The Court and Country, OR A brief Discourse Dialogue-wise set down between a Courtier and a Countryman: Containing the manner and condition of their lives, with many Delectable and Pithy Sayings worthy observation. Also, necessary Notes for a COURTIER. Written by N. B. Gent. The Countryman. The Courtier. LONDON, Printed by G. E LD for john Wright, and are to be sold at his shop at the Sign of the Bible without Newgate. 1618. To the Worshipful and worthy Knight, the favourer of all good Virtues and Studies, Sir STEPHEN POLL, of Blackmoore in Essex; and to his worthy Lady, Health, Honour, and eternal Happiness. Worthy KNIGHT, BEing well acquainted with your true knowledge of the Honour of the Court, and the Pleasure of the Country: your judicial Observation in your Travels abroad, and your sweet retired Life at home: Finding my Service indebted to many of your undeserved bountiful Favours, and willing, in some fruits of my Labour, to show the thankfulness of my Love, I have adventured to present your Patience with a short Discourse, in the manner of a Dialogue, between a Courtier and a Countryman, touching the Lives of either: What Matter of worth is in it I will leave to your discretion to consider of, with my bounden Service to the honour of your Command, hoping that either here or in the Country it will be a pretty passage of idle time, with some matter of mirth to remove melancholy. And so in Prayer for your health, and your good Ladies, to whom, with yourself, Dedicating this short Dialogue, I rest Yours, humbly devoted to be Commanded NICH. BRETON. To the READER. AMong many Passages that I have met with in the world, it was my hap of late to light on a kind Controverfie between two Kinsmen, a Courtier and a Countryman, who meeting together upon a time, fell to persuading one another from their courses of Life; the Courtier would fain have drawn the Countryman to the Court, and the Countryman the Courtier to the Country. The reasons for their delights, and love to their manner of lives, I have set down as I found them; but whatsoever they alleged for their contentments, it seemed they were resolved upon their Courses, for in the end they left where they begun, every man to his own humour, and so broke off. Now what Profit or Pleasure may arise by the reading of them, I refer to their discretion that can best make use of them. Matter of state is not here meddled with; scurrility here is none: no taxing of any Person, nor offence justly to any whosoever: But passages of wit, without the malice of any evil mind. And in sum, matter of good substance, and mirth enough to drive away a great deal of melancholy: and so leaving it to your Patience to read, and to your Pleasure to esteem of as you see cause: both to Courtiers and Countrymen that are kind and honest men, I rest, to wish content in the course of a happy life, and so remain Your well wishing Countryman N. B. The COURTIER AND The COUNTRYMAN. COURTIER. COZEN, Well met; I see you are still for the Country, your habit, your countenance, your footing, and your carriage do all plainly show you are no changeling, but every day alike, one, and the same. COUNTRYMAN, I am so indeed, and wish that you were so too; for than should you not be so great an eyesore to your friends, nor such an enemy to yourself: for, I fear the place you live in is more costly than profitable; where, for one that goes up the weather, a number go down the wind, and perhaps the place not so truly full of delight as the passage through a meaner compass. covert. Oh Cousin, you cannot but confess that blind men can judge no colours, and you that live plodding to purchase a pudding, cannot but distaste any meat that may compare with it, though in many degrees of goodness it exceed it: for, should I tell you truly what I know of it, you would soon after your opinion to a point of better judgement. Oh, the gallant life of the Court, where so many are the choices of contentment, as if on earth it were the Paradise of the world, the majesty of the Sovereign, the wisdom of the Council, the honour of the Lords, the beauty of the Ladies, the care of the Officers, the curtsy of the Gentlemen, the divine Service in the Morning and Evening, the witty, learned, noble, and pleasant discourses all day, the variety of wits, with the depth of judgements, the dainty fare, sweetly dressed and neatly served, the delicate wines and rare fruits, with excellent Music and admirable Voices, Masks and Plays Dancing and Riding; deversity of games, delightful to the gamesters purposes; and Riddles, Questions and Answers; Poems, Histories, and strange Inventions of Wit, to startle the Brain of a good understanding: rich Apparel, precious jewels, fine proportions, and high Spirits, Princely Coaches, stately Horses, royal Buildings and rare Architecture, sweet Creatures and civil Behaviour: and in the course of Love such carriage of content, as so lulls the Spirit in the lap of pleasure, that if I should talk of the praise of it all day, I should be short of the worth of it at night. COUNT. And there withal you waked: or else you are like a physician that only plays upon one string: but, touch the Basse, with the Treble, the Mean, with the Counter Tenor, and then see how the strings will agree together, and whether the Voices do not rather fain then sing plain, for fear the Ditty may disgrace the Note, and so the Music be not worth the hearing: But if all be as you say, yet take the Evening with the Morning, and all the week with the holiday, the sour with the sweet, and the cost with the pleasure, and tell me then if once in seven years, when your state is weakened and your Land wasted, your Woods untimberd, your Pastures unstored, and your Houses decayed; then tell me whether you find the proverb true, of the Courtier young and old: though sometime a Bell-weether may be fat, when many a better sheep cannot hit on so good a feeding. But since you speak so scornfully of the Country life, if you were or could be so happy as to apprehend the true content in the course of it, you would shake the head, and sigh from the heart to be so long from the knowledge of it, and never be at rest till you were gotten to it. Oh, the sweet of the Country life, in which are so many and so true varieties of pleasures as keepeth the spirit ever waking, and the senses ever working for the full content of the whole Creature, in so▪ much that if there may be a simile of heaven upon earth, it is only in the precinct of the Country passage, where both nature and reason behold and envy that satiety of pleasure that is not easily to be expressed. And to answer directly to some of your points of praise, let me tell you, though we see not our Sovereign every day, yet we pray for him every hour; and holding ourselves unworthy of his presence, are glad when we may get a sight of his Majesty. Now, for Councillors of State, we reverence their persons, and pray for their lives in their labours for our peace. And for your Lords, we have Landlords that agree best with our minds, whom using with due reverence, paying them their rent, and now and then for some small remembrances we can have friendly talk withal, and learn good lessons of them for many things to be looked into: And upon the Bench at a Quarter Sesions, when they give a charge, hear them speak so wisely, that it would do one's heart good to hear them: and sometime in the holidays, when they keep good houses, make many a good meals meat with them. And in the time of the year when the harvest is in, go a hunting, and hawking, coursing and fishing with them: and sometime to continue good neighbourhood, meet, and make matches for shooting and bowling with them, when we exercise the body in plain dealing, and not the brain in subtle device. Now for your Ladies, we have pretty Wenches, that, though they be not proud, yet they think their penny good silver, and