archangels I beseche you praye for me for all people Saynt IohnÌ„ baptyst al holy patriarkes ê“phetes I beseche you pray for me for al chrysteÌ„dom Saynt Peter saynt Paule saynt IohnÌ„ the euaÌ„gelyst and all holy apostles euangelystes I beseche you praye for me for all the worlde and you also all dysciples of our lorde and holy Innocentes Saynt StephaÌ„ and all holy martyrs SayÌ„t Augustyne al holy coÌ„fessours all religious ê“sones heremytes Saynt Katheryne saynt Margarete saynt Barbara al holy virgyns I beseche you praye for me for all persones And fynally all you holy sayntes of heueÌ„ of euery degre and state where you be I beseche you all in generall and eueryche in specyall pray for me all maÌ„kynde Here may you bryÌ„ge in the patrones of your chirches or dioces and suche as you haue as I sayd synguler deuocyon vnto And here an ende as vnto your selfe But yet some of you wyll say Syr this werke is good for religious persones for suche ê‘sones as ben solytary done lye alone by theÌ„ selfe but we done lye .ij. or .iij. somtyme togyder yet in one chaÌ„bre dyuers beddes so many in company yf we shulde vse these thyÌ„ges in pÌ„sence of our felowes some wold laugh vs to scorne and mocke vs. O Iesu bone O good lord Iesu what here I nowe I dare well say there ben but fewe persones in englande but they wolde byde some daunger or rebuke for pleasure of theyr kynge or prynce many for theyr mayster or maystresse or theyr souereyns some for theyr freÌ„des felowes specyally where great gaynes shuld growe therby vnto theÌ„ selfe And for the pleasure of god our father of our swete sauyour Iesu our brother shulde we be abasshed to take dauÌ„ger bere a poore mocke or scorne that neuer shal wouÌ„de our flesshe ne yet tere our skyn for the pleasure of our pereles pryÌ„ce kyÌ„ge of kyÌ„ges lord of al lordes Fye for shame that any christian shulde be so cowardous Ventre vpon it go forthe wtall OmÌ„e principiuÌ„ difficile labor iÌ„broboiÌ„a vincit In .ix. dayes as they saye the dauÌ„ger shal be past fere nothyÌ„ge Euery begyÌ„nynge is harde of great difficulte But importune labour dothe vaynquysshe ouercome all thyÌ„ges I tel you this dayly exercyse by custum vse shal seme very shorte swete ê“fytable pleasauÌ„t Rede it or here it ouer ones or twyse at the leest before they cast it away How be it we thyÌ„ke it not sufficieÌ„t nor ynough for you to lyue well your selfe but that all other christians also lyue the better for you by your example specyally those that you haue in charge gouernauÌ„ce that is to say your childer seruauÌ„tes And me semeth it shuld also be a good pastyme moche merytoryous for you that can rede to gader your neyghbours aboute you on the holy day specyally the yonge sorte rede to them this poore lesson For therin ben suche thyÌ„ges as they ben bounde to knowe or can saye that is the Pater noster the Aue maria the Crede with suche other thynges as done folowe I wolde therfore you shulde begyn with them by tyme in youthe as soone as they can speke For it is an olde sayenge Quod nouatesta capit in veterata sapit The pot or vessell shall euer sauour or smell of the thynge wherwith it is fyrst seasoned And your englyssh ê“uerbe sayth that the yonge cocke croweth as he dothe here lerne of the olde you may in youthe teche them what ye wyll that shall they leÌ„gest kepe remeÌ„bre you shulde therfore aboue all thynges take hede and care in what coÌ„pany your chylder beÌ„ nourysshed brought vp For educacyon doctryne that is to saye bryngynge vp lernynge done make the maners with good vertuous ê‘sones sayth the prophete you shal be good vertuous Psal xvij And with the euyll ê‘sones you shal be also euyll Let your chylder therfore vse kepe good coÌ„pany The pye the say and other byrdes done speke what they moost here by eare The plouer by syght wyll folowe the gesture behauyour of the fowler And the ape by exercyse wyll worke do as she is taught so wyll the dogge by violence contrary to naturall disposicion lerne to daunce The chylder therfore that by reason done fer excede other creatures wyl bere away what they here spokeÌ„ they shulde therfore be vsed vnto suche coÌ„pany where they shulde here none euyl but where they may here godly and chrystyan wordes They wyll also haue in theyr gestures behauyour suche maners as they se behold in other persones And as they beÌ„ taught so wyl they do in many thyÌ„ges they may be coÌ„pelled vnto a contynuall custome whiche doth alter chauÌ„ge naturall disposicion Vnto some craftes or occupacyons a certayn age is required in chylder but vertue vice may be lerned in eueri age Se therfore that in any wyse you let them vse no company but good and vertuous And as soone as they can speke let them fyrst lerne to serue god to saye the Pater noster Aue. and Crede as I sayd before And not onely your chylder