THE COUNTRYMAN'S CARE, And the Citizens fear, In bringing up their Children in good Education. Set forth in a Dialogue between a Citizen and Countryman. Citizen. a well-dressed urban gentleman Country Man. a well-dressed rural gentleman Printed at London for T.B. 1641. THE Country Man's Care, AND The Citizens Fear in these dangerous, and Troublesome Times. Citizen. WEll met Countryman, what is the best news that the Country doth afford at this time? Count. Alas sir! I wonder you should so earnestly inquire news of me, that live in the Country, whenas we receive all our news from you. I confess, you did prevent me, therefore I pray, what is the best news in the City? Citiz. Alas! the ambiguous rotation of the World is very mutable, nothing is constant, nothing durable, but all things do praecipitate themselves most strangely in a mutual levity. Count. This news is hard indeed: for I did expect better, in regard that I have a Son, truly a pretty Scholar (as his Master tells me) and of a hopeful expectation, whose preferment I intent to raise (God willing) Therefore I beseech you (if you can) instruct me, what way I may ●●ttle him in. Citiz. What can he understand the Latin tongue, or how fare hath he proceeded therein? Count. Truly sir he is passed his Propribus quae maribus, & his Ass in praesentibus too I'll assure you; yea, & he can read any Chapter in the Bible very punctifully, and withal he hath read toe Master Practice on the Piety, and many other Godly books I thank God for it, who hath endued him with so much grace: Therefore because he is come to some knowledge now, I would willingly bring him up to some Scholarship: what think you Sir, if I should send him to the University? Citiz. Sir I commend your fedulity herein: but I have often heard, and withal I know by experience, that the University is much polluted, and contaminated with Popish superstitions, which if your son should be seduced into, perhaps it will cause both his utter ruin, and your perpetual sorrow. Count. Is it possible that the University should be corrupt? 'tis no marvel then that the whole kingdom is misled, since the very fountains themselves are polluted. Citiz. I Exhort you as a friend; and I hope you will not contemn my friendly admonition. Count. But my Son may avoid their crafty allurements, and if he then uncessantly follow his study, he may one day prove a Minister of God word. Citiz. Pish, a minister of God's word quother? Now a days every man will become a Minister: therefore it will be but vanity for you to send your son thither to attain to the Sacerdotiall function. Count. But dare every man presume so fare without learning? Citiz. That is the chief cause thereof: for learning is abused, contemned, derided, neglected, despised: they will have no praying, nor preaching, unless it be performed by instinct and inspiration, as the spirit moves them. And if a man heaps up knowledge, and Scholarship by indefatigable study, he is thought to have filled his mind only with more advantage to do wickedness. Count. Oh lamentable! Citiz. Yea you may see Cobblers and Tinkers rising from the very Dunghill, beating the Pulpits as conformably, as if they were the King's professors of Divinity, scattering their new doctrine and discipline in the Church, and are accounted great divines too of the vulgar. Here you shall see one making himself a Prophet preaching in a Tub as confidently, as if he were Doctor in Divinity. There you shall see another thumping forth his new doctrine in a Barn among his conniticles (I should have said) conventicles, as if he were Master of Artes. In the mean while revolve all, and you shall find Scholarship most shamefully despised. Count. But if he diligently continue in his study. God knows but that he may one day become a Bishop. Citix. How? a Bishop? alas! I fear there will be no more of that dignity: for the general assent and consent too of the Commons will admit of no Bishops: and they must all very shortly resign their Titles, which shall be abrogated. Your son shall never be Archbishop I'll warrant you: and if you intent to make a Divine of him, he must have a great care lest the Archbishop do not cut of his ears. But I will free you from that fear, for I tell once again that there will be no more Bishops: Yet if it seems more just, and secure, that the holy Church should admit a degree of less, and greater, they will have no Bishops, but only Lay-Elders: to the election of which dignity, they judge and suppose none more fit, and none more prepared for the performance of every thing, belonging to God's word, than those venerable, and reverend Father's Master Cobbler, Tinker, and Button-maker, men (although but of a mean Scholarship) yet most wonderfully inspired. Therefore I think it mere vanity for you, to bring your son up to be a Scholar. Count. Alas! then what shall I do? unless I should put him to the Inns a Court. Citiz. So you'll make a young Suckling of him, and then he'll run away. Count. But I intent to make him a Lawyer. Citiz. Alas the Star-chamber, and High-Commission Court is down long ago: and he must be as busy as a Duck, or else he will lose preferment. For Lawyers are not respected, neither are they accounted Honest, because they sell their lines dearer than Apothecary's Physics, which I confess is dear enough, yet nothing comparable to the price of their lines, which gape wider than an Oyster-wises mouth, and straddle wider than a frenchman's legs. Fie, fie! Lawyers are accounted Knaves over all the Country. Count. 'tis strange! For I'm sure they have more Angels come hourly to them in Term time, than all the Puritans in the Town. Citiz. But here lies the differnce: Their Angels do wear crosses: and because the Puritans will admit of no cross, therefore they hate the Lawyers the more, because they are so ready to receive them. Count. And there is none of their whole Tribe, that will deny such crosses, I'll warrant you. Citiz. But Lawyers are so little regarded now adays, that I fear before they can procure other men's Suits at Law, they'll want Suits to their own Backs. Count. But perhaps he may come to the honour of a judge one day. Citiz. I hope you do not desire to have your Son hanged. That's a dangerous title I'll assure you: Did you not hear that most of the judges are to be judged under other judges, yea and they'll hardly escape hanging too, unless they give ample satisfaction to the Parliament: for they are acknowledged to be the Original of all our greivances. Therefore if you be wise desist from that opinion. Count. Alas! What education shall I then impose upon my Son? Since all these grounds of hope hath deceived me. What think you Sir, if I train him up to be a Soldier? Citiz. He must swear lustily then: and brag of many things with ostentation, although he can perform nothing. But stay! Now I think on it: Perhaps he may be suspected to be some Trooper, (for they say the Country is very full of them) then apprehended and so incontinently committed only upon suspicion. Count. You say true indeed Sir: Therefore I know not what course to take with him. I entreat you Sir, to lend me your advice. Citiz. If the Lad be so hopeful, as you declare him to be: I care not greatly if I take him under my Tuition, and if you please to condescend thereunto, he shall be my Apprentice, and I'll assure you for your sake he shall be both kindly kept, and religiously instructed. Count. I humbly thank you for your love, wherefore I acknowledge myself much engaged to you: But I pray what trade are you off Sir? Citiz. I am a Vintner by my Trade. Count. I am very glade to hear of that: and if my Son be wise enough, but to take forty Shilling a Tun, he may prove an Alderman too. Well Sir, I am much obleiged unto you, for your love unto him, and I will bring him unto you, and if you like his morality and ingenuity, I will willingly send him unto you. Citiz. He shall be most lovingly respected. Count. Thanks Noble Sir; In the mean while farewell. FINIS.