University of Virginia Library

Howe to order thy selfe when thou rysest, and in apparelynge thy body.

Capitulo .i.

Flye euer slouthe
and ouer much slepe;
In health the body
therby thou shalte kepe.
Muche slepe ingendereth
diseases and payne,
It dulles the the wyt
and hurteth the brayne.
Early in the mornynge
thy bed then forsake,
Thy rayment put on,
thy selfe redy make.
To cast vp thy bed
It shalbe thy parte,
Els may they say
that beastly thou art;
So to departe
and let the same lye,
It is not semynge
nor yet manerly.
Downe from thy chamber
when thou shalte go,
Thy parentes salute thou,
and the famely also;
Thy handes se thou washe,
and thy hed keame,
And of thy rayment
se torne be no seame;
Thy cappe fayre brusht,
thy hed couer than,
Takynge it of
In speakynge to any man.
Cato doth councel thee
thyne elders to reuerence
Declarynge therby
thy dutye and obedience.
Thy shyrte coler fast
to thy necke knyt;
Comely thy rayment
loke on thy body syt.
Thy gyrdell about
thy wast then fasten,
Thy hose fayre rubd
thy showes se be cleane.
A napkyn se that
thou haue in redines
Thy nose to clense
from all fylthynes.
Thy nayles, yf nede be,
se that thou payre;
Thyne eares kepe cleane,
thy teath washe thou fayre.
If ought about thee
chaunce to be torne,
Thy frendes therof shewe
howe it is worne,
And they wyll newe
for thee prouyde,
Or the olde mende,
In tyme beinge spyde,
This done, thy setchell
and thy bokes take,
And to the scole
haste see thou make.
But ere thou go,
with thy selfe forthynke.
That thou take with thee
pen, paper, and ynke;
For these are thynges
for thy study necessary,
Forget not then
with thee them to cary.
The souldiar preparynge
hym selfe to the fielde
Leaues not at home
his sworde and his shielde,
No more shulde a scoler
forget then truly
what he at scole
shulde nede to occupy.
These thynges thus had,
Take strayght thy way
Vnto the schole
without any stay.