A minister who had spare time on his hands because he was for a long period without a charge, Adam Petrie wrote a manual of manners as a guide for young people. On the subject of seemly conduct, he believed that ‘Art corrects what is bad, and helps to perfect what is good; without which a Man is clownish in every Thing he sets about.’ He took manners very seriously indeed, suggesting that, as seen in one example he offers, they could be a matter of life and death.
If one be sleeping in the Fields, you are not to go near him, except he be your Acquaintance, lest some hath been before you that hath exercised too much familiarity with his Pocket, and you be suspected by him. If you pass by one easing Nature, you should turn your Face another Way, and should not so much as notice him. If you can evite [avoid] passing by him, it is better.
If you be to travel in a Coach, let your Superiors enter first; and when you enter, take the worst Place.… If you are about to travel on Horseback, let your Superiors be first mounted, and the Inferiors should first dismount to be ready to give Assistance.
In travelling keep a little behind your Superior; if your Station be such as that you may ride up with him, then place yourself on his left Hand; and if there be three in Company, let the next eminent Person place himself on his right Hand, and the other on the left. If he be to pass a River where there may be Danger, go first; and if after, keep some Distance from him, that so you may not dirty him.
It is civil not to sit too long in a Room with Ladies, and to leave them a little after they have come off a Journey, or when they are to take a Journey: Neither is it convenient to suffer them to ride too far, and not to have Access to be alone; for if there be no Houses on the Way, then they may cause them light at some Place where they may conveniently retire from the Company, that so they may have their own Freedom; tho I am not for Men’s shewing them the Reason of making them light, for this would put them to the Blush. Some such Expression may be used, as, Let us allow the Horses to breath a little. I have heard of a modest Lady, who in riding with an inconsiderate Person lost her Life …
Do not smell at what you eat or drink; and it is most rude to do it to what another eats or drinks …
If it be enquired what you are for? you must answer, What you please. If there be Ladies, let them have a Share of all that’s presented. If a Lady with Child long for any thing, she may frankly desire the same (but modestly) wherever she is; for some have smarted severely for their Folly …
Make no Noise with your Spoon or Knife. It is rude to suck your Meat out of the Spoon with an ungratefull Noise.
Do not bite your Bread into Pieces, nor Fruit, &c. but cut or break the same: Neither must you keep your Knife always in your Hand.
It is indecent to fill the Mouth too full; such cramming is more suitable to a Beast than a rational Creature.
Put not both your Hands to your Mouth at once. Be sure to throw nothing in the Floor, ’tis uncivil and disobliging …
It is clownish to pick the Shells of an Egg with your Fingers: Pair it with your Knife. It is little better to pick out an Egg from the Shell with Bread.
Do not lick your Fingers, nor dirty your Napkin.
If you have occasion to wipe your Nose, or the Sweat from your Face, hold up your Napkin betwixt you and the Company, and do it with as little Noise as possible with your Handkerchief. To wipe the Nose or Sweat of the Face with a Table Napkin is most rude …
Be sure to wipe your Mouth before you drink, and when you drink hold in your Breath till you have done. I have seen some colour the Glass with their Breath, which is certainly very loathsome to the Company to think that they must drink out of the same Glass …
It is unbecoming in Church to have their Eyes running hither and thither. It shows an unstable Heart. Nor must you move your Body in an unseemly Manner.
It is rude to laugh, sleep, or whisper others in the Ear in Time of divine Worship, or in Time of Sermon.
It is rude to come to Church in a gawdy Dress. A grave decent Apparel is most suitable for the House of GOD. I do not plead but that Persons may be arranged according to their Rank and Station; but that they should not have a light Dress, such as bare shoulders and bare Breasts, or any Thing that is indecent.
It is uncivil for Persons to seek out the weak Places of a Sermon to expose the Preacher. This is no Sign of Piety or Wit.