contents is repeated here in slightly abbreviated form for convenience in using the Index. All verse selections have continuous line numbers; the exact page number is not needed. References in the form "lineB" are to the "ABC" selections, "Aristotle" and "Lerne or Be Lewde". Items marked [[added by editor]] are from the "Additions to Index" at the end of this selection.

Incorrect page numbers are shown in [[double brackets]] at the end of the line, typically in the form [[258 for 261]].

The paragraph beginning "To save the repetition..." is from the original text.]

Forewords, or General Preface i Education in Early England iv Cleanliness, or Dirt, of Men, Houses, &c. lxiii Notice of the separate Poems lxviii Preface to Russell's Boke of Nurture lxix Collations and Corrections xcii John Russell's Boke of Nurture 1 Notes thereon 84 Lawrens Andrewe on Fish 113 Wilyam Bulleyn on Boxyng and Neckeweede 124 Andrew Borde on Sleep, Rising, and Dress 128 William Vaughan's Fifteen Directions to preserve Health 133 The Dyet for every Day (Sir John Harington's) 138 On Rising, Diet, and Going to Bed (from the same) 140 Recipes (for Fritters, Jussell, and Mawmeny) 145 Recipes (for Hares and Conies in Civeye, and for Doucettes) 146 Wynkyn de Worde's Boke of Keruynge 147 Notes thereon 173 The Boke Of Curtasye 175 The Booke Of Demeanor 207 Bp. Grossetest's Household Statutes 215 Stanzas and Couplets of Counsel 219 The Schoole Of Vertue 221 Whate-ever thow sey, avyse thee welle! 244 A Dogg Lardyner, & a Sowe Gardyner 246 Maxims in -ly 247 Roger Ascham's Advice to Lord Warwick's Servant 248 The Babees Book 250 Lerne or be Lewde 258 The A B C of Aristotle 260 Vrbanitatis 262 The Boris Hede furst 264* The Lytylle Childrenes Lytil Boke, or Edyllys be (left-hand pages) 265-273 The Young Children's Book (right-hand pages) 266-274 Stans Puer ad Mensam (left-hand pages) 275-281 Stans Puer ad Mensam (right-hand pages) 276-282 Notes to the Boke of Curtasye, &c. 283

Items from the Postscript are not included in the Index

* * * * * * * * *

INDEX.

To save the repetition of p. and l. for page and line, I have adopted Mr Morris's plan, in his Chaucer Glossary, of putting a / between the numbers of the page and line, so that 5 / 115 stands for page 5, line 115. Where no line is named, then p. for page is prefixed. The French references are to Cotgrave, except where otherwise specified. The Index, though long, does not pretend to completeness. The explanations of words given in the notes to the text are not repeated here.

Abbots of Westminster & Tintern not to sit together, 76/1141-4.

Abbot with a mitre, 70/1013, 72/1051; without one, l.1015; 72/1059.

A B C of Aristotle, p.260, p.258. [[258 for 261]]

A bofe, 216/9, above.

Abrayde, 277/52, upbraid.

Abremon, a fish, p.113.

A-brode, 62/906, spread open.

Abstinence, 8/108; 153/6.

Abylle, 267/44, fit, convenient, beseeming; L. habilis, suitable, fit.

Accounts, yearly, taken to the Auditor, 196/590.

Achatis, 201/555, purchases. Fr. achet, a bargaine, or purchase. Cotgrave.

Addes, 153/11, adze.

Aduertence, p.277, attention, respect, reverence.

Affeccion, 52/763, disposition.

After-dinner nap, 65/947-54, to be taken standing against a cupboard, p.128.

Ages of man, the four, p.53, p.104.

Ahuna, a monster of the sea, p.114.

Alay, 16/232, temper.

Alaye, p.151, carve.

Aldermen, the old, rank above the young, 77/1157.

Ale; is to be 5 days old, 12/178; p.92; 154/19. Fr. Gutale ou Guttale. Ale, good Ale. Cot.

Ale or wine, the sauce for capons, 26/411.

Algate, 26/400, always.

Aliene, 75/1109, foreigners.

Alle, p.216, No. ix. hall.

Allhallows Day, fires in hall begin on, 189/393.

Allhallowsday, 205/837.

Alloft, 69/996, above, over the vessel of herbs.

Almandes, 5/74, almonds.

Almond, 44/625, a whelk's operculum.

Almonds, good against sour food, 8/102; eat it with raw fruit, 153/1.

Almond, iardyne, cream of, 52/744; cream and milk of, 35/520; cream of, 49/705; 56/825; 157/8; p.167, last line.

