you maye in youthe teche theÌ„ what ye wyll / and that shall they lengest kepe remembre We shuld therfore aboue all thynges take hede and care in what company our chylderen bene nourysshed and brought vp For educacion and doctrine that is to saye bryngynge vp and lernynge done make the maners with good and vertuous persones saythe the prophete you shal be good and vertuous Psalmo xvii And with the euyll persones you shall be also euyll Let our chylder therfore vse and kepe good company The pye the iay and other byrdes done speake what they moste here by eare The plouer by syght wyll folowe the gesture and behauyour of the fowler And the ape by exercise wyll worke and do as she is taught / and so wyll the dogge by violence contrary to naturall disposicion lerne to daunce The chylder therfore that by reason don far excede other creatures wyll bere awaye what they here spoken they shulde therefore be vsed vnto suche company where they shulde here none euyll / but where they maye here godly and Christian wordes They wyll also haue in theyr gestures and behauyoure suche maners as they se beholde in other persones And as they bene taught / so wyll they do / and in many thynges they maye be compelled vnto a contynuall custome / whiche dothe alter and chaunge naturall disposicion Vnto some craftes or occupacions a certayne age is requyred in chylder / but vertu and vyce maye be lerned in euery age We must se therfore that in any wyse you vse no company but good and vertuous And as soone as they can speke we must also teche our chylder to serue god and saye the Pater noster Aue. and Crede as I sayd before And nat only our chylder but also se and proue that all our seruauÌ„tes what age so euer they be of caÌ„ say the same And therfore don we vse dayly the in euery mele / dyner or soupper / one persone shulde with lowde voyce say thus The fyrst peticion PAter noster qui es in celis sanctificetÌ„ nomen tuum ✿ Good lorde god our holy father the arte in heueÌ„ let thy name he sanctified that is to meane / I beseche the graunte vs grace to blesse to honoure to laude and prayse thy holy name The seconde ¶ Adueniat regnum tuum ✿ Good lord god our father that art in heuen / let thy kyngdome come that is I beseche the lorde that all the people of the worlde may come vnto the grace of baptisme and so be the faythfull subiectes of thy realme and kyngdome of Christianite The thyrde ¶ Fiat voluntas tua sicut in celo et in terra ✿ Good lorde god our father that arte in heuen lett thy wyll be wrought in erth as it is wrought in heuen that is to meane I beseche the lorde that all thy christian people here in erth maye perfourme thy wyll and kepe thy coÌ„maundementes after theyr estate and condicion as thy holy angels and sayntes done in heuen after theyr state and degre The fourthe ¶ Panem nostrum cotidianuÌ„ da nobis hodie ✿ Good lorde god our holy father that arte in heuen gyue and graunte vnto vs this day our dayly brede that is to meane I beseche the good lord graunte vnto vs contynually the spirituall fode grace and effecte of thy holy sacramentes Or thus Graunte vnto vs the contynuall grace and effecte of thy holy sacramentes / whiche is the dayly fode of our soules spirituall suerty of our saluacion The fyfthe ¶ Et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris ✿ Good lord god our holy father that arte in heuen forgyue vs our dettes as we done forgyue our detters that is to meane I beseche the good lord forgyue and pardon me and all Christians all maner of offences and trespaces done agaynste the and thy lawes / lykewyse as we done forgyue all maner of persones all maner of greues and trespaces done agaynste vs. The .vi. ¶ Et ne nos inducas in teÌ„tationem ✿ Good lord god our holy father that arte in heuen / lede vs nat in to temptacion / that is to meane I beseche the good lord suffre me not ne any Christian to be lede or brought by any temptation / vnto the full consente of any synne The .vii. ¶ Sed libera nos a malo ✿ But good lorde god our holy father that arte in heueÌ„ delyuer me all christians from euyll that is to meane I beseche the good lorde / that not onely thou kepe me and all thy people from all synne and offence of thy goodnes / but also that thou wylte delyuer and make vs quyte of all synnes paste / and conserue and kepe vs continually in the state of grace AmeÌ„ So be it that is to meane / good lorde we beseche the that all these thynges maye come to passe in full effecte / accordynge to our peticion and desyre This prayer of the Pater noster / is the most excellent prayer bycause the our sauyour made it hym selfe / and taught it to his disciples ¶ The Aue Maria is the most plesaunte prayer and of most honoure vnto our blessed lady bycause one parte therof is the salutacion of the angell Gabriell wherby immediatly after her consente she conceyued the sone of god in her wombe And the other parte was spokeÌ„ vnto her by saynt Elizabeth inspired and moued thervnto by the spirite of god the holy ghost And therfore do we set forth the Aue maria after suche maner as we dyd the Pater noster AVe Maria gratia plena dominê° tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus AmeÌ„ ⧠Hayle Mari full of grace god is with the. Blessed be thou amoÌ„g women and blessed be the fruyte of thy wombe Iesus Christe god and man Amen So mote it be ¶ That fyrst worde Aue whiche I do Englyshe after the commune maner hayle is a worde of salutacion as we say in commune coÌ„gresses or metynges together God spede you god saue you god blesse you Good morowe / good eueÌ„ god spede god be at your game god be at your werke god sende you with suche other after the maner of the countrey where it is spoken And the last worde Amen it is a worde of consente or desyre that the mater spokeÌ„ before shuld vnderstande what euery worde meaneth ¶ Nowe doth folowe the Crede ¶ The fyrste article CRedo in deuÌ„ patrem omnipotentem Saynte Peter creatorem celi et terre ✿ I byleue vpoÌ„ god the father almyghty maker of heuen of erth This terme In deum / is diuersly Englysshed some done saye / in to god some inwardly in god / some perfytly in god But the mooste commune vse of the countrey of the vnlerned people / is to saye I byleue vpon god and vpon his fayth / but all dothe meane in effecte
lorde make cause vs to be rewarded with thy holy sayntes in eterne euerlastynge glory and ioy âšœ Saluum fac populum tuuÌ„ domine / et benedic hereditati tue et rege eos et extolle illos vsque ineternum We beseche the good lorde make thy people saued soules gyue blessynge to thyne heneretaunce And rule good lord and gouerne theÌ„ And excolle inhaunce magnifye good lord and make them honorable vnto the ende of the world âšœ Per singulos dies bnÌ„dicimê° te / et laudamus nomeÌ„ tuuÌ„ in sclm in seculum seculi We done god lord blysse honour the euery day by day / done laude and prayse thy holy name from tyme to tyme / and from age vnto age for euermore âšœ Dignare domine die isto sine peccato nos custodire Vouchesafe good lord to kepe vs this day / and all our lyfe tyme from synne and trespas âšœ Miserere nrÌ„i dnÌ„e miserere nrÌ„i Haue mercye good lorde vpon vs / haue mercye âšœ Fiat miÌ„a tua dnÌ„e super nos / quemadmoduÌ„ sperauimus in te Let thy mercye / lorde / lyght on vs / as we haue had euer perfecte hope and trust in the. âšœ In te domine speraui / non confundar in eternum I haue alway hoped and perfectely trusted inwardly in the. I beseche the lorde I neuer be coÌ„founded disapoynted ne deceyued Thus endeth that swete prayer / your Te deum ¶ Prayers vnto the ende of masse O Moost benigne lord sauyour moost hyghest preste very Bysshope Iesu Christe / that woldest vouchesafe to offre thyne owne selfe most pure lambe / most immaculate / moost clene and vnspotted hoost in sacrifice vnto the father of heuyn vpon the aultre of the crosse for vs wretched synners And also that woldest gyue leue with vs perpetually thyne owne very flesshe for our spirituall fode and thyne owne precyous blode for our spirituall drynke / I beseche the for the sake of all thy sorowfull woundes for the effusion and shedynge of thy moost precyous blode for the vertue of thy most innocent deth and moost specially for that excellent meruelouse and vnspekeable charity thou had vnto vs wherby thou woldest vouchsafe to washe vs fylthy vnworthy wrethes in thyne owne holy sacred blode