But yf he be a foole or blynde, Elles wyll he none of thy seruyce; Than must thou wander afore the wynde, Therfore of this se thou be wyse. Let pacyence abate thy maysters rygour, And take good hede to his condycyon, Thou shalt to hym do grete honour, Submyttynge the to his correccyon. And yf thy mayster make ye his secretary, Se thou haue a sare tongue and stable; His counseyle se thou not bewry, A secrete tongue is euer prouffytable. And yf your mayster haue an vse To swere the name of God in vayne, His company se you refuse, Leest ye be brought in suche a trayne. Seruauntes auoyde the company Of them that playe at cardes or dyse, For yf that ye them haunte truely, To thefte shall they you soone attyse. Ye seruauntes that se the courage, Of your mayster on angre set, Yf he wyll do ony man domage, With your myght se ye hym lette. Ye seruauntes that ben in batayle, What ye do stele ye must restore, Ye seruauntes that ben oft angry, Hauynge the dethe ay in your syght. Seruauntes yf that ye wyll ensue The doctrynes and them obserue, And serue and loue God with hertes true, Wherof the kynge shall you preserue, Ye seruauntes that wyll kepe in mynde, Yf ye them folowe trust well to fynde Some maners to be magnyfyed. Imprynted at London, in Fletestrete, at the sygne of Saynt Here is the boke of mayd Emlyn that had .b. Husbandes and all kockoldes; she wold make theyr berdes whether they wold or no, and gyue them to were a praty hoodefull of belles. THE BOKE OF MAYD EMLYN. WYLL ye here of meruaylles Of mayde Emlynne, She coude so well spynne, Louynge to go gaye, For she was borne in synne: Ofte wolde she seke The tauernes in the weke, Tyll her wytte was thynne; Full swetely wolde she kys And say it was no synne; Thus collynge in armes Full lytell dyd they wynne; At his heed she wolde it flynge. |