A Table of good Nurture:Wherin is contained a Schoole-masters admonition to his Schollers to learne
good manners: the Father to his Children to learne vertue: and the Hous-
houlder to his Servants to learne godlinesse.
To the tune of, The Earle of Bedford.
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GOod Children, refuse not these lessons to learne,
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The path-way to vertue you here may discerne,
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In keeping them truely, you shall be most sure,
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The praise of all people thereby to procure.
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Let God first be served, who all things doth give,
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That by his good blessing thou long time maist live:And then to thy Parents thy duty unfold,
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Who keepeth thee daily from hunger and cold.
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To all men be courteous, yea and mannerly both,
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For feare lest thy betters thy presence doe loath:For youth without manners no man can abide,
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Much like a poore Begger possessed with pride.
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Thy garments unbuttond delight not to weare,
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Lest slovenly nick-name fall unto thy share:
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Thy Hose ungartered deserveth like shame,
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Whereby thou wilt purchase thy Tutor much blame.
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Be comely and decent in all thy array,
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Not wantonly given to sport and to play:
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But labour by vertue, in youth to obtaine
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The love of thy betters, their friendship to gaine.
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I likewise command thee this lesson to keepe,
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No longer than due time delight not to sleepe;
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Lest sloath in thy bosome such harbour doe finde,
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As will cause thee be tearmed a sluggerd by kind,
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The morning appearing rise thou with speed,
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Wash hands and face cleanely before thou goe feed,
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Let shooes be fast tyed both close to thy feet
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The better to travell all day in the street.
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Thy shirt-band most comely about thy necke weare,
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Have handkerchiefe likewise both cleanely and faire:With hat ready brushed, that people may say,
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There goes a child cleanely in all his array.
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Goe never untrussed, for feare of the cold,
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For it doth indanger both the yong and old,
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Thy Girdle forget not, I put thee in minde,
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No Girdle, no blessing that day thou shalt finde.
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If thou be a Scholler, to Schoole make good haste,
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For he is a Truant that commeth there last,
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For if thou dost loyter and play by the way,
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Be sure with thy Master it will cause a fray.
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But being their placed, I charge thee to looke
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Thou lose not thy Inkehorne, thy Pen, nor thy booke,
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Thy Garters, thy Girdle, thy band, nor thy Hat.
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For feare lest thy Parents be grieved thereat.
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Sweare not, nor curse not, delight not to steale,
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Thy master obey thou, his secrets conceale,
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Take heed of false lying, set no man at strife,
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Nor be thou too desperate to strike with a knife.
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Amongst thy Companions be Gentle and kinde,
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If that thou their favours dost looke for to finde
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For gentlenesse gaineth thee love from a foe,
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And getteth thee glory whereever thou goe.
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Play not, nor laugh not, thy Master to fret,
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When thou amongst Schollers art orderly set,
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For silence is vertue, and vertue is grace,
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Which ought to be used, thy betters in place.
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Thus you good Children and Schollers each one,
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Here in good order your follies are showne:In following these precepts you purchase alwaies,
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The love of your Parents, and Schoole-masters praise
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But if that in idlenesse you doe delight,
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Refusing these Lessons here plainely in sight,
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Looke for no kindnesse no favour nor love,
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But your Masters displeasure, if you him move.
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Therefore be wary you doe not offend,
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Your Parents, your Master, nor injure your friend,
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Lest stripes doe reward you, and make you to say,
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Your Precepts Ile follow, your words Ile obey.
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And now to conclude beare this well in mind,
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A diligent Scholler much favour shall finde:But such as will loyter, and lazie will be,
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Shall for their labour be brought on their knee,
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FINIS.
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The second Table of good Nurture;
To the tune of, Troy Towne.
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THen learne to honour God aright,
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let love and feare thereto provoke:Obey thy Prince with all thy might,
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submit thy selfe to prudence yoke.
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Imbrace the good, eschew the ill,
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This is the summe of wisdomes skill.
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To know thy selfe doe thou apply,
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first trye thy friend before thou trust:Love him that dealeth faithfully,
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let word and deed be alwaes just,
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Strive not to swim against the streame,
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Account not of a drousie dreame.
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Faint not though fortune favours fooles,
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fret not at others good successe:Delight to sit in learned Schooles,
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thy former faults seeke to redresse.
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Spurne not at him that tels thy crime,
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Mend it against another time.
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Acquaint thy selfe with some grave man
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marke well his talke and trade of life
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His word of wit see that thou scan,
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within thy mouth let them be rife.
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Desire to imitate his trade,
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By use like him thou shalt be made.
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Wish for no wealth by parents death,
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a friend farre passeth worldly good:And whilst the body yeeldeth breath,
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seeke not for to exceed in food.
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For great excesse of meat and drinke,
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Will cause thy soule in sinne to sinke.
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If fortune smile be not too proud,
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for why she hath a frowning face:If in her love thy selfe thou shrowd,
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make much of her while thou hast space
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Her whirling wheele doth turne full oft,
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Some lye full low, some fleete aloft.
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Thinke not thine owne wit to be best.
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keepe not the crew of cogging mates,
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To sweare and lye doe thou detest,
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for thereby credit oft abates.
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Beware of brazen face past shame,
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And love to live in honest fame.
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Where too much curtesie is used,
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take heed of frawd and subtle guile,
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Good nature oft times is abused,
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in simple sight with subtle wile,
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When all is said and all is done,
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Yet craft lyes under clowted shoone.
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Report not on the present time,
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but marke also what may ensue,
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For cracke of credit is a crime,
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change not an old friend for a new;
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The secret councell of thy heart,
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Take heed to whom thou dost impart,
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Praise no man till thou doe him know,
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dispraise not rashly any wight
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Lest shame thereby to thee may grow,
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faire words are best place thine aright
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To wisdomes schoole thus must thou go,
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And say experience taught thee so.
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FINIS.
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