a very few words. He was
born at London in 1605. He lost his father very early, and it must have
been a very great loss. For the old mercer was wont to creep up to his
little son's cradle when he was asleep, and uncover and kiss the child's
breast, and pray, 'as 'tis said of Origen's father, that the Holy Ghost
would at once take possession there.' The old merchant was able to leave
money enough to take his gifted son first to Winchester School, and then
to Oxford, where he graduated in New Pembroke in 1626. On young Browne's
graduation, old Anthony a Wood has this remark, that those who love
Pembroke best can wish it nothing better than that it may long proceed as
it has thus begun. As soon as he had taken his university degree young
Browne entered on the study of medicine: and, in pursuit of that fast-
rising science, he visited and studied in the most famous schools of
France and Italy and Holland. After various changes of residence,
through all of which it is somewhat difficult to trace the young
physician's movements, we find him at last fairly settled in the city of
Norwich, where he spent the remainder of his long, and busy, and
prosperous, and honourable life.

Dr. Johnson laments that Sir Thomas Browne has left us no record of his
travels and studies abroad, and all Sir Thomas's readers will join with
his great biographer in that regret. At the same time, as we turn over
the pile of letters that Sir Thomas sent to his student son Edward, and
to his sailor son Thomas, when they were abroad at school and on ship, we
can easily collect and picture to ourselves the life that the writer of
those so wise and so beautiful letters led when he himself was still a
student at Montpellier and Padua and Leyden. 'Honest Tom,--God bless
thee, and protect thee, and mercifully lead thee through the ways of His
providence. Be diligent in going to church. Be constant, and not
negligent in your daily private prayers. Be a good husband. Cast up
your accounts with all care. Be temperate in diet, and be wary not to
overheat yourself. Be courteous and civil to all. Live with an
apothecary, and observe his drugs and practice. Frequent civil company.
Point your letters, and put periods at the ends of your sentences. Have
the love and the fear of God ever before your eyes. And may God confirm
your faith in Christ. Observe the manner of trade: how they make wine
and vinegar, and keep a note of all that for me. Be cour