believe him a foolish jugler that sprinkels his words in any vulgar Mother-tongue publickly with murmurs against the lawful Magistrate Ecclesiastical or civil unless he hath some better ground for his dislike then a thwarting his humour in things controversal and adiaphorous 14. Follow not the tedious practice of such as seek wisdom onely in learning c. I answer He is Pedantically conceited of his invention which is so inroll'd in Policy that it drops black and malignant influences upon Tradition 15. Spend no time in reading much less writing strong lines c. I answer Why so pray Sir is it not worth your time to know the mysterious truth of natural Astrology and the strange and strong lines of the learned Moses but there is no superstition in Politicks more odious then to stand too much upon niceties 16. Books flatly writ deface your style the like may be truly objected to weak preachers c. I answer The late King Charles indeed had a pen more majestical then the Crown he lost but not as you say from experience the Mistress of fooles for he trusted in God and it was he that gave him a wise and an understanding heart if not others have known as much by experience as he that are not as he was truly inspired The excess which is in the defect of preaching has made the Pulpit flighted I mean the much bad Oratory we find it guilty of It is a wonder to me how men can preach so little in so long a time as if they thought to please by their vain Tautologies I see no reason that so high a Princess as Divinity is should be presented to the people in such sordid rags of the tongue nor he which speaks from the father of Languages should deliver his Embassage in an ill one A man can never speak too well where he speaks not too obscure long and distended clauses are both tedious to the ear and difficult for their retaining a sentence well couched takes both the sense and the understanding I love not those cart-rope speeches that are longer then the memory of man can fathom I see not but that Divinity put into apt significants by Iohn Cleveland might ravish as well as his Poetry The weightier lines men finde upon the Stage I am perswaded have been the Lures to draw away the Pulpit followers we complain of drowsiness at a Sermon when a Play of a doubled length leads you on still with alacrity but the fault is not in our selves if we saw Divinity acted the gesture and variety would as much invigilate But it is too slight to be personated by humanity the Stage feeds both the ear and the eye and through this latter sense the soul drinks deeper draughts things acted possess us more and are more retainable then the passable tones of the tongue Besides here we meet with more composed language the Dulcia Sermonis put into fine phrases though it is to be lamented such wits are not set to the right tune and consorted to Divinity who without doubt well deckt will cast a far more radiant lustre then those obscene scurrilities that the Stage presents us with though spangled in their gaudiest tire At a Sermon well drest what understander can have a motion to sleep Divinity well ordered casts forth a bait which angles the soul into the ear and how can that close when such a guest sits in it They are Sermons like Eugenius Philalethes Philosophy which lead the eyes to slumber and should we hear a continued Oration upon such a subject as the Stage treats on or Clevelands Poems in such words as we hear some Sermons I am confident it would not onely be far more tedious but nauseous and contemptible The most advantage they have of other places is in their good lines and actions For it is certain Cicero and Rossius are most complete when they both make but one man fit words are better then fine ones I like not those that are injudiciously made but such as be expressively significant that lead the mind to something besides the naked term and he that speaks this must not speak every day A kemb'd Oration will cost both sweat and the rubbing of the brain and kemb'd I wish it not frizeled nor curled Divinity should not lasciviate unwormwooded jests I like well but they are fitter for the Tavern then the Majesty of a Temple Christ taught the people with authority gravity becomes the Pulpit I became a writer by spending more oyl then wine this is too fluid an Element to beget substantials wit procured by wine is for the most part like the sparkling in the glass when t is filling they brisk it for a moment but dye presently I admire the valour of some men that before their studies dare ascend the Pulpit and do there take more pains then in their Library but having done this I wonder not that they there spend sometimes two hours but to weary the people into sleep and this makes fugitive Divines like cowards to run away from their Text words matter and gesture with admirable tongue complete a Sermon I know God hath chosen by weak things to confound the wise yet I see not but in all times a washed language hath much prevailed and even the Scriptures were penned in Hebrew a tongue of deep expression wherein every word hath almost a Metaphorical sense which does illustrate by some allusion How Political is Moses in his Pentateuch how philosophical Iob how massy and sententious is Solomon in his Proverbs how quaint and flamingly amorous in his Canticles how grave in his Ecclesiastes How were the Jews astonied at Christs Doctrine how Eloquent a pleader is Paul He that reads the Fathers shall find them written as if with a crisped pen I grieve that any thing so excellent as Divinity should fall into such a sluttish handling though