Reliquiae Wottonianae, or, A collection of lives, letters, poems with characters of sundry personages : and other incomparable pieces of language and art : also additional letters to several persons, not before printed / by the curious pencil of the ever memorable Sir Henry Wottan ...

THE FIRST CHAPTER OR SECTION; Touching the Search of Natural Capaci∣ties and Inclinations. (Book 1)

OF the two things propounded in this Chapter, I must begin with Capa∣cities; For the manurement of Wits is like that of Soyls, where before either the pains of Tilling, or the charge of Sowing, Men use to consider what the mould will bear, Heath or Grain. Now this peradventure at the first view, may seem in Children a very slight and obvious enquiry; That age being so open and so free, and yet void of all Art to disguise or dis∣semble either their appetites, or their defects: Notwithstanding, we see it every day, and every where subject to much error; Partly by a very

pardonable facility in the Parents themselves, to over-prize their own Children, while they behold them through the vapors of affection which alter the appearance; as all things seem bigger in misty mornings. Nay, even strangers, and the most dis∣•…•…nteressed persons, are yet, I know not how, com∣monly inclined to a favourable conceit of little ones: so cheap a thing it is to bestow nothing but Hope. There is likewise on the other side, as of∣ten failing by an Undervaluation; for in divers Children their ingenerate and seminal powers (as I may term them) lie deep, and are of slow disclo∣sure; no otherwise then in certain Vegetables, which are long before they shoot up and appear, and yet afterwards both of good and great in∣crease; which may serve to excite care, and to pre∣vent despair in Parents: for if their Child be not such a speedy spreader and brancher, like the Vine, yet perchance he may prove proles tarde crescentis Olivae; and yield, though with a little longer ex∣pectation, as useful, and more sober fruit then the other. And, I must confess, I take some delight in these kind of comparisons; remembring well what I have often heard my truly Noble, and most dear Nephew, Sir Edmund Bacon, say, out of his ex∣quisite Contemplations, and Philosophical Pra∣ctice: That Nature surely (if she be well studied) is the best Moralist, and hath much good Counsel hidden in her bosome.

Now here then will lie the whole business, to set down before-hand certain Signatures of Hopeful∣ness, or Characters, (as I will rather call them, be∣cause that Word hath gotten already some enter∣tainment among us) whereby may be timely descri∣ed what the Child will prove in probability. These

Characters must necessarily be either impressed in the outward person, like stamps of Nature, or must otherwise be taken from some emergent act of his mind; wherein of the former sort.

The first is that which first incurreth into sight; namely, the Child's colour or complexion, (as we vulgarily term it) and thence perchance some judg∣ment of the predominant humour.

The next is the structure, and conformation of the limbs.

And the third is a certain spirituous resultance from the other two, which makes the countenance.

The second kind of these Characters (which are ra∣ther mental then personal) be of such variety (be∣cause minds are more active then bodies) that I pur∣pose, for the plainest delivery, to resolve all my ga∣therings touching both kinds, iuto a Rapsody of se∣veral Observations: For I dare not give them the Authoritative Title of Aphorisms; which yet, when I shall have mustered them, if their own strength be considered rather in troop then singly, as they say, by Pole, may perchance make a reasonable Mor•…•… Prognostick.

The Observations.

THere are in the course of humane life, from our Cradles upward, certain Periods, or Degrees of change, commonly (as the Anci∣ents have noted) every seven years, whereof the two first Septynaries, and half of the third, or there∣abouts, I will call the Obsequious age, apt to im∣bibe all manner of impressions: which time of the suppleness of Obedience is to be plied by Parents,

before the stiffness of Will come on too fast.

There is no Complexion, or Composition in Children, either priviledged from bad proof, or prejudiced from good. Always I except prodigi∣ous Forms, and meer natural Impotencies, which are unmanageable In toto Genere, and no more to be cultivated then the sands of Arabia.

More ordinary Imperfections and Distortions of the Body in Figure, are so far from excluding all hope, that we usually see them attended with some notable Compensation one way or other, whereof our own time hath produced with us no slight Ex∣ample in a great Minister of State, and many other.

I am yet willing to grant, that generally in Na∣ture, the best outward shapes are also the likeliest to be consociated with good inward faculties: for this Conclusion hath somewhat from the Divine Light: since God himself made this great World (whereof Man is the little Model) of such Harmonious Beau∣ty in all the parts, to be the Receptacle of his per∣fectest Creature.

Touching such Conjectures as depend on the Complexions of Children: Albeit I make no que∣stion but all kind of Wits and Capacities may be found under all Tinctures and Integuments; yet I will particularly describe one or two with some preference, though without prejudice of the rest.

