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 Seruants to learne godlinesse.
To the tune of, The Earle of Bedford.
GOod Children, refuse not these lessons to learne,
The path-way to vertue you here may discerne,
In kéeping them liuely, you shall be most sure,
The praise of all people thereby to procure.
Let God first be serued, who all things doth giue,
That by his good blessing thou long time maist liue:
And then to try Parents thy duty vnfold,
Who keepeth thee daily from hunger and cold.
To all men be courteous, yea and mannerly both,
For feare lest thy betters thy presence doe loath:
For youth without manners no man can abide,
Much like a poore Begger possessed with pride.
Thy garments vnbutton's delight not to weare,
L [...]st sl [...]uenly nick-name fall vnto they share:
Thy Hose vngartered deserueth like shame,
Whereby thou wi [...] purchase thy Tutor much blame.
Be comely and decent in all thy array,
Not wantonly giuen to sport and to play:
But labour by vertue, in youth to obtaine
The loue of thy betters, their friendship to gaine,
I likewise command thee this lesson to keepe,
No longer than due time delight not to fleepe;
Lest sloath in thy bosome such harbour doe finde,
As will cause thee be tearmed a sluggerd by kind,
The morning appearing rise thou with speed,
Wash hands and face cleanely before thou goe feed,
Let shooes be fast tyed both close to thy feet
The better to trauell all day in the street.
Thy shirt-band most comely about thy necke weare,
Haue handkerchiefe likewise both cleanely and faire:
With hat ready brushed, that people may say,
There goes a child cleanely in all his array.
Goe neuer vntrussed, for feare of the cold,
For it doth indanger both the yong and old,
Thy Girdle forget not, I put thee in minde,
No Girdle, no blessing that day thou shalt finde.
If thou be a Scholler, to Schoole make good haste,
For he is a Truant that commeth there last,
For if thou dost loyter and play by the way,
Be sure with thy Master it will cause a fray.
But being their placed, I charge thee to looke
Thou lose not thy Inkehorne, thy Pen, nor thy booke▪
Thy Garters, they Girdle, thy band, nor thy Hat.
For feare left thy Parents be grieued thereat.
Sweare not, nor curse not, delight not to steale,
Thy master obey thou, his secrets conceale,
Take heed of false lying, set no man at strife,
Nor be thou too desperate to strike with a knife.
Amongst thy Companions be Gentle and kinde,
If that thou their fauours dost looke for to finde.
For gentlenesse gaineth thee loue from a foe,
And getteth thee glory whereeuer thou goe.
Play not, nor laugh not, thy Master to fret,
When thou amongst Schollers art orderly set,
For silence is vertue, and vertue is grace,
Which ought to be vsed, thy betters in place.
Thus you good Children and Schollers each one,
Here in good order you follies are showne:
In following these precepts you purchase alwaies,
The loue of your Parents, and Schoole-masters praise
But if that in idlenesse you doe delight,
Refusing these Lessons here plainely in sight,
Looke for no kindnesse no fauour nor loue,
But your Masters displeasure, if you him moue.
Therefore be wary you doe not offend,
Your Parents, your Master, nor iniure your friend,
Lest stripes doe reward you, and make you to say,
Your Precepts Ile follow, your words Ile obey.
And now to conclude beare this well in mind,
A diligent Scholler much fauour shall finde:
But such as will loyter, and lazie will be,
Shall for their labour be brought on their knée,
FINIS.
The second Table of good Nurture;
To the tune of, Troy Towne.
THen learne to honour God aright,
let loue and feare thereto prouoke:
Obey thy Prince with all thy might,
submit they selfe to prudence yoke.
Imbrace the good, eschew the ill,
This is the summe of wisdomes skill.
To know thy selfe doe thou apply,
first trye thy friend before thou trust:
Loue him that dealeth faithfully,
let word and deed be alwaes iust,
Striue not to swim against the streame,
Account not of a drousie dreame.
Faint not though fortune fauoure fooles,
fret not at others good successe:
Delight to sit in learned Schooles.
thy former faults seeke to redresse.
Spurne not at him that tels thy crime,
Mend it against another time.
Acquaint thy selfe with some graue man
marke well his talke and trade of life
His word of wit see that thou scan,
within thy mouth let them be rife.
Desire to imitate his trade,
By vse like him thou shalt be made.
Wish for no wealth by parents death,
a friend farre passeth worldly good:
And whilst the body yeeldeth breath,
seeke not for to exceed in food.
For great excesse of meat and drinke,
Will cause thy soule in sinne to sinke.
If fortune smile be not too proue,
for why she hath a frowning face:
If in her loue they selfe thou shrowd,
make much of her while thou hast space
Her whirling wheele doth turne full oft,
Some lye full low, some fleete aloft.
Thinke not thine owne wit to be best.
keepe not the crew of cogging mates,
To sweare and lye doe thou detest,
for thereby credit oft abates.
Beware of brazen face past shame,
And loue to liue in honest fame.
Where too much curtesie is vsed,
take heed of frawd and subile guile,
Good nature oft times is abused,
in simple sight with subtle wile,
When all is said and all is done,
Yet craft lyes vnder clowted shoone.
Report not on the present time,
but marke also what may ensue,
For cracke of credit is a crime,
change not an old friend for a new;
The secret councell of thy heart,
Take heed to whom thou dost impart,
Praise no man till thou doe him know,
dispraise not rashly any wight
Lest shame thereby to thee may grow,
faire words are best place thing aright
To wisdomes schoole thus must thou go,
And say experience taught thee so.
FINIS.
Printed at London for H. G.