but also se you proue that all your seruauntes what age so euer they be of can say the same And therfore I haue aduysed many persones here now to couÌ„seyle that in euery mele dyner or souper one persone shulde with lowde voyce saye thus Fyrst peticyon Pater noster qui es incelis sanctificetur nomen tuuÌ„ Good lorde god our holy father that art in heuen let thy name be sanctifyed that is to meane I beseche the graunte vs grace to blesse to honour to laude and prayse thy holy name secunde Adueniat regnum tuum Good lorde god our father the art in heueÌ„ let thy kyngdom come that is I beseche the lorde that all the people of the worlde may come vnto the grace of baptysme so be the feythfull subiectes of thy realme and kyngdome of christianite thyrde Fiat voluÌ„tas tua sicut in celo et in tra Good lorde god our holy father the art in heueÌ„ let thy wyll be wrought in erth as it is wrought in heuen that is to meane I beseche the lorde that all thy chrystyan people here in erth may performe thy wyll kepe thy coÌ„maundemeÌ„tes after theyr estate condicion as thy holy angels and sayntes done in heuen after theyr state degre Panem nostrum cotidianuÌ„ da nobis hodie fourth Good lordê god our holy father that art in heuen gyue grauÌ„te vnto vs this daye our dayly breed that is to meane I beseche the good lorde graunt vnto vs coÌ„tinually the spiritual fode grace effecte of thy holy sacrameÌ„tes Or thus Graunt vnto vs the coÌ„tinuall grace effecte of thy holy sacrameÌ„tes whiche is the dayly fode
due contrycyon for all my synnes And knowlege also of thy lawes wyll pleasure so that by no maner of ignorauÌ„ce or mysvnderstandynge I do at any tyme in werke or dede or in worde or thought any thynge coÌ„trary vnto the same And thyrdly good lorde where thou knowest also that I am ofte tymes obstynate of myÌ„de froward euyll wylly stubburne of stomake vnkynde of hert dull negligent slouthfull in all maner of goodnes I beseche the good lorde god holy ghost that art the spyryte wyll of the father and of the sone with them the same selfe essencyal god vnto whom is appropriate specyally appoynted all bounte all goodnes all grace good wyll that thou woldest vouchesafe to gyue me the grace of good wyll so that I neuer do saye ne thynke that shulde be contrary vnto thy wyll And hauynge vnto the euer a reuereÌ„de drede I may loue the for thy selfe al other in the lorde for the so that accordynge vnto the spirituall strengthe and knowlege that thou hast gyueÌ„ me I may apply my wyll hooly vnto thy wyll so that I haue no wyll propre vnto my selfe but that my wyll be all thy wyl and bothe as moch as may be possible one wyll And so I may here in this lyfe ordre my loue come vnto suche perfeccion of ferueÌ„t charite that by thy grace I may atteyn vnto the fruicyon of euerlastynge charite in thy ioyful presence AmeÌ„ And good lorde god father of heueÌ„ I beseche the take receyue me thus vnto thy grace haue mercy pyte vpon me all thy people And thou lorde god blessed sone of god the father sauyour redemer of the worlde haue pite mercy vpon me vpon all chrysten people And louynge lorde god holy ghost blessed spyrite of god haue mercy pite vpon me all the worlde Holy and blessed Trinite one selfe same esseÌ„cyall god haue pyte mercy vpon me all myne vpon all thy creatures Amen And than ones agayne blesse the with In noiÌ„e prÌ„is as before than go forth vnto your besynesse where ye wyll Let this be for your mornyng exercyse And though you that haue great thynges to do wolde thynke this prayer mornyÌ„ge exercyse ouer loÌ„ge bycause of your besynes I a certeyne you yf it were ones by vse goten redy incorporate prynted in the herte mynde it wolde soone be sayd or thought the ê‘son shulde I byleue haue grace to spede the better in other thynges nothynge for thynke of the spendyng of the tyme but rather accounte it for great gaynes in somoche that we purpose to set forth in the ende a longer exercyse for theÌ„ that haue longer tyme to spende but now we shal go forth herein After the sayd morowe exercise I trust you wyll be well occupyed vpon your appoynted course of occupacyon For that was our couÌ„seyle in the begyÌ„nynge that ye shulde appoynt your selfe by a continuall course vnto some certeyne occupacion that may be ê“fytable and euer to auoyde ydlenes the mother and nurse of all synne euyll And euer be ware of suche occupacions as beÌ„ called coÌ„munly pastymes that is to say all maner of vnlawful games suche dysportes as done drawe people rather to vyce than to vertue whiche more properly may be called lose tymes thaÌ„ pastimes Math. xij c. For syth by the affirmacion of our sauyour we shall make account of euery ydle worde it must nedes folowe that we shall make a more strayte rekenynge of euery ydle or euyl werke Let therfore your sayd appointed occupacyon