P. 57. (In the Bodleian, 2699, E. 21.) [This version is almost identical with that in the Durham MS. till the last few sentences.] The variations between the printed copy and Dr. Bright's MS. are so considerable, that the latter text is here given entire. "A Gallant is a heavy loader of himself, for he lays more upon his back than it is able to bear, and so at last breaks it. His first care is his clothes, and the next his body, and in the uniting of these two lyes his judgment. He is no singular man, for he is altogether in the fashion, and his very look and beard are squared to a figure conformable. His face and his boot are ruffled much alike, and he takes great delight in his walk to hear his spurs gingle. Though his life pass somewhat slidingly, yet he seems very carefull of the tyme, for he is always drawing his watch out of his pocket, and spends part of his hours in numbering them. His chiefest toil is how to spin out the day, and get a match for cards or the bowl alley, and his worst companion is himself, for then he is desperate and knows not what to do. The labour of doing nothing had made him long since weary of his life, if tobacco and drink did not out of charity employ him. He is furnished with jests, as some wanderer with sermons, some three for all companies, and when these are expired, his discourse survives in oaths and laughter. He addresses himself to ladies with the wagging of his lock, and complements like Euphues or the knights of the Sun; yet his phrase is the worst apparalled thing about him, for it is plain fustian.[ED] His thigh is always well apointed with a rapier, yet peaceable enough, and makes[EE] a wound in nothing but the scabard, yet[EF] rather than point the field, hee'l pull it out in the street. He is weaponed rather in the street, than the highway, for he fears not a thief, but a serjeant. His clothes and himself grow stale together, and the last act of his life is invisible, for he is buried commonly before he dies, in the jail or the[EG] country."
The following Character may serve as an illustrative commentary on part of Earle's character of an Attorney.
THE CHARACTER OF AN ATTORNEY.
P. 211. (From a MS. in the Bodleian, Sheldon Papers), circa 1642. An MS. Notebook of Bliss's in my possession, containing some 50 pages filled with the titles of books of characters, has this one among them, in 17th century hand-writing (pasted on to the page). When this was acquired he does not say. "An Atturney is a Broker at Law for hee sels wordes and counsell at the second hand, studies but one language that hee may not bee thought double tonged, and when vpon necessitie hee reades Latin, 'tis with a quaking hast soe feare fully you wold thinke him a fellon at his miserere. Hee speakes nothing but reports, statutes and obligations, and 'tis to bee thought wooes soe too; Lady I hold of you in capite and was by the fates enacted yours in decimo of the Ringe; his prayers are solœcismes for peace, and yet for contention; hee beleeues in Littleton or the present Cheefe-Justice and against this fayth hee thinkes the Chancery Hœerticall, especially if he speake in a Rocket; his degrees are to proceed either a Court-keeper or an Under-shrieue and then a Judges nod qualifies him; hee may hold two or three Clyents the more; to conclude hee is a very noune adiectiue whom noe man dares trust to stand by himselfe, but requires a Counsellour to bee ioyned with him."—Deane.
TWO LETTERS OF EARLE'S.
[TANNER MS., vol. 48, No. 46.]
Sarum̑ Sept. 25. 1662.
"My Lord
"I recyvd your Lordshipp's letter this day from my Lord of Sarum and give you my most humble and harty thankes for the great favour you intended me, as likewise for your good opinion of me! as well as your affection, that you thinke me capable of such a place in the Church. But my Lord I that understand my self better, though all things els worse, then any other frend, find those causes within me why I should not accept this offer, that I can no way answer, but must absolutely decline it. Your Lordshipp may remember when you were pleas'd to propose it to me before the last Bishop had it, what I said to you then, how unfitted I was for it in many respects. The same reasons hold good still and the rather, as I am now both elder and infirmer, and I am afraid more desperately so, then I beleevd my self to be at that time. When I come to London, as I hope to doe with in little more then a fortnight, I shall satisfy you more particularly, as I conceyve I have done already my Lord of Sarum̑, whose judgement as I should submitt to assoone as any mans, and sooner then my owne if it were different from mine. So I am more confirm'd in my owne opinion, when I find it conformable to his, being satisfyed with these reasons I had to refuse it. Seriously if I thought I could doe that service to the Church, which many hundreds could not doe better, I would preferre the doing it with trouble before any ease or convenience of my owne but in the condition that I am, and the many imperfections upon me, I do not speak it modestly, I cannot have such a thought. I am hartily sorry for the death of that Bishop,[EH] he was a man of excellent parts and though there was something to be desired in him, yett take him alltogether he was both able and likely to good service in that place which I pray God may loose nothing by his successor!
My Lord I beseech your Lordship to present my most humble duty and thankes to my gracious Master, the thinking me worthy of such a preferment, and that frankness and kindness which you speak of in his expressing it, was worth to me a great deale more then any thing els he could give me. I pray for him daylie, and most hartily, as I doe likewise for your Lordship to whom I am a moste affectionate servant