Almoner, his duties, 201/729; to remove a towel, 204/814.

Alms to be given to the poor, p.216, No. viii.

Alms-dish, 23/346; 200/687; 201/730; loaf for, 202/731; it has the leavings in the lord's cup, 203/787, and a piece of everything he is served with, 204/799. See John Fitz Roberts's account for altering and ornamenting an almsdish for Hen. VI., that belonged to the Duk d'Excestre, in Rymer X. 388, col. 1.

Aloes epatick, 135/12; Fr. hepatique, Liuer-helping; comforting a whole, or curing a diseased, liuer. Cot.

Als, 197/599, also.

Altar, minister at the high, with both hands, 182/167.

Alycaunt, p.86, p.89, a wine.

Amber, 141/3; adj. 49/699.

Amberdegrece, 132/9, a scent.

Angel and 3 Shepherds, device of, 49/702.

Anger, avoid, 236/764.

Anhonest, 180/96, unmannerly, improper; 180/124, unpolite.

Annaunciande, 201/705, announcing, who announces guests?

Answer sensibly, 252/71.

Answer, servants mustn't, 215/13.

Ape tied with a clog, 180/108.

Apparel, rules for, 214/159, &c.

Apple fritter, 33/502, &c.

Apple, a raw, cures indigestion, 153/5; and the fumes of drink, 8/105.

Apples, 52/757; 55/813; 152/19. "The dyvell choke hym, he hath eaten all the appels alone." Palsgrave, p.484, col. 2.

Apples and pears roasted, 164/17, &c.

[[Citation could not be identified. Roast apples and pears are mentioned together at 152/26 and 6/80.]]

Apprentise of lawe, rank of, 73/1070.

Apprentices, thievish, hanging good for, p.125.

Apys mow, 179/59; apes grimace.

Aquarius, p.199, the Ewerer or Water-bearer.

Aquetons, 197/597, acquittance.

Ar, 201/710, before.

Archbishop, 72/1047.

Archbishop ranks with a prince, 70/1010; is to dine alone, 171/4.

Archdeacon, rank of, 70/1016; 72/1060.

Areche, 19/290, retch?

Areise, 43/609, tear off?

Arere, 26/407, cut.

Areyse, 27/418, 425; 28/429, &c.; tear or cut off.

A B C, p.260, p.258.

Arm, don't claw it, 193/329.

Armes, servauntes of, 156/28, ? in livery, or men-at-arms.

Artificers, rich; rank of, 71/1037.

Asche, 45/643, ask.

Ashore, 5/71, slantwise, aslope; 20/299, astraddle.

Asise, 60/879, way, manner.

Aslout, 39/560; aslant.

Aspidochelon, a great whale-fisshe, p.114.

Assaying bread, by the panter, 200/691; water, 201/702; meat, by the sewer, 202/764. See Credence, and Tasting.

Asseles, 196/566, sets the lord's seal to.

Astate, 185/276; rank.

At, 256/182, with; 184/242, that.

Aer, 200/689, either, each.

Attend at school, 209/21.

Attirling, 287/41, shrew; A.S. Attor, Ater, poison.

Atwytynge, 18/274, twitting, blaming others.

Audibly, speak, 235/687.

Auditor, the lord's, all officers to account to, once a year, 196/587-94.

Aunterose, p.260, l. A, venturesome.

Aurata (a fish), p.114.

Autumn, the device of, 53/766; p.54.

Ave, 48/692.

Ave-Maria, 181/147.

Aveyner, his duties, p.197.

Avise, 35/525, opinion, learning.

Awoydes, 204/821, removes, puts off.

Ayselle, 42/596, a kind of vinegar.

Baase (the fish), 58/842. See Base.

Babulle, 1/12. Au fol la marotte. Prov. We say also, Giue the foole his bable; or what's a foole without a bable? Cotgrave, under fol.

Back; turn it on no one, 253/90; not on him you give a cup to, 180/121.

Backbite no man, 272/99.

Bacon and peas, 54/797.

Bailiffs of a city, rank of, 71/1033.

Bailiffs of farms, &c., to be talked to pleasantly, p.218, No. xvi.

Baked herrings with sugar, 166/7.

Bakemete, 54/802, meat-pie.

Bake metes, 30/476-7, game pies, &c.; ? sweet pies, 54/809; how to carve, 159/19; how assayed, 203/771-6.

Baker, gets money from the treasurer, 196/582; his duties, 198/623-28.

Bakes, 179/60, as bokes, bulges, stuffs.

Balena, a whale or mermaid, pp. 115, 123, 119, last line.

Banker, 63/924, cloth to cover a bench.

