teous and humble
in all your conversation, and of good manners: which he that learneth not
in France travaileth in vain. When at sea read good books. Without good
books time cannot be well spent in those great ships. Learn the stars
also: the particular coasts: the depth of the road-steads: and the
risings and fallings of the land. Enquire further about the mineral
water: and take notice of such plants as you meet with. I am told that
you are looked on in the Service as exceeding faithful, valiant,
diligent, generous, vigilant, observing, very knowing, and a scholar.
When you first took to this manner of life, you cannot but remember that
I caused you to read all the sea-fights of note in Plutarch: and, withal,
gave you the description of fortitude left by Aristotle. In places take
notice of the government of them, and the eminent persons. The merciful
providence of God ever go with you, and direct and bless you, and give
you ever a grateful heart toward Him. I send you Lucretius: and with it
Tully's Offices: 'tis as remarkable for its little size as for the good
matter contained in it, and the authentic and classical Latin. I hope
you do not forget to carry a Greek Testament always to church: a man
learns two things together, and profiteth doubly, in the language and the
subject. God send us to number our days, and to fit ourselves for a
better world. Times look troublesome: but you have an honest and
peaceable profession like myself, which may well employ you, and you have
discretion to guide your words and actions. May God be reconciled to us,
and give us grace to forsake our sins which set fire to all things. You
shall never want my daily prayers, and also frequent letters.' And so
on, through a delightful sheaf of letters to his two sons: and out of
which a fine picture rises before us, both of Sir Thomas's own student
life abroad, as well as of the footing on which the now famous physician
and English author stood with his student and sailor sons.

* * * * *

You might read every word of Sir Thomas Browne's writings and never
discover that a sword had been unsheathed or a shot fired in England all
the time he was living and writing there. It was the half-century of the
terrible civil war for political and religious liberty: but Sir Thomas
Browne would seem to have possessed all the political and religious
liberty he needed. At any rate, he never took open part on either side
in the great contest.