The school of Virtue, and book of good Nurture for children, and youth to learn their duty by. Newly perused, corrected, and augmented by the first Author. F. S  
With a brief declaration of the duty of each degree.  
Anno. 1557.  Despise not council, rebuking folly ●eme it as, needful and holy. 
☞  
¶ Imprinted at London in Paul's Churchyard at the sign of the Hedgehog by William Seares. ❧   

¶ The auctors name in verdict.  
S say well some will by this my labour  
E Every man yet Will not say the same  
A Among the good I doubt not favour  
G God them forgive Forced me blame  
E Each man I wish It shall offend  
R read and then judge Where fault is amend.  Face aut Tace.  

The school of virtue.  
FIrst in the morning when thou dost awake  
To God for his grace thy petition then make.  
This prayer following use daily to say  
Thy heart lifting up Thus begin to pray.  

¶ The morning prayer.  
O God from whom all good gifts proceed  
To thee we repair in time of our need  
That with thy grace thou wouldst us endue  
Virtue to follow and vice to eschew:  
Hear this our request and grant our desire  
O lord most humbly we do the require.  
This day us detende that we walking aright  
May do the thing acceptable in thy sight.  
That as we in years And body do grow  
So in good virtues we may likewise flow  
To thy honour and joy of our parent's  
Learning to live well and keep thy commandments.  
In flying from all Vice sin and crime  
applying our books not losing our time.  
May fructify and go forward here in good doing  
In this vale of misery unto our lyvees ending.  
That after this life here transitory  
we may attain to greater glory.  
The lords prayer then see thou recite  
So using to do at morning and night.   

¶ How to order thyself when thou risest, and in appareling thy body, Capitulo. i.  
Fly ever sloth 
Cato.  and over much sleep  
In health the body thereby thou shalt keep.  
Much sleep engendereth diseases and pain  
It dulls the the wit and hurteth the brain.  
Early in the morning thy bed then forsake  
Thy raiment put on thyself ready make,  
To cast up thy bed It shallbe thy part  
Else may they say that beastly thou art.  
So to depart and let the same lie  
It is not seeming nor yet mannerly  
Down from thy chamber when thou shalt go  
Thy parents salute thou and the family also  
Thy hands see thou wash and thy head keame  
And of thy raiment see torn be no seam  
Thy cap fair brushed thy head cover than  
Taking it of In speaking to any man.  
Cato doth council thee 
Cato.  thine elders to reverence  
Declaring thereby thy duty and obedience.  
Thy shirt collar fast to thy neck knit  
Comely thy raiment look on thy body sit.  
Thy girdle about thy waist then fasten  
Thy hose fair rubbed thy shows see be clean.  
A napkin see that thou have in readiness  
Thy nose to cleanse from all filthiness.  
Thy nails if need be see that thou pair  
Thine ears keep clean thy teeth wash thou fair.  
If aught about thee chance to be torn  
Thy friends thereof show how it is worn.  
And they will new for thee provide  
Or the old mend In time being spied.  
This done thy setchell and thy books take  
And to the school haste see thou make.  
But ere thou go with thyself forethink  
That thou take with thee pen paper and ink.  
For these are things for thy study necessary  
Forget not then with thee them to carry.  
The soldier preparing himself to the field  
Leaves not at home his sword and his shield.  
No more should a scholar forget then truly  
what he at school should need to occupy.  
These things thus had Take straight thy way  
Unto the school without any stay.   