Barbe, p.151, cut up.

Barme, 61/891, bosom.

Barnard's blowe, p.126, a secret blow by a highwayman.

Baron, 70/1013, 72/1051; of the Exchequer, 70/1014; 72/1061.

Baron of the Exchequer, appeal lies to, from an Auditor, 196/594.

Base, the fish, 51/735; 166/13; 167/6.

Bason, 63/926, washing basin.

Basshe, 45/645, be abashed, ashamed.

Bastard, 9/119; 89/7; 153/20; a sweet wine.

Bate, 182/188, quarrelling.

Bath, how to make one, p.66-7; a medicated one, p.67-9.

Bayle, 196/576, bailiff.

Bearer of meat to stand or kneel as the sewer does, 203/777.

Beastlynes, 232/460; nasty practise, t.i., gnawing bones.

Beaver, considered as a fish, 37/547.

"The beuer, whose hinder feet and taile onlie are supposed to be fish. Certes the taile of this beast is like vnto a thin whetstone, as the bodie vnto a monsterous rat.... It is also reported that their said tailes are a delicate fish." Harrison, Desc. Brit., i. 225, col. 2.

See Giraldus Cambrensis, Works, vol. v. p.59, ed. 1867.

Beckoning, don't use it, 184/249.

Bed, how to undress a lord for, p.65-6.

Bed and Bedroom, how to air and prepare, 63/919-30.

Bed, offer your bed-fellow his choice of place in, 185/293.

Bed, prayer on going to, 240/987-8.

Bedchamber, how to prepare your master's, pp. 63, 65.

Bedchamber door, lights stuck on, 193/509.

Bedes, for church service, 63/918.

Bedrooms, don't sleep in ratty ones, or those deprived of sun, p.132.

Beds of straw, &c., to be 9 ft. long and 7 ft. broad, 191/436-7.

Beef, 34/517; 48/688; p.105; powdered, p.102, note to l.694; stewed, 54/798; how to carve, 25/393.

"Touchyng the befe: I do estymate him of nature melancolyke, and engendre and produce grosse blode well norisshyng folkes robustes and of stronge complexion, whiche occupy them in great busynesse and payne." —Du Guez's Introductorie, p.1071.

Behight, 41/605, direct.

Behoveable, 54/804, necessary.

Belch not, 178/113.

Believe fair words, don't, 183/205.

Bengwine, p.134; Fr. Benjoin, the aromaticall gumme called Benjamin or Benzoin. Cot.

Benym, 24/368, deprive.

Be-sene, 21/318, become, suit.

Bete, 63/930, feed, nourish.

Bete, 67/990, remedy, cure.

Betowre, 37/541, the bittern, q.v.; 49/696; how to carve, 27/421; p.162.

Better, give place to your, 253/89.

Bilgres, 69/994; bugloss? p.110.

Birds, how to carve, pp. 25-8, 30-1, 161-62.

Birth to be looked to first, 74/1105.

Bishop, rank of, 70/1012.

Bisketes, 231/389, biscuits.

Bite not thy bread, 178/49.

Bithe, 47/678, are.

Biting your lips is bad, 178/89.

Bittern, to unjoint or carve, p.162; 165/1. See Betowre.

Blaknes, 278, 277/49, black dirt.

Blamanger and Blanchmanger, p.101, bottom. See Blanger mangere and Blaunche manger.

Blandrelles, 157/10, white apples. See Blaundrelles.

Blanger mangere, 49/693.

Blanked, 169/23. See Blanket.

Blanket, 64/935. Fr. blanchet. A blanket for a bed; also, white woollen cloth. Cot. Is to be kept in the privy.

Blasting, 20/304; cp. Fr. Petarrade: f. Gunshot of farting. Cotgrave.

Blaunche manger, 157/3.

Blaunche powder, 6/80, note; p.85, p.10, note 3; 152/26.

Blaunderelle, 50/714; Blawnderelles, 6/79; p.85, white apples.

Blaynshe powder, p.10, note 3.

Blow and puff not, 20/303.

Blow not like a broken-winded horse, 210/53.

Blow, don't, on your food to cool it, 180/111.

Blood Royal, Babees of, The Babees Book, addressed to, 250/15.

Blood Royal ranks above property, 74/1094; 171/16.

Blush or change colour, don't, 187/337.

Blysse, 266/12, 23, make the sign of the cross on or over.

Blythe, 178/47, joy? = (in) faith.

Boar pasty, 31/489.

Boar, 48/686.

Boards of the privy to be covered with green cloth, 63/932.

Body to be kept upright, 235/676.

