A president for parentes, teaching the vertuous training vp of children and holesome information of yongmen. / Written in greke by the prudent and wise phylosopher Chœroneus [sic] Plutarchus, translated and partly augmented by Ed. Grant: very profitable to be read of all those that desire to be parents of vertuous children. Anno. 1571. Seene and allowed according to the Quenes iniunctions.

bée tamed , and accustomed to come to the hande of the Falconer , ( which serue vs in our hauking : ) so vndoutedly much more , tender age , is and ought to be endued with faythfull precepts , and tilled with holsom lessons , that in tyme to come , they may be profitable membres in the common weale , and with wisedome and experience , politikely administer and gouerne the same . The men of olde tyme , as they suffered not theyr cattle to stray without a shepeherd or herdesman , so neyther permitted they their children to wander and runne at randon licentiously without a guyde , a gouerner , or learned instructer . And this was their intent , that their childrens tender yeares myght godly and purely bée broughte vp . Therefore the valiante Philip king of Macedonia , did not ioye so muche that a sonne was borne to him , as Philip king of Macedonia , reioyced that his sonne Alexander was born in Aristotles time . Horatius . he reioyced , he was brought to light in Aristotles tyme , that princely Philosopher , that of him he myght be taught & instructed , to liue well and blissedly . Wysely and truely hath the Poet Horace soong .

Que semel est imbuta recens seruabit odorem testa di●. &c. The vessell will conserue the taste of lycour very long , With whiche it was first seasoned , and thereof smell full strong . Euen so a chylde , if that he be in tender yeares brought vp In vertues schoole , and nurtred well , will smell of vertues cup.

And in shewyng the way of this education , it shall not be out of the way , nor inexpedient , to begin of the birth , and generation . Therfore , I wold counsell him How a parent ought too marche him selfe , that would haue excellent children . that doth desire to be the father of a vertuous and honourable childe , not to ioyne himselfe , with those kinde of women , which are deuested of the attire of theyr shame , and disfurnished of all honestie , as baudes and common harlots : for such as of vnhonest and vicious parentes bée ingendred , and brought to light , through all their life shall not auoyde the inexpugnible reproches taunts , quips , and nipping contumelies of their base birth and ignobilitie , but at euery houre be a laughing stock & ready gibe , to those that be prone & bent to reprehension , ignominie , rayling , & casting in the nose of such obscure generation . Truly and wysely hath the poet sayde , meritorious of immortall fame .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . When parentes do not rightly lay a firme foundation , Of stocke vnspotted , oft their sonnes susteyne calumniation : And proue th' assaultes of fortunes threats for filthie procreation .

Therfore honest and lawfull birthe , is the excellent and beautifull treasure Honest birth is the treasure of libertie . of the libertie of speache , when none shall haue occasion ( what alteration so euer happen ) once to be so bolde , as to obiect any brutall obscuritie of vnhonest generation : which thing they must very often consider , which require the lawfull propagation of children : for those whose birth is blemished with spot or blot , or taynted with the dye of vnlawfull colour , naturally are wont to be of an abiect mynde , and contemptible courage , as notably the Poet sayth :

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . That man though he be bolde and stoute , in courage oft doth quayle , When he doth knowe his fathers euils , or mothers faulties staile .

As on the contrary parte , they , ( which be the children of excellent and illustrious parents ) be stout , bolde , couragious , fearing no thunderbolts of infamie . Wherfore Fame hathe sounded in hir golden trump , that doughtie Diophantus , sonne Diophantus . of worthy Themistocles , often and sundry times gloried , and vaunted , that all those things which he liked , the Athenians allowed and ratified : for sayd he , all things which pleased me , my mother approued , and what things my mother counsailed , Themistocles condemned not : finally what Themistocles enacted or appoynted , all the Citie of Athens followed and imbraced . Also I iudge the Lacedemonians worthye of perduring praise , for the Archidamus was amerced by the Lacedemonians , bicause he espoused a woman of little stature . great magnanimitie , & couragious harts , which douted not , nor adreaded to punish by the purse , their king Archidamus , when he had taken to wife , a woman of very small stature , and nothing strongly proporcioned in the liniaments of hir body : priuily reporting that he minded not that Kings should come of him , but Quéenes , to gouerne their posteritie . Nowe consequently that followeth here to purport & to reueale also that which our Ancetors neglected not , nor without great care ouerpassed . And what is that ? they willed and counsailed , that those men , ( which for the procreation of children associated them selues to the company of women ) should either wholly abstaine from the drinking of Wine , or at least with great moderation should drincke the same : for suche were wont to glutte them selues with the loue of wine , and prone to ebritie , which haue their beginning , and are ingendred of temulent and drunken Parents .

Herevpon Diogenes , when he saw at a certaine time a certayne dissolute , Diogenes . foolishe , and brainelesse yong man , sayd :

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thy father thee begate my childe , When Bacchus cups had him beguild .

And as concerning the birth and propagation of children , let this bréefe counsaile suffise Nowe wil I speake and declare my opinion of the bringyng vp and education of the same . Generally what so euer wée were wont to speake of Arts Sciences , and disciplines , the same must wée also speake of Vertues : for we think that these thrée things must be concurrent and runne togither , to the perfite and iuste operation of the same . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Three things are required to the attainment of vertue , nature , arte and exercise . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , Nature , Discipline , custome or exercise . Out of ech of these thrée singular and excellent things doe flowe . But if any of these faile , and be wanting , Vertue of necessitie must be imperfect and lame : for nature without discipline and erudition , is but a certaine blynde things , and Discipline without nature is maynied and disfigured : and Exercise without bothe nature and Discipline , is a great imperfection , and a thing of little valuation . For euen as in husbandrye , and well laboured fieldes , it is especially conuenient and requisite that the ground be ranke and fertile , & next the husbandman or laborer cunning and skilfull , and last , that the séedes be good and fructuous : Semblably , nature is likened vnto the goodnesse of the earthe , the instructor or master to the husbandman , and the precepts and holsome admonitions of artes and sciences are assimiled to the seede . Me thincke I dare boldly say , and firmly assure , that all these conioyned togither , were in the liues of those , which are throughe all the world sole●●p●ized , as Pythagoras , Socrates and Plato , which haue obtained immortall glorye , and atchieued ( through their celestial wisdome and surmounting learning ) the perpetuitie of neuer dying commendation . * Who Pythagoras , Socrates , and Plato had all these three excellences . commends not Pythagoras , who praiseth not olde Socrates , who extols not Platoes prudencie ? those rare ornaments of natures working . Their vertues conioyned with nature , Arte and exercise , be wrapped vp in the sereclothes of eternitie , and their praises are and shal be blased through all worldes . ✚ Therefore we must needs thincke him farre in Gods fauoure , and replete with felicitie and singular benifites , to whome God hathe giuen all these three excellencies nature , arte and exercise . But if there be any man which thinketh , that those men which be of base birthe , ( notwithstanding endued Vertues recompence the want of nature in obseure birth . with holesome institution , and trained vp in vertueus exercises ) are not able to repay and recompence the defect and want of nature , let him persuade himselfe that he is much , nay altogither deceiued .

