p. [135]. Phantasy. Here taste, inclination. Obsolete. See N.E.D., Fantasy 7.
p. [136]. Stick. Probably toothpick. Erasmus wrote of them twenty years before. Cf. Introduction, p. [xxvii]. But indeed we read in Old English of a “tooth-spear.”
p. [138]. Checkmate. Perhaps the meaning is: done for, as far as manners are concerned. But later editions read Jack-mate, of which the sense seems to be: that, you think yourself as good as he, i.e., your action shows too great familiarity.
FRANCIS SEAGER’S SCHOOL OF VIRTUE
The title continues: and Book of Good Nurture for Children and Youth to Learn their Duty by. Newly perused, corrected and augmented by the first Auctor, F.S. With a brief declaration of the duty of each degree. Anno 1557, &c.
This indicates plainly that there had been an earlier edition. Seager was a poet and translator who flourished 1549-63. He seems to have come of a Devonshire family, and was perhaps the Francis Nicholson, alias Seager, who was made free of the Stationers’ Company in 1557. Among other things, he translated from Alain Chartier, and also made a rendering of the Psalms. His School of Virtue shows as little originality as poetic merit, but it seems to have been popular in his day and long after, as it was revised by Robert Crowley and extended by Richard Weste during the seventeenth century.
RICHARD WESTE’S SCHOOL OF VIRTUE
This was printed in 1619, and about fifty years later was added to an edition of Seager, revised and extended by Robert Crowley; hence, the sub-title, “the Second Part.” Weste’s treatise is believed to be unique. Of its contents, Dr. Furnivall published only Demeanour in Serving at the Table, from Bensley’s reprint, 1817.
p. [161]. Gellius. Flourished in the second century A.D., and wrote the famous commonplace book, Noctes Atticæ.
p. [163]. Serve God, &c., alludes perhaps to serving at table.