Bof, 202/750, ? not "boeuf, an ox, a beefe," Cot.; but a-bof (dishes), above, up.

Boke, the, 185/261.

Bold, don't be too, p.258, p.260, l. B.

Bolde, 192/454, finely?

Bole Armoniake, p.134. Fr. Armoniac, a gumme spring from the Cyrenian Ferula or Fennell-giant.

Bolkynge, 19/298, belching. A.S. bealcian, to belch; to bolke, belche, roucter. Palsgrave.

Bombace, p.139, cotton; cp. bombast.

Boner, 183/191. Fr. bonaire, gentle, courteous, affable. Cot.

Bones not to be thrown on the floor, 269/79; to be put into voyders, 230/358.

Bonet, 169/29, nightcap.

Book, stick to it well, 227/168.

Boorde, p.260, l. B, joke, play. "To bourde or iape with one in sporte, truffler, border, iouncher." Palsgrave.

Boorde, bourde, p.258, p.260, l. B; Fr. bourder, to toy, trifle, dally; bourd or ieast with. Cot.

Borbotha, a slippery fish, p.115.

Borclothe, 30/468, table-cloth.

Bordclothe, 4/62, table-cloth. "The table clothes and towelles shoulde be chaunged twyes every weeke at the leste; more if neede require." H.Ord. p.85.

Borde, 178/31, table.

Borde, Andrew, extracts from, pp. 89, 91, &c.; on Sleep, Rising, and Dress, p.128-32.

Border, p.151, carve.

Botery, 12/176-7.

Botre, 193/489, buttery.

Bou[gh]t, 13/188, 189 n, 191, fold; 268/27, 29; 269/17; 'Mal feru, A malander in the bought of a horse's knee.' Cot.

Bow when you answer, 253/83.

Boxyng, p.124, smacking the face.

Boys to walk two and two from school, not hooping and hallooing, 228/238-264.

Boystous, 257/195, rude; Boystows, rudis. Prompt.

Boystousnesse, 256/182; Ruditas. Prompt.

Brade, 199/666, broad.

Bragot, 55/817; p.107.

Brandrels, 152/24, blaundrels, white apples.

Brawn of boar, 48/686; 54/796.

Brawn of boar: this was the first dish at dinner in Harrison's time, 1577-87; see his Description of Britain, bk. iii, ch. 1 (N. Sh. Soc.). [[entry added by editor]]

Brawn of a capon, 163/27.

Brawn, how to carve, 24/378; pp. 94, 156.

Brayd, at a, 15/226, sharply, quickly.

Brayde, 13/188, instant, same time.

Brayde, 11/146, start, slip.

Brayde, at a, 200/678, quickly.

Bread to be cut, not broken, 255/141; 267/24; at dinner to be cut in two, 178/35.

Bread, how to chop, p.4; how assayed, 200/691-2.

Bread and cheese, 55/815.

Break your bread, 178/51.

Break not wind, 20/304.

Bream, 51/736; 58/841; pp. 108, 115.

Bream, sea-, 40/578; 49/698; 52/746; 58/848.

Breath, as it may smell, keep your mouth shut, 211/69.

Breche (?drawers), clean, 60/871.

Brede, 13/192, breadth.

Breke, 21/315; p.151, carve venison.

Breke a cony, 29/448.

Bresewort, 68/993. "In the curious treatise of the virtues of herbs, Royal MS. 18 A. vi., fol. 72 b, is mentioned 'bryse-wort, or bon-wort, or daysye, consolida minor, good to breke bocches.'" Way, Promptorium, p.52, note1.

Brest, 19/288, ? for fist.

Bret, Brett, a fish, 41/583; 51/735; 59/852. Fr. Limaude, f. A Burt or Bret-fish. Cot.

Breue, 190/413, book, score-up.

Breuet, 194/536, briefed (with green wax).

Breve, 195/553, set down in writing, keep accounts of.

Brewe, 36/540, a bird; 49/706; 157/8; how to carve, 27/422; to untache or carve, p.160.

Bridelid, 278/33, ? a wrong reading; or, with food in one's mouth; Fr. boire sa bride, A horse to draw vp his bit into his mouth with his tongue. Cot.

Broach a pipe of wine, how to, 5/69, p.152, 121/69. [[last selection unidentified]]

Broche?, 161/6.

Broiled herrings, 52/748.

Broke-lempk, 69/994; p.68, note.

Broken, 214/158, with hernia?, E. Engl. bursten.

Broken meat or food for the poor, 202/739.

