Travel

TRAVEL, in the younger sort, is a part of education, in the elder, a part of experience. He that travelleth into a country, before he hath some entrance into the language, goeth to school, and not to travel. That young men travel under some tutor, or grave servant, I allow well; so that he be such a one that hath the language, and hath been in the country before; whereby he may be able to tell them what things are worthy to be seen, in the country where they go; what acquaintances they are to seek; what exercises, or discipline, the place yieldeth. For else, young men shall go hooded, and look abroad little. It is a strange thing, that in sea voyages, where there is nothing to be seen, but sky and sea, men should make diaries; but in land-travel, wherein so much is to be observed, for the most part they omit it; as if chance were fitter to be registered, than observation. Let diaries, therefore, be brought in use. The things to be seen and observed are: the courts of princes, especially when they give audience to ambassadors; the courts of justice, while they sit and hear causes; and so of consistories ecclesiastic; the churches and monasteries, with the monuments which are therein extant; the walls and fortifications of cities, and towns, and so the heavens and harbors; antiquities and ruins; libraries; colleges, disputations, and lectures, where any are; shipping and navies; houses and gardens of state and pleasure, near great cities; armories; arsenals; magazines; exchanges; burses; warehouses; exercises of horsemanship, fencing, training of soldiers, and the like; comedies, such whereunto the better sort of persons do resort; treasuries of jewels and robes; cabinets and rarities; and, to conclude, whatsoever is memorable, in the places where they go. After all which, the tutors, or servants, ought to make diligent inquiry. As for triumphs, masks, feasts, weddings, funerals, capital executions, and such shows, men need not to be put in mind of them; yet are they not to be neglected. If you will have a young man to put his travel into a little room, and in short time to gather much, this you must do. First, as was said, he must have some entrance into the language before he goeth. Then he must have such a servant, or tutor, as knoweth the country, as was likewise said. Let him carry with him also, some card or book, describing the country where he travelleth; which will be a good key to his inquiry. Let him keep also a diary. Let him not stay long, in one city or town; more or less as the place deserveth, but not long; nay, when he stayeth in one city or town, let him change his lodging from one end and part of the town, to another; which is a great adamant of acquaintance. Let him sequester himself, from the company of his countrymen, and diet in such places, where there is good company of the nation where he travelleth. Let him, upon his removes from one place to another, procure recommendation to some person of quality, residing in the place whither he removeth; that he may use his favor, in those things he desireth to see or know. Thus he may abridge his travel, with much profit. As for the acquaintance, which is to be sought in travel; that which is most of all profitable, is acquaintance with the secretaries and employed men of ambassadors: for so in travelling in one country, he shall suck the experience of many. Let him also see, and visit, eminent persons in all kinds, which are of great name abroad; that he may be able to tell, how the life agreeth with the fame. For quarrels, they are with care and discretion to be avoided. They are commonly for mistresses, healths, place, and words. And let a man beware, how he keepeth company with choleric and quarrelsome persons; for they will engage him into their own quarrels. When a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries, where he hath travelled, altogether behind him; but maintain a correspondence by letters, with those of his acquaintance, which are of most worth. And let his travel appear rather in his discourse, than his apparel or gesture; and in his discourse, let him be rather advised in his answers, than forward to tell stories; and let it appear that he doth not change his country manners, for those of foreign parts; but only prick in some flowers, of that he hath learned abroad, into the customs of his own country.

For the young, travel is part of education. For older people, it is part of experience. Anyone who travels to a country without some knowledge of its language goes there to study, not to travel. I approve of young men traveling with a tutor or a responsible servant. But this companion must know the language and have visited the country before. He can then tell them which sights are worth seeing, which acquaintances to seek, and what training the country offers. Otherwise, young men will travel as if blindfolded and see little of the world. It is strange that men keep diaries on sea voyages, where they see nothing but sky and sea. Yet when traveling overland, where there is so much to observe, they generally neglect them. It is as though chance events deserve recording more than deliberate observations. Let travelers therefore make a habit of keeping diaries. These are the things to see and observe: royal courts, especially when rulers receive ambassadors. Courts of justice while cases are being heard, and church courts in session. Churches and monasteries, together with the monuments they contain. The walls and fortifications of cities and towns, and their ports and harbors. Ancient remains and ruins. Libraries, colleges, academic debates, and lectures, wherever these are available. Merchant ships and naval fleets. Grand houses and pleasure gardens near great cities. Collections of weapons, military arsenals, supply depots, trading exchanges, markets, and warehouses. Training in riding, fencing, soldiering, and similar skills. Plays attended by people of high standing. Treasuries of jewels and ceremonial clothing. Collections of curiosities and rare objects. In short, anything noteworthy in the places they visit. Tutors or servants should make careful inquiries about all these things. Travelers need no reminders about victory celebrations, masked entertainments, feasts, weddings, funerals, public executions, and similar spectacles. Still, these should not be neglected. If you want a young man to gain much from a short journey, this is what you must do. First, as already said, he must know something of the language before he leaves. He must also have a servant or tutor who knows the country. Let him take a map or book describing the country he visits. This will be a useful guide to his inquiries. Let him also keep a diary. He should not stay long in any one city or town. The length of his stay should reflect what the place offers, but it should not be long. Even within one town, he should move his lodgings from one district to another. This is a powerful way to make new acquaintances. He should keep apart from his fellow countrymen and eat where he can find good company among local people. When moving from one place to another, he should obtain a letter of introduction to someone of standing there. That person's help can give him access to whatever he wishes to see or learn. In this way, he can shorten his travels while gaining much from them. The most useful acquaintances to seek while traveling are ambassadors' secretaries and other members of their staff. Through them, a traveler in one country can draw on the experience of many countries. He should also visit distinguished people in every field whose reputations extend abroad. Then he can report how well their actual lives match their reputations. Quarrels must be avoided with care and good judgment. They commonly arise over lovers, drinking toasts, precedence, and words. A traveler should be careful about keeping company with hot-tempered, quarrelsome people. They will draw him into their own disputes. When a traveler returns home, he should not leave the countries he visited entirely behind him. He should keep in touch by letter with the most worthwhile people he met. Let his travels show more in his conversation than in his clothing or mannerisms. In conversation, he should give thoughtful answers rather than rush to tell stories. Let it be clear that he has not exchanged his country's ways for foreign ones. Instead, let him weave a few flowers of what he learned abroad into the customs of his own country.