To thy honour and joy of our parents,
Learning to live well and keep thy
commandments,
In flying from all vice, sin and crime,
Applying our books, not losing our time,
May fructify and go here in good doing,
forward
In this vale of misery unto our lives’ ending;
That after this life here transitory,
We may attain to greater glory.”
The Lord’s prayer then see thou recite,
So using to do, at morning and night.
HOW TO ORDER THYSELF WHEN THOU RISEST
AND IN APPARELLING THY BODY
Fly ever sloth and overmuch sleep;
In health the body thereby thou shalt keep.
Much sleep engendereth diseases and pain,
It dulls the wit and hurteth the brain.
Early in the morning, thy bed then forsake,
Thy raiment put on, thyself ready make.
To cast up thy bed it shall be thy part,
Else may they say that beastly thou art;
So to depart and let the same lie,
It is not seeming nor yet mannerly.
Down from thy chamber when thou shalt go,
Thy parents salute thou, and the family also;
Thy hands see thou wash, and thy head comb,
And of thy raiment see torn be no seam;
Thy cap fair brushed, thy head cover then,
Taking it off, in speaking to any man.
Cato doth council thee thine elders to
reverence,
Declaring thereby thy duty and obedience.
Thy shirt collar fast to thy neck knit;
Comely thy raiment look on thy body sit;
Thy girdle about thy waist then fasten,
Thy hose fair rubbed, thy shoes see be clean.
A napkin see that thou have in readiness,
Thy nose to cleanse from all filthiness.
Thy nails, if need be, see that thou pare;
Thine ears keep clean, thy teeth wash thou fair.
If aught about thee chance to be torn,
Thy friends thereof show how it is worn,
And they will new for thee provide,
Or the old mend, in time being spied.
This done, thy satchell and thy books take,
And to the school haste see thou make.
But ere thou go, with thyself forethink.
That thou take with thee pen, paper and ink;
For these are things for thy study necessáry,
Forget not then with thee them to carry.
The soldier preparing himself to the field,
Leaves not at home his sword and his shield;