For as luskishnesse and sluggishnesse dothe corrupt , marre and adulterate the goodnesse of nature , so doth learning and discipline correct and amend the fall and vitiositie thereof . Likewise very easle things do escape and flie these that pamper themselues in negligence , and implunge themselues in the filthie puddles of idlenesse . And the hardest things with Of the ●ore● and power of diligence both in all other things , and also in education . diligence , laboure , and sedulitié be obtained and wonne . If thou turne thy eyes to learne the things which in common vse are accomplished , thou shalt soone moste cuidently perceiue , that diligence and laboure are moste conuincible to the finishing and quicke perfiting and absolution of things . For the small drops of water doe pierce and penetrate the dure rockes and slint stones , and hard iron and brasse with the often handling of the craftes mannes handes , are mollified and softened . But the Carte wheeles bowed and crooked wyth greatforce , can neuer come to theyr olde strayghtnesse , do what may be done . The crooked & retorted staues of stage playes can by no meanes be straightned . But on the contrary part , a supernatural thing may be bettered , by the industrie and labor of those things which are according to nature . * There is nothing so hie , so sharpe , so rigorous , so difficile , Labor improbus omnia vincit . which with diligent study thou mayst not obtaine . But if desire of learning , desire of diligence be awanting , the most easiest things thou shalt proue to be most hardest , and nothing at all thou shalt auaile in learning . Euen as a husbandman , if he loue his husbandry , shall accumulate a great heap of riches , while nothing he shall so muche estéeme , which may call him away from his husbandry , wherby he cannot execute all things in their time : so he which once hath giuen him selfe to diligent studies of the Muses , and hath tasted of the pleasantnesse therof , can by no means be disioyned or seuered from that diligent laboure , but wil perlustrate and search out the most secrete sanctuaries of the nine prudent sisters . Aristotle the Aristotles indust 〈…〉 e and diligenoe in s 〈…〉 clu●g out natures s 〈…〉 . splendent lampe of all abstruse things , was holden with a seruent loue to innestigate and find out the obscurities in nature : and therfore it irked not him , whole xx . yeres , to hear his prudent master Plato , and to vse his aid & helpe to search out natures secrets . By that vntired and vnweryed studie , he ascended the sort of all learning , and climed to the top of all surpassing knowledge . Solon , the Sapient Solon was wont to say . Quotidie aliquid addiscens sen●sco . lawe maker among the Athenians , did much resemble him also , whichin his last age wold not be vndiligent , or slacke his studie . For when his brothers son in compotation and drinking , had sung a certain verse of Sappho , he was so delited therewithall , that he commaunded the yong man his nepkew , to teach him the same . Who often wold say . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , I daily wax old euer learning somthing : the diligence of Diogenes is memorable : Who going to Athens , went to Antisthenes , of whom he being often repelled & driuen away , ( for Antisthenes receyued no scholers to teach ) would not forsake him . Therefore Antisthenes accensed wyth indignation against him , tooke vp a staffe to beat and abandon him : but Diogenes to testifie his diligence and good zeale towarde studies , was willing inough to be smitten vpon the head , saying : beat me as long as thou shalt please , but certainly no staffe thou shalt finde so harde , with which thou shalt beate me away , as long as thou sayest nay thing . ✚ But doe these things only shew the force and power of diligence ? No verely , there be other things innumerous , which most manifestly declare the same . Althoughe a field by nature be good and fertile , notwithstādingif , it be neglected for dressing A fertile fielde for lacke of tillage , waxeth barren . doth wax barren , and how much it naturally is better , so much is it made worse without tillage : and contrariwise , if it be foule for lacke of good husbandry , & ouergrown with wéedes , notwithstanding , ( if it be wel labored & tilled ) it wil be plentifull , and abounde in all good frutes , and straightwayes by course of time bring forth hir receiued séedes & grains . What are trées if they be neglected & had in no Trees if they be neglected , b 〈…〉 no frutes . culture ? do they not grow crooked , and become vnfrutefull ? but if they haue their due dressing & timely tillage , they burgen and blossome , and timely & aboundantly yeld their frutes . What is the strength of the body ? is it not dulled , weakned , enfebled , and perisheth with the corruption of luxurious riot , euil vsage & custome ? doth not a weake , féeble , & impotent nature , by exercise and laborous industrie , atchieue much vigor & strength ? what be horses , if Horses ( if they bee not tamed and broken ) be intractable . in time they be well broken & tamed ? do they not patiently bear their sitter , or rider ? but those horses that be vnbroken , & remain vnbrideled , what be they ? are they not wont to be intractable , fierce , shreud , curst , & stifnecked ? but to what end do we admit & maruell at the administration of these things ? Do we not sée by manifest proofe , that the most cruell , terrible , and hideous beastes by paine , labor , toile , industrie and diligence , become méeke , gentle , and tame ? well & prudently answered that Thessalian , when he was asked , who were the most quietest among the Thessalonians : euen those ( said he ) which cease & abstein from martial mutinies , and warring weapons . But what néed I herein vse ma●y words ? for if any affirme that custome is ●urable , & that vertues by custome & vse obtained he also durable , shall we iudge him to think amisse ? no. An example concerning these things will I recite , & so ouerpasse it . Lycurgus the worthy lawmaker among the Lacedemonian ( whose same & excellent exploites be registred in that annuals of eternitie ) toke once two yong whelps hauing both one dam , and caused them to be brought vp , the one vnlike the other , for the one he made gluttonous , & gour 〈…〉 andised with rauenous paunche , the other he accustomed to pursue the chase , & to finde out by his sagacitie the footings of wild beasts . Afterwards , ( when he had congregated in a frequent assemble , togither that Lacedemonians to sée this sight ) he said to them : To that attainment of vertue , O ye Lacedemonians , vse discipline , learning & the institution and right framing What vse can do in education , is shewed bi two whelpes borne at one tyme of one damme brought vp & cherished by the singular counsayle of 〈…〉 rgus . of life is very commodious , and much auaileth , which at this time I am entended & minded most perspicuously to shew you . Then brought he out hys two diuers accustomed whelpes , & ( causing a pot filled with sodden sops or swil , and a Hare to be placed in that mids before the dogs , ) vncoupled them , & let them go . The one pursued , & ran after the Hare , & the other hyed hastely to the pot . But when the Lacedemonians could not yet diuine nor coniecture what he ment therby , nor wherfore he brought for the into the midst of them , those two diuers natured and nourtured dogs : Both these ( sayd Licurgus ) had one dam , but being wyth vnlike vse framed and taught , the one ( yée sée ) is desirous to swill and glutte and fill his paunche , the other applying the chase , and desirous to hunt , and to follow the footings of wilde beastes . Thus much of custome , vse , diligence and institution : now is occasion offred to speake somwhat of nourishing of infantes . In my opinion , it is moste conuenable and necessarie , that mothers norishe Mothers with theyr owne paps ought to nourishe then Children . their owne Children , with theyr owne teates and paps : for mothers with great beneuolence & diligence wil cherish them , bicause wyth a certain intier loue , & mere affection they tender them which they haue born & bred : and loue euen the nailes of their fingers . But nursses & fostring dames doe vse no true , but fayned & dissmuled loue : bicause for lieu of guerdon & reward , they practise their kindnes . And Dame nature hir self doth euidently declare , that mothers o●ght to cherish and battle with their owne milke those , which they haue engendred and borne . And for that cause , to euery liuing beast that brings for the young , hathe nature graunted and giuen , the power to nourishe their yong , with their owne milke . And the prouidence of GOD by great wisdom hath giuen to women two brests , that if it should happen , that they at one birth should be deliuered of two twins , they should haue two fountaines of nutriment . Besides this , mothers are bound to their children with a greater good wil , and a more affectuous loue , and that not incongruently : for the coniunction in liuing , and bringing vp togither , is cause of that increase of beneuolence : for brute beasts deuoide of reason , ( if they be disioyned and disseuered from those , with whome they were brought vp , ) they be desyrous of them . Great care therefore muste be imployed , and labour bestowed , that the very mothers them selues ( as I haue sayde ) with their owne breastes and pappes nourish and foster their infants . But if mothers be with infirmities and If mothers be sicke , or big with other children a nourse must then be chosen that is honest & sober . diseases oppressed , and be vnhealthfull ( whiche may happen ) or hasten to the procreation of other children , then must nourses be receaued and gotten , not of the rascall rablement or rudest sort , but suche as be sober , honest , discrete , well conditioned and manered : for euen as it is most necessarie & expedient to frame and fashion the limmes and members of children ( as soone as they be borne ) that they growe straight and vncroked : so semblably is it conuenient and most decent ( euen from their cradles ) to endue their children with good maners , and to frame them vp in ciuill behauiour : for infancie is a flexible thing , and fitte to frame to what thing you please , and in their tender minds , precepts and disciplines , with great facilitie are instilled : but that that is hardened , is with great labour hardlye molli●ted and so●iened . Euen as seales and images be in soft waxe inscupled and engrauen , so are disciplines and eruditions infigured and printed in childrens tender minds . And Plato ( who directed all his doings by the diall of discretion , and glasse of vnderstanding , of skilful reason and learning ) séemeth to me very diligently and learnedly to admonishe and enforme nourses that they sing not to their babes and suckelings euerye trifling tale , bandye song , and olde wiues fabled fansies , lest it fortune from their cradles , that they be nousled in folly , and fraught with corrupt maners . Likewise was the passing excellent Poet Phocillides wont to giue this exhortation & counsayle .

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . While children be of tender age , they must be taught most carefully , Good works , as grace and vertue sage , with wisdoms lore and honesty .

And this also can not in silence be inwrapped , nor worthilye oughte to be pretermitted . Let children haue to associate What company a child ought to vse & what play fellowes he most haue . and accompany them such companions and playfelowes , which be seasoned with goodnes , and endued with vertuous maners , and suche as speake their language quickly and readily , lest they vsing the company of barbarous and vicious acquaintance be infected , corrupted , and imbroyned of them : for the diuulgated prouerbe was not without a cause vsed :

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . If thou with him that halts dost dwel , To lerne to halt thou shalt ful wel .

