An Excellent LETTER FROM John Basire Doctor of Laws, To his Son ISAAC BASIRE.  
In the SAVOY, Printed by Tho. Newcomb, 1669.   

A true Copy of an EXCELLENT LETTER From his Dear Father John Basire, Doctor of Laws, and Advocate in the Parliament of Roven in France, written to his Son, (being the a Scholar of the Famous School of Erasmus at Rotterdam in Holland:) dated the 8th of December 1623. (the Original whereof the Son keeps as a Jewel, preserved by providence, above 45 years:) and at the earnest desire of some godly and learned Friends, faithfully tradslated out of French Into English by Isaac Basire (his unworth y Son) now D. D. and Archdeacon of Northumberland.  
MY Son,  
I have received your Letter of the 28th of October last, which hath afforded me no small Joy and Content; since by the reading of it, I have been duly informed, as well concerning the prosperity of your first Voyage, as of your own good health, and of the notable proof you have already given of your advancement and progress in the knowledge of good Letters; seeing that, at your first arrival, and upon your first Trial, you have been judged worthy of the highest Form: God be praised for it, and give you grace to continue better and better: I do very much commend your frugality, for Magnum est vectigal Parsimonia, (Good Husbandry is a great Revenue,) but I would blame you exceedingly if you should be too sparing to the Cost of your Reputation, or of your Health; which you ought to prefer to the purchase of all Arts and Sciences, since, by reason of your indisposition, they would become useless and unfruitful. Therefore, fly all Excess of Labour of the Mind, and rather learn in two years, what you might learn in one, if with the loss of your health; being always mindful, That your Studies must be regulated by and proportionated unto your Natural Strength; Studia enim Naturae Regula metienda sunt. Have a due regard to your small Age 
(a) Being then but fifteen years and ten Months, and but tender 〈◊〉 and sickly by Nature, though in process of time, by Labour and Custom, through God's blessing, hardened into a healthful Temper.  and to the weakness of your Natural Strength. Beware also of suffering extreme Colds, which you must shake off sprightfully by exercise of Body; which will render you supple, cheerful, and active, and capable of greater Labour: purchasing thereby to yourself a strong and able Constitution and habit of Body: And seeing that God hath put into your heart the resolution to choose, and to follow so holy and so laudable a Vocation (of which notwithstanding you ought not 
(b) The Father being a Doctor of Law, did intent his Son for the same Faculty; in which Study also, out of filial obedience, he spent some years, till he propounded to his Father his inclination for the holy Ministry, but still with submission to his consent, which he freely signified afterwards by his Letter to Dr. Morton, the late L. Bishop, then of Litchfield and after of Durham; by whom the Son received Holy Orders.  to have made choice of yourself) to the end you may become worthy and capable of it, to discharge the same as becometh; you must wholly dispose yourself to live soberly 
(c) Titus two. 12.  righteously, and godly, endeavouring, by all possible means, to lead your life answerable to your Profession; to this end be courteous unto all men, but familiar to few: Do not frequent the company of those whom you will not resemble; but if debauched persons should entice you to their evil Courses, consent you not, lest by their Conversation, and bad Discourses, your good Nature be perverted, corrupted, or altered for the worse. Corrumpunt enim Bonos Mores Colloquia prava: 
(d) 1 Cor. xv. 33.  Evil Communications corrupt good Manners. Be sincere and upright, fearing God, and turn away from evil, as Ecclesiastes admonisheth you in the last Chapter, verse 15. Fear God and keep his Commandments, for that is the whole duty of man: And since 
(e) Prov. i. 7.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, 
(f) Prov. iii. 5.  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding: By the practice of so serious an Admonition, you will more and more draw down upon you, and your Labours and Studies the Blessing of God, when you still refer them all to his Honour and Glory; for if (as you ought to do) you acknowledge God in all your ways, 
(g) Prov. iii. 6.  he will direct your paths. We will join our fervent and instant prayers with yours, that as 
(h) Phillip two. 13.  God hath given you to will, so he will give you power to do, of his good pleasure? to his Glory, your own Salvation, and our Comfort: Mean while, recreate yourself from time to time by seasonable Divertisements from your Studies to Exercises commendable, virtuous, and no ways Childish 
(i) 1 Cor. xiii. 2. Terent.  Siquidem alia aetas alios mores postulat: Change of Age requires change of Manners. Give yourself also, at your spare hours, to learn the Language of the Country where you are, as also the Art of Music, and to write as good a hand as you possibly can: It will not be one of the least perfections you may purchase, to get a good hand, and very legible. But chief you must not study so much to have your Head well filled, as to have a Head well fitted or composed. Accustom yourself also, as much as you canto speak treatably and distinctly; even when you learn your Lessons: because Custom turns into an Habit. Est enim Consuetudo altera Natura: For Custom is a second Nature. Be sure of this, that by a kind of volubility, and an overhasty Tongue, or precipitated Pronunciation, you will find yourself put to it, when you are to acquit yourself well of the duty which belongs to your Office: That defect may render your Function unpleasing, void of gracefulness, and without Edification. Take heed of being any ways Vindicative, or given to Revenge, but reserve the Vengeance to God. 
(k) Rom. xii. 19  For Vengeance is mine, and I will repay it, saith the Lord. But on the contrary, be charitable, meek, gentle, and gracious; and be always mindful that 
(l) Prov. xv. 1.  A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. Never do that to another, which you would be loath another should do to you; and be sure, That 
(m) Prov. x. 9●.  he that walketh uprightly walketh surely, but he that perverteth his ways shall be known. Eat and detest therefore all manner of Pride and of Hypocrisy: Because 
(n) Luke i 51.  God scattereth the Proud, in the Imagination of their heart; and 
(o) Prov. xi. 2.  whensoever Pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the Lowly is Wisdom. This is it I do now exhort you to follow, and to put in practice: Adding to this end, for your encouragement, what wise Solomon hath delivered in the first Chapter of the Proverbs, verses 8. and 9 My Son, hear the Instruction of thy Father, and forsake not the Law of thy Mother: for they shall be an Ornament of Grace unto thy Head, and Chains about thy Neck. Your good Propensions, and natural Inclinations, put me in good hope that you will make good use of these my Fatherly Instructions. The Plague continues still in this City, without truce or abatement; God in mercy will assuage it, if it be his good pleasure, when we shall turn, away from our own evil ways. Be mindful of us in all your prayers, as we keep a continual remembrance of you in the prayers which we here daily offer up unto God; you may be sure, that, in so doing, you shall not, by the Grace of God, want our supply & assistance, so far as shall be requisite and necessary for the Continuance, Progress, and Consummation, of your Studies; if it shall please God to prolong our lives, till that time wherein you may have accomplished them. Upon this ground, I shall beseech God, my dear Son, to preserve you in his holy Tuition and Protection, and to fulfil you with his Blessings Spiritual and Corporal. Farewell.  
From Roven this viij. of December, 1623. Your Father and best Friend, J. B.