Sir , it is true , that some doo , but the most doo not : But wherin I pray you , do you note the cheefe chaunge , and in what sortes of men , and whether is this alteration , from worse to better , or from better to worse ?

This chaunge ( wherof I meane ) is like to the rest of worldly chaunges : that is , from the better to the worse : For as the Prouerb sayth : Seldome coms the better .

That Prouerbe in deed is auncient , and for the most part true , beeing truly applied : yet because I am lothe to mistake your meaninge , I desire to know , whether in lamentinge of alteration , you include the whole world , or some perticuler countrey : or whether you will haue mee to apply it to England , and to some sortes of English men only : For with other Nations ( I suppose ) you haue practised litle .

In deede , I am a home bred bird , and therfore will not take vpon mee to discourse of forrayne customes , though I heare they bee bad enough : But as I tolde you at the first , I am sorye to see Englishmen , so apte to leaue their auncient good fashions , and fall into forrayne manners , in my poore minde , much worse , then our owne . And because our talke shall not bee ouer tedious , I will not at this time tell you of all faultes ( wherof I wishe amendment : ) But only of one matter , and that in one sort of men .

You do very wisely to reduce matters into briefe , wherin you shall both ease your selfe , and helpe my memory ; which is , ( I confesse ) but litle worth .

I know ( Maister Vallentine ) your memory is very good , & so is there in you many other commendable partes , though you , for modesty , will not so say . For you Trauellers are full of respects : and in all your dooinges , your manner is to vse modesty .

I thanke you Sir , for so sayinge , and more I thanke you if such bee in deed your opinion of mee .

Touching mine opinion , you shal be assured , it is , and euer shal be such , as I say : For I am ( as I tolde you ) a plaine man , vtterly vnacquainted with disguising , and superfluous ceremony , yea in troth , they are thinges much diuers , from mine education , and nature .

I loue you a great deale the more , for in good faith , I am made of the selfe same mowlde . And though ( desire to know ) did carry mee in youth far from home , and that into Countries , both beyond the Seas , and Mountaynes also , yet haue not those ayres any whit , altered my loue from my naturall Countrey .

That so beeinge ( as vpon your worde , I will now beleeue it is ) I will trust the rather to your talke , and thinke that , what you doo answere to my demaundes , is in troth , that your selfe doth faithfully follow .

I pray you ( Maister Vincent ) lay by these curtesies , and fal to the matter of your demaundes . For mee thinkes , ( though you would be called a playne man ) yet you vse more ceremony , then I , that haue spente some parte of my life in Countries , where those customes are most plentifull .

Well , then I will holde you no longer in these complaintes , ( which wordes I learne of you trauellers . ) But fall into the matter it selfe .

Indeed Sir , that is my desire , & sith it seemeth , that the subiect of your speech shal be in comparing of our countrey customs , with those of forrain nacions , I hope you will hold mee blameles , ( though occasion beeinge offered ) I happen to finde faulte with somewhat of our owne , and commend the customes of others : which I will doo the more boldly , because you tolde mee , you loued plainenes , and therfore bee content , our talke may bee free speech , and without respect .

On Gods name , so let vs proceede , and ( as I promised ) least our talke should extend too farre , I will neither aske your opinion of all customes , nor of all sortes of men : but onely desire to be resolued of one doubt , in one thing , which toucheth mee only , and others of my degree and condition .

And I pray you Sir , what may that bee ?

You know the vse and auncient custome of this Realme of England was , that all Noble men and Gentlemen , ( not called to attendance in our Princes seruice ) did continually inhabite the countryes , continuing there , from age to age , and from Auncester , to auncester , a continuall house , and hospitallitie , which got them great loue amonge their Neighbours , releeued many poore wretches , and wrought also diuerse other good effectes , as hereafter I will tell you .

In deede Sir , I will not denie , that the Country ayre is holsome , to gaine the loue of neighbors is very good , and to releeue the poore is an acte of much charity : But to what end speake you this , for to your well liking of these matters , euery man wil assent .

Ah Sir , now at length you are come to the matter , which ( as I conceaue ) is nothinge els , but that you woulde know whither it were best that gentlemen , should inhabite ( as they did aunciently ) their owne houses in the Country , or the Citties , as in many forraine nacions the custome is .

In troth , that is the somme and whole effecte of my demaund , and nothinge els I will for this time desire to know your opinion of , vnlesse occasion of our speech shall so require .