And after children grow to some maturitie of yeres , & be of a riper age , then must they be put to schole , & deliuered to the gouernment and charge of masters , When a child ought to be put to scole , and what master he must be con●●ued too . wherin parents must be circumspect and very careful , lest they yeld & commit their children imprudently to the custody of bondslaues , barbarians , inconstant , fickle & flingbrained dizards , & vnlettered runnagates : that that many men now a dais folow , is very ridiculous , & meriteth gret blame : for parents of their seruants that be frugal , & studious of thriftinesse , some they put to plow and carte , some they make mariners : some they set to marchaundize , some they appoynt and constitute their stewards & rulers of their houses , and other they make vsurers to fill their bagges : But yf ameng all the crue of their domesticall seruants they finde a vyle and a contemptible person , a blynde idiote , wallowing drunkennesse , and prone to lucurious ingurgitation vnprofitable and vnméet● for any thing , to him they deliuer & commit their children , without any consideration & aduise : * A great vncarefulnesse in many parents . ✚ But a studious and honest teacher and instructour by nature ought to be suche a one as was Phaenix Phaenix Achilles mast . Achilles tutor , a Phaenix in déede for his rare industry and diligence : therfore of all the other things which I will speaks off , the greatest , the most necessary , and peculiar thing is this , which now I will portray : which is , that parents séeke out and choose suche an instructour for their children , which in life is inculpable , in maners vncorrupt , in lerning excellent , by experience long taught , sober , honest , and painefull : for the fountayne & roote of honestie and felicitie is good institution , The rote of felicitie is good institution . and learned information : and euen as husbandmen to their grafts & plants ding in stakes and adioyne hedges for the safetie therof : so fit , learned , studious and experienced scholemasters do ●istil and plant in the tender yong mind of their scolers , salubrious precepts , and holsome admonitions , that they maye burgen , floure , and procéede , as well in good maners , vertue and learning , as in age . But who can now a dayes sharply enough reprehende , and with condigne tauntes proscide those parents , whiche ( before they haue experienced and approued what the masters be ) they not once doubt to cōinende and mancipate their children to ignorant , vnlearned , and suspected men of euill life and scelerous conuersation , polluted in the puddles of all filthinesse , not able almost to say B to a battledore : Is not this too ridiculeus and worthy blame ? If they do it through They are worthye reprehensiō●e blam which commit their children to rude informers and va fit instructors . ignoraunce , it is a very absurde thing , and altogether intollerable . And what is that , oftentimes when they know by other mens reporte the leudenesse and rudenesse , ignorance , and peruerse behauiour of the instructours and teachers , notwithstanding to their credence and charge they commit their children : because they suffer themselues to be won and conquered with the blandishing words , and filthy flatterings of those of whom they be friendly , with a pleasant chaunting tong intertained & gallantly intreated : but such ( which with this fauour gratifie their frends ) be likened to that man , which being in body enfebled and diseased , relinquisheth the aduise of a cunning and skilful phisition ( by whose medicines he might be restored to his former health ) for frendships sake , and through adulation , doth flée to an other , by whom he is brought to the brinck of his bane , and often ( through lacke of experience ) dispoyled of his life . Or to him which ( at his frends intreaties and allurements ) doth prefer a foolish ignorant and vnskilfull shipmaster before a trayned , cunning , & experienced guyder and gouernor of his shippe . O god , what deformitie is this ? what follie ? what dotage ? is he worthy to be called a father , which more estemeth the fauour of his frends , than he regardeth the good institution of his children ? Therfore the old ancient and reuerent philosopher Crates Crates . with gret dexteritie of wit and wisdome replenished , oftentimes sayd very well , that ( if it were possible ) he would ascend and clyme the highest tower and fort in the citie , to cry out aloude & say : O mortal men , whither are ye caried ? whither runne ye headlong ? to what place do ye precipitate your selues ? which with all your endeuers , labours , cares , and toyls séeke for money , and gape for gayne , but do nothing regard , nor make no accompt of your children , to whom ye leaue these rotten riches . And I may resemble these parents to him , who béeing carefull for shoes regardeth not his féete : many parents are so blinded with the ambicious desire of gaine and money , and haue so alienated and estranged their minds from their children , that they bestow no great cost vpon them , but choose men of no estimation , vile & contemptible to be their childrens instructors , which are able to teach them nothing , but dispised and abiect ignorance and errour . * And suche they elect for spare of money , that are more fitter themselues to go to scole to be taught than to take such a charge & burden vpon their shoulders , as the good instructing of others : and such now a dayes be ioly fellowes and the moste made of , yf they can chat and tel a pleasant English tale , to delight an vnlearned parents eares , they haue all the learning in the worlde and beare the bell , when in very déede they be no body , and haue but a shew of learning , runnagates and wanderers from place to place : in the ende dishonesting themselues , and marring the children committed to their charge : for an vnlerned master can not make a lerned scholer , Qualis praeceptor , talis discipulus . Qualis prae●●ptor , talis discipulus . If suche were vtterly refused , and estemed as shadowes , not able to sustayne any such vocation , nor maynteined with any lucre , then should learned and painfull instructours be hadde in more reuerence , and better sought out than they be . Many suche vncarefull parents there be , and too many of such vnfit and brainlesse teachers , gadders and dishonesters of themselues and others that be lettred , diligent and industrious : so that they oftentimes ( which in déede be very careful for their childrens erudition ) be oft deceaued , and very ofte are in doubt to receyue those , that be able lightly to go away with that burden , when they before haue tasted of the negligence , ignorance , & folly of other . ✚ Aristippus the curteous philosopher , well broken in the schole of ciuill education , not with stupiditie , but with great vrbanitie , rebuked & blamed an insensate and foolish father , depriued of reason , vnderstanding , & common sense . When one asked him for what stipende and rewarde he taught and instructed a child : for a thousand grotes said Aristippus . But when the man said in good sooth master Aristippu , your request and crauing is very great ( for I can for so great a summe buy me a bondman . ) Verily an swered Aristippus , thou shalt haue two bondmen , both thy sonne , and him whom thou hast bought . * Many such inconsiderate parents be in Englande , which had rather giue a thousand grotes for bondflaues , soone passing pleasures & pelting pastimes , than one grote to the good instructour of their child . Nay I feare me , if Aristippus wer aliue , & would receiue no child into his scole , vnder the number of a thousande groates , he shoulde haue no scholers brought to his schole : or yf all the trayners vppe of children were so determined too craue , but halfe so muche as Aristippus did , they shoulde haue very fewe auditors : so colde and ●lacke be parents in rewarding the paynes of paynefull . Aristippus When on the contrary part , they can in no thing so wel bestow their liberalitie , as vpon them , who haue paynfully deserued the vttermost farthing , of what soeuer they receyue of parents , for the erudition of their children . Yf the liberalitie of parents were as great towards Aristippus sect , as it is in trifles & gewgawes , to make their children yong lords before the time , I am perswaded that ther woulde be many more diligent & paynfull Aristippus than there be , & an infinite number of better scolers in the circuite of one shire , than now in a whole realme : so little regarde haue some parents to their childrens erudition . ✚ And to be briefe , is not this a thing full of absurditie , and worthy reprehension , to accustome children , to assume and take their meate with their right hand , & to rebuke & blame them with great seueritie , if they take it with their left hand ? and to haue no care , no remorse , no regard , to haue them seasoned with holsome lessons , & indued with good lerning , vertue & ciuilitie ? what happeneth to these wonderful parents ( if god say amen ) after they haue norished euilly , & instructed negligently their children , I will briefly shew . After they come to mans estate , and grow to more riper yeares Those children whiche be vncarefully brought vp by their parents , liue very viciously . of discretion , they abhorre the healthful way of liuing , they contemn good order and institution , they despise al godlines & godlimen , they regard not holsom admonitions , & imbroyne theselues in the sink of al filthy voluptuousnesse , & scurriliti , e & precipitate themselues into all seruile sensualitie , & inordinate beastlines : then at length it repents then ( when all time is past ) and then their heartes be frozen with the colde of sorow , then they gréeue , mourne , and lamente , that they were so vncarefull , and so rechelesse in instructing their children , and in training them vp in godly feare , vertue & lerning . Nethelesse , when as they be so far sotted in brutishnes , & so long marched vnder pelting pleasures soone battered banner ( that by no means they can be amended , and reduced to godlye lyfe ) then wayling is their wealth , gréeuance their guerdon , lamenting their liew , mourning their mede , sorow their sause , and altogether excruciate and torment themselues for their childrens sacinorous mischiefes : for some of them giue vp themselues to tryfling flatterers , and parling Parasites , a scelerous and pestilent kind of varlets , whiche depraue and corrupt all youth , and blast towarde yongmen , with the winde of execrable behauiour , filthinesse & brutalitie : other some haunt harlots , and vile noughtie women , proud , disdainful , malicious , adorned with sumtuous apparell , but yet disgarnished of all shame , honestie , and good manners : other some vse beastly bellycheere , and are enrachined in gourmandize and gluttonie , minding nothing but to pester them selues in riote , drunkennesse , and surfette . And some againe imbrue themselues with fresher euils : they commit abhomination , follow adulteries , and imbrace all kinde of libidinouse lustes , moste horribly , soo that they sticke not to buy only pleasure with death . Which yf they had béene well nurtred and instructed vnder a wise master , and experienced instructor , doubtlesse they would neuer haue béen in these matters immorigerāt and disobedient to their parents : neither would they haue cast themselues into such irremiable gulphs of peremtorie perilles , but would haue ben memorous of Diogenes lesson and exhortation , Diogenes his admonition to yongmen . which in words somewhat importunely but in deede truly , gaue this admonition , saying : Enter into some brothel house or stewes , to lerne and vnderstande that there is a difference betwéene vile and precious things . * Diogenes thought , yf they should enter into this house of baudry , to vewe and discerne the filthinesse there practised , it would make them eschue and vtterly abhorre all such viciositie . ✚ To be briefe , the thing that now I Of the force & necessitie of right institution and of the collation and proprietie of the goodes of the minde , goodes of the body , & goods of fortune . will relate , I iudge to be pondered rather as an oracle and infallible trueth , than as an admonition . In these , the first , middlemost , and last thing is good and diligent education , lawfull institution , and skil of things , bicause I know and think these to be commodious , and profitable to vertue and felicitie : and al other humane goods be transitory , fraile caduke , momentane , perduring a very little time , not worth the labour , payne and toyle , which men bestow in obtayning & getting them . Nobilitie doutlesse and the discent from noble progeny is a Nobilitie . splendent thing , but such a good as lineally procedeth from our progenitors . * And without vertue which engendreth nobilitie , there is no respect of nobilitie : but if any be vertuous he shal easily com to no fained & dissimuled nobilitie ( whiche issues out of lineal discents and prosage ) but to true nobilitie , which hath vertue , whose rewarde is nobilitie : for with only vertue is true nobility gotten : if any excel & surpasse in the resplentēce of noble kinred , & in the mean season liue vitiously & is deuoyd of all vertue , thou canst not rightly cal him noble . Turne to the first beginnings of nobilitye , and thou shalt finde , those to haue gotten the images of vertue their rewarde , which at home in ciuil administration , and in warre in shocke of shield , haue excellently behaued them selues , by the ayde of vortue , which doth nobilitate those that be obscure and base of birth . Therefore Phalaris ( I remember ) in an Epistle Phalaris . to Axiochus after this sorte reasoneth of Nobilitie : Ego praeter virtutem nullam agnos●o Nobilitatem : that is , I beside vertue knowe no nobilitie . Reliqua vero cuncta fortuna astimo : all the other things I estéeme to be in fortunes power . For a man borne of a very low degrée ( if he be a vertuous scoler ) may com to be the most noblest of kings and other men : and contrariwise one born of good parents may soone becom euil , and more ignoble than him selfe , and the vylest of all other . ✚ Men ought therefore to glery of the prayses of the minde , and not of the nebilitie of their ancetors , blemished and quite extinguished in obseure pesteritie . Well reasoned Democratus , and Democratus . rightly thought of nobilitie , which sayth : Pecudum nobilitas in bono va●doque corporis habitu est : hominum autem in bonitate morum : that is , the nobilitie of beasts is in the good and valiaunt habite or state of the body : but mannes nobilitie is in the goodnesse of manners . And Martiall reporteth in this wise :

Nobilitas sola est atque vnua virtus . Onely vertue certainelie Is sole and whole nobilitie .

Claudian also worthilie hath giuen this admonition :

Virtute decet , non sangui - niti , Sola perpetua manent , subiecta nulli , mentis atque animi bona . It doth become full decently all men in vertue for to stay , And not to bloud to clyne truely , or vnto noble stocke full gay : For why the only giftes of minde subiect to nothing do remayne , In vigour shall we dayly finde continually , and neuer stayne .

Richesse in value be great , and in déede Richesse . precious things , but yet they be in fortunes power , and hang balanced in fortunes skooles : for somtime fortune takes them away from him that inioyeth them , & intrudeth them vpon him which hoped not for them . * Riches make men dote , and moue them to all euilles , while they sée that by the helpe of riches they may obtaine eche thing but vertue . Alexander Riches east Alexander into vile viccs . the great that famous conqueroure , ( before he enioyed the Persian Monarchie , and yet kept himself within the narrowe limites of Macedonia ) did in his minde conceiue the great workes of vertue , and with excellent manlinesse , inferred war to the Persians and atchieued it with no lesse trampe of manhoode . But after he had subiugated and brought vnder hys dominyon the Persian Monarchie , & superfluously flowed with all riches , as he which had subdued Persia , and almost had conquered the whole world , could not corquer nor tame himselfe , which did precipitate himselfe hedlongs into vile vices , through the copious affluence of goodes and riches . Who when his riches were few and meane , was relucent , and esclarished with fortitude , temperance , chastitie , and clemencie . Assoone as he increased with the accesse of so many kingdemes & riches , he douted not to take vppon him vnfit and base apparel , vnworthy of such a stout Macedoman , and to cast himselfe into all kinde of luxurious riot , & in drunkennesse and tossing of cups , to ●lea hys best frends , that now it was safer for an enimie than a frend , to be conuersant with him . So Ninus the yonger , liued more abiect than any shamelesse woman , dissipating Ninus Iunior . and wasting the goodes , which his father by manlinesse and fortitude acquired . Therefore the learned lawmaker Lycurgus iudged money ( which is the strongest instrument , and strength most Lycurgus caused mony to be banished out of Sparta . mightie of riches , ) to be relegated and abandoned by him out of Sparta , as the beginning and fruteful mother of all vices . Likewise Solon the sapient sayde , riches is the mother of saturitie , and saturitie Solon . engendreth crueltie and violence . With him doeth excellent Euripides assent : who sayeth , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Riches bréedes Euripides . iniurious contumelie . Hither may Diogenes the Cynike his testimonie come , which affirmed , that riches were nothing else than the couerings of malice . For the aboundance of ryches is a marke proponed to suche as doe their deuoire to cutte Pursses , to robbe chestes , to filtch & pick , as light fingred fellowes , malignant seruants , sycophants , cauillers , make strifes , factious and dissensious personnes , and whych is the moste greatest euill of all , they often fall to the lottes of them which be the moste pernicious and leudest lubbers . And riches open the wyndowe ( sayeth Isocrates ) to ●l●uthfulnesse and idlenesse , which two thinges those thinke they haue obtayned , which flowe in the aboundance of riches . For they persuade them selues , that goodes mynister idlenesse , and expences ( as they doe in déede ) to filthie pleasures . If any abounde in riches , he will not laboure , he neglecteth vertue , he contemneth all honest paynes , and cleaues ( as a burre ) to sluggishnesse . Such a one was Pirrhus Pirrhus . that king of Epirus who about to proclaime warre to the Romaines , when Cineas asked him whye hée would proueke the Romaines with warre ? answered that he desired to adiecte Italic to his kingdome . Cineas said againe : if thou shalt cenquer Italic , what then wilt thou der O king ? Pirrhus answeared : then will I assaye to subdue Cicilia . Cineas sayde agayne . What wilt thou then doe ? He aunswered : I will wallowe then in delytes , I will turne to my pleasures , I wil macerate my selfe with riot , we will drinke and quaffe , and passe away the tyme in pleasant idlenesse . Sée howe riches ( as soone as they come ) inuite vs and moue vs to luskishnesse , ignauie , and idlenesse . Like wise the sapient old father Socrates sayd , that riches stay al the actions of vertue Socrates . and honest life : and as long and loose garments let the bodyes , so doe infinite riches harm the soules . ✚ Glory is a beutifull thing , and a tricks●e ornament : but Glorie . vnstable , vnconstant , and soone is altered . It is but an image that goeth and commeth soone fading away . Beautie is a thing which all desire to haue , but it dureth a Beautie . very small while . * There is so great inconstancie in beutie , that it can not resist and withstand olde age . Euen as winter taketh away all the flouring face and springing gréenes of the spring tyme and sommor , so doth olde age appropinquating , destroy , wast & adnihilate , al youthful comelynesse , and lusty elegancie .

