THE DOCTRYNALL OF GOOD

SERVAUNTES.

ALL

ye seruantes that good intende to be, Beholde in this treatyse here present,

In the whyche wryten ye shall se

Ryght good doctrynes playne and euydent.

Thou that seruest the spyrytualyte,

Behaue thyselfe to them obedyent;

Not for them, but for theyr degre,

Syth they consecrate our God omnipotent.

Thou that them seruest at the autere,

Entende to them with all thy dylygence,

Be of thy mynde peasyble and entere,

That thou be worthy in thy Lordes presence.

Thou seruant seruynge ony prelate,

The whyche is set in dygnyte,
For theyr subgectes be good aduocate,
Supportynge them in good equyte.

Ye seruauntes in grete company,

In

any lordes hous or mansyon, Yf ye be yonge, se ye obey

To your elders, for it is reason.

A seruante ought to loue his lorde
With all his herte, and not to fayne;
Yf he do the proffyte in dede and worde,
Do that thou it deserue agayne.

Seruauntes ought to be honourable,
Of theyr bodyes specyally,
To all men seruysable,

And to ete and drynke ay sobrely.

Seruauntes ought not to swere in vayne,
The name of God in no maner,
Nor of his sayntes, beware that trayne,
For it standeth in grete daungere.

Ye seruauntes not seruynge at table,
In takynge of your nuryture,
Speke lytell and be agreable,

So that ye fauour may procure.

Euery man they ought to please,
And them obey with lowe intencyon;

In lytell medlynge is grete ease,

Fle dysceyte, gyle, and decepcyon.

A seruaunte ought not for to brynge

No newe tydynges vnto theyr lorde, Without they be nere hym touchynge, For therof cometh grete dyscorde.

Seruauntes ought to aduertyse,
To say euer trouthe and veryte,
Blame no man in ony wyse,
Behaue the after thy degre.

Seruauntes that go on message

Of theyr mayster to ony place, Thinke well that it is grete outrage To countrefet thy seale in ony case.

Seruauntes ought after theyr pleasaunce, For to be clenly of theyr bodyes, Humble of loke and countenaunce, Behauynge them to all degrees.

A seruaunt ought with dylygence,
To euery man to do honoure,
And to his mayster with reuerence
Enclyne hymselfe at euery houre.

A seruaunt ought euer for to fle

All places that are of euyll name,

As tauernes and houses of baudry,

Whiche bryngeth many a man to shame.