[From Manx Soc vol 3 - part 1 Letter of James 7th Earl]

CHAPTER XIV.

1.—Of some commissioners whom the Earl formerly sent over to the Isle of Man. 2.—Mr. Rutter, Lord Strange's tutor, commended; 3 and his pupil. 4.—Lord Strange's mother being a French woman, all advantage to him. 5.—Mr. Rutter's method of teaching commended.

IN the year 16—I sent over some commissioners ill chosen. But that was want of experience and good instruction in my youth. For I cannot brag of good breeding, as (God be thanked!) you may; and that is to you more worth than half of all I leave you.

2. You know my instructions to you. In the first place, to fear the Lord, as the beginning of true wisdom. And I know you are taught it of Mr. Rutter; for whom you and I may both thank God.

3. He is not only a good teacher to you, but a good companion both to you and me; having nothing at all of the pedant. There is good proof of his labours with you; for you have profited well in your studies, and, without flattery to either, above what I expected, by reason of your long sickness. For I cannot hope of so much scholarship from you as your brothers, who are; (God be thanked !) more healthful, and (God willing) shall be plied harder at their studies than you have been.

4. You have already the benefit of your mother's language, so as you need not travel, as I and some others have done, to pass our time for words, while we lost so much of our life to have studied men and manners.*

5. The method of your teaching you may remember. When God blesseth you with children, you may yourself give rules unto their teachers. Nevertheless, lest you forget any of it, I may haply desire Mr. Rutter to set it down in writing, that you may keep the same by you with this. And if others (when we are dead) pretend to greater knowledge and a new way of teaching, you may compare his great skill with our true loves; of which these and the like endeavours shall be our witnesses. In another place I may say more of my intents concerning your breeding, travel, and the like. In the meantime I will tell you something of my commissioners behaviour in this country, and how it fared while they ruled here; also something of the choice of servants.

* James E. of Derby married the Lady Charlotte, daughter to Claude Duke of Trernouille in France [by the Lady Charlotte his wife, daughter to the renouned Count William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, and Charlotte de Bourbon his wife by reason whereof the Dukes of Tremouille stand allied to the Kings of France as also to the houses of Bourbon-Mounpensier, Bourbon-Conde; dukes of Anjou king of Naples and Sicilie, archdukes of Austria, kings of Spain; earls and dukes of Savoy; dukes of Milan; and divers other sovereign princes]. By which lady he had issue three sons, Charles, Edward, and William; and three daughters— Mary, married to William E. of Strafford; Catherine, to Henry Marquess of Dorchester; and Emelia, to John E. of Athol.—Dugd., vol. ii. p. 254 a.