Nereus the fairest of the Grecians ( being now waxen olde ) if in a glasse he beheld Nereus . his face , he knew not the same brightnesse of beutie which in his youth he had . And Helena ( that floure of fairnesse , and Helena . the chéefest iewel that euer beautie had ) in hir age suffered the like deformitie . For whome ( being in the floure of hir gréene yéeres ) the Grecians and Troyans were turmoyled in their ten yeres war : but when she was old and well stroken in yeares , neither shepheards nor swineherds , muletours nor horsekéepers , wold take vp hostilitie to enioy hir . Likewise Penelope the chast in hir letters ( wherin she calleth home hir louing Vlisses ) complaineth , Penelope . saying : that hir beautie ( being now an olde woman ) is by the default of olde age abandoned and polluted . Therfore the fountaine of Romaine eloquence and beautie of Italie , Cicero doth thus reson Cicero . of the instabilitie of the same : formae dignitas aut morbo deflorescit aut vetustate extinguitur . The floure or excellencie of beutie either by disease decayeth , or with old age defloureth and blemisheth . Héere may Nasoes testimonies come in , who sayeth :

Ista decens facies longis vitiabitur annis Rugaque in antiqua fronte senilis erit . This comely face and beautifull long yeres shall vitiate , And wrinckles be in withered browes , where beautie was of late .

And againe : the same Naso sayth .

Ouidius . Forma bonum fragile est : quantumque accedit ad annos , Fit minor , & spacio carpitur ipsa suo . Nec semper violae , nec semper lilia florent : Et riget amissa spina relicta rosa . Beautie is a goodnesse fraile , and in short time decayes , And when it cometh vnto yeres , it lessens and repayres . And is consumed in short space : nor Violets alway , Nor Lillies euer do encrease and flourish , but decay . And when the Rose is lost , the thorne doth wax full stiffe straightway .

Infirmitie , malady , sicknesse and disease , do corrupt the valiant and beauifull constitution of the body , as daily experyence sheweth . Iob the iust before he was exulcerated Iob. with sores , did wonderfully surpasse in beauties giftes : but after he was excarnificated and tormented with stinking sores , he lost all the trimnesse and brauenesse of his beautie , as his friendes witnessed which skarcely knewe him to be the same he was . If any be entriked in disease , he feleth the decencie of his beautie perish , and skarsly the shape of a man to remain . Therfore Seneca rightly saith :

Res est forma fugax : quis sapiens homo cenfidat fragili . Beautie is a fading thing , what wise man will haue trust therin ?

Eteocles spake thus vnto a certain yong E●t●cles saying to a yong man bosting in his beautie . man glorying in the fairnesse of his form and face . Art thou not ashamed to auaunce & lift vp thy crests , and to be so proud for the gifts of beautie , whose vse is graunted thée , and not proprietie , & that for a very smal time . Helth is precious and delectable , Health . Strength . but very mutable . † Bodily strength is worthy emulation , but with disease & maladies it is defrayed & debilitated , and with old age ( as beautie before ) is expugnable . In fine , if any trusteth to that strength and vigoure of his body , & proudly reioyseth therin , he is quite deceiued . * Let the huge Cyclops be example , whom the fortitud of Vlisses , seasoned with wisdome & reason , brought to a miserable kind of life , while he puld out his eye . Bulyris , Geryon , Cacus , and Milo Crotonia●as may hither be fetched : and the too much presumption of their strength , vtterly ouerthrewe the Giantes , which aduentured to depell Iupiter out of his Emperiall seate . † Howe much is the strength of man inferioure Mans strength is much inferioure to the strength of beastes . and lesse than the mightie power , strength and hardinesse of other beastes ? I meane of Elephants , Bulles , and Lions ? In humain̄e things , erudition is only immortall , diuine , and neighbour to diuturnitie . And two things there be most peculiar in the nature of man , vnderstanding and Vnderstanding and reson be the two cheefe things in the nature of man . reason : Understanding ruleth reason , and reason is obsequious and morigerant to vnderstanding : which no fortune battereth downe nor conquereth : which no obtrectation or slaunder taketh away , which no infirmitie infecteth or depraueth which no old withered age doth deuastate or destroy : For only vnderstanding in olde age perseuereth in his vigoure , and is then yonglike . And tyme , ( which consumeth all other things ) toold age ioyneth science , and adiecteth great experience . Neither warre ( which after the manner of a swift running riuer draweth and chaungeth all things ) can euer take away vertue and learning . * Than How precious vertue and lerning be . which , nothing of al other things is more splendent or constant , as mark now and thou shalt learne . For vertue dothe giue vs that glorious light of Nobilitie , wherwith we moste relucent appéere in all mennes eyes . Neither doth it suffer vs or oures , to lurke in secrete , or in duskous dennes , but calles vs out , and makes vs manifest . Euen as a towne that is situate and built on a high hill , is in all mennes eyes most manifest and apparant : euen so vertue ( in whose brest it is enrachined and rooted ) suffereth not him to lurke and lie in darke dungeons and vnlyghtsome holes , but doth illustrate and illuminate him , and sperpleth his fame and commendations , through all the tracts and costes of the world . What so extreeme darknesse can oppresse and obscure the fortitude and magnanimitie of king Philips sonne Alexander the great ? Of Iulius Caesar , renowned Prince , or of other noble and inuictoryous personages ? What darkenesse so obscure canne obtenebrate the iustice of Aristides , the integritie of Phocion , the liberalitie and munificence of Cinon , and the most absolute vertue of Socrates ? Yea , what portion at least of Vertue ( which in any , in all worldes hath shyned ) hath not bene by the benefit of vertue chalenged and called from the destruction of Obliuion ? Wherfore vertue is thus notablie described of Cicero . Virtus secundum Ciceronem . Virtus est affectio a 〈…〉 constans conueniensqúe , laudabiles efficiens eos in quibus est : That is , Vertue is a constant and conuenient affection of the mind , making them laudable , in whome it is . And vertue by hir selfe is laudable : out of which all honest willes , sentences , actiens , and all Out of vertue flow all good actions . ryght reason commeth and floweth . All other goodes fade awaye and peryshe , only Vertue neuer dyeth . It canne not be taken away , neyther wyth shyppewracke , nor with fyre it is lost , neyther wyth the alteration of Tempestes nor tymes it is chaunged , wyth which whosoeuer are indued , they only are riche : they only possesse thyngs bothe fructuous and perdurable . And they only are content wyth that they haue . It neuer forsaketh man in olde age : for vertue Virtus senectutis viaticum . is the best viandrie of olde age , wherby the difficulties thereof are moste easely borne .

And Cato in Tullie sayeth ( reasoning of olde age with Scipio and Laelius ) thus . Aptissima sunt omnino arma senectutis artes exercitationesque virtutum , quae in omni aetate cult 〈…〉 cum di● multumque vixeris , mirificos adferunt fructus , non solum quia nunquam deserunt hominem , nec extremo quidem tempore aetatis , quanquam id quidem maximum est : Verum etiam quia conscientia bene actae vitae , multorumque benefactorum recordatio incundissima est .

Cato by experience was taught what effect vertue traded , and wher and when it tooke place , being old him selfe , and replenyshed wyth this excellent iewel . Euen as Salte dothe conserue and kéepe flesh from corruption and stench : so only vertue doth defend vs and our myndes , least that we come into the dungcon of corruption and destruction .

thou dost remember it always , and canst neuer forget it : but if thou shalt eyther heare , read , or doe any thing in thy elder age , the memory therof soone vanisheth away : so if in thy yeres of infancie thou shalt be put to discipline and vertue , thou shalt with vse and custome so learne it , that thou mayest neuer forget it . For what way any walkes in , when he is yong , the same way shall he tread when he is olde . But if thy childe , in any other age than childehoode , apply his minde to learning and vertue , perhaps many things may happen in the meane season , to auert and turne his minde from it , when not yet it hath soundly taken roote in his brest . Wisely therefore answered Agesilaus , when he was asked , Agefilaus . what things chiefly children shoulde learne : Those things ( sayde he ) that they may vse , when they are growen to mans estate . By the whiche aunswere he déemed , that in tender yeres the precepts of learning and vertue shoulde be planted in childrens brests , if alwais afterwards they woulde enioy the same . Therfore , although ( as Plautus sayth : ) Plautus . Sera numquam ad bo●os mares via , the way to good maners is neuer to late , yet notwithstanding , sith there is but one way to vertue , and that moste harde and straight ( as Hesiodus , and Pythagoras letter purport ) if we wil acquire the possession In tender yeres must vertue and learning be gotten . of vertue and learning , we must direct our iorney therto in tender yeres : otherwise in elder age we shal be terifted from it by the hardnesse of the way , and danger of the iorney , whiche thing to too many doth happen . † And as I admonish parents to estéeme and regarde nothing more than this vertuous and learned bringing vp of their children , so again do I exhort them , that they vse good , vncorrupt , and healthfull education : for children must be prohibited and repressed , from panegirical exercises , & from suche esbatements as contayne prayse and commendation . For he that pleaseth a multitude or common sort of people , doth altogither displease and discontent them that be wise . Of this is the excellent Euripides my witnesse , whiche sayth :

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . To speake vnto the common sort of men I haue no wit , nor knowledge I at al : But cunninger and readier am I then , among my equals , if they be few & smal .