For my opinion herein ( thought it bee of small authority ) such as it is I will tell you plainely , yet ( as it seemeth by your former speech ) it will discent with yours . For as you commend the continuall habitation of the country , so do I vtterly disalow therof , as a custome , neither good for the common welth , neither for the gentils that do vse it : which you shall perceaue playnly , if it please you to compare the commodities with the discommodities , of either : the good , with the bad , which is in either : the profit with the disprofit , which is in either : the quiet , and disquiet which is in either . And the securitie , with the hazard that is in either : all which ( without priuate Passion ) well waied , will easely lead you to the troth : But first , because you affect the country life , I pray you commend it perticulerly , the best you may , and giue mee leaue to remember you with the discommodities therof , least you growe ouer fatte , with feedinge vpon your owne affection . When it commeth to my lot to speake of my liking , you shall without offence , bee as bold with mee .

With all good will ( Maister Vallentine , ) But I pray you marke well what I say , and forget ( duringe my discourse ) the perticuler loue you bare to some Italian or Spanish Lady , during your abode , on that side : Least that priuate Passion doth make your likinge to their customes so delicate , as you loath our owne country quiet , and commoditie .

Nay Sir , you shall not neede to doubt any such parcialitie , for it is long sithence I was there : and besides that , my bloud is now ouer colde to kindle any such fier . And therfore to our purpose .

Then I pray you vnderstand , that I remayne of the auncient minde of our English Gentlemen , who euer , euen to this day ( or very lately ) did thinke the country habitation best , as a life and education most honest , most pleasant , and most profitable .

I haue euer , and euer will accompt , that education , & life most honest , which is nourished in iustice , truth , and plaine dealinge , free from fraude , and dissimulation : things ( as I thinke ) litle vsed among vs plaine men of the Country : And first to speake of education of our Children , wee acquaint them not with any crafty company : we clad them simply to eschue pride : wee feede them grosely , to harden their bodies : and wee teache them Schoole learning , to know good from bad : other quallities in their childhood , wee commonly doo not giue them , as things which are either hurtful or superfluous : beeing growen to riper age , wee sende them to the Vniuersitie , where many become so learned , as they gaine by learning their owne liuing : or if not , yet such taste of learninge , as they are the better . Some also we bring vp in the Innes of Court , where if they profite , wee suffer them to proceede : if not , speedely reuoke them from thence , least they acquaint themselues to much , with the licentious customes of the Cittie : as with quarreling , dycing , dauncing , deceiuing , lustinge , brauing , & indetting . To teach them these , there wanteth not in euery streate instructors ynow . Wee therfore holde it best , not to hazard our children abroade from our houses , vnlesse it bee in these places of order , and there also suffer them not to continue , vnlesse wee see their disposition to learning . To serue in Court , or follow the war , wee accompt those liues rather lewde , then laudable : these trades are commonly hard , and their hazard greater , then wee ( beeinge borne to wealth , and worship ) will put our Babes vnto : In conclusion , our care in education of children is such , as wee study cheefly to make them honest and iust , wise and welthy , obedient and assured . Which commodities , others that haunt the Court the Cittie , the Warre , and the world : either they want , or with great hap , or hazard they haue them . Thus much I thinke shall suffice , to enforme you of our education , I thinke you partly know it , els I would speake at more large : How do you allow therof tell mee playnely ? And then I will speake of our lyues , and how honestly wee liue . For that was my promise .