How to behave thyself in going by the street and in the school. two.  
IN going by the way and passing the street  
Thy cap put of 
Isocra.  Salute those ye meet  
In giving the way 
Cato.  to such as pass by  
It is a point of sivilitie.  
And thy way fortune so for to fall  
Let it not grieve thee thy fellows to call  
when to the school thou shalt resort  
This rule note well I do the exhort.  
Thy master there being Salute with all reverence  
Declaring thereby thy duty and obedience.  
Thy fellows salute In token of love  
Lest of inhumanity they shall thee reprove.  
Unto thy place appointed for to sit  
Straight go thou to and thy setchel unknyt  
Thy books take out thy lesson then learn  
Huubly thyself Behave and govern.  
Therein taking pain with all thine in dustry  
learning to get thy book well apply  
All things seem hard when we do begin  
But labour and diligence 
Virgil.  yet doth them win.  
we ought not to reckon and count the thing hard  
That bringeth joy and pleasure afterward  
Leave of then labour and the lack rue  
Lament and repent when age doth ensue.  
deeds that deserved Fame and great praise  
Buried had been we see in oldedayes.  
If letters had not then brought them to light  
The truth of such things who could now resyght  
Apply thy mind to learning and science  
For learning in need 
Cato.  will be thy défence  
Nothing to science compare we may well  
The sweetness whereof all things doth excel. 
Cicero   
And Cato the wise this worthy saying hath  
That man wanting learning is as the image of death. 
Cato.   
The roots of learning most bitter we dame 
Aristot.   
The fruits at last Most pleasant doth seem.  
Then labour for learning while here thou shalt live  
The ignorant to teach and good example give.  
So shalt thou be thought A member most worthy  
The common wealth to serve In rhyme of necessity.  
Experience doth teach And show to thee plain  
That many to honour By learning attain.  
That were of birth But simple and base  
such is the goodness Of God's special grace.  
For he that to honour by virtue doth rise  
Is double happy and counted most wise.  
If doubt thou dost Desire to be told  
No shame is to learn Being never so old.  
Ignorance doth cause Great errors in us  
For wanting of knowledge Doubts to discuss  
Then learn to discern the good from the ill  
And such as thee warn Bear them good will.  
when from the school ye shall take your way  
Or orderly then go ye two in array  
yourselves matching So equal as ye may  
That men it saying May well of you say.  
In commending this your laudable ways  
which must needs sound to your great praise.  
Not running on heaps as a swarm of bees  
As at this day Every man it now sees.  
Not using but refusing Such foolish toys  
As commonly are used In these days of boys.  
As hooping and hallowing as in hunting the fox  
That men it hearing Deride them with mocks.  
This foolishness forsake this folly exchewing  
And learn to follow this order ensuing.  
In going by the way Neither talk nor jangle  
Gape not nor gaze not at every new fangle.  
But soberly go ye with countenance grave  
Humbly yourselves toward all men behave. 
Isocra.   
Be free of cap and full of of courtesy  
Great love of all men you shall win thereby  
Be lowly and gentle and of meek mood  
Then men con not but of you say good  
In passing the urete Do no man no harm  
Use thou few words and thy tongue charm.  
Then men shall see that grace in the groweth  
From whom virtues So abundantly floweth  
when thou art come where thy parents do dwell  
Thy leave then taking Bid thy fellows farewell.  
The house then entering In thy parence presence  
Humbly salute them with all reverence.   

¶ How to behave thy self in ser: ve the table. Cap. iii  

When thy parents down to the table shall sit  
In place be ready For the purpose most fit,  
with sober countenance Looking them in the face  
Thy hands holding up this begin grace.   

Give thanks to God with one accord 
Grace before meat.   
For that shall be Set on this board.  
And be not careful what to eat  
To each thing living the Lord sends meat.  
For food he will not See you perish  
But will you feed Foster and cherish,  
Take well in worth what he hath sent  
At this time be therewith content.  
Praising God.    