They ( which wisemen disproue and diflike ) haue eloquent tongs before the common crue of people : I my selfe haue marked and perceiued those ( which haue studied , and with tooth and nayle haue labored by the chaunting vpon the cords of their pleasaunt tong , to augurate the fauour , and to hunt for the vayne commendation of the fickle and inconstant people ) to liue very intemperately , & without any stay of continencie , wallowing in all vice , and enuoluped with too filthy pleasures And that ( by him that guydes the heuenly scepter ) not without a cause . For if they ( by theyr preparation of plesures for other ) shall neglect and transgresse the limittes of honestie , they shal scarsly make more of their owne pleasures and illecebrous wayes , than that is right , iust and holsome . Furthermore what things shall we teach for children profitable , or what good thing shall wée oxhort them to apply , séeing that to speke and do nothing temerously and without consideration , is a fayre and godly thing , and ( according to the prouerbe ) rare and 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 faire things are harde and difficile . But inconsiderate talke , and the vse of speaking without premeditation , is fraught Children must not be suffered to speake sodenly and extempore . with inconstancie , vncarefulnesse , and lenitie : so that they know not neyther where to begin , nor where to relinquish or leaue : and ( besides other incommodities and harmes ) those , whiche sodenly , and hande ouer heade ( as it were ) without all consideration or thinking vppon matters , shall talke and reason , do fal into a certaine inunoderation and dismeasured futilitie : but a wise and aduised premeditacion dothe not suffer the As vnaduised talk harmeth , so doth considerate talke muche profite . talke and communication to passe his reache , nor to transgresse his limits : vnaduised loquacitie hath muche endaungered the blabber out therof , but talke with iudgement seasoned , hath much auayled and profited . * There came once out of Hellespontus to the Athenian baud Gnathaena the Athenian harlot . Gnathaena , a certayn babbling louer , stirred through hir fame , and name , who when among the cuppes he had babbled out many things , and did séeme very importune in his talke , Gnathaena aunswered : Sayest thou , thou camst out of Hellespontu ? then why ( sayth she ) knowest thou not the chiefe citie there ? who ( when he saide ) what is that ▪ she answered : Sige 〈…〉 And so artificially restrayned the futilitis of hir louer : for 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 amongs 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . the Grecians signifieth silence or taciturnitie . And so he receiued for a reward of his loquacitie , shame . ✚ Pericles Pericles refused sodenly and without premeditation to aunswere . ( as we haue heard reported ) when he was called of the people oftentimes to make an oration , he refused and would not obey them , saying : he was vnprepared , and in no frame , so sodaynly to talke . Semblably , the thundring eloquent orator Demosthenes , in the administration Demosth . of the common weale , Pericles his emulator ( when the Athenians called him to counsayle ) refused to bée present , saying : he was not readye , nor had premeditated . But peraduenture some will insolentlye obiect , and say : This assertion hath no authour , it séemeth to bée fayned , and counterfayted . But Demosthenes ( in that his Oration that he made agaynst Midias ) dothe playnely and clearely set out before our eyes the fruite and vtilitie of consideration , of premeditation , and diligence . Therefore ( sayeth he ) I tell you O ye Athenians , and I cannot denye , but that I haue déepely considered , and with ardent studie perpended and poysed these matters in the ballaunce of premeditation , as it was laufull and most expedient for mée : for I were a miserable man , and worthy of all misfortune and calamitie , yf I ( hauing suffered and presently sustayning suche things , whiche haue happened to me ) shoulde neglect and come vnprepared to speak of the things I should make mention of . But I will not speake altogither to reproue or disalow this quicknesse and promptnesse of speache , or agayne to affirme the exercise thereof , as necessary , but I thinke it oughte too bée doone moderately , as ( in taking a medicine in Phisike ) it is decent and mete . For before hée come to mannes estate Two times may bee giuen to talke sodeynly , and to discourse vpon matters out of hande : I thinke a childe oughte to speake nothing out of hande , whatsoeuer is offred : but when any hath béen long exercised in eloquent speaking , and ●ath layd a déepe foundation and roo●e in the entrayles of fyne discoursing speac●e ( yf oportunitie and time minister occasion ) then is it decent and lawfull to vse libertie in talk and communication . For euen as they , which of long time haue béene imprisoned , and bound in fetters , although at last they be loosed and dimis●ed , notwithstanding for the long vse of the charnes and bondes they can not goe , but halte , and oftentimes fall flat towne vpon the earth : Euen so they , that haue bene long time repressed , brideled , & restrayned to speake ( if at any time of a sodeyn necessitie moueth them to talk ) neuerthelesse they conserue and kepe their wonted order and phrase of speache . But if such ( as haue not passed their childhoode ) be permitted to be practised in the sodayne facultie of talke , it maketh them ( euer after ) to be fooles , garrulous , and iangling Of the extremities or vices to be chefely elch●ed in talke . chatters . A foolish fonde paynter shewed an image to Apelles ( prince of paynters ) and sayde , this euen now I paynted . I saw and knew it ( saide Apelles ) though thou hadst held thy peace , and not spoken a word : I perceiue thou didst paynt it with great festination , but I maruell why thou hast not paynted more of this sort . As therfore ( for now I will come agayne to my talke from whence I am digressed ) I haue counseled and exhorted to flée and eschue a diuerse & changeable coloured oration , and loftie and tragicall talke : so agayn I do also persuade them , to auoyde a thinne exile , and a leane oration : for a swelling and turbulent oration lacketh ciuilitie , and a hungry leane oration doth not smite nor greatly moue the hearers minds . And as in a body only incolumitie is not laudable , but also a firme and lustie disposition of the body is requisite : so is it likewise expedient , that an oracion or talke shoulde not be sickely , weake , and imbecill , but strong , firme , and rigorous : for that , that is secure and easie , is onely commendable , and doth alone merite prayse , but that , that is behedged with dangers and with studious labour atcheued , bringeth admiration . Now haue I to speke and to purport , how the mind ought to be affected , which must not be temerous , rash , and aduenturous , neither cowardous , timorous , soone affrighted and abiect : for as What is decent and vndecent in the affects of the minde . too much confidence & boldnesse shewes foorth an impudent and vnshamefull minde , so doth timiditie & feare drawe and moue the mind into seruilitie and bondage . An artificiall thing it is in all things most diligently & rightly to enter into the mean way and kéepe it . * A gret vertue it is to vse moderation and not to brust the lists of mediocritie . ✚ And to open my opinion more largely , and to touch this education more narowly , The harping of one string only is odious , and the likenes of talk is irkesome but varietie and change delightsull and pleasant . first I thinke that kinde of talke which is euer like if selfe , and neuer variable , to be the most certayn token of a bluntish brayne , of a dull wit , indocible , and very hard to be taught . Secondarily , I déeme it not fit for any exercise , whiche soone conceiueth , & not long retayneth . One song always , and the iarring and chaunting vpon one onely corde and string , in all things is yrkesome , tedious , and vnpleasant to the ears : but varietie and chaungeable tunes ( as in all other things innumerous , so in those things which be heerd and séen ) be most delectable , pleasant & delightfull . * Importunitie is alwayes odious , but to do all things fayre and softly , and in their time , hath great grace . Euen as that Musitian is molestuous to all men , which among the selfe same men dothe sing the selfe same song , and stil twangeth vpon one string : so he that with one onely kinde of speach , harping vppon one onely matter , doth gréeue the same men with his importunity loseth ciuility , breaketh the limits of curtesie , & is thought a very importune felow . One once came vnto Aristotle , & blabbed out many things very importunely , still vsing the same words . Aristotle still held his peace , at last , sayd the prater : perhaps I trouble thée through my garrulitie . No in good soouth answered Aristotle , for I marked not , nor tooke héede what thou saydest . Semblably yf any go vnto men graue in authoritie , and vse this inuariable speach , and vnpleasant tunes , he escapes not blame & rebuke , neyther doothe he further his sute . Not without a cause doth Terence Terentius . propound vnto vs the example of Demea , whereby he admonisheth vs not to be molestuous to the same man concerning the selfe same thing , with all one kind of spech ( as Demea was to his brother Mitio ) when he with gret indignation was offended withal , saying : An toties de eadem re te audiam ▪ shal I heare thée so oftentimes iangling vpon all one matter ? Amongs the other tokens and marks wherwith Theophrastus describeth an importune talker , he reciteth this ; importunit as ‛ heophraus . est occursus incidentibus molestus . Wherfore it is the part of a wittie and free childe to heare and lerne al the thinges which pertayn to the circle and compasse of all learnings : and as it were by the way to sippe and tast of eche one of them , séeing it is impossible , and out of the reache of mans capacitie , to excell , and haue the full perfection of all disciplines . But in Philosophie ( before all other learnings ) a childe must most diligently labour . Philosophie , that is the loue of wisedome ( so dothe the Gréeke worde signifie ) aboue the rest muste be tilled of a childe , and the frutes it bringeth foorth must be layde vp and housed in the inwarde barne of a childs heart . And this my opinion and minde , I am purposed to approue and declare , by an example or similitude : for euen as it is an excellent & goodly thing , by nauigation to haue passed by many goodly and notable regions , and to haue sayled about many gorgeous cities , but a commodious and fructuous thing , to inhabite and be resiant in the best of them all . ✚ So a child that is capable of wit and learning ought to vew many goodly artes , and to runne ouer with the glimse of his eyes , many beautifull and resplendent sciences ( impossible all to be attayned ) and to choose one for his resting place and mansion of abode , which excelleth , and farre surmounteth all the rest . Maruellous wittie and mery is the saying of the philosopher Bion , which sayde : As the woers The wittie saying of Bion. whiche coulde not enioye Penelope Vlysses wyfe , nor reape the floure of hir chastitie , ioyned and coupled themselues with hir handmaides : so they which are not able to aspire to the height and loftie toppe of philosophie , do spend & dissipate their time miserably in other disciplins of no value or estimation . Wherfore among other disciplins , philosophie as a princesse & chiefe crafts woman ought to Philosophie is princesse among other di●●iplines . be constituted and made . For about the cure of the body men haue inuented and found out by studious searche , two disciplines , phisick , and palestricall exercise : whereof , the one conserueth the health of the body , and the other dothe cōrroborate the good disposition and habitude of the same . But only philosophie Philosophie is ●he curer and 〈…〉 medier of the 〈…〉 inde . is the present phisick , and redy remedy to recure and heale the maladies , infirmities , griping gréefes , and painefull passions of the mind . Out of the entrals of Philosophie , we are taught to know what things be honest and vnhonest , iust and vniust , and in fine , what are to be required and chosen , and again what we ought to eschue , flée and euitate . It Philosophy tea ●heth vs howe 〈…〉 behaue our 〈…〉 lues towarde 〈…〉 ll estates and ●egrees . teacheth vs how we ought to vse our selues towards god , our parents , elders , lawes , strangers , magistrats , and frends , that it behoueth vs to worship and feare god , to honor our parents , to reuerence our elders , to obey the laws , to be obedient to magistrats , to loue our frends , to liue modestly with our wiues , with inward affection to imbrace our children , to deal iusty with our seruants , not to be iniurious to them . And to speak of the chefest things & most pondrous , neither in prosperitie ( when fortune smileth on vs with louing looks ) to triumph with to much iolitie , to be insolent with to much mirth : neither in aduersity ( when fortune frouneth with cloudish countenan e ) to dispaire to contristate , or to be to heuy & sorowful : neither in pleasurs to be dissolute , neither in anger to be passionated , & brutishly to be rigorous : which I ( amongs al the other things which issue out of the sugry riuers of philosophie ) esteme and déeme the most antike , chéef , & worthiest thing . To be of a Gentlenesse the token of a honest man . gentle corage fraught with generositie in time of florishing & fortunate things is that propertie of a man in dede : to be fortunate without the grudge of enuy is the signe of a most quiet , peaceable , & placable man : to resist & struggle agaynst pleasures , is the token of a wiseman , & to cohibite & bridle anger is not in euery mans power . But I iudge them perfite men , which are able to interlarde , and to concorporate the ciuill adimnistration of the publique weale , with the study of wisedome . And I suppose They be perfect men which ioyne to the administration of the common wealth the studie of wisedom of philosophie . the same to be the eminent enlargers , of two of the greatest goods . For while to administer and gouerne the common weale they doo the things that appertayne to common vtilitie , and while they be labrous , and vigilante in the studies of good artes , and intentiue in philosophie , they ben in great tranquilitie and quietnesse . There be thrée kinds of life , the one is occupied in action Three kinds of lyfe . or doing , the seconde in knowledge , the third in oblectation , & in the fruition of plesurs , of which the last kind of life , delicious , voluptuous or gyuen to pleasures , The lyfe that is led in pleasures is brutish . is beastlike , brutyshe , abiecte vyle , vnworthie the excellencie of man . And the life which in knowledge consisteth , if it be disseuered or wander from the actiue lyfe , it is vnprofitable & vnfrutful , Contemplatiue life without actiue life is vnprofitable . and the actiue or ciuil life without philosophie and learning , is rude , rustickelyke , vnhandsome , and full of errours . Men muste therefore laboure , and wyth all theyr myghte they can , proue , assayle , and bende their endeuours , bothe ryghtely to rule the common weal , and do the things which belong to publique commoditie , & ( as it is decent ) when time and oportunitie serueth , to take vnto them the worthie When bokes of Philosophie must be red . workes , & learned volumes of Philosophie . After this sort gouerned Pericles the common weale , after this sorte Archytas Tarentinus , Dion Syracusanus and Epaminondas the Thebane , which were Platoes schollers . And now concerning institution of Children , I thinke I néede speake no more . Besides these , notwithstanding , I iudge it a most profitable The worthy bokes of lerned authors must bee bought , kept and red as a treasure of learning . and necessary thing , to be diligent in the acquiring of antique Bookes , and monuments , imitating the manner of husbandmen : for euen as not the possession of many fieldes , but diligent tillage and good husbandry doth enrich them , so not by the possession of many bookes , but by the diligent reading , and pure iudgement therof , ( as from a fountaine ) doe we drawe and acquire the knowledge of things , science , and good litterature . And the olde students of wisdome in reading Bookes obserued this , that thereout they myght gather excellent sentences , wherewith they might direct and order their life . And ( as Plutarche wytnesseth in an other Philosophie in the tyme of the ●ag●● of Greece was contained in sentences for their direction . Booke ) at that time , ( when the , vij . wise men of Grece flourished ) all Philosophie was contained in bréefe & few sentences , which partly by experience , & partly by reding they acquired , & for the vse of common life set forth as theyr profitable sentences ( which yet are extant ) doe manyfestly shew . And what commoditie may come by the reading of them , Lucretius Lucretius . full well knew , saying .

