Chapter 25

[Sidenote: ... and the spoon handle by it.] [_“spoon handle” changed by editor from “steel spoon”_] [Footnote 15: ... p. *30] [_asterisked number in original_] [Footnote 27: ... P. Parv. See note 3, p. 160.] [_reference is to P. Parv., not to present book_] [Footnote 34: See the ‘Countroller of this houshold royall,’ ...] [“Countroller...] [Footnote 55: ... _H. Ord._ p. 32-3.] [_final period (full stop) missing_] [Footnote 58: ...] [Footnote 60: ...] [_footnote numbers in double brackets added by transcriber_]

_Boke of Curtesye_: notes

the order to have six wings plucked from the wing of every goose [_text unchanged: error for “six feathers”?_]

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

The Booke of Demeanor

and

the Allowance and Disallowance

of

certaine Misdemeanors

in

Companie,

[From the reprint by Bensley & Sons (in 1817) of “The Booke of Demeanor from Small Poems entitled _The Schoole of Vertue_ by Richard Weste,” 1619, 12mo.]

To the Reader.

R Ightly conceiue me, and obserue me well, I Doe what heere is done for Childrens good, C Hrist in his Gospell (as S. Marke doth tell) H Ath not forbidden Children, nor withstood A Ny that should but aske the ready way, R Egarding Children, not to say them nay. D Irecting all that came, how faith should be,

W Hat they should crave of Gods high Majestie, E Ven Salvation, through their faithful Prayer, S Ending their contemplations into the ayre, T O his high throne, whose love so guide us all E Ven to the end we neuer cease to call.

[N.B.--The stops and sidenotes are those of the original, but that has no Headlines.]

The Booke of

Demeanor.

[Sidenote: Serving at the table.]

Stand straight vpright, and both thy feet together closely standing, Be sure on’t, ever let thine eye be still at thy commanding. 4

Observe that nothing wanting be which should be on the bord.

[Sidenote: Silence]

Vnlesse a question moved be, be carefull: not a word. 8

[Sidenote: Serving or filling drinke.]

If thou doe give or fill the drinke, with duty set it downe, And take it backe with manlike cheere not like a rusticke Lowne. 12

[Sidenote: [p. 6.]]

[Sidenote: If on an errand.]

If on an errand thou be sent, make haste and doe not stay, When all have done, observe the time, serve God and take away. 16

[Sidenote: To schoole againe.]

When thou hast done and dined well, remember thou repaire To schoole againe with carefulnesse, be that thy cheefest care. 20

And marke what shall be read to thee, or given thee to learne, That apprehend as neere as may be, wisdome so doth warne. 24

With stedfast eye and carefull eare, remember every word Thy Schoole master shall speake to thee, as memory shall afford. 28

[Sidenote: [p. 7.]]

[Sidenote: To use the browes.]

Let not thy browes be backward drawn, it is a signe of pride, Exalt them not, it shewes a hart most arrogant beside. 32

[Sidenote: The eyes.]

Nor let thine eyes be gloting downe, cast with a hanging looke: For that to dreamers doth belong, that goodnesse cannot brooke. 36

[Sidenote: The forehead.]

Let forehead joyfull be and full, it shewes a merry part, And cheerefulnesse in countenance, and pleasantnesse of heart. 40

[Sidenote: Countenance.]

Nor wrinckled let thy countenance be, still going to and fro: For that belongs to hedge-hogs right, they wallow even so. 44

[Sidenote: [p. 8.]]

[Sidenote: The nose.]

Nor imitate with Socrates, to wipe thy snivelled nose Vpon thy cap, as he would doe, nor yet upon thy clothes. 48

But keepe it cleane with handkerchiffe, provided for the same, Not with thy fingers or thy sleeve, therein thou art too blame. 52

[Sidenote: Blowing or breathing.]

Blow not alowd as thou shalt stand, for that is most absurd, Iust like a broken winded horse. it is to be abhord. 56

[Sidenote: Snuffling in the nose when you speake.]

