A werke for housholders or for them ye haue the gydynge or gouernaunce of any company. Gadred [and] set forth by a professed brother of Syon Richard Whytforde. And newly corrected [and] prynted agayne w[ith] an addicion of policy for housholdynge, set forth also by the same brother. Whitford, Richard, fl. 1495-1555? This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A15124 of text S105123 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 25422). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 119 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 32 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A15124 STC 25422 ESTC S105123 99840853 99840853 5393 2240863030

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A15124) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 5393) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 159:19) A werke for housholders or for them ye haue the gydynge or gouernaunce of any company. Gadred [and] set forth by a professed brother of Syon Richard Whytforde. And newly corrected [and] prynted agayne w[ith] an addicion of policy for housholdynge, set forth also by the same brother. Whitford, Richard, fl. 1495-1555? Bernard Silvestris, fl. 1136. Epistola .. de bona gubernatonne familie. [64] p. In flete strete, at the sygne of the Sonne, by me Wynkyn de Worde, [Imprynted at London : The yere of our lorde god. M.CCCCC. [and] xxx. the. xx. day of December. [1530]] Imprint from colophon. G4r has caption title, reading: A breue, or shorte monicyon or counseyle of the cure [et] gouernau[n]ce of a housholde, accordyng vnto policye, taken out of a pystle of a great lerned man, called Bernarde syluestre, and put amo[n]ge the werkes of saynt bernarde, for bycause ye many done iudge and thynke it was his owne werke. Set forth by the same brother. The Bernardus portion is reprinted with minor alterations from STC 1967.5, a translation of: Bernard Silvestris. Epistola sa[n]cti Barnardi abbatis clareuallensis .. de bona gubernato[n]ne familie. Signatures: A-H⁴. Print show-through. Reproduction of the original in the Bodleian Library. eng Christian life -- Early works to 1800. eebo A werke for housholders, or for them ye haue the gydynge or gouernaunce of any company. Gadred [and] set forth by a professed brother of Syon Richard Whitford, Richard, 1530 64 22134 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.45 B The rate of 0.45 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-04 Assigned for keying and markup 2006-06 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-06 Sampled and proofread 2007-06 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

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 persones / that were ( as they sayde ) well contented therwith / and edified therby . So that they instantly requyred me / to put it newly forth in commune : supposyng in theyr deuoute mynde / it shulde be vnto other persones / 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 them 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 dyfference / 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 founde 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 man 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 confesse al our hole lyfe / & euery wryncle & parte therof : whiche confessyon / 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 & profyte vnto the helth of our soules ofte tymes to remembre our last ende . Eccli . vij . The wyse man sayth . In oimbus 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 euerlastyngly therin . The first poynt therfore of a good christian / is to entende and purpose with good herte & constaunt mynde / to auoyde synne / & dylygently to study how to flee & beware of the occasions therof . And than to appoynt hymselfe vnto some customable course of good & profitable exercyse . Psalmo xxxiij . Diuerte a malo / & fac bonum ( 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 contynuaunce / 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 & confort 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 & remembraunce 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 nomine patris . & than an other crosse vpon your mouth / with these wordes et filij . And the thyrde crosse vpon your brest / sayeng et spiritus scti . amen 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 nomine pr̄is et filij et spiritus sancti . Amen . That is to meane I do blesse & marke my selfe with the cognysaunce 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 . Than saye or thynke 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 & mynde vndo the ( good lorde ) & vnto thy handes / to be thy bonde seruaunt for euer / according vnto the promyse made in my baptysme at the font stone . And here now I do ratyfy & newly confyrme the same and do fully consent in herte & mynde therto / neuer here after ( by the helpe of thy grace ) to contrary the same / but to contynue 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 / from the begynnynge of my lyfe hytherto / I beseche the good lord god and father of all puyssaunce and power / of all myghty & strength / that thou wylte defende me from al myne enemyes / & gyue me spirituall strength & power / that I may ( in the ) vaynquyssh & ouercome / flee & auoyde al suche fraylte / lyght maners or disposicions / 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 vnderstandynge / I beseche the ( good lorde god ) that art the essencyall sone of god the father / & vnto whome is appropriate all wytte & wysdome / all scyence / connynge & knowlege / & al ryght perceyuynge & vnderstandynge / the thou wylt graunt 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 & conuersacion / & specially of my wretchednes / with due contrycyon for all my synnes . And knowlege also of thy lawes / wyll & pleasure / so that by no maner of ignoraunce or mysvnderstandynge / 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 knowest also that I am ofte tymes obstynate of mynde / 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 reuerende 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 gyuen 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 feruent charite / that ( by thy grace ) I may atteyn vnto the fruicyon of euerlastynge charite in thy ioyful presence Amen . And good lorde god father of heuen / 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 essencyall god / haue pyte & mercy vpon me & all myne / & vpon all thy creatures . Amen . And than ones agayne blesse the with In nomine pr̄is . 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 & mornynge exercyse ouer longe / 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 person 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 than 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 counseyle in the begynnynge / that ye shulde appoynt your selfe ( by a continuall course ) vnto some certeyne occupacion that may be profytable / and euer to auoyde ydlenes the mother and nurse of all synne & euyll . And euer be ware of suche occupacions as been called communly 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 than 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 & profytable . Syth than ye must nedes make a rekenyng of euery werke / worde and thought ( for none of these can 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 commune prouerbe 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 & company as brekefast / dyner / souper / or drynkyng / & where you fynde or perceyue 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 & daunger therof / with all the maner & cyrcumstaunce 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 offence 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 Iohn ) 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 abasshmēt 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 & mynde to be confessed therof at due tyme / & to take and do penaunce therfore . And I dare assure you that this maner of account & rekenynge ( though your synne were neuer so great ) shall saue you from the ieopardy of dampnacion / whiche is no lytel grace & goodnes of god . Thanke hym than lowly therfore / & so blesse your selfe / as you dyd in the mornynge / & your bedde also / & go thervnto / & so commyt your selfe all hole body & soule vnto the proteccyon / 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 & archangels / I beseche you praye for me & for all people . Saynt Iohn baptyst & al holy patriarkes & ꝓphetes I beseche you pray for me & for al chrystendom . Saynt Peter / saynt Paule / saynt Iohn the euangelyst / 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 Stephan / and all holy martyrs . Saynt Augustyne / & al holy confessours all religious persones & 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 heuen / of euery degre and state where you be / I beseche you all in generall / and eueryche in specyall / pray for me & all mankynde . Here may you brynge 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 persones as ben solytary & done lye alone by them selfe / but we done lye .ij. or .iij. somtyme togyder / & yet in one chambre dyuers beddes & so many in company / yf we shulde vse these thynges in presence 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 frendes & felowes / & specyally where great gaynes shuld growe therby vnto them selfe . And for the pleasure of god our father / & of our swete sauyour Iesu our brother / shulde we be abasshed to take daunger & bere a poore mocke or scorne / that neuer shal wounde our flesshe / ne yet tere our skyn for the pleasure of our pereles prynce / kynge of kynges / & lord of al lordes ? Fye for shame that any christian shulde be so cowardous Ventre vpon it / go forthe withall . Omne principium difficile . labor imbroboima vincit . In .ix. dayes ( as they saye ) the daunger shal be past / fere nothynge . Euery begynnynge is harde & of great difficulte . But importune labour dothe vaynquysshe & ouercome all thynges . I tel you / this dayly exercyse by custum & vse / shal seme very shorte & swete / profytable & pleasaunt . Rede it or here it ouer ones or twyse at the leest before they cast it away How be it we thynke it not sufficient 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 & gouernaunce / that is to say / your childer & seruauntes . 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 thynges 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 prouerbe 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 lengest kepe & remember . you shulde therfore aboue all thynges / take hede and care in what company your chylder been nourysshed & brought vp . For educacyon & doctryne / that is to saye / bryngynge vp & lernynge / done make the maners / with good & vertuous persones ( sayth the prophete ) you shal be good & vertuous . Psal. xvij . And with the euyll persones / you shal be also euyll . Let your chylder therfore vse & kepe good company . 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 spoken / they shulde therfore be vsed vnto suche company 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 been taught / so wyl they do / & in many thynges they may be compelled vnto a contynuall custome / whiche doth alter & chaunge 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 counseyle / that in euery mele / dyner or souper / one persone shulde with lowde voyce saye thus .

Fyrst peticyon . Pater noster qui es incelis : sanctificetur nomen tuum . 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 heuen / 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 voluntas tua / sicut in celo et intra . Good lorde god our holy father the art in heuen / 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 commaundementes after theyr estate & condicion / as thy holy angels and sayntes done in heuen after theyr state & degre .

Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie . fourth . Good lordis god / our holy father that art in heuen / gyue & graunte vnto vs this daye our dayly breed / that is to meane / I beseche the good lorde / graunt vnto vs continually the spiritual fode / grace & effecte of thy holy sacramentes . Or thus . Graunt vnto vs the continuall grace & effecte of thy holy sacramentes / whiche is the dayly fode of our soules / and spirituall suerte of our saluacyon .

Et dimitte nobis debita nostra : fyfth . sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris . Good lorde god oure holy father that art in heuen / forgyue vs our dettes / as we done forgyue our detters / that is to meane / I beseche the good lorde / forgyue & pardon me & all chrystyans all maner of offences & trespaces done agaynst the & thy lawes / lykewyse as we done forgyue all maner of persones all maner of greues & trespaces done agaynst vs .

