extricable maze of human folly? No, Gentlemen, there is but one comprehensive, one obvious, one immutable rule of honour, which you can follow with safety, amidst the perilous, the changeable, the dubious, and the partial maxims on either side, that have been devised by self-love, worldly policy, or false refinement. You have heard it already; but you cannot hear it too often; it is the whole art of acting worthily, of acting nobly, comprised in a single short sentence; Never, while you breathe, to offend deliberately the inward monitor- My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.'

TEN PRECEPTS,

GIVEN BY

WILLIAM LORD BURGHLEY,

LORD HIGH-TREASURER OF ENGLAND,

TO HIS SON

ROBERT CECIL,

AFTERWARDS THE EARL OF SALISBURY.

SON ROBERT,

THE virtuous inclination of thy matchless mother, by whose tender and godly care thy infancy was governed, together with thy education under so zealous and excellent a tutor, puts me in rather assurance than hope, that you are not ignorant of that summum bonum, which is only able to make thee happy as well in thy death as life; I mean the true knowledge and worship of thy Creator and Re; deemer, without which all other things are vain and miserable so that, thy youth being guided by so sufficient a teacher, I make no doubt but he will furnish thy life with divine and moral documents. Yet, that I may not cast off the care beseeming a parent towards his child, or that thou shouldest have cause to derive thy whole felicity and welfare rather from others than whence thou receivedst thy breath and being, I think it fit and agreeable to the affection I bear thee, to help thee with such rules and advertisements for the squaring of thy life, as

are rather gained by experience than by much reading; to the end that, entering into this exorbitanage, thou mayest be the better prepared to shun those scandalous courses whereunto the world, and the lack of experience, may easily draw thee. And because I will not confound thy memory, I have reduced them into ten precepts; and, next unto Moses's tables, if thou imprint them in thy mind, thou shalt reap the benefit, and I the content. And they are these following.

:

When it shall please God to bring thee to man's estate, use great providence and circumspection in choosing thy wife; for thence will spring all thy future good or evil and it is an action of life, like unto a stratagem of war, wherein a man can err but once. If thy estate be good, match near home and at leisure; if weak, far off and quickly. Inquire diligently of her disposition, and how her parents have been inclined in their youth Let her not be poor, how generous soever; for a man can buy nothing in the market with gentility. Nor choose a base and uncomely creature altogether for wealth; for it will cause contempt in others, and loathing in thee. Neither make choice of a dwarf or a fool; for by the one thou shalt beget a race of pigmies, the other will be thy continual disgrace; and it will yerke thee to hear her talk: for thou shalt find it to thy great grief, that there is nothing more fulsome than a she-fool.

And, touching the guiding of thy house, let thy hospitality be moderate; and, according to the means of thy estate, rather plentiful than sparing,

but not costly; for I never knew any man grow poor by keeping an orderly table. But some consume themselves through secret vices, and their hospitality bears the blame. But banish swinish drunkards out of thine house, which is a vice im pairing health, consuming much, and makes no show. I never heard praise ascribed to the drunkard, but for the well-bearing of his drink, which is a better commendation for a brewer's horse or a dray-man, than for either a gentleman or a serving man. Beware thou spend not above three or four parts of thy revenues, nor above a third part of that in thy house; for the other two parts will do no more than defray the extraordinaries, which always surmount the ordinary by much: otherwise, thou shalt 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 sell; and that gentleman who sells an acre of land, sells an ounce of credit: for gentility is nothing else but ancient riches; so that if the foundation shall at any time sink, the building must need follow. So much for the first precept.

II.

Bring thy children up in learning and obedience, yet without outward austerity. Praise them openly, reprehend them secretly. Give them good countenance and convenient maintenance according to thy ability, otherwise thy life would seem their bondage; and what portion thou shalt leave them at thy death, they will thank death for it, and not And I am persuaded that the foolish cockering of some parents, and the over-stern carriage of

thee.

others, causeth more men and women to take ill courses, than their own vicious inclinations. Marry thy daughters in time, lest they marry themselves. And suffer not thy sons to pass the Alps; for they shall learn nothing there but pride, blasphemy, and atheism: and if by travel they get a few broken languages, that shall profit them nothing more than to have one meat served in divers dishes. Neither, by my consent, shalt thou train them up in wars; for he that sets up his rest to live by that profession, can hardly be an honest man or a good Christian: beside, it is a science no longer in request than use; for, soldiers in peace are like chimneys in summer.

III

Live not in the country without corn and cattle about thee; for he that putteth his hand to the purse for every expense of household, is like him that keepeth water in a sieve: and what provision thou shalt want, learn to buy it at the best hand; for there is one penny saved in four, betwixt buying in hy need, and when the markets and seasons serve ittest for it. Be not served with kinsmen or friends, or men entreated to stay; for they expect much, and do little: nor with such as are amorous; for heir heads are intoxicated. And keep rather too ew, than one too many. Feed them well, and pay hem with the most; and then thou mayest boldly equire service at their hands.

IV.

Let thy kindred and allies be welcome to thy house and table. Grace them with thy counto

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