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.

Who that wyll serue in loyalte

Marchauntes, preestes, or gentylmen, To them dylygent must euer be,

And on euery hande haue fyngers ten.

Thou seruaunt that herest thy felawes blame,
And that he is not theyr present,
Blame hym for gyuynge his yll name,
Supportynge hym that is absent.

Ye seruauntes in ony wyse

Haue taken charge of besynes,

Erly in the mornynge se ye ryse,
Your werke and laboure to redresse.

Ye that are seruauntes in noblesse,

In kynges courte and other where, Gyue euer honour to gentylnesse, And your souerayne lorde loue and fere.

Ye seruauntes that in courte remayne,
Whiche here ony falshode or subtylte,

Holde your tonge and not complayne,
But yf it touche the mageste.

Seruauntes in courte that haue governaunce

Of the comenty in ony wyse,

Ought not so ferre them to auaunce,

Leest theyr mayster them dyspyse.

You marchauntes seruauntes I you auyse,
And ye labourers bothe daye and nyght,
Set not your mynde on couetyse,

Auoyde falshode, or ye do not ryght.

Seruauntes ought not to ensue
Theyr owne wyll nor volunte,
But to theyr mayster to be true,
Doynge his wyll with humelyte.

Seruauntes that are good and true,
Ought faythfully to bye and sell;
Fraude and falshode must they eschue,
Elles are they theues, and go to hell.

Ye marchauntes seruauntes, that go by the waye To bye or sell your marchaundyse,

Where ye become do truely paye,

And giue true compte in your aduyse.

And ye that serueth labourers,

Of sloathfulnes se ye beware,

Be dylygent in all maners,

And by no meanes your body spare.

Seruauntes of chyrche or of noblesse,
Of laboure or of marchaundyse,
Thinke that trouth is worthe rychesse,
Therfore loue yt in ony wyse.

Ye seruauntes that wayte vpon the table,
Be ye honest and dylygent,
To hym that is most honourable

Afforme your maners and entent.

Couer your borde honestly,

After the custome of the countre; And whan they are set do you applye, Echone to serue after his degre.

Yf ony be amonge them all

To whome your mayster wyll do honoure,

Tende ye hym as pryncypall,

Therby shall ye fall in fauoure.

Fyrst serue ye in the potage,

And than eche meet after his degre,

And be ye euer ware of outrage,
Or tatche of dyshoneste.

Ye seruauntes that at home do byde,
Whan your mayster is forth of towne,
Ye wysest sholde the other guyde,
Kepynge good rule and prouysyowne.

And

ye seruauntes of euery place, Whan that the dyner is at an ende, Present yourselfe for to saye grace,

Thankynge that Lorde that all dooth sende.

Whan that your mayster is fro the table,
And eche thynge as it sholde be,
Take your repast that is agreable,
So ye behaue you honestly.

Yf that thou wylte thy mayster please, Thou must haue these thre prepryetees, For to lyue at thyne hertes ease, Auoydynge many of aduersytees.

A hartes fete with eeres of an asse,
An hogges snowt to must thou haue,
So mayst thou please in euery case
Thy mayster, yf thou the thus behaue.

By an asse eeres this is mente,

That thou must harken hym a boute, And yf that he be not content,

Saye nought, but se thou hym doute.

By the hogges snowte vnderstonden is
What mete soeuer to the is brought,
Though it be somwhat a mys,

Holde thy peas and grutche nought.

As to regarde of the fete of an harte,
They sholde euer theyr mayster socoure,
Payne the for hym though that thou smerte,
To renne and go at euery houre.