be alway good vertuous ê“fytable Syth thaÌ„ ye must nedes make a rekenyÌ„g of euery werke worde and thought for none of these caÌ„ be hyd or kepte preuy from your auditour me thynketh it shulde be a great surety for you to make euery daye ones your sayd accounte by your selfe The coÌ„mune ê“uerbe is that ofte rekenynge holdeth longe felawshyp I wolde aduyse you therfore to spende some tyme thervpon at nyght after al your occupacions before your bed ther knele downe there begyn to remembre wheder ye wente what ye dyd immedyatly after your morowe exercyse in what company ye were what was there your behauyour and demeanour in werke worde or thought so go forth vnto eueri place tyme coÌ„pany as brekefast dyner souper or drynkyng where you fynde or ê‘ceyue any thynge that was good vertuous and profytable ascribe apply the vnto our lorde god gyue vnto hym all the glory laude prayse therof for he alone is the gyuer of all goodnes so ouer passe that thynge lyghtly And where ye remembre of any speciall thynge done sayd or thought amysse stycke and byde thervpon bulte it as they say turne it vp so downe try the weyght dauÌ„ger therof with all the maner cyrcuÌ„staunce of the same So may ye knowe the quantyte therof that is to say how great a synne or howly tell it is how be it none offeÌ„ce can be lytell the doth offende god surely euery synne is offence done vnto god all though it seme to be done vnto man j. Ioh. ij d. For as the loue of god dothe begyn at the loue of the neyghbour For he that loueth not his neyghbour whom he may se with his bodyly eye or syght sayth saynt IohnÌ„ how may he loue god whom he can not so se so in lyke maner the offence of the neyghbour is forth with the offence of god Consyder therfore vnto whom the trespace is done so the consyderacyon with the other qualytes quantites of the synne shall brynge you vnto a basshmeÌ„t therof to be sory therfore or at the leest to wyll or wysshe that ye had not so done Than mekely crye god mercy axe hym forgyuenes therof with very purpose myÌ„de to be coÌ„fessed therof at due tyme to take and do penaunce therfore And I dare assure you that this maner of accouÌ„t rekenynge though your synne were neuer so great shall saue you from the ieopardy of dampnacion whiche is no lytel grace goodnes of god ThaÌ„ke hym than lowly therfore so blesse your selfe as you dyd in the mornynge your bedde also go thervnto so coÌ„myt your selfe all hole body soule vnto the ê“teccyon custody kepyng of our lorde who gyue you good nyght good rest Amen ¶ It shal be ryght well also that you call vpon suche holy sayntes as you haue specyall deuocion vnto vnder this forme or some other lyke Blessed lady Mary mother of god alwaye vyrgyn I beseche the pray for me and for all christians Holy angell of god what so euer thou be that art deputed and appoynted vnto my custody I submyttynge me with most lowly obedience beseche the to praye for me for all the worlde Saynt Michael saynt Gabryell saynt Raphael with all holy angels
good englysshe bookes and gader thervnto as many persones as you can For I tell you there shulde be no tyme lost ne mysspent vpon the holy daye Let this poore lesson now content you for these thre commaundementes of the fyrste table whiche as I sayd done apperteyne and belonge vnto almyghty god hymselfe Another shorte lesson shall we set forth for the commaundementes of the secuÌ„de table The .iiij. precepte And fyrst the due reuereÌ„de honour to be done of the chylder vnto the pareÌ„tes that is to saye vnto theyr fathers and mothers Teche your chylder therfore to axe blessynge euery nyght knelynge before they go to rest vnder this fourme Father I beseche you of blessynge for charite or thus Mother I beseche you of charite gyue me your blessynge ThaÌ„ let the father or mother holde vp bothe the handes ioynynge them bothe togyder loke vp reuerently deuoutly vnto the heuen saye thus Our lorde god blesse you chylde therwith make a crosse with the ryght hande ouer the chylde sayenge In noiÌ„e prÌ„is et filij et spuÌ„s sctiÌ„ AmeÌ„ And yf any chylde be styffe herted stubburne and frowarde wyll not thus axe blessynge yf it be within age let it surely be whysked with a good rodde be compelled thervnto by force And yf the persones be of forther age and past suche correccyon and yet wyl be obstynate let them haue suche sharpe greuous punysshment as conuenyently may be deuysed as to syt at dyner alone by them selfe at a stole in the myddle of the hall with onely browne breed water and euery persone by ordre to rebuke them as they wold rebuke a these or a traytour Deuter. xxj d. For in the olde lawe suche chylder were brought before the hole townshyp that is to saye the people of the cyte or of that towne and there were they stoned vnto dethe And certeynly I wolde not aduyse ne couÌ„seyle any parentes