thée an apple or such like thou maist not stand eating the same before the table but bestow it till afterward neither mayst thou gaze stedfastly on such iunkets as thou séest and likest there much lesse mayst thou stare on those that sit and eate but be attentiue and readie to serue what shall bee called for When dinner is done and thou willed to take away first couer the salt if it bee not couered before then take away the frute dishes in order the last serued first and so on and lastly the chéese But beware of catching for figs comfets or such daintie things before the table bee voyded and grace said When chéese and all is voyded set on the table a faire voyding charger making therewith a legge then with thy trencher-knife take vp the trenchers putting them into the voyder one after another beginning at the vpper part of the messe first and with the same trencher-knife gather al the crummes and fragments into the voyder and still lay or deliuer away the table napkins as thou gettest them all saue one which thou shalt hang on thy left arme When thou hast thus gathered into the voyder all the crums and scraps bring downe the voider lower and with the table napkin that hanged on thine arme holding the one end thereof in thy right hand and the other in the left take with thy right hand the loues from the salt one by one put them in the voider but so as the end of the table napkin be betwéene the bread and thy hand lastly take the salt as thou diddest the loaues with thy right and holding the same on the right side of the voider with that end of thy table napkin and hauing before laide the voiding knife on the top of the voider draw ouer the other end of the napkin with thy left hand and so lifting vp the voider with both hands make obeisance and carry it away then returne and folde vp first both the sides of the table cloth then the ends and so turning it thrée or foure double drawing it towarde thée downeward take it of making a lowe leg looking toward the cheefe at the table In honorable and some worshipfull houses the salt and voiding knife is taken away solemnly alone after the voider But this shall suffice for the meaner sort After the table cloth is taken away attend till the companie be silent then with a sober countenance and iesture after thou hast made obeisance begin to say grace A grace or praier before meate O Lord God almightie and father most mercifull which giuest all good things and blessest all that is blessed blesse vs we beséech thée and all thy good benefits ordained by thée to our comfort Giue vs grace thankfully to receiue them moderately to vse them and to be bettered by inioying of them Vouchsafe also to saue prosper and preserue thy Church vniuersall our Quéene and this realme and send vs true peace both of conscience and of bodily state and a right vnity in religion thorough Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen A grace or thankesgiuing after meate WE yéelde thée most humble and hearty thankes O God of all graces and father most fauourable for this our good refreshing and all other thy infinite bounties bestowed most mercifully on vs. Féed vs also we pray thée with the foode of thy holy spirite that we may dayly grow stronger and stronger in true faith godlinesse and vertue Vouchsafe also to saue prosper and preserue thy Church vniuersall our Quéene and this Realme and send vs true peace both of conscience and of bodily state and a right vnity in religion through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Of manners at play PLay is to be vsed for sport at some times and for to refresh the spirites and make the bodie more healthie and actiue it is not to be vsed as an occupation It is said that the naturall disposition of a childe is most easily to be séene in play whether he be giuen to pride lying anger strife selfe will deceipt or what other vertue or vice Be thou therefore in play gentle plesant iust and frendly remembring that thou playest to exercise thy bodie and delight thy minde and by contention and wrangling thou shouldest distemper thy bodie and disquiet thy minde Play not for great wagers but for frendly familiaritie Striue not so much for the wager as to win victorie yet rather than thou shouldest séeme contentious yéeld ouer the victorie to the vanquished and flie al falshood or fraud Of manners in the chamber WHen thou commest into thy chamber at euening remember that thou art now going to bed which is a figure of thy graue and that sléepe is an image of death Call to minde therefore how thou hast spent the day past examine thy conscience whether thou haue committed anie euil thing if thou haue crie God heartely mercie therefore praye him for Christes sake to forgiue thée That done look ouer héedfully once or twice that which thou hast to repeate next morning Afterward knéeling on thy knées deuoutly pray that God would lightē thine vnderstanding with his holy spirit which may lead thée into all truth that he