Likewise doe they very ill, yt now & then pull out a letter out of their pocket, to reade it: as if they had greate matters of charge, and affaires of the common weale committed unto them. But they are much more to bee blamed, that pull out their knives or their scisers, and doe nothing els but pare their nailes, as if they made no account at all of the company, and would seeke some other solace to passe the time awaye. Theis fashions to, must be left, yt some men use, to sing betwene the teeth, or playe the dromme with their fingers, or shoofle their feete: For these demeanours shewe that a body is carelesse of any man ells.
Besides, let not a man so sit that he turne his taile to him that sitteth next to him: nor lie tottering with one legg so high above the other, that a man may see all bare that his cloathes would cover. For such parts be never playde, but amongst those to whome a man needs use no reverence. It is very true, that if a gentleman should use these fashions before his servants, or in the presence of some friende of meaner condition then him selfe: it would betoken no pride, but a love and familiaritie.
Let a man stand uppright of him selfe, and not leane or loll uppon another mans shoulder: and when he talketh, let him not pounche his fellow with his elbowe, (as many be wont to doe) at every worde they speake, saying: "Did I not say true Sirra. Master. N. It is Master. H." And still they be jotting with their elbowe.
I would have every man well appareled, meete for his age and calling: for otherwise, they seeme to have men in contempt that be better attired then themselves.
And therefore the Citizens of Padua, were woont to take it done of spighte unto them, when any gentleman of Venice walked up & downe their citie in his coate, as though he thought him selfe in the countrey. And a mans apparell, would not be made of fine cloathe alone: but he must frame it, all that he may, to the fashions that other men weare, and suffer him selfe to bee lead by common use: although (perchaunce) it be, and seeme to be lesse commodious, lesse gallant, and lesse faire in shewe, then his oulde.
And if all men els, doe weare their heads powled: it shalbe an ill sight for thee alone, to weare a longe bushe of haire. And where other men, make muche of their beardes and weare them longe: thou shalt not doe well to cut thine of, or shave it. For that weare to be overthwarte in everything: which thou must (in any case) beware of, except necessitie require it, as thou shalt heare hereafter. For this singularitie, beyond all other ill customes, makes us generally spited of all men. Thou must not then go against common custome in these things, but use them measureably: that thou maist not bee an odd man alone in a countrey: that shall weare a long Gowne downe to the foote, where other men weare them very shorte, litle beneath the waste. For as it hapens to him, that hath a very crabbed ilfavoured face, (I meane suche, as is more harde and sower then most mennes be, for nature doth mostly shape them well in moste men) that men will wonder and (with a kinde of admiration) gape most uppon him: So fares it with them that attire them selves, not as most men doe: but as they are egged by their owne fantasticall heads, with long heare spred downe to their shoulders, their beardes short and shaven, and weare quaiues or greate cappes after ye Flaundres fashion: that all men doe gaze uppon them, as wondering at suche, whome they weene have taken uppon them, to conquer all countries wheresoever they come. Let your apparell then, be very well made, and fit for your body: for they that weare rich and coastly garments, but so illfavouredly shaped, that a man would weene the measure had bin taken by another: geve us to judge one of these twaine, that either they have no regarde or consideration how to please or displease: or els have no skill to judge of measure or grace, or what doth become them.
Such maner of people, with their rude behaviours and fashions, make men with whome they live, suspect, they doe esteeme them but light. And that causeth them worse welcome whersoever they com and ill beloved amongest men.
But there be some besides these, that deserve more then bare suspicion: their deeds and their doings be so intollerable, that a man cannot abide to live amongest them by any meanes. For they be ever a let, a hurt and a trouble to all the companie, they be never redie: ever a trimming: never well dressed to their mindes. But when men be readie to sit downe to the table, the meate at the boorde, and their handes washed: then they must write or make water, or have their exercise to doe: saying, "It is too early: we might have taried a while: what haste is this, this morning?" And thus they disquiet all the company, as men, caring for them selves alone & their owne matters, without consideration in the worlde of other men. Besides this, they will in all things be preferred above others: they must have the best bed, and best chamber: they must take uppon them the highest place at the table, and be first set and served of all men. And they be so deintie and nice, that nothing pleaseth them, but what they them selves devise: they make a sower face at any thing ells. And they be so proude minded, that they looke that men should waite uppon them when they dine, ride, sporte, or solace them selves.
There be other so furious, testie & waywarde, that nothing you doe can please them: and what soever is said they aunswer in choler, and never leave brauling wt their servants, and rayling at them, and continually disturbe the company with their unquietnes: using such speeches: "Thou cauledst me well up this morning. Looke heere how cleane thou hast made these pynsons. Thou beaste, thou diddest waite well uppon me to Churche. It were a good deede to breake thy head." These be unsemely and very fowle fashions: suche as every honest man will hate to death. For, albeit a mans minde were full fraught with all humilitie, and would use these maners, not uppon pride or disdaine, but uppon a rechelesse care, not heeding his doings, or elles by meanes of ill custome: yet notwithstanding, because his outward doings, woulde make men thinke him proude: it cannot be chosen, but all men woulde hate him for it. For, Pride is none other thinge, then to despise and disdaine another. And as I have saide from the beginning: Eache man desireth to bee well thought of, Albeit there bee no valoure or goodnes in him.
It is not long, since there was in Rome a worthy gentleman, of singular good witt and profound learning, whose name was Ubaldino Bandinelli. This gentleman was woont to say, that as ofte as hee went or came from the Courte, although the stretes weare ever full of gallant Courtiers, of Prelates and Noble men, and likewise of poore men, and people of meane and base condition: yet he thought he never encountred any, that was either better or worse then himselfe. And without doubte hee could meete with fewe, that might bee compared in goodnes to him: respecting his vertues, that did excel beyond measure. But we must not alwayes in these things measure men by ye Elne: We must rather waye them in the millers scoles, then in the goldsmythes balaunce. And it is a courtious parte, redily to receave them in to favour: not bycause they bee woorthe it: but as men doe with coines, bycause they be currant.