Et ne nos inducas in tentationem . syxth . Good lorde god our holy father that art in heuen / lede vs not into temptacyon / that is to meane / I beseche the good lorde / suffre me not / ne any christyan / to be ledde or brought by any tentacyon / vnto the full consent of any synne .

Sed libera nos a malo . seuenth . But good lordis god our holy father that art in heuen / delyuer me & all christians from euyl that is to meane / I beseche the good lorde / that not onely thou kepe me & al thy people from al syn & offence of thy goodnes / but also that thou wylt delyuer & make vs quyte of all synnes past / & conserue & kepe vs continually in the state of grace . Amen . so be it / that is to meane / good lord we beseche the that all these thynges may come to passe in ful effect / according to our peticion & desyre . This prayer of the Pat noster / is the moost excellent prayer / bycause that our sauyour made it hymselve / & taught it to his disciples .

The Aue maria / is the moost pleasaunt prayer / & of most honour vnto your blessed lady / bycause one parte therof is the salutacyon of the angell Gabryell / wherby immedyatly after her consent / she conceyued the sone of god in her wombe . Luc. j. And the other parte / was spoken vnto her by saynt Elizabeth / inspired & moued thervnto by the spiryte of god the holy ghost . And therfore done we set forth the Aue maria after suche maner as we dyd the Pater nr̄. Aue maria gratia plena dns tecum : benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus . Amen . Hayle Mary full of grace / god is with the. Blessed be thou amonge women / and blessed be the fruyte of thy wombe Iesus Chryst / god & man . Amen . so mote it be . That fyrst worde Aue / whiche I do englysshe after the commune maner / hayle is a worde of salutacion / as we saye in commune congresses or metynges togyder . God spede you / god saue you / god blesse you . Good morowe good euen / god spede / god be at your game / god be at your werke / god sende you / with suche other / after the maner of the countree where it is spoken . And the last worde Amen / it is a worde of consent or desyre / that the mater spoken before shulde come to passe / or vnto effecte / as communely it is sayd / be it / so be it / let it be so I graunte / I assent / with other lyke . This haue we sayde / bycause you shulde vnderstande what euery worde meaneth . Now dothe folowe the Crede .

The fyrst artycle .

Saynt Peter . CRedo in deum partrem oīpotētem : creatorem celi & terre . I byleue vpon god the father almyghty / maker of heuen and of erth . This terme in deum / is dyuersly englysshed / some done saye / into god / some / inwardly in god / some / perfitly in god . But the moost commune vse of the countree of the vnlerned people / is to saye . I byleue vpon god & vpon his feyth / but all doth meane in effecte / that the person hath perfyte feyth & byleue zin god / & vnto god .

The secunde artycle .

Et in Iesum Christum filium eius vnicum dnm nostrum . Saynt Andrewe And I also byleue perfytly vpon our lorde Iesu Chryst his onely begoten sone / that is to saye / the onely begoten sone of the sayd father

The thyrde artycle .

Qui conceptus est de spum sancto / natus ex maria virgine . Saynt Iohn And also I byleue perfitly that our sayd lorde Iesu was conceyued of the holy ghost / and borne of our ladi saynt Mary / she remaynynge & abydynge euer a vyrgyn .

The fourthe artycle .

Passus sub poncio Pilato / crucifixus / mortuus & sepultus And also I perfitly byleue / the our sayd lorde Iesu dyd suffre his passyon / & was crucyfyed / deed / & buryed / vnder the power & iudgment of a man called by propre name Poncius / & by his secunde or surname Pylate . Saynt Iames the more

The fyfth artycle .

Descendit ad inferna : tertia die resurrexit a mortuis . Saynt Thomas of Ynde . And I byleue perfytly also / that our sayd lorde Iesu after his sayd passyon & deth / descended & went downe vnto the lowe places of hel / & brought forth from thens our fyrst father Adam / & all that were there with hym / & that vpon the thyrde day after his deth / he dyd aryse from deth / & al the bondes therof vnto lyfe euerlastyng .

The syxth artycle .

Ascendit ad celos / sedet ad dextram dei patris omnipotentis . Saynt Iames the lesse . And also I byleue perfytely / that our sayd lorde Iesu dyd ascende & stye vp vnto the hyghest heuens / & there dothe syt vpon the ryght hande of god the father omnipotent and almyghty .

The seuenth artycle .

Saynt Philyp . Inde venturus est iudicare viuos et mortuos . And I also perfytly byleue / that he wyll come thens agayne into this worlde / to iudge all persones / quycke & deed .

The .viij. artycle .

Saynt Bartholomewe . Credo in spiritum sanctum . I byleue perfytly also vpon the holy ghost / the spiryte of the father & of the sone / & with them bothe the same selfe god .

The .ix. artycle .

Saynt Mathewe . Sanctam ecclesiam catholicam . I also byleue that the chirche of Chryst is & was / & euermore shal be holy & feythfull / & therfore I do gyue feyth & credence vnto the same / and vnto the terminacions therof .

The .x. artycle .

Saynt Symon . Sanctorum communionem / remissionem peccatorum . I byleue also the communion of sayntes / that is to say / I byleue that all the werkes & good dedes of al good & holy persones / ben and shal be commune / so that euery feythfull chrystyan hath & shall haue parte with other . And also I byleue the remyssyon of synnes / that is to saye / that all maner of synnes may and shal be forgyuen / yf forgyuenes be duely desyred and axed .

The .xj. artycle .

Saint Iude / called also saynt Taddeus . Carnis resurrectionem . I also byleue the resurreccyon of our flesshe / that is to say / I byleue that al maner of persones shall aryse at the day of dome in soule & body with the same flesshe / blode & bones that they were borne with & dyed with .

The .xij. artycle .

Saynt Mathye . Et vitam eternam . Amen . And also I byleue euerlastyng lyfe / that is to say / that ( after the generall resurreccion ) all maner of persones / as well good as euyll / dampned or saued / shall contynue in lyfe euerlastynge / eyther in ioye or peyne / & neuer departe therfrom . This worde Amen . is declared before in the ende of the Pater noster . This maner of the Pater noster / Aue and Crede / I wolde haue vsed & redde vpon the boke at euery mele / or at the leest ones a daye with lowde voyce ( as I sayd ) that all the persones present may here it . And yet forther I wolde aduyse & counseyle you / to se / knowe & proue / that euery persone in your hous / & all that ben vnder your gouernaunce & charge ( can say the same / & therfore you must take the labour to here them your selfe / and where nede is / to teche them . For many that ben aged and can not saye / wyll be abasshed to lerne it openly / & yet yf they here it dayly redde after the maner shewed before / they shal by vse and custome lerne it very wel . And some other persones there ben / that can say ryght well / bothe vpon the boke & without / but yet amonge them some ben dullardes & slouthful / & some negligent and careles / & so done they not saye it / but in tyme forgete it / as in maner they had neuer lerned it . I praye you therfore ( good deuoute christians ) take the peyne to here them your selfe / at the leest ones a weke / & let none escape you / olde nor yonge . It shall ( byleue me ) be vnto you a great dyscharge of conscyence / and not without meryte & great rewarde . And charge them straytly vnder peyne of punysshment / that they say it euery daye thre tymes at the leest / that is to saye / in the mornynge / at none or mydday / & at nyght . Than must you teche them to knowe by ordre the preceptes or commaundementes of god / the names of the .vij princypal synnes / & of theyr .v. wyttes / as thus . Fyrst . The commaundementes of god ben .x. in nombre . The fyrst / that we shal haue no straunge ne others goddes / but one alone / & him to loue / honour & drede aboue all thynges . The secunde we maye not take the name of god in vayne / & therfore we may not vse to swere . Secunde Thyrde . The thyrde / we must kepe our holy day with close mynde vnto god / & reuerende deuocion / & therfore we may do no bodily or worldly loboures for lucre therin . Fourth . The fourth / we must with reuerende & due lowly maner do honour vnto our parentes / that is to say vnto our fathers & mothers / & we shal haue ( by the promyse of god ) longe lyfe therfore . Fyfth . The .v. we shal not slee or kyll any persone / neyther in dede / nor yet in wyll / or mynde / nor yet may we hate any person in herte . i. Io. iii. c. For who so euer so doth / is an homicide & mansteer . The .vj We may do no lechery . Syxth . vij . viij . ix . x. The .vij. we may do no thefte . The .viij. we may here no false wytnes / ne make any ly or lesyng . The .ix. we may not coueyt or desyre any wedded or maryed person . And the .x. we may not coueyt ne desyre any other mannes goodes . These ben the .x. commaundementes / gyuen & commaunded by almyghty god / & they ben diuided in two partes / as two tables or bokes . Exod. xx . The fyrst apperteyneth & belongeth vnto almyghty god hymselve . And in that parte ben conteyned the thre fyrst commaundementes / & all those thre commaundementes ben conteyned in this one commaundement of the gospell . Loue god aboue all thynges . And in the secunde parte or secunde table / ben the other .vij. conteyned / whiche done apperteyn & belonge vnto the neyghbour . And yet all those .vij. ben agayne conteyned in this one commaundement of Chryst . Loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe . Yet may you go forther with them / sumwhat to teche them what they meane .

A declaracyon of the sayd preceptes .