other interposures do eclipse her yet this is a principal I never knew a good tongue wanted ears to hear it nor a well-pend Book want a friend to read it Confections that are cordials are not the worse but the better for being gilded Paul saith Let no man be dark and full of shadow there is a way to be pleasingly plain and some have found it Philosophy or Poetry may come in and wait to please the guests with a Trencher at a Banquet 17. The way to Elegancy of style is to imploy your pen upon every errand c. 17. This Paragraph I have answered already and do presume that person is very rare that can boast of such an absolute method of speech as Angels have whilest he is amongst mortals but that there will be now and then some words fall from him and some phrases which confess humanity and require candor some leaves in the volume of the wisest Book pen'd by the fairest life are legenda cum venia 18. When business or complement calls you to write letters c. I answer It happens sometimes you may write
to Princes should you speak to him with a Complement that the Court makes better Scholars then the University For when the King vouchsafes to be a Teacher every man blushes to be a non-proficient 19. Avoid words and phrases c. I answer Happy will it be if you keep base company and learn to loath their errours in your self I commend to you for your immitation the lines of the late King and the Proverbs of Solomon and his grave Ecclesiastes all very well pen'd 20. The small reckoning I have seen made c. I answer No book is so meanly pen'd but that there is something in it that may teach you what you knew not before and if you write books let your subject be truth and it written plainly for though it may prove fruitless to many because not understood nor regarded yet some few may be of that Spirit as to comprehend it and embrace it if not openly profess it yet secretly believe it Amplae mentis ampla flamma 21. Be not frequent in Poetry how excellent soever your vein is c. I answer Poets have a name of honour nor know I how to distinguish between the Prophets and Poets of Israel what is Ieremiahs Lamentation but a kind of Saphick Elegy Davids Psalms are not onely Poems but songs snatches and raptures of a flaming spirit and this indeed I observe to the honour of Poets I never found them covetous or scrapingly base they find their minds so solaced with their own flights that they neglect the study of growing rich 22. The Art of Musick c. I answer Whose dull bloud will not caper in his veins when the very air he breaths in frisketh in a tickled motion who can but fix his eye and thoughts when he hears the sighes and dying groans gestured from the mournful Instrument and I think he hath not a mind well tempered whose zeal is not inflamed by an heavenly Anthem so that indeed Musick is good or bad as the end to which it tendeth surely they did mean it excellent that made Apollo who was God of wisdom to be God of Musick also 23. Wear your clothes neat c. I answer This is one in whom pride is a quality that condemnes every one besides his Master who when he wears new clothes thinks himself wronged if they be not observed imitated and his discretion in the choice of his fashion and stuff applauded when he vouchsafes to bless the air with his presence he goes as near the wall as his Plush cloak and suit with a canvas back and Sattin sleeves will give him leave And every passenger he views under the eye-brows to observe whether he vails his bonnet low enough which he returns with an imperious nod He never salutes first but his farewell is perpetual In his attire he is effeminate every hair knows his own station which if it chance to lose it is checkt in again with his pocket combe he had rather have the whole Common-wealth out of order then the least member of his Muschato and chuses rather to lose his patrimony then to have his band ruffled At a feast if he be not placed in the highest seat he eats nothing howsoever he drinks to no man talkes with no man and refuses the sports of Hunting and hawking for fear of familiarity As you shall hear anon he professeth to keep his stomach for the Pheasant or the Quail and when they come he can eat little he hath been so cloyed with them that year although they be the first he saw In his discourse he talkes high the lowest man is a privy Counsellor and is as prone to belye their acquaintance as he is a Ladies favours And this is the Author of the Advice to a Son that goes to Sermons onely to shew his gay clothes and if on other inferiour days he chance to meet his friend he is sorry he sees him not in his best suit and if he have but twelve pence in his purse he will give it for the best room in a Play house 24. Never buy but with ready money c. I answer Exceed not in the humour of rags and bravery for these will soon were out of fashion but money in your purse will ever be in fashion and no man is esteemed for gay garments but by fools and women fix on the goodness and commodiousness of the thing you buy let not your judgement friendship or acquaintance perswade you to pride or wantonness an effeminate spruceness or a phantastick disorder but decency and a neglective comliness is your best ornament therefore buy those 25. Next to clothes a good horse becomes a gentleman c. If you dare trust your own judgement without the assistance of a friend in choosing things are good and cheap his rule is good A good horse if he have majesty and stateliness becomes a gentleman its commendable to see him with his Mane and Tail waving in the wind and hear him coursing and