Peacham, Henry: The compleat gentleman : fashioning him absolute in the most necessary and commendable qualities, concerning mind, or body, that may be required in a person of honor. To which is added the gentlemans exercise or, an exquisite practise, as well for drawing all manner of beasts, as for making colours, to be used in painting, limming, &c (London, 1661)

To the Reader,

IT is now three years fince(sriendly Reader)
Ipublishedthis Jhort Difcourfie os the Art
os Dr arcings sor the benesit os many young
Gentlemen, who were my Schollers for the
Latin and Greek^Tongues^ which when-1
Jaw it sound fome savour generally with
the World) beingfince quite worn outospreJfe3 I
was encouraged to take fome surther pains in the
same, not with any defire os Title in this Age os
blotting papers, fince I ajseff nothing more than
silenceAnd defire nothing lefse than the censure os
the vulgar. But that I might hanc ornare Spar-
tam,andsinisij with a more polifhed hand the Mo-
de l yrhich besore 1 had fo rawly begun,! have it is
* true,bessowed many idle hours in this well-bufied
Art, which perhaps might have beenworfe Jpent5
yet in my judgement 1 was never so wedded unto
it3 as to make It nay Prosejsion3 but rather allowed
it the place inter splendidas nugas, and thofe
things osaccomplement required in a Sc holler or
Gentleman. 1 speasnot any whit to the difgrace
osfo worthy a skill, or to difcommend the true and
necejfary ufe thereos but to give my Sc holler an
ltem,that likg a fimple WoersieJhould never leave
the Mifirefs to court the maid, but efieem him-
sels better graced by propounding at the table
Aliquid Cedro dignum (as King Alphonsuso/
q 3 Arra-