upon the making of a true gentleman. On what
plea should the dishonourable young scamp of
the day, who notoriously possessed nothing of
nobility except its badge, preserve his claim to
the deference of better men? There appeared
to Mr. Peacham but one loophole of escape for
the Most Hopefulls, and they were not a few,
who happened to be in this predicament.
Nobility is acquired and held by the title of
"vertue." Good. The corruptions of our
times make vices virtues. Good again. Then
Nobility is virtuous, and retains its rights.

The question whether povertie impeacheth
nobilitie is definitively set at rest by the fact
that Curius and Fabricius were (a singular
coincidence) both engaged upon a poore Dinner of
Turneps and Water-cresses, when called to the
command of the armies of conquering Rome.

As touching the nobility of profession, it must
be satisfactory to the British bar to know that,
though they be not commonly lords, advocates
hold a commendable place in the commonwealth,
ought to be freed of mulcts, publike charges, and
impositions, and to be written and sent vnto, as
vnto persons of especiall worth and dignitie.

Concerning physic—although the state and
title of M.D. is not that most coveted by the
highest aristocracy—it is an Art noble and free.
Kings and queens have enjoyed a considerable
practice among their subjects: witness Mithridates
of Pontus, whose antidote still bears his
name; Artemisia of Caria, who found the vertue
of Mugwort; Gentius of Illyricum, who
immortally liveth in the herbe gentian; and, above
all, our own Edward the Confessor, to whom
was first given the curing of the King's Euile,
whence it hath been derived to our sovereigns
his successors, and was no doubt assiduously
practised by our excellent George the Fourth.
"I heere intend," cautiously adds the aristocratic
sage, "no common Chyrurgians,
Mountebancks, vnlettered Empericks, and Women-
Doctors (of whom there is more danger than of
the worst disease), whose practise is mechanique
and base."

The fruit and use of Nobilitie, which fruit
are as the apples of Hesperides, golden and
out of the vulgar reach, are, according to our
author, these:

Nobles ought to bee preferred in Fees and
offices before the common people, to bee admitted
about the person of the Prince, to bee of his
Counsell in Warre, and to bear his standard.

We ought to give credit to a noble before any
of the inferior sort. (The Most Noble the
Marquis of Loosefish, who deceased not long since,
leaving three hundred thousand pounds of debt,
gave his unqualified adhesion to this doctrine.)

He must not be pleaded against, upon
cozenage. (May swindle ad lib.)

Wee must attend him, aud come to his house
—not hee to ours.

He ought in all sittings, meetings, and
salutations, to have the upper hand. (Somewhat
vague, but a genuine flunkeyism will cover the
requisition handsomely.)

In criminal causes, Noblemen may appeare by
their Atturney. (And still avail themselves of
the privilege, where the presence of that useful
officer sufficeth.)

They ought to take their recreations of hunting,
hawking, &c., freely, without controule in
all places. (Farmers, down with your fences!)

They may eate the best, and daintiest meate
that the place affordeth; to wear at their pleasure
Gold, Jewels, the best Apparrell, and of
what fashion they please. (A privilege most
unwarrantably usurped by the well-to-do
commonalty of our day.)

Finally, it many times procureth a good
marriage. (As the Morning Post, towards the
close of every season, doth abundantly testify.)

In France, Mr. Peacham considers, everybody
aims at Nobilitie—all persons, from the King
downwards, answering to "Mounseer," a title
(especially during the season of cheap excursion
trains from London) still familiar to the Gallic
ear. Our author concludes this noble chapter
with an anecdote apparently rather opposed to
his wonted respect for distinctive honours:
"Euripides, when his father told him he was
knighted, uttered this reply: 'Good father, you
have that which every man may have for his
money.'"

In a short parenthetical Discourse on the
duty of masters, Mr. Peacham records the
singular practice of his own pedagogue, who by
no entreatie would teach any Scholler further
than his father had learned before him. Had
the sire's studies begun and terminated at
the horn-book, there were the son's inexorably
pulled up. His reason was that they would
else prove sawcy rogues, and controule their
Fathers; a doctrine which even that thorough-
paced conservative, Mr. Peacham, regards with
some suspicion.

We approach the hallowed precincts of Alma
Mater. Readers, whether they be themselves
bound for the Vniversitie or not, will please to
stand apart, for, "Mr. William Howard, give
mee leave," says Mentor, "to direct my
Discourse wholly to yourselfe." Which, having
regard to the prefatory invitation to the
"iudicious" reader to come and be taught, is
somewhat scant politeness. We decline to go.
Peachams are not to be had every day. We
will know what is, or ought to be (or ought to
have been), our carriage at the Vniversitie.
Heretofore we know only that tandems were
confinement to gates, and drags rustication.

Well, well, to avoid unseemly disputing,
which might annoy the Most Hopefull, Mr.
Peacham nods to us to remain, uncovered, and
we then find that our—or rather Mr. William
Howard's—first care, "even with pulling off
the Boots, let it bee the choice of acquaintance
and Company. For the companions of your
recreation, comforte yourselfe with Gentlemen
of your owne ranke and Qualitie, for to be free
and familiar with inferiours, argues a basenesse
of spirit, and begetteth contempt."

As touching a minor matter in Vniversitie
life—studies—it will be found "aduisable to
referre those most serious and important vnto