The fyrst

For whan you say that we may haue no mo goddes but one alone / that is to meane / that we shulde loue nothynge so well as god . Whan so euer than a person doth set his herte & mynde vpon any creature / more than vpon god / so that he wolde rather dysplease god & breke his lawes & ordynaunces / than for to leue & forbere the affeccion or pleasure of the creature / than hath he a straunge god / an other god / for than that thyng is his god / for the whiche he dothe forsake god / and dothe contrary vnto his wyll & ordynaunce . And here ( good and deuoute christians ) be well ware / & warne all youres of these supersticyous wytchcraftes and charmes that ben moche vsed / & done deceyue many persones / that ( for the vnlawfull loue vnto the helt he of theyr bodies / or of theyr chylder / or beestes / or other goodes lost or stolen ) wyll go seke wysemen or wysewomē ( for so they done call the deuyls proctours that done vse suche wytchcraftes & charmes ) them done they seke I say / and put them selfe subiecte vnto the false god the deuyll and his cerimonyes / to gette helthe vnlawfully by the meanes of that wytchcraftes forboden by the chirche / vnder peyne of cursynge . And yet the symple people done suppose and wene they do nothynge offende therin . For I haue herde them saye full often my selfe . Syr we meane well / & we doue byleue well / & we thynke it a good & charitable dede to hele a seke persone / or a seke beest / and trouthe they saye / but yet it is neyther good ne charytable to heele them by vnlawful meane . And surely that meane is vnlawful . For good reason wyll admyt / that no sore ne sekenes may be heeled / but eyther by nature / or by medicyne / or by myracle . yf a fynger be cutte / or small surfet taken / nature in a whyle wyll hele the persone . But in all greuous dyseases / medycyne is the commune meane of helthe / but sure ben they that suche charmes or wytchecraftes ben no medicynes . For than shuld they heele as well by one persone as by an other . And no man byleueth they ben miracles / ergo they must nedeli be the deuyls crafte / that to deceyue the symple persones / doth hurt some / & techeth that waye vnlawfull to brynge them into his daunger . For you wyll graunte that he were a foole / that for the helth of his hors legge / wold lose one of his owne handes / or one of his owne eyes / & yet is he more foole in dede , that for any creature wold lose his soule . But yet some haue said to me . Syr / how may this charme be euyll or amys / whan all thynges ben good / as by exemple . The charmer is a good man or a good woman & taketh here a pece of whyte breed / & sayth ouer that breed nothynge / but onely the Pat noster . & maketh a crosse vpon the breed / whiche thynges ben all good / than doth he nothynge els but ley the pece of breed vnto the tothe that aketh / or vnto any other sore / turnynge the crosse vnto the sore or dysease / & so is the persone heled . How may this be euyll now say they ? I saye agayne it is euyll and dampnable / bycause the feyth & byleue of the hole mater resteth in the applicacion of the crosse / whiche hathe no naturall operacion / but is a cerimonye vnlawful . For although thynges here ben good / yet done they nothyng auayle without that cerimony / & so is all a charme & vnlawfull & nought / whiche maye euydently be knowen for nought & vnlawfull / bycause the chirche doth condempne & forbede all suche / whiche thynge surely the lerned chirche of god / gyded euer by the holy ghost wolde neuer haue done / yf it were good and lawfull . And therfore in any wyse / let none of your folkes vse any such . The secunde . Now for the secunde precepte / whiche is / that no person shulde take the name of god in vayne / warne your folkes & toke good hede vnto them that they be no commune swerers . For it were lesse ieopardy for you to haue in your hous a thefe or a steler / a lecher or vnclene lyuer / than an vsuall swerer . For a great othe accustomed / doth prouoke the sodeyn vengeaunce of god . The scrypture saythe . De domo iurantis / non receded plaga . Eccl. xxiii B. The customable swerer / shall euer be full of iniquyte & synne / and the plage of the vengeaunce of god shall contynually hange ouer that house . Let not thy mouthe be vsed vnto swerynge ( sayth the scrypture ) For the customable swerer shall neuer be clene purged of synne . Ibidem . Wherfore I dare well saye that swerynge is one of the greate causes of all these sodeyne plages amonge men & beestes / as pestylence / pockes / swetynges / and moreyns / with suche other . And I byleue verely none of you wolde be glad to kepe in his hous a lepre / or any persone infected with any of the foresayd plages . And yet is a swerer more peryllous than any of them . For his othe may slee or infecte your chylde in the cradle / or stryke your beestes in the feeldes / destroy your corne and graynes / & cause pryuely many myscheues . And yet many persones done thynke and byleue / that yf they swere trouth / they do no synne / but they ben sureli deceyued / as by case . yf a person wolde prynte & coyne money of good syluer or good golde / kepyng also the due weyght and fasshon / that thynge wolde nothynge excuse the persone vnto the kynge or his lawes / though also he proued the money were good and lawfull money . For the kynges lawe is / that no persone shall prynt or coyne any money but suche as be assigned by hym / and that also in the place appoynted thervnto . So in lyke maner / the lawe of god is that no persone shall swere any othe / excepte it be at the appoyntment or commaundement of suche a persone that hath iust power to requyre & to take an othe / & that also must be done in due place / that is to saye / before a lawfull iudge . And so may the person lawfully swere / so euer that the swerer do thynke & byleue in true & vnfeyned conscyence / that his othe is true . And els / that is to say / without circumstaunces and suche other causes expressed in the lawe no persone maye swere / though it be neuer so true that he swereth . yf than to swere true be synne / and doth prouoke the hyghe displeasure of god / bycause it is contrary vnto his commaundement / to swere falfe must nedes be more synne / & more prouoke his vengeaūc . e Example shall I shewe here of bothe / that is to say / how god is prouoked by vsuall swerynge / & how by forswerynge & false othes / this story that foloweth I herde at Stondon a lytell vyllage .xxv. myles from London / not ferre from the hygh waye vnto Cambrydge / where for a tyme I dyd abyde / in auoydyng the great plage that bothe in London and Cambrydge dyd than quyckly & sharply reygne / where also this story was open in the knowlege of all the countree there aboute / as done but small tyme before . A gentylman that was called mayster Baryngton / whose wyfe was afterwarde maryed in Cambrydge vnto a gentylman called mayster Caryngton / so that there was but one lettre chaunged in her name / that is to say C for B. And of her also I herde the same story / all though ( as she sayde ) she was not present . This sayde gentylman Baryngton was a great swerer / & dyd customably vse great othes / specyally by the blode of our lorde / or ( as more communly they swere ) by goddes blode . And vpon a sondaye or els a feestfull holy daye he went forth on huntynge or hawkynge / & nothynge spedynge after his mynde he came vnto an alehouse at a through fare called Pulcryche .v. myles from ware in the hygh way to Cambrydge / the one syde of the whiche through fare was in the sayd parysshe of Stondon / where this gentylman was / & called for drynke / & anone he began to swere after this vnhappy custome sayeng . By goddes blode this daye is vnhappy . And in a whyle after in swerynge so / he bledde at the nose / & therwith more vexed he began to rayle and rayne god ( as they say ) in sweryng goddes passyon / goddes woundes / goddes flesshe goddes nayles / and euer his holy and blessed blode / tyll at the last he fell ferther to blede at the eares / at the eyes / at his wrestes / & all the ioyntes of his handes & of all his body / at his nauyll and foundement / and at other places of his body / in meruaylous great quantyte & stremes of blode / and shotynge out his tonge in a meruaylous horryble / vgsome & ferefull maner / as blacke as pytche / so that no persone durste come nere him / but stode aferre of / & cast holy water towarde him / & so he contynued euer swerynge / blasphemynge and bledynge / tyll he expired and was deed . And on the morowe after they layd hym in a carte / & caryed hym vnto the sayd chirche of Stondon / and euer the body bled tyll he was buryed in the waye as they came in very great habundaunce . This was a playne token that god was moche displeased with that sweryng / & dyd openly punysshe the same / in example vnto all vsuall swerers . It may also be a good monicion & warnyng for suche persones that done mysvse the holy daye in hawkynge / huntynge / and suche other fruytles occupacyons or pastymes . Another example of the same vsual sweryng was shewed vnto me by a bachyler of diuinite called mayster George werke / a felowe than wher I was also felowe / of the quenes college in Cambrydge / & after he was vycar of Harowe on the hyll / whiche thynge he sayd vpon his conscyence . He sawe hymselfe in a marchauntes hous in London / whiche was his specyall frende / & sent for him to gyue counseyle vnto the same persone / a yongman that was prentyse / or els seruaunt vnto the same marchaunt / whiche yongman dyd vse to swere for his commune othe / by the bones of god or by goddes bones . And it came to passe that he was taken with a great merueylous sekenes / so that no physyke ne medicyne coude helpe ne ease hym / but that he lay styll in bedde so longe / that the flesshe & the skyn of his armes & fyngers / & of his legges / thyes / shynnes / fete & toes / dyd diuyde in sondre / as though they had ben slyt with a knyfe / so that the bare bones myght openly be sene & feled . And so in the same maner ( after he had with great contricion & open confessyon of that swerynge ) receyued the sacramentes of the chirche / he departed this lyfe vnto our lorde . Here ben now two notable exemples of vsuall swerynge . The thyrde shall I shewe you of for sweryng / or false sweryng / whiche was shewed vnto me of an honest preest of my familier acqueyntaunce that was vicar of Haly well / where saynt Wenefredes well is / besyde the abbey of Basing werke in flynt shyre in the borders of wales .xiiij. myles from Westchester / whiche thyng he sayd on his conscyence he dyd se hymselve & was ther present with great multitude of other people thousandes . A certeyn man was called to be sworne in a great mater bytwene two ꝑtyes / whiche sayd partyes dyd put the mater holy vnto the determinacyon of his othe / & mette bothe at a certeyn place where was a crucifixe a holy rode that dyd many myracles / wher vpon he shulde swere / & so dyd in the syght & herynge of a great multytude of people gadred on bothe partyes . And his othe gyuen / he layde bothe his handes vpon the fete of the rode / and sware false & contrary vnto his conscience / and so was dampnably for sworne / whiche thynge god wolde haue knowen . For whan he wolde haue taken his handes awaye to departe / bothe the handes cleued & stycked fast vnto the sete of the rode / as though they had ben glued or fastened with nayles thervnto . And than he wolde with violence haue pulled them of / & than with sterynge & hasty mouynge to & fro / the steppe whervpon he stode / slypped & voyded from hym . And than hanged he styll by his handes / & so remayned hangynge styll contynually the space of thre dayes / & meruaylous moche people came thyder to se and loke vpon hym / of the whiche many ben yet lyuynge . So at the last after thre dayes whan he had with great contricion openly confessed his defaute / & receyued the sacramentes of the chirche / whan the people supposed & thought veryly he shulde there haue expired & dyed / he was sodeynly losed & deliuered / & lyued many yeres after a good & holy lyfe / vnto the glory of god & great exemple of them that ben swerers . li. ijij . ca. xviij . Saynt Gregory in his dialoges dothe shewe of a chylde / that ( as he had herde of other persones ) dyd swere great othes / & had pleasure therin / & sodenly whan he was swerynge in his fathers lap vpon his knee / the deuyll came & openly rauysshed & by vyolence toke hym from his father / & caryed hym awaye / that he was neuer sene after . Here may you perceyue the great peryll & ieopardy of swerynge . For the loue of our lorde therfore good deuoute christians / take good hede therto / as well in yourselfe as in your folkes . And yet shuld you haue no lesse garde or awayte vnto lyenge / or makynge of lyes or lesynges For the lye or lesynge is very mother vnto bothe the defautes shewed last before / that is to say / vnto periury or for swerynge / & vnto false wytnes . For eueryche of these doughters / is worse than the mother . Mendacium . For the lyer careth lytell to bere false wytnes / and euery lyer is communly a swerer / for els the lye shulde not be coloured / dubbed & peynted sufficiently to seme treue / & specyally in a defaute wherof the lyer wolde fayne be excused for drede of punysshment or rebuke / or whan a mater shuldꝭ ( by that lye ) come to passe / & be brought aboute vnto effecte / for profyte / auauntage / flatery or pleasure . For whan the lyer dothe coueyte most subtylly to deceyue and wolde fayne and gladly be byleued / than dothe the lyer moost lyberally lasshe out othes / & spareth for no cost ( as they saye ) but whan suche a person doth swere moost / than wyll a wyse persone byleue hym leest . And by this doth appere / that the commune & besy swerers ben suspecte to be lyers . For the lyer is combred so in conscyence / that he supposeth & thynketh he can not be byleued without he swere many othes / & great othes . Beware therfore of lyers / for commune lyers been communly theues or pykers / & vnclene lyuers . And ( to saye the trouth ) the lyer is apte & dysposed vnto all maner of vyces / bycause that all lyers ben the chylder of the deuyll . For the deuyll was the fyrst lyer / & euer doth contynue a lyer . Iohan. viij . f. And ( as the gospell sayth ) he is the father of all lyers . Now ponder & wey ( good deuoute christians ) I praye you / yf you were requyred wheder you wolde be content to kepe in your company a thefe or pyker / a persone that shulde enforce & labour to corrupte your wyues or your doughters / or yet suche a persone that were seruaunt or chylde vnto your deedly foo or enemy / I thynke you wyll saye nay / you wolde kepe none suche Than say I beware of the lyer / for all commune lyers ben the deuyls chylder / & done folowe theyr father the deuyll / whose properte & natural disposicion is to lye . I can well graunte that you forgyue and pardon them that done stele / pyke / or do lechery for ones or twyse / & labour & loke for theyr recouery & amendment / but in no wyse can I graunt that you pardon the lyers / but euen forthwith / as you wolde cure the sodeyn pestylence so correcte and punysshe the lye . Wherfore I haue set out here a prety lesson / whiche I pray you teche your chylder / & euery chylde that cometh into your company you shall ( I trust ) do moche good therby .

