A Fifteenth-Century Courtesy Book

Courtesy books were especially popular in England in the fifteenth-century, but though they were numerous in number, this particular example, "A General Rule", is unique in that no other treatise corresponds to it closely. Translated from "MS. Addl. 37969", it is a guide to manners and duties, including instructions on conduct and demeanour, plus many practical hints on how to serve a "lorde or mayster". Also included are "The Thirde Order of Seynt Fraceys" and "The Rewle of Sustris Menouresses" - two medieval religious Rules, or handbooks. Presented here, un-modernised, in their original form, these guides make fascinating reading and give true insight into the aspects of medieval life and manners.