neighing in the pastures and noble to see him with some gallant Heroe on his back performing gracefully his useful postures and practising his exploits of war 26. Gallop not through a town c. I answer why so a party may be riding post upon life and death and then it is but being careful and there is no danger 27. Wrestling and vaulting have ever saith he been looked upon by men as more useful then Fencing c. I answer not with me Mr. Puny of what use is wrestling to a gentleman a horseback going to do his King service if you meant to quarrel in a Tavern it may be useful or in an Ale-house you may trip up his heels and vault over the table and then run away 28. Swimming may save a man c. I answer That is true I remember I saved my self and so did all my company at the siege of Sally in Barbary when an Army of Turks came down to destroy it and all the inhabitants and all that they found there as well strange Merchants as natives 29. Though Machiavil c. I answer Sir you say Machiavil prescribes Hunting and Hawking in his Advice to a Prince it may be he doth I shall not take the pains to look whether he do or not but you it seems are afraid of acquaintance with those whom you fear can informe your judgement in little but what signifies nothing and who you would think tedious to hear yet cannot after shake off their acquaintance c. I appeal to the faculties of any free Judge whether this be not a fruitless question for it is a small thing to give any man the hearing of his discourse and not a penny Matter whether it signifie any thing or not first you make him your friend and if you but a little instruct him with mild and kind language it is commendable both with God and Man And be not proud and scorneful oh man one God made all flesh Now to this Sport Is it not pleasant
consider their designes which may be more Loving to your Portion then your Person All people having not the same Conceptions of beauty which is as hatefull to an Ethiopian as Black is to us not considering that Women uncloathed are all alike and the Conceptions about the harmony and measures of her Body differ not Yet I advise you not to follow the example of a Princess appearing in a Lawn smock to be veiwed by Embassadours as towards a Marriageâ— said she would put off that too if there were any necessity But custome hath made Cloaths decent The deeds of our Ancestors are not to be slighted for they left them for our example and used in their days abundance of cheaper Artificiall Ornaments from Shels Feathers and Stones Behold the Sun and Moon and all the Glorious Batalia of Heaven and they appear as the Great God and Nature made them to which God and Nature I am Servant and Secretary This will not produce such infinite provocations and incitements to lust as the Advice to a Son fondly conceives But I say not For I dare say that what by Painting what by the Looseness and Change of Garments what by these gaudy inventions of dressings that flexure and fracture of gate the deformity is hidden unless to a very nice eye there is much more fuell added then if all went with no more Mantles Scarfes Gowns and Hoods then Nature thrust them into the World with viz. Hair hanging loosely down or else carelesly gathered up in a Fillet and perhaps some little kind of Cover that might restrain the Virginall flower from being too much gazed at and blown upon Follow not Daughter their fashion that uncover the parts of their chiefest Beauty as their Face Neck Breasts and Hand as the Index to the more secret object which without a signe may be by the guide of humane Nature sound out So that Women do endeavour in part to break that restraint which bides the rest of their Glory and to set forth their delicate Dresses plaited and weaved with such variety their Ivory Necks their Harmonious Faces their Milkie Spherical Breasts and their Melting Hands my advice is to shew All or Nothing Daughter though some Crazy ignorant old welch Owens with powder dried bones fit to be burnt with diseases hath endeavoured to deceive you from the same Species with Men and one madder then they denie you Souls and so have many others yet when we shall oppose Holy Scripture which makes Man the Consummation of the Creation and you the Consummation of Man if I should but instance those particular indulgencies of Nature which John Heydon reckons unto you and those peculiar advantages of composition and understanding he ascribes to you or if I should mention that of Eugenius Theodidactus that friend to the Fraternity of the Rosie Cross and beleeved to be inspired and so thought a Rosie Crusian he I say calls you Fountains and perfections of Goodness Whom Daughter can we imagine to be so insensible as not to be presently touched with the delicate Composure and Symmetry of Womens Bodies The sweetness and killing Languors of their eyes The mestange and harmony of their Colours The happiness and spirituallity of their Countenance The Charms and allurements of their mind The Air and Command of their smiles Men are meerly rough cast bristly and made up of tough Materials and if they approach any thing near Beauty do so much degenerate from what they are How generall is the affection of old Men to Women some I have known of three score to Marry Girles of sixteen Soloman was no fool and it is well known how your sex tempted him that his power Commanded you to fulfill his desires And I only advise you to Wisdome and Vertue And if any Clumsy old doting Wittall blinded with Ignorance and by his own Wofull Experience shall protest against the Sufficiency of these or any thing else