yf I lye / backbyte / or stele yf I curse / scorne / mocke / or swere yf I chyde / fyght / stryue / or threete Than am I worthy to be bete Good mother or maystres myne yf any of these nyne I trespace to your knowynge With a newe rodde and a fyne Erly naked before I dyne Amende me with a scourgynge .

And than I praye you fulfyll & perfourme theyr peticyon & request / & thynke it not cruelly / but mercyfully done . Prou. xiii . d. For the wyse man sayth / who spareth the rodde hateth the chylde . And in another place . Eccli . vii . c. Yf thou haue chylder ( sayth he ) correcte them be tyme / & holde them vnder whyle they ben yonge / your dayly practyse doth shewe vnto you / that yf you powder your flesshe whyle it is newe and swete / it wyl contynue good meet / but yf it smell before it be powdred / all the salte you haue shall neuer make it seasonable . Powder your chylder therfore be tyme / and than you loue them / & shal haue conforte of them . I dyd appoynt the correccyon before vnto the mother or maystres / for communely they done take the labour of that mynysterye and seruyce . Not withstandynge there may be sayd father or mayster / and the staffe or fote of the ryme be all one . But who so euer do the correccyon / whether it be in lasshes / or in wordes / let it be done with the charite of our lord / and with a mylde & soft spirite / that euer it be done for the reformacion of the persone / rather than for 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 conscyence / 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 reuenge your owne cause or appetyte / you shall rendre the persones more stubburne & styffe herted / & engendre 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 reuerende 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 communly all persones done vse to swere some othe / in affyrmynge or denyenge / that is / in sayenge ye / as grauntynge / or nay as denyenge / whiche been 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 commune termes / as grauntfather / grauntmother : godfather / godmother : vncle / aunt / cosyn / & suche lyke / without any other addicion / or any of these fonde 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 Ladabūtur omnes qui iurant in eo : quia obstructum est os loquentium iniqua . That is / those persones 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 commaundement . 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 conuenyently may be . For people must haue meet & drynke / the houses must be appareyled / beestes must be cured & loked vnto . And veri vnfeyned necessite or nede doth excuse in conscyence . 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 conuenyently 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 whan 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 them 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 yonge / 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 communly 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 contempte or despysynge of the commaundement 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 . Appoynt 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 conscience / shulde be contrary vnto the honour of god / and than 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 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 secunde table . The .iiij. precepte . And fyrst the due reuerende honour to be done of the chylder vnto the parentes / 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 . Than 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 nomine pr̄is et filij et spiritus scti . Amen . 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 counseyle any parentes / to kepe suche a chylde in theyr hous / without great afflyccyon & punysshment . And therfore I thynke it were moche conuenient for the parentes / oft tymes to shewe vnto theyr chylder what commodytees & profites / & what perylles & ieopardyes done folowe the honour & dyshonour of the parentes / accordynge vnto holy scrypture . Eccliastici . iiij . A. Some wherof I haue here set forth as is conteyned in the boke of the wyse man 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 gyuen and applyed of that godly disposicyon vnto obedyence and loue . All you therfore that ben louynge chylder / be euer obedient vnto the iudgment & dyscrecion of your parentes . 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 & without dissimulacyon . 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 synnes / & afterward wyll beware conteyne & kepe them selfe from them . And in 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 conforte the mother . And these persones 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 & reuerence / 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 contrary / the cursse of the parentes doth eradicate and rote walt & vtterly destroye bothe . Chylde / neuer take thou pleasure ne pryde in the rebuke & dysprayse of thy parentes . For that rebuke is not thy glory / boost nor prayse / but rather thy confusyon / 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 parentes in theyr nede And those chylder been accursed of god / that done anger vexe and trouble theyr parentes . 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 verbum ferme translata . 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 commodytes and graces that done come vnto them that duely done honour theyr parentes . And many great ieopardyes and peryls / and also the curse of god / that doth lyght vpon them that wyll not do theyr duety of honour and reuerence vnto theyr parentes . Let therfore your chylder vse and accustom them selfe / dayly to axe theyr fathers and mothers blessynges . For this dare I say / that all though in case / the father or mother were an abhomynable synner / or excommunicate / accursed / or an heretike and though the chylde were so also . ex grego . li. dialog. iij. ca. vij . Yet myght that crosse of the blessynge of that father or mother saue that chylde from sodeyn myschefe / that els myght haue come vnto that chylde . And that crosse maye also do flee or chace away euyl spyrytes / that els shulde haue had power vpon that chylde . The blessyng of euery good persone is good / and not without great vertue / accordyng vnto the power and degree of the persones / and therfore teche them also to axe blessynge of euery bysshop / abbot / & euery preest / and of theyr godfathers & godmothers / with other deuoute persones . The fyft precepte . And let this susfyse for this fourth commaundement . Yet go forther vnto the fyfth commaundement / whiche is / to kyll or slee no persone . Teche them there / that it is not ynough the they put no persone to deth by stroke of hande or wepen / but also that they hurte no persone in name or fame by detraccyon / backbytynge or sclaundrynge / or by euyll exemple of lyuynge / nor yet that they curse or ban / or wysshe euyl vnto any persone / or yet hate any persone in hert . j. Iohis iij. c. For ( as scripture sayth ) who so euer doth here in herte or mynde any hatered / malyce / euyll wyll / or stomacke agaynst any chrystian / is an homicide / that is a mansleer or a manqueller . Many persones wyll say they ben in charite / and haue no hatered vnto any persone / and yet wyll they not speke one vnto another and as it is a sygne and token that preuy hatered is in the herte / and that they do not loue theyr neyghbour as them selfe / in the true and vnfayned charyte of our lorde . j. Iohan . iiij . d. And sure it is / that who so euer doth not hooly & fully loue his neyghbour / whome he may se & beholde with his bodyly syght / he can neuer loue god / whome he can not se / nor so beholde . This is than the commaundement of god / that who so euer dothe loue god / must also loue his neyghbour . The .vj. precepte . The .vj. commaundement is that no lechery be done / whiche is not ment onely for the vnlawfull dede / but also for all maner of prouocacyon ther vnto / as wanton and lyght behauyours / in kyssynge / clepynge / & vnclene touchynge / a lyght loke or cast of the syght / with a desyre and consent of herte vnto the dede / dothe breke this commaundement . Moche more than doth rybauldy breke it / and suche maner as before is sayd . The olde prouerbe sayth . Who so wyll none euyll do / shulde do nothynge that longeth therto . The ghostli enemy doth deceyue many persones by the pretence and colour of matrimony / in pryuate & secrete contractes . Contractes . For many men whan they can not obteyn theyr vnclene desyre of the woman / wyll promyse mariage / & thervpon make a contracte / promyse / & gyue fayth & trouth eche vnto other / sayenge . Here I take the margery vnto my wyfe / & therto plyght the my trouth . And she agayne vnto hym in lyke maner . And after that done / they suppose they may lawfully vse theyr vnclene behauyour / and somtyme the acte and dede doth folowe / vnto the great offence of god & theyr owne soules . It is a great ieopardy therfore to make any suche contractes / specyally amonge them selfe secretely alone / without recordes / whiche must be two at the leest . For many tymes / after the vnlawful pleasure is past / discorde dothe fall bytwene the partyes / eyther bycause that ( as the commune prouerbe saythe ) hote loue is soone colde / or els by the meanes of theyr frendes / or by some couetyse to haue a better mariage they or one of them done denye the contracte / and so vnlawfully doone mary otherwyse / & lyue in aduoutry all theyr