if they be fair it is natural, and having their mother's wit they will do well enough for their father's understanding. And for your Gentlemen, we have good Yeomen that use more, courtesy or at least kindness than curiosity, more friendship than compliments, and more truth than eloquence: and perhaps I may tell you, I think we have more ancient and true Gentlemen that hold the plough in the field, than you have in great places that wait with a trencher at a Table; and I have heard my father say, that I believe to be true, that a true Gentleman will be better known by his inside then his outside, for (as he said) a true Gentleman will be like himself, sober, but not proud; liberal, and yet thrifty; wise, but not full of words; and better seen in the Law, then be too busy with the laws; one that fears God, will be true to his King, and well knows how to live in the world, and whatsoever God sends, hath the grace to be content with it, loves his wife and his children, is careful for his family, is a friend to his neighbour, and no enemy to himself: and this (said my father) is indeed the true Gentleman; and for his qualities, if he can speak well, and ride well, and shoot well, and bowl well, we desire no more of him: but for kissing of the hand, as if he were licking of his fingers, bending down the head, as if his neck were out of joint; or scratching by the foot, as if he were a Corn-cutter; or leering aside, like a wench after her swéete-heart; or winking with one eye, as though he were levying at a Woodcock; and such Apish tricks, as came out of the Land of Petito, where a Monkey and a Baboon make an Urchin Generation: And for telling of tales of the adventurous Knight & the strange Lady; and for writing in rhyme, or talking in prose, with more tongues than teeth in his head, and with that which he brought from beyond the Seas, which he cannot be rid of at home, for swearing and braving, scoffing and stabbing, with such tricks of the devils teaching, we allow none of that learning. Now, if you have any such where you live I know not, I hope with us there are none of them, but I am sure, if they come amongst us, we desire to be rid of them. We have good husbands and honest widows, pure Virgins and chaste Bachelors, learned Church men, and civil Towns men, wholesome fare, full dishes, white bread, and hearty drink, clean platters and fair linen, good company, friendly talk, plain music, and a merry song: and so when God is praised and the people pleased, I think there is no course where a man may be better contented. Now, if it be true (but hope it is not) that I have heard, that in some such places as you live in: in the world, a great way hence beyond the Sea, there be certain people that have brazen faces, Serpents tongues, and Eagles claws, that will intrude into companies, and persuade wickedness, and flatter follies, and catch hold of whatsoever they can light on for the service of lewdness, either money, lands, or leases, or apparel, and ever cramming, and yet ever craving: they are carriers of letters between lust and wantonness, tellers of old wives tales, and singers of wenching Ballads; swear and forswear, drink and gull, laugh, and be fat, and for a little pleasure on earth go to the Devil for ever: Now, these in the old time (but now a days I hope are out of use) were called Parasites and Panders, jeasters, or jugglers, much of the nature of Gypsies, cunning as the Devil to dive into a pocket, or to pick out the bottom of a purse; but I hope they are all dead, or at least you have few of them about you: if you have, I know not what use you can make of them, but I I am sure we cannot away with them among us. I have heard moreover that you have among you certain Euesdroppers, that are tale carriers, that come among the rooles of Knaves: But for our houses in the Cnuntry, they are so far one from another, that if we catch any of them about us, we should carry him before the Constable for a Thief. But now leaving to speak more of these things: for pleasures, believe it, we will put you down a world of steps; for, first of all we rise with the Lark and go to bed with the Lamb, so that we have the break of the day and the brightness of the Sun to cheer our Spirits in our going to our labours, which many of you bar yourselves of, by making day of the night and night of the day, by sleeping after weariness upon the labour of wantonness, if not of wickedness, as they which work all day to bring the Devil into hell at night, and labour all night for damnation in the morning: such I have heard of beyond Sea, I pray God you have none about you: but for us in the Country, I assure you we can abide no such doings: Now for the delight of our eyes, we have the May-painting of the earth, with divers flowers of dainty colours and delicate sweets, we have the berries, the cherries, the pease and the beans, the plums and the coddlings, in the month of june: in july, the pears and the apples, the wheat, the rye, the barley and the oats, the beauty of the wide fields, and the labours with delight and mirth, and merry cheer at the coming home of the Harvest cart: We have again in our woods, the birds singing; in the pastures the Cow lowing, the Eve bleating, & the Foal neighing, which with profit and pleasure makes us better music than an idle note and a worse ditty, though I highly do commend music, when it is in a right key. Again, we have young Rabbits that in a sunny morning sit washing of their faces, while as I have heard beyond the seas there are certain old Coneys, that in their beds sit painting of their faces: we have beside Tumblers for our Coneys, and Greyhounds for our courses, Hounds for our chases. Hawks of all kind for the field, and the river, and the wood: so that what can reason conceive, that nature can desire? but for the delight of both the Country doth afford us. Furthermore, at our meetings on the holidays between our Lads and the Wenches, such true mirth at honest meetings, such dancing on the green, in the market house, or about the May-poole, where the young folks smiling kiss at every turning, and the old folks checking with laughing at their Children, when dancing for the Garland, playing at stooleball for a tansy and a banquet of Cords and Cream, with a cup of old napyy Ale, matter of small charge, with a little reward of the Piper, after casting of sheeps eyes, and faith and troth for a bargain, clapping of hands, are seals to the truth of hearts, when a pair of Gloves & a handkerchief, are as good as the best obligation, with a cap and a curtsy, hie ye home maids to milking, and so merrily goes the day away. Again, we have hay in the barn, horses in the stable, oxen in the stall, sheep in the pen hogs in the sty, corn in the garner, cheese in the fit, milk in the dairy, cream in the pot, butter in the dish, ale in the tub, and Aqua vitae in the bottle beef in the brine, brawn in the souse, and bacon in the roof, herbs in the garden, and water at our doors, whole clothes to our backs, and some money in our coffers, and having all this, if we serve God withal, what in God's name can we desire to have more? Now, for some of you, a man may take you many times in the nature of blinde-men, that you can scarcely see a penny in your purse, and your lands grown so light, that you bear them all on your backs, and your houses so empty that in the cold of winter all the smoke goeth out at one chimney, when, if Brag were not a good dog, I know not how he would hold up his tail: Oh, the fine excuses of wit, or rather folly, late business over night makes you keep your beds in the morning, when indeed it is for lack of meat to dinner, and perhaps no great banquet at Supper, when a Crust and an Orange, a Salad and a cup of Sack makes a feast for a Bravo: then after all, a stretch, and a●yaune, and a pipe of Tobacco, wear boots for want of shoes, or else