Brothellis, 267/38, low rude people. Fr. bordeau, a brothell or bawdie house; bordelier, a wencher, haunter of baudie-houses. Cotgrave. Adulterous friars are called brothels in Piers Plowman's Crede, l.1540, v. 2, p.496, ed. Wright. See Arth. and Merlin, &c., in Halliwell;—a blackguard, Towneley Mysteries, p.142, "stynt, brodels, youre dyn."

Browers, 199/663; brower must be a napkin or doyley. "Can it be a bib put on when taking broo or broth in, against the spilling of what is supped up? (Or rather, wiping the fingers from the broo, sauce, or gravy, that men dipped their bits of meat into.) Halliwell curiously explains broo, top of anything. 'Tak a knyf & shere it smal, the rute and alle, & sethe it in water; take the broo of that, and late it go thorow a clowte'— evidently the juice. Ital. broda, broth, swill for swine, dirt or mire; brodare, to cast broth upon." —H. Wedgwood.

Browes, p.160, last line; p.173. A.S. briw, es.; m. Brewis, the small pieces of meat in broth; pottage, frumenty, &c., briwan, to brew. Somner.

Brows, how to use the, 210/29; 213/132.

Browynge, 179/75, broth, grease. See Browes.

Brush your master well, 62/913; all robes lightly, 64/940-3; your cap, 228/78.

Brushed (well), breeches, 60/873.

Brydelynge, 19/288, ? the passage seems corrupt.

Brytte, a fish, 166/12.

Buche, 31/492, in squares. Sloane MS. 1315, reads "Custarde, enche square checke hit with your knyfe."

Buffe, p.133, leather made of buck's skin.

Bulch not, 294/113. [[294 for 212]]

Bulk, 267/47. A.S. bealcian, to belch. "Bolkyn, ructo, eructo, orexo." Prompt.

Bulke, 29/452, thorax, breast; 159/16.

BULLEYN, Wilyam; on Boxyng and Neckeweede, p.124-7.

Bultelle clothe, 12/164.

Bun, 14/211; 15/218.

Bushel of flour to make 20 loaves, 198/625-6.

Business, attend to your own, 268/56.

Bustard, 28/433; 37/541; p.97; 49/695; p.102; 157/4.

Butler and Panter's duties, p.152-1. [[152-1 for 152/1]]

Butler, his duties, 196/423-30; is the panter's mate, /425.

Butt or fresh-water flounder, p.115.

Butter, sweet, of Claynos or hakeney, 39/559.

Butter, one of the fruits to be eaten before dinner, 46/667-8.

Butter and fruits to be eaten before dinner, 152/22.

Butter, wholesome first and last, 7/89; 152/31.

Butter, 7/89-92; p.85; 152/20, 22.

Buttiler, p.3, l.40-1. 'Butler, the officer in charge of the buttery or collection of casks; as Pantler, the officer in charge of the pantry.' Wedgwood.

Buying, swear & lie not in, 270/76.

Bydene, 4/62, properly.

Cabages, 35/521; p.97; 159/29.

Calf, boiled, on Easter-day, p.160.

Calves-foot jelly, 34/515.

Calves-skin garments to be worn in summer, p.139.

Camamelle, 68/992, chamomile.

Camelyne sauce, p.36, note 6.

Camphire, 135/13.

Campolet wine, 153/20, p.174.

Cancer, the creuyce or cray-fish, p.115.

Candelarius, 204/822-3, the chandler.

Candle, one to each mess at dinner, 205/837.

Candlemas-eve, squires' allowances stop on, 189/394; 205/837.

"Aujourd'huy Febvrier demain Chandelier. Prov. (For Candlemas day is euer the second of Februarie.)" Cot.

Candles, 34/510.

Canel, 5/66; p.84, a spout.

Canelle, 11/142; 10/135; 153/24, 31; a spice.

Canelle-boon, 29/449; 159/14. Fr. Clavicules, f. The kannell bones, channell bones, necke-bones, craw-bones, extending (on each side ore) from the bottom of the throat vnto the top of the shoulder. Cot. The merry-thought of a bird. The haunch-bones below correspond to the clavicles or kannell bones above.

Canne, 266/4; cunne, 265/3, know.

Cannelles, 152/15, channels, spouts.

Canterbury, Bp. of, 73/1077. See Archbishop.

Canterbury, the prior of, 77/1145.

Cap, take it off before a lord, 262/4; before your better, 274/137; when speaking to any man, 226/80; be free of, 229/274, salute every one.

Capitaius, a fish, p.116.

Capon, 48/689; 54/801; p.106.

