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Description: | No date*.
"Having many times desired (as becometh the careful father over his family) to have such order and government in my household as God thereby might be feared, myself (as becometh) duly obeyed and served, and the honest endeavours of my followers worthily commended, ... I have therefore devised and thought it most convenient under my hand to confirm such necessary notes as here-under are specified, to the end that all, being warned of my pleasure, shall not object ignorance for a buckler to shadow any undecent demeanour. Whereby, as I fully am resolved to cherish, maintain and defend the well-affected in their good behaviours, so will I not fail to extirpe and root out such bad members as otherwise might offend and infect the rest, by disobeying or condemning this my good purpose.
"For the due serving of God.--First, because the general estate of man is so miserable as of himself he can neither do or think any good thought ... all such as are willing to continue with me and that desire to please me, shall daily observe and keep the times of common prayer; and shall, after the second tolling of the bell or other warning given, repair presently either to the chapel, great chamber, parlour or to such place where the service for that time is appointed to be said, and so to continue reverently hearing the same until the end of any serment or other prayers, unless he or they be otherwise employed or licenced to be absent, or be able to show a sufficient cause why he was not present.
"To abstain from swearing.--Secondly, for so much as vengeance and utter destruction is pronounced by God's holy word against that place where his divine name is blasphemed and abused and vain oaths ordinarily frequented, and that the like offences committed in the servants have been revenged upon the master and his posterity : I therefore, to avoid such a manifest danger, do command all my people so to abstain therein, as, detestable swearing being utterly expelled, God may be pleased and myself greatly quieted and contented.
"That grace be daily said at Meals.--Thirdly, seeing that our own abilities are so weak as without the Lord's good providing we have not so much as one crumb of bread wherewith to feed and sustain us, and that ungrateful acceptation may move him to withdraw and take those good benefits from us which in most bountiful sort it pleaseth him daily to bestow upon us: I do therefore command that every day, before and after dinner and supper in the Hall, due thanks be reverently rendered for those blessings, which (the rest being all silent) shall be pronounced by the Sewer, or by any other that in his absence shall supply his place and office. And do likewise wish that such moderation be used in your diet as may be for my credit and redound to your own commendations.
"That the Sewer be obeyed.--Fourthly, because I have appointed and ordained my loving servant, Walter Sheldon, to be the sewer and to direct the whole course of waiting which is to be used towards myself, your mistress, or such strangers as doth come to visit me, ... I therefore will and command that you all, without any contradiction, shall observe and with your best endeavours perform such things as touching my service he shall appoint you.
"That recreation be orderly used and frequented.--Fifthly, seeing that the continual usage of unlawful games be means to provoke great wrath and dissension, unless the same be used with moderation, and knowing how pernicious the use of dice playing is [to] disturb the quiet estate of a well-ordered family, I have thought good to forbid in any sort, either in private or public, to all my servants the use of that detestable game; allowing, notwithstanding, the exercise of other games and pastimes lawfully to be used within or about the house, so as the value of the sports be not more than the gamester's ability may bear, and that the time of common prayer be forborne, and after such time as the pantler is ready to cover.
"To keep home.--Sixthly, lest that by continual going abroad, disorders (by the frequenting of dishonest company, taverns, alehouses or such-like places) might be used, to the slander of my whole family, the neglecting of my service, and to the consuming of themselves and substance, I do command and forbid that no man, unless he be sent about business, shall use to go to any town hereabouts without knowledge thereof given, either to myself, your mistress, the appointed steward or to the sewer, whereby I may be the better able upon all occasions to answer for the behaviour of my people.
"Admonition to all in general.--Seventhly, I do wish and heartily desire that all my servants should be of godly, virtuous and honest conversation, refraining from vicious living, unseemly talk, excessive drinking, seditious language, mocking, scoffing or misnaming, and that by abstaining from variance, dissensions, debates, frays, sowing of discord, malice, envy and hatred, they shall live and continue in all friendly affection together, and as it becometh the body of one family, to love the one the other; and towards all strangers to be of honest and courteous entertainment. By which doings, God will the sooner bless my proceedings, prosper all your doings, and myself will not fail in what I possibly may to do you good.
"Lastly, because many other business will not suffer me so often as I could wish to look unto the observation of the above said orders, and to other matters belonging to myself, I have therefore appointed, and in my name do authorise [blank] to take that care upon him, commanding all my servants to be obedient to such directions as in my name he shall give them, as they tender my displeasure and will be 'perteneres' of my favour."
Underwritten: List of servants:--Sheldon, sewer, Pigott, Foxley, St. John, Christopher, Charles and Willie Clough, Sage, the Page, Lorden, Anteny, Hichecokes. Vaughan.
*Apparently belonging to the papers of Peregrine, Lord Willoughby. Perhaps drawn up on his marriage. | Subjects: | Country Estates | Temporal: | undated | Source: | Lincolnshire County Council | Identifier: | http://www.lincstothepast.com/Records/Re... | Go to resource |
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