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.