"Of all meates the best and most utille to the body of man is of capons, chyckyns, faisantes, partriches, yonge partriches, plouuiers, pigeons, quailles, snites (becasses), wod-cockes, turtell doves, knyghtes (cheualiers**), stares, sparows, or passeriaux, finches, uerdieres,* frions, gold finches, linotes, thrushe, felde fare, and all kyndes of small byrdes (whereof the names ben without nombre) ben metes norisshyng and of litell degestion, and that engendre good blode." Du Guez's Introductorie, p.1071-2.

[Footnote : Beccasse, f. A Woodcock. Becasse petite, A Snite or Snipe.]

[Footnote **: Chevalier, A daintie Water-fowle, as big as a Stock-doue, and of two kinds, the one red, the other blacke. Cot.]

[Footnote *: Verdrier, m. The Gold-hammer, Yellow-ha{m}mer, Yowlring. Cot.]

Capon, how to carve, 26/409; to sauce or carve, p.161.

Capon, boiled, 54/799; verjuice its sauce, 36/534. "Capons boyled, and chekyns, ben lykewyse of good nourysshyng, and doth engender good blode, but whan they ben rosted, they ben somewhat more colloryke, and all maner of meates rosted, the tone more the tother lesse." Du Guez, p.1071.

Capon pie, 31/481.

Capon, roast, how to carve, 161.

Cappe, 65/964, night-cap.

Cappe-de-huse, 62/909, ? cape for the house, Fr. cappe, a short cloake, or loose and sleeuelesse garment, which hath, instead of a Cape, a Capuche behind it. Cot.

Caprik, 9/120; p.91, No. 13, a sweet wine.

Caraway, Careawey, 6/79, caraway-seeds, (from karon, cumin; Lat. careum; Ar. karawiya; Mahn,) 50/713; 152/25; 157/11; 231/389.

Cardinal, rank of a, 70/1008; 72/1045.

Carding, eschew, 234/599.

Cariage, p.280, 279, l.59, act of carrying.

Carowayes, 231/389, caraway-seed cakes.

Carp, 40/578; 51/735; 58/842; p.116.[1]

[Footnote 1: And of the carp, that it is a deyntous fyssche, but there ben but fewe in Englonde; and therefore I wryte the lasse of hym. —Jul. Berners's Book of St Alban's.]

Carpentes, 169/9, 18, carpets under foot? See carpettes for cupbordes, l.19.

Carpets, about a bed, windows, &c, 63/927-8.

Carry your body up, 213/133.

Carver, his duties, p.24-32; assays the wine?, and carves the lord's meat, 209/789-95. [[209 for 203]] See Keruynge.

Carving of fish, p.166-7; of flesh, p.157.

Carving-knives, panter to lay two, 200/673.

Cast, 197/607, armful or pitchfork-full.

Cast of bread, 198/631, ?armful, lot taken up at one heave.

Cast up thy bed, 226/61.

Castles, the Receiver sees to repairs of, 197/601.

Castyng, 187/336, ?

Cat, don't stroke it at meals, 180/107.

Cate, 274/143, ? cat (hond, hound).

Cathedral prior sits above others, 77/1150.

Cato quoted, 232/491.

Cats to be turned out of bedrooms, 66/969; p.108, p.109; 169/34.

Caucius, a fish, p.116.

Cawdrons, the sauce for swans, p.159, last line. See Chawdon.

Cellar, yeomen of the, 21/311.

Celle, 12/176, cell.

Cena Domini, fires in hall stop on, 189/398; [[189 for 95]] Shere Thursday or Maundy Thursday, day before Good Friday.

Cetus, the greatest whale, p.116.

Ceuy, 55/822, chive-sauce.

Chafer, 192/466, a heater.

Chaffire, 45/639. "Chafowre to make whote a thynge, as watur. Calefactorium." Prompt.

Chalcedony to be worn in a ring, p.141.

Chambur, bason for, 66/971.

Chamberlain, the duties of one, p.59-69, p.168-9.

Chancellor, his duties, 195/563.

Chandelew, 199/642, chandlery, stock of candles.

Chandler, his bread, 198/628; his duties, p.204-11.

Change (countenance or temper?) don't, 270/92.

Char, 180/96, turn, trick.

Chardequynce, 152/21, chare de quynces, 5/75; conserve of quinces, or quince marmalade. Charequynses, 10lb. the boke, vs—2l., 10s. A.D. 1468, H.Ord. p.103. Marmalet of Quinces. R. Holme, Bk. III., p.80, col.1.

Charger, 44/633; Chargere, 26/405, a kind of dish.

Charity, the fruits of, p.233, cap. x.

Charlet, 159/28; p.173.

Chat after meals, p.142.

