ADVICE TO A SON; OR, DIRECTIONS FOR YOUR BETTER CONDUCT THROUGH THE

Book Description

1656. [OSBORNE, Francis.] ADVICE TO A SON; OR, DIRECTIONS FOR YOUR BETTER CONDUCT THROUGH THE VARIOUS AND MOST IMPORTANT ENCOUNTERS OF THIS LIFE. UNDER THESE GENERALL HEADS. I. STUDIES. II. LOVE AND MARRIAGE. III. TRAVELL. IV. GOVERNMENT. V. RELIGION. CONCLUSION. Oxford: Hen. Hall for Thomas Robinson, 1656. [14] pp. + 151 pp. 8vo., Rebound in brown cloth with gilt red leather spine label. Advice intended for Osborne's son John, who became, among other achievements, prime serjeant-at-law in Ireland from 1680-1686. The book was popular and well-known in its day, and also quite controversial, as Osborne (1593-1659) argued in it against marriage and women, large libraries, and the monarchy. The book was suppressed in 1658 by the Vice-Chancellor, and was brought before the House of Lords after the Restoration as treasonous. Wing O508; Madan III, 2278. Quite scarce in the first edition.