I allowe of your zeale to honesty in education , but if you mixe it with some other thinges , I will like it the better . That you study to bring vp your children in honesty , which is vertue , and cheefely iustice ( for of that vertue men bee called good ) I doo not onely allow you , but commend you : Yet if you remember what Tully telleth you , ( for sure I am you haue bin a Scholler That men are not only borne to themselues : Then will you ad some other vertues and knowledges to these , you wish to bee in your children , for besides , that all men are not apt for one thinge , yet is it commendable , nay rather necessary , that there bee persons prepared for sundry actions , not so much to serue their owne turnes , as their Prince and Countrey : Respectes of more inportaunce , then the safety of any priuate Gentleman , either his person , his patrimony , or his Parents . For as you said the sum of your intent , was to frame your children to be honest , & iust : wise , & welthy : obedient and assured . Al which things I allow , as lawdable , beeing not misvnderstood . And first , touching honesty & iustice , I accompt them as one : for indeed , an honest man , is a iust man : & a iust man is honest : & that is hee that liueth iustly & honestly , in respect of loue to honesty & iustice : and not hee that is iust , either for feare , or for lacke of skil , to be worse : for vertue is a voluntary , & knowing good habite : Therfore if your Sonne be honest & iuste , either for feare of punishment , or for ignorance , because he knoweth not how to bee vniust , or false , I assent not vnto you , for then , he may be rather called a good , honest , iust foole , then an honest , or iust wise man : Touching the next , which are to be wise and welthy , to put these two into one , it may happen to proue that they concurre , though most commonly I haue seene few wise men welthy : not because welth shunneth wisdome : but rather , because wisdome seldome seeketh after welth . Yet in your sence ( I suppose ) it may stand well : for you accompt no man wise , but those that bee welthy : and I doo also assent vnto you , so that you are contente to meane sufficient wealth : but to seeke after priuate goods , omittinge all publique action , and priuate contemplation , I holde not that man wise , for hee shall do ( as Marcus the Emperour sayd of Marchants : ) Labour and liue miserably , to die ritch : To the thirde of your endes , wherunto the education of your children tended , which is obedience with safety : surely , for the first there is no nation , no , scantly the most barbarous , but wil commend obedience , & therin rest you firme : but what you mean by safety I doo not so well know , but for ought I conceiue , it is the eschuing of perill & paynes , which beeing your intent ( as it seemeth it is ) I can by no meanes assent vnto you . For if you consider wel ( as mens bodies be diuerse , ) so are their mindes & inclinations diuerse : euery one is not disposed to one thing , nor to one action , & therfore when you disallow of alsorts of learning & action , but of those that be for gayne and reward , I accompt your iudgement reproouable . I wish therfore cleanecōtrary to your minde , that in respect of the common wealth , & the seruice therof , ( wherunto we are all bound , yea the best of vs all ) that such younge Gentilmen as are not inclined to learning , should by their Parentes , bee not only suffered , and encouraged , but also to their powers enhabled , to trauaile countreyes , & haunt the warres . In which trades of life although touchinge their persons , there bee greater perrill then in study at home : yet sith the common weale may not wante such men , and those knowledges not gotten without perrill . I iudge it a lesse euill to hazard mens bodies in them ( though many perish ) then vtterly to want them , and haue our children safe at home . Euery man by nature is condemned to die , & better it is to aduenture an honest death , then to continue an improfitable life : To answere the rest of your speech , that in warre , in Court , and Cittie , is great store of euill company : Thereto I say there is also many good : Therfore good counsaile of freends , & honest discretion of young men , may learne them to make choise : Besides that it is good , to know euill , not to vse it , but to auoyd it , and for the most part , things are indefferent , and not perfit . Besides vertue , there is nothing in perfection good , nor besides vice , nothing in perfection euill . Therfore though your childe must needes know some euill , in learning good , yet is it better hee know it , with some hazard , then want his good for feare of that hazard . If no man would approch the fier , because it hath burned many a house , and many a heedlesse man , also , that haue fallen into it , then would many a one , freeze to death : & though the Sea , hath drowned many thousands , yet no wisdome would that sayling should bee forbidden , for ( as erst I sayd ) in euery thing excepting vertue , is commodity and discommodity , & when the good doth or may surpasse the bad , no man doth ( or at the least ought ) shun the aduenture , where good is the marke , and the end honest .

In good faith Sir , you haue spoken more , then euer I did heretofore consider : for in deede , when I bethinke mee of your discourse , I remember how diuersely my poore children are in nature affected , some of them are of themselues very bookish , others for none entisement , or compulsion can be brought to learn , so as ( I suppose ) you say truly , that if I durst hazard their persons , & suffer them to try their fortune abroad , they might attaine to sumwhat . And Fortune ( as some Clerkes say ) is very freendly to folke aduenturous .

Well , I am glad , my speech hath drawen you to consideration , of any good thing , before either vnthought of , or forgotten . But I am sure you take my mening , as it is , to remember you , & not to councel you .

Yea Sir , therof assure your selfe , and in some Countryes where God hath suffered vnquietnes , there is more want of good Capitaynes , then learned Doctors : yea in such estate hath our Country beene , and may bee : for nothing is assured , but besides Warriers , Princes haue occasion to imploy many other Gentlemen of experience . For I can accompt vnto you sundry honest quallities that are very commendable in men , and necessary for the state .

Fayne would I bee enformed of all . But first let mee intreat you , to tell what are , or ought to bee , the cheefe professions of a Gentleman ?

That can I doo , and in few wordes .

So much the better , for my memory shall the more easely beare them away , therfore without more request . I pray you proceede .

The cheefe and onely professions , wherby a Gentleman should receaue aduancement , or commendacion , are Armes , and Learninge . For in these two onely should hee exercise him selfe .