The first shall be a Palish Clearness, evenly and ••moothly spread, not overthin and washy, but of a ••retty solid consistence; from which equal distri∣••ution of the Phlegmatick Humour, vvhich is the pro∣••er allay of fervent Bloud, I am vvont to hope vvhere I see it) vvill flovv a future quietude and ••erenitude in the Affections, and a discreet svveet∣••ess and moderation in the Manners; not so quick

perchance of conceit, as slovv to passion; and com∣monly less inventive, then judicious: Hovvsoever, for the most part, proving very plausible, insinuan•…•… and fortunate men.

The other is, the pure sanguine Melancholick Tin∣cture, vvherein I vvould vvish five parts of the first to three of the second; that so there may be the greater portion of that vvhich must illuminate and enrich the Fancy, and yet no scant of the other, to fix and determine the Judgement: for surely the right natural definition of a vvise Habit, is no∣thing else but a plentifulness and promptness in the Store house of the Mind of clear Imaginations vvell fixed.

Marcilius Ficinus (the deep Florentine Platonick) increaseth these proportions, requiring eight to tvvo in the foresaid Humours; and vvithal, adding tvvo more of pure Choler: But of that I shall spea•…•… more among the invvard Motions, purposely her•…•… forbearing it, vvhere I only contemplate the super∣ficial Appearance.

In the outvvard frame and fabrick of the Body, vvhich is the next object after Complexion. An erect and forvvard stature, a large brest, neat and pliant joynts, and the like, may be good signifi∣cants of health, of strength, or agility, but are very forreign Arguments of Wit: I vvill therefore only say somevvhat of the Head and Eye, as far as may conduce to my present scope.

The Head in a Child I vvish great and round, vvhich is the capablest Figure, and the freest from all restraint and compreshon of the parts: For since in the Section of Bodies, vve find Man, of all sensi∣ble Creatures, to have the fullest Brain to his pro∣portion, and that it vvas so provided by the Su∣preme

Wisdom, for the lodging of the intellective Faculties: It must needs be a silent Character of Hope, vvhen, in the Oeconomical Providence of Na∣ture, (as I may term it) there is good store of room∣age and receipt vvhere those povvers are stovved: As commonly vve may think Husbanding men to foresee their ovvn Plenty, vvho prepare before∣hand large Barns and Garnaries. Yet Thucidides (anciently one of the excellentest Wits in the learn∣edst part of the World) seems (if Marcellinus in his life have vvell described him) to have been some∣vvhat Taper-headed, as many of the Genouesers are at this day in common Observation, vvho yet be a People of singular Sagacity: yea, I call not imper∣tinently to mind, that one of my time in Venice, had Wit enough to become the Civil Head of that grave Republick, vvho yet for the littleness of his own natural Head, vvas sirnamed Il Donato Testo∣lina. But the Obtrusion of such particular Instances as these, are unsufficient to disauthorize a Note grounded upon the final intention of Nature.

The Eye in Children (vvhich commonly let them rovvl at pleasure) is of curious observation, espe∣cially in point of discovery: For it loveth, or hateth, before vve can discern the heart; it con∣senteth, or denieth, before the tongue; it resolv∣eth, or runeth avvay before the feet: nay, vve shall often mark in it a dulness, or apprehensiveness, even before the understanding. In short, it betrayeth in a manner the vvhole state of the Mind, and •…•…etteth out all our fancies and passions as it vvere by a vvindovv. I shall therefore require in that Organ, vvithout Poetical Conceits, (as far as may concern my purpose, be the colour vvhat it vvill) only a setled vivacity, nor vvandring, nor stupid;

yet, I must confess, I have knovvn a number of dul∣sighted, very sharp-vvitted men.

The truth is, that if in these external marks, o•…•… signatures, there be any certainty, it must be taken from that vvhich I have formerly called, The tot•…•… Resultance. By vvhich, vvhat I mean, I shall more properly explain in the third Section, vvhen I come to handle the general air of the person and car∣riage. I vvill novv hasten to those more solid and conclusive Characters, vvhich, as I have said, are emergent from the Mind; and vvhich often times do start out of Children vvhen themselves lea•…•… think of it: for, let me tell you, Nature is Prod•…•… torious.