¶ So treatablie speaking as possible thou can  
That the heaters thereof May thee understan.  
Grace being said Low cuesie make thou  
saying much good May it do you.  
Of stature then if thou be able  
It shall become thee to serve the table.  
In bringing to it Such meat as shall need  
For thy parence upon that time to feed.  
dishes with measure thou oughtest to fill  
Else mayst thou happen thy service to spill.  
On their apparel Or else on the cloth  
which for to do would move them to wroth.  
Spare trenchers with napkins have in readiness  
To serve afterward If there come any guess.  
Be circumspect see nothing do want●  
Of necessary things that there be no scant.  
As bread and drink see there be plenty  
The voiders with bones Oft see thou empty.  
At hand be ready If any do call.  
To fetch or take up If aught fortune to fall.  
when they have done then ready make  
The table up fair In order to take  
first the sault See that thou cover  
Having by thee Either one or other  
things from thy hands then to convey  
That from the table thou shalt take away.  
A voider upon the table then have  
The trenchers and napkins therein to receive  
The croomes with a napkin together them sweep  
It at the table's end In a voydex them keep.  
Then before each man A clean treanchour lay  
The best first serving As judge thou soon may.  
Then cheese with fruit On the table set  
With Bisketes or Carowayes As you may get.  
Wine to them fill Else ale or bear  
But wine is meetest If any there were.  
Then on the table Attend with all diligence  
It for to void when done have thy parence  
Each side of the cloth Do thou turn in  
Folding it up At the higher end begin  
A clean to well then On the table spread▪  
The to well wanting the cloth take in stead.  
The basin and ewer to the table then bring  
In place convenient their pleasure abiding.  
When thou shalt see them ready to wash.  
The ewer take up and be not to rash.  
In pouring out water More than will suffice  
The table then void that they may rise.  
All things thus done forget not thy duty  
Before the table Make thou low curtsy   

¶ How to order thyself sitting at the table. Capitulo. iiii.  
O Children give care your duties to learn  
How at the table you may yourselves govern.  
Presume not to high 
Socra. Cato.  I say in no case  
In sitting down to thy betters give place.  
Suffer each man first served to be  
For that is appoint Of good courtesy.  
When they are served then pause a space  
For that is a sign of nurture and grace.  
Saulte with thy knife then reach and take  
The bread cut fair And do not it break.  
Thy spoon with pottage to full do not fill  
For fyling the cloth If thou fortune to spill.  
For rudeness it is thy pottage to sup  
Or speak to any his head in the cup.  
Thy knife se be sharp to cut fair thy meat  
Thy mouth not to full when thou dost eat.  
Not smacking thy lips As commonly do hogs  
Nor gnawing the bones As it were dogs.  
Such rudeness abhor Such beastliness fly  
At the table behave thyself mannerly.  
Thy fingers see clean that thou ever keep  
Having a napkin thereon them to wipe.  
Thy mouth therewith Clean do thou make  
The cup to drink In hand if thou take.  
Let not thy tongue At the the table walk  
And of no matter Neither reason nor talk. 
Plato.   
Temper thy tongue and belly always  
For measure is treasure the proverb doth say  
And measure in allthings 
Cicero.  Is to be used  
what is without measure Ought to be refused.  
For silence keeping thou shalt not be shent  
where as thy speech May cause thee repent  
Both speech and silence 
I socra.  are commendable  
But silence is meetest In achylde at the table.  
And Cato doth say 
Cato.  that in old and young  
The first of virtue Is to keep thy tongue  
Pike not thy teeth at the table sitting  
Nor use at thy meat Over much spyting.  
this rudeness of youth Is to be abhorred  
thyself mannerly Behave at the board.  
If occasion of laughter at the table thou see  
Beware that thou use the same moderately.  
Of good manners learn So much as thou can  
It will thee prefer when thou art a man  
Aristotle the Philosopher this worthy saying writ 
Aristot.   
That manner in a child are more requisite  
then playing on instruments and other vain pleasure  
For virtuous manners Is a most precious treasure.  
Let not this saying In no wise thee offen●e  
For playing of instruments He both not discommend.  
But doth grant them For a child necessary  
yet manners much more see here he doth vary.  
Refuse not his council Nor his words despise  
To virtue and knowledge By them mayst thou rise.   