Surely Sir , they seeme to bee noble quallities , but I thinke hard to excel in them . But is not Husbandry , Tillage , Grasinge , Marchandize , buying and selling , with such other trades ( as wee Country men vse ) thinges meete for a Gentleman ?

In plaine speeche I tell you , that I thinke not one of them fit for a gentlemans exercise .

And why so ? are they not commonly vsed of Gentlemen ? and by them they doo receaue daily profit : the lawes doo allowe of them as thinges commendable . Also by them many poore yonger Bretheren without lande ( as commonly they are all ) doo by the Plough , maintayne him selfe , his wife and famyly .

A poore maintenance , and a slow thrifte , God knoweth , and full euill it becommeth the person of a Gentleman to practise any of these trades .

Then I pray you tell mee how many wayes a man , without land , may gayne his lyuinge Gentlemanlike .

There are three wayes to doo it .

And which are they , I pray you informe mee ?

There is Arte , Industry , and Seruice .

The better is your fortune , that haue by succession only , the whole fruite of all your auncestors trauaile .

Euen so it is in deed , I thanke God & them for it : But I pray you answere to that I aske you .

Such Artes as I wish a Gentleman sholud learne , must be those that commonly are called Lyberall Sciences . Which and how many there bee of them , you may easely know , yea and to what purpose they serue .

But tell mee , are not the lawes a study very fit for a Gentleman ?

Yes surely , both the lawes Ciuill & Common are studies most excellent , & to speake breefely , all learnings , that tend to action in the state either Ciuill , or Martiall .

Now you seeme to talke of great misteries , but wee gentlemen in the Country , vnlesse our sonnes proceed in the study of the common lawes , Diuinitie , or Phisicke , doo holde them learned ynough if they can write and read English , and congrue Latine .

Now ( Maister Vallentine , ) you seeme to speake straungly , as though Wrighting , Reading , and the Lattin tongue , were nothing worth .

Sir , I do not so say , but to gaine a lyuing by them without further learninge , I thinke it hard . And therfore poore men that put so many vnapte chyldren to the Schole , do nothing els , but offer them losse of time : For do you not meete many beggers that can doo all these , and yet you see their estate is plaine beggery ?

That is true in deede , but yet if they bee honest and personable , they are the fitter to become Seruants to attend vpon a Noble or Worshipful man .

I am glad you haue remembred mee of seruingmen , for hereafter I will tel you more of my minde touching them , in the meane time , these quallities beeing of no necessity , will litle amend their entertainement , and their certenty nothing .

Touching Industry , I wish that young Gentlemen ( hauing no arte ) should sundry wayes , yea , eeuery wayes honest , try their fortune .

And how I pray you ? for of my credite ( if I had no reuenues of mine owne , ) I could not tell , how to gaine a groat .

Yet do not you see many yonger Bretheren , that euen in forraine Countryes , haue aspired to great pensions : others haue happened vpon good Marriages , others for some notable , and egregious act , haue attained both profit and honour , when others for very sloth or cowardise do liue at home , almost in beggery . Did not they better that did aduenture them selues ?

Yes indeede , but there are few , whom fortune so wel fauoureth , and in attempting these matters many doo miscarry .

No doubt of that , els their reward ought not to bee so great , for things easy , without hazard , euery blockhead doth take in hand , and yet to incourage young men , aswell in Industry , as Arte , I pray you consider how fewe of infinite numbers doo prooue learned in the Vniuersities : how few Prentices doo proue ritch Marchaunts : and how few Law Studients become Iudges : And then shall you finde the number of industrious men that thriue , is like to the rest .

If I were sure , my Sonne should attaine to that good hap you speake of , ( and that some perhaps , haue aspired vnto . ) Then could I bee content , hee should hazard him selfe : but I finde the daungers many , & the hope so litle , as I hold better to keepe him at home in the state of a poore yonger brother , then see him seeke a good , so desperate .

