The Dialogues by Claudius Hollyband and Peter Erondell, published in 1568, contain this conversation between Francis the schoolboy, a late riser, and Margaret, the maid.1 A similar conversation, save for different articles of clothing and a mother rather than a maid, might well be heard in 1980 in many American homes.
Margaret. Ho Fraunces, rise and get you to school: you shall be beaten, for it is past seven: make yourself readie quickly, say your prayers, then you shall have your breakfast.
Francis: Margerite, geeve me my hosen: dispatche I pray you: where is my doublet? bryng my garters, and my shooes: geeve mee that shooyng horne.
Margaret: Take first a cleane shirte, for yours is fowle.
Francis: Make hast then, for I doo tarie too long.
Margaret: It is moyst yet, tarry a little that I may drie it by the fier.
Francis: I had rather thou shouldst be shent, than I should be either child or beaten: where have you layde my girdle and my inck-horne? Where is my gyrkin [jerkin] of Spanish leather of Bouffe? Where be my sockes of linnen, of wollen, of clothe? Where is my cap, my hat, my coate, my cloake, my kaipe [cape or short coat], my gowne, my gloves, my mittayns [mittens], my pumpes, my moyles [mules], my slippers, my handkerchief, my pointes, my sachell, my penknife and my books. Where is all my geare? I have nothing ready: I will tell my father ...
