“Every man and woman,” says the author of _Dives and Pauper_, “after his degree, is bound to do his business to know God’s law that he is bound to keep. And fathers, mothers, godfathers and godmothers be bound to teach their children God’s law or else do them to be taught. “St. Austin saith that each man in his own household should do the office of bishop in teaching and correcting of common things, and therefore saith the law that the office of teaching and chastising belongeth not only to the bishop but to every governor after his manner and his degree: to the poor man governing his poor household; to the rich man governing his folk; to the husband governing his wife; to the father and mother governing their children.” Filial affection was strongly inculcated in the common teachings. In a will of one John Sothil of Dewsbury, in 1500, is expressed the last wish of one who had evidently been brought up to reverence his own parents. “Also I pray, Thomas my son, in my name and for the love of God, that he never strive with his moder, as he will have my blessing, for he shall find her curtous to del with.” Grace with meals--before and after--was not only the law, but the practice. To ask God’s blessing over what His bounty had provided, and to thank Him afterwards, was an elementary duty of all living the Christian life. Children were taught the importance of associating God and His providence with their meals, and, as in so many other matters, instruction was conveyed in some simple rhymes like-- “He that without grace sitteth down to eate Forgetting to give God thanks for his meate And riseth againe letting Grace overpasse Sittes down like an oxe and riseth like an asse.” Children were taught to rise early, as the _Babe of Nurture_ says-- “Ryse you early in the morning For it hath propertyes three Holynesse, health and happy welth, As my father taught mee. At syxe of the clocke, without delay Use commonly to ryse And give God thanks for thy good rest When thou openest thy eyes.” The young were taught also to pay respect to their elders, and in particular to their parents. They were to be reverential in their manner and to avoid giving them displeasure. The parent, on his part, was to refrain from setting a bad example, but was to see that, the first thing in the morning,-- “Or he do eny worldli deede,” his son was to lift up his heart to God, and pray that God may lead him through the day without sin. At the close of the day, after prayers, the child was to be taught to fall asleep thinking of heavenly things: with some such thought as--