Instructions to a Son, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Of Study and Exercise.
THe times succeeding I devine to be very happy and peaceable, and therefore a course of life befitting the tranquillity of the age you live in, will be to betake your self to your Studies.
You have read men a good part of your life, and are pretty well versed in that deep and profound knowledge, that will be of use you in the bustles and encounters of the world; you must also have some provision to pass away the quiet; and blessed calme of life: but herein pray observe these Cautions.
1. That the study of vain things is a laborious idleness.
2. That there is no way which leads ingenuous spirits more easily, and with more certain appearances of honour and goodness, to delicacy, softness and unmanliness, then learning and study.
3. That to study only to pass away time, is a most inept curiosity, and an unthrifting of time, and very misbecoming active and noble spirits.
4. Though good letters be the best informers, yet company and conversation are the best directors for a Noble Behaviour and Deportment.
You must therefore so order your studies, that you make them subservient to the concerns of your Honour, Estate, and Interest, and that they entrench upon no time, which should be employed about them.
Your vacant and spare hours, you cannot better afford to any thing then to Books; nay, there is a necessity of making such leasure time, if the multiplicity of business press to fast upon you; remembring that of a great Emperour, whose affairs were not only urgent, but full of trouble and care in a new attained Empire,—Nulla dies sine linea, not a day must pass without some improvement in your studies.
Your own choice and judgement will best direct you what books you shall read, and to what science you shall chiefly apply your self, though I think it pedantical, and unworthy and unhandsome for a Nobleman or person of Honour to be affectedly excellent in any one, it seems as ridiculous as Nero's mad ambition of being counted the chief Fidler and best Singster the world.
History and the Mathematicks, (I may say) are the most advantagious and proper studies for persons of your quality, the other are fit for Schoolmen, and people that must live by their learning; though a little insight and tast of them, will be no burden to you; your knowledge in them joyned with your Authority may be of good use to your Conntry in awing of pragmatick professors, either of Law or Divinity.
I do not reckon the Laws of the Kingdome any particular study, for they must be your constant practise, your place many instruct you in them, as to the executory part of them, for the pleading part of them that's below you.
Keep always an able Scholar for the Languages in your house, besides your chaplain, who may be ready at hand to read to you out of any book, your fancy or judgement shall for the present pitch upon, you will find him to be of great use and service to you, and give him salary accordingly.
Thinke no cost too much in purchasing rare books; next to that of acquiring good friends I look upon this purchase; but buy them not to lay by, or to grace your library, with the name of such a manuscript, or such a singular piece, but read, revolve him, and lay him up in your memory where he will be far the better Ornament.
Read seriously whatever is before you, and reduce and digest it to practise & observation, otherwise it will be Sysyphus his labour to be always revolving sheets and books at every new occurrence which may require the Oracle of your reading.
Trust not to your memory, but put all remarkable, notable things you shall meet with in your books sub salva custodia of pen and inke, but so alter the property by your own Scholia and Annotations on it, that your memory may speedily recur to the place it was committed to.
Review frequently such memorandums, and you will find you have made a signal progress and proficiency, in what ever sort of learning you studied.
After your studies give your mind some relaxation by generous exercises, but never use them afer fulness, sleep, or oscitancy, for then they abate much of the recreation and delight they afford after intentness of the mind on any business; otherwise it is but a continuation of the dream in the stirring slumbers of sport and play.
In the choice of your exercises, affect none that are overrobust and violent, that, instead of remitting, unbending the bow, will break it; but let them be moderate, and withall virile and masculine, such as is riding the great horse, shooting at marks out of crosse-bows, Calivers or Harquebuse. Tennis is not in use among us, but only in our capital city, but in leiu of that, you have that excellent recreation of Goff-ball, then which truely I do not know a better.
Do not make a toil of a pleasure, by over-exercising your self; play not to wearisomness, which may nauseate the recreation another time to you. As near as you can, play with companions your equals, but if they are not at hand, pleasure will dispence with any play-fellow, nor are you tied there to any strict rules of honour.
Let your exercises be designed to this end, to settle your mind, to beget you a stomack and appetite, and fit you for other succeeding business.