Lytle childe, sythen youre tendre infancie
  Stondeth as yett vndir yndyff[e]rence,
To vice or vertu to moven[1] or Applie, 3
[Sidenote 1:  MS. coorven]
  And in suche Age ther is no prouide_n_ce,
Ne comenly no sadde intelligence,
    But ryght as wax receyueth printe and figure,
    So chylder ben disposed of nature,

[2]

Vice or vertu to Folowe and ympresse
  In mynde; and therfore, to stere and remeve
You from vice, and to vertu thou[1] dresse, 10
[Sidenote 1:  Read you]
  That on to folow, and the other to eschewe,
  I haue devysed you this lytill newe
    Instrucc_i_on according to your_e_ age,
    Playne in sentence, but playner in langage. 14

(Richard Hill’s Commonplace Book, or Balliol MS. 354, ffl C lx.)

[Sidenote:  Hill’s Text.]

Here begynnyth lytill[e] Ioh_a_n.

P) Lytell[e] Iohan, sith yo_u_r tender_e_ enfancye
    Stondyth as yet vnder_e_ Indyfference
  To vyce or vertu to mevyn or applie,
    & in suche age ther[1] ys no p_ro_vydence, 4
    Ne come_n_ly no sage Intelygence,
      But as wax receyvith prynt or fygure,
      So chyldren bene disposed of nature

[Footnote 1:  The th is the same as the y.]

P) Vyce or vertu to folowe, & enpresse 8
    In mynde; & therfor to styre & remeve
  you frome vice, & to vertu addresse,
    That on to folow, & that o_ther_ to eschewe,
    I haue devysed you this lytill[e] newe 12
      Instrucc_i_on[1] accordyng vnto yo_u_r age,
      playn In sentence, but playner_e_ In langage.

[Footnote 1:  The mark of contraction is over the n:  t.i. the n has its tail curled over its back like a dog’s.]

[The Book of Courtesye.]

[Caxton’s Text.]

[1]

[Sidenote:  Leaf 1 a.]

  Lytyl Iohn syth your tendre enfancye
  Stondeth as yet vnder / in difference
[Sidenote:  As Infancy is indifferent]
To vice or vertu to meuyn or applye 3 [Sidenote:  whether it follows vice or virtue,] And in suche age ther is no prouidence
Ne comenly no sad_e_ Intelligence
But as waxe resseyueth prynte or figure
So children ben disposid_e_ of nature 7

[2]

Vyce or vertue to folowe and_e_ enpresse
In mynde / and_e_ therfore / to styre & remeue
You from vice / and_e_ to vertue addresse 10
That one to folowe / and that other teschewe
I haue deuysed you / this lytyl newe
[Sidenote:  I have written this new treatise to draw you from vice, and
turn you to virtue.]
Instrucc_i_on / acordyng_e_ vnto your age
Playne in sentence / but playner in la_n_gage 14