The Holy State, Book 3 · Chapter 4
CHAP. 4. Of Travelling.
IT is a good accomplishment to a man, if first the stock be well grown whereon Travell is graffed, and these rules observed Before, In, and After his going abroad.
Maxime 1.Travell not too early before thy judgement be risen; lest thou observest rather shews then substance, marking alone Pageants, Pictures, beautifull Buildings, &c.
2Get the Language (in part) without which key thou shalt unlock little of moment. It is a great advantage to be ones own interpreter. Object not that the French tongue learnt in England must be unlearnt again in France; for it is easier to adde then begin, and to pronounce then to speak.
Be well settled in thine own Religion, 3lest, travelling out of England into Spain, thou goest out of Gods blessing into the warm Sunne. They that go over maids for their Religion, will be ravish'd at the sight of the first Popish Church they enter into. But if first thou be well grounded, their fooleries shall rivet thy faith the faster, and Travell shall give thee Confirmation in that Baptisme thou didst receive at home.
Know most of the rooms of thy native countrey before thou goest over the threshold thereof. 4Especially seeing England presents thee with so many observables. But late Writers lack nothing but age, and home-wonders but distance to make them admired. 'Tis a tale what *Antiqu. Iud. lib. 1. cap. 3.Josephus writes of the two pillars set up by the sonnes of Seth in Syria, the one of brick, fire-proof; the other of stone, water-free, thereon engraving many heavenly matters to perpetuate learning in defiance of time. But it is truly moralized in our Universities, Cambridge (of Brick) and Oxford (of Stone) wherein Learning and Religion are preserved, and where the worst Colledge is more sight-worthy then the best Dutch Gymnasium. First view these, and the rest home-rarities; not like those English, that can give a better account of Fountain-bleau then Hampton-Court, of the Spaw then Bath, of Anas in Spain then Mole in Surrey.
Travell not beyond the Alps. 5Mr. *In his preface to his Schoolmaster.Ascham did thank God that he was but nine dayes in Italie, wherein he saw in one citie (Venice) more liberty to sinne, then in London he ever heard of in nine years. That some of our Gentry have gone thither, and returned thence without infection, I more praise Gods providence then their adventure.
To travell from the sunne is uncomfortable. 6Yet the northern parts with much ice have some crystall, and want not their remarkables.
If thou wilt see much in a little, travell the Low countreys. 7Holland is all Europe in an Amsterdam-print, for Minerva, Mars, and Mercurie, Learning, Warre, and Traffick.
8Be wise in choosing Objects, diligent in marking, carefull in remembring of them: yet herein men much follow their own humours. One askt a Barber, who never before had been at the Court, what he saw there? Oh (said he) the King was excellently well trimm'd! Thus Merchants most mark forrein Havens, Exchanges, and Marts; Souldiers note Forts, Armories, and Magazines; Scholars listen after Libraries, Disputations, and Professours; Statesmen observe Courts of justice, Counsells, &c. Every one is partiall in his own profession.
9Labour to distill and unite into thy self the scatterd perfections of severall Nations. But (as it was said of one, who with more industry then judgement frequented a Colledge-Library, and commonly made use of the worst notes he met with in any Authours, that he weeded the Library) many weed forrein Countries, bringing home Dutch Drunkennes, Spanish Pride, French Wantonnesse and Italian Atheisme. As for the good herbs, Dutch Industry, Spanish Loyalty, French Courtesie, and Italian Frugality, these they leave behind them. Others bring home just nothing; and because they singled not themselves from their Countreymen, though some years beyond Sea, were never out of England.
10Continue correspondency with some choyce forrein friend after thy return. As some Professour or Secretary, who virtually is the whole University, or State. 'Tis but a dull Dutch fashion, their Albus Amicorum, to make a dictionary of their friends names: But a selected familiar in every Countrey is usefull, betwixt you there may be a Letter-exchange. Be sure to return as good wares as thou receivest, and acquaint him with the remarkables of thy own Countrey, and he will willingly continue the trade, finding it equally gainfull.
Let discourse rather be easily drawn, 11then willingly flow from thee. That thou mayest not seem weak to hold, or desirous to vent news, but content to gratifie thy friends. Be sparing in reporting improbable truths, especially to the vulgar, who insteed of informing their judgements will suspect thy credit. Disdain their pevish pride who rail on their native land (whose worst fault is that it bred such ungratefull fools) and in all their discourses preferre forrein countreys, herein shewing themselves of kinne to the wild Irish in loving their Nurses better then their Mothers.