I beseche the haue mercy pytie on me forgyue me all my synnes neglygences all offences don eyther by coÌ„mission or omissioÌ„ that is to meane all suche offeÌ„ces as I dyd myght not laufully nor shulde haue don / also all that I myght or shuld haue don / dyd not And sythe good lord amonge all thyne other great mercyfull benefytes thou woldest vouchsafe onely of thy liberall goodnes without any deseruynge of me to call me vnworthy wrethe to the grace of thy fayth and to be one of thy sorte now also forther to receyue me this mistery holy sacrameÌ„t I beseche the lord teache me inspyre my soule to order me selfe thereunto with suche reuereÌ„ce drede and with suche feruour deuocion with suche loue charyte as may be acceptable to thy grace shall come or byseme my state and degre so increace in vertue by the receyuing herof in the same degre as maye be also to the edificacioÌ„ of all persons And I beseche the suffre me neuer to dout of this holy sacrameÌ„t but euermore to ê‘ceyue vnderstande holde beleue thynke speke after the true fayth of thy catholyke church Let good lord thy holy spirite come vnto me and entre into my hart there without wordes or noyse secretly speke vnto my soule / to instructe tell and teache me the very truthe of all that hyghe mystery / for I know well it is very ê“funde hyghe / excepte thy graciouse doctrine ferre aboue my capacite vnderstandyng Wherfore swete sauyour Iesu I now here fully and wholy without any forther discusse or reasonynge moost lowly submyt my selfe vnto thy mercy Besechynge the same / that I may with clene harte and pure coÌ„scieÌ„ce accede approche although vnworthy theruÌ„to And that thou good lord for the swetenes of thy holy harte woldeste vouchesafe to delyuer my synfull soule from all doubt and daunger of synne / and to mundify / purge / and clense my frayle mynde frome all vayne / all vnclene / all noyouse and vnfruitfull cogitacions and thoughtes And to conforte and strenght my faynt and feble hart with the grace of constancy and perseuerauÌ„ce / so that my soule may be made in thy loue and charity the worthy habitacle dwellyng place of thyne hyghe maiesty not onely now at this tyme but also in all tymes vnto the ende of my lyfe And after euer vnto the ende of the worlde Amen O Mooste swete louer of all mankynde lorde and sauyour Iesu / I beseche the for all the whole vertue of thy bytter passioÌ„ / put away from me the spirite of elacion and pryde of enuy and detraction of yre wrathe malyce impacience and of all other morbes diseases and pestilences of the soule And plante good lorde and grounde in my hart and mynd very true mekenes / charity and pacience innocency and the loue of pouerty / due temperaunce / pure chastity / with all suche other vertues / medicynes / and preseruatyues vnto the soule Mortifie good lord and sle in me all libidinouse and vnclene mocions / all carnall desyres and inordinate affectioÌ„s And kyndle lorde and quyken in me the feruour and loue of all vertues and of the perpetuall excercyse and workynge of them / with constant perseueraunce / so that in this tyme and all tymes in body and soule purifyed cleÌ„sed I may worthely receyue this holy sacrament Vnto the high mistery whereof I knowe well do so coÌ„fesse / graunt / knowledge here before thy gloryous face I am vnworthy very moch vnworthy most vnworthy Not only for my great habominable synnes many many neglygences but also for great dulnes wante of deuocion But not witstandyng I know as well agayne so do I beleue in harte and mynde so do knowledge in mouth worde / that thou my lorde god art omnipoteÌ„t almyghty so mayst therfor by thy power infinite if it so please thy grace make me worthy and acceptable For thou alone good lord mayste canst iustifye a synner and of the vyle fylthy wretche make a clene and pleasant person Therfore gracious lord I beseche thy worthy maiesty for thyne almyghty power whiche I firmly stedfastly beleue and for thyne infinite endles wysedom whiche I boldly coÌ„fesse for thyne excellent bounty goodnes wherin I fully hope trust And for all these togyther as one frame me make me worthy and acceptable vnto thy godly presence and grauÌ„t me thyne vnworthy lewde wretched seruauÌ„t of all my synnes very true coÌ„tricioÌ„ due coÌ„punction pure deuocioÌ„ and the feruent flame of thy loue / that
preuy frō your audytour me thynketh it shulde be a greate suretye for you to make euery day ones your sayd accoūte by your selfe The cōmune prouerbe is that ofte rekenynge holdeth lōg fellawshype I wold aduyse you therfore to spēde some tyme ther vpō at nyght after all your occupaciōs before your bed there knele downe ther begynne to remēbre wheder ye wēte what ye dyd īmediatly after your morowe exercise in what company ye were what was there your behauiour and demanour ī werke worde or thought and so go forth vnto euery place / tyme cōpany as brekefaste / dyner / soupper / or drynkynge / where you fynde or perceyue any thyng that was good / vertuous / and profytable / ascribe and apply that vnto our lorde god gyue vnto him all the glory laude prayse therof / for he alone is the gyuer of all goodnes / so ouer passe that thynge lyghtly And where ye remēbre of any speciall thynge done / sayd / or thought amysse / stycke byde thervpō / bulte it as they say tourne it vp so downe / try the weyght daunger therof with all the maner and circumstaunce of the same So may ye knowe the quātytie therof that is to say howe greate a synne or howe lyttell it is / howe be it none offence cane be lyttell that doth offēde god surely euery synne is offence done vnto god although it seme to be done vnto mā For as the loue of god doth begyn̄e at the loue of the neyghbour For he the loueth nat his neyghbour i. Ioh. ii whō he may se with his bodyly eye or syght sayth saynt Iohn̄ howe may he loue god whome he cā nat so se so in lyke maner the offence of the neyghbour is forth with the offence of god Consyder therfore vnto whome the trespas is done so that consyderacion with the other qualyties and quantyties of the synne shall bryng you vnto a basshemēt therof and to be sory therfore or at the leest to wyll or wysshe that ye had nat so done Thā mekely crye god mercy / and aske hym forgyuenes therof with very pourpose and mynde to be confessyd therof at due tyme and to take and do penaunce therfore And I dare assure you that this maner of accoumpte rekenynge though your synne were neuer so greate shall saue you frō the ieopardy of dānaciō / which is no lytell grace goodnes of God Thanke hym than lowly therfore and so blesse your selfe as you dyd in the morning / and your bedde also / go therevnto and so cōmytte your selfe all hole body and soule vnto the protection / custody and kepyng of our lorde who gyue you good nyght and good reste Amen It shall be ryght well also that ye cal vpon suche holy sayntes as you haue speciall deuocion vnto vnder this fourme or some other lyke Blessed lady Mary mother of god alway vgin I beseche the pray for me for all Christians Holy angell of god what so euer thou be that arte deputed and appoynted vnto my custody I submyttynge me with most lowly obedience beseche the to pray for me for all the worlde Saynt Michaell saynt Gabriell saynt Raphaell with all holy angels archāgels I beseche you pray for me for all people Saynt Iohn̄ baptyste and all holy patriarkes and prophetes I beseche you pray for me for all christendome Saynt Peter saynte Paule saynte Iohn̄ the euangeliste and all holy apostles euāgelistes I beseche you pray for me for all the worlde and you also all disciples of our lorde and holy Innocentes Saynte Stephan and all holy martyres Saynte Augustine / and all holy confessours / all religious persones and heremites Saynt Katheryne / saynt Margarete saynte Barbara and all holy virgines I beseche you praye for me / and for all persones And fynally all you holy sayntes of heuē of euery degre and state where you be I beseche you all in generall / and eueryche in speciall / praye for me all mākynde Here may you brynge in the patrones of your churches or dioces and suche as you haue as I sayd synguler deuotion vnto And here an ende as vnto your selfe ¶ The persone for the housholde Syr / this werke is good for religious persones / and for suche persones as bene solytary and done lye alone by thē selfe / but we done lye .ii. or .iii. somtyme together / and yet in one chambre dyuers beddes so many in company / if we shulde vse these thynges in p̄sence of our fellowes some wold laugh vs to scorne moke vs. ¶ The housholder O bone Iesu O good lorde Iesu what here I nowe I dar well say there bene but fewe persones in Englande but they wolde byde some daunger or rebuke for pleasure of theyr kynge or prynce and many for theyr mayster or maistres or theyr soueraynes and some for theyr frendes and fellowes specially where great gaynes shulde growe therby vnto thē selfe And for the pleasure of God our father and of our swete sauyoure Iesu our brother shulde we be abasshed to take daūger bere a poore mocke or scorne that neuer shall woūde our flesshe ne yet tere our skyn̄e for the pleasure of our pereles prynce kynge of kynges / lorde of all lordes Fye for shame that any christian shulde be so cowardous Ventre vpon it go forth withall In .ix. dayes as they saye the daūger shal be past / fere nothinge Euery begynnyng is harde and of greate diffyculte Omne principium difficile Labor īprobus oīa vincit But īportune labour doth vayn quysshe ouercome all thynges I tell you this dayly exercise by custome and vse shall seme very shorte and swete profytable and pleasaunt Rede it or here it ouer ones or twyse at the leest before you caste it awaye How be it we thynke it nat sufficiēt nor ynough for vs to lyue well our selfe but the all other christians also lyue the better for vs and by our example specially those that we haue ī charge gouernaunce that is to saye our chylder and seruaūtes And me semeth it shuld also be a good pastyme and moche meritorious for you that cane rede to gather your felowes about you on the holy day specially the yonge sorte and rede to them this pore lesson For therin be suche thynges as bothe you and they bene bounde to knowe or can say that is the Pater noster the Aue maria and the Crede / with suche other thynges as done folowe I wold therfore you shuld begynne with them by tyme in youth as sone as they cā speke For it is an olde saynge Quod noua testa capit inueterata sapit The pot or vessell shall euer sauour or smell of the thynge wherew t it is fyrste seasoned And your englysshe prouerbe saythe / that the yong cocke croweth as he doth here and lerne of the olde
/ and they put to shame and rebuke All this haue we spokeÌ„ for the kepynge of the seconde precepte or coÌ„maundement The thyrde pÌ„cepte ¶ Nowe for the thyrde commaundement I praye you gyue good example in your owne selfe and thaÌ„ teche all yours howe they shulde kepe duely the holy day that is to say in asmoche as conuenientely maye be to be voyde of all maner of worldly bodyly laboures I sayde in asmoche as coÌ„ueniently may be For people must haue meat drynke / the houses muste be appareyled / beastes muste be cured and loked vnto And very vnfayned necessite or nede dothe excuse in coÌ„science The holy daye is ordeyned of god and the churche onely for the seruice of god The due place of the seruyce is the churche vnto all theÌ„ that may conueniently come thervnto And to them that may not / euery honest place of good lawfull occupacion is theyr churche For God is there presente where he is duely and deuoutly serued Take the payn therfore whaÌ„ you may to go forth your selfe / and cal your folkes to followe And whaÌ„ you ben at the churche do nothyng els but that you came for and loke oft tymes vpon them that bene vnder youre charge that all they be occupyed lyke at the leest vnto deuoute christians Mathei xxi For the churche as our sauyour saythe is a place of prayer not of claterynge and talkyng And charge them also to kepe theyr syght in the churche cloce vpoÌ„ theyr bokes or bedes And whyle they ben yong / let them vse euer to knele / stande or syte / neuer to walke in the churche And let them here the masse quyckly deuotly / moche parte knelynge But at the gospell / at the preface / and at the Pater noster teche theÌ„ to stande and to make curtesy at this worde Iesus as the preste dothe Thus in the fore noone let the tyme be spente all in the seruys of god And than in the after noone muste you appoynte them theyr pastyme with great diligence and strayte commaundement Fyrste that in no wyse they vse such vanities as communely ben vsed that is to say / berebaytynge and bulbaytynge foteball tenesplaynge / bowlyng nor these vnlawfull games of cardynge dycynge closshynge / with suche other vnthryfty pastymes or rather losetimes wherin for a suerty the holy day maye rather be brokeÌ„ than if they weÌ„t to the ploughe or carte vpoÌ„ Ester day so it were not done by coÌ„tempte or dispisynge of the commaundement of the lawe ne for vnreasonable couetyse loue of worldly goodes For synne dothe alwaye more defoule and breke the holy daye than doth any bodely werke or occupacion Therfore let them beware of the tauerne alehouse / for drede of dronkennes or of glotony of suspecte places / or wantoÌ„ company for fere of vncleÌ„nes / or lechery / whiche thynges bene vnto youth moste peryllous / of great daunger ieopardy of corrupcion Assigne you therfore and appoynte you them the maner of theyr disportes honeste euer and lawfull for a resonable recreacioÌ„ / and asmoche as conuenieÌ„tly may be lett the sexes be departed in all theyr disportes that is to saye the kyndes meÌ„ by them selfe / and the women by them selfe And also appointe the tyme or space that they be not for any disportes from the seruyce of god Appoynte theÌ„ also the place that you may call or sende for them whan case requyreth For if ther be a sermone any tyme of the daye let them be ther presente all that bene not occupyed in nedefull and lawfull busynes / all other layde a parte let them euer kepe the preachynges rather thaÌ„ the masse if by case they maye not here both To bye and sell or bargayne vpon the holy daye / is vnlaufull excepte it be for very nede Charyte vnto the poore and nedy neyghboures doth lawfully excuse bodely or worldly labours vpon the holy day Loke well you neyther do ne saye wylfully and by deliberacioÌ„ vpon the holy daye any thynge that you knowe in coÌ„science shulde be contrary vnto the honoure of god and thaÌ„ done you iustely kepe your holy daye A very good sure pastyme vpon the holy daye is to rede or to here this boke or suche other good englyshe bokes and gather therunto as many persones as you can For I tell you there shulde be no tyme loste ne mysspente vpon the holy daye Lett this poore lesson nowe coÌ„tente you for these thre coÌ„maundementes of the fyrst table whiche as I sayd done apperteyne belonge vnto almyghty God hym selfe A nother shorte lesson shall we set forth for the commaundementes of the seconde table The .iiii. precepte And fyrste the due reuerende honoure to be done of the chyldren vnto the parentes that is to saye / vnto theyr fathers and mothers Teche your chyldren therfore to aske blessynge euery nyghte knelynge before they go to reste vnder this fourme âšœ Father I beseche you of blessynge for charite or thus Mother I beseche you of charite gyue me your blessynge Than let the father or mother hold vp both the handes and ioynyng them bothe to gether loke vp reuerently deuoutly vnto the heuen and say thus Our lorde god blesse you chylde therwith make a crosse with the ryght hande ouer the chylde / sayng In nomine patris et filii spuÌ„s sancti Amen And if any chylde be styffe harted / stubburne and frowarde and wyl not thus aske blessynge if it be within age let it surely be whysked with a good rodde and be coÌ„pelled thervnto by force And if the persones be of forther age paste suche correction yet wyll be obstynate let theÌ„ haue suche sharpe greuous punysshement as conuenyently maye be deuysed as to fyt at dyner alone and by theÌ„ selfe at a stole in the mydle of the hal / with onely browne breade water and euery persone by ordre / to rebuke them as they wold rebuke a thefe or a traytour Deute xxi d. For in the olde lawe suche chyldreÌ„ were brought before the hole townshype that is to saye the people of the cyte or of that towne there were they stoned vnto deth And certeynly I wold not aduyse ne counseyle any parentes to kepe suche a chylde in theyr house without great affliction and punysshement And therefore I thynke it were moche conuenieÌ„te for ther pareÌ„tes oft tymes to shewe vnto theyr chyldreÌ„ what commodyties and profytes and what perylles ieopardies done folowe the honoure and dishonoure of the pareÌ„tes accordyng vnto holy scripture Some wherof I haue here set forth as is coÌ„teyned in the boke of the wyse man called Ecclesiasticê° Ecclesi iii. â— in the thyrde chapitre Those persones saythe he that bene the chyldren of Christe / ben also the chyldren of his church all suche as thoughe it were by naturall disposicion ben gyuen applyed of that godly disposicion vnto obedience and loue All you therfore that ben