Chatter, don't, 253/94; 257/186.

Chafing-dysshe, 162/2, heating dish.

Chaundeler, 299/492, chandler, officer in charge of the candles.

Chawdon (chawdron, p.161), the sauce for swan, 36/535; p.97.

Chawdwyn, the sauce for swans, 48/688.

Cheeks, don't puff 'em out, 211/65; don't stuff yours out like an ape's, 179/57.

Cheese, hard, 6/78; 7/85; p.84, p.85; 7/84-8; 8/102; 152/24.

Cheese, 55/815; 152/19.

Cheese, the best cement for broken pots, p.85. Ruin cheese, p.7, note 3; 85/3.

Cheese, have a clean trencher for, 256/183.

Cheese, fruit, and biscuits, for dessert, 231/388.

Cheese, only take a little, 269/76.

Fourmage est bon quand il y en a peu: Prov. The lesse cheese the better; or, cheese is good when a miserable hand giues it. Cot.

Chekker, 196/594, the Exchequer.

Chekkid, 25/389; 31/492, cut into chequers or squares.

Chekmate, 8/96.

Cherlis, 267/34, 48, poor, rude, and rough people.

Cherries, 6/77; 46/668; 152/23.

Chet, 199/501, coarse bread; chet loaf to the almsdish, 200/687.

Cheven (Cheuene, 166/13), chub, 51/736, note 3; 58/842. Fr. Vilain, the Cheuin or Pollard fish (called so because it feedes vpon nothing but filth). Cot. See Chub.

Cheve, 24/369, end.

Chewettes, 161/4; p.171; 173/3.

[Transcriber's Note: Reference to "p. 171" could not be identified. Chewets are mentioned on 161/4, 165/3 and 173/24.]

Chicken, boiled, 54/799; roast, 54/808; chicken pie, 31/481.

Chickens, how to carve, 25/397.

Chide not, 253/102. "I lyken the to a sowe, for thou arte ever chyding at mete." Palsgrave, p.611, col. 2.

Chief Justices, rank of, 70/1014; 72/1052.

Childe, or young page, the King's, 75/1124.

Children soon get angry, 279, 280/81; 281, 282/85; give 'em an apple then, 280/84; and a rod when they're insolent, 281, 282/89.

Children, to wait on their parents at dinner before eating their own, 229/297; 231/423; the duty of, 241/5.

Chin, hold it up when you speak, 262/14; keep it clean at dinner, 272/107.

Chine, 25/393. Fr. Eschinon: m. The Chyne, or vpper part of the backe betweene the shoulders. Eschine: f. The Chyne, backe bone, ridge of the backe. 1611, Cotgrave.

Chip, p.84; 152/4. "I chyppe breed. Je chappelle du payn ... je descrouste du pain ... and je payre du pain. Chyppe the breed at ones, for our gestes be come." Palsgrave, p.484, col. 1. See "choppe" and "chyppere."

Choke, don't, by drinking with your mouth full, 180/98.

Choppe (loaves), 4/51; p.184.

Chub, p.51, note 3. See Cheuen.

Church, how to behave in, 233/332 (this is the part that would follow at the end of the Booke of Demeanor, p.296).

Church, behave well at; go to, 266/17.

Chyme of a pipe, 152/18, rim.

Chymn, 192/461, fire-place or brasier.

Chyne, 5/70, rim of a cask.

Chyne, 25/393; 159/15, 16, back, loin. See Chine.

Chyne, p.151, carve.

Chynchynge, 153/11, pinching. Metaphorically "chynchyn or sparyn mekylle, perparco." Prompt.

Chyppere, 152/4, a knife to chip bread with.

Cinnamon and salt as sauce for venison, &c., 37/542-3.

Cinnamon, eaten with lamprey-pie, 44/636; with fish, 58/842, 847; 168/11.

Cinnamon, 153/30.

Ciryppe, 56/826, syrop.

Civeye (chive sauce), hares and conies in, p.309; 55/822.

Clared wyne, 153/19.

Clarey, 9/120; p.91, No. 14; Clarrey, 153/21. Sp. Clarea: f. Clary drinke of hony and wine. Some say Muscadell, others call it Nectar or kingly drinke. 1591, Percivale, ed. Minsheu, 1623.

Clarke of the crowne and th'eschekere, 70/1019.

Claryfinynge, 9/124.

Claw, don't, 253/81; 262/18; 274/139.

Claw not your head, &c., 18/279.

"I clawe, as a man or beest dothe a thyng softely with his nayles. Je grattigne ... Clawe my backe, and I wyll clawe thy toe." Palsgrave.

