Here begynnyth a treatyse intitulyd the myrrour of good maners ::

Here begynnyth a treatyse intitulyd the myrrour of good maners

conteynynge the .iiii. vertues callyd cardynall compyled in latyn by Domynike Mancyn: And translate into englysshe at the desyre of syr Gyles Alyngton knyght by Alexander Bercley [i.e. Barclay]

Barclay, Alexander (1475?-1552)

[section]

[Who couetith to knowe chefe maners cōmendable]

Alexander Barclay to the reder of this present treatyse translatynge the wordes of dominyke Mancyne.

[The myrrour of good maners]

The prologe of Alexāder Barclay vpon the four Uertues cardynal to his ryght honorable Mayster Gyles Alingtō Knyght Translate of the preface of dominyke Mācyne by hym wrytyn to Frederyke Seuerine busshop of Maleacence.

Here folowyth the four fountayns or wellys of honeste/whiche of naturall reason haue theyr begynnynge oryginall/and of whome the four cardynall vertues springyth.

[subsection]

Of the originall of prudence

Of the orygynall of Iustice.

Of the origynall of magnanymyte or strengthe of mynde.

Of the begynnynge of temperance.

[subsection]

Of the fyrste Cardynall vertue named prudence.

Of iustyce.

Of magnanimite or strenth of mynde.

Of temperaunce

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At the fyrste begynnynge/our lorde omnipotent
Fourmyd heuyn/& erth/as wytnessith scripture
And in theyr proper placis/set euery elyment
Than garnysshed the heuyn: with sterrys bryght & pure
And the groūde with trees: and grasse of fresshe verdure
And best is in theyr kynde: than fylled he the ayre
With many folde byrdes: of fethers bryght and fayre

Than stored he the see/with fysshes in theyr kynde
All thynges thus ordered/and plesauntly ornate
Lyke hym selfe he fourmed/man of moste noble mynde
And all lyuely thynges/to hym made subiugate
At his will obeynge/whyle he kepte his estate
Thus made were all beestis to man obedient
And man onely subiect/to god omnipotent

Than god hym exalted to haue dominion
Ouer the brode worlde/and therto dyd hym able
Of his goodnes/makynge/hym partner of reason
Wherby he dyfferith/from beest vnresonable
Whan man had this treasour/and gyft incomparable
By reason he began to compase in his mynde
And serche the secretis/of thynge of euery kynde

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