ow I have declared to my readers my Birth, Breeding and Actions to this
time of my life. I mean the material parts thereof, for should I write every
particular, as my childish sports and the like, it would be ridiculous and
tedious. I have been honourably born and nobly matched: I have been bred
to elevated thoughts not to a dejected spirit: my life hath been ruled with
honesty, attended by modesty, and directed by truth.
Since I have written in general thus far of my life, I think it fit I should
speak something of my humour, particular practice and disposition. As for
my humour I was from my childhood given to contemplation, being more taken
and delighted with thoughts than in conversation with a society, insomuch,
as I would walk two or three hours, and never rest, in a musing, considering,
contemplating manner, reasoning with myself of everything my senses did
present; but when I was in the company fo my natural friends I was very
attentive of what they said and did. For strangers I regarded not much what
they said but I observed their actions, whereupon my reason as judge, my
thoughts as accusers or excusers or approvers and commenders did plead or
appeal or complain thereto.
Also I never took delight in closets or cabinets of toys, but in the variety
of fine clothes and such toys only as were to adorn my person. Likewise
I had a natural stupidity towards the learning of any other language than
my native tongue; for I could sooner and with more facility understand the
sense, than remember the words, and the want of such memory makes me so
unlearned in foreign languages as I am.
As for my practice, I was never very active by reason I was given so much
to contemplation; besides, my brothers and sisters were for the most part
serious and staid in their actions, not given to sport of play, or dancing
about, whose company, I keeping, became so too. But I observed although
their actions were staid, yet they would be very merry amongst themselves,
delighting in each other's company. Also they would in their discourse express
the general actions of the world: judging, condemning, approving, commending
as they thought good, and with those that were innocently harmless they
would make themselves merry.
As for my study of books it was little, yet I chose rather to read than
to employ my time in any other work or practice. 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 were invented by others. I did dislike that
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 fashions of clothes, contemplation of thought, actions of life --- they
were lawful, honest, honourable and modest, which I can avouch to the world
with great confidence because it is a pure truth.