Claynos buttur, 39/559.

Cleanse your spoon, 179/74.

Clene, 262/28, fitting, courteous.

Clerk of the Kitchen, 195/549; his duties, 195/553-62; gets money from the Treasurer, 196/579.

Clof, 192/462, ? [[Can it be "cloth"?]]

Cloke, 62/909, cloak.

Cloos-howse, 80/1202, lock-up place for food.

Cloth, how to lay the, 13/187, &c., 154/23; how to take it off the table, 231/399.

Cloth, keep it clean, 269/61, 81; 272/123; 277/39; 278/40; don't wipe your knife on it, 272/122; or your nose, 263/53.

Clothes, don't wipe your nose on, 210/48. See Apparel. "Graue clothes make dunces often seeme great clarkes." Cot., u. fol.

Clothing of officers, given out by the clerk of the kitchen, 195/561; of lord and lady, by the chancellor, 195/563.

Cloven-footed fowls, skin of, is unwholesome, 163/18. [[163 for 165]]

Clowche, 33/503, belly? Not "clowchyn or clowe (clewe), glomus, globus." Prompt.

Clutch at the best bit, don't, 263/29.

Coat, long, 60/872.

Cock and hen, p.105.

Cock, shooting at; girls not to go to, 289/81.

Cockes, 24/375, cooks.

Cod, 58/845; 168/12.

Cod, how to carve, 40/576; names of, p.99.

Codling, a fish, p.59, note; 167/7.

Codware not to be clawed, 19/286; not to be exposed, 20/305.

Coffyn, cofyn, 30/478; 31/481; 96/2, 22, &c., crust of a pie.

Cold, head and feet to be kept from, p.138.

Cold fritter is not to be eaten, 33/502.

Colericus, 53/772; p.54; p.104.

Colice, 56/824, broth.

Collector, the Pope's, 70/1023; 72/1063.

Cologne, the kings of, 50/712.

Colombyne gynger, 10/131; Columbyne gyngre, 52/758; a kind of ginger. ?what.

Coloure de rose, 9/114. See note there; it was a wine, p.86, extract from the Four Elements.

Colvering, 126/3, ?

Comade, 96/4; sauce of whipped eggs and milk.

Comb for the hair, 61/885.

Comb your head often, p.130; nothing recreateth the memorie more, p.128.

Comb your head, 266/14; do it 40 times every morning, p.139.

Comb your lord's head, 65/963; 169/2, 28.

Comedies, 34/510, quaint dishes?

Comenynge, 81/1220, communication, teaching.

Comfit, 50/714; p.104.

Commende, 254/120. Fr. ?Commander, to recommend, or to commit ouer vnto the care of another. Dieu vous command. God be with you. Cot.

Commensed, 77/1154, taken a degree.

Commyn, 46/671, communicate, talk.

Companions, pray for your, 182/161.

Compleccion, 52/764, device.

Compleccyon, 165/11, disposition. My complexcyon a-cordyth to eny mete, But rere sopers j refowse, lest j shuld surfett. Piers of Fullham, l.197-8.

Compostes, 5/75, note; 6/79; 152/21; 154/19. See Recipe 100, Forme of Cury, p.49.

Conche or muscle fish, p.116.

Concoction, 136/12, digestion.

Concordable, 54/796, suitable.

Condel, smale, 205/826, tapers.

Confiteor, the, to be learnt, 181/154.

Confites, 5/75; p.85, note to l.82, comfits.

Confyte, 51/731, a comfit.

Congaudence, 79/1190, congratulation, satisfaction.

Conger, 38/555; 41/583; 51/733; p.117. Richard Sheale, the minstrel and ballad-writer, says,

"I can be content, if it be out of Lent, A piece of beef to take, my hunger to aslake. Both mutton and veal is good for Richard Sheale; Though I look so grave, I were a very knave If I would think scorn, either evening or morn, Being in hunger, of fresh salmon or congar."

Knight's Life of Caxton, p.48.

Conger, salt, 57/833.

Congettynge, 80/1202, conspiracy, tricks.

Connynge, 81/1220-2, learning, knowledge.

Contrarotulator, p.195, the controller.

Controller, his work, 195/541, 550; sits on the dais in hall, 177/20. "Ifeel by William Peacock that my nephew is not yet verily acquainted in the king's house, nor with the officers of the king's house he is not taken as none of that house; for the cooks be not charged to serve him, nor the sewer to give him no dish, for the sewer will not take no men no dishes till they be commanded by the controller." Clement Paston, P. Letters, ed. 1841, v. 1, p.144 (XV. vol. iv. p.53, orig.).