to kepe suche a chylde in theyr hous wtout great afflyccyon punysshment And therfore I thynke it were moche coÌ„uenient for the pareÌ„tes oft tymes to shewe vnto theyr chylder what coÌ„modytees profites what perylles ieopardyes done folowe the honour dyshonour of the pareÌ„tes accordynge vnto holy scrypture Eccliastici iiij A. Some wherof I haue here set forth as is coÌ„teyned in the boke of the wyse maÌ„ called Ecclesiasticus in the thyrde chapytre Those persones sayth he that ben the chylder of Chryst ben also the chylder of this chirche and al suche as though it were by naturall dysposicyon ben gyueÌ„ and applyed of that godly disposicyon vnto obedyence and loue All you therfore that ben louyÌ„ge chylder be euer obedient vnto the iudgment dyscrecion of your pareÌ„tes And so be you obedient in all your werkes that you therby may be the chylder of saluacion that is to say that your obedience be done with the very loue of your hert vnsayned wtout dissimulacyoÌ„ For god hath ordeyned that the father shall haue due honour amonge his chylder the mother in lyke maner with lowly obedyence Those persones that done loue god wyl praye vnto hym for the forgyuenes of theyr syÌ„nes afterward wyll beware conteyne kepe them selfe froÌ„ them And iÌ„ that dayly prayer they shall gracyously be herde And lyke as a persone for the surete of his lyuynge here doth horde vp gather tresour so done they ordeyn for the suerte of theyr saluacyon that duely done honour theyr parentes This worde parentes doth signifye bothe the father and mother Who so euer dothe duely honour his parentes shall haue ioye pleasure and conforte amonge his owne chylder And who so euer is duely obedyent vnto the father dothe therby refresshe and moche coÌ„forte the mother And these ê‘sones that done due honour vnto theyr parentes shall haue longe lyfe and in the day of theyr prayer they shal gracyously be herde of our lorde haue theyr peticyon Those persones that haue a reuerende drede vnto our lorde god haue in lyke maner a reuerende drede vnto theyr parentes done duely honour them and wyll do them suche seruyce and in lyke maner as a bonde seruaunt shulde do vnto his lorde mayster as well in werke as worde with all pacyence and gentylnes Do therfore vnto your parentes honoure reuereÌ„ce that the blessyng of god may therby lyght vpon you and that blessynge shall remayne endure vnto your last ende The blessynge of the parentes dothe fyrme and make stable the possessyons and the kynred of the chylder And coÌ„trary the cursse of the pareÌ„tes doth eradicate and rote walt vtterly destroye bothe Chylde neuer take thou pleasure ne pryde in the rebuke dysprayse of thy pareÌ„tes For that rebuke is not thy glory boost nor prayse but rather thy coÌ„fusyon shame rebuke For the glory and prayse of euery persone standeth in the honour of the parentes And a great shame rebuke is it vnto the chylder whan the parentes ben without honour reuerence Good chylder take good pacyence with the age of your parentes neuer displease ne greue them in al your lyfe Ane they fayle in wytte or vnderstandynge therafter speke or do any thynge contrary vnto your reason or wytte take you pacyence with them let the mater passe And in no wyse do not you despyse them bycause of our owne strength or better abilite For the pite and compassion that you haue vnto your parentes shall neuer be forgoten before god For you shall haue good and profyte of theyr offence and synne And in the iustyce and ryght you do vnto them shal you be edifyed and encreace in vertue And in the tyme of your trybulacyon that good dede shal be remembred For as the yce in the frost dothe melte by the clere sonne beames so shall your synnes by your duety done vnto your parentes be wasted clene losed forgyuen That persone is of euyll name and fame that doth forsake the pareÌ„tes in theyr nede And those chylder beÌ„ accursed of god that done anger vexe and trouble theyr pareÌ„tes Chylde of what state or degre so euer thou be do euer thy duty with myldnes mekenes and lowlynes and than shalte thou be well byloued and praysed aboue other persones And the more hyghe estate thou come vnto the more meke and lowly be thou in all thynges and than shalt thou in the presence of god haue great meryte encrease in grace For god dothe loke vpon them that done rendre and gyue due thankes for the fauour goodnes done vnto them before Ad verbuÌ„ ferme traÌ„slata All this now is the very text lettre of the holy scrypture in the place before rehersed Where you may se and perceyue many great coÌ„modytes and graces that done come vnto them that duely done honour theyr pareÌ„tes And many great ieopardyes and peryls and also the curse of god that doth lyght vpon them that wyll not do theyr duety of