would protect thée and kéepe thée from all euill both of soule and bodie Pray also for all in authoritie for thy frends and for al whom God wold haue prayed for and concluding with the Lordes prayer commit thy selfe into the handes of God almightie In putting off or putting on thy cloathes beware that thou vncouer not anie part of thée which Nature would haue hidden In lying with another touch him not nor be anie way troublesome vnto him Make no noyse shouting nor foolish laughter in the chamber but remember that euen there where thou thinkest thy selfe most priuate God almightie beholdeth all thy dooings to whom thou owest more dutie and reuerence than to all the men in the world Be cleanly and neate in thy chamber auoyding all sluttishnes In the morning when thou risest call to thy remembrance also how thou art to enter into the course of that day as into a long and dangerous iourney for the diuell wil be readie to assault thée diuers wayes the examples of the wicked to allure thée the lusts of the flesh to entice thée to euil and all these are enimies to the true happines of thy soul and bodie besides manie mischaunces that may befall thée Pray therefore earnestlye vnto God to safe-conduct guide and defend thée so shalt thou bee safe vnder his shield And remember in the day to vse as occasion shal serue the manners before in this Treatise spoken of Now the Lord of life and Author of all goodnes graunt thée grace to walke in true godlines and good manners that thou maist grow to be a perfect man in Christ Iesus Amen A praier for children to vse in the Morning O Lord God most holie most high mightie and glorious that by thine vnspeakable wisedome and omnipotencie hast made all things
thy infansie when thou wast of thy self quite helples they still prouide thée of all necessaries and labour so to mainteine thée and bring thée vp in learning and knowledge of good arts that thou maiest be able heareafter to lyue in credit as a man among men Which benefits receiued of thy parents thou canst neuer be able in any sort to recompence them Bee then diligent to please and readye to be ruled by them of whome thou hast thy being and all thou hast whom God hath made so able and willing to bring forth to helpe and doo thée good and whose kindenes so farre excedeth all that thou canst deserue Next to thy parents thou art nearely bound in duetie to thy Schole-maisters and teachers who are as spirituall Parents to beget and bring forth in thée vertues and all Godlines and who indeuor to nourish thée and to make thée grow vp stronger stronger in knowledge learning and wisedome vntill thou become a perfect man A certain duetie and reuerence saint Paul also willeth to be vsed to equals thou then beeing a childe must bee carefull to vse good behauiour in manners and curtesie euen towardes thy equals and companions And know that hee that sheweth himselfe most curteous and well mannered among his equalls is so farre from sustaining anie discredite thereby that he getteth thereby the good-will and commendations of all his familiars In speaking to thy superiors vse not manie words and let those words thou speakest be vttered with reuerence both of speach and countenance When thou speakest to thine equalls let thy countenance be amiable and thy speach familiar and frendly Shamefastnes is a Vertue beséeming a childe so as it be moderate for as to be brazen-faced and shameles is a vice so to bee ouer bashfull and ashamed to shew his face is a fault also If anie honorable man or one of great account offer to take thée by the hand before thou deliuer him thy hand kisse lightly the fore-finger of thy right hand then deliuering him thy hand boow modestly first thy right knée after thy left and humblye boow thy bodie withall alwaies when he speaketh to thée or thou art about to aunswere him boow thy right knée once modestly If he continue talking with thée looke thou stil modestly on him not moouing thine eyes much but beware thou stare not too much in his face for that were a shameles and most vnmannerly part Neither let thy lookes be too much hanging downe for that were péeuish and a signe of one hauing a guilty conscience To looke askew with thine eyes cast aside were a signe of one imagining some mischiefe To tosse thy sight or turne thy face thys way and that way were a signe of a foolish and vnconstant minde It is also a fowle and vnséemely thing for thée to make faces in wrything thy visage into diuers formes or to rub one while thy nose another while thy forhead or one while to lift vp thine eye browes another while to pull them down too much or to patter with thy lips or one while to thrust out thy mouth too much another while to pul it in ouer-much or to shake thy head or to cough vnles thou be there too inforced or to spet oft or to scratch thy head to picke thine eares or to blow thy nose or to smoothe thy face with thine hand as if thou wouldest wype away shamefastnes from thée to bee picking