¶ How to order thyself in the Church. Cap. v.  
When to the Church thou shalt repayer  
kneeling or standing to God make thy prayer.  
All worldly matters From thy mind set apart  
Earnestly praying to God lift up thy heart.  
A contrite heart 
Psal. l.  He will not despise  
which he doth count A sweet sacrifice.  
To him thy sins show and confess  
asking for them Grace and forgiveness.  
He is the Physician that knoweth thy sore.  
And can to health A gain thee restore. 
james the. i.   
Ask then in faith Not doubting to have  
The things ye desire ye shall then receive.  
So they be lawful Of God to require  
He will the hear and grant thy desire.  
More merciful he is then pen can express  
The author and gener here of all goodness.  
All ye that labour 
Math. x.  and burdened be  
I will you refresh In coming to me.  
These are Christ'S words the scripture is plain  
Spoken to all such as here suffer pain.  
Our wills to his word then let us frame  
The heavenly habitation thereby we may claim.  
In the church comely thyself do behave  
In usage sober thy countenance grave.  
while you be there talk of no matter  
Nor one with an other whisper nor chatter.  
Reverently thyself Order alway  
when to the Church thou shalt come to pray  
Each thing hath his time Consider the place  
For that is a token of virtue and grace  
The Lord doth call it 
Luke. nineteen.  the house of prayer  
And not to be used As is a fair.   

¶ The fruits of gaming, virtue and learning. Capitulo. vi.  
O little child Eschew thou ever gain  
For that hath brought Many one to shame.  
As dicing and carding And such other plays  
which many undoth as we see now a days.  
But if thou delight In any earthly thing 
Cicero.   
Delight in knowledge Virtue and learning.  
For learning will lead thee to the school of virtue  
And virtue will teach thee Vice to subdue.  
Vice being subdued thou canst not but flourish  
Happy is the man that virtue doth nourish.  
By knowledge likewise thou shalt doubts discern  
By virtue again thy life well govern.  
These be the fruits By them we do take  
Cursed is he then that doth them forsake.  
But we err in wit In following our will  
In judging that good which plainly is ill.  
Let reason thee rule and not will thee lead  
To follow thy fancy A wrong trace to tread.  
But subdue thy lust and conquer thy will  
If it shall move thee to do that is ill.  
For what hurt by game to many doth grow  
No wise man I think but doth it well know.  
Experience doth show and make it manifest  
That all goodmen can it but detest.  
As strife and debate murder and theft  
which among christians would god were left.  
with cursing and baning with swearing and tearing  
That no honest heart can abide the hearing.  
These be the fruits that of them doth spring  
with many more as evil that cometh of gaming.   

¶ How to behave thyself in ●aulkynge with any man. Capitulo. seven.  
IF a man demand a question of thee  
In thine answer making be not to hasty.  
way well his words 
Isocra.  the case understand  
Ear an answer to make thou take in hand.  
Else may he judge in thee little wit  
To answer to a thing and not hear it.  
Suffer his tale whole out to be told  
Then speak thou mayst and not be controlled.  
Low obeisance making looking him in the face  
Treatably speaking thy words see thou place.  
with countenance sober thy body upright  
Thy feet just together thy hands in like plight.  
Cast not thine eyes on neither side  
when thou art praised therein take no pride.  
In telling thy tale neither langh nor smile  
Such folly forsake thou banish and exile.  
In audible voice thy words do thou utter  
Not high nor low but using a measure.  
Thy words see that thou pronounce plain  
And thai they spoken Be not in vain.  
In uttering whereof Keep thou anorder  
Thy matter thereby thou shalt much further.  
which order if thou Do not observe  
From the purpose needs must thou swerve  
And hastiness of speech will cause thee to err  
Or will thee teach to stut or stammer.  
To stut or stammer is a foul crime  
Learn then to leave it take warning in time.  
How evil a child it doth become  
Thyself being judge having wisdom.  
And sure it is taken by custom and ure  
while young you be there is help and cure.  
This general rule yet take with the  
In speaking to any man Thy head uncovered be.  
The common proverb remember ye ought  
Better unfedde then untaught.   