I have written or shall write for your better instructions that may perhaps hereafter be made publike He wilfully goes about to Councel his Master and adventures to make the Sun stand still and to run another race For your sake I set Pen to Paper to teach you how to live that to Die you need not fear The World is full of deceit trust not therefore the hot love of a Stranger for if you will expose your self to all you are Slighted and a Common Wife is hated Beauty affords Contentment Riches are meanes to cure a weak Estate Honour illustrates all comes nigh it If you Marry thus you are happy And then to find Worth Carriage Gesture and Grace in your choyce it perfects felicity These things in this Book are written for your instruction hopeing you will excuse my faults which through hast and other infirmity are Committed A more Leasure time may perfect what is here Charactered in Water Colours And you may easily perceive that I consulted not at all with advantaging my Name or wooing publike esteem by what I now write I know there was much of Naked Truth in it And is a Caution given to you from Your Loving Father c. {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} March 26 1658. ADVIGE to a DAUGHTER In opposition to the ADVICE to a SONNE WHo is this that darkneth Councel by Words without Knowledge Come thou Embrio of a History thou Cadet of a Pamphleteer Gird up thy loins like a man for I will demand of thee and answer thou me But now I think upon it I will allow thee time to breath after thy late Bawling those fragments of a Prophane Atheistical old Pamphlet intituled Thy Advice to a Son and speak a few words to my Reader Reader I have met with a Thing it is not named It speaks like a Man and yet abuses Women It is the first Tincture and Rudiments of a VVriter dipped as yet in the preparative Blew like an Almanack well-wilier To call him an Historian is to Knight a Mandrake to say he is a Politician is view him throw a Perspective and by that gross Hyperbole to give the reputation of an Engineer to a maker of Mouse-traps He is such an one as Queen Mabbs Register One who by the same figure that a North Country Pedlar is a Marchant man you may stile an Author There goes his Affection which is the Heliotrope to the Sun of Honour and hath long since abjured his God Religion Conscience and all that shall interpose and skreen him from those Beams that may ripen his wishes and aims into injoyments And now have at his Advice to a Son Come thou Relique of a Politician that five times at least by I know not what Ignis fatuus hast adulterated the Presse And have you so much Policy in your Advice to your Son that the Readers mistake your Name and beleeve you to be the Tripple-headed Turn-key of Heaven Behold his Directions For your better Conduct through the various and most important Encounters of this Life under the
answer The rubbish of Babylon that like the Fox supplants the Badger to assign such a cause of grievances and such a course of advice for redress as may open away to the alteration he aims at as if he meant to alter a Government by example of a house or to ingross a supremacy by artificial buildings c. and by this frugal advice to reserve something may enable you to grapple with any future contingency 40. Keep no more servants then you have full imployment for c. I answer Mariage frees a man from this care for then his wife takes all upon her and has commonly more inspect into these things then a man and often times prevents by her discretion ensuing dangers and is so wise that she can know their qualities by their countenances and finding the first fault will endeavour to amend it 41. Leave your bed upon the first desertion of sleep I answer In sleep the present sense is not but there the images remaining after sense when there be many As in dreams are not obscure but strong and clear as in sense it self the reason is that which obscureth and made the conceptions weak namely sense and present operation of the object is removed for sleep is the privation of the act of sense the power remaining and dreams are the imagenation of them that sleep 42. It is no where wholsome to eat so long as you are able c. I answer Diet changes the body which if good it breeds good qualities fit to receive the Etherial first moisture it were a rare thing by use and custom so to order your self that you could endure to live without food as you see a man when he is in the water is never thirsty by a fine application you might by this example kill hunger and live many years Hot meats and drinks destroy the body as hot things put to the root of a tree although it be by that way caused to bear fruit in winter yet it will destroy the stock 43. Nothing really acceptable to the guste of humanity c. I answer he that would anatomize the soul may do it best when wine hath benummed his senses how a man looks in his imbrications a swimming eye a face both rost and â—od a temmulentive tongue clamm'd to the roof and gumms a drumming ear a feavouâ—â—d body a boyling stomack a mouth nasty with offensive fumes till it sicken the brain with gidyy verminations a palsied hand and legs tottering up and down their moistned burthen which lastly falls into the hands of the drowsy Constable who happily may be so honest as to guard him to his lodging or house 44. He that alwaies regulates his diet by the strickt rule of Phisick c. I answer Plotter by false alarms of danger invents horrid news and plies the people with such fictious perils as makes them believe religion and liberty and all is at stake and that they are