¶ A werke for housholders or for them that haue the gydynge or gouernaunce of any company Gadred set forth by a professed brother of Syon Richard whytforde And newly corrected prynted agayne with an addicion of policy for housholdynge set forth also by the same brother ¶ Vnto the deuoute reders Rycharde Whytforde a professed brother of Syon due salutacion in our lorde god and moost swete sauyour Iesu ¶ The preface WHere I had sent forth this poore lesson vnto a pryuate persone specyall frende the copy therof came vnto the syght of certeyn deuoute ê‘sones that were as they sayde well contented therwith and edified therby So that they instantly requyred me to put it newly forth in coÌ„mune supposyng in theyr deuoute myÌ„de it shulde be vnto other ê‘sones as it semed vnto them edificatyue profitable I beseche our lord it so may be And that you wolde not ascribe it vnto any presumpcion in me but rather vnto theyr deuocyon charyte And with lyke herte mynde so to receyue it The ende of the preface ¶ The argument THe mater is directed princypally vnto housholders or vnto them that haue gydyng gouernaunce of any company for an ordre to be kepte bothe in them selfe in theÌ„ that they haue in rule charge The ende of the argument ¶ The selfe lesson or counseyle GOod deuoute chrystyans let vs fyrst consydre that all we ben mortall as well the ryche as the poore the yonge as the olde there is no dyffereÌ„ce none excepte al must nedes dye And though we lyue very longe yet shal we dye shortly for the lengest lyfe of this worlde is very shorte And yet haue we no certaynte ne yet coniecture of knowlege whan where how or in what state we shall departe this lyfe And sure we ben that as we ben fouÌ„de at that tyme so shall we be taken without respyte or delay forthwith shall we be presented brought before the hygh iudge that can not be deceyued to make a counte of all oure lyfe past where no maÌ„ of lawe may speke for vs ne any excuse may serue vs. Our owne conscyence shall there speke and tell playne trothe without crafte or dissymulacyon and in a moment a twynclynge of an eye shall clerely coÌ„fesse al our hole lyfe euery wryncle parte therof whiche coÌ„fessyon yf your lyfe were good shal be vnto our great honour confort reióycynge ioye euerlastynge And contrary yf it were euyll it shal be vnto our great shame rebuke vnto our endles sorow and peyne wo euerlastyng We haue nede therfore to be well ware how we spende our tyme how we passe this lyfe or rather how this lyf passeth vs. And moche shal it auayle ê“fyte vnto the helth of our soules ofte tymes to remembre our last ende Eccli vij The wyse man sayth In oiÌ„bus operibus tuis memorare nouissima tua c. In al thy werkes sayth he remembre thyne endynge daye what thynges shall come vnto the at thy last ende thou shalt neuer do synne ne contynue euerlastyÌ„gly therin The first poynt therfore of a good christian is to entende and purpose with good herte constauÌ„t mynde to auoyde synne dylygeÌ„tly to study how to flee beware of the occasions therof And thaÌ„ to appoynt hymselfe vnto some customable course of good profitable exercyse Psalmo xxxiij Diuerte a malo fac bonuÌ„ sayth the prophete Turne awaye thy face thy herte wyll mynde from all euyll and appoynt thy selfe to worke good werkes For a forme therfore how to folowe the same by coÌ„tynuauÌ„ce I shall shewe you my poore aduyse I speke vnto you good symple deuout soules that wolde fayne lyue well your selfe and also ordre coÌ„fort all other vnto the same Fyrst than begyn with your selfe And as soone as you do awake in the mornynge to aryse for all daye Fyrst sodeynly turne your mynde remembrauÌ„ce vnto almyghty god and than vse by contynuall custom to make a crosse with your thombe vpon your foreheed or front in sayenge of these wordes In noiÌ„e patris than an other crosse vpon your mouth with these wordes et filij And the thyrde crosse vpon your brest sayeng et spuÌ„s sctiÌ„ ameÌ„ And yf your deuocyon be therto ye may agayn make one hole crosse from your heed vnto your fete from the lyfte shulder vnto the ryght sayenge all togyder In noiÌ„e prÌ„is et filij et spuÌ„s sancti AmeÌ„ That is to meane I do blesse marke my selfe with the cognysauÌ„ce and badge of Chryst in the name of the father and in the name of the sone in the name of the holy ghost that is to saye the holy trynyte .iij. persones one god ThaÌ„ saye or thyÌ„ke after this forme Good lorde god my maker redemer here now in thy presence I do for this tyme for all the tyme of my hole lyfe byquethe and by take or rather do frely gyue my selfe soule and body with all my hert myÌ„de vndo the good lorde vnto thy haÌ„des to be thy bonde seruauÌ„t for euer according vnto the promyse made in my baptysme at the font stone And here now I do ratyfy newly coÌ„fyrme the same and do fully coÌ„sent in herte myÌ„de therto neuer here after by the helpe of thy grace to