“And first of all, I think to show how you babies who dwell in households, should ’have yourselves when ye be set at meat, and how when men bid you be merry, you should be ready with lovely, sweet and benign words. In this, aid me, O Mary, Mother Revered; and eke, O lady mine, Facetia, guide thou my pen and show unto me help. For as A is the first of all letters, so art thou mother of all virtue. Have pity, sweet lady, of my lack of wit, and though untaught I speak of demeanour, support my ignorance with thy goodly aid.”
Invocation of Mary is a religious allusion which would encourage children to seek righteousness for Mary epitomizes virtue. Furnivall believes that Mary’s intervention or faith in Mary would be morally beneficial to the children who are keen on being righteous. Children are encouraged to emulate Mary is their utterances by upholding decency in all that they utter. Furthermore, children should not be ignorant of the negative implications of adverse utterances.
“Be not…M too Meddling, too Merry, but as Measure asketh/ N too (an-) Noying, too Nice, nor too New-Fangled either. O too Overbold, too Overthwart, and hate thou Oaths.”
Excess meddlesomeness and merriness are not commended for they are undesirable and inconveniencing. One should learn to balance his/. Her merriness and desist from meddling in other people’s affairs. Moreover, being extremely annoying makes one unattractive. Furthermore, being 'too nice' would lay one open to manipulation. Over-boldness could backfire on one. Fulfilling oaths is reputable.
“Whoso will of courtesy hear/In this book it is made clear./ If thou be gentleman, yeoman or knave/ Thee needeth nurture for to have./ When thou comest to a lord’s gate/…If he be gentleman of kin/The porter thee will lead to him/When thou comest the hall door to,/Take off thy hood, they gloves off do.”
The sole ideology which is repeated through put the book relates to courtesy. All men, no matter their social status are encouraged to embrace courtesy: courtesy is not reserved for the nobilities only. Behaving courteously would blur the social differences which would distinguish “gentlemen, yeoman or knaves.” Removal of hoods and gloves is emblematic of modesty and courteousness.
