This being concluded upon we begunne to consult againe what trade was best, soonest learned, and most fitting a freeman, that would be set up with an easie charge, and bring in a profitable returne. With that, some began to commend one trade, some another, as every mans fancie or experience led him, but my father casting his eyes upon mine uncle (for my uncle by the mothers side was there present, an excellent workman in stone, and held to be one of the best statuaries in all the country by no meanes, (said he) can I endure that any other art should take place, as long as you are in presence: take him therefore to you (shewing him mee) and teach him to be a skilfull workman in stone, how to joynt them together neatly, and to fashion his statues cunningly: he is able enough for it, and his nature inclinable enough to it; this he conjectured, because he had seene some toies of mine made out of waxe; for I could no sooner come home from schole, but I should be tempering waxe together, and out of it counterfeit the shapes both of oxen, horses, and men, and (as my father thought) hansomely enough, which my masters were wont to whip me for, though now it turned to my commendation: but those kinde of figments put mee in good hopes that I should learne my trade the sooner; and that very day was thought luckie for mee to be initiated into the art, whereupon I was committed to my uncle, and to confesse the truth, not much against my will: for I thought it would prove but a kinde of sport, and that I should be thought a brave fellow among my companions, if I could carve out gods, and pretty puppets, both for my selfe, and those lads I best liked of. But it fell out with mee, as with other yong beginners: for my uncle putting a carving toole into my hand, bad mee therewith to strike a table that lay before mee, softly and gently, adding withall this old proverbe What’s well begunne is halfe done: but my ignorance was such, that I smote too hard, and the table burst in peeces: which put him so farre out of patience, that he gave mee hansell in a harsh measure, as I thought, and exceeding the bounds of due correction, insomuch that teares were the proeme of my occupation, and I ranne away as fast as I could, crying out with full eyes, telling how I had been lasht, and shewing the prints which the stroakes had made upon me, exclaiming upon such crueltie, and adding this of mine owne, that it was onely for envie, lest in the end I should prove a better workman then himselfe: this greeved my mothers heart, and shee railed bitterly against her brother for using me with such extremitie: but when night came I went to bed, though swolne with teares, and all the night long it would not out of my minde: what I have hitherto delivered, is meerely ridiculous and childish: but now, Gentlemen, you shall heare matter not to be discommended, but what deserves attentive auscultation: for to say with Homer, A heavenly dreame seised upon mee, as I slept in the dead time of the night, so directly, that it failed nothing of truth it selfe; for even to this day, after so long a distance, the figures of the apparition sticke still in mine eyes, and the voice of that I heard soundeth in mine eares, every thing was delivered so plainly and apparently.