After a warning against Jesuits, which we have quoted, he comes at once to definite directions for studying modern languages[225]—­advice which though sound is hardly novel.  Continual speaking with all sorts of people, insisting that his teacher shall not do all the talking, and avoiding his countrymen are unchangeable rules for him who shall travel for language.[226] But this is the first treatise for travellers which makes note of dancing as an important accomplishment.  “There’s another exercise to be learned in France, because there are better teachers, and the French fashion is in most request with us, that is, of dancing.  This I meane to my Traveller that is young and meanes to follow the Court:  otherwise I hold it needelesse, and in some ridiculous."[227] This art was indeed essential to courtiers, and a matter of great earnestness.  Chamberlain reports that Sir Henry Bowyer died of the violent exercise he underwent while practising dancing.[228] Henri III. fell into a tearful passion and called the Grand Prieur a liar, a poltroon, and a villain, at a ball, because the Grand Prieur was heard to mutter “Unless you dance better, I would you had your money again that your dancing has cost you.” [229] James I. was particularly anxious to have his “Babies” excel in complicated boundings.  His copy of Nuove Inventioni di Balli[230] may be seen in the British Museum, with large plates illustrating how to “gettare la gamba,” that is, in the words of Chaucer, “with his legges casten to and fro."[231] Prince Henry was skilful in these matters.  The Spanish Ambassador reports how “The Prince of Wales was desired by his royal parents to open the ball with a Spanish gallarda:  he acquitted himself with much grace and delicacy, introducing some occasional leaps."[232] Prince Charles and Buckingham, during their stay in Spain, are earnestly implored by their “deare Dad and Gossip” not to forget their dancing.  “I praye you, my babie, take heade of being hurt if ye runne at tilte, ...  I praye you in the meantyme keep your selfis in use of dawncing privatlie, thogh ye showlde quhissell and sing one to another like Jakke and Tom for faulte of better musike.” [233]

However, Dallington is very much against the saltations of elderly persons.  “I remember a countriman of ours, well seene in artes and language, well stricken in yeares, a mourner for his second wife, a father of mariageable children, who with his other booke studies abroade, joyned also the exercise of dancing:  it was his hap in an honourable Bal (as they call it) to take a fall, which in mine opinion was not so disgracefull as the dancing it selfe, to a man of his stuffe."[234]

Dallington would have criticized Frenchmen more severely than ever had he known that even Sully gave way in private to a passion for dancing.  At least Tallemant des Reaux says that “every evening a valet de chambre of the King played on the lute the dances of the day, and M. de Sully danced all alone, in some sort of extraordinary hat—­such as he always wore in his cabinet—­while his cronies applauded him, although he was the most awkward man in the world."[235]