"thine house, which is a vice impairing health,

confuming much, and makes no show. I never "heard praise afcribed to the drunkard, but (for) "the well bearing (of) his drink, which is a bet" ter commendation for a brewer's horse or a "drayman than for either a gentleman or (a) "ferving-man. Beware thou spend not above "three or four parts of thy revenewes, nor above "a third part of that in thy house, for the other "two parts will do no more than defray thy extraordinaries, which alwayes furmount the ordinary by much, otherwife thou fhalt live like a rich beggar in continual want. And the needy man " can never live happily nor contentedly, for "every disaster makes him ready to mortgage or

fell; and that gentleman who fells an acre of "land fells an ounce of creditt, for gentility is nothing else but antient riches. So that if the "foundation fhall at any time finke, the building "must need followe, So much for the Firft

Precept.

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2. Bring thy children up in learning and obe"dience, yet without outward aufterity. Praise "them openly, reprehend them fecretly. Give "them good countenance and convenient main"tenance according to thy ability, otherwise thy

life will feem their bondage, and what portion "thou shalt leave them at thy death, they will

thank death for it, and not thee; and I am per"fuaded

"suaded that the foolish cockering of fome pa

rents, and the over ftern carriage of others, "caufeth more men and women to take ill "courfes than their own vicious inclinations.

"

Marry thy daughters in time, left they marry "themfelves. And fuffer not thy fonnes to pass the Alps, for they fhall learne nothing there but pride, blafphemy, and atheism; and if by travel they gett a few broken languages, that fhall profit them nothing more than to have one "meat ferved in divers difhes. Neither, by my confent, fhalt thou train them up in warres, for "he that fets up his reft to live by that profeffion, "can hardly be an honeft man or a good Christian: befides, it is a science no longer in request than ufe, for fouldiers in peace are like chimneys in " fummer.

3. Live not in the countrey without corn and "cattle about thee, for he that putteth his hand "to the purfe for every expence of household, is "like him that keepeth water in a fieve; and, "what provifion thou fhalt want, learn to buy it "at the best hand, for there is one penny faved in "four betwixt buying in thy need, and when the "marketts and feafons ferve fitteft for it. Be "not ferved with kinfmen, or friends, or men "entreated to stay, for they expect much, and doe "little; nor with fuch as are amorous, for their "heads are intoxicated; and keep rather two too

« few

"few, than one too many. Feed them well, and "c pay them with the moft; and then thou mayst

boldly require fervice at their hands.

<< 4. Let thy kindred and allies be welcome to

thy house and table. Grace them with thy "countenance, and farther them in all honeft "actions, for by this means thou fhalt fo double "the band of nature, as thou fhalt find them fo "C many advocates to plead an apology for thee "behind thy back; but shake off thofe glow<< wormes, I mean parasites and fycophants, who "will feed and fawn upon thee in the fummer of "profperitie; but, in an adverse storme, they will "fhelter thee no more than an arbour in winter.

5. Beware of furetyfhip for thy best friends. "He that payeth another man's debts, feeketh his own decay; but if thou canst not otherwise «chuse, rather lend thy money thyself upon good

bonds, although thou borrow it, fo fhalt thou "fecure thyself, and pleasure thy friend. Neither "borrow money of a neighbour nor a friend, but "of a stranger; where, paying for it, thou fhalt "hear no more of it; otherwife thou fhalt eclipfe

thy credit, lofe thy freedom, and yet pay as dear "as to another. But in borrowing of money, be precious of thy word, for he that hath care of keeping days of payment, is lord of another "man's purfc.

" 6. Under

« 6. Undertake no fuit against a poor man, "without receiving much wrong; for, befides

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(that) thou makest him thy compeer, it is a "base conquest to triumph where there is small "refiftance. Neither attempt law against any

man, before thou be fully refolved that thou haft

right on thy fide, and then spare not for either

money or pains; for a caufe or two fo followed " and obtained, will free thee from fuits a great r part of thy life.

7. Be sure to keep fome great man thy friend, "but trouble him not for trifles. Compliment " him often with many, yet small gifts, and of "little charge; and if thou haft caufe to bestow

any great gratuity, let it be fomething which

may be daily in fight, otherwife, in this ambi"tious age, thou fhalt remain like a hop without "a pole, live in obfcurity, and be made a foot"ball for every infulting companion to spurn at.

"8. Towards thy fuperiors be humble, yet generous; with thine equals, familiar, yet refpec"<tive. Towards thine inferiours fhew much "humanity, and fome familiarity, as to bow the

body, stretch forth the hand, and to uncover "the head, with fuch like popular compliments. "The first prepares thy way to advancement; "the fecond makes thee knowne for a man well

bred; the third gains a good report, which, once

got,

got, is eafily kept, for right humanitie takes "fuch deep root in the minds of the multitude,

as they are cafilier gained by unprofitable cur"tefies than by churlish benefits. Yet I advise "thee not to affect or neglect popularitie too Seeke not to be Effex. Shunne to be

<< much. Rawleigh.

9. Truft not any man, with thy life, credit, or eftate, for it is mere folly for a man to en"thrall himself to his friend, as though, occafion being offered, he should not dare to become "thine enemie.

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"10. Be not fcurrilous in converfation, nor Ifatyricall in thy jefts. The one will make thee "unwelcome to all company, the other pull on " quarrels, and get thee hatred of thy best friends; "for fufpitious jefts (when any of them favour of

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truth) leave a bitterness in the mindes of those which are touched. And albeit I have already pointed at this inclufively, yet I think it necesfary to leave it to thee as a speciall caution, be" cause I have feene many fo prone to quip and gird, as they would rather leefe their friend then their jeft; and if perchance their boiling braine yield a quaint fcoffe, they will travell to be de"livered of it as a woman with child. These

"nimble fancies are but the froth of wit."