Caxton's Book of Curtesye

This volume brings together one of the earliest printed guides to good manners, a work that first appeared in the late 1400s under the press of William Caxton. Drawing from several medieval manuscripts, it offers a vivid snapshot of how courtesy was taught and expected in the courts and households of the time. The language, though archaic, retains a lively rhythm that makes the old advice feel surprisingly immediate.

The text is framed as a father’s counsel to his son, who is beginning service as a noble’s page. It blends practical instructions—how to speak, behave, and present oneself—with short poems and ballads that illustrate the ideals of humility, loyalty, and proper conduct. Readers will hear the cadence of medieval English verse and the straightforward, earnest tone of a mentor shaping a young man’s character.

Accompanying the original material are careful editorial notes that clarify obscure words and restore missing lines from the best surviving manuscript. These insights help modern ears follow the flow without getting lost in the historical minutiae, making the treatise both an educational artifact and an enjoyable listening experience.