Part 65 (2/2)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Text note B: Read _ost_]

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE THIRD BOOK.

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

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

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

-- De Ianitor{e}.[14]

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

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

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

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

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

-- De Marescallo aule.[15]

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

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