Floriferis vt apes in saltibus omnia libant , Sic nos authorum decerpimus aurea dicta , Aurea perpetua semper dignissima vita . As laborous bees in forrests greene , doo sucke , and floures taste , So we collecte the golden sawes of authours in tymes past : The golden sawes that they haue left , behynde in memorie , And bookes of fame , worthy in deede to liue perpetually .

Socrates also , & other faithfull teachers of How Socrates and other taught children . youth ( if they toke children to teache , enforme & learne ) they compelled them to lerne by heart , the sentences of Poets , orators , and Philosophers , that in time to come they might be a great profite to them to leade their life wel , honestly & blissedly . Moreouer , if any buy & read that volumes of Philosophers , & cheefely Plato , shall sée the sacred sentences of Poetes , which ( as goodly trim pictures ) they scattred & sowed here & there in their bookes . Alexander Macedo , The great care of king Alexandee in reading of Homers workes . that inuictorius king ( among so many turmoiles , tumults & sweats in war sustained , almost surpassing the power of man ) neuer neglected the reading of Homers workes , which describeth to kings theyr dueties . He would euer haue it layd togither with his dagger vnder his pillowe . And that the diligent reding of good authors doth bring a wonderfull profit , Demetrius Phalereus sufficiently enough proued , who How Demetrius Phaleri us exhorted king Ptolome to prepare hys bookes . exhorted king Ptolomeus to prepare him such bookes , as intreted of a kingdom and warlike dominion : & to reuolue them ouer , bicause those things in bookes are written , of which frends dare not presume to admonish kings & princes . why speake I not of Alphōlus the worthy persenage & famous king of Aragon who ( being vexed with sicknesse at the Citie Cap●a , & his Phisitions ministring many medicines in his greuous Alphonsus was restoted to health by the reading of Quintus Curtius . disease ) began to read the Histories of Quintus Curtius , describing the noble gestes of Alexander the great : with reading wherof , he being delighted ( when he had ouercome all the violence of the sicknesse , and restored to health ) Adew ( sayd he ) Auycen , adew Hippocrates , adewe Galene and other Phisitions , liue for euer Quintus Curtius , the restorer of my helth . And the same king , ( when he hard trumpeters and minstrels iangling , ( taking in his handes the famous lucubrations of Tullie : ) Be packing , be packing ye Musitians ( say de he ) for Cicero the fresh fountaine of Romaine elequence is with me , whiche speaketh more swete & pleasante thinges . And the same worthy prince at an other time , ( when he heard a king of Spayne say , it was not decente for gentlemen and noble men to be learned , lettered and to gaze vpon bookes ) is reported to haue exclamed : haec non est regis , sed bou●s vox . This is not the voice of a king but of an Oxe . No lesse louer of bookes The great loue of Carolus Caesar to learning . and Monumentes of learning , was Carolus Caesar the fourth Emperoure of Rome : for entring into the schole of the Prageneians ( when he heard the masters of liberall sciences disputing the space of foure houres , & his Guard was offended and sayde , supper tyme is at hande . ) It is not ready ( saide he ) for me , for this is my supper . This renoumed personage and mightie Emperour , preferred the philosophical disputations , before most delicate banquets . Carolus the fifth , August , & Ferdinandus Caesar ( which fell into such turbulent times , wherin the great confusion of the monarchie inuaded al orders as Lerning was the cau●e●hat Carolus the fifth , August and Ferdinandes Caesar gouerned in most pearillous seasons . wel ciuil as spiritual ) except they had bin instructed from their youthe in good letters , they could neuer haue holden the gouernmet of theyr empire so many yeres , with so great wisedome , and fortitude , in such mightie great perils of tempestuous times , and impetuous seasons . Wherfore Thales Milesius , one of the sages of Grece sayth , faciem componere non praeclarum est , sea bonarum artium studijs animun excolere longè praeclarius , not to trim , deck and dye the face , is an excellent thing , but to garnysh & a dorne the minde with good artes is a far more precious & beautifull thing : who also being asked , who was happie , said : qui corpore sanus est , animo vero eruditus He that in body is helthful and whole , and wel instructed in his mind with good learning , & giue me leaue once againe to name Alphonsus ( so oftentimes of me repeated , ) who was wont to say , that the dead were very good counsailoures , signifying books , wherin he herd those things which he desired without feare and fauor . Then Alphonsus sayde that bokes were good counsailors , wherin we learne the things we desire without fear or fauour . how can it be but most necessary , to be diligent in getting , and diligent in studying that monuments & bokes of worthy authors : out of which so many commodities , so many fruites , so many aduises , so many good counsails , lerned lessons , & prudent exhortations may be gathered . And now I think it not expedient to passe ouer , and dispise the exercises of the body , but most conuenient I déeme it , to send children to the Childrens bodies must be exercised , both for the agilitie of the bodye , & conseruation of health . houses & scholes of those that be cunning and expert teachers , that sufficiently by labor they may obtain the same , & put them in practise , both for the agilitie & nimblenesse of the body . And also to strengthen and corroborate the same : for the foundation of good & honest old age , is in children , the fit disposition , and habitude of the body . Children therfore , ( which are liberally brought vp , ) are not so dishonestly and vnciuillie to be handled , to be driuen from the exercises which childehoode and adolescencie , & mannes age ought to be practised in , & much auail to the health of the body . While the strength of heat accensed with mouing , doth more strongly disgest the Exercises be neceslary for the bodies digestion . meat & drinke , and sendeth liuely & pure bloud , into al the members of the body . * If the takest away moderate exercises , sluggish luskishnesse , drowsinesse , lasinesse & filthy idlenesse shall possesse thy children & striplings : whereby they shal be made vnfit to all that honest actions of life . Amongs The exercises vsed among the Grecians was cause of health , and little sickenesle . the old ancient Grecians ( while these honest exercises of youth flourished ) there was not so great store of sicknesse & maladies , ( as now amongs vs , which folow none , or very few exercises , but drunkennesse , bellychéere , filthie pleasures , and all intemperancie . So that when we come to that age , wherein we should serue our Prince and Countrey , in the offices of The lack of exercises at this day is cause there be so manye diseases . peace or feates of warre , we are hindred with that gout , for lacke of practise , or one disease or other , which we haue gotten by intemperancie , while we dispised to haue a regard of our body , in exercising it with moderate and conuentent exercises . Euen as therfore in Sommer tyme it is conueuenable to prepare & lay vp those things that be necessarie agaynst winter : so in tender youth , it behoueth to prepare and hoorde vp good manners , ryght order of life , and modestie as a viandry and necessary prouision for olde age . And so with labors voluntary to exercise their bodies , least ( their strengthes being exhausted & If the body be not exercised , it will hardly sustaine the toyles in learning . consumed ) they may afterwards refuse to abide & sustain the labors & toyles pertaining to the conseruation of learning . For as the péerlesse philosopher Plato affirmeth , sléepe and labors be aduersaries to disciplines : he that accustomes himselfe to voluntarye labours , it shal not be greuous to him , to perdure in the toiles , which men often times must abide by reason of their office : but he that dothe not exercise himselfe with willing labours , but gyueth himselfe to be depraued with slouthfulnesse , he shal neuer in necessary labors with glory perseuere . But to what ende speake I vpon these ? and doe not rather hasten to purport that , which is the most peculiar , and chiefest thing of all these ? And that is this , that children be instructed It is expedient that children be trayned in martiall practises . in practises of warre and feats of chiualry : as in handling the speare , casting of dartes , in iustings , bickerings , and hunting of wilde beasts : for the goods of them which are conquered in battaile , fall to their lottes and guerdons , which be conquerours and winners of the field : but to warre , the disposition and exercise of the body priuately practised , doeth not auaile , but a weake warriour , and sillie Souldioure , ( if he be trayned vp in martial practises , and exercises of warre , ) penetrateth and sperpleth the well garnished garrisons , and orderly adorned armies of his ennimies : so much it auaileth to be exercised in these practises which the worthy Gréeks knew wel enough , who had commonly in vse , games of exercise , For what vse the Grecians inuented their games of exercise . huntings , leapings , skippings , dansings , and other such esbatements , wherwith as with voluntarie exercises they sharpned & exasperated youth to the true & necessary labors of warre , lest in idlenesse they should be s●outhfull , spend their time luskishly , and the goodes of cowardous fluggards ( as Demosthenes sayth ) doth fall to their lots that be laborous . Likewise , the renoumed Romains had their games and Why the Romaines founde out their exercises . laboures at home , wherewith they indurated & hardened their bodyes , to sustain the true labours in warre , wherby their countrey might be defended , and the territories of their Empire enlarged . But what will some say and obiect ? You promised to wryte preceptes and rules , concerning To whome these preceptes are wrytten . the education of frée children , but nowe you séeme to neglecte the bringing vp of poore and néedy children , and are only determined to giue and set forth instructions , fit and congruent for rich , and such as are discent from noble progenie ? Who may thus easely be answered : truly , I greatly wishe and desire , that these my preceptes of education might be conducible and profitable to all in generall : but if there be any hindred through pouertie , and oppressed with penurie and indigencie , shall not be able to vse al my admonitions , let them bewaile and deplore their owne misfortune and calamitie , and not accuse & insimilate him that giueth these admonitions and holesome preceptes . Therefore let the pore and indigent laboure , endeuoure and assay ( as much as lyeth in them ) if they can attain to this chéefest and best education of children , which we haue made manifest . But if some shal not be able to vse it , let them practise that which is lawfull and p●ssible for them . These things haue I chefely touched , that I might afterwardes anner & interlace other things also , which anayle muche to the ryght Institution of Children . I thincke it a thing conuenyent , to drawe and induce Children to Chyldren must be induced to studyes and other necessarie duetyes , wyth gentlenes●e , persuasion , exhortation , not with force , violence and stripes . honest studyes , and to doe their dueties , with admonitions , persuasions , and gentle intreaties , and not wyth force , violence , stripes , beating and bunching . For these séeme rather more derent for seruauntes and bondslaues , than for ingenious and fréeborne Children . For sluggishe seruauntes hardened in idlenesse adread stripes , and with these are incyted and dryuen to laboure , partely for the smarting gréefes of the stripes , and partly for contumelies , reproches and nipping tauntes . But praise and dispraise amongs ingenious children are farre more better and commodious , than any other chastisement . For commendations and prayses stirre and inuite them to honest things , and discommendations doth call them away , restraine and terrifie them from filthie , dishonest , and vicious things . And somtime againe diuers wayes they must be dispraised and chidden , and sometime commended , that after they shall nothing set by chidings and chaffings , shame may restraine them , and againe be made glad , and reduced from the same , with prayses and commendations : imitating nourses and mothers , which ( after their babes & sucklings haue cried ) giue and offer them the pappe , to still and aslake their cryes . And heere it behoueth Parents and good fathers to be circumspect , and diligently take héede , that aboue measure they doe not auaunce and extol with praises their children , least they become too insolent , proud , arrogant and headie : For dismeasured and too much praise , doth infatuate , and make them more fierce and leuder . I haue known certain fathers , which with too much loue haue lost and marred their Recreations must be giuen to tender age , least beeing tired and weried with labors , it be ouerwhelmed , not able afterwardes to conceiue any good disciplines . sonnes . While parents make posthast to haue their children excell , and surmount very festinely in all things , they lay such burdens vppon their shoulders , as they cannot beare nor sustaine : wherwith ( being too muche burdened and forefrushed ) they fal down vnder them , when , as ( being hindered and stopped with other passions , molestations and gréeues ) they are not able rightly to conceyue discipline and learnings lore . * They would haue them learned the first day , and perfite men the first houre , such too hastie Parents there be , who ( thinking to haue out of hande surpassing children ) make them fooles & dullardes through their hot festination . ✚ Euen as yong plants are norished with the sprinkling of moderate water , but suffocated and choked with dismeasured liquors poured vpon them : Likewise a childes tender yong wit with moderate labors is augmented , but with superfluous paines and immoderate toiles extinguished , ouerwhelmed and drowned . Wherefore some recreation , breathing and refreshing from their continuall labors muste be permytted Children , * which banisheth and dryueth away irksomnesse gotten by serious toyle , and doth restaurate and repaire againe their bodyes and mindes to laboure . For euen as too muche bending breaketh the bow : so to bée perpetually addicted to seryous things , and neuer to refreshe and solace the mynde wyth honeste oblectations , causeth that mannes mynd can not long endure in earnest studyes . For this cause in olde tyme were solempnities Festiuall dayes in olde tyme , were inuented for recreation . and Festiuall dayes ordayned , that menne béeyng called from laboures , myght take delyghte in seruyng GOD : whych delight without all controuersie is the moste honest of all other . So studentes ( least they fall into the detestable vice of drunkennesse , and contamynate them selues wyth filthie pleasures ) had their delightes , musike and other bodily exercises , wherewith theyr mynde ( being tired with study ) myght be moste pleasantly recreated . ✚ Then Parentes ought to remember ( those I meane , which so burden their Childrens tender mindes with suche too heauie burdens ) that our life consisteth of remission , recreation , studie , labour , and paine . And therefore not onely wakings , but sléeping is founde out , not only warre , but also tyme of peace , not sommer and ser●nitie , but wynter , blustryng blastes , chillie colde and impetuous Tempestes , peries and stormes : To laborous operations and paynefull busie woorkes ( as I sayd before ) are Holly dayes inuented a remedy . And finally , rest and cessation is the medicine and sauce of laboure Quies laboris remedium . and wearynesse : and that not in lyuing creatures alone , but in things deuoyde of life we by experience proue : for we vnbend our bowes , and let downe and slacke the Harpe and lutestrings , that we may bend them agayne . And generally the body is preserued wyth emptying and filling agayne , and the mynde wyth remission , recreation and studie .