or rubbing thy neck as if thou wert lowsie or to clyng in thy shoulders as some Italians vse All these are euill In standing thus before thy betters hold thy hat in thy left hand with both thy hands mannerly before thée for to hold thy hat or booke vnder thine arme-pit in standing so were clownish As thou art thus standing in talke thou maist not winke with thine eyes nod at anie bodie nor turne away thy head If were an ill fauoured thing thus standing to play with thine armes to vse apish toyes with thy fingers or to be short not to séeme for to speake with thy tung but with thy whole bodie Let thy voice be gentle and soft and therewith deliberate not too quicke nor too slow nor too high for that were clownish nor too low but it may easilie be vnderstood Let not thy spéech be too hastie as I said but let it goe with thy vnderstanding and be vttered so leysurely as it may well be vnderstood for manie are so rash in speaking that they make themselues soone windlesse and forget halfe of that which they should haue spoken besides that it bringeth them to an ill habit of stutting and stammering which might haue bin avoided if héedefull deliberation had béene vsed in their childhood In speaking to any Honorable or Worshipfull person it is good manners to repeat nowe and then the title of his Honour or Worship There is no name should bee of greater account nor more deare than that of Father and Mother nor none more louing and friendlie than the name of brother sister If thou be ignorant of the titles of dignities of each estate know that Lordes are honourable Knights chiefe Gentlemen worshipfull and vse to anie man séeming of anie good account this title Sir c. It is a most shamefull thing for a childe to bee heard sweare either in test or in earnest A like shame it is for them to vtter any word of ribandrie or filthie spéech nay they must not abide to heare anie such filthinesse But in manie places now a daies all feare of God and care of modestie set a side children euen from their infancie are delighted in these abhominable euils which they ought most of all things to abhorre If thou bee driuen to name anie vncleane or dishonest thing in spéech vse first this preamble sauing your honour sauing your worship or to meane persons sauing your reuerence Beware that thou once name not much les that thou shew any secret part of thy bodie which nature willeth to be kept hidden and secret Beware howe thou gainesay anie thing spoken by thy elders if thou hearest them affirme anie thing that thou knowest to bée contrarie to their saying if thou bee driuen to reply vnto their spéeches denie not flatlye their spéeches but curteouslie first say with your fauoure Sir I knowe the matter to stand thus or thus or I haue heard Sir that it is thus or so Nay it is euill and vnséemely for thée to giue the lye to thine equalls or fellowes A well mannered childe will neuer quarrell nor brabble with anie but will rather either put vp wrong or commit the matter to arbitrement Thou must not boast nor extoll thy self aboue other thou must not finde fault wyth the dooings of another Be not hastie to reproue other Tattle not abroad whatsoeuer thou hearest Backbite no bodie Disdaine not another for whatsoeuer infirmity or vncomelines Nature affoordeth him knowing that God could also haue made thée more vgly than a toad but
their body subiect to the palsey dropsie gowt and infinite other diseases their bodies drowsie and vnapt to all goodnesse they waxe olde in young age and are in daunger of destroying both body and soule euerlastingly Swallowe downe that which is in thy mouth before thou drinke and before thou put also the cup to thy mouth wipe the same well with thy table napkin and after thou hast done doo the like It is an vnmannerly part to looke aside or backward when thou drinkest Thanke him gently that drinketh to thée and make semblance to pledge him setting the cuppe to thy mouth and making as though thou didst drinke though thou drinke little or nothing But if any bee so rude and voide of good manners that he would force thée to pledge him more than is necessarie refuse it modestly desiring him to pardon thée In drinking let thy drinke goe downe leysurely and easily not gulping it in or swallowing it gréedily like a brute beast When thou eatest pottage thou maiest not bite thy bread and so put it in neither wring it a péeces in with thy hands for that is clownish but cut it on thy trencher in small morsels and then put it into the pottager And beware thou soupe not thy pottage but eate it leisurely with a spoone without taking it into thy mouth gréedily forcibly drawing thy breath with it as some clownes do vse sounding at the receipt of euery spoonefull Slurrop Beware also that thou spill no pottage nor sauce either on the table cloth or on thy clothes Some there be that can scarce abide till they be set at the table but they will fall to their meate like gréedie wolues or cormorants but be not thou