the Geese that must save the Capital When he sees opportunity to reveal his own designe he does it gradually and by piece-meal for that which at one view would be a Mormo to fright them give it them in small pieces and they will digest it well enough He composes his very garb with a gesture t is a great matter to tell a lie with a grace as if religion be the mode he will in his tales knock his breast attest God and invoke imprecations upon himself if he does not do that which he never intends He gives them good words and bad actions and ravishes them with promises of liberty under the highest strain of oppression for it is most certain if you please them with the name they will embrace it for name and thing he observes that they receive probabilities wisely propounded more greedily then naked truths and therefore he is very studious to glaze and polish his impostures that so they may to a loose eye dissemble truth And lastly when he hath by the assistance of the people got the sword into his own hands he awes them with it and frights them with future compliance he that courted them before withall the adulatory terms that ambition could invent or they receive as if he had been vowed their Martyr and ready to sacrifice his dearest injoyments upon the Alter of publick liberty and freedome as if his veins knew no other blood but such as he would be proud to spend in their service haveing non-served himself of them he forgets the bosome that warmed him they hear from him now in a Palinode he curls up his smooth complements into short Laconicks and exchanges his courtship for command 45. Experience hath found no less shame then danger in being the chief at a mercy assignation c. I answer Mans life is like a state Smâ—ctimnus still casual in the future no man can leave his son rules for severals because he knows not how the times will be unless he be an Astrologer of the issue of Maccabeus begot as he gains upon the times he that lives alwaies by book rules shall shew himself affected and a fool do alwaies that which is comely and honest In bad company you may see how uncomely vice appears and correct it in your self who can but think what a nasty beast he is in his drunkenness that hath seen how noysome it hath made another how like a noted sap spunged even to the bracking of a skin who will not abhor a chollerick passion and a sawcy pride in himself that sees how ridiculous and contemptible they render those that are infested with them do not think but that your vices are seen to others as theirs are to you when committed since mans fall observe bad company and abtrude it and know good that you may embrace it and this knowledge you can neither have so cheap nor so certain as by seeing it in others with a pittiful dislike 46. Let your wit rather serve you for a buckler to defend your self c. I answer I know wisemen are not too nimble at an injury for as with fire the light stuff and rubbish kindles sooner then the sollid and more comparted so anger sooner inflames a fool then a man composed in wisedome and courage and there be many like tiled houses that can admit a falling spark unwarm'd yet some again are covered with such like drie straw that with the least touch they will kindle and flame about your troubled ears and when the house is on fire it is no disputing with how small a matter it came it will quickly proceed to mischief it is not good to be too tart in your jests for an unhappy wit stirs up enemies against the owner and a man may spit out his friend from his tongue or laugh him into an enemy Gall in mirth is an ill mixture and sometimes truth is bitterness I would wish any man to be pleasingly merry but let him beware he bring not truth on the Stage like a Hector with a sword
wheresoever you go or stay you should keep God and friends unchangeable how ever you return you make an ill voyage if you change your faith with your tongue and garments 12. To the Eucharist met in the streets c. I answer Silence and obedience ought not in reason to be reckon'd for a desertion of truth where it cannot be maintained but to the prejudice of what the imperative power hath declared so to be submit therefore to the coustome of the country by the title of a civil respect else you may be a murtherer as well as a Martyr if you run unadvisedly into ruine 13 Pity rather then spurn at those c. I answer It is folly to oppose any religious zelots who think none worthy of life are found out of the train of their own opinions 14. Enter no farther into forraign Churches c. I answer and oppose not one ambiguous question against another no less dangerous to resolve but profess it your business to learn not to teach but comply with compulsion where conscience and reason gives you leave 15. Consort with none who scoff at their own religion but shun c. I answer You may observe how foolishly such a man cozens his own soul in earnest and is tumbled up and down from beggery to worship and from worship to baseness again 16. Eschew the company of all English you find in orders c. I answer Lapsed English that fall to the Papists to promote that idolatrous religion invent lies and print them that they may not onely cozen the present age but gull posterity with forged actions they will endeavour to disprove Zerobabel and will if possible make you confess money to be stronger then truth 17. Besides he that beyond sea c. I answer Beware what company you keep especially in strange countries since example prevails more then precept though by the erudition dropping from these tutots we imbibe all the tinctures of