¶ How to order thyself being sent of message. Cap. viii.  
IF of message forth thou be sent  
Take heed to the same give ear diligent.  
Depart not away and being in doubt  
Know well thy message before thou pass out.  
with possible speed than hast thee right soon  
If need shall requirr it so to be done.  
After humble obeisance the message forth show  
Thy words well placing in uttringe but few.  
As shall thy matter serve to declare  
Thine answer made then home again repair.  
And to thy master thereof make relation  
As then the answer shall give thee occasion.  
Neither add nor diminish 
Socra.  any thing to the same  
Lest after it prove to thy rebuke and shame.  
But the same utter so near as thou can  
No fault they shall find to charge thee with than.  
In most humble wise look done that it be  
As shall become best a servants degree.   

¶ Against Anger, Envy, and malice. Cap. ix.  
IF thou be subject and to anger thrall  
And reason thee rule not needs must thou fall  
Conquer thy will 
Pericles.  and subdue thy lust  
Thy fancy not following thy cause though be just.  
For anger and fury will thee so change  
That thy doings to wise men will appear strange.  
Thine anger and wrath seek then to appease  
For wrath saith Plato leads shame in a leace. 
Plato.   
The hasty man 
Isocra.  wants never trouble  
His mad moody mind his care doth double.  
And malice thee move to revenge thy cause  
Dread ever god and danger of the laws.  
Do not revenge though in thy power it be  
forgive the offender being thine enemy.  
He is perfectly patient we may repute plain  
From wrath and fury 
Plato.  himself can retrayne.  
Disdain nor envy The state of thy brother  
In word nor deed not hurting one another. 
Seneca.   
Debate and deceit contention and envy  
Are the chief fruits of an evil body.  
And Solomon saith The heart full of envy 
Solomon.   
Of himself hath no pleasure nor commodity.   

¶ The fruits of charity, love, and patience. Cap. x.  
Charity seeketh not that to her doth belong  
But patiently abiding sustaining rather wrong.  
Not envying but bearing with love and patience  
So noble is her nature forgiving all ofence.  
And love doth move the mind to mercy  
But malice again doth work the contrary.  
which in the wicked will ever bear stroke  
Patience thee teacheth thereof to bear the yoke.  
where patience and love together do dwell  
All hate and debate with malice they expel.  
love constant and faithful Pythagoras doth call 
Pythagoras.   
To be a virtue most principal.  
Plato doth speak 
Plato.  almost in effect  
where love is not no virtue is perfect.  
Desire then god to assist thee with his g●●●●●  
Charity to use and patience to embrace.  
These three following will thee instruct  
That to virtues school they will thee conduct.  
And from virtues school to eternal bliss  
where incessant joy continually is.   

¶ Againge the horrible vice of swearing. Cap. xi.  
IN vain take not the name of god  
Swear not at all for fear of his rod.  
The house with plagues he threateneth to visit  
where oaths are used they shall not escape it.  
just are his judgements and true is his word  
And sharper then is a two edged sword.  
wherefore beware thou his heavy indignation  
And learn to live well in thy vocation.  
wherein that god shall thee set or call  
rising again if it fortune to fall.  
By prayer and repentance which is the only way  
Christ would not the death of a sinner I say.  
But rather he turn From his wickedness  
And so to live in virtue and goodness.  
what better art thou for this thy swearing  
Blasfamouslye the name of god tearing.  
provoking his ire and kyndlinge his wrath  
Thee for to plague that giving the hath.  
Knowledge and reason thyself for to rule  
And for to flee the thing that is evil.  
Senica doth council thee all swearing to refrain 
Seneca.   
Although great profit by it thou might gain.  
Pericles whose words are manifest and plain 
Pericles.   
From swearing admonisheth thee to obstaine.  
The law of god and commandment he gave  
Swearing amongst v 〈…〉 in no wise would hau●  
The council of philosoph●● I have here expressed  
Amongst whom swearing was utterly detest.  
Much less amongst christians ought it to be used  
But utterly of them clean to be refused.   