The more vnwise you , and by so sayinge you discouer the basenes of your minde , your small iudgement and lesse experience : For if you had seene the Courtes of Princes , or the warres : you shal finde in euery of them , not only many young Gentlemen of your condition : But also many your betters , the Sonnes of Knightes , Barrons , Earles , Dukes , and Princes , & many of them , as ready to hazarde their liues , for their honour & Country , as the poorest or prowdest Souldier . Do you then take scorne that your Sonne should submit him selfe to that perrill , that these Princes doo aduenture ? And if you consider how many , euen of base name & birth , through industry only , without arte , haue not only gayned them selues , goods and glory : but also therby haue giuen honour to all their Posterity , I suppose you would not onely aduenture your yonger Sonne , but my young Maister , your heir also , yea ( rather then faile ) your owne person . For had your first Auncestors beene no more industrious then you seeme , surely your name and house , had not had that worship and wealth it hath . These reasons may , mee thinkes moue you to hope well of industry : But to confirme you , I will resite the names of some few , whose industry hath not only gained them selues glory , but also their Countrey infinite good . How say you to Colombus , and Vesputius , whose industry discouered the west part of the world : from whence the King of Spaine fetcheth yearely great Treasure ? Also what do you thinke of Magelanus , that sayled about the world : yea to come nearer to your knowledge , do you not thinke that Maister Frobusher , by his industry , and late trauaile , shall profit his Country , and honour him selfe ? Yes surely , and a number of others , who though they haue not perfourmed so notable matters , yet haue they wonne them selues reputation , and meane to liue , some more , and some lesse , according to their vertue and fortune .

In good faith , you haue spoken very reasonably , I will no more bee so lothe to let my children goe seeke their aduenture . Now tell mee somewhat of seruice , for ( as I remember ) that was the third way to aduauncement .

In troth , I so saide , and so I meane . Seruice , I say , hath aduaunced many , and daily doth , it can not much differ from industry , sauing that it hath somewhat a straighter rule : but desire of honor in the couragious , and necessity in the poore , doth driue them to refuse none aduenture : Those yong Gentlemen therfore , that finde them selues of minde capable , & of body disposed , I wish them to haunt the warre , wherin though the paines bee greate , and the perill much , yet it entertaineth the life , and in time yeeldeth honour : it is the common custome of Fraunce and other Countries , that young gentilmen bee brought vp , as Pages in Court : so soone , as their Pagery is past , they become Souldiers in some Band or Garrison , where ( after knowledge and proofe ) they become Officers : from Officers , Captaines of companies , and many of them gouernours of Townes , Coronels , and Chieftaynes . Is not this a better course for younge Gentlemen then tarry at home in their Fathers or Brothers house , and kepe a Sparhawke , or a kennell of bawling Dogges , or that ( which in mine opinion , is as bad : ) Marry him selfe with some poore Mayden , and through charge of Children , become a very Farmer , or Ploughman , which thinges though they bee honest , and fit for some men , yet for a Gentilman vtterly vnmeete .

I am halfe of your minde , but this Realme hath seldome warres , and few Garrisons , where wee should resort to learne , and lesse meanes to employ or entertaine such young men , as are apt & willing to serue .

It is true , & yet are there more occasions to call than to it , then they take , & more meane to entertayne than , then ( for ought I see ) men of minde to descerne them , and were our nation so desirous of honour , and their owne good , as some others are , there would neuer bee lesse , then two or three hundreth young Gentlemen wandring the world abroade , & seeking aduentures : yea , I suppose , wee English Gentlemen haue so heretofore vsed the matter : how could els , Iohannes Acutus , an English man haue kept that stir in Italy that hee did : who ( as Iouius , and other Cronacleirs say ) led 5000. English voluntary Souldiers , and during the contentions betweene Guelphi and Gibellinj , did many seruices & exploits very memorably ?

But I pray you , are there no otherwayes for Gentlemens preferment , then the exercise of war ?

Yes Sir , els God forbid : for I would haue no man ( cheefely poore men ) to accompt that the war is their occupation : But rather how to serue at occasions , and the seruice done , quietly to retier them selues to their owne houses , Maisters , freends , or other industry , not dooing as I se many lusty yong Souldiers do , beg in the streats , when with a litle paines they could get them selues a way to liue .

But what shall the young Gentlemen souldiers doo , for ( I thinke you know , ) they haue no handy crafte to flie vnto ?

That I know well , neither would I wish them to meddle with any Mecanycall manner of liuinge , as a thing vtterly vnfit for Gentlemen . And therfore I will say that sith the number of those souldiers is small , in respect of the other multitude , they might easely bee ( or the greater part of them ) receaued into Garrisons , and into the seruice of Noblemen , and others their good freendes , who knowinge them vertuous , would bee glad of their seruice , nay rather their company .

In deede the number of Gentlemen , that follow the war , is nothinge , in respect , of the multitude : and therfore either seruice , their owne industry , freends , or fortune may , ( as you say continually ) holde them in hart , and ability to liue .

Doubt you not therof , specially , if they be honestly and thriftely enclined : for some I haue seene so careles , as they neuer forecast what want may follow . But finding them selues plentifully applied , do spend as much in one yeare , as fortune & frends haue gayned in many : therfore to prouide for them I meane not .