Nor practize snufflngly to speake, for that doth imitate The brutish Storke and Elephant, yea and the wralling cat. 60

[Sidenote: [p. 9.]]

[Sidenote: Neezing.]

If thou of force doe chance to neeze, then backewards turne away From presence of the company, wherein thou art to stay. 64

[Sidenote: The Cheekes.]

Thy cheekes with shamefac’t modesty, dipt in Dame Natures die, Not counterfet, nor puffed out, observe it carefully. 68

[Sidenote: Breathing.]

Keepe close thy mouth, for why, thy breath may hap to give offence, And other worse may be repayd for further recompence. 72

[Sidenote: Lips.]

Nor put thy lips out like a foole as thou wouldst kisse a horse, When thou before thy betters art, and what is ten times worse, 76

[Sidenote: [p. 10.]]

[Sidenote: Yawning.]

To gape in such unseemely sort, with ugly gaping mouth, Is like an image pictured a blowing from the south. 80

Which to avoyd, then turne about, and with a napkin hide That gaping foule deformity, when thou art so aside. 84

[Sidenote: Laughing.]

To laugh at all things thou shalt heare, is neither good nor fit, It shewes the property and forme of one with little wit. 88

[Sidenote: Biting the lip.]

To bite the lip it seemeth base, for why, to lay it open, Most base dissembling doggednesse, most sure it doth betoken. 92

[Sidenote: [p. 11.]]

[Sidenote: Biting the upper lip.]

And so to bite the upper lip doth most uncomely shew, The lips set close (as like to kisse) in manner seeme not so. 96

[Sidenote: The tongue.]

To put the tongue out wantonly, and draw it in agen, Betokens mocking of thy selfe, in all the eyes of men, 100

[Sidenote: Spitting.]

If spitting chance to move thee so thou canst it not forbeare, Remember do it modestly, consider who is there. 104

If filthiness, or ordure thou upon the floore doe cast, Tread out, and cleanse it with thy foot, let that be done with haste. 108

[Sidenote: [p. 12.]]

[Sidenote: Hammering in speech.]

If in thy tale thou hammering stand, or coughing twixt thy words, It doth betoken a liers smell, that’s all that it affords. 112

[Sidenote: Belching.]

To belch or bulch like _Clitipho_, whom _Terence_ setteth forth, Commendeth manners to be base, most foule and nothing worth. 116

[Sidenote: Vomiting.]

If thou to vomit be constrain’d, avoyd from company: So shall it better be excus’d, if not through gluttony. 120

[Sidenote: Keeping the teeth cleane.]

Keep white thy teeth, and wash thy mouth with water pure and cleane, And in that washing, mannerly observe and keep a meane. 124

[Sidenote: Kembing the head.]

[Sidenote: [p. 13.]]

Thy head let that be kembd and trimd, let not thy haire be long, It is unseemely to the eye, rebuked by the tongue. 128

[Sidenote: Hanging down the head]

And be not like a slothfull wight, delighted to hang downe The head, and lift the shoulders up, nor with thy browes to frowne. 132

[Sidenote: Carriage of the body.]

To carry up the body faire, is decent, and doth shew A comely grace in any one, Where ever he doth goe. 136

[Sidenote: Hanging the head aside.]

To hang the head on any side, doth shew hypocrisie: And who shall use it trust him not, he deales with policie. 140

[Sidenote: [p. 14.]]

[Sidenote: Privy members.]

Let not thy privy members be layd open to be view’d, It is most shamefull and abhord, detestable and rude. 144

[Sidenote: Urine or winde.]

Retaine not urine nor the winde, which doth thy body vex, So it be done with secresie, let that not thee perplex. 148

[Sidenote: Sitting.]

And in thy sitting use a meane, as may become thee well, Not straddling, no nor tottering, and dangling like a bell. 152

[Sidenote: Curtesie.]

Observe in Curtesie to take a rule of decent kinde, Bend not thy body too far foorth, nor backe thy leg behind. 156

[Sidenote: The gate in going.]

[Sidenote: [p. 15.]]