coÌ„trary the same but to coÌ„tynue in thy lawes good lorde vnto the ende of my lyfe But where thou knowest good lorde that I am a frayle person infirme feble weyke of my selfe prone redy in thought worde dede vnto euyll froÌ„ the begyÌ„nynge of my lyfe hytherto I beseche the good lord god and father of all puyssauÌ„ce and power of all myghty strength that thou wylte defende me froÌ„ al myne enemyes gyue me spirituall strength power that I may in the vaynquyssh ouercome flee auoyde al suche fraylte lyght maners or disposicioÌ„s as shuld be contrary to thy wyll pleasure that accordyng vnto this wyll of the spiryte whiche thy goodnes hath now frely gyuen vnto me I may destroy the wyll of the flesshe so contynue vnto the ende of my lyfe Genes viij And yet good lord where thou knowest also that I am but rude vnlerned without wytte wysdom due knowlege of the thy lawes all ignoraunt as an ydiote or foole in all good spirituall vnderstaÌ„dynge I beseche the good lorde god that art the essencyall sone of god the father vnto whome is appropriate all wytte wysdome all scyence coÌ„nynge knowlege al ryght perceyuynge vnderstaÌ„dynge the thou wylt grauÌ„t me the due knowlege of thy selfe by ryght true feyth and the knowlege of all thy benefites gyftes done to me al mankynde grace dewly to thanke the for them And also due knowlege of myne owne selfe of the state condicion of my lyfe coÌ„uersacion specially of my wretchednes with
the reuengynge of the defaute and therfore shulde you neuer do any maner of correccion whyle you ben vexed chafed troubled wroth or angry for any cause but rather for that tyme deferre the correccyon and an other tyme by good deliberacyon take the persones on parte or yf the trespace be openly knowen than do it openly that all the lokers thervpon may be warned therby and gyue them a good lesson before the correccyon and tell them you do the correccyon agaynst your mynde compelled thervnto by coÌ„scyence and requyre them to put you no more vnto suche labour peyne For yf thou do say you you must suffre parte of the peyne with me and therfore you shall now haue experience and profe what peyne it is vnto vs bothe And than pay truly and afterwarde forth with forgyue them clerely gentylly so that they do no more so And in doynge thus correccyon you may edify refourme the persones also meryte haue thanke of our lorde Where yf contrary you chyde brawle curse with vngoodly wordes rebuke or stryke with hastynes to reueÌ„ge your owne cause or appetyte you shall rendre the persones more stubburne styffe herted engeÌ„dre in them an hatered towarde you And also not onely lose your meryte but also deserue peyne and the punysshment of god where the other correccion done by sobrenes shall cause the persones to haue you in a reuereÌ„de drede also to loue you and here afterwarde to blesse you and pray for you I praye you therfore wynne deserue bothe theyr blessynge and prayer also the blessynge and rewarde of our lorde But bycause that coÌ„munly all persones done vse to swere some othe in affyrmyÌ„ge or denyenge that is in sayenge ye as grauntynge or nay as denyenge whiche beÌ„ seldon sayd nakedly by them selfe without some addicion therfore I wolde haue you in auoydynge of al vayne ones to teche your chylder to make theyr addicions vnder this fourme Ye father nay father ye mother nay mother ye brother nay brother ye syster nay syster ye syr nay syr ye dame nay dame or vnto the states mayster maystres and so forth of all suche coÌ„mune termes as grauntfather grauntmother godfather godmother vncle aunt cosyn suche lyke wtout any other addicion or any of these foÌ„de othes as by cocke pye by my hode of grene suche other Math. v. For Chryst sayth in the gospel vnto his disciples Swere not you at all sayth he in any wyse that is to meane vnlawfull or in vayne And the prophete sayth Psal lxij LadabuÌ„tur oeÌ„s qui iuraÌ„t in eo quia obstructuÌ„ est os loquentium iniqua That is those ê‘sones that done lawfully swere in god shal be praysed and haue rewarde therfore and the mouth of euyll spekers shal be stopped they put to shame rebuke All this haue we spoken for the kepynge of the secunde precepte or coÌ„mauÌ„dement The .iii. precepte Now for the thyrde commaundement I praye you gyue good exemple in your owne selfe and than teche all youres how they shulde kepe duely the holy day that is to saye in asmoche as conuenyently may be to be voyde of all maner of worldly bodyly labours I sayd in asmoche as conuenyeÌ„tly may be For people must haue meet dryÌ„ke the houses must be appareyled beestes must be cured loked vnto And veri vnfeyned necessite or nede doth excuse in coÌ„scyeÌ„ce The holy daye is ordeyned of god the chirche onely for the seruyce of god The due place of that seruyce is the chirche vnto all them that may coÌ„uenyently come