Sociable Letters 247 



master's life, and they will indure any torments rather 

 than betray their masters; and it is the duty of ser- 

 vants so to do, for servants ow almost as much duty 

 to their masters, as children to their parents, or 

 subjects to their natural prince, for servants are not 

 only governed, but instructed, fed, and maintained; 

 and what greater crime is there, than to be a traitor 

 to their governor, tutor, and nourisher of their life ? 

 And every master, the meanest that is, is a father and 

 a king in his own family, wherefore to my reason they 

 are very unwise that will go out of their own dominions, 

 and leaving their own obedient subjects, which are 

 their servants, travel into other kingdoms, which are 

 other families, wherein they have neither power nor 

 obedience, leaving their own servants without rule or 

 guide; for when a master is from home, his family is 

 like a body without a head, like as a king should 

 travel into foreign countries, and leave his subjects 

 and kingdom and state-affairs at random, or to a 

 deputy, 'tis hkely his subjects would re bell against 

 him through dislike to the deputy, as scorning to be 

 ruled or governed by a fellow-subject, or else the 

 deputy will get away their love from their prince, and 

 then will strive to thrust the right owner out; the 

 same is with a master and his servants. Wherefore 

 a wise, loving master will keep home, and go no oftener 

 abroad than occasion requires, but will entertain 

 himself with his own family, and his family will 

 entertain him with sports and pastimes, like as sub- 

 jects do their princes, and whenas a servant doth 

 rebell, although the master hath not power to banish 

 him the country or kingdom, as princes have, yet 

 hath he power to turn him out of his service, and 

 banish him from his house, if his fault do deserve it ; 

 but some may think it strange, that there are as few 