that the garters and the roses are at pawn. Now these are no Courtiers, but hangers on upon those that sometimes in great places have an humour to fatten fleas. Now for us in the Country, we run no such courses, but are content with that we have, and keep somewhat for a rainy day: love neither to borrow nor lend, but keep the stake still upright, spend as we may spare, and look to the main at the years end: our meetings are for mirth, and not mischief: and for quarrels we have none, except the oil of the malt work up into the head and so distemper the brain, that the tongue run out of order, when a fit of fisticuffes will soon make an end of all matters; so that we have pleasure with profit, mirth without madness, and love without dissembling, when the peace of Conscience is an inward Paradise. Now if you can show any better Cards for the maintaining of your opinion, I pray you heartily let me hear it. covert. Oh Cousin, I am sorry to see your simplicity, what a deal of ado you have made about nothing? but I see the proverb holds true in you, He that lives always at home sees nothing but the same, and your education being but according to your disposition, somewhat of the meanest manner of good fashion, your wit rather being all in Copyhold then in Capite, and your learning but to spell and put together, it were hard for you that never studied Astronomy to speak of the nature of the Stars; and therefore I can the better bear with your humour, because it is more natural than artificial, yet could I wish you would not so clownifie your wit, as to bury your understanding all under a clod of earth: What? is man but as a beast, bred like a fore-horse, to go always right on, and rather draw in a cart, than trot in a better compass? fie upon baseness, it is the badge of a Beggar: No, let me tell you, if you were or could be acquainted with the life of a Courtier, you would find such bewitching objects to the eyes, and ravishing delights of the heart, that you would hold the world as a wilderness to the Palace of a Prince, and life but as a death that hath no taste of Court comforts. Oh Cousin, we have learning in such reverence, wisdom in such admiration, virtue in such honour, valour in such esteem, truth in such love, and love in so rare account, that there doth almost nothing pass in perfection, that is not followed, with great observation, where the favour of a Prince makes a Beggar a petty King, the countenance of a Lord makes a clown a Gentleman, and the look of a Lady makes a groom a gay fellow. Oh Cousin, advancement and contentment are the fruits of Court service, and the steps of hope to the state of honour: furthermore, for knowledge, we have the due consideration of occurrents, the deciphering of Characters, inditing of letters, hearing of orations, delivering of messages, congratulating of Princes, and the form of ambassages, all which are such delights of the Spirit, as makes a shadow of that man, that hath not a mind from the multitude to look into the nature of the Spirits honour. Furthermore, we have in Court Officers of care, Orders of discretion, eyes of brightness, ears of clearness, hearts of pureness, brainesof wisdom tongues of truth, minds of nobleness, and Spirits of goodness, which though they be not in all, yet are they examples for all, and in the worthiest of all. Oh Cousin, to hear a King or Prince speak like a Prophet, a Queen like an Angel, a Councillor like an Oracle, a Lord like a Councillor, a Lady like a Queen, a Preacher like an Apostle, and a Courtier like a Preacher: and then to note the majesty of the greatest, the reverence of the wisest, the honour of the worthiest, and the love of the best, to receive grace from the one, instruction from the other; favour from one, countenance from another; honour from one, and bowty from an other; kindness from one, and comfort from another, where, for the good all, love goeth through all, where exercises of wix are but trials of understanding, and the properties of speech are the proofs of judgement: where peace is the practice of power, justice the grace of wisdom, and mercy the glory of justice: where time is fitted to his use, and reason is the governor of nature, where privileges are protections for the unwilling offendant, and sanctuaries are the safety of the unhappily distressed: where the name of want hath no note, baseness no regard, wantonness no grace, nor wickedness entertainment, except the Devil like an Angel of light come unseen to the world: where the qualities of virtue are the grace of honour, and the breath of wisdom is the beauty of greatness, where art hath reward of labour service the regard of duty, nature the affect of reason, and reason the respect of judgement: where idleness is hated, foolishness derided, wilfulness restrained, and wickedness vanished: where wits refined, brains settled, bodies purged, and spirits purified make a consort of such Creatures as come near unto heavenly natures. Believe me Cousin, there is no comparison between the Court and the Country for the sweet of conceit in an understanding spirit, which can truly apprehend the true natures both of pleasures and profit: Alas, let the Cow low after her Calf, and the Eve bleat after her Lamb, the Ass bray, the Owl sing, and the Dog bark; What music is in this medley? let ignorance be an enemy to wit, and experience be the Mistress of fools, the Stocks stand at the Constable's door, and the Gallows stand hard by the high way, What is all this to matter of worth? to see Lads lift up leaden heels, and Wenches leer after their Lubbers; to see old folks play the fools to laugh at the birds of their own breed, and the young Colts wighie at their parting with their Fillies, when Madge must home to milking, and Simon must go serve the beasts: What conceit is in all these courses? but to trouble a good spirit with spending time in idleness. Oh Cousin, if thou wert once well entered into the life of a Courtier, thou wouldst never more be in love with the Country, but use it as a clean shirt, sometime for a refreshing, though it be far courser for wearing, and little cleaner than that which you put off. I could say more that might easily persuade you to change your opinion, and alter your affection from the Country to the Court; but I hope this shall suffice, If not, I pray you let me hear you speak to some purpose. COUNTRY. Say, quoth you, Let me tell you, that all that you havesaid, or I think you can say, doth, nor will work any more with my wit to incline my humour to your will, than a Pill that lieth in the Stomach, and more offends nature, then purgeth humour: for, where there is no corruption Physic hath nothing to work upon, except by the trouble of nature, to bring health into sickness: Do you think so much of your strength as to remove a Millstone with your little finger; or are you so persuaded of your wit, that with a word of your mouth you can take away the strength of understanding? No such matter, no haste but good: I pray you give me leave a little, and if I speak not to your purpose, I will speak to mine own: and I will say as one Dante, an Italian Poet once said in an obscure Book of his, Understand me that can, I understand myself: And though my Country book be written in a rough hand, yet I can read it and pick such matter out of it as shall serve the turn for my instruction. What is here to do in persuading you know not what? to talk you care not how? Is this Court eloquence? Is not the Clownyfying of wit the Fooltfying of understanding? home spun cloth is not worth the wearing, water is a cold drink, and simpleness is but baseness, and a Clown is but a rich Beggar. Now truly Cousin, you are quite out; for, let me tell you that good words and good deeds are the best trials of good minds, and make the best passages among the best people: and so much for this matter. Now to answer your proverbs, and