In going keep a decent gate, not faining lame or broken, For that doth seeme but wantonnesse, and foolishnesse betoken. 160

[Sidenote: Apparrell.]

Let thy apparrell not exceede, to passe for sumptuous cost, Nor altogether be too base, for so thy credit’s lost. 164

Be modest in thy wearing it, and keep it neat and cleane, For spotted, dirty, or the like, is lothsome to be seene. 168

This for thy body may suffice, how that must ordred be: Now at the Church thou shalt observe to God how all must be. 172

[_No doubt incomplete, or to be inserted before _Cap. v._ of _Weste’s Schoole of Vertue_, at the end of this Part._ F. J. F.]

* * * * * * * * *

+Bp. Grossetest’s Household Statutes.+

[_Sloane MS._ 1986, _p._ 193, _ab._ 1450-60. _The last page mentions the 19th year of Henry VI.,_ A.D. 1440-1.]

[Transcriber’s Note:

The _Statutes_ were printed as a single paragraph. The text has been broken up for readability, using the original paragraph marks ¶. Sidenotes that do not correspond to numbered items are marked with lower-case letters. The first three sidenotes, from the original MS, were printed in larger type.]

Incipiunt statuta familie bone Memorie do{m}pni Rob{er}ti Grossetest, lincoln{i}e ep{iscop}i.

[a] Let alle men be warned þ{a}t s{er}uen ȝou, and warnyng be ȝeue to all{e} me{n} that be of howseholde, to {ser}ue god and ȝou trewly & diligently and to p{er}formyng, or the wyllyng of god to be p{er}formed and fulfyllydde.

[Sidenote: +p{ri}m{us} u{e}r{sicu}l{us}+]

[b] Fyrst let s{er}uaunt{is} doo p{er}fytely in all{e} thyng{is} youre wylle, and kepe they ȝoure {com}maundement{is} after god and ryȝthwysnesse, and w{i}t{h}-oute co{n}dicioñ and also w{i}t{h}-oute gref or offense. And sey ȝe, that be p{ri}ncipall{e} heuede or prelate to all{e} ȝoure s{er}uaunt{is} both{e} lesse and mor{e}, that they doo fully, reedyly, and treuly, w{i}t{h}-oute offense or ayenseyng, all{e} youre wille & co{m}maundement that is not ayeynys god.

[Sidenote: +2^us+]

[Sidenotes: [a] All servants should serve truly God and their Master; [b] doing fully all that their Master orders, without answering.]

T the secunde ys, that [a] ȝe co{m}maunde them that kepe and haue kepyng of ȝoure howseholde, a-fore ȝoure meynye, that bothe w{i}t{h}-in and w{i}t{h}-oute the meynye be trewe, honest, diligent, both{e} chast and p{ro}fitabulle.

[Sidenote: +3^us+]

¶ the thrydde: co{m}maunde ye that [b] nomañ be admittyd in ȝoure howseholde, nother inwarde nother vtwarde, but hit be trustyd and leuyd that ȝe be trewe and diligent, and namely to that office to the whiche he is admyttyd; Also þ{a}t he be of goode man{er}s

[Sidenotes: [a] The upper servants must be honest and diligent, [b] and engage no untrusty or unfit man.]

¶ The fowreth{e}: be hit sowȝht and examined ofte tymys yf ther be ony [a] vntrewman, vnkunnyng, vnhonest, lecherous, stryffull{e}, drunke[p. 194]lewe, vnp{ro}fitabull{e}, yf there be ony suche yfunde or diffamydde vppon these thyng{is}, that they be caste oute or put fro the howseholde.

[Sidenotes: iv. [a] Dishonest, quarrelsome, and drunken servants must be turned out.]

¶ The fyft: co{m}maunde ȝe that in no wyse be in the howseholde men debatefull{e} or stryffull{e}, but that all{e} be of ooñ a-corde, of ooñ wylle, euen lyke as in them ys oon mynde and oon sowle.

