Like herein to a young nephew of Tarquin's in Rome, who was called Egereus, from wanting of maintenance, because his grandfather left him nothing. It was therefore a mannerly answer which a young gentleman gave to King James, when he asked him what kin he was to such a Lord of his name: "Please your majesty," said he, "my elder brother is his cousin german."

He repines not at the providence of God in ordering his birth. Heirs are made, even where matches are, both in heaven. Even in twins, God will have one next the door to come first into the world.

He labors by his endeavors to date himself an elder brother. Nature makes but one, industry doth make all the sons of the same man heirs. The fourth brother gives a martilet for the difference of his arms, a bird observed to build either in castles, steeples, or ships; showing that the bearer hereof, being debarred from all hopes of his father's inheritance, must seek by war, learning, or merchandize to advance his estate.

In war he cuts out his fortunes with his own sword. William the Conqueror, when he first landed his forces in England, burnt all his ships; that despair to return might make his men the more valiant. Younger brothers, being cut off at home from all hopes, are more zealous to purchase an honorable support abroad. Their small

B

arteries with great spirits have wrought miracles, and their resolution hath driven success before it. Many of them have adventured to cheapen dear enterprizes, and were only able to pay the earnest; yet fortune hath accepted them for chapmen, and hath freely forgiven them the rest of the payment for their boldness.

Nor are they less happy if applying themselves to their book; nature generally giving them good wits, which, because they want room to burnish, may the better afford to soar high.

But he gaineth more wealth if betaking himself to merchandize; whence often he riseth to the greatest annual honor in the kingdom. Many families in England though not first raised from the city, yet thence have been so restored and enriched that it may seem to amount to an original raising. Neither doth an apprenticeship extinguish native, nor disenable to acquisitive gentry; and they are much mistaken who hold it to be in the nature of bondage. For first, his indenture is a civil contract, whereof a bondman is uncapable: secondly, no work can be base prescribed in reference to a noble end, as theirs is that learn an honest mystery to enable them for the service of God and the country thirdly, they give round sums of money to be bound. Now if apprenticeship be a servitude, it is either a pleasing bondage, or strange madness to pur

chase it at so dear a rate. Gentry, therefore, may be suspended, perchance, and asleep during the apprenticeship, but it awakens afterwards.

Sometimes he lighteth on a wealthy match to advance him; if meeting with one that is pilot of her own affections, to steer them without guidance of her friends, and such as disdaineth her marriage should be contracted in an exchange, where jointure must weigh every grain even to the portion. Rather she counts it an act both of love and charity to affect one rich in deserts, who commonly hath the advantage of birth, as she hath of means; and so it is made level betwixt them. And thus many a young gentleman hath gotten honorable maintenance by an heiress.

His means the more hardly gotten are the more carefully kept. Heat gotten by degrees, with motion and exercise, is more natural and stays longer by one, than what is gotten all at once by coming to the fire. Goods acquired by industry prove commonly more lasting than lands by de

scent.

He ever owneth his elder brother with dutiful respect; yea, though God should so bless his endeavors as to go beyond him in wealth and honThe pride of the Jesuits is generally taxed, who, being the youngest of all other orders, and therefore by canon to go last, will never go in

or.

procession with other orders, because they will not come behind them.

Sometimes the paternal inheritance falls to them who never hoped to rise to it. Thus John, surnamed Sans-terre, or Without-land, having five elder brothers, came to the kingdom of England, death levelling those which stood betwixt him and the crown. It is observed of the Coringtons, an ancient family in Cornwall, that, for eight lineal descents, never any one that was born heir had the land, but it ever fell to younger brothers.

To conclude, there is a hill in Voitland, (a small country in Germany,) called Feitchtelberg, out of which arise four rivers running four several ways, viz. 1. Eger, east, 2. Menus, west, 3. Sala, north, and 4. Nabus, south so that he that sees their fountains so near together would admire at their falls so far asunder. Thus the younger sons of the same mother and father, embracing different courses to try their fortunes abroad in the world, chance often to die far off, at great distance, which were all born in the same place.

THE GOOD ADVOCATE.

He is one that will not plead that cause, wherein his tongue must be confuted by his conscience. It is the praise of the Spanish soldier, that, whilst all other nations are mercenary, and for money will serve on any side, he will never fight against his own king: nor will our advocate against the sovereign truth, plainly appearing to his conscience.

He not only hears but examines his client, and pincheth the cause, where he fears it is foundered. For many clients, in telling their case, rather plead than relate it, so that the advocate hears not the true state of it, till opened by the adverse party. Surely the lawyer that fills himself with instructions will travel longest in the cause without tiring. Others that are so quick in searching, seldom search to the quick; and those miraculous apprehensions who understand more than all, before the client hath told half, run without their errand, and will return without their answer.

If the matter be doubtful, he will only warrant his own diligence. Yet some keep an assurance-office in their chamber, and will warrant any cause brought unto them, as knowing