And there be some Parentes worthy great blame , and deserue seuere reprehension , which ( after they haue once committed their children to the tutele and custodie of the master and gouernor ) neuer looke nor trie howe their children han● profited , and gone for warde in good litterature , vnfatherly neglecting their dueties : for it behoueth them ( a fewe dayes after ) to be inquisitiue , and to make triall Parents after they haue put their children to schole , must be inquisitiue howe they profit . vpon the studies and increasings of theyr childrens learning , and not to affie their hole hope and trust in him that teacheth for reward and gaine . In so doing , theyr children may euilly ( without any profiting , waste and contriue their precious time , and dissipate their parents money . For vndoubtedly those masters would be more diligent and painefull in instructing their schollers , if they knewe they should render accompt of their institution and progression in good lerning . And certainly that , that of horses is spoken , meriteth no small grace : bicause nothing do so sone fatten , and bring into good liking a horse , as his owners eie . * Some parents I know in England , very careful in thys behalfe , and such in dede be parentes and loue their children interly , which daily enquire and trie their children , thoughe they be wholy persuaded in the painefull diligence of the Master .

Such must néedes haue toward , lerned , and obedient children : and worthy of great commendation they be , for the care and trauell they take , in the vertuous instruction of their children . But some other I haue heard of , that are altogither vncarefull , and nothing regarde the good successe of their sonnes , not once in a whol yere demaunding how his child hath profited . Such parents be not worthy the name of parents , since they so temerously neglect their childrens good education , whom nature hath bounde them , and God commaundeth them to season with vertue , and to trayne them vp in feare & godlynesse . Nay ( the more is the pitie ) there be some which altogither neglect at all to put them to schole , but permit them dissolutely , ydelly , and vaynely to contriue and spende their time , thinking learning and vertue to be of no value , supposing good institution to be a thing of nought , so that they resemble their fathers euill wayes : if they learne to sweare and to rent God in a thousande morsels , then haue they learnyng enoughe , and then they be their white sonnes . What be these● the wicked parents of vicious children , vnprofitable members , worthy to be extirped out of a christian common weale , and as one sayd : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . An infertile masse of molde But I leaue such to their owne follies , and turne to my The exer●y ses of a childes memory must not be neglected . purpose , wishing that there were none such remayning . ✚ Before all things a childs memorie must be exercised : for memory is ( as it were ) the buttry or pantry of all good learning : and therfore haue poets , in their poemes fayned and imagined memory to be the mother of the muses , and nine sisters of learning : thereby priuily interpreting & obscurely reueling , that nothing is better than fertile , pregnant & redy memory : which all children must exercise : both they which naturally be endued with the beautiful benefite of the same , & also those which be obliuious , & enioy a very hard and dul memory : so shal they corroborate & confirme the affluence & goodnes of nature , & supply also the defect & want of the same : that they which haue a ready memory , and exercise it , may become better than others , & also the weak witted & obliuious children may better themselues . Excellently hath the ancient poet Hesiode said :

He●iod 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . If to a little thou dost adde . a little , doing oft the same , At length a heape shall there be had , and of a masse shal beare the name .

And parents ought to know this , that the remembrance of artes and sciences dothe not onely to erudition and knowledge of things , but also to other practises and affayres of life , bring a great light , and is ( as it were ) a looking glasse and perfite example to liue . * Laboure parente to cause thy chylde exercise his memorye , indeuour thy selfe child and scholer with care and diligence to holde those things thou shalt lerne . For except thou addest thy diligence , to lay vp those things ( which thou by studie hast gathered into the precious coffer of thy memory ) thou in vayne laborest in lerning , séeing onely we knowe that , that in memorye we retayne : But yf with dayly exercise thou committest to thy memory , the things which by learning thou hast attayned , doubt not but thou shalt be learned . Euen as the husbandeman in husbandry is weried , if he suffer his corne to perish in the field , and there to rotte by the violence of tempests : so vnprofitable is the labour whiche thou takest in studies , if thou dost not practise the things thou hast conceyued , and with dayly meditation fixe them in thy memorie . Once there was one , whiche What chanced to hym that committed nothing to memory paynefullye trauayled at his Booke , and committed nothing to memorie , but to papers and commentaries . I know not what chaunce befell , this loytring lubber , and lerning eater lost all his be-paynted papers , wherin he had printed all his learning : he bewayled his misfortune and made his complaynt to Antisthenes that learned man , who spake thus vnto him : Thou oughtest to haue written these in thy minde , and not in papers : for

Tantum scimus quantum memoria tenemus . So muche we know assuredly , as we do holde in memory .

✚ It is also necessary and most néedeful , Children must be prohibited to speak filthy , and accustomed to vse affabilitie , gentle salutation , modesty , temperance , and shamefastnes . that children be repelled and admontshed from filthy scurrilitie and leud naughtie communication : for ( as Democritus saide ) talke is a shadow of a mannes worke , and such things as man practizeth , such things doth his communication declare and relate . * If we vse to speake filthily , we much harme and endanger our estimation , while all men think vs to be the neighbours and allies of dishonest communication : but yf we abstayne from scurrilitie & vitious talk , there is none but wil beléeue we be honest , sober and discrete , yf we vtter those things which lacke dishonest talke , and abstayne from vitious words , none can blame vs as filthy speakers . But if we pamper our selues therin , who is he that will not speake ill of vs , and procide vs with worthy taunts & ignominie ? who will say , that Tibullus , Catullus Propertius Lasciuious poetes . and Martiall , and other suche paultring lasciuious poets , are not taynted with infamy and slaunder , bicause they delighted rather to exercise their poetry , with the composition of filthy verses , than were memorous of chastitie and moderate talk . Not to eschue ( saith Musonius ) Musonius . to speake obscene and filthy wordes is the fountayne and beginning of euill liuing . And that worthy sentence of modest Menander , ( which saint Paul Menander . vseth ) ought to be a good lesson for all parents to learne :

Corrumpunt bonos mores colloquia praua . Euill talke and filthy which men haue , Good vertuous maners do depraue .

