s for tutors, although we had all sorts of virtuosos, as for singing,
dancing, playing on music, reading, writing, working and the like, yet we
were not kept strictly thereto: they were rather for formality than benefit:
for my Mother cared not so much for our dancing and fiddling, singing and
prating of several languages; as that we should be bred virtuously, modestly,
civilly, honourably and in honest principles.
As for my brothers, of whom I had three, I know not how they were bred.
First, they were bred when I was not capable to observe or before I was
born; likewise the breeding of men is of a different manner from that of
women. But this I know, that they loved virtue endeavoured merit, practised
justice and spoke truth: they were constantly loyal and truly valiant.
Two of my brothers were excellent soldiers and martial discipliners, being
practised therein. For though they might have lived upon their own estates
very honourably, yet they rather chose to serve in the wars under the States
of Holland, than to live idly at home in peace; my brother Sir Thomas Lucas
there having a troop of horse, my brother the youngest Sir Charles Lucas
serving therein. But he served the States not long, for after he had been
at the siege and taking of some towns, he returned home again. And though
he had the less experience yet he was like to have proved the better soldier,
if better could have been, having naturally a practick genious to the warlike
arts, as natural poets have to poetry. But his life was cut off before he
could arrive to the perfection thereof. Yet he writ a treatise of the Arts
in War; but by reason it was in characters and the key thereof lost, we
cannot as yet understand anything therein, at least not so as to divulge
it.
My other brother, the Lord Lucas, who was heir to my father's estate, and
as it were the father to take care of us all, is not less valiant than they
were, although his skill in the discipline of war was not so much, not being
bred therein. Yet he had more skill in the use of the sword, and is more
learned in other arts and sciences than they were: he being a great scholar
by reason he is given much to studious contemplation.
Their practice was when they met together, to exercise themselves with fencing,
wrestling, shooting and such like exercises: for I observed they did seldom
hawk or hunt and very seldom or never dance or play on music, saying it
was too effeminate for masculine spirits. Neither had they skill or did
use to play for aught I could hear, at cards or dice or the like games:
nor (were they) given to any dice, as I did know, unless to love a mistress
were a crime. Not that I know they had any but what report did say, and
usually reports are false - at least exceed the truth.