The Babees' Book: Medieval Manners for the Young

"The Babees' Book: Medieval Manners for the Young" by Frederick James Furnivall is a historical guidebook written during the early 20th century, specifically in the 1910s. This book serves as a translation and adaptation of medieval texts aimed at teaching young people about manners and etiquette in a courtly setting, reflecting the social norms of the time. The text provides insights into the expectations of behavior for children in the households of medieval England, outlining the principles of good manners that are relevant even today. The content of "The Babees' Book" focuses on instructing young boys and girls on proper conduct during meals, interaction with their lords, and general decorum in social situations. It emphasizes values such as cleanliness, respect, humility, and consideration for others. Through a series of descriptions and guidelines, it teaches the importance of standing still in the presence of superiors, proper dining etiquette, and the importance of making others feel comfortable during meals. Overall, the book offers a charming glimpse into the customs of the past while underlining the timeless nature of good manners. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Frederick James Furnivall was an English philologist, best known as one of the co-creators of the New English Dictionary. He founded a number of learned societies on early English literature and made pioneering and massive editorial contributions to the subject, of which the most notable was his parallel text edition of The Canterbury Tales. He was one of the founders of and teachers at the London Working Men's College and a lifelong campaigner against injustice.