lyfe tyme . And bycause the chirche can not openly knowe that thynge that was spoken and done in priuyte / they been thought and supposed so to lyue as lawfully in mariage / where in dede before god they done lyue as noughty packes in dampnable aduoutri and vnlawfull lechery / & all theyr chylder bastardes before god / all though they seme otherwyse vnto the worlde . Warne therfore your folkes there be no suche blynde bargaynes in your hous or gouernaunce . The vij . commaundement is / do no thefte . The .vij. precepte . Herein correcte your yonge persones be tyme . For the chylde that begynneth to pyke at a pyn or a poynt / wyll after pyke a peny or a pounde . And so go forth from an apple vnto an oxe / & from a peer to a purse / or an hors / and so from the small thynges vnto the great . Whan you take any chylde therfore with the maner / be it neuer so lytel a thynge / paye truly at the first tyme / & the secunde tyme / prycke the pynnes or the poyntes vpon the cappe or shulder in open syght / and let all the house wonder vpon them / & crye all / here is the these / this is the thefe / sese the thefe . And yf they mende not therby / let them be so brought through the open stretes with shame ynough / & cruel punysshment . For better is it that the chylde wepe in youth / and suffre shame and rebuke / than hereafter the father / mother and frendes shulde wepe for sorowe and shame at his hangynge and shamfull dethe . And let euery persone beware of thefte . For all other synnes with contricyon / confessyon and penaunce / may be forgyuen clerely / but thefte and all goodes valawfully goten / can neuer be forgyuen vnto the tyme that restitucyon be made / that is to saye / vnto the tyme those goodes / or the valure of them be restored / yf the persones ( in any wyse ) may be able thervnto . Let euery persone than ponder well and wey / what vauntage it is to stele or pyke / sythe ( besyde the peyne certeynly to be suffred in hell or purgatory ) the same goodes ( in valure ) must be restored agayne . Small goodes truly goten / done growe and encreae vnto the great conforte of the persones . And contrary / euyl goten goodes lyghtly come ( as they saye ) and lyghtly go / all waste vnto nought / with the dyscomforte of the partyes / and greate combraunce of conscyence . Se than that all goodes be well goten amonge you .

The .viij precepte .

The .ix. precepte .

Of the .viij. commaundement you haue before some remembraunce in the lessons of swerynge and lyenge . The .ix. commaundement is / that no person shall desyre in mynde nor wysshe / that the wedded make of any other persone were lawfully theyr wedded make . The .x. precepte . And the .x. commaundement is in lyke maner of the goodes . For so shulde the partyes haue incommodite / losse / displeasure or discomforte . The dedes of these two commaundementes were forboden of god in the .vj. and .vij. commaundementes / here now ben the wylles & desyres forboden . That thynge than that no man maye lawfully wyll / may no man do lawfully . Let them therfore beware that do not onely wyll and desyre in mynde / but also done secretely / pryuely / & craftely labour to take theyr neyghbours fermes / or his house ( as they saye ) ouer his heed / or to entyce and get away theyr seruauntes / or any other goodes profytable for the partyes . For though suche thynges may seme vnto the worlde lawfull / surely they be not without the greate offence of god / as contrary vnto his commaundementes . And thus an ende of the .x. commaundementes . Yet must you haue a lesson to teche your folkes to beware of the seuen pryncypall synnes / whiche ben communly called the .vij. deedly synnes / but in dede they done call them wronge / for they ben not alway deedly synnes . Of the .vij. princypall synnes . Therfore they shulde be called capitall or princypal synnes / and not deedly synnes . These ben theyr names by ordre / after our diuisyon . Pryde . Enuy . Wrathe . Couetyse . Glotony . Slouthe . and lechery . Thus done we ordre them / accordyng vnto our thre ghostly enemies / the deuyll / the worlde / and the flesshe . For pryde / enuy and wrathe / done apperteyn and belonge vnto the deuyll / as chefe mouer of them . And couetyse dothe apperteyne vnto the worlde / as chefe mouer therof . And glotony / slouth & lechery / done belonge vnto the flesshe as theyr chefe mouer / whiche thre we done put vnder this ordre / bycause that glotony is a great occasyon of slouth . For ( as the prouerbe saythe ) Whan the bely is full / the bones wolde haue rest . The full fedde gloton is apte vnto no good werke or labour / but rather al disposed vnto sluggysshnes & slouth . And those two betwene them done ●yre & prouoke most vnto lechery . The .v. wyttes Teche them also to knowe the names of the fyue wyttes / and to put the fyrst fynger of the ryght hande vnto the instrumentes of the same wyttes / that is to say vnto the eare / the eye / the nose / the mouth and than to ioyne & clap both the handes togyder / sayenge thus . Herynge / seynge / smellynge / tastynge / & touchynge . The .vij. werkes of mercy . It shal be also well done to teche them the .vij. werkes of mercy / whiche you shuld ( after your power ) set such in werke as you teche them in voyce . That is / to fede the hungry . To gyue drynke vnto the thursty . To clothe the naked . Herborowe or lodge the wayfarynge folkes / or them that haue nede of lodgynge . Visite the sycke Redeme the prysoner . And bury the deed . Here is now an ende hereof . A fourme of confessyon . Notwithstandynge I thynke it necessary to shewe here yet / how you shuld teche your folke to be ordered vnto the confessyon of these thynges For I haue knowen many come vnto confession / that coude not tell how to do / or what to saye there . I shall therfore set forth here a short fourme & maner therof . For there ben many fourmes of confessions in prynt set out at length . Fyrst good deuoute christians I beseche you gyue no credence vnto these false heretykes / that done depraue & set nought by confession / nor by this holy sacrament of penaunce For I acerteyn you those persones whatsoeuer they be / that ( after theyr baptisme and chrystendom ) haue done any deedly synne / can neuer be in the state of saluacyon without the feyth and wyll of confession . Genes. iij For almyghty god in euery lawe dyd requyre confessyon / and prouoke euery trespacer thervnto / as of our fyrst parentes Adam and Eue in paradyse / which confession yf they had mekely made / they and all we sholde haue suffred the lesse peyne . Leuiti. iiij . et . v. In the olde lawe speciall oblacions & sacryfyce was appoynted openly by the preestes to be done for suche synnes amonge the people that were preuy & vnknowen vnto al other persones / excepte onely the selfe trespacers Wherby it must nedes be trouthe / that they were confessed therof vnto the preestes . Whan any persone also was suspecte of lepry / the iudgment and determynacyon therof remayned ( by the ordinaunce of the lawe ) vnto the preest . Whiche thynge was a playne fygure of the sacrament of penaunce and confessyon . Math. v. And our sauyour sayd / he come not to breke the lawe / but rather to accomplysshe & fulfyll the lawe . Mat. viij Luc. xvij And so he dyd confyrme and ratifye that lawe / whan he sent the lepres that he cured & heeled vnto the preestes . And in euery cure he dyd vpon the sycke persones / he expressed mystecally confession / in that he caused them to shewe theyr dysease before they were cured . Act. v. And saynt Peter his vycar after his ascencyon / dyd requyre confession of a man called Ananye / & of his wyfe called Saphirye ( as appereth in holy scrypture ) of a deedly synne / whiche he ( by the reuelacyon of god ) knewe they had done / & bycause they wolde not make confessyon therof / they were bothe stryken to deth with the vengeaunce of god . Our mother holy chirche therfore hath ( by the inspiracion of the holy ghost ( ordeyned that euery persone the doth commyt or do any deedly synne in werke / worde / or by full deliberate consent in thought / must nedely ( yf they wyll be saued ) be confessed therof vnto a preest . Syth than all christen people haue receyued and vsed the same so many hondred yeres / take you that vse and custome for sufficyent auctorite to folowe the same and to put all maner of contrary opynyon clene out of mynde / and in no wyse to here speke or talke therof . Now vnto our mater . Fyrst teche your folkes to come reuerently vnto the ghostly father with meke & sobre countenaunce and behauyour ( For it is no laughynge game ) Than knele downe at the place appoynted / and there make a crosse vpon the foreheed or fronte / with Innomine patris ( as before is shewed ) and then forth with say thus . Benedicite . And whan the preest hath answered / than saye ( yf the person be lerned ) Confiteor deo / beate marie / omnibus sanctis / et vobis : peccaui nimis / cogitatione / locutione / & opere mea culpa . That is to say for the vnlerned / I confesse & knowlege my selfe gylty vnto our lord god / the blessed lady saynt Marye / vnto all the holy company of heuen / and vnto you my ghostly father / that I haue offended my lorde god many tymes in my lyfe / and specyally syth the last tyme of my confessyon / in thought / worde / and dede / in many and dyuers wayes / moo than I can shewe / specially in the .vij. prȳcyyall synnes . Pryde / enuye & wrath / couetyse / glotony / slouth and lechery . And by them I haue broken his commaundementes .