¶ A dialoge or coÌ„municacion bytwene the curate or ghostly father the parochiane or ghostly chyld For a due preparacion vnto howselynge âšœ ¶ The werke for housholders with the golden pystle and Alphabete or a crosrowe called and A. B. C. INRI ¶ Vnto the deuoute reders in our lorde god moste swete sauyour Iesu Rychard whytford your pore bedeman of Syon Salutacyon WHere in a lytle werke the of late we send forth at the requeste of deuoute persones vnto housholders we dyd sette forthe / a breue and short forme of confessyon / heryng and perceyuyng that the sayde werke was thankfully and charitably receyued supposynge that so deuoute receyuers ben well exercised / and haue profyted therin we haue nowe here for your fourthere increase of vertue put forth vnto you a nother lesson howe / when you ben disposed mynded to receyue the holy sacrament of the aulter you shuld prepare ordre make your selfe redy spiritually apparele your selfe therunto For I acerteyne you ther is no ê‘sone in this worlde can tell you with how greate reuerence howe depe deuotion howe lowe and meke harte / with howe reuerente drede howe pure and cleane conscience with howe well adornate garnyshed appereled soule with howe firme stedfast fayth with howe hyghe stronge hope with howe ardente feruent in flamyng and burnyng charite any true Christian shulde accede approyche go vnto that honorable meruelouse and moste hyghe mystery where doubtles is presente the very naturall body / and soule flesshe blode of our lord sauyoure Iesu very god / very man in one ê‘sone very christ his humanytie and his diuinite The blessed trinite father sone holy ghost also our blessed lady saynte Mary with in numerable multitude and nowmbre / of gloryouse aungels and holy sayntes ben ther also present all how be it inuisible doyng therunto that holy sacrement due honour reuerence / and obeysaunce Hit is therfore muche conuenient / and necessarie that due and diligeÌ„t preparation / shulde be made therunto when so euer hit be receyued Not withstoÌ„dynge I do not requyre ne moue you to rede and recounte all that here is wryten / at euery tyme yet were it good so to do if you haue tyme but that hit maye lyke you to rede hit ones ouer and then to marke out suche places as beste done lyke you / and vse theÌ„ or parte of them as you haue tyme and leyser and thus fare you well in our Lorde who blesse you all Amen ¶ A dialoge or communicacion bytwene the curate or ghostly father and the parochiane or ghostly chylde For a due preparacion vnto how selyng ¶ The ghostly chylde Syr I thanke you for the charitable labours you toke with me wheÌ„ I was last with you And I haue accordynge vnto your coÌ„maundement called my houshold together and taught theym the same lesson that you then and before tyme. haue taught me And for the more suerty I haue caused all your sayd lessons to be set forth in prynt that other persones may haue as we haue edificacion therby ¶ The ghostly father ¶ Good ghostly chylde I am ryght glad of your so deuout mynde and good wyll to profet in vertue our lorde be praysed And I shal be glad as my duety to conforte you therin nowe that you haue a good fundation grownd therunto by that forme and maner of lyuyng and also if you by fraylte offende and fall therfrome by the remedy of the holy sacrament of confessyon I shall shewe you an ordre and a good waye or meane how you shuld prepare and make your selfe redy vnto the holy sacrameÌ„t of the aulter when you shall be communed or howseled For saynt Poule commauÌ„ded his disciples to proue i. Cor. xi and examen well them selfe in conscience byfore they shulde approyche or go vnto this holy sacrament For who so euer sayth he do receyue it vnworthely doth receyue hit vnto his owne iudgement and condempnation And our sauyour hym selfe dothe shewe howe this holy sacrament shulde euer be ministred in the memorie and remembraunce of hym Luc. xxii Saynt Paule also how oft so euer you receyue the sacrament saythe he so oftymes shuld you represent and shewe the deth of Christ i. Cor. xi vnto the tyme he come vnto the last iudgement By these sayde auctorites confirmed by our mother the holy church with many holy doctours doth appere that two thynges shal be conuenient necessary vnto euery persone that shall receyue this holy sacramente That is to saye Fyrste due serche of conscience so that no maner of synne vnto knoweledge and remembrauÌ„ce remayne or be left therin The seconde that the persones so clered in conscieÌ„ce / shuld ordre appoynte them selfe vnto some maner of memorie by meditacyon or contemplacion / of our lorde / and sauyour Iesu / and of the actes of our saluation I wold therfore aduyse all maner of persons / that wheÌ„ they wyll accede approych vnto this holy mistery they fyrst be confessed if they coÌ„ueniently can haue a ghostly father / for although they know not theyr conscience charged with any mortall or deedly synne yet shall the approbacion of theyr ghostly father be vnto theym both confortable / and also suerty And for this parte / the forme of confession that we sett forthe in the other werke for housholders may serue you / hit is but lytle / and of lytle pryce / so maye the rather be ioyned hervnto and both bownden to gether and you more redely maye haue at hande that is referred froÌ„ the tone vnto the tother For the seconde parte that is meditation / muche necessarie for you at this tyme I wolde counseyle you the of destinate harte appoynted and wylfull purpose you shulde fyrste geder yourselfe vnto your selfe that is to say your soule harte mynde and wyll in as muche as you may with all force and diligence holly clerely from all cures cares charges and busynes of the worlde and frome all bodyly maters and all cogitatioÌ„s and thoughtes that by any meanes myght lett you hynder you in this exercise and so to compell your spirite to labor alone herin And then coÌ„mend your selfe wholy vnto our lorde thus In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meuÌ„ redemisti me domine deus veritatis That is to saye âšœ good lorde god / I commende / byquethe / render / gyue / and bytake my spirite / my harte / my mynde / and soule / wholly vnto thy haÌ„des power and gouernaunce For thou good lorde the very god of trouthe haste redemed bought me And those persones that bene lerned maye saye this ympne The fyrst verse VEni creator spiritus mentes tuoruÌ„ visita imple superna gratia qÌ„ tu creasti pectora âšœ That is to meane Come vnto vs good lord god holy ghost creatour and maker of all the worlde with the father and the sone Visite and
comforde the myndes of thy people Replenyshe and fulfyll with thy moste hyghe grace those hartes and soules that thou thy selfe haste create and made The secoÌ„de verse ¶ Qui paracletus diceris donuÌ„ dei altissimi fons viuus ignis charitas et spiritualis vnctio âšœ Come thou holy spirite That arte called and named the essenciall comforde and comforter of all Christians The gyft and rewarde of mooste hygh god The quykke and lyuely founteyn / and well of lyfe The mystike fyre that is the charite diuine And the spiritual vnction and medicine of all synners The .iii. verse ¶ Tu septiformis munere dex tre dei tu digitus Tu rite promisso patris / sermone ditaÌ„s guttura That is âšœ Come holy spirite that vnto vs by thy gracious .vii. gyftes art seuenfold bouÌ„tuous beneficiall for thou good lord art the fynger of the ryght hand of god âšœ Shewynge vnto vs the ryght way of all prosperite saluacioÌ„ and goodnes makynge our speche ryche and pleÌ„tuous orderly to speke thy holy worde by the vertue of our sauyoure Iesu the essenciall word / or speche of the father of heuen promysed vnto vs. The .iiii verse ¶ Accende lumen sensibê° Infunde amoreÌ„ cordibê° Infirmanti corporis virtute firmans ê‘petim That is âšœ Good lord holy ghost we beseche the acceÌ„de kyndle gyue lyght vnto our senses vnto our wyttes