Here begynneth a ryght frutefull treatyse, intituled the myrrour of good maners co[n]teynyng the .iiii. vertues, called cardynall, compyled in latyn by Domynike Mancyn: and translate into englysshe: at the desyre of syr Gyles Alyngton knyght: by Alexander Bercley prest and monke of Ely.

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If thou be constrayned / any persone to blame Do that thou nat seme / for wrath hym to reproue But with all demurenesse / behaue the in the same As nat led by malyce: but rather of good loue Oft tyme a great blamer / is lytell for behoue But rather maketh worse / by to great cruelte Where as a mery blamer: is great vtylyte

To the frayle offender / by countenaunce demure So glad chere doth profyte / whan yre rageth in vayne Be lyght to forgyuenesse / and byd gylty be sure Nat to haue lyke mercy / if they trespas agayne If thou loue the synner: and worde can nat constrayne Hym to cesse his foly / than vs•• thou more rygour As fetters or pryson / to sober his furour

Better is to suffer / hym for a tyme to smerte Than wander vncor••ect / to manyfolde errour And after se hym ende / with sadde and wofull herte To his owne confusion / and frendes dishonour Nor go thou nat to farre / blamyng with wordes sour Or ragyng and chydyng / for any cryme or synne Namely agaynst suche / as are nat of thy ••ynne

If thou be wyse / folowe the maner what thou can Of a wyse phesician: or leche experient For deed flesshe they cut out / of woman chylde or man In most easy maner / onely for this entent To restore vnto helth / the paynfull pacyent So blame thou with wysdome / thy frēde aboue all thyng Lest thou wyn but hatred / by rygorous chydyng

Aduert glasse is brytell / but yren stele and brasse Endureth great strokes / or they receyue fygure But the cryspyng yren / suffyseth brytell glasse So man must be treated / as semeth theyr nature Some roughly / some myloly / with fayre wordes demure Therfore blame but seldome / and without iniury And that whan thou seest: none other remedy

Notes

• At Ti qué obiur••••••: cu∣ra ne percitus ira Sis visus: sed {quam} ductus a more facis.
• Saepe nihil prodest ni∣•••••• reprehē for acerb{us} Plus prodest hilaris: nā magis ille docet. Errori veniam facilis donabis: et illi Non dandam dices: si repetitus erit.
• Si ne{que} verba valent: & carior ipse reprensus: Vtere carceribus: con∣pede stringe pedes Non nimiū longe fue∣ris iurgando profectus Inter di••iūctos acrior esse caue.
• Si sapias: medicos iu•••• gans imitare peritos Qui tantum: vt ••anent putrida mēbra secant. Sic tu quo prosis: pru∣denter corripe car••••. Nō odiū queras: dum male facta refers.
• Ergo si•• hoc caro: ••ū{que} est••iniu••ia cesset. Sit tūc: cū melior nul∣la relicta via est.