too hastie though it be among thy equals for so thou maiest be noted of arrogancie and immodestie and by putting a morsell too hoate in thy mouth thou maiest be driuen quickly to voide out the same againe than the which nothing can be more slouenly and make thée more laughed to scorne A childe must stay a while before he begin to eate though he be hungrie that he may learne to moderate his affections therfore Socrates when he was olde would not drink assoone as his cup was filled although he were very thirstie If a childe sit at table with his betters he must be the last that shall put his hand in the dish and scant do that vnlesse he be bidden but must be contented with that is giuen him A childe must not vse dipping his hand in the sauce but if he be willed to vse sauce with his meate let him take the meat on his knifes point and dip it therin To turne the dish choose where to cut is a lickerish and vnmannerly part but cut on that part next thée how euer it fall Leauing the daintiest morsels alwaies for thy betters Thou must neither lick nor pick the meat nor lick the sugar from about the platters side Beware thou offer not to eate of any dish whereof thy betters haue not first eatē Much lesse maiest thou presume to touche those dishes first which should be last Whensoeuer thy betters shall offer thée any meate reach out thy trencher and take it but remember that presently thou bow thy body reuerendly to him that gaue it thée If a dainty péece of meat be offred thée make a reuerend shew of refusall as if thou hadst rather that the partie should kéepe it to himselfe but if thou bee earnestly willed to take it receiue it with like modestie as is aforesaide and of such dainty péece giue alwaies part to him next thée or to two or thrée by thée if the portion will extend so largely That which being offred thou canst not receiue conueniently according to manners with thy fingers receiue the same with thy trencher or plate If a peece of Pye or of Tart bee offered thée receiue that on thy plate or trencher not with thy fingers If Custard or such like meate bee offered thée receiue it on thy plate or trencher and wiping the spoone wherewith it was deliuered thée with thy table napkin deliuer it againe with humble bowing of thy body to him that gaue it thée if he be thy superior It is vnmannerly and euill to licke thy fingers being moistned with the fat of meat or to wipe them on thy clothes and as vnséemely and also vnholsome is it to swallow downe whole morsels without chewing like Storkes and Herons If thou séest one cutting meate that thou likest it is ill manners for thée to offer thy trencher before he make any offer thereof to thée for thou shouldst so bee iudged a lickorish gréedy gut When thou receiuest any thing at the table with thy hande lay holde of it with no more but thy thumbe and two forefingers the hinder fingers being bowed in mannerly In eating thou must put thy morsels of bread and meate beeing cutte leysurely and modestly into thy mouth with the thumbe and forefinger of thy left hande the other thrée fingers beeing bowed in one beneath the other If one offer thée meate that thou louest not or goeth against thy stomacke deny it not churlishly as Clitipho answered his mother saying I will none of it But giue him thanks shamefastly if hee still offer it say Pardon mee Sir I loue it not or it is not good for me Let Children also learne howe to carue meate for there is one manner of caruing the leg of flesh another of the shoulder another of the brest c. one manner of cutting vp a Capon another of a Fesant another of a Partridge another of a Ducke another of a Conie c. all which must bee learned by daylie experience Beware that in cutting thy meate at the table thou handle or tutch no parte of the meate more than thou cuttest for thy selfe For auoiding of which euill the Italians and Germanes vse little forkes of siluer or stéele with their kniues in cutting meate It is a most slouenly thing to offer to gnaw anie bread or meate at the table And as euill is it to offer vnto another that which thou hast alreadie halfe eaten To bite meate or bread and then dip it in the sawce is verie clownish and as vnmannerly to take anie thing chewed out of thy mouth and lay it on thy trencher If by chance thou haue got into thy mouth anie stinking or vnsauerie morsell of meate which thou canst not swalow turne thy face aside and with thy napkin couer thy face and so rid it away secretly that it be not séen or perceiued To take vp againe to eate the fragments from thy trencher is no good manners Throw not downe thy bones to file the house or make dogs fight nor lay them on the cloath but put them on a voyder or on a corner of thy trencher Picke not the meate out of an egge wyth thy fingers nor licke it with thy tung Let no grease hang about thy lips but kéep thy mouth clean with thy