our felynge ê‘ceyuyng vndstandyng Infunde good lord ministre shede and powre downe thy loue vnto our hartes And by vertue and ghostly strength make thou firme constant and stable perpetually and contynually the infirme feble and frayle disposicions of our bodye The .v. verse ¶ HosteÌ„ repellas longius pa cemque dones protinus ductore sic te preuio vitemus omne noxium That is âšœ Come good lorde holy ghost And put froÌ„ vs ferre away our ghostly enemye forthwith gyue vs contynuall peace That so by the our lodesman gyde we maye eschue auoyde all that shuld vnto vs be noyouse or synfull The .vi. verse ¶ Per te sciamus da patrem noscamus atque filium te vtriu que spiritum credamê° omni tempore That is âšœ Come good lorde holy ghoste and graunt vs that by the / and thy meane we may know the father of heuen / and also in lykewyse we maye knowe his essenciall sone and that we maye at all tymes bylyue that thou art the holy spirite of them both and the same selfe god The .vii. verse ¶ Sit laus patri cuÌ„ filio / sancto simul paracleto / nobisque mutat filius charisma sancti spiritus That is âšœ Laude and prayse be vnto the father with the sone and with theÌ„ both vnto the holy ghost And we beseche and pray that the sone accordynge vnto his promyse wolde vouchsafe to sende vnto vs the grace of the holy ghost AmeÌ„ The versicle âšœ Emitte spiritum tuuÌ„ et creaabuntur That is âšœ Sende downe good lord thy spirite and all thy people shall be newly framed refreshed The answere ¶ Et reneuabis faciem terre That is âšœ And so good lord shalt thou renewe and comforde the face countenaunce and behauyoure of every faythfull persone The prayer ¶ The collect oration or prayer DEus cui omne cor patet et omnis voluÌ„tas loquitur / et quem nulluÌ„ latet secretuÌ„ purifica per infusionem sancti spiritus cogitationes cordis nrÌ„i vt te perfecte diligere et digne laudare mereamur Per Christum dominum nostrum Amen âšœ That is to meane Good lord god vnto whome euery harte is open and knowen / euery wyll doth specke and shewe what is thought and vnto whom no secrete or couÌ„sell is hyd or vnknowen we beseche the / purifie and clense by the infusion of thy holy spirite all the cogitacions and thoughtes of our hart that so we maye deserue perfectly to loue the and duely and worthely to laude and prayse the and this we done axe and desyre / by the meane and in the name of Chrste our lord mayster Amen ¶ An other collect oracioÌ„ or prayer to be sayd forthwith vnder one ende ACtiones nostras quesumê° domine aspiraÌ„do preueni et adiuuando prosequere vt cuncta nostra operatio et a te semper incipiat / et per te cepta finiatur Per Christum dominuÌ„ nostrum Amen That is to meane âšœ We beseche the good lorde that the grace of thy holy spirite may go before all our werkes and the helpe and coÌ„forte of the same grace maye also folowe and performe the same so that all our operacion workyng may of the alway begynne and so begon may by the be finished / performed / by the good lord I meane Christ our mayster Amen Or if you haue but small or shorte tyme you maye saye these two verses with the sayd versycle / collectes or without at your pleasure ¶ The fyrst verse REx Christe clementissime / tu corda nostra posside vt tibi laudes debitas reddamus oiÌ„ tempore That is âšœ Good lord and sauyour Christe / most gentell and curteyse kynge we byseche the take receyue our hartes into thy possession gouernaunce So that we maye in euery tyme or at all tymes render and yelde vnto the due laudes and prayse ¶ The seconde verse ¶ Sit laus patri cum filio c. as you haue before both in latin Englyshe These thynges thus spede then go forthe with youre interpryse mater of meditacion For saynte Augustyne saythe that meditacion dothe ingender / Augusti de spiritu et anima cap. l. and brynge forthe science or knoweledge science dothe bryng forthe compunction and compunction bryngeth forthe deuocion / deuocion dothe make prayer perfecte All these thaÌ„ by ordre be very necessary good / and conueniente for this purpose Fyrst than bygyn with meditacion This terme meditacion is as muche to say or to meane as a bysy muche vsed cogitacion or thought when the mynd is applyed and doth labour curiously / wysely / diligently / groundly to serche out bryng to lyght those thynges that be obscure darke hard to perceyue or vnderstond so to bryng vnto knowledge or remembrauÌ„ce suche thynges as ben hyd out of knowledge or out of mynd If we than wyll opteyne haue grace worthely to accede approyche vnto this holy mystery of communion lett vs fyrste exercise our hartes and myndes in good and fruytfull meditacion For the holy spirite of god saythe scrypture doth auoyde fle frome fayned and peynted holynes and dothe withdrawe hym selfe frome those cogitacioÌ„s thoughtes that ben without vnderstoÌ„dynge good reason auctoryte ¶ The ghostly chylde Syr wherwith or iÌ„ what maner of meditacions wolde you we shuld exercise our myndes specially agayn or byfore suche tyme of houselynge ¶ The ghostly father I thynke that vnto them that haue short tyme
and yet muche more kyndnes if he were not his frende but his enemye and foo and also to pay for his det / and delyueraūce no smal pryce but his owne blode his lyfe also this I saye were a maruelouse benefyte an excedyng kyndnes although he dyd no more But our lord sauyour dyd yet more for man For he dyd not onely delyuer hym fre and out of daunger but also rewarded hym made hym butyfelowe of all his goodes and heyre with hym of all his landes possessiōs brought hym vnto hyghe honoure dignite and degre he brought hym vnto the presens of his owne naturall father and there after his ascencion he toke possession for man / and so made hym his brother / and coenheritor of all that he had Loke well hereupon and consyder how great a rewarde this was and yet shall you se more added herevnto For many in this world haue ben made heyres and possession taken for thē and yet dyd they neuer inioy the same But our lord and sauyour when he had delyuered man in forme byfore shewed and had also put hym in possession therof ordeyned yet a forther meane to make mā surely to inioy the same and to haue the moost pleasaunt vse therof whiche was in sendyng downe the holy ghoste whiche accordynge vnto his promyse shuld instruct Ioh. xvi and teche his apostles disciples and by them all christianes the very trouth of all maner of thynges apperteynynge vnto mannes saluacion and shuld also subministre put into theyr hartes / and myndes to put the same in execucion and how and vnder what forme they shulde so do For as I suppose the apostles after the deth of Christe dyd neuer put any thyng in execuciō and vse that our sauyoure had byfore his deth or byfore his ascension committed vnto theyr power vnto the tyme they had receyued the holy ghost For althoughe they had commaūdement and power to preache the gospell and to baptyse and to ministre all other sacramentes to remit or forgyue and to withholde restrayne synne yet dyd not they execute or put in vse any thynge but only whē Christ was among them before his passion vnto the tyme they had receyued fully the holy ghoste at Pentecoste excepte only the election of saynt Mathie bycause the nombre of the apostles myght not be vnperfect So then they receyued fully the holy ghost not only for theym self but also for all other that by thē shulde byleue vnto the ende of the world Thē dyd they ministre the holy sacramentes and taught theyr disciples / by them all Christianes the due forme and maner therof whiche forme hathe euer sythe that tyme and euer shall cōtinue in Christes catholicall churche / what so euer theyse new heretykes say vnto the contrary In whiche holy sacramentes we haue not onely the person of our lord and sauyoure hym selfe but also the other two persons the father the holy ghost all one self and same essenciall god to remayne byde and dwell amonge vs vnto the worldes ende this gyfte and rewarde is moch to be noted / and maye well suffise for the fyfthe consyderacion of this entrepryse of the werke of remuneracion ¶ The syxte consyderacion of the werke of glorificacion YOu may well perceyue good deuout christians by that is sayd that our lord Iesu hath not onely redemed and bought vs dere but also most lyberally graciously rewarded vs dayly doth not onely forgyue our synnes and offenses at the fyrste askynge or