vertue and vice this renders it little less then impossible for nature to hold out any long siege against the batteries of custome and opportunity 18. An injury in forraign air is cheaper passed over c. I answer And a Traveller may be nothing but a speaking fashion if he take pains to be ridiculous and suffers himself to be spurn'd and injured he hath seen more then he hath perceived and is fit to be kickt for his folly yet some others I have observed in forraign parts that make their atitre speak the language and their gate cries behold us they censure all things by countenance and shrugs and speak their own language with shame and lisping they will choke rather then confess beer good drink One makes his pick-tooth a main part of his behaviour Another chooseth rather to be counted a spie then not a politician and maintains his reputation by naming great men familiarly Another chooseth rather to tell lies than not wonders and talks with men singly and his discourse sounds big but means nothing his boy is bound to admiae him howsoever he come still from great personages but goes with mean 19. Play is destructive c. I answer So it is you Buckram Athos and it teaches a man the humors of another if not bought at too dear a rate besides it is better to be a good gamester indeed then men that learn no more then to be rich fools and take an occasion to shew jewels given them in regard of their vertues that were bought in St. Martins and not long after having with a Mountebancks method pronounced them worth thousands impauned them for a few shillings and such provident rich fools will pretend to familiarity with all the learned men in England and sometimes they indeed do make themselves fools to please these fools who sometimes again upon festival days go to Court and salute without saluting And at night in an Ordinary they canvass the business in hand and seem as conversant with all intents and plots as if they begot them 20. He that desires quiet and to decline c. I answer All favours you sometimes Iustice and then Doctor you that will be of any trade by virtue of a commission to be a Iustice of Peace and by the same a Doctor of Physick have this success if they light on good ground they bring forth thanks What Nature hath infused you cannot cast out correct you may If you must desire womens fauours do it so moderately as your iudgement and reason may be still clear if unawares you be overtaken you must yet be careful to conceal your self so though your own passions be over-strong others should not see them to take you at advantages As many have been spoiled by being soothed in their plausible desires to Ladies so have many been abused by being malleated in their troublesome jealousies and fears of a Mercenary woman 21. If tempted by an impatient affection c. I answer I have combated a monster and master'd him I will write whilest he pants out his lingring breath and I advise all young Gentlemen not to marry uncomely women for any respects for comeliness in children is riches if nothing else be left them and if you have care for your reces of horses and other beasts value the shape and comeliness of your children before alliance or riches have care therefore of both together for if you have a fair wife and a poor one if your estate be not great assure your self that love abideth not with want for she is your companion of plenty and honour I never yet knew a poor woman exceeding fair that was not made dishonest by one or other in the end favour is deceitful and beauty is vanity but a wise woman overseeth the wayes of her husband and eateth not the bread of idleness I my self have travelled Greece Egypt Arabia and part of Africa besides Italy Spain France and Germany and could give you a thousand examples of what I have here and in other books written when you shall read and observe the stories of all nations you shall find innumerable examples of the like let your love therefore be to the best so long as they do well But take heed that you love God your Countrey your Prince your own estate before all others For the fancies of men change and so do women and they that love to day hate to morrow But let reason be your School-mistriss which shall ever guide you aright 22. Who travels Italy c. I answer Truly I never saw the lust of men in Italy nor the charms of women but an ill name may be free from dishonesty but not alwayes from some folly which makes the Spaniard lock up his Ladies water-gap and carry the key in his pocket France indeed is onely guilty of Sodomy and unheard of lusts Italy and Spain are not I advise them not onely to be free from sin but from suspicion for it is not enough to be well lived but well reported and oftentimes
weighty matters are as much carried by reputation as substance Endure these things well noble Italy and valiant Spain for they come rather by destiny then by deserving 23. Where you mean never to return c. I answer Emulation is the bait of virtue for looking into the sweetness of the reward men undertake the labour 24. Make no ostentation of c. I answer I saw a traveller whose extraordinary account of men was first to tell them the ends of all matters and then to borrow money of them he offer'd courtesies to shew them rather then himself humble he disdain'd all things above his reach and prefer'd all Countries before his own He imputed his want and poverty to the ignorance of the time not his own unworthiness and concludes his discourse with half a period or a word and leaves the rest to imagination In a word his Religion and his Money are both in fashion