thanke God for shaping thée aright in all parts and comely to sée too whereas hee hath made diuers ill fauoured lame blinde c. To interrupt anie bodie while he is speaking and breake off his tale is an vnmannerly part Be not angrie nor quarrelling with any bodie vse gentlenes and frendly behauiour to euerie bodie But make choyce of such for thy neerest familiars to bee conuersaunt withall as thou findest to be most vertuous and well mannered Say nothing to anie bodie that thou woldest not haue knowen abroad to al for it becommeth not children to bee talkers or medlers in anie thing but those things that concerne their learning or profiting in goodnes It is a folly for thee to looke to haue kept that secret by telling it another which thou couldest not kéepe secret thy selfe The surest way for thée to eschue blame and reproach is that thou neuer doo nor say anie thing whereof thou maist bee iustly ashamed or haue cause to repent Be no medler in other mens matters and if thou hast séene or knowen anie thing of their dooings make as though thou knewest nothing To looke aside ouer another mans shoulder while he is reading his letters is an vnmannerly part If a man open his coffer or deske whyle thou art by goe aside for it is no good manners for thée to looke therein much more vnséemly is it for thée to handle any thing that is therein If any men nere thée enter into any secret talke get thée aside and intermeddle not thy selfe with their speach vnles thou be called The manners as I said before are liuelie representations of the dispositions of the mynde and those doe shine principally in the good order of the visage let therfore thine eyes be modestly yet pleasantly disposed shamefast and stedfast and also peaceable not too much lifted vp or disdainfully cast aside for that were a signe of pride and crueltie not wauering and affraide to looke vp for that betokeneth follie and want of witt not be amishly hanging doune for that betokeneth sullennes not with an eager sullen show for that betokeneth one practising som treason not too open staring for that sheweth a blockhead and shamelesse foole not twinkeling for that betokeneth cowardise and in constancie not looking wildly for that is like mad folke and men amased not sharply as if thou were angrie not beckoning and as it were speaking to the partie with thy looke for that were want of shamfastnes but let thy looke be so ordered as thereby may thy minde appeare to he quiet setled amiable and curteous with all reuerence And surely not without cause did the auncient philosophers call the eyes the seate of the soule Paintings made in olde time doe shewe that in times past it was counted especiall good manners for to looke with the eyes half shut as among some Spaniards it séemeth yet to bee estéemed comely to looke with the eyes somewhat wincking Also we finde it by the saide paintings to haue bin estéemed a valorous and manlie part to go somewhat backe and to close the lips But that which is comely by nature will be accounted faire and séemely among all people yet in these matters we must some times doe as the fish doeth which changeth the colour according to the thing that it méeteth There are certaine countenances of eyes which nature hath giuen to one after one sort to another after another fashion the ordering of which cannot in euerie point be sufficiently handled in precepts but this I say that euill and vncomely behauiours doo spoile not only the fashion of the countenance but also of all the bodie whereas contrariwise well ordered and séemely behauiours make that which is comely by nature to bee most well beséeming and commendable and whereas is anie vncomelinesse or imperfection of nature it taketh away or at least maketh to séeme lesse the blemish thereof It is vnséemly to looke vpon anie man holding one of thine eyes shut as if thou were shooting in a gunne Let thine ey-browes stand also stretched right forth not rimpled together by beeing turned back again which betokeneth fiercenes not staring vp on high which is sign of pride not hanging downe ouer the eyes which is a signe of one meditating mischiefe Let thy forhead be merry and plain shewing chéerfulnes and a resolute quiet minde not wrinkled and turned vp againe like an olde man not going vp and downe like a hedge-hog not casting thy forehead a crosse like a bull Let not thy nose be snottie for that is a most filthie and loathsome thing to behold neither maist thou wipe the same vppon thy hat cap clothes hand or sléeue for that is too slouenly neither maist thou blowe thy nose with thy hand and straight way wype thy hand vpon thy clothes but blow thy nose on thy napkin turning thy head aside from the companie if thou want a napkin goe into a corner and blowing thy nose with thy forefinger and thumbe tread out quickly that which fell from thée To snuffle or make a rutling in the nose is filthie to speake also in the nose is vnséemly and ridiculous To blow thy nose verie lowd is vnmannerly If thou be driuen to néese in companie it is manners for thée to turn a