Memoirs 209 



learning of any other language than my native tongue, 

 for I could sooner and with more facility understand 

 the sense, then remember the words, and for want of 

 such memory makes me so unlearned in foreign 

 languages as I am: as for my practise, I was never 

 very active, by reason I was given so much to con- 

 templation : besides my brothers and sisters were for 

 the most part serious, and staid in their actions, not 

 given to sport nor play, nor dance about, whose 

 company I keeping, made me so too : but I observed, 

 that although their actions were stayed, yet they 

 would be very merry amongst themselves, delighting 

 in each other's company: also they would in their 

 discourse express the generall actions of the world, 

 judging, condemning, approving, commending, as 

 they thought good, and with those that were inno- 

 cently harmless, they would make themselves merry 

 therewith. As for my studie of books it was little, 

 yet I chose rather to read, than to imploy my time 

 in any other work, or practise, and when I read 

 what I understood not, I would ask my brother, the 

 Lord Lucas, he being learned, the sense or meaning 

 thereof ; but my serious study could not be much, by 

 reason I took great delight in attiring, fine dressing, 

 and fashions, especially such fashions as I did invent 

 myself, not taking that pleasure in such fashions as 

 was invented by others : also I did dislike any should 

 follow my fashions, for I always took delight in a 

 singularity, even in accoutrements of habits, but 

 whatsoever I was addicted to, either in fashion of 

 cloths, contemplation of thoughts, actions of life, 

 they were lawful, honest, honourable, and modest, 

 of which I can avouch to the world with a great 

 confidence, because it is a pure truth. As for my 

 disposition, it is more inclining to' be melancholy 



