SIR HENRY SIDNEY, K.G.,
Lord Deputy of Ireland, and Lord President of Wales.
A very godly letter made unto PHILIP SIDNEY his son, then at school in Shrewsbury.
[Sidneiana.]
In the records of Shrewsbury School are the following entries on the same day:—Anno Domini 1564. 16 Cal. Nov. [i.e. 17 Oct.]
PHILIPPUS SIDNEY filius et hæres HENRICI SIDNEY Militis de Pensarst in Comit. Cantiæ, et Domini Præsidis confinium Cambriæ, nec non Ordinis Garterii Militis.
FOULKUS GREYVELL filius et hæres FOULKI GREYVELL Armigeri de Beauchamp Courte in Comit. Warwici. eodem die.
SON PHILIP,
I have received two letters from you—one written in Latin, the other in French—which I take in good part; and will you to exercise that practice of learning often: for that will stand you in most stead in that profession of life that you are born to live in.
And now sithence this is my first letter that ever I did write to you, I will not that it be all empty of some advices; which my natural care of you provoketh me to wish you to follow, as documents to you in this your tender age.
Let your first action be the lifting up of your mind to Almighty GOD by hearty prayer; and feelingly digest the words you speak in prayer, with continual meditation and thinking of Him to whom you pray: and use this as an ordinary act, and at an ordinary hour. Whereby the time itself will put you in remembrance to do that which you are accustomed to do in that time.
Apply your study such hours as your discreet Master doth assign you, earnestly: and the time, I know, he will so limit; as shall be both sufficient for your learning, and safe for your health. And mark the sense and matter of that you do read as well as the words: so shall you both enrich your tongue with words and your wit with matter; and judgment will grow as years grow in you.
Be humble and obedient to your Master: for unless you frame yourself to obey others, yea, and feel in yourself what obedience is; you shall never be able to teach others