as I can remember, most points of your discourses: First, let me tell you, that I hold it better to see something of mine own at home, then travel so far that I see nothing of mine own abroad, for I have heard that rolling stones gather no moss: And for my education, if it hath been simple, and my disposition not subtle, If I be not fashioned according to the world, I shall be the fitter for heaven: And for my wit, to deal truly with you, I had rather hold it in a Copy of a good Tenure, then by the title of an idle brain, to keep a fools head in Frée-hold. Now for my learning, I hold it better to spell and put together, then to spoil and put asunder: but there are some that in their Childhood are so long in their horn book, that do what they can, they will smell of the Baby till they cannot see to read. Now we in the Country begin and go forward with our reading in this manner, Christ's Cross be my speed, and the Holy Ghost: for fear the Devil should be in the letters of the Alphabet, as he is too often when he teacheth odd fellows play tricks with their Creditors, who in stead of payments, write JOU. and so scoff many an honest man out of his goods. And again, when he teacheth travellers that have taken a surfeit in the Low-countries to set down H and O. to express the nature of their grief, and to jest out the time with B and R. or to bite men's good names with those letters to avoid actions of slander, and when they write you R. and they B. Oh fine knacks of more wit than honesty: But I hope there are none of these among you. But I have heard my father say, that when he was young, he saw many such in such places as you live in, but it was a great way hence beyond the salt water. Now for Astronomy, I think it be fallen from the height that it was in former time, for Stars were wont to be in the heavens, now Gallants hang them upon their heels, so bright in their Spurs as if they were all young Phaeton's, that would ride Phoebus' horses, while the folly of pride should sit in the Chair of ruin: but let them sit fast when they are up, lest they break their necks in their falls. Now for your Nature and Art, I think better of a natural Art, than an artificial Nature. And for your Fore-horse pace right on, I hope he is better than a resty jade that will not stir out of the Stable, or a kicking Curtal that will set his Rider beside the Saddle: and better draw sound in a cart then be lamed in a coach, or be sick in a Foot-cloth: & better a true trot then a fiddling amble: But let these humours pass. Now for your bewitching objects, I doubt they will make abjects of Subjects, and therefore I love no such devilish devices, when women's eyes will bewitch men's hearts, and the breath of Tongues will poison a man's wits. And for your ravishing delights, it is a word that I well understand not, or at least, as I have heard, this ravishing is a word that signifieth robbing of wenches of the inner lining of their linen against their wills, and if it be so, it is a perilous delight that brings a man to the Gallows, if not to the Devil for a little fit of pleasure: but if there be any better sense in it, I would be glad to understand it, though at this time I care not to be troubled with it. Now for Prince's Palaces, they are too high buildings for our Bricks, plain people are content with Cottages, and had rather pay tributes to their maintenance, then have them too much in our view, for blinding of our eyes with their golden brightness. Now for life and death, he that lives at quiet and will not be contented, may change for the worse and repent it, when he cannot help it. Oh Cousin, I have heard my father say, that it is better to sit fast, then to rise and fall, and a great wise man that know the world to a hair, would say, that the mean was sure: better be in the middle room, then either in the Garret or the Cellar: and an other of an excellent world's wit, that ran the ring with him in the walk of the world, would say, that honour was but ancient riches, and in high places, where frowns are deadly, and favours are uncertain, there was more fear of the one, then hope of the other; and a laborious weeks wages well paid was better than a years hope in paper: and therefore, he that would leave possessions for promises, and assurances for hope, were more full of wit then understanding, and of conceit than judgement, for though there is no service to the King, nor no fishing to the Sea, yet there are so many suitors for rewards, and so many beaters of the water, that delays may be cold comforts of long hopes to the one, and the other angle all day and catch a Gudgeon at night: and therefore, though the world be like a Well with two Buckets, that when one falleth another riseth, yet the fall is much swifter than the rising, and good reason, because the one goes down empty and the other comes up laden. But to be plain, I have so long been used to a quiet life, that I would not leave it for a world. Now for your notes of worth that you have set down in your Court commendations; I allow that all may be true, and they that thrive in it may think well of it, and hold it a kind of heaven upon earth: but for myself, I remember certain notes that I read in a Book of my Fathers own writing that shall go with me to my grave; there were not many but in my mind to good purpose: as first for greatness, My mind to me a Kingdom is: so that the quiet of the mind is a greater matter than perhaps many great men possess: Then for wealth, Godliness is great riches to him that is content with that he hath, which many great men sometime perhaps have less than meaner people. Then for a good rule of life; Fear God, and obey the King: which perhaps some do not so well in the Court as the Country. Then for the course of the Law, Love God above all, and thy neighbour as thyself: which if you do in the Court as we do in the Country, Envy would work no hatred, nor malice mischief; but love in all persons would make a palace, a Paradise, which in the best is more evident, then in the meanest apprehended: but God, whose love is the life of all, breed such love in the lives of all, that peace may ever live among all. Now for learning, what your need is thereof I know not, but with us, this is all we go to school for: to read common Prayers at Church, and set down common prizes at Markets, write a Letter, and make a Bond, set down the day of our Births, our Marriage day, and make our Wills when we are sick, for the disposing of our goods when we are dead: these are the chief matters that we meddle with, and we find enough to trouble our heads withal; for if the fathers know their own children, wives their own husbands from other men, maidens keep their by your leaves from subtle bachelors; Farmers know their cattle by the heads, and Shepherds know their sheep by the brand, What more learning have we need of, but that experience will teach us without book? We can learn to plough and harrow, sow and reap, plant and prune, thrash and fan, winnow and grind, brew and bake, and all without book, and these are our chief business in the Country: except we be jurymen to hang a thief, or speak truth in a man's right, which conscience & experience will teach us with a little learning, then what should we study for, except it were to talk with the man in the Moon about the course of the Stars? No, Astronomy is too high a reach for our reason: we will rather sit under a shady tree in the Sun to take the benefit of the cold air, then lie and stare upon the Stars to mark their walk in the Heavens, while we lose our wits in the Clouds: and yet we reverence learning as well in the Parson of our parish, as our Schoolmaster, but chiefly, in our justices of peace, for under God and the King they bear great sway in the Country: But for great learning, in great matters, and in great places, we leave it to great men: If we live within