¶ A gainste the vice of filthy talking. Cap. xii.  
NO filthy talk in no wise use  
Thy tongue thereby for to abuse.  
Of every idle word an accumpte we shall tender  
All men I would this saying to remember.  
To god for it at the general day  
In earnest or sport we shall speak or say.  
which day to the just shallbe most joyful  
And to the wicked again as woeful.  
As we here do so shall we receive  
Unless we repent and mercy of god crave.  
If god will deal with us so strait  
For things that be. of so small weight.  
Then have we cause to fear and dread  
Our lives lewdly it we have lead.  
Thy tongue take heed thou do refrain  
From speaking words that are most vain.  
Thy will and wit to goodness apply  
Thy mind exercise in virtuous study. 
Aristot.    

¶ Against the vice of lying. Capitulo. x. two.  
TO forge to fain to flatter and lie 
Plato.   
Requiere divers colours with words fair and sly.  
But the utterance of truth is so simple and plain  
That it needeth no study to forge or to feign.  
wherefore say truth how ever stand the case  
So shalt thou find more favour and grace.  
Use truth and say truth in that thou goest about  
For time of allthings the truth will bring out  
Shame is the reward For lying dew  
Then avoid shame and utter words true.  
A liar by his lying this profit doth get  
That when he saith truth no man will him credet.  
Then let thy talk with the truth agree  
And blamed for it thou shalt never be.  
How may a man a liar ought trust  
But doubt his deeds his words being unjust.  
In telling of truth there longeth no shame  
Where uttering of lies deserveth much blame.  
And though a lie from stripes ye once save  
Thrice for that once it will the besceve  
Trust then to truth and neither forge nor feign  
And follow these precepts from lying do refrain.   

¶ A prayer to be said when thou goest to beode.  
O Merciful god hear this our request  
And grant unto us this night quiet rest.  
Into thy tuicoin oh lord do us take  
Our bodies sleeping our minds yet may wake.  
forgive the offences this day we have wrought  
Against thee and our neighbour in word deed and thought  
And grant us thy grace hence forth to fly sin  
And that a new life we ma●e now begin  
Deliver and defend us this night from all evil  
And from the danger of our enemy the devil  
Which goeth a bout seeking his pray  
And by his craft whom we may betray.  
assist us oh lord with thy holy spirit  
That valiantly against him we may ever fight  
And winning the victory may lift up our voice  
And in his strength faith fully rejoice.  
Saying to the lord be all honour and praise  
For his defence both now and always.   

¶ the duty of each degred. briefly declared.  

YE princes that the earth rule and govern  
Seek ye for knowledge doubts to discern.   

ye judges give judgement according to right  
As may be found acceptable in the lords sight.   

ye prelate's preach purely the word of our lord  
That your livings & preachings in one may accord.   

ye fathers and mothers so your children instruct  
As may them to grace and virtue conduct.   

ye children likewise obey your parents here  
In all godliness see that ye them fear.   

ye masters do you the thing that is right.  
Not looking what ye may do by might.   

ye servants apply your business and art  
Doing the same in singleness of heart.   

ye husbands love your wives and with them dwell  
All bitterness set apart using words gentle.   

ye wines to your husbands be obedient alway  
For they are your heads and ye bound to obey   

ye persons and vickers that have cure and charge  
Take heed to the same and ●ou● not at large.   

ye men of law in no wise delay  
The cause of the poor but help what ye may   

ye that be crafts men use no deceit  
giving to all men tale measure and weight.   

ye that be landlords and have housen to let  
At reasonable rents do them forth set.   

ye merchants that use the trade of merchandise  
Use lawful wares and reasonable prize.   

ye subjects live ye in obedience and awe  
Fearing gods stroke and danger of the law.   

ye rich whom god hath goods unto scent  
relieve the poor and help the indigente.   

ye that are poor with your state be content  
Not having wherewith to live competent   

ye magistrates the cause of the widow and fatherless  
Defend against such as shall them oppress   

All ye that are called to any other office  
Execute the same according to justice   

Let each here so live in his vocation  
As may his foul save and profit his nation   

This granting god that sitteth on high  
we shall here well live and after well die   
Famam virtutis m●●s  
Abolire nequit  ꝙ. F. S.   

¶ Imprinted at London in Paul's Churchyard. By william Seare●.