Pryde .

For by the synne of pryde I haue ben presumptuous and disobedient vnto god / & haue not loued hym aboue all thynges / but many tymes set more by myne owne frayle appetyte & sensuall desyre . For where I shulde haue desyred euer the laude & prayse of our lorde / & with all mekenes of herte accused myselfe / I haue contrary bosted myselfe / or desyred & been glad of myn owne prayse and ben loth to be dyspraysed . And whan I haue ben chalenged / reproued / rebuked or corrected / or yet charytably ben monysshed & warned of / & for my defautes / I haue rebelled there agaynst / & not mekely receyued it / but rather ben redy to defend or to excuse my self / & somtyme with a lye / or a false othe . And for lacke of reuerende drede & loue of our lord / I haue by presumpcion of pryde taken his holy name in vayne / & vnlawfully sworne by god / by our lady / or the holy sayntes / by my feyth or trouth / with suche other . And for very pryde & presumpcyon / & for lacke also of loue & drede / I haue mysvsed the holy daye in thynges of pleasure / or profyte vnto my selfe / & not in his seruyce vnto his honour . I haue also ( of hygh & proude herte or mynde ) ben disobedient & not done due honour & reuerence vnto my fathers and mothers spiritual & carnall / ghostly & bodyly / nor vnto myn elders & betters / but haue ben many tymes full obstynate & frowarde vnto them . I crye god mercy . Thus ( by this foule synne of pryde ) I haue broken foure of the pryncypal commaundementes of our lorde / and many other wayes haue I also offended therin . I beseche his grace of mercy and forgyuenes .

Enuye .

I haue also offended my lorde god in the synne of enuy for I haue not loued my neyghbour as myself / nor been so charitably / so kynde / so louynge & fauorable vnto all persones / as I wolde they shulde haue been to me / but rather I haue ( by suspicion ) thought / iudged / sayd or herde of other persones / otherwyse than I wolde they shulde of me nor ben so glad of theyr welth / ne so sory for theyr hurte as I wolde haue ben of myne owne . I crye god mercy .

Wrathe .

In wrath also I haue offended / for lacke of due pacyence / and for lyght / sleyght / or small occasyon / haue lyghtly and soone ben styred and moued / wrothe and angry / whan any thynge hathe ben done or sayd contrary vnto my mynde . And therwith haue ben redy to reuenge the same with forwarde & vengeable countenaunce and behauyour / with hygh / hasty / and vngoodly wordes / brawlynge / chydyng / scoldyng / reuylynge / rebukynge / raylyng / vpbraydyng / threthyng / cursynge / bannynge / swerynge . And yf it came thervnto / in stryuynge / fyghtynge / or ( at the leest in wyll ) ( as god forbede ) in kyllyng or sleynge . Thus by these two great synnes of enuy and wrathe I haue broken the fyfth and the .viij. commaundement of our lorde / and by many other meanes offended in them bothe . I beseche his grace of mercy and forgyuenes .

Couetyse .

In couetyse also I haue synned / bycause I haue not ben content with the goodes / state / & degre of lyuynge that god hath sent me / where it is moche better than I haue deserued / or am worthy / but I haue coueyted & desyred / wysshed & wylled / studyed and laboured to haue more ( yf any be vnlawfully goten or so withholden / make playne confessyon therof as the mater requyreth ) Thus by this synne of couetyse haue I broken the seuenth commaundement of our lorde / and also the tenth / and otherwyse dyuersly offended in couetyse . I beseche his grace of mercy and forgyuenes .

Glotony .

I haue also synned in glotony / in takyng meet and drynke vndiscretely / & aboue that nature dyd requyre / and haue pyked out and chosen ( somtyme by sensuall appetyte ) the delycate / swete / and pleasaunt meetes & drynkes / rather for pleasure than for nede / & taken therof suche superfluite ( at some tymes ) that I haue ben therby sycke or diseased / or at the leest ben the more dull bothe in body & soule / vnto all maner of vertue & good exercyses ( Loke here whether you haue broken any fastes commaunded by the lawe / or ben dronke / or take any notable surfet ) after meer communely I haue ben more redy to passe the tyme in bodyly dysportes and ydlenes / than in labours . I crye god mercy .

Slouth .

I haue ben also moche slouthfull and neglygent to serue god / bothe vpon the holy day & other dayes also / & I haue ben yrke wery / & thought the tyme of prayer longe / come late thervnto / & make hast therin / & oues passed the seruyce of god / without due reuerence / more by course & custome / than by any good remembraunce or deuocyon / & also I haue not ben diligent to apply my selfe vnto suche bodily labours as I haue had in charge / & somtyme haue not done the labours at all / or elles full sleyghtly done them / & spent the tyme after myne owne appetyte full vnfruytfully / somtyme in wantonnesse / & somtyme in very ydlenes . I crye god mercy .

Lechery .

By the meanes of these two foule synnes of glotony and slouth / I haue ben the more redy vnto the thyrde synne of the flesshe / that is to say / lechery / for I haue not ben so chast in soule & body / as the state / degre & maner of my lyuyng doth requyre / not so diligent & redy to put away vnclene thoughtes or mocyons of the body as I shuld be / but rather folowed them at somtymes wyl fully / & suffred them to hange vpon me / and take in them delectacyon & pleasure for the tyme . And whan I haue been in presence of company / I haue not alway ordered my selfe in chast maner / in my lokes or syghtes / countenaunce and behauyour / wordes and dedes / but many tymes haue ben fullyght to take or to gyue occasyon . I crye god mercy . Here must you remembre sute or prouocacyon vnto vnclennesse / done or suffred on your behalfe / as in wordes / wrytynges / sygnes / tokens / messages / kyssynge / clepynge / touchynge / or other more fylthy ayd vnlawfull behauyour / done in dede or in full consente . And so shewe euery thynge with the due circumstaunces / of the tyme / place / and persones / not namynge the persones / but shewynge the states or degrees of them / as whether they be maryed or vnmaried &c. Thus by this foule synne of lechery / haue I broken the .vi. and also the .ix. commaundement of god / & by many other meanes / as well in this synne as in all the other of these .viij. princypall synnes / haue I greuously offended my lorde god / broken his commaundementes / not fulfylled the werkes of mercy vnto my power / and mysvsed my fyue wyttes / in herynge / seynge / smellynge / tastynge / and touchynge . For the whiche and for al other / as our lorde knoweth me gylty / and I wolde confesse and knowlege yf they came to mynde / I beseche his gracyous goodnes of mercy and forgyuenes . And you my ghostly father of penaunce and absolucyon . Et precor sanctam mariam / omnes sanctos dei / et vos orare pro me . Whiche is to meane vnto the vnlerned . And I beseche the blessed lady saynt Marye / all the holy company of heuen / and you also my ghostly father to praye for me . And whan you haue taken your penaunce / and haue ben assoyled / than saye you vnto the preest . Syr / and it please you / this is my penaunce / and than reherse the same ones or twyse your selfe / that you may the more surely here it in mynde . For I assure you / it is ieoperdous ( after lerned men ) to forgete the penaunce . And thus an ende hereof . Yet dyd I promyse in the begynnynge / to set forth here a forther exercyse / whiche I thynke shuld be good and profitable for al persones For the commune prouerbe is / that a great benefyte or gyfte is worse than lost vpon suche vnkynde persones that done not remembre it / ne gyue but thankes therfore . It shuld become therfore euery feythful christian to haue euer in mynde the great and excellent benefite of our saluacion . And therefore haue I deuysed here a shorte table / that dothe ( in some ) conteyne the hole lyfe of our sauyour Iesu / that suche persones as wyll can it by herte / & haue it redy in mynde / may lyghtly ordre & laye vp as it were tresour in a chest or cofre / al suche maters of the gospell / & that done apperteyne vnto the actes of our sauyour / as ben preched where they ben present / or that they done here in any good communycacyon or redynges . And also ouer this / they shall haue two great profytes hereby / one is / that no remedy maye better ne sooner chace awaye all tentacyons / & put the ghostly enemyes to flyght / than this remembraunce . The secunde is / that nothynge in this worlde may rather ne more spedefully moue a dull herte vnto deuocyon & vnto the contynuaunce of vertue / than this exercyse . I beseche you all therfore / in visceribus Iesu xpi . that is to say / for the tender loue of oure lorde god and moost swete sauyour Iesu / gyue some labour and dilygence thervnto / & dayly vse the same . It is but shorte and therfore may it soone be had by herte . And it is very swete / pleasaunt and profitable / and therfore shulde be receyued with good wyll and diligence .