thervnto And vnto them that may not euery honest place of good lawfull occupacyon is theyr chyrche For god is there present where he is duely deuoutly serued Take the peyne therfore whaÌ„ you may to go forth your selfe call your folkes to folowe And whan you ben at the chirche do nothynge els but that you came for and loke oft tymes vpon theÌ„ that ben vnder your charge that all they be occupyed lyke at the leest vnto deuoute chrystyans For the chirche as our sauyour saythe is a place of prayer not of claterynge talkynge Math. xxj And charge them also to kepe theyr syght in the chirche cloce vpon theyr bokes or bedes And whyle they ben yoÌ„ge let them vse euer to knele stande or syt and neuer to walke in the chirche And let them here the masse quyetly deuoutly moche parte knelynge But at the gospell at the preface at the Pat noster teche them to stande to make curtsy at this worde Iesus as the preest dothe Thus in the forenoone let the tyme be spente all in the seruyce of god And than in the after noone must you appoynt them theyr pastyme with great diligence and strayt commaundement Fyrst that in no wyse they vse suche vanytees as coÌ„munly ben vsed that is to saye berebayting bulbaytyng foteball tenesplayeng bowlyng nor these vnlawfull games of cardynge dycynge closshynge with suche other vnthryfty pastymes or rather losetymes Wherin for a suerte the holy day may rather be broken than yf they wente to the plough or carte vpon eester day so it were not done by coÌ„tempte or despysynge of the coÌ„maundement of the lawe ne for vnreasonable couetyse loue of worldly goodes For synne dothe alway more defoule breke the holy day than doth any bodyly werke or occupacyon Therfore let them beware of the tauerne and alehous for drede of dronkennes or of glotony and of suspecte places or wanton company for fere of vnclennes or lechery whiche thynges ben vnto youth moost peryllous of great daunger ieopardy of corrupcyon Assygne you therfore and appoynt you them the maner of theyr dysportes honest euer lawfull for a reasonable recreacyon and as moche as conuenyently may be let the sexes be departed in all theyr dysportes that is to say the kyndes men by them selfe the women by them selfe And also appoynt the tyme or space that they be not for any dysportes from the seruyce of god AppoyÌ„t them also the place that you may call or sende for them whan case requyreth For yf there be a sermon any tyme of the day let them be there present all that ben not occupyed in nedeful lawful busynes all other layde on parte let them euer kepe the prechynges rather than the masse yf by case they may not here bothe To bye and sell or bargayne vpon the holy daye is vnlawfull excepte it be for very nede Charyte vnto the poore and nedy neyghbours doth lawfully excuse bodyly or worldly laboures vpon the holy daye Loke wel you neyther do ne saye wylfully and by delyberacyon vpon the holy daye any thynge that you knowe in coÌ„science shulde be coÌ„trary vnto the honour of god and thaÌ„ done you iustly kepe your holy daye A very good sure pastyme vpon the holy daye is to rede or to here this boke or suche other
is therfore a great prouidence and good foresyght often to counte coÌ„pare your goodes and your gaynes with your expeÌ„ses Often to ouerse your goodes shal be necessary For your beestes may take hurte for defaute of fode all though they nothynge axe ne coÌ„playne The slepe of the housbaÌ„de Aristo in economie maketh a fatte dong hyll And the eye of the mayster a fast hors That is to meane that the presence of the mayster in euery corner is moche profytable Sumptuous costly weddynges or brydales ben damage without honoure Expences done vpon warre ben more honorable thaÌ„ profytable Better is to suffre some wronge to bye peace than to make warre or to kepe warre Coste made vpon prodigall persones is clerely loste Coste made vpon kyÌ„ne or freÌ„des is reasonable Fede your housholde seruauÌ„tes with honest coÌ„mune fare with out delicates For the seruaunt that is made a gloton shall neuer after mende his maners Glotony is vyle fylthy and stynkynge and wyll make the neglygent and careles person soone roteÌ„ and short lyued Ecclesia xxxj Meane fedynge with scarcyte is vnto the dylygent person pleasauÌ„t and profytable Vpon the holydayes hygh festes gyue your housholde plenty of meet but selden and fewe delicates For the vse of delycate fode wyll soone marre a good seruaunt Let glotony thy purs stryue and go to lawe togyder beware thou well whiche parte thou takest but for the most parte alway holde with the purs For glotonous men of lawe and the wytnesers done speke all of affection but the purs bryngeth in playne euydeÌ„ce profe the empty barne and the empty bagge But yf very nygardy shutte vp thy purs thaÌ„ art not thou an eueÌ„ iudge For nygardy is a folysshe and