the compass of the Law, serve God and obey our King, and as good Subjects ought to do, in our duties and our prayers daily remember him, What need we more learning? Now for wisdom, I heard our Parson in our Church read it in the holy Book of God, That the wisdom of the world is but foolishness before God: And why then should a man seek to befool himself before God, with more wit than is necessary for the knowledge of the world, the wise man must die as well as the fool, and when all are the Sons of Adam, we have a fair warning to be too busy with tasting of the Tree of too much knowledge: I have read in the Book of the best wisdom, that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and surely, he that begins his lesson there may continue his learning the better, and come to be a good Scholar at last. Solomon, the wisest man that ever was, said, that all was vanity and vexation of the Spirit: and why then should a man vex his spirit with seeking to be as wise as a Woodcock, in beating his brains to get the possession of vanity? And yet I must confess, that least vanity turn to villainy, it is good that the authority of wisdom have power to bridle the folly of self will: But for the great wisdom of Councillors of State, judges of Laws, Governors of Cities, Generals of Armies, or such great People in such great places, they go so far beyond our wits, that we had rather be obedient to their wills, then enter into the depth of their discretions, and content ourselves with that wisdom which is most necessary for us, to love God above all, & our neighbours as ourselves, to rise with the day rays, and go to bed with a candle, to eat when we are hungry, drink when we are thirsty, travel when we are lusty, and rest when we are weary: fear God, be true to the Crown, keep the laws, pay scot and lot, breed no quarrels, do no wrongs, and labour all we may to have peace, both with God and man, speak truth and shame the Devil, pitch and pay, say and hold, try and trust, believe no lies, tell no news; deceive not an enemy, nor abuse a friend, make much of a little and more as it may increase: These are the points of wisdom that we run the course of our Card by. Now for valour, it is seen best in the best quarrels, and Saint Paul said, that he had fought the good fight, to fight for the preservation of a state, the person of a King or Prince, to keep my house from thieves, my children from dogs, and my family from famine, and my faith from fainting in the word of God, this hold we the good fight, and the true valour: not to stand upon puntoes, not to endure a lie without death, challenge for a frown, and kill for a fowl word, adventure all for nothing, or perhaps worse than nothing, loose lands, goods, life and soul and all in a murder or a bloody bargain, to please a Punk, and to be counted a Captain of the devils army, or a Gallant of the damned crew, except some few hours before his end, while the worm of Conscience bites him at the heart, a spark of grace enter into his soul, and make him at the Gallows make a repentant rehearsal of a lewd life, and leave a fair example at his death to all beholders, perhaps with these good words at his departing, All ye that here be take example to be hanged by me. Oh brave valour that makes many a weeping eye, when my mother for my son and my sister for my brother, or my wife for my husband, or my father for my daughter, or mine uncle for mine aunt sit and howl like dogs to see the works of the Devil, in the wicked of the world. Such kind of valour I have heard my father say that he hath marked in some places where he hath travelled, I know not where, a great way hence when he was young, where he found among a hellish company of accursed spirits, they were called valiant fellows, that durst say any thing, do any thing, or be any thing, till they were worse than nothing; durst quarrel with any man, abuse any man, strike any man, kill any man, and care for no man, durst prate, lie, swear and forswear, scoff and swagger, drink and dice, drab and stab, durst be hanged and damned for a horrible fit of a frantic humour, and this was their valour: I pray God there be none such among ye where you keep, I am sure there keep none such among us. Now for truth, I hope there are more true hearts in the Country then there are tongues in the City in many places, yea, and in greater places than I will speak of, but where they be God bless them, and where they are not, God send them, and that is all that I say to them: But for aught I see there is so much falsehood in the world that I fear there is littletruth on the earth: and in great places where protestations are without performances, and excuses are better than lies; Where is either truth of love or love of truth? but a little I think, I would there were more: But with us, truth is so beloved, that a Liar is held little better than a thief, and it is a lesson we learn our little Children, speak truth, tell truth, take heed you lie not, the Devil is the father of lies, and little better be his Children, deal truly with all men, let your tongues and your hearts go together, Christ is truth, in his holy name be true, ever tell truth and shame the Devil, be true to God in your belief and obedience to his word, be true to your King in the loyalty of your hearts, be true to your wives in the honesty of your bodies, and be true to your friends in performing your promises: this is the love we have to truth, if you have it so, it is a good blessing of God and makes a happy people. And for love, if it be in the world, I think it is in the Country, for where envy, pride, and malice, and jealousy makes buzzes in men's brains, what love can be in their hearts, howsoever it slip from their tongues? No, no; our Turtles ever fly together; our Swans ever swim together, and our lovers live and die together. Now if such love be among you, it is worthy to be much made of; but if you like to day and loath to morrow, if you fawn to day and frown to morrow; if all your love be to laugh and lie down, or to hope of gain or reward; that is none of our love: we love all goodness and only for goodness: first God, than ourselves, than our wives and children, than our family, and then our friends: and so hath love his course in our lives: and therefore if there be any observation in affection, I pray you, let it be rather in the Country then in any place, where faith is not so fast but fancy can alter love upon a little humour of dislike. Now for your favour, when one Beggar grows rich by it, how many rich grow beggars through the hope of fortune: and therefore in my mind, better be Lord over a little of a man's own, then to follow a Lord for the bare name of a Gentleman, and better with a little to be counted a good man, then with gaping after Gudgeons to be thought, I know not what: Truly Cousin, I think every thing is best in his own nature, as one is bred so let him be: for as a Courtier cannot hold the plough, but he will be soon seen to be no workman, so a Countryman cannot court it, but he will show in somewhat from whence he comes. And for a Ladies look, I think we have wenches in the Country that have as fair eyes as finer creatures, who when they list to look kindly, will make many glad though few gay fellows. And for apparel, plain russet is our wearing, while pied coats among us we account players or fools, except they be better men than the best of our parish, except our Landlord. Now for preferment and advancement, they be encouragements, to some Spirits that are borne under the climbing climate, but for mine own part I love not to play the fly with a Candle, for fear of burning my wings but will leave the ladder of honour to him that best knows how to climb be, and to sit fast when he is up. Now for your Occurrents, what are they? but news, sometime true and sometime false, which when they come to us they are commonly more costly than comfortable, and therefore we desire not to trouble ourselves. Now for deciphering of Characters, I have heard my father say in the old time, that they were accounted little better than conjurations, in which were written the names of Devils that the College of Hell used to conjure up in the world, and belonged only to the study of Sorcerers, Witches, Wizards, and such wicked wretches, as not caring for the plain word of God, go with scratehes of the devils claws into hell: but how true it is God knoweth: but that this is true every man knoweth that it was a devise of the Devil at the first, to put into the head of a deceiving heart that having no true nor plain meaning in conscience, would write so, that no man should understand him but himself, or like himself, and only to hoodwink the world for looking into his wickedness: But what is the end of all wily beguily? seeking to deceive other, deceived himself most of all: Now letters of darkness devised by the Devil for the followers of his designs in the courses of his deceit: honest men in the Country love to meddle with no such matters, but so far as may be to God's glory and the good of a State, to find out the plots, and to prevent the mischief of a villainy, being done in Gods holy name and by his grace, I hold it a fine quality to decipher a Character, and lay open a knave: But for us in the Country, we love no such braine-labours as may bring our wits into such a wood, that we know not how to get out of it. Now for inditing of Letters: Alas, what need we much ado about a little matter? If we can write, we commonly begin and end much after one manner: Trusting in God you are in good health, with all our friends: and so to the matter, either to borrow, or to pay, or to know the prize of your cattle, or for a merry meeting, or I thank you for my good cheer. And so with my hearty commendations, I commit you to God. From my house such a day. Your loving friend to his power. And then seal up the paper, and write on the outside: To my loving Cousin, Neighbour, or Friend, at his house in such a place, with speed, if the time require, and so no more ado: Except it be a Love Letter, and then a few idle words of Sweet heart, I commend me unto you, and have been as good as my promise, and have sent you a pair of gloves by Meg your Brother's best beloved, and upon Friday (God willing) I will meet you at the Market, and we will be merry, and talk further of the matter, and if you be as I am, say and hold, I know my portion, and when yours is put to it we shall live the better: And so, keeping your Handkerchief near my heart: till I see you, I rest Yours during life in true love W. T. Now for your Styles of honour and worship to this Lord and that Lady on the outside, and a deal of humility and ceremony on the inside, me thinks it is a wearying of the mind before you come to the matter: And as I remember a great wise man that would dispatch many matters in little time, would thus ever read Letters, in the beginning two words for the Style, and other two at the end for the conclusion, so noting the treble above, and the base beneath, he would soon in the midst find the substance of the Music: and to tell truth, few words and plain, and to the purpose, is better for our understanding, then to go about with words to tell a long tale to little end. Now if woe cannot write, we have the Clerk of the church, or the Schoolmaster of the town to help us, who for our plain matters will serve our turns well enough, and therefore what need we trouble our heads with inditing of Letters? Now, for Orations, they are fittest for Scholars to allure an audience to attendance: but for us, we have more use of our hands to work for our livings, then of our ears to hear the sound of a little breath, yet I allow it among you in such places, as you live in: but where truth is the best eloquence, we make but two words to a bargain, and therefore for your long discourses, we desire not to be wearied with them, but will leave them to you that have more use of them, and have time to hearken to them. Now for your Messages, alas, cannot we give a Cap and make a Leg to our betters, and deliver our minds in few words, without we learn to look down as though we were seeking of a Rabbits nest, or that we had committed some such fault that we were ashamed to show our faces, or make a long congee as though we were making preparation to a Galliard, when if a foot slip we may have a disgrace in the fall; and if a word be misplaced, it is half a marring to all the matter: and therefore for messages, our matters being not great, small instructions will serve our turns for the delivery of our minds. Now for congratulating of Princes, God bless them, they are too great men for us, more than to pray for them; and their matters too high for our reason to reach after: it is enough for us to give a Cake for a Pudding, and a pint of Wine for a pottle of Beer: and when we kill Hogs to send our Children to our neighbours with these messages, My Father and my Mother have sent you a Pudding and a Chine, and desires you when you kill your hogs you will send him as good again. Now for great folks, they have such great choice of presents, and of such great charge, and such great care in the delivery of them, that (Lord have mercy upon us) we in the country cannot tell what to say unto them, but, God bless them that have them, and much good may they do them. Now for Ambassages and Ambassadors, we know not what the word means, and therefore little care to be troubled with the men; for when we hear of any man that comes from a strange Country, we say, I pray God he comes for good, and then he is the better welcome: Tush, talk to us of a Basket or a Basketmaker, and not of an Ambassador nor Ambassages; but make yourselves, that best know the meaning of them, the best use you can of them; for us, we care not to look after them, more than to pray for them, that as they do, or as they mean, so God bless them. Now for your Officers, their charge is so great, that we desire not their places, for we hold a private quiet better than a public trouble; and a clean conscience worth a world of wealth: Now for your Orders, perhaps your need of them is great, where disorders may be grievous: for us in the Country, we have few, but in the Churches for our Seats, and at our meetings for our places, where, when Master justice, and the high Constables are set, honest men, like good fellows will sit together; except at a Sessions, or an Assize we be called upon a jury, then as it pleaseth the Clerk of the Peace, set one afore another: and therefore for orders what need we trouble ourselves with other than we are used unto? I remember I have heard my father tell of a world of orders he had seen in divers places, where he had traveled, where right good Gentlemen, that had followed great Lords and Ladies had enough to do to study orders in their Service: a Trencher must not be laid, nor a Napkin folded out of order; a dish set down out of order, A Capon carved, nor a Rabbit unlaced out of order; a Goose broken up, nor a Pastry cut up out of order; a Glass filled, nor a Cup uncovered nor delivered out of order; you must not stand, speak, nor look out of order: which were such a business for us to go about, that we should be all out of time ere we should get into any good order: but in that there is difference of places, and every one must have their due, it is meets for good manners to keep the rules of good orders: But how much more at rest are we in the Country that are not troubled with these duties? Now for your eyes of brightness, I fear you are not troubled with too many of them; late sitting up, long watching, and night business, as writings, readings, casting up of accounts, long watchings, and such like other business; besides gaming, playing at Cards, Tables, and Dice, or such sports as spend time, are all dangerous for weak sights, and make a world of sore eyes: But as you said, some of the best sort are wiser in their actions, and more temperate in their motions, and therefore keep their sights in more perfection; which may be examples to others, if they have the grace to follow them: But for our eyes, if we do not hurt them with a stripe of a twig in the wood, a flyo in the air, or a mote in the Sun, our eyes are as bright as crystal, so that we can see the least thing that may do us good; and if we can see the Sun in the morning and the Moon an night, see our cattle in our pastures, our sheep in the Common, our Corn in the fields, our houses in repair, and our money in our purses, our meat on our tables, and our wines with our Children, and look up to heaven, and give God thanks for all, we seek no better sight. Now for the cleanness of your hands, I fear that now and then some of ye have your hands so troubled with an itch, that you must have them anointed with the oil of gold, before you can fall to any good work: and some of yes, that though your wits have good inventions, yet you cannot write without a golden pen, which indeed, best fits a sine hand. But for us in the Country, when we have washed our hands, after no foul work, nor handling any unwholesome thing, we need no little Forks to make hay with our mouths, to throw our meat into them. Now for the pureness of your hearts; except Kings, Queens and Princes, and such great persons, make no comparison with Country people, where yea and nay are our words of truth; faith and troth are our bonds of love, plain dealing, passages of honesty; and kind thanks continues good neighbourhood: A liar is hated, a scoffer scorned, a spendthrift derided, and a miser not beloved: a Swaggerer imprisoned, a Drunkard punished, and a juggler whipped, and a Thief hanged, for our hearts will harbour no such Guests: And for love, two eyes and one heart, two hands and one body, two lovers and one love ties a knot of such truth as nought but death can undo. Now for brains of Wisdom, I think he is wiser that keeps his own, and spends no more than needs, than he that spends much in hope of a little, and yet may hay lose that too at last. Now for tongues of truth, let me tell you, fair words make fools fain, and Court holy-water will scarce wash a foul shirt clean, except it come from such a Fountain, as every man must not dip his finger in: But Cousin, when hearts and hands go together, words and deeds go together; these are the tongues that will not falter in their tales, but tell truth in the face of the wide world; and therefore excepting the best that may be examples to the rest, I think, if truth be any where, she is in the Country. Now for the nobleness of minds; it fitteth the persons in their places: but for us in the Country, we had rather have old Nobles in our purses, than a bare name of noble without Nobles: the reason may be that we do not know the nature of nobleness so well as we do of Nobles, and therefore we hear only so much of the cost of it, that we have no heart to look after it; but where it is truly we honour it, and say, God bless them that have it; and if they be worthy of it well may they keep it, and that is all that I say to it. Now to spirits of goodness, alas, there is not one in the world; Christ jesus our Saviour said so, There is none good but God: and if there be any on the earth, I think a good belief and a good life doth best express the nature of it. To conclude with Virtue, in which you lay up all the treasures of life, I doubt not it is in the best, I would it were so in all with you, but be it where it pleaseth God to send it once, I verily believe it to be as truly in the Country as in places of higher compass: and by your leave, let me tell you of a Riddle of my fathers one writing, touching that rare and precious jewel. There is a secret few do know, And doth in special places grow, A rich man's praise, a poor man's wealth, A weak man's strength, a sick man's health; A ladies beauty, a Lords bliss, A matchless jewel where it is: And makes where it is truly seen, A gracious King, and glorious Queen. And this said he, is virtue, which though he understood in the Court, yet he made use of it in the Country. Now therefore good Cousin, be content with your humour, and let me alone with mine, I think I have answered all your positions: and let me tell you, whatsoever you say, I verily believe that ere you die, I shall find you rather in the roole of peace in the Country, then in the trial of patience in the Court, except the heavens highest Grace, and under heaven our earth's highest Honour, make you happier in their favours then the whole world else can make you. And now, what say you further unto me. covert. I say this to you, kind Cousin, that your Father's lessons have made you better learned than I looked for, but yet let me tell you, had you seen but one of our shows in our Triumphs heard one of our Songs on our solemn days, and tasted one of our dishes, in our solemn feasts, you would never look more on a May-game, listen more to a lousy Ballad, nor ever be in love with beef and pudding. COUNT. Oh Cousin stay the Bells, I think you are deceived, for it may be that at one of these Shows, I might see the fruits of my labours and my poor Neighbours, flung away in gauds and feathers; and perhaps have a proud humour, wish to be as wise as they that were no wiser than they should be: and therefore I think, better tarry at home then travel abroad to no better purpose. Now for Songs, a plain ditty well expressed, is better with us, than a fine conceit, as feigned in the voice as the matter. Now for your dishes of meat. I will tell you, I heard my father once report it for a truth, that a great man who lived where you live, sent him for a great dainty a purpose Pie or two cold: which taking very thankfully, and causing the Messenger to stay dinner with him, he cut one of them up, and very nicely taking out a piece of it, gave it to my Mother, which she no sooner had in her mouth, but it had like to have marred all with her stomach, but she quickly conveyed it all under board, which my Father seeing, said, why how now wife? What? do you love no good meat? yes (quoth she) but I pray you taste of it yourself: which he no sooner did, but he made as much haste out of his mouth with it as she did, then did the Children likewise the same, and the Servants being by, their Master offered each one a piece of it, no sooner tasted of it, but they did so spit and spatter, as if they had been poisoned; then he gave a piece to his Dog, which smelled to it, and left it: by and by after came in a Miller and his Dog, to whom my Father inlike manner offered a piece, but neither man nor dog would eat of it: whereupon my Father heartily laughing, with thanks to his great Lord for his kind token, sent one of them back again to him with this message, Commend me, I pray you, to my good Lord, and tell him I heartily thank his honour, and tell him, if either myself, or my wife, or my children, or my servants, or my dog, or the Miller, or his dog, would have eaten of it, I would never have sent one bit back again to him of it: but it may be that it is more wholesome than toothsome, and he may make a better friend with it: so, paying the messenger for his pains, sent him away with his message, which was no sooner delivered, but his Lord heartily laughed at it: This was one of your fine dishes. Another, a great Lady sent him, which was a little Barrel of Caviar, which was no sooner opened and taved, but quickly made up again, was sent back with this message. Commend me to my good Lady, and thank her honour, and tell her we have black Soap enough already; but if it be any better thing, I beseech her Ladyship to bestow it upon a better friend, that can better tell how to use it. Now if such be your fine dishes, I pray you let me alone with my Country fare. And now, what say you else unto me. covert. I say this, that Nature is no votcher, and there is no washing of a black Moor, except it be from a little dirty sweat: the Ox will wear no Socks, howsoever his feet carry their savour: and Diogenes would be a Dog, though Alexander would give him a kingdom: and therefore though you are my kinsman, I see it is more in name then in nature: thy breath smells all of Garlic, and thy meat tastes all of mammaday pudding, which breaking at both ends, the stuffing runs about the Pot: And since I see thou art like a Millstone that will not easily be stirred, I will leave thee to thy folly till I find thee in a better humour, for I see the Music of thy mind hangeth all upon the base string. Farewell. COUNT. Nay soft a while, let me not be in your debt, for an ill word or two: I see truth is no liar; all in the Court are not Courtiers, nor every man that hath wit is not truly wise; for than no man would spend breath to no purpose: an Ox's foot may be sweeter than a Cod's head, when Socks may be but saveguards for bare tooes in broken stockings: Garlic hath been in more grace than Tobacco, and is yet in the Country, with them that love meat better than smoke. Diogenes is dead, and Alexander is in his grave; and better be a manish Dog than a dogged man: And if your good will be to your good words, you are more like a stranger than a kinsman. And for my pudding, I believe it will prove better than a Tobacco pipe: so, rather desirous to be a Millstone, not to stir at every motion, than a feather in a Weathercock, to turn with every jail of wind, I will pray for your better wit, than you have shown in a self wild humour, and so till I find you in more patience and less passion, I will leave you till we meet again, hoping that you will be as I am, and will be a friend, to forget all ill humours, and ready to requite all kindnesses. COURTIER, So will I, and so, Farewell. Thus they parted for that time, but what fell out at their next meeting; as you like of this, you shall hear more hereafter. FINIS. Necessary Notes for a Courtier Question. WHat is a Courtier? Answer. An Attendant upon Majesty, a companion of Nobility, a friend to Virtue, and a hope of honour. Quest. What things are chiefly to be required in a Courtier? A. Two. Q. What are they? A. A good body, and a good mind. Q. How are they to be used? A. In humility and civility. Q. To whom? A. The first unto God, the second to man. Q. What are the proofs of a good mind? A. Love of goodness, and fear of greatness. Q. What are the tokens of a good body? A. Ability and agility. Q. What preserves a good mind in goodness? A. Prayer and Charity. Q. And what keeps the body in strength? A. Continence and exercise. Q. What is the chief grace of a Courtier? A. The fear of God, and the favour of a King. Q. What is the Honour of a Courtier? A. The love of virtue. Q. What is the wealth of a Courtier? A. The love a King. Q. What is the charge of a Courtier? A. Truth in Religion, care in his Service, love to his Master, and secrecy in his trust. Q. What is the care of a Courtier? A. To deserve well, to keep well, to live well, and to die well. Q. What qualities are chiefly required in a Courtier? A. Wisdom, Valour, Learning, and Bounty. Q. What learning is most fit for a Courtier? A. Divinity, Philosophy, Policy, and History. Q. What are the Ornaments of a Courtier? A. Variety of Languages observation of Travels, experience of Natures, and the use of Understanding. Q. What is a Courtier most to take heed of? A. Envious Ambition, malicious Faction, palpable Flattery, and base Pandarism. Q. What is a Courtier chiefly to take note of? A. The disposition of the best, the words of the wisest, the actions of the noblest, and the carriage of the fairest. Q. What things chiefly is a Courtier to be chary of? A. His tongue and his hand, his purse and his middle finger. Q. What conversation is fittest for a Courtier? A. Wise wits, noble spirits, fair eyes, and true hearts. Q. How should a Courtier hope of advancement? A. With prayer to God, diligence in his service, respect of persons, and judgement in affections. Q. What discourses are fittest for a Courtier? A. Admiration of wisdom, defert of honour, truth of valour, and life of love. Q. What friends are fittest for a Courtier? A. The wise and the wealthy, the valiant and the honest. Q. What servants are fittest for a Courtier? A. The expert, the faithful, the diligent and the careful. Q. What is the true valour in a Courtier? A. To fear no fortune, to be patient in adversity, to master affections, and to forgive offenders. Q. What are the follies in a Courtier? A. Vain discourses, idle compliments, apish fancies, and superfluous expenses. Q. What are most dangerous in a Courtier? A. To be inquisitive of Occurrents, to reveal Secrets, to scorn Counsel, and to murmur at Superiority. Q. What things are most profitable to a Courtier? A. A sharp wit and a quick apprehension, a smooth speech, and a sound memory. Q. What should a Courtier chiefly observe in a King? A. His wisdom, his valour, his disposition, and affection. Q. What in a Councillor? A. His religion, his reason, his care, and his judgement. Q. What in a Lord? A. His title, his worthiness, his spirit, and his carriage. Q. What in a Lady? A. Her beauty, her portion, her parentage, and her disposition. Q. What in an Officer? A. His knowledge, his care, his diligence, and his conscience. Q. What time is best spent in a Courtier? A. In prayer, in study, in grave discourse, and in good exercise. Q. And what time is worse spent? A. In devising of fashions, in fitting of fancies, in feigning of Love, and in honouring unworthiness. Q. What is commendable in a Courtier? A. Concealing of discontentments, mitigating of passions, affability in speech, and courtesy in behaviour, Q. What most delighteth a Lady's eye in a Courtier? A. Neat apparel, wise speech, to manage a Horse well, to dance well. Q. What most contenteth a King in a Courtier? A. Religious valour, reverent audacity, humble love, and faithful service. Q. What is most troublesome to the mind of a Courtier? A. Conscience and patience, continence and abstinence. Q. What are most grievous to a Courtier? A. The frown of a King, the displeasure of a Lady, the fall of honour, and the want of wealth. Q. What friend shall a Courtier most rely upon? A. His God, his King, his wit, and his purse. Q. What foes should a Courtier most stand in fear of? A. Wanton eyes, glib tongues, hollow hearts, and irreligious spirits. Q. What things are necessary for a Courtier to have ever in memory? A. Temperate speeches, moderate actions, deliberate inventions, and discreet resolutions. Q. What delights are most fit for a Courtier? A. Riding and Tilting, hunting and hawking. Q. What is most comely in a Courtier? A. A stayed eye, a fair hand, a strait body, and a good leg. Q. What should be hated of a Courtier? A. Rudeness and baseness, slothfulness and slovenlinesse. Q What special servants of name are most fit for a Courtier? A. A Barbour for his Chamber, a Tailor for his Wardrobe, a Groom for his Stable, and a Footman for his Message. Q. What is the happiness of a Courtier? A. To fear God, to have the favour of a King, to be able to lend, and to have no need to borrow. Q. What is the shame of a Courtier? A. To take much and give nothing, to borrow much and lend nothing, to promise much and perform nothing, and to owe much and pay nothing. Q. What should a Courtier be always jealous of? A. In sinuating spirits, intruding wits, alluring eyes, and illuding tongues. Q. What is the life of a Courtier? A. The labour of pleasure, the aspiring to greatness, the ease of nature, and the command of reason. Q. What is the same of a Courtier? A. A clear conscience, and a free spirit, an 〈◊〉 heart, and a bountiful hand. FINIS.