The selfe table of remembraunce .

The incarnacyon / that is / whan ( after the salutacyon Fyrst & gretynge of the angell Gabryell ) our sauyour was conceyued perfyte man & very god / in the wombe of our blessed lady Mary euer vyrgyn .

The natiuite / that is the blessed byrth of our sauiour whan he was borne in Bethleem of the same blessed lady / without any peyne / she euer remaynynge virgyn .

The cyrcumsysyon / whan he fyrst shedde his precyous blode for our redempcyon .

The epyphanye / whan he was shewed and openly declared vnto the hole worlde by the thre kynges / to be very god and very man / the sauyour of the worlde .

The presentacyon / thou is whan he was brought vnto the temple with oblacion or offrynge accordyng vnto the lawe / & also the purificacyon or chirchynge of our lady .

The flyght into Egypte / that was whan kynge Herode dyd pursue our sauyour / and wyllynge surely to slee hym / dyd cause to slee all the Innocent chylder within the coostes and countree of Bethleem .

The dysputacyon / that was after his returne and comynge from Egypte agayne / whan he went with his mother and Ioseph vnto Iherusalem / and there vnknowynge vnto them remained & taryed / tyll that thre dayes after / with great sekynge they founde hym in the temple dysputynge among the doctours / & than was he .xij. yeres of age .

His humiliacyon & meke behauyour vnto his parentes / that was whan he lefte that hygh place and exercyse of contemplacyon / and went with them / and was obedyent vnto them .

His educacyon or bryngynge vp / that was whan he taryed & dwelled at Nazareth with his blessed mother & with Ioseph her husbande / euer occupyed after theyr wyl & mynde vnto theyr conforte / and euer as he grewe and encreaced in age & statute / so dyd he appere and shewe hymselfe in grace and vertue .

His baptysme / that was whan he was baptysed of saynt Iohn baptyst in the flode of Iordane / where the voyce of the father of heuen was herde / & the holy ghost ( in the kynde and lykenes of a doue ) was seen / whiche dyd testyfye & declare for trouth / that Chryst was god & man / the mess yt & sauyour of the worlde .

Wyldernes / that is / that immedyatly & forth with after his sayd baptisme he was ledde ( by the spiryte of god ) into a wyldernes / not ferre from the sayd flode of Iordane / to the ende & purpose to be attempted of the deuyl .

Faste / that is / that he in the wyldernes dyd faste from all maner of fode / meet or drynke / by the space of forty dayes and forty nyghtes contynually togyder .

Tentacyon / that is / that immedyatly & forth with after that faste whan he began to waxe hungry / the deuyll dyd tempte hym vnto glotony and vnto pryde / and vnto couetyse .

Victorye / that is / that our sauyour dyd confounde the deuyll in all his tentacyons / and ( for our welthe ) had ouer hym the vyctorye and maystrye .

Eleccyon / that is / the chosynge of his discyples / & the appoyntynge and diuydynge of them into dyuers degrees and ordres .

Prechynge / that was whan he spake openly vnto the people / and that communly in parables .

Techynge / that was whan he taught his disciples and apostles secretely by them selfe suche mysteryes as apperteyned vnto them to knowe / and not vnto the commune people .

Labours / that was whan he wente aboute from towne to towne / from cite to cite / from countre to countre / in hunger / thurst & colde / and many a wery iourney .

Myracles whiche he dyd in many a sondry maner In turnynge water into wyne / in fedynge of many thousandes with a smal porcyon of vytayle . In curynge and helynge of all maner of sycknes & dyseases / & in shewynge to many theyr secrete & inward thoughtes

The maundye / that was the last souper / that he made to ende and conclude the olde testament / by the pascall lambe / & to ordeyn & begyn the newe testament .

The ministery or seruyce / that was whan he wasshed the fete of his discyples / arysynge thervnto from the souper .

The consecracyon / that was whan he returnynge agayne vnto the table / dyd ( of breed and wyne ) consecrate and make his owne holy body and sacred blode / and therwith dyd commune and howsell his apostles / and gaue them power to consecrate & make the same / wherby they were all made preestes .

The sermon / that was whan ( after all this ) he preched vnto his apostles a solemne & meruaylous swete sermon / makyng speciall mencyon of loue / vnite / peace and concorde .

Agony / that was whan he wente asyde from the company / with saynt Peter / saynt Iahn̄ & saynt Iames / and yet went somwhat from them vnto prayer / wherin he swete water and blode for agony / fere / care and trouble of mynde / for the maner of that bytter passyon and most cruell dethe that he sawe to come / and how lytell it shulde be regarded and set by .

Betrayenge / that was / whan the traytoure Iudas that before had solde hym vnto the Iewes / came with a company of harneysed men / & with a false flaterynge kysse shewed vnto them whiche was he .

Takynge / that was whan ( after that kysse ) the sowdyours layde hande vpon hym and toke hym / and all his discyples fledde and forsoke hym for the tyme .

Bysshops / that is / whan the sowdyours that toke hym / brought hym vnto the bysshops Aime and Cayphas / where he was examined / and by false wytnes accused / and cruelly tormented all that nyght .

Pylate / that is / that on the morowe he was presented by the iewes / and falsly accused vnto Pylate .

Herode / that is / whan Pylate had examyned hym and coude not fynde hym in any thynge defauty / than dyd he sende hym vnto Herode the kynge .

Pylate agayne / that is / whan Herode had examined hym in many thynges / & he wolde answere hym vnto nothynge / than he put vpon hym a whyte fooles cote / and with derysion & mockery sente hym agayne vnto Pylate .

Examinacyon / that was / whan ( after many newe false accusacyons of the iewes ) he forther examined hym by longe processe .

xxxij . Flagellacion / that was / whan Pylate wyllyng to delyuer hym ( bycause he founde hym in all thynges fautles / & yet coude not appease the crye & malyce of the iewes ) dyd put hym naked / & tyed hym vnto a pyller / & caused hym to be cruelly scourged / so that no place of his body was vntorne or vnwounded .

Coronacion / that was / whan the iewes wolde not yet be satisfyed and content / Pylate caused hym to be crowned with a crowne of sharpe thornes / & with a rede in his hande in stede of a septer / & clothed in purpure / brought hym forth amonge them / and sayd in mockage / beholde here your kynge .

Condempnacion / that was / whan the iewes wolde in no wyse be otherwyse content than with his deth / Pylate set in a trone as iudge / condempned hym / and iudged hym vnto the dethe of the crosse .

Fatigacion / that was / whan Pylate had put vpon hym his owne clothes agayne / & gyuen the sayd iudgement / than layde the heuy crosse vpon his necke / vnder the whiche ( for very werynes and feyntnes ) he fell downe ( as not able to bere it any forther ) and than caused they another man to bere it for hym vnto the place / that was the mounte of Caluary .

Crucifixion / that was / whan he came vnto the place they caused hym to put hym selfe naked agayne / & to ioyne & frame his body vnto the crosse / whervnto they nayled hym with foure great nayles / one through the myddle of his ryght hande / the secunde through the lyfte hande / & through eyther fote one / lyeng the legges on croswyse / the one ouerthwarte ouer the other / & so dyd they hange hym / & by many rebukes mocked hym / & whan he complayned of the thurst / they gaue hym eysell and gall . li. iiij . reuelat . been birgitte . ca. lxx . b , And whan he had hanged there so peynfully the space of thre houres / he with lowde crye cōmendȳge his spiryte & soule vnto the father of heuen / expired & dyed . And yet after his departynge ( to be sure of his deth ) one of the sowdyours made a wounde in his syde and thraste hym vnto the herte with a spere .

Sepulture / that is to say / the buryenge / whan Ioseph ab Aramathye had axed of Pylate his blessed body / he toke hym downe at complyn tyme / & buryed hym in a newe graue or tombe that he had made for hymselfe .

Resurreccyon / that was / whan the thyrde daye after he dyd aryse in a gloryous body & soule / & appered fyrst vnto our blessed lady his mother / than vnto Mary mawdeleyn / and after vnto the thre Maryes / than vnto saynt Peter / & after the vnto two of his disciples at Emaus . And the same nyght vnto .x. of the apostles whan all theyr dores & wyndowes were fast shette & closed vp . Thus you may percyue he dyd appere .v. tymes that same daye of his resurreccyon .

