in a minute or two. "Here, Edgar, is a purse with money for your needs.
The first thing you must do when you reach London is to procure suitable
garments for your presentation to the king. Your clothes are well enough
for a country gentleman, but are in no way fit for Court. I need not say
to you, do not choose over-gay colours, for I know that your tastes do not
lie in that direction. I don't wish you to become a courtier, Edgar; for,
though it is an excellent thing to be introduced at Court and to be known
to high personages there, that is an altogether different thing from being
a hanger-on of the Court. Those who do naught but bask in a king's favour
are seldom men of real merit. They have to play their part and curry
favour. They are looked down upon by the really great; while, should they
attain a marked place in the king's favour they are regarded with jealousy
and enmity, and sooner or later are sure to fall.

"You cannot but remember the fate that befell the queen's favourites when
Edward threw off his tutelage and took the reins of power into his own
hands. Such is ever the fate of favourites; neither nobles nor the
commonalty love upstarts, and more than one will, I foresee, erelong draw
upon themselves the enmity of the king's uncles and other nobles for the
influence they have gained over the mind of the young king. I should wish
you, then, to make as many acquaintances as you can, for none can say who
may be of use to you at one time or another; but keep yourself aloof from
all close intimacies. It may be that, in after years, you may find it
well-nigh impossible to keep aloof from all parties in the state, but do
so as long as you are able, until you can discern clearly who are true
patriots and who are actuated only by their own selfish ambition, bearing
in mind always that you are a simple gentleman, desirous when an English
army enters the field against a foreign foe, to play your part manfully
and with honour, and to gain your reputation as a soldier and not as a
frequenter of Courts."