and both body and soul are governed by fame he loves most voices above truth 25. Inns are dangerous c. I answer Inns are dangerous if men be not careful so are strangers and servants but let your servants be such as you may command and entertain none about you but yeomen to whom you give wages for those that will serve you without hiâ—e will cost you treble as much as they that know your fare If you trust any servant with your purse be sure you take his account ere you sleep for if you put it off you may afterwards for tediousness neglect it I my self thereby have lost more then I am worth and whatsoever your servant gaineth thereby he will never thank you but laugh your simpiicity to scorn And besides it is the way to make your servants thieves which else would be honest 26. Next to experience c. I answer Greek and Latine are the richest gifts a father can give his child Italian is useful but French is a frothy form of speech and except amongst those that know no better it is as fruitless as Scotch and their books are worse fancied then the Scots 27. He that is carried by his curiosity c. I answer Bestow your youth in Travelling so that you may have such comfort to remember it when past not sigh grieve at the account thereof Spend not your Summer flower of youth with Harlots for they will study to destroy you and you may think their pleasures will never have an end but behold the longest day hath his evening and that you shall enjoy it but once that it never returns again use it therefore as the Spring-time which soon departeth and wherein you ought to travel with such provision then gathered for along and happy life At your return let your time of Marriage be in your young and strong years for believe it ever the young Wife betrayeth the old Husband and she that had you not in your flower will despise you in your fall and you shall be unto her but a captivity and sorrow Your best time will be towards fourty for as the younger times are unfit either to chuse or govern a Wife and Family so if you stay longer you shall hardly see the education of your children which being left to strangers are in effect lost and better it were to be unborn then ill bred for thereby your posterity shall either perish or remain a shame to your name and family 28. I can say little c. He that hath a great purse may thrive in a strange Country but I wish him take heed that he fall not from the purity of the Protestant Church to infirmities corruptions errors and the abominations of Plantations and the vile behaviour of commonly a rude people for God will punish sin with sin they being commonly like the Turks that will not suffer the Jews amongst them to sacrifice for that was flat against their Laws as we will not suffer the Papists to worship the Mass because against our Laws To the men-Readers concerning Women AS certain it is there ought to be a great care in the choice of a Wife so the onely danger therein is beauty by which men in all ages both wise and foolish have been betrayed And though I know it vain to use reasons or arguments as Iohn Heydon doth in the way to bliss and happiness a book of Hermetical Philosophy of long life health youth riches wisdom and virtue c. there speaking of women in one place saith They are imperfect men and other things he saith worth your observation to bring all to happiness and bliss and perswades you not to be captivated by beauty for there being few or none that ever resisted that witchery yet I cannot but warn you as of other things which may be your ruine and destruction For the present time it is true that every man prefers his fantasie in that appetite before all other worldly desires leaving the care of honour credit and safety in respect thereof But remember that though these affections do not last yet the bond of Marriage dureth to the end of your life and therefore better to be born withall in a Mistriss than in a Wife for when your humour shall change you are free to chuse again if you give your self that vain liberty Remember secondly That if you marry for beauty you bind your self for all your life for that which perchance will neither last nor please you one year and when you have it it will be to you of no price at all for the desire dyeth when it is attained and the affection perisheth when it is satisfied Remember as Mr. Heydon saith in his book of The Rosacrucian Method of Physick When you were a child that then you did love your Nurse and that you were fond of her after a while you did love your dry-Nurse and did get the other after you did also slight her So wil it be with you in your liking in elder years and therefore if you cannot forbear to love forbear to link and after a while you shall find an alteration in your self and see another far more pleasing then the second or third love But methinks the Ladies begin to frown and whisper forth these words that I am melancholy and speak gravely and too solidly of the sex I do take courage again and pluck up a youthful resolution look in the perusal of History and you may find as many fair and brave examples of virtue given by women as there hath been by men Look over the roll of them and you may easily fill each of them into a sufficient common-place where many things put down as nobly done by men it may be are either bruitish heady or passionate whilest in the women things appear more smooth and temperate or if there be any think of passion or exorbitancy it is but an addition of lustre to the sex as a blush or glowing in the face sets off their beauty Imagine or wish a Governour to be of good