✚ Next must parents accustome their affabilitie . children , to vse affabilitie , gentle and curteous salutation : for in good maners there is nothing counted so odious , as to be churlish , frowarde in words , and to estraunge them selues from companye and talke . * If a man in authoritie speke gently and curteously vnto euery one , it is almost incredible to say , how much beneuolence and fauour he amongs all men doth obtayne : but if he proudely disdayne to speake vnto his inferiours , thinking himselfe to be polluted ( as it were ) with their talke , doubtlesse that man is odible in the peoples fight , and iudged a proud , scorneful , disdaynful , and hye stomacked man . Marcus the Emperour Marcus the Emperour was commended for his affabilite . is muche commended , for his affabilitie and curteous behauiour , bicause he gaue his right hand to euery one that came vnto him , and gently with great humanitie spoke vnto ech man , although he had clymed the hyest degree of dignitie . So likewise among the Hebrewes Absolon , with his curteous affabilitie Absolon . had moued and drawen almost all the Iudaicall people to his side , and ( yf it had not otherwise pleased God ) had inuaded the scepters of the Israeticall kingdome . So I know not , what swéetenesse the tongurs of Caesar , of Caesar , Pompey , Sylla for their affabilitie obtened muche fauour Pericles . Pompey , of Sylla , and other noble personages hadde , whereby among their citizens they obtayned so much fauour , that to them they were most gratefull . Pericles also vsing this affabilitie ( whiche I woulde haue all Parents to teache their children ) was muche estemed among the Athenians : whiche is bruted to haue made his supplication to Iupiter , as often as he came abroade ) that he wuld not suffer one word to slip from his tong amisse , wherby he might incurre the enuy and conflate the hatred of the Athentan people to him selfe . What is a more humane thing , than in talke , and affabilitie , that children shew themselues meeke , gentle , faire spoken , curteous and kinde to all men ? on the contrary part , what is more truculent , beastlike , and cruel , than in comparison of himselfe to despise other , and to suppose himselfe superior to all : euen as the nightingale with hir shrill and swéete voyce , deserueth muche fauour amongs al men , and the owle with hir deadly and mournefull song incurs the hate of eche man , as a birde alienated from the kind of birds : so he whiche in company doth exercise affabilitie and curteous behauiour , is loued of all men : but he that lyueth after the maner of an owle , and professeth no affabilitie , and kéepes no company ( as the owle ) he is a most vnmanly man , and is recompted not worthy the societie of man . Roboam king Roboam . Salomons sonne , deuoyde of affabilitie , and despoyled of humanitie ( bitterly accusing the Israelites with sharpe words and seuere ) alienated all the other tribes from him , beside Iudaes and Beniamin . But king Cyrus , that puisaunt prince , bicause he shewed gentlenesse and curteous Cyrus was curteous in all his ages . behauiour in his childhoode , adolescencie , and all his other ages , felte the wonderfull increasings of felicitie : therfore saith Valerius Maximus , Humanitaus dulcedo etiam efferat● barbarorum ingenia penetrat : toruosque & truc● hostium mollit oculos . Viuat nam , prosternit odium hostilemque sanguinem hostilibus iniscet lachrimis . Sée the force of affabilitie , beholde The force of affabilitie and gentle talke . what curteous speache can doo . ✚ Children that by their parents are taught this , shall tenderly be loued of them , whose company and familiaritie they kéepe and enioy , if they be not stifnecked , obstinate and opinatiue , for it is not onely a famous thing to ouerceme , but to suffer himselfe to be ouercomed , when the victorie little auayleth , but much endomageth and is hurtfull . It is in déede a victorie , whereof commeth Cadmea victoria . more harme than good . Of this haue I Euripides my witnesse , which sayth :

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 When two do talke , wherof the one doth rage in anger , than The other ( which doth not reply ) is iudgde the wiser man .

* * Modestie . Agayne parents must be careful to attyre their children with the wéedes of modestie , which bringeth to men beautiful ornaments But whosoeuer dothe disseuer himself therfro , he polluteth himself with all dishonesty & ignominious infamy : euen as he which is furnished with the ciuilitie of maners , obtaineth amongs al men great praiso & commendation : so he ( that is esclarished with modesty the beautifullest ●illament of vertues ) is euery wher extolled into the sayes with many prayses . Ioseph yet is bruted and Iosephs modesty . blased , with fames perpetuall sounding trumpe , to be the most excellent example of modestie , bicause by no thundring threats , by no heauy manaces , he could be persuaded , so muche as to consent to the detestable allurement of the most dishonest Aegiptian woman . Therfore chiefly modesty doth maruelously well become children , & is to them a precious iewel , ad the iewel of our time Erasmus of Roterodame witnesseth . And one other Vereeundia virtutum custos . thing there is , which children must be trayned vp in , and that is shamefastnes , which sullie calleth the keper of al vertues , eschuing dishonestie , and gayuing prayse . Euen as a diademe and crowne , doth adorne and beautifie a kings head , so doth shamefastnesse most gayly garnish a child and yongman . Pamphilus in The shamef●●●nes in Pamphilus was a signe of goodnesse . Terence was ashamed & blushed . Simon ( as though al were wel ) then sayd thus : Erubuit , saluares , he blushed , the matter is in good case . And therfore Pithias Aristotles daughter ( béeing asked , what colour was most beautiful ) answered : that Pythias Aristotelis filia . which through shamefastnesse riseth in ingenious men , and vertuous children . And of this Cicero agayne doth witnesse with me , saying : Sine verecundia nihil recte agitur , without shamfastnes nothing is rightly doon , for moderator cupidua●s est pudor , shamefastnes is the gouernor of desire . These be the braue arays that children ought to be clad withal : & such garments must parents put on their children . Now wil I purport the things nothing inferior to these before , wherin I wold haue yong men exercised : first and before al things to fere god , who is the séer God must be feared . of al things , which knoweth the very secret cogitations of the heart , which doth defend the godly , & punish the malicious and impious : euen as it is the duetie of a diligent scholer to adde all his indeuour and industry to his studies & honest actions , lest he offend his master thrugh his negligence , and vngracious facts : so is it the bounden duetie of a yong man alwais to bend his endeuour to fere god , and iustice , lest through his impietie & reckles ways , he prouoke Gods displeasure and reuenge . Once a frend asked Demonax , Demonax . and requested him to go with him to the temple of Aesculapius , to pray for his sons helth , whom a perilous disease had cruciated . Demonax answered : thinkest thou that god is so deafe that he wil not here vs but in the temple ? So also ought we all to iudge of the sight of God , that he is in ech place , & beholdeth ech thing , and nothing so far distinct that Gods eye can not penetrat . Worthily therfore let yongmen ( what euill priuily they be about ) dread & feare god , which is always present , & a beholder aswel of the things be wel done , as the things be euill done . Next must they obey their parents , for to them do children owe great honour : Yongmen must obey their parents . by their benefite and meane we inioy this light , by them we are nourished , brought vp , & instructed : what things soeuer parents haue , at last fal to their childrens hands . It is knowen full wel , and fame wil neuer let it be forgotten , how much reuerence Coriolanus the famous Romane Coriolanue obedient to his mother Veturia . gaue to his mother Veturia , whom when no force could withdraw from the oppugnation of the countrey , the chiding & persuasion of his mother Veturia puld him away . So did a daughter norish hir mother ( condemned and kept in prison ) with hir teats . Whervpon Valerius Maximus astonished with this pietie exclameth : Valerius Maximus Quò non penetrat , aut quid non excogitat pietas ? quae in carcere seruanda genitricis nouam rationem inne●●t-qued eni● tam innsitatū , quid tam inauditum quam matr● vberibus natae alitam esse ? Whither doth not childish loue perce , what doth not pietie excogitate & inuent ? which hath found a new way to saue hir mother being in prison . What thing is so insolent or vnwent , what thing so vnherd of , as a mother to be nourished with hir daughters paps . Som wil think this against nature , vnlesse it wer the first law of nature , to loue our parents . The pietie of Cimon Cimon his pie tie towards Miltiades his father . towards his father is also euery where commended , who lingred not nor doubted to put on him his fathers fetters and chaynes , at the left that his father Miltiades might obtayne the honor of his graue . I might also recite the pietie of Ioseph the Hebrue , but who knoweth it not ? Thus ought children & yongmen to honor their parents , who be the instruments of their life , of whom whatsoeuer we haue , we haue receiued , so shall they be of al men commended , & be iudged vertuous , obedient , & godly . Next vnto parents must frends be remembred : for theyexhort Frends must be reuerenced . vs to vertue , and dissuade vs from vice and naughtinesse , & by al meanes labour to kéepe vs in the limittes of shamefastnesse : euen as a good neighbour is to be reuerenced , according to Hesiodus his precept ( which singeth that we haue gotten honor if we haue gotten a good neibor ) so certaynly much more honorably is a No treasure is more precious than a frend . frend to be intreated , than the which no possession is better , no iewel more precious . Alexander the puisant Macedonian was not offended that Hephaestion was affected Alexander . with regal honors of Darius niether : but when she craued pardon for hir error , Alexander alwais coragious , & then fraughted with a regall heart , sayd : be of good there O woman , whatsoeuer honor thou haft be●●owed vpon him , I think thou hast don it to me : for this man ( apointing to Hephaestion ) ( saith he ) est alter ipse . A frend therfore is a rare tresurs , a desired name , a man scarce appering , the refuge of infelicitie , a possession scarsly to be found , a receuer of secrets , a neuer failing rest , as Xenophon doth excellently tech vs . 〈…〉 Now folows , that they exercise thēsclues Yongmen must liue fr●gally , bridle their tong , & represle anger , & keepe their hands from vnlauful pray . to liue quietly , to bride their tong , to represse anger , and to retayne and kéepe in their hands from vnlaufull spoyles . Of these ( of what value eche is ) let vs consider , which with examples I will make manyfest , and of the last I will first beginne . Some men hauing putte their hands to vnlawful prayes , and vniust gayne , haue disparaged al their glory , and disparkled all the illustrious gestes of their progenitors and auncetors . As Gylippus the Lacedemonian , who ( bicause he had loosed & opened the money Gylippus Lacedemonius . bagges , and stolne thereout a great summe of money ) was abandoned his countrey , and repeld from Sparta . Doutlesse he is a very wise man , which doth conquere his anger , and not suffer him selfe to be ouercome with yre . Socrates ( when a certayne temerous hawty fellow , and rash royster had spurned him with his héele , and thei which were present séeing it , were sore offended at him ) sayd , If an asse had kicked and winched agaynst me with his héeles , woulde ye aduise me , and counsayle me agayne to spurne ? Socrates surely did it not at all , Socrates . but ( when they all pursued him , and called him a héele flinger , and spurner ) he was choked and strangled . Aristophanes in his comedy , intituled 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 whiche Aristophanes . he set foorth , when with many contumelious tauntes and reproches he had rent and proscided the same Socrates , and one whiche was present reprehending him sayd : Doest thou not take this in indignation O Socrates ? No verely answered he , not I. For I am taunted now and bitten with railing words in the Theatre , as in a certaine sumptuous and gorgeous banquet . Archytas Tarentinus , and Archytas Tarentinus . diuine Plato , appeare to haue done the lyke things to these : for certainly Archytas returning from warre ( for about that time he gaue himselfe to chiualrie ) when he had found his grounde vntilled and foule to looke vpon for lacke of good husbanding , ( calling the stewarde of his farme vnto him ) thou wouldest wéepe ( sayd he ) onlesse I were too angry . Plato ( being offended Plato . with a gluttonous & proud seruaunt ) called vnto him Speusippus his sisters sonne , saying to him , goe and whyp me this varlet , for I am accensed with anger . Hard and difficile these be some will say , and by no meanes imitable . So they be vndoubtedly I cannot deny . Wherfore must yongmen do their deuoire ( as much as lyeth in them ) to vse these examples of this carefull crue of surmounting lerned personages , as a glasse to loke vpon , and as pictures to behold , to qualifie and temper their vntemperate and raging ir● . For although ( concerning other things ) we be not to be resembled to them , neyther in long experience , vertue , honest lyfe , nor learning : Nathelesse it is our duetie ( as muche as we may ) to followe their footesteps , and in these things to imitate and counterfait them , as Prophets of the gods , interpretors of sacred things , and ( as it were ) the leaming lampes and flaming firebrandes of wisedome . To moderate the tong therefore and to kéepe it in , ( for of this as I purposed , must I speake ) if any thinke it a small or pernicious thing , he wandreth from the pathe of equitie , and is quite deceyued . For silence in due time is wisdome , and more excellent than all talke , * and sometime to holde thy peace doth bring farre more commoditie than to let thy tong go at randon , for perhaps we speake many things which may endamage our selues , and shortly vtterly vndo vs , but if we kéepe our tong within The tong vntimely ●●lking , oringeth many i●●ommