finds no more favour from his schoolmaster, than his schoolmaster finds diligence in him, whose rod respects persons no more than bullets are partial in a battle. IV. At the University, he is so studious as if he intended learning for his profession.-He knows well, that cunning is no burden to carry, as paying neither portage by land, nor pondage * by sea. Yea, though to have land be a good First, yet to have learning is the surest Second, which may stand to it when the other chance to be taken away. may V. At the inns of court, he applies himself to learn the laws of the kingdom.-Object not, "Why should a gentleman learn law, who, if he needeth it, may have it for his money; and if he hath never so much of his own, he must but give it away?" For, what a shame is it for a man of quality to be ignorant of Solon in our Athens, of Lycurgus in our Sparta? Besides, law will help him to keep his own, and bestead + his neighbours'. Say not, that "there be enough which make this their set practice:" for so there are also many masters of defence by their profession; and shall private men, therefore, learn no skill at their weapons? As for the hospitality, the apparel, the travelling, the company, the recreations, the marriage of gentlemen, they are described in several chapters in the following book. A word or two of his behaviour in the country : VI. He is courteous and affable to his neighbours.-As the sword of the best-tempered metal is most flexible; so the truly generous are most pliant and courteous in their behaviour to their inferiors. VII. He delights to see himself and his servants well-mounted.Therefore he loveth good horsemanship. Let never any foreign Rabshakeh send that brave ‡ to our Jerusalem, offering "to lend her two thousand horses, if she be able, for her part, to set According to PHILLIPS and KERSEY, "Poundage is a duty granted to the queen of twelve pence for every twenty shillings' value of all goods exported or imported; except such as pay tonnage, bullion, and a few others."-EDIT. + Bestead, or besteed, "to aid, to benefit."-EDIT. "Challenge."-EDIT. riders upon them." (2 Kings xviii. 23.) We know how Darius got the Persian empire from the rest of his fellow-peers, by the first neighing of his generous steed. It were no harm, if, in some needless suits of intricate precedency betwixt equal gentlemen, the priority were adjudged to him who keeps a stable of most serviceable horses. VIII. He furnisheth and prepareth himself in peace against time of war.-Lest it be too late to learn when his skill is to be used. He approves himself courageous when brought to the trial; as well remembering the custom which is used at the creation of knights of the Bath, wherein the king's master-cook cometh forth, and presenteth his great knife to the new-made knights, admonishing them to be faithful and valiant, otherwise he threatens them that that very knife is prepared to cut off their spurs.* IX. If the Commission of the Peace finds him out, he faithfully discharges it.—I say, "finds him out;" for a public office is a guest which receives the best usage from them who never invited it. And though he declined the place, the country knew to prize his worth who would be ignorant of his own. He compounds many petty differences betwixt his neighbours, which are easier ended in his own porch than in Westminster-Hall. For many people think, if once they have fetched a warrant from a Justice, they have given earnest to follow the suit; though, otherwise, the matter be so mean, that the next night's sleep would have bound both parties to the peace, and made them as good friends as ever before. Yet, X. He connives not at the smothering of punishable faults.—He hates that practice, as common as dangerous amongst countrypeople, who, having received again the goods which were stolen from them, partly out of foolish pity, and partly out of covetousness to save charges in prosecuting the law, let the thief escape unpunished. Thus, whilst private losses are repaired, the wounds to the commonwealth, in the breach of the laws, are left uncured; and thus petty-larceners are encouraged into felons, and afterwards are hanged for pounds, because never whipped for pence; who, if they had felt the cord, had never been brought to the halter. • MR. SELDEN, in his "Titles of Honour," p. 820. XI. If chosen a Member of Parliament, he is willing to do his country service. If he be no rhetorician, to raise affections, (yea, Mercury was a greater speaker than Jupiter himself!) he counts it great wisdom to be the good manager of "Yea" and "Nay." The slow pace of his judgment is recompensed by the swift following of his affections, when his judgment is once soundly informed. And here we leave him in consultation, wishing him, with the rest of his honourable society, all happy success! |