little aside and afterward to put off thy hat and to thanke them that haue bid God blesse thée But let the violence of thy néesing be first past for néesing and yawning do take away the sense of thine eares vtterly It is holden also for good manners after thy néesing to put off thy hat and to say With your leaue When thou art driuen to yawne goe aside or els if thou canst not put thy hand before thy mouth It is good manners to salute another when hee neeseth saying Christ helpe you When as thine Elders or betters shall salute anie man that neeseth it is manners for thee to put off thy hat To straine thy selfe for to make much noyse in neesing or to neese oftener than necessitie forceth is vnmannerly Neither take I it healthie for to restraine thy selfe from neesing when thou art mooued violently theretoo and health is commonly to be preferred before too nice manner lines Let thy chéekes bee died with naturall shamefastnes and not with painting To blush when thou art reprooued or charged with euill though vndeserued of thée it is a signe of grace and good manners Beware thou show not too bold a face and take like héed that thou be not too bashfull To puffe vp the chéekes is a signe of foolish pride And to pluck in the same too much showeth one of minde forlorne and despayring of himselfe The one betokeneth a proud foole hauing too high a conceat of himselfe the other betokeneth a Iudas like traitour Let not thy mouth be too close shut as if thou fearedst to take breath nor yet let it be gaping open for that is like a foole but let thy lippes be euen as it were gently kissing one another
Take héed thou powt not out thy mouth for that is ill fauoured and beastly Neyther make a pohing with thy mouth in companie as men doo passing by some stinking place To laugh at euery thing betokeneth a foole neither maist thou laugh a lowd at any thing nor stirre and shake thy body in laughing in a cause of greate laughter thou must smile and shewe a modest ioyfullnes But beware thou laugh not at any ribawdrie or filthie knauerie nor once smile thereat Too earnest violent laughter is séemly for no age but most vnséemly for children Some laugh so vnreasonably that therewith they set out their téeth like grinning dogs make wry mouths and disfigure their faces But flie thou such dissolute and vnmannerly fashions These are wordes of fooles to say I was like to be pisse my selfe with laughing I had almost burst with laughing I was like to haue died with laughing or I had almost sounded with laughing If so great a cause of laughter bee offered that thou cannot choose but laugh out thou must hide thy face with a napkin or with thy hand To laugh alone or without cause is accounted foolishnes yet if at some conceit thou smile to thy selfe it is the more tollerable if thou canst readilie yéeld a sufficient cause therefore To bite the nether lip is a vile vnmannerly part for that is the signe of a furious mā or such a one that is spitefull threatning like euil is it to bite the vpper lip and as vnmannerly is it to lick out the tung aboue or below the lips or on ether side of the mouth It was in times past holden a grace or good fashion amongst the Dutchmen to put out their lips somwhat as if they were readie to kisse but that is holden for a bad fashion now a dayes To mocke anie bodie by blabbering out the tung is the part of wag-halters leand boyes not of well mannered children When thou spittest turne thy face aside and beware that thou spittest not vpon anie bodie nor before any bodies sight If thou hast spet anie thing vppon the ground that is fowle to be séene tread it out quickly least it offend anie bodies sight If thou be where thou canst not turne from the companie receiue thy spettle with thy hand-kerchiefe from thy mouth verye closely It is a beastly thing to vse spitting often as some doo by a lewd custome not for néed Some likewise vse still coughing and humming almost at euerie word they speake as if they were still forging a lye that wold not frame All such fowle fashions must thou warily eschew Some others get a filthy custome in theyr childhood to rospe and make as though they would breake winde vpward still in theyr talke vse the same vntill their age whereof Clitipho in Terence was reprooued by a seruant But if thou bee forced to cough cough a side and beware thou cough in no bodies face neither rospe nor breake wind in any companie as neare as thou can especially eschew it in talke If thou be driuen to vomit get thée aside out of companie least thou make the stomacks of other to loath thée and they iudge thée a glutton or drunkard Kéepe thy téeth cleane by rubbing them and thy Gummes euerie morning afore thou rise with a linnen cloth for that is most holsome As for powder to make them white leaue that to nise maides To vse rubbing much with salt or allume doth fret the gummes And as for washing them with Vrine leaue that to the Spaniards If there bee any thing hanging in thy téeth get it not out with thy knife nor with thy nailes like Cats and Dogs nor with a napkin but with the point of a toothpicker made either of some fine piece of woode or of a quill or of the little bones taken out of a Capons legge It is estéemed comely and holsome to wash the mouth with faire water once in the morning but to vse the same oft in a day is foolish and vnséemelie Of vsage of the tung we will speake in another place It is both a thing clownish and vnholsome to goe vnkembd I speake of kembing for cleanlynesse for auoyding lice and nits c. not of chrisping curling and laying our locks like wanton yong women To vse to scratch the head in presence of others is both slouenly and euill and so is it to vse scratching or rubbing thy bodie Let not the haire of thy head hang in thine eies nor on thy shoulders Shake not much thy head nor strout it not too much out with bridling in thy chin for that is more comely for great Horses than for thée yet must thou remember to carry thy head vpright in a modest sort To pull in thy head thrust vp thy shoulders were the part of a slouthfull slouen To bowe in thy backe thrusting out thy bellie is foolish proud gesture and verie vnséemely but to goe with thy body strait vp is comely and commendable Let not thy heade hang lolling on one side nor other for that sheweth either a foole or an hypocrite Thou must beare thy shoulders euen with an equall counterpois not thrusting vp the one and downe with the other like Antikes for many children practising such Apish and vnséemely toyes make their bodies grow crooked for euer become thereby deformed and ill fashioned in their whole bodie beyond nature Some also by crooking out their shoulders and stooping with their backs get such a custome in their childhoode as they growe crooked for euer and cannot by any meanes goe strait againe when they would The bodies of children are like tender plants which may bee made to grows strait with héede and propping But without regard had those that by nature are disposed to be most strait will soone grow crooked or some waies deformed When thou sittest let thy knées be neare together and thy féete not farre asunder But whether thou sittest or standest beware thou settest not thy féete too wide at the toes for the vse thereof will make thée splay-footed Neither vse to tread thy shooes awry Sit not nor stand with thy legs a crosse nor with one legge cast ouer the other It was indéede an auncyent fashion of Kings to sit with the right foot cast ouer the lefte thigh but that is reproued in children In Italy some vse to set one foot vpon the other like a Storke but that is not comely for children To make a leg bowing thy knée handsomly vnto thy beters thou art bound of dutie but if it be not doon orderly it disgraceth thée Some vse to bow both knées togither holding their bodies straight but that is for women girles for a aman or boy it is holden in England for the best manners when they make obeysance to their superiors to bow modestly first the right knée and then the left And this obeisance must thou obserue as ofte as thou méetest or talkest with or receyuest any thing at the
hands of thyne elders and betters The frenchmen vse to bow only the right knée with a gentle mouing and bowing of the bodie But if thou bee conuersant with straungers or with thy betters delighted in the manners of straungers it will not be amis if thou sometime frame thy selfe to vse the manners of them best pleasing Let not thy going bee either too slowly dreamingly like one that cared not whether he went or not nor yet too hastily as if thou were rash headlong in thy dooings The one is like effeminate persons the other like mad folke Neither goe trauersing the way vnconstantly as doth the Switzer Souldiers who take it a great glorie to weare great plumes of fethers in their hats Neither goe as though thou didst halfe halt nor yet nicely tripping with thy féete the one is like counterfeite rogues the other like harlots To shake with the legges as thou sittest or to make much stamping and toying with thy féete is the propertie of a foole And to â—â—mble or shewe a number of Apish toyes with thy hands and fingers is a signe of one not hauing a sound and stable wit Of Apparrell VVEE haue spoken of the bodie alreadie and the ordring of it now we will speake a few words of apparell for apparell may be called the body of the body by it and wearing thereof may partly bée coniectured and iudged what is the nature and quallitie of the minde Yet thereof can be no certaine fashion prescribed in as much as diuersities of Countries honors dignities and riches make some kind of apparrell well or ill beseeming one Country or calling and some other like to another Againe times change the fashions in many Countries whereto somewhat must be yéelded but I would not haue thée follow euery fond and strange deuise Bee thou content with such apparrell as thine estate and the bountie of thy friendes affoordeth knowing it is not the outwarde gorgeous apparrell but the inward vertues of the minde that maketh one estéemed What apparrell so euer thou hast sée thou doo not ware it torne or fowle and slouenly but kéepe it cleane and handsome brushed and rubbed Sée thy pointes bee tyed thy girdle on thy hat cleane thy shirt bande rightly set about thy necke thy clothes fitte about thy bodie thy stockinges cleane and close gartered and thy shooes made cleane also Party coloured and too gawdy cloathes are fitter for fooles and Apes than for discret and well nurtured folke Fine apparrell is to be desired none otherwise but for comlines and according to the dignitie and riches of thy friends Children must not be curious of gay clothing but carefull to please their Parentes and Teachers and studie to learne vertuous Arts. There are some children so slouenly that they wet and perfume the lower partes of their shirts and cloathes with vrine Some other that bespotte and all to dawbe their breastes and sléeues filthily with dropping of drinke and Pottage and so foorth Nay which is most loathsome with sniueling of their nose and driueling of their mouth but in any wise beware thou of this beastlines Others let their clothes hang about them like a sacke like such as are all carelesse of credit and cleanlines If thy friendes haue giuen thée any trim cloathes goe not thou when thou wearest them casting thine eyes still on thy gay clothes in a foolish iollitie and pride like the peacocke beholding his taile Neither shew thy cloathes to other bragging thereof for so much the more as thou art partaker of worldly commodities so much the more good manners and modestie it is for thée to shewe humilitie Let poore folke and such as haue escaped out of Captiuitie or any great miserie reioyce for their better estate and deliuerance so it be modestly and with attributing the praise vnto God But for a rich bodie to glorie insolently in his riches or costly apparell is estéemed a reproch vnto those that want such plentie and the readie way to get hatred Of manners at Schoole VVHen thou goest to the Schoole remember that the Schoole is the very nurserie of all vertues the worke-house of framing thy minde and body to a right fashion the pathway to knowledge and the very direct entrance into a happy well ordered course of life Estéeme of thy teachers as of spirituall Parents knowing that all their studies and indeuours is to doo thée good And knowe that to them thou owest most great duty loue and reuerence next vnto God and to thy naturall Parentes For surely vnto thy Parents and faithfull Schoolemasters thou canst neuer be able to make sufficient amends Be it far from thée to go vnto the Schoole with as ill a will as wicked dooers goe vnto the Stockes or to the Gallowes Neither account it an intollerable toyle and labour to apply thy selfe daily to learning for learning is but a sport and play to such as haue willing minds and therefore in Latine it is called ludus literarius And indéede how soeuer the corruption of mans nature misliketh of and striueth against Learning and knowledge yet knowledge and learning beeing rightly applyed is the foode of the soule the best delight of the minde bringeth with it if it be well sought the greatest and surest honor and happines Pray therefore earnestly to God euery morning that he would suppresse in thée all rebellious stubborne and careles affections that hee would lighten thine vnderstanding make thy minde willing dilligent and tractable readie to conceiue and able to carrie away whatsoeuer shall be taught thée These things if thou craue vnfainedly God is able to giue and will readily bestow on thée When thou art at Schoole bee studious in thy lectures learning attentiue to thy Masters wordes and documents what soeuer thy Master shall teach mark it héedfully and meditate thereon earnestly vntill thou haue learned the same perfectlye At voide times be sure to get all those rules phrases and lectures without booke which thou must render againe or maiest make vse of to haue them in readinesse Be ashamed that any of thy equals should learne faster than thou but indeuour thou to learne faster thaÌ„ al those in lecture with thée In matters of doubt aske helpe earnestly by intreatie or rewardes at the hands of other schollers better learned than thou And be thou most readie and willing to helpe any thy equals or inferiours in learning Flie all fighting and wrangling with thy fellowes But be curteous gentle lowlie among all both rich and poore Make no noyse nor vse any meane whereby thou maiest disturbe thy schoolefellowes much lesse thy schoolemaster Be a patterne of good manners industry curtesie and obeying thy Master vnto all in the Shoole So shall thy praise be great and thy profit greater Of manners at Church WHen thou commest into the Church remember that it is the house of God-Almightie consecrated to his seruice who is the King of Kings Lord of Lordes Father of thy Father and