¶ The sixte: co{m}maunde ȝe that all{e} tho that s{er}uen in ony offyce be obedient, and redy, to the{m} that be a-bofe them in thyng{is} that p{er}teynyñ to there office.

¶ The seuenth{e}: co{m}maunde ȝe that ȝoure gentilmen yome{n} and other, dayly bere and were there robis in ȝoure p{re}sence, and namely at the mete, for ȝoure worshyppe, and not oolde robis and not cordyng to the lyu{er}ey, nother were they oolde schoon ne fylyd.

[Sidenotes: v. All must be of one accord, vi. obedient to those above them, vii. dress in livery, and not wear old shoes.]

¶ The viij: Commaunde ȝe that ȝoure almys be kepyd, & not sende not to boys and knafis, nother in the hall{e} nothe out{e} of þe hall{e}, ne be wasted in soperys ne dyners of gromys, but wysely, temp{er}atly, w{i}t{h}-oute bate or betyng, be hit distribute and the[n] dep{ar}tyd to powre meñ, beggers, syke folke and febull{e}.

¶ The ix.: Make ȝe ȝoure owne howseholde to sytte in the all{e}, as muche as ye mow or may, at the bordis of oon p{ar}te and of the other p{ar}te, and lette them sitte to-gedur as mony as may, not here fowre and thre there: and when youre chef maynye be sett, then all{e} gromys may [p. 195] entre, sitte, And ryse

[Sidenotes: viii. Order your Alms to be given to the poor and sick. ix. Make all the household dine together in the Hall.]

¶ The x.: Streytly for-bede ȝe that no wyfe[A] be at ȝoure mete. [a] And sytte ȝe eu{er} in the myddul of the hye borde, that youre fysegge and chere be schewyd to all{e} meñ of bothe p{ar}tyes, and that ȝe may see lyȝhtly the s{er}uic{is} and defawt{is}: and diligently see ȝe that eu{er}y day in ȝoure mete seson be two men ordeyned to ou{er}-se youre mayny, and of that they shall{e} drede ȝou

¶ The xi: co{m}maunde ȝe, and yeue licence as lytul tyme as ye may w{i}t{h} honeste to them that be in ȝoure howseholde, to go home. And whenne ȝe yeue licence to the{m}, Assigne ȝe to them a short day of comyng a yeyne vnd{ur} peyne of lesyng ther{e} s{er}uice. [b] And yf ony mañ speke ayen or be worth{e},[B] say to hym, “what! wille ye be lorde? ye wylle þ{a}t y s{er}ue you after ȝoure wylle.” and they that wylle not here that ȝe say, effectually be they ywarnyd, and ye shall{e} p{ro}uide other s{er}uant{is} the which{e} shall{e} s{er}ue you to your{e} wylle or plesyng.

[Sidenotes: x. Let no woman dine with you. [a] Let the Master show himself to all. [b] Don’t allow grumbling. xi. Let your servants go to their homes.

¶ The xij is: {comman}d the panyt{r}ere w{i}t{h} youre brede, & the botelare w{i}t{h} wyne and ale, come to-gedur afore ȝou at the tabull{e} afore gracys, [a] And let be there thre yome{n} assigned to s{er}ue the hye tabull{e} and the two syde tabullis in solenne dayes;

¶ And ley they not the vessels deseruyng for ale and wyne vppon the tabull{e},[p. 196] but afore you, But be thay layid vnder þe tabull{e}.

¶ The 13: co{m}maunde ye the stywarde þ{a}t he be besy and diligent to kepe the maynye i{n} hys owne p{er}sone i{n}warde and vtwarde, and namely in the hall{e} and at mete, that they be-haue them selfe honestly, w{i}t{h}-out stryffe, fowlespekyng, and noyse; And that they that be ordeynyd to sette messys, [b] bryng them be ordre and c{on}tinuelly tyl all{e} be s{er}ued, and not inordinatly, And thorow affeccion [C] to p{er}sonys or by specialte; And take ȝe hede to this tyl messys be fully sett in the hall{e}, and aft{er} tende ye to ȝoure mette.

[Sidenotes: