Early English Meals and Manners Part 65

-- Loke ly?er neu{er} {a}t {o}u be-come, Kepe ys worde for all{e} and somme.

Law?e not to of[t] for no solace, For no kyn myrth{e} {a}t any ma{n} mase; 216 Who lawes all{e} {a}t me{n} may se, A schrew or a fole hym semes to be.

-- Thre enmys in ys worlde {er} ar{e} {a}t coueyten alle me{n} to for-fare,-- 220 The deuel, e flesshe, e worlde also, That wyrkyn mankynde ful mykyl wo: Yf {o}u may strye es re enmys, {o}u may be secur of heuen blys. 224

[Headnote: THE RULE OF GOOD MANNERS.]

-- Also, my chylde, a-gaynes y lorde Loke {o}u stryfe w{i}t{h} no kyn w{o}rde, Ne waiour non w{i}t{h} hym {o}u lay, Ne at e dyces w{i}t{h} hym to play. 228

-- Hym that {o}u knawes of grett{er} state, Be not hys felaw in rest ne bate. [Fol. 16.]

?if {o}u be stad in strange contre, Enserche no fyr en fall{es} to the, 232 Ne take no more to do on honde en {o}u may hafe menske of all{e} i{n} londe.

-- ?if {o}u se any mon fal by strete, Lawegh{e} not er-at in drye ne wete, But helpe hym vp w{i}t{h} all{e} y my?t, As seynt Ambrose e teches ry?t; {o}u that stondys so sure on sete, War{e} lest y hede falle to y fete. 240

-- My chylde, yf {o}u stonde at o ma.s.se, At vndur stondis bothe more and la.s.se, Yf o prest rede not at y wylle, Rep{re}ue hym no?t, but holde e stylle. 244

-- To any wy?t y counsell{e} yf {o}u schewe, Be war {a}t he be not a schrewe, Lest he disclaundyr e w{i}t{h} tong Amonge alle me{n}, bothe olde {and} ?ong. 248

-- Bekenyng, fynguryng, no{n} {o}u vse, And pryue rownyng loke {o}u refuse.

Yf {o}u mete kny?t, ?omo{n}, or knaue, Haylys hym a-non, "syre, G.o.d ?ou saue." 252 Yf he speke fyrst opon e or{e}, Onsware hym gladly w{i}t{h}-oute{n} mor{e}.

-- Go not forth{e} as a dombe freke, Syn G.o.d hase laft the tonge to speke; 256 Lest men sey be sibbe or couthe,[9]

"?ond is a mo{n} w{i}t{h}-outen mouthe."

-- Speke neu{er} vnhonestly of woma{n} kynde, Ne let hit neu{er} renne in y mynde; 260 e boke hym call{es} a chorle of chere, That vylany spekes be weme{n} sere: For all{e} we ben of wymme{n} born, And oure fadurs vs be-forne; 264 {er}for{e} hit is a vnhonest thyng To speke of hem in any hethyng.[10]

-- Also a wyfe be-falle of ry?t To worschyp hyr husbonde bothe day {and} ny?t, 268 To his byddyng be obediente, And hym to s{er}ue w{i}t{h}-outen offence.

-- Yf two brether be at debate, Loke no{er} {o}u for{er} in hor hate, 272 But helpe to staunche hom of malice; en {o}u art frende to bothe I-wys.

-- ?if {o}u go w{i}t{h} a-no{er} at o gate, And ?e be bothe of on astate, 276 Be curtasye and let hym haue e way, That is no vylanye, as me{n} me say; And he be come{n} of gret kynraden, Go no be-fore awgh {o}u be beden; 280 And yf {a}t he y mayst{ur} be, Go not be-fore, for curtase, No{er} in fylde, wode, no{er} launde, Ne euen hym w{i}t{h}, but he c{om}maunde. 284

-- Yf {o}u schalle on pilg{ri}mage go, Be not e thryd felaw for wele ne wo; Thre oxen in plowgh may neu{er} wel drawe, [Fol. 17.]

No{er} be craft, ry?t, ne lawe. 288

-- ?if {o}u be p{ro}fert to drynk of cup, Drynke not al of, ne no way sup; Drynk menskely and gyf agayne, {a}t is a curtasye, to speke in playne. 292

-- In bedde yf ou falle herberet to be, W{i}t{h} felawe, maystur, or her degre, {o}u schalt enquer{e} be curtasye In what p{ar}[t] of e bedde he wylle lye; 296 Be honest and lye {o}u fer hym fro, {o}u art not wyse but {o}u do so.

[Headnote: HOW TO BEHAVE.]

-- W{i}t{h} woso men, boe fer and negh, The falle to go, loke {o}u be slegh 300 To aske his nome, and qweche he be, Whidur he will{e}: kepe welle es thre.

-- W{i}t{h} freres on pilg{ri}mage yf {a}t {o}u go, {a}t ei will{e} ?yme,[11] wilne {o}u also; 304 Als on ny?t {o}u take y rest, And byde e day as tru ma{n}nes gest.

-- In no kyn house {a}t rede mon is, Ne womo{n} of o same colour y-wys, 308 Take neu{er} y Innes for no kyn nede, For ose be folke {a}t ar to drede.

-- Yf any thurgh sturnes e oppose, Onswere hym mekely {and} make hym glose: 312 But glosand wordys {a}t falsed is, Forsake, and alle that is omys.

-- Also yf {o}u haue a lorde, And stondes by-for{e} hym at e borde, 316 While {a}t {o}u speke, kepe well{e} y honde, Thy fete also in pece let stonde,

-- His curtase nede he most breke,-- Stirraunt fyngurs toos whe{n} he shall{e} speke. 320 Be stabull{e} of cher{e} and sumwhat ly?t, Ne ou{er} alle wayue {o}u not thy sy?t;

-- Gase not on walles w{i}t{h} y neghe[12], Fyr ne negh, logh ne hegh{e}; 324 Let not e post be-c.u.m y staf, Lest {o}u be callet a dotet daf; Ne delf {o}u neu{er} nose thyrle W{i}t{h} thombe ne fyngur, as ?ong gyrle; 328

-- Rob not y arme ne no?t hit claw, Ne bogh not dou{n} y hede to law; Whil any man spekes w{i}t{h} grete besenes, Herken his wordis w{i}t{h}-oute{n} distresse. 332

-- By strete or way yf {o}u schalle go, Fro es two ynges {o}u kepe e fro, No{er} to harme chylde ne best, W{i}t{h} castyng, turnyng west ne est; 336 Ne chaunge {o}u not in face coloure, For lyghtnes of worde in halle ne bour{e}; Yf y vysage chaunge for no?t, Men say 'e trespas {o}u hase wro?ght.' 340

-- By-for{e} y lorde, ne mawes {o}u make ?if {o}u wyll{e} curtasie w{i}t{h} e take.

W{i}t{h} hondes vnwa.s.shen take neu{er} y mete; Fro alle es vices loke {o}u e kepe. 344

-- Loke {o}u sytt--{and} make no stryf-- [Fol. 18.]

Wher{e} o est[B] co{m}mau{n}dys, or ellis o wyf.

Eschewe e he?est place w{i}t{h} wyn,[13]

But {o}u be beden to sitt {er}-in. 348 Of curtasie her{e} endis e secu{n}de fyt, To heuen crist mot our{e} saules flyt!

[Text note B: Read _ost_]

[Sidenotes: [141] If you go to school you shall learn: 1. Cross of Christ, 2.

Pater Noster, 3. Hail Mary and the Creed, 4. In the name of the Trinity, 5. of the Apostles, 6. the Confession. [155] Seek the kingdom of G.o.d, and worship Him. [159] At church, take holy water; pray for all Christian companions; kneel to G.o.d on both knees, to man only on one. [167] At the Altar, serve the priest with both hands. [171] Speak gently to your father and mother, and honour them. [175] Do to others as you would they should do to you. [179] Don't be foolishly meek. [181] The seed of the righteous shall never beg or be shamed. [185] Be ready forgive, and fond of peace. [189] If you cannot give an asker goods, give him good words. [193] Be willing to help every one. [197] Give your partner his fair share. [201] Go on the pilgrimages (?) you vow to saints, lest G.o.d take vengeance on you. [205] Don't believe all who speak fair: the Serpent spoke fair words (to Eve).

[210] Be cautious with your words, except when angry. [213] Don't lie, but keep your word. [215] Don't laugh too often, or you'll be called a shrew or a fool. [219] Man's 3 enemies are: the Devil, the Flesh, and the World. [223] Destroy these, and be sure of heaven. [225] Don't strive with your lord, or bet or play with him. [231] In a strange place don't be too inquisitive or fussy.

[235] If a man falls, don't laugh, but help him up: [240] your own head may fall to your feet. [241] At the Ma.s.s, if the priest doesn't please you, don't blame him. [245] Don't tell your secrets to a shrew. [249] Don't beckon, point, or whisper. [251] When you meet a man, greet him, or answer him cheerily if he greets you: don't be dumb, lest men say you have no mouth. [259] Never speak improperly of women, for we and our fathers were all born of women. [267] A wife should honour and obey her husband, and serve him. [271] Try to reconcile brothers if they quarrel. [275] At a gate, let your equal precede you; go behind your superior and your master unless he bids you go beside him. [285] On a pilgrimage don't be third man: 3 oxen can't draw a plough. [289] Don't drink all that's in a cup offered you; take a little. [293] If you sleep with any man, ask what part of the bed he likes, and lie far from him. [299] If you journey with any man, find out his name, who he is, where he is going. [303] With friars on a pilgrimage, do as they do. [307] Don't put up at a red (haired and faced) man or woman's house. [312] Answer opponents meekly, but don't tell lies.

[315] Before your lord at table, keep your hands, feet, and fingers still. [322] Don't stare about, or at the wall, or lean against the post. [327] Don't pick your nose, scratch your arm, or stoop your head. [331] Listen when you're spoken to. [335] Never harm child or beast with evil eye (?) [337] Don't blush when you're chaffed, or you'll be accused of mischief. [341] Don't make faces. [342] Wash before eating. [345] Sit where the host tells you; avoid the highest place unless you're told to take it.]

[Headnote: OF THE PORTER, AND MARSHAL OF THE HALL.]

THE THIRD BOOK.

-- De officiarijs in curijs d{omi}nor{um}.

++Now speke we wylle of officiers Of court, and als of her mestiers. 352 Foure me{n} {er} ben {a}t ?erdis schall{e} bere, Port{er}, marshall{e}, stuarde, vsshere; The port{er} schall{e} haue e lengest wande, The marshall{e} a schort{er} schall{e} haue i{n} hande; 356 The vssher of chamb{ur} smallest schall{e} haue, The stuarde in honde schall{e} haue a stafe, A fyngur gret, two whart{er}s long, To reule e men of court ymong. 360

[Sidenotes: _Of the Officers in Lords' Courts._ [353] Four bear rods; three wands: 1. Porter, the longest, 2. Marshal, 3. Usher, the shortest, 4. Steward, a staff, a finger thick, half a yard long.]

-- De Ianitor{e}.[14]

-- The port{er} falle to kepe o ?ate, e stokkes w{i}t{h} hym erly {and} late; ?if any man hase in court mys-gayne, To port{er} warde he schall{e} be tane, 364 {er} to a-byde e lordes wyll{e}, What he wille deme by ry?twys skyll{e}.

For wessell{e} clothes, {a}t no?t be solde, e po[r]ter hase {a}t warde in holde. 368 Of strang{er}s also {a}t comen to court, o porter schall{e} warne s{er} at a worde.

Lyu{er}ay he hase of mete and drynke, And sett{is} w{i}t{h} hym who so hym thynke. 372 When so eu{er} o lorde remewe schall{e} To castell{e} til o{er} as h{i}t may falle, For cariage e port{er} hors schall{e} hyre, Foure pens a pece w{i}t{h}-in o schyr{e}; 376 Be statut he schall{e} take {a}t on e day.

{a}t is e kyng{is} crye in faye.

[Sidenotes: _Of the Porter._ [361] He keeps the Gate and Stocks, takes charge of misdoers till judged, also of clothes, and warns strangers. [371] He is found in meat and drink. [373] On his lord's removing, he hires horses at 4d. a piece, the statute price.]

-- De Marescallo aule.[15]

[Text note: [C MS. spekle.]]