Caxton's Book of Curtesye
1477
Caxton's Book of Curtesye
1477
Printed in 1477 by William Caxton, the first English printer, this is among the earliest books ever published in the English language. A courtesy book - essentially a conduct manual for the young - it addresses a pupil called Lytle Johan and instructs him in the art of becoming a virtuous member of medieval society. The text moves through practical matters (how to greet elders, how to sit at table, how to keep oneself clean) toward deeper moral instruction: cultivate humility, resist flattery, guard your tongue, and remember that manner and morality are inseparable. What elevates this small treatise beyond mere period etiquette is its core argument: that grace in society flows from inner virtue, and that the habits formed in childhood determine the character of adulthood. For readers curious about where our ideas of manners and decorum originate, this text offers a window into the medieval mind - one that believed profoundly in the teachability of character and the importance of polite society.
About Caxton's Book of Curtesye
Chapter Summaries
- 1-2
- The author addresses Little John, explaining that children are like wax that can be shaped toward virtue or vice. He offers this instruction to guide the child toward virtue and away from vice, written in plain language appropriate to the child's age.
- 3-5
- Instructions for proper morning routine: rising with prayers (Pater Noster, Ave Maria, Creed), crossing oneself, and saying Our Lady's Matins while dressing. Emphasis on beginning each day with worship of God.
- 6-11
- Detailed guidance on personal cleanliness: combing hair, cleaning ears and nose, washing hands, maintaining clean nails, and dressing appropriately for one's station. The goal is to appear well-taught and honest.
Key Themes
- Education and Moral Formation
- The treatise emphasizes that children are like wax, capable of being shaped toward either virtue or vice. Proper education and moral instruction in youth are essential for developing good character.
- Social Hierarchy and Service
- The work reflects medieval social structures, teaching proper behavior toward superiors, equals, and in service positions. It emphasizes knowing one's place while maintaining dignity and competence.
- Literary Heritage and Language
- The author celebrates English literary tradition, particularly praising Chaucer, Gower, Lydgate, and Occleve as founders of eloquent English. He laments that modern writers can only 'glean' from these masters' fields.
Characters
- The Author/Narrator(protagonist)
- An elderly disciple of John Lydgate who writes this instructional treatise. He identifies himself as old and no longer able to 'glean' literary works effectively, having lost the clarity of his eyes.
- Little John (Lytill Johan)(protagonist)
- The young addressee of the treatise, representing any child of tender age whose character is still malleable like wax. He is the recipient of moral and behavioral instruction.
- John Lydgate(major)
- The author's deceased master, described as a monk of Bury and worthy poet laureate. His soul is imagined singing in heaven among the celestial muses.
- Geoffrey Chaucer(major)
- Praised as the 'Father and Founder of ornate eloquence' who illuminated all of Britain. His language was so perfect it seemed not just words but the very things themselves.
- John Gower(minor)
- An ancient father of memory whose moral writings, especially the Confessio Amantis, are recommended reading for their sentence and language.
- Thomas Occleve (Ocklyf)(minor)
- A poet who gave wise counsel to princes in his translation work, particularly his treatise 'De Regimine Principum' on governance.