mouynge but dothe also gyue vs great gyftes for small and dothe so multiplie here our merites that we may come yet vnto a greatter gyft and rewarde whiche is in vs his werke of glorificacion For after this lyfe he wyll make vs gloriouse gyue vs the same doweres that he hath now in hym selfe that is to say clarite or clerenes agilite or nimblenes subtilite or sklendernes and īmortalite so that we shall neuer dye ne suffre any damage This gyfte and werke is so noble and of so hygh honour dignite and degre that to intreate forther therof doth passe my pore wyt and therfore I praye you be cnotent for this syxth consyderacion of the werke of glorificacion ¶ The .vii. cosyderacion of the werke of fruicion YEt yet as though this were not ynough he wyll gyue more For many in this worlde haue full great honour / hygh dignites and excellente degrees yet haue but lytle ioy therwith but rather haue many greues many displeasures many incōmodites I trow I myght well say many necessites many miseries But our lorde wyll gyue vs the fruiciō of hym self that is to say to inioy hym and to be in his godly presens and to haue the very vse of hym selfe at all libertie and pleasure and there to se hym face to face as he is i. Corin. xiii d and so in hym to se and knowe what we wyll or cā desyre and also to haue the full possession of hym selfe and of all his and this also withoute any myxture of euyll greue or displeasure ¶ This gyft is aboue all the other byfore rehersed and maye therfore serue contēt you for this .vii. cōsyderaciō of the werke of fruicion ¶ The eight laste cosyderacion of the werke of sure perseueracion duraunce THese benefytes rewardes and gyftes of our lord ben very great many and excellent gyftes But yet your benygne lord most louyng sauyour is not cōtent to leue you without any thinge that he may gyue so that you may not possible aske desyre thinke or ymagyn any thyng more to be gyuen therfore he wyll vnto all his other gyftes adde gyue you the suerte and certente of perseueracion duraūce For if a person had as muche ioy as all heuē hathe and were not certeyne nem suerte to contynue therin that ioy were not fully perfecte For that thynge onely is perfecte vnto the whiche no thynge may be added / or put therunto but as longe as a person myght stonde in feere or doubt to lose that ioy or any parte therof he were not in full perfecte ioy And therfore wyll our louyng lord for the full perfection of your sayd ioy giue you there a suer and certeyne knowledge of all these ioyes to perceuer īdure and laste without minushynge or mutacion worlde without ende vnto the whiche ioy knowledge he bryng vs that bought vs our lorde god / moste swete sauyour Iesu vnto whom be glory due laude prayse / with the father and the holy ghost / one god in secula seculorum Amē ¶ An addicion vnto this foresayd meditacion I Was requyred of a good deuoute persone to ioyne these sayd cōsyderacions vnto .viii. notable dayes conteyned in scripture that is to say .vi. dayes of creacion and production or bryngyng forth of creatures the .vii. of reste / and the .viii. of eternite and so to shewe howe these werkes of our lorde may be
almyghty god and than vse by cōtynuall custome to make a crosse with your thōbe vpon your foreheed or front in sayng of these wordes In nomine patris and than an other crosse vpon your mouthe with these wordes Et filii And the thyrde crosse vpon your breste / saynge Et spūs sancti Amen And if your deuotion be therto ye maye agayne make one hole crosse from your heed vnto your fete from the lefte shulder to the ryght sayng all together In no mine patris filii et spūs sancti Amen That is to meane I do blesse and marke my selfe with thē cognisaunce badge of Christe in the name of the father and in the name of the sone and in the name of the holy ghost that is to saye the holy Trinite .iii. persons and one God Than saye or thynke after this forme Good lorde god my maker redemer here nowe in thy presence I do for this tyme for all the tyme of my hole lyfe byqueth and betake or rather do frely gyue my selfe soule and body with all my harte and mynde vnto the good lorde and vnto thy handes to be thy bonde seruaunte for euer accordynge vnto the promyse made in my baptysme at the font stone And here nowe I do ratyfye and newly confyrme the same and do fully consente in harte mynde therto neuer here after by the helpe of thy grace to contrary the same but to cōtynue in thy lawes good lorde vnto the ende of my lyfe But where thou knowest good lorde the I am a frayle persone infyrme feble weyke of my selfe prone redy ī thought Genesis ▪ viii worde and dede vnto euyll from the begynnynge of my lyfe hytherto I beseche the good lorde god and father of all puysaunce power of all myght strēght that thou wilt defende me from all myne enemyes and gyue me spirituall strenght and power that I may / in the / vaynquysshe and ouercome fle auoyde all suche fraylte lyght maners or disposicions as shuld be cōtrary to thy wyll and pleasure that accordynge vnto this wyll of the spirite whiche thy goodnes hath now frely gyuē vnto me I may destroye the wyll of the flesshe so contynue vnto the ende of my lyfe And yet good lorde where thou knowest also that I am but rude and vnlerned wtout wytte wysdome and due knowlege of the and thy lawes all ignoraūt and as an ydiote or foole in all good and spirituall vnderstandyng I byseche the good lorde god that art the essentiall sone of god the father and vnto whome is appropriate all wytte wisdome all science / connynge and knowlege and all ryght perceyuynge vnderstandynge / that thou wylte graunte me the due knowlege of thy selfe by ryght true fayth and the knowlege of all thy benefytes gyftes done to me and all mankynde / grace dewly to thanke the for them And also due knowlege of myne owne selfe of the state and condiciō of my lyfe and cōuersaciō and specially of my wretchednes with due contricion for all my synnes And knowlege also of thy lawes wyll pleasure / so that by no maner of ygnoraunce or mysvnderstandyng I do at any tyme in werke or dede / or in worde or thought any thynge contrary vnto the same And thyrdly good lorde where thou knoweste also that I am ofte tymes obstinate of mynde froward euyll wylled / stubburne of stomake vnkynde of harte / dull / neglygent and slouthfull in all maner of goodnes I beseche the good lord god holy ghost / that arte the spirite and wyll of the father / of the sone and with thē the same selfe essenciall god vnto whome is appropriate and specially appoynted / all boūte / all goodnes / all grace and good wyll that thou woldest voyche saffe to gyue me the grace of good wyll so that I neuer do / saye / ne thynke that shulde be contrary to thy wyll And hauynge vnto the euer a reuerēde drede I may loue the for thy selfe all other in the lorde and for the / so that accordynge vnto the spirituall strength and knowlege that thou hast gyuen me I may apply my wyll hooly vnto thy wyll / so that I haue no wyll propre vnto my selfe but the my wyll be all thy wyll bothe as moche as maye be possyble one wyll And so I maye here in this life ordre my loue and come vnto suche perfection of feruent charyte that by the grace I may attayne vnto the fruiciō of euerlastynge charyte in thy ioyfull presence Amē And good lorde god father of heuē I beseche the take receyue me thus vnto thy grace and haue mercy and pyte vpō me and all thy people And thou lorde God blyssed sone of god the father and sauyour and redemer of the worlde / haue pytie and mercy vpon me and vpō all Christen people And louyng lorde god holy ghost and blessed spirite of god / haue mercy pyte vpō me and alī the worlde Holy and blessed Trinite one selfe same essenciall god / haue pyte mercy vpon me and all myne / vpon all thy creatures Amen And than ones agayne blesse the with In nomine patris as before and thā go forth vnto your busynes where ye wyll Let this be for your mornynge exercise And though you that haue greate thynges to do wolde thynke this prayer and mornynge exercise ouer longe because of your busynes I acerteyne you if it ones were by vse goten redy and incorporate and prynted in the harte and mynde it wolde sone be sayd or thought / and the persone shulde I byleue haue grace to spede the better in other thynges and nothyng forthynke of the spēdynge of the tyme but rather accounte it for greate gaynes in so moche that we purpose to set forth in the ende a lōger exercise for them that haue longer tyme to spēde but nowe we shall go forth herin After the sayd morowe exercise I truste you wyll be well occupied vpon your appoynted course of occupacion For that was our counseyle in the begynnynge that ye shulde appoynte your selfe by a cōtynuall course vnto some certayne occupacion that may be profytable euer to auoyde ydlenes the mother and nourse of all synne and euyll And euer beware of suche occupacions as ben called communly pastymes that is to saye all maner of vnlawfull games / suche disportes as done drawe people rather to vyce thā to vertue whiche more properly maye be called lose tymes than pastymes Math. xii c For syth / by the affyrmaciō of our sauyoure we shall make accoumpte of euery ydle worde / it muste nedes followe that we shall make a more strayte rekenynge of euery ydle or euyll werke Let therfore your sayd appoynted occupacion be alwaye good vertuouse and profytable Syth thā ye must nedes make a rekenynge of euery werke worde and thought for none of these cā be hyd or kept
shewed laste before / that is to say vnto periury or forsweryng Mendarium vnto false wytnes For eueryche of these doughters / is worse than the mother For the lyer careth lytell to bere false wytnes / and euery lyer is coÌ„munely a swerer / for els the lye shuld not be coloured / dubbed and paynted sufficieÌ„tly to seme true specially in a defaute whereof the lyer wolde fayne be excused for drede of punysshemeÌ„t or rebuke or whaÌ„ a mater shulde by that lye come to passe / be broughte aboute vnto effecte for profyte auauntage flatery or pleasure For whaÌ„ the lyer doth coueyte moste subtelly to deceyue fayne and gladly wold be byleued thaÌ„ doth the lyer most lyberally lasshe out othes sparethe for no cost as they say but whaÌ„ suche a persone doth swere most thaÌ„ wyll a wyse persone byleue hym leste And by this doth appere that the commune besy swerers bene suspecte to be lyers For the lyer is combred so in conscience that he supposeth and thynketh he can not be byleued without he swere many othes and great othes Beware therfore of lyers For coÌ„mune lyers bene communely theues or pyckers vnclene lyuers And to say the trouth the lyer is 〈◊〉 disposed vnto all maner â—â—â—ces bycause that all lyers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chylder of the deuyll For the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the fyrste lyer and eue◠〈◊〉 coÌ„tynue a lyer And as the gâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 saythe he is the father of all 〈◊〉 Nowe ponder and wey goâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—uoute christiaÌ„s I pray you if you were requyred whether you wold be coÌ„tente to kepe in your coÌ„pany a thefe or pyker a persone that shuld enforce and laboure to corrupte your wyues / or your doughters / or yet suche a persone that were seruauÌ„t or chylde vnto your deedly foo or enemy I thinke you wyl say nay you wold kepe no suche Than say I beware of the lyer / for all commune lyers ben the deuyls chyldren and done folowe theyr father the deuyl whose properte and naturall disposicion is to lye I cane well graunte that you â—â—â—gyue and pardon them that done 〈◊〉 pyke or do lechery for ones 〈◊〉 â—â—vyse and labour and loke for 〈◊〉 â—â—ery and amendement but in 〈◊〉 â—yse can I graunte that you 〈◊〉 on the lyers but euyn forth◠〈◊〉 you wolde cure the sodeyne 〈◊〉 â—lence so correcte punysshe that lye Wherfor I haue set out here a pÌ„ty lesson whiche I pray you teche your chyldreÌ„ euery chylde the cometh iÌ„ to your coÌ„pany you shall I trust do moch good therby ¶ If I lye backebyte or stele If I curse scorne moke or swere If I chyde fyght stryue or threte Than am I worthy to be bete Good mother or maystres myne If in any of these nyne I trespas to your knowynge With a newe rodde and a fyne Erly naked / before I dyne Amende me with a scourgynge ¶ And than I pray you fulfyll perfourme theyr peticioÌ„ request thynke it not cruelly / but mercifully done For the wyse man sayth Prouerb xiii d who spareth the roode hateth the chylde And in a nother place Eccle vii c If thou haue chyldren sayth he correcte them betyme / hold theÌ„ vnd whyle they bene yong your dayly practyse dothe shewe vnto you / that if you powder your flesshe whyle it is new and swete / it wyll contynue good meate but if it smell befor it be powdred all the salte you haue shall neuer make it seasonable Powder your chyldreÌ„ therfore betyme and than you loue them shall haue conforte of them I dyd appoynte the correction before vnto the mother or maystres for communely they done take the laboure of that mynistery and seruyce Notwithstandynge there may be sayd father or maister the staffe or fote of the ryme be all one But who so euer do the correctioÌ„ wheder it be in lasshes or in wordes let it be done with the charite of our lorde / with a myld and softe spirite that euer it be done for the reformacioÌ„ of the persone / rather than for the reuengynge of the defaute therfore shulde you neuer do any maner of correction whyle you be vexed chafed troubled wroth or angry for any cause but rather for that tyme deferre the correction a nother tyme by good delyberacyon take the persones on parte / or if the trespas be openly knoweÌ„ than do it openly that all the lokers thervpon may be warned therby and gyue theÌ„ a good lesson before the correctioÌ„ / and tell them you do the correctioÌ„ agaynst your mynde compelled thervnto by conscieÌ„ce and requyre them to put you nomore vnto suche labour payne For if thou do say you you muste suffre parte of the payne with me / and therfore you shall nowe haue experience and proue what payne it is to vs bothe And than paye truely and afterwarde forthwith forgyue them clerly and gentelly / so that they do nomore so And in doynge thus correction / you may edyfye refourme the persones / also meryte haue thanke of our lorde Where if coÌ„trary you chyde brawle curse and with vngoodly wordes rebuke or stryke with hastynes to reueÌ„ge your owne cause or appetyte / you shall rendre the persones more stubbourne styffe harted and engendre in them an hatered toward you And also not only lose your meryte but also deserue payne and the punysshemeÌ„t of god where the other correction done by sobrenes shall cause the persoÌ„es to haue you in a reuereÌ„de drede and also to loue you here afterward to blysse you and pray for you I pray you therfore wynne deserue both theyr blyssynge and prayer / and also the blyssyng and rewarde of our lord But bycause that communly all persones done vse to swere some othe / in affirmynge or denyinge / that is in saynge ye as grauntyng or nay as denyinge whiche be seldome sayd nakedly by them selfe without some addicioÌ„ therfore I wold haue you in auoydyng of all vayne othes to teache your chyldren to make theyr addicioÌ„s 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 maister / maistres / and so forth of all suche coÌ„mune termes / as graundfather graundmother godfather godmother vncle aunte cosyn / and suche lyke / wtout any other addicion or any of these founde othes as by cocke pye by my hode of grene suche other For Christe sayth in the gospell vnto his disciples Math. v Swere not you at all sayth he in any wyse that is to meane vnlawfully or in vayne And the prophete sayth Psalmo lxii âšœ Laudabuntur oeÌ„s qui iuraÌ„t in eo quia obstructuÌ„ est os loquentium iniqua That is those persones that done lawfully swere in god shal be praysed haue rewarde therfore the mouthe of euyll spekers shal be stopped
seruauÌ„t Let glotony and thy purse stryue and go to lawe together and beware thou well whiche parte thou takest but for the moste parte alway holde with the purse For glotons men of lawe and wytnesses / done speke all of affection but the purse bryngeth in playn euidence and profe the empte barne and the empte bagge But if very negardy shut vp thy purse than arte not thou an euen iudge For nygardy is a folysshe and nedeles fere / and euer lyuynge in pouerte hourdeth muckereth vp he can not tell for whome If you haue pleÌ„ty of corne desyre no derth For those persones that of couetous mynde done procure or desyre derth done procure desyre the deth of the poore and shal be accused as homicides maÌ„sleers Sell thy corne better chepe vnto thy neyghbure althouhg he were thyne enemye thaÌ„ vnto strauÌ„gers For an enemye is somtyme soner vaynquysshed and ouercomen by a kynde dede / than by the swerde Be neuer at debate with thy neyghbure but rather study / laboure to be at one For thou canst haue none so sure a castel / or garde of thy lyfe as is the loue and frendshype of thy neghbure If thou suspecte the womeÌ„ of thy house let other persones rather shewe the / thaÌ„ thou shulde be ouer busy to try out the mater For though it were of thyne owne wyfe / or the wyfe of the husbande it were better vnknoweÌ„ For ones knoweÌ„ it is neuer cured / the wounde is wtout remedy If any remedy be it shal be whan lyke chaunce is herde of other ê‘sones The lest most easy way therin is to dissimule the mater though it were pryuely knoweÌ„ / and pretende ygnorauÌ„ce without any quarell or coÌ„tenaunce but rather by a dyscrete ghostly father let the parties be reformed the synne be not contynued A noble harte / hygh gentyll mynde wyll neuer serche of womeÌ„s maters A shrew wyll soner be corrected by smyling or laughynge than by a staffe / or strokes The beste way to kepe a womaÌ„ good is gentyll intreaty neuer to let her knowe that she is suspected / euer to be counseyled informed with louing maner An olde woman vnclene of lyuyng if the lawe wolde suffre shuld be buried quycke Let your clothynge or aray Of aray be in a meane nor vyle ne precyous but alway fayre honest / and of sad and not of wanton fasshyon A costly garmeÌ„te beyonde or aboue the state and degre of the persone is a sygne and tokeÌ„ of lytell wytte For a woman that hath suffyciente araye to desyre newe / and chaunge is a synge of lytell sadnes âšœ Truste hym rather for thy frende that somwhat doth for the than hym that doth offre hym selfe saynge I am yours in all I can may For in wordes is great plenty of frendes Prouerb xvii c * A true frende loueth at all tymes and neuer fayleth at nede There is no comparyson of ryches vnto a faythfull frende Ecclesi x. b * Neuer repute ne thynke hym thy frende that doth prayse / or boste the vnto thy face or in thy presence Whan you gyue couÌ„seyle vnto a freÌ„de say this semeth best vnto me not thus you muste nedely do For you may soner get rebuke or blame for your couÌ„seyle if it proue not than thaÌ„ke for your good counseyle though it spede well If mynstreles iogulers or gesters come vnto thy house saye thou haste no lodgynge for suche gestes / you kepe neyther Inne nor alestake For if you take pleasure in theyr pastymes you bene full lyke to haue a nother wyfe shortly after whose name is called pouerte or beggry If you fortune to come wher they ben and begynne somwhat to delecte in theyr maters I aduyse you dissymule take vpon you that you herde theÌ„ not / ne set any thynge therby For if they perceue se you but laugh they wyl take that for an ernest to crye largesse / and to haue reward And so importune wyll they be / so shaÌ„fully craue that you shal be yrke and wery of them peradueÌ„ture they wyll fall to rebukynge / braulynge and scoldynge so that you shal be fayne glade to gyue somwhat for fere vnto those galowe clappers worthy in dede to be hanged vp For I tell you god is not pleased with that occupacion except it be as scaÌ„t tolerable or alowable among prynces lordes / and hyghe estates Now for your seruauÌ„tes if you haue a seruauÌ„t of hyghe proude mynde stubburne stomake put hym away lest after he do you harme so do hym that alway doth prayse your maners in all thinges For a flaterer is worse than an enemye your enemy can not lyghtly deceyue you but your seruauÌ„ts or your neyghbours that do prayse you bene surely aboute to deceyue you Ecclesi vii c. xxxiii d If you haue a basshefull dredefull seruaunte fynde hym faythfull / than loue hym cherysshe hym as your owne naturall chyld Make your buyldynges rather for nede than for plesure For the appetyte of buyldyng for pleasure shall neuer haue ende tyll pouerte teche wyt soÌ„what to late Be loth to sell your herytage if you muste nede sell Sell not vnto great persones but rather for lesse vnto the lower persones Better is to sell thaÌ„ to borow by vsury For vsury is lyke a thefe that wolde warne you before what harm he wold do vnto you If you bye or bergayn be not buty fellow with great persones And though he be vnder you yet stryue not with hym leste he put his parte vnto your better or master In all thinges kepe truely faythfully your bonde promyse accordyng vnto your couenauÌ„te Due temperauÌ„ce is a thynge of greate honesty in a houshold let therfore your drynke wyne / ale / or bere / be temperate Strong drynke is more pleasauÌ„te / than holsome Ecclesi xxxi d The wyse man sayth that sobre drynke is the hel-the both of soule and body Ibidem And the wise lerned persone wyl be ryght well contente with lytell drynke that shall not trouble the stomake / but rather cause swete and holsome slepe and of the contrary done come many incoÌ„modytes as there doth folowe Who so euer among many dyuers stroÌ„ge drynkes with haboundauÌ„ce therof is sobre / may be called an erthly god or a god vpon erth wrastle not therwith if you do my couÌ„sell And if by chauÌ„ce you be in coÌ„pany begynne to fele the drynke werke aryse and departe a slepe is more mete for you than any coÌ„pany Who so by wordes wolde excuse droÌ„kennes doth openly declare his owne disease The knowlege iugement of wynes doth nothyng become a yong ê‘sone If a physicion or surgioÌ„ vse to be dronke let him not haue the cure of your disease ne let none of theÌ„ take experience and lerne in you / howe to cure or he le a nother For though they be well lerned / haue not experience it is no wisedome to let theÌ„ proue theyr connyng vpon you Great gaye horses and lytell preaty dogges leue you vnto lordes ladyes A byg labouryng horse a mastyfe or a curre dogge ben good to kepe your house As for haukes houndes huÌ„tyng dogges do spende more than they done get they ben mete and accordyng for states to set ydle seruauÌ„tes on werke but farre vnaccordyng ben they for husbandes ware housholders It is no wysedome to make your owne chyldreÌ„ stewardes or rulers of your houshold or goodes Foles negligeÌ„t or careles ê‘sones haile many misfortunes For that is theyr coÌ„mune excuse whaÌ„ any thyng is wroÌ„g they say thaÌ„ that chaunce or misfortune was cause therof I saye not nay but that chaunce or mysfortune may fall But who so doth folow wysdome lernyng discrecioÌ„ shall seldome accuse mysfortune For diligeÌ„t warenes good hede done seldome coÌ„pany with mysfortune But yet more seldom shall you se mysfortune slouth or neglygeÌ„ce departed in sondre for they doÌ„e coÌ„munely coÌ„pany together The sluggard saythe god wyll helpe hym so longe he trusteth thervnto tyll he be brought vnto beggry For god by the wyse man doth sende the sluggarde for example vnto the Ant or pysmere Prouer. vi to lerne to laboure Iob. v. For man sayth Iob is borne vnto laboure as a byrd to flye Kepe you therfore but fewe ydle persones or men And watche you well take good hede vnto euery ê‘sone of your house And euer poÌ„dre weye and coÌ„sydre your expenses with your gaynes or gettynges Fyrst get and bryng in thaÌ„ spende For it is no good husbaÌ„dry to borow And whan you waxe aged truste rather vnto god than vnto your chyldreÌ„ or freÌ„des That you sede before you you shal be sure to fynde No cofre cheste ne towre may be more sure to kepe treasure than is heueÌ„ Let not therfore the poore passe you What you gyue vnto theÌ„ you gyue vnto Christe And of that you leue behynd you appoynt vnto euery ê‘sone his parte For better were it for you nothing to leue thaÌ„ that stryfe debate shuld be made coÌ„scieÌ„ce blamysshed god offended for your goodes Truste them best to do for your soule not that done loue or say they done loue your soule but that you done perceyue and coniecture done loue theyr owne soule Make your testamente euery yere newe surely sealed by wytnes Laye it where whaÌ„ nede is 〈◊〉 may be founde no man 〈…〉 howe to ende his life The 〈◊〉 sure way to dye well is well to lyue Whiche he graunte vs that bought vs our lord god most swete sauyour Iesu christe Amen Of your charyte pray for the same olde wretche of Syon Rycharde whytforde ¶ Imprynted by me IohnÌ„ waylande / At London within temple barre At the sygne of the blew garlande / Frome the temple gate not farre AnÌ„ M. CCCCC xxxvii