nedeles feere and euer lyuynge in pouerte and hurdeth and muckereth vp he can not tell for whome Yf you haue pleÌ„ty of corne desyre no derth For those persones that of couetous mynde done procure or desyre derthe done procure and desyre the dethe of the pore and shal be accused as homicides and maÌ„ sleers Sell thy corne better chepe vnto thy neyghbur although he were thyn enemy thaÌ„ vnto strauÌ„gers For an enemy is somtyme soner vainquysshed ouer comen by a kynde dede than by the swerde Be neuer at debate with thy neyghbur but rather study and labour to be at one Eccl. s b. For thou canst haue none so sure a castel or garde of thy lyfe as is loue and frendshyp of thy neyghburs Yf thou suspecte the womeÌ„ of thy house let other persones rather shewe the than thou shulde be ouer busy to try out the mater For though it were of thyn owne wyfe or the wyfe of thy husbande it were better vnknowen For ones knowen it is neuer cured the wounde is without remedy Yf any remedy be it shal be whan lyke chaunce is herde of other persones The lest most easy waye therin is to dissimule the mater though it were pryuely knowen and pretende ygnoraunce without any quarell or countenaunce but rather by a dyscrete ghostly father let the partyes be reformed that synne be not coÌ„tynued A noble herte and hygh gentyll mynde wyll neuer serche of womens maters A shrewe wyll soner be corrected by smylynge or laughyÌ„ge than by a staffe or strokes The best way to kepe a woman good is gentle intreaty and neuer to let her knowe that she is suspected and euer to be couÌ„seyled informed with louynge maner An olde woman vnclene of lyuynge yf the lawe wolde suffre shulde be buryed quycke Of aray Let your clothyÌ„ge or aray be in a meane nother vyle ne precious but alway feyre and honest and of sad not of wanton fasshyon A costly garment byhonde or aboue the state and degre of the person is a sygne and token of lytle wytte For a woman that hath sufficient aray to desyre newe and chauÌ„ge is a sygne of lytle sadnes Trust hym rather for thy frende that somwhat doth for the than hym that dothe offre hym selfe saynge I am youres in all I can and may For in wordes is great plente of frendes Prouer. xvij c. Eccl. s b. A true frende loueth at all tymes and neuer feyleth at nedr. There is no comparyson of ryches vnto a feythfull frende Neuer repute ne thynke hym thy frende that dothe prayse or boste the vnto thy face or in thy presence Whan you gyue counseyle vnto a frende say this semeth best vnto me not thus you must nedeli do For you may soner get rebuke or blame for your couÌ„sel yf it ê“ue not thaÌ„ thaÌ„ke for your good couÌ„sel though it spede well Yf myÌ„strelles iogulers or gesters come vnto thy house say thou hast no lodgyÌ„g for suche gesters you kepe nether ynne nor alestake For if you take pleasure iÌ„ theyr pastymes you ben full lyke to haue another wyfe shortly after whose name is called pouerte or beggry Yf you fortune to come where they ben begyn somwhat to delecte in theyr maters I aduyse you dissimule take vpon you that you herde theÌ„ not ne set any thynge therby For yf they perceyue se you but laugh they wyll take that for an ernest to cry largesse to haue rewarde And so importune wyll they be so shamfully craue that you shal be yrke wery of theÌ„ ê‘aueÌ„ture they wyll fall to rebukyÌ„ge braulyng scoldyng so that you shal be fayne glad to gyue somwhat for fere vnto those galowe clapers worthy in dede to be hanged vp For I tel you god is not pleased with that occupacyon except it be as scant tolerable or alowable amoÌ„g pryÌ„ces lordes hygh astates Now for your seruauÌ„tes if you haue a seruaunt of hygh proude mynde stubburne stomake put hym awaye lest after he do you harme and so do hym that alwaye dothe prayse your maners in all thynges For a flaterer is worse than an enemy Your enemy can not lyghtly deceyue you but your seruauÌ„tes or your neyghbours that done prayse you ben surely about to deceyue you Yf you haue a bashful dredful seruauÌ„t fynde hyÌ„ feythful thaÌ„ loue hym cherysshe hym as your owne naturall chylde Make your byldynges rather for nede than for pleasure For the appetyte of byldynge for pleasure shall neuer haue ende tyll pouerte teche wytte somwhat to late Be lothe to sell your heritage and yf you must nede sell Sell not vnto great persones but rather for lesse vnto the lower persones Better is to sell thaÌ„ to borowe by vsury For vsury is lyke a thefe that wolde warne you before what harme he wolde do vnto you Yf you bye or bargayne be not buty felowe with great persones And though he be vnder you yet stryue not with hym lest he putte his parte vnto your better or mayster In all thyÌ„ges kepe truly and feythfully your bonde and promyse accordynge vnto your couenaunte Due temperauÌ„ce is a thynge of great honestye in a housholde