Ascencyon / that was whan he ( in many sondry wyses / by many apperynges ) had sufficyently proued & assured his gloryous resurreccyon / by the space of .xl. dayes / than in the presence of his mother / his apostles / & in the presence of many other discyples / men & women he dyd merueylously ascende and stye vp into heuen .

The missyon or sendynge of the holy ghost / that was whan the .x. daye after the sayd meruaylous ascencion accordynge vnto his promyse he sente downe the holy ghost vnto his blessed mother / his apostles and discyples / wherby they were all fulfylled with grace / & confyrmed therin / as the fyrst chyrche of Chryst / & so hathe contynued / and dothe and shall contynue in the chirche vnto the ende of the worlde . Amen . You now wyll thynke this table ouer longe for a dayly exercyse / but you must remembre that the selfe table is conteyned in the fyrst wordes of euery artycle / and the resydue is a breue declaracyon of the same / and therfore I shall be content to set it out alone in the selfe wordes / whiche ben in nombre .xl. Thus.

Incarnacion / natyuyte / circumcision / epyphany / presentacyon / egypte / disputacyon / humiliacyon / educacyon / baptysme / wyldernes / faste / tentacion / victory / eleccyon / prechynge / techynge / laboures / myracles / maundy / mynystery / consecracyon / sermon / agonye / betrayenge / takynge / bysshops / Pylate / Herode / Pylate agayne / examinacyon / flagellacyon / coronacyon / condempnacion / fatigacyon / crucifixion / sepulture / resurreccyon / ascencion / myssyon .

The ende .

Now you may se this table is not longe / but may easely be had by herte / and yf it so be / and dayly vsed / I dare well saye the persones shall fynde conforte therin / bothe to exclude vyce / and also to encreace in vertue and grace . And yet furthermore to contynue therin vnto theyr conforte and ioye euerlastynge / whervnto he brynge vs that bought vs / our lorde god & moost swete sauyour Iesu / who gyde you & kepe you all . Amen .

A breue / or shorte monicyon or counseyle of the cure & gouernaunce of a housholde / accordyng vnto policye / taken out of a pystle of a great lerned man / called Bernarde syluestre / and put amonge the werkes of saynt Bernarde / for bycause the many done iudge and thynke it was his owne werke . Set forthe by the same brother .

FYrst good deuoute christians / take moost hede / & gyue most diligence to ordre yourselfe / and all youres / vnto our lorde / accordynge vnto the poore lesson that goth before / and than se well vnto the substaunce / and gydyng of your house / and goodes . Se fyrst that peace be in the house / and that you agre all togyder / for els all your goodes wyl soone go to nought . Than ( after the commune prouerbe ) cut your thonges : after / or accordynge vnto your ledder . Spende accordynge vnto your gaynes / gettynges or rentes / and not aboue . It is also good policye : to haue one yeres rent / or an yeres gaynes in store for chaunces / whiche is not contrarie vnto christianite : wher extreme / or verey strete nede : is not perceyued in the neyghbour . A neglygent or rechles person may soone set on fyne / and destroy great substaunce . Haue therfore a good eye / and garde vnto the diligence of your seruauntes / for vnder them your goodes may soone mynysshe / & be wasted before you knowe / beware / or haue knowlege therof . Yf your goodes begyn to wast : better is / & lesse rebuke for you to absteyne / and withdrawe your charges : than to fal into nedynes / or daunger . An olde prouerbe . Qui plus expendit quam rerum copia tendit . Non admiretur si paupertate . That is .

Who so done spende behonde theyr faculte No meruayle thoughe with nede they greued be .

It is therfore a great prouidence / and good foresyght often to counte / & compare your goodes / and your gaynes with your expenses . Often to ouerse your goodes : shal be necessary . For your beestes may take hurte for defaute of fode ( all though they nothynge axe ) ne complayne . The slepe of the housbande : 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 : than 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 kynne / or frendes : is reasonable . Fede your housholde seruauntes : with honest commune fare / without 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 roten and short lyued . Ecclesia . xxxj . Meane fedynge with scarcyte : is vnto the dylygent person : pleasaunt 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 euydence & profe / the empty barne and the empty bagge . But yf very nygardy shutte vp thy purs / than art not thou an euen 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 plenty 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 mansleers . Sell thy corne better chepe vnto thy neyghbur ( although he were thyn enemy ) than vnto straungers . 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 women 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 contynued . A noble herte / and hygh gentyll mynde : wyll neuer serche of womens maters . A shrewe wyll soner be corrected by smylynge or laughynge : 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 counseyled & informed with louynge maner . An olde woman vnclene of lyuynge ( yf the lawe wolde suffre ) shulde be buryed quycke . Of aray . Let your clothynge 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 chaunge : 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 counsel yf it proue not : than thanke for your good counsel : though it spede well . Yf mynstrelles / iogulers / or gesters come vnto thy house : say thou hast no lodgyng for suche gesters / you kepe nether ynne nor alestake . For if you take pleasure in 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 them 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 them / & ꝑauenture they wyll fall to rebukynge / 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 ) among prynces / lordes / & hygh astates Now for your seruauntes / 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 seruauntes or your neyghbours that done prayse you : ben surely about to deceyue you . Yf you haue a bashful & dredful seruaunt & fynde him feythful / than 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 than 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 thynges kepe truly and feythfully your bonde and promyse / accordynge vnto your couenaunte . Due temperaunce is a thynge of great honestye in a housholde / let therfore your drynke wyne / ale / or bere be temperate . Stronge drynke is more pleasaunt / than holsome . Ecclesia . xxxj . d. Ibidem . The wyse man saythe / that sobre drynke is the helthe bothe of soule & body . And the wyse and lerned persone wyl be ryght well content with lytle drynke / and that shall not trouble the stomake / but rather cause swete & holsome slepe / and of the contrarye done come many incommodites as there doth folowe . Who so euer amonge many and dyuers stronge drynkes / with abundaunce therof : is sobre / may be called an erthly god / or a god vpon erthe / wrastle not therwith yf you do my counsel . And yf by chaunce you be in company / & begyn to fele the drynke worke : aryse / and departe / a slepe is more meite for you / than any company . Who so by wordes wolde excuse dronkenes : dothe openly declare his owne dysease . The knowlege and iudgment of wynes : doth nothynge become a yonge person . Yf a physicyon or surgyon vse to be dronke / let hym not haue the cure of your dysease / ne let none of them take experyence / and lerne in you : how to cure / or he le another . For thoughe they be well lerned / and haue not experyence / it is no wysdome to let them proue theyr conyng vpon you . Great gay horses / and lytle prety dogges : leue you vnto lordes and ladyes . A bygge labourynge hors / and a mastyfe / or a curre dogge : ben good to kepe your house . As for haukes / houndes / and huntynge dogges : done spende more than they done get / they ben miete & accordynge for states : to set ydle seruauntes on werke / but ferre vnacordynge ben they : for housbandes and ware housholders . It is no wysdome to make your owne chylder stewardes or rulers of your housholde or goodes . Fooles and neglygent or careles persones : haue many mysfortunes . For that is theyr commune excuse whan any thynge is wronge / they say than : that chaunce or mysfortune was cause therof . I say not nay : but that chaunce / or mysfortune may fall . But who so dothe folowe wysdome / lernynge / and dyscrecyon : shall seldom accuse mysfortune . For diligence / warenes / and good hede : done seldom company with mysfortune . But yet more seldom shall you se mysfortune and slouthe or neglygence : departed in sondre / for they done communely company togeder . The sluggarde sayth : god wyll helpe hym / & so tonge he trusteth ther vnto : Pro. vi . tyll he be brouhht vnto beggry . For god by the wyse man doth sende the sluggarde ( for exemple ) vnto the ant or pysinpre / to lerne to labour . For man ( saythe Iob ) is borne vnto labour : Iob. v. as a byrd to flye . Kepe you ( therfore ) but fewe ydle persones or men . And watche you / & take good hede vnto euery persone of your house . And euer pondre / wey / and consydre your expenses : with your gaynes / or gettynges . Fyrst get / & brynge in / and than spende . For it is no good husbandry to borowe . And whan you wex aged : trust rather vnto god than vnto your chylder / or frendes . That you sende before you : you shal be sure to fynde . No cofre / chyst / ne towre may be more sure to kepe tresure : than is heuen . Let not ( therfore ) the poore passe you . What you gyue vnto them : you gyue vnto chryst . And of that you leue behynde you : appoynt it vnto euery person his parte . For better were for you nothynge to leue : than that stryfe and debate shulde be made / conscience blemysshed / and god offended for your goodes . Trust them best to do for your soule : not that done loue / or say they done loue your soule : but that you done perceyue / & coniecture : done loue theyr owne soule . Make your testament euery yere newe / & surely sealed by wytnes . Lay it where ( whan nede is ) it may be founde no man is sure how to ende his lyfe . The most sure waye : to dye well / is well to lyue . Whiche he graunt vs that bought vs / our lorde god / and most swete sauyour Iesu chryst . Amen . Of your charite pray for the same olde wretche of Syon

Rycharde Whytforde .

Imprynted at London in Flete strete / at the sygne of the Sonne / by me Wynkynde Worde . The yere of our lorde god . M. CCCCC . & .xxx. the .xx. day of December .

printer's device of Wynkyn de Worde