And first I must begin with a strange Note: That a Child will have Tantum ingenij quantum irae; That is, in my construction, as much wit as he hath way∣wardness. This Rule we have cited by a very * 1.1 Learned man, somewhere out of Seneca, and exemplified by Angelus Poli∣tianus (none of the meanest Criticks) who writing the life of Pietro de Medici, concludeth, That he was likely to prove a Wise man, because he was a fro∣ward Boy. Truly, I have been many times tempted to wonder, notwithstanding the value of these Au∣thors, How so disordinate a Passion seated in the Heart, and boyling in the Bloud, could betoken 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good constitution of the Brain, which, above any other, is, or should be, the coldest part: But be∣cause all sudden motions must necessarily imply 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quick apprehension of the first stirring cause, and that the dullest of other creatures are the latest of∣fended, I am content for the present to yield i•…•… some credit

We have another, somewhat of the same mould

from Quintilian, (whom I have ever thought, since any use of my poor judgement, both the elegantest and soundest of all the Roman Pens) That a Child will have Tantum ingenii, quantum memoriae: This, I must confess, will bear a stronger Consequence of Hope; for Memory is not only considerable as it is in it self a good Retention, but likewise as it is an infallible Argument of good Attention; a point of no small value in that Age, which a fair Orange, or a red Apple will divert.

There is yet another in the same Writer, and in the same place, where he handleth this very Theam. How to descry Capacities: That Parents should mark, whether their Children be naturally apt to imitate; wherewith certainly all fine fancies are caught, and some little less then ravished. And we have a Tradition of Quintilian himself, that when he saw any well-expressed Image of grief, either in Picture, or Sculpture, he would usually weep: For, being a Teacher of Oratory in School, he was per∣haps affected with a passionate Piece of Art, as with a kind of mute Eloquence. True it is indeed, which a great Master hath long before taught * 1.2 us, That Man is of all Creatures the most Mimical, as a kind of near adjunct to Reason: Arguing necessarily in those that can do it well, vvhether it be in Gestures, in Styles, in Speech, in Fashion, in Accents, or hovvsoever, no shallovv Impression of Similitudes and Differences; about vvhich, in effect, is conversant the vvhole Wisdom of the World.

Besides these, I vvould vvish Parents to mark heedfully the vvitty Excuses of their Children, especially at Suddains and Surprizals; but rather to mark then pamper them, for that vvere other∣vvise

to cherish untruth: vvhereof I shall speak more in the Final Section.

Again are to be observed not only his ovvn craf∣ty and pertinent Evasions, but likevvise with what kind of Jests, or pleasant Accidents he is most taken in others; vvhich vvill discover the very degree of his apprehension, and even reach as far as to the cen∣suring of the vvhole Nations, vvhether they be flat and dull, or of quick capacity: For surely, vve have argument enough at this day to conclude, the Ancient Grecians an Ingenious People; of vvhom the Vulgar sort, such as vvere haunters of Theaters, took pleasure in the Conceits of Aristophanes; re∣serving my judgement to other place upon the fil∣thy Obscenities of that and other Authors, vvell arguing among Christians, vvhen all is said, that the Devil is one of the vvittiest.

Again, it shall be sit to note, hovv prettily the Child himself doth manage his pretty pastimes: This may vvell become an ordinary Parent, to vvhich so great an Emperor as Augustus descended in the highest of his State, and gravest of his Age, vvho collected (as Suetonius tells us) out of all the knovvn World, especially from the Syrians and Moors, (where, by the way, we may note, who were then reputed the sharpest Nations) little Boys of the rarest Festivity, to play before him at their or∣dinary Sports. And indeed there is much to be no∣ted, worthy of a sadder judgement in the Wiliness of that Age.

Again, I would have noted in Children, not on∣ly their Articulate Answers, but likewise certain smiles and frowns upon incident Occasions; which though they be dumb and light passions, will dis∣cover much of that inward power which moveth

them; especially when withal they lighten or cloud the whole face in a moment.

Lastly, let not his very Dreams be neglected; for, without question, there is a great Analogy be∣tween those Apprehensions which he hath taken by day into his Fancy, and his nocturnal Impressions; particularly in that Age, which is not yet troubled with the fumes and cares of the World; so as the Soul hath a freer and more defecated Operation: And this is enough for the disclosing of a good Ca∣pacity in the popular way which I have followed, because the Subject is general.

Now for the second Part of this Chapter, touch∣ing Inclinations: for after we know how far a Child is capable, the next will be to know unto what course he is naturally most inclined. There must go before a main research, whether the Child that I am to manage, be of a good nature or no; as the same term is vulgarly taken, for an ingenious and tractable disposition: which being a fundamen∣tal Point, and the first root of all virtuous Actions, and though round about in every Mothers mouth, yet a thing which will need very nice and narrow Observation: I have spent some diligence in col∣lecting certain private Notes, which may direct this Inquiry.

First, therefore, when I mark in Children much solitude and silence, I like it not, nor any thing born before his time, as this must needs be in that sociable and exposed Age, as they are for the most part. When either alone, or in company, they sit still without doing of any thing, I like it worse; for surely all dispositions to Idleness, or Vacancy, even before they grow habits, are dangerous: and there is commonly but a little distance in time between doing of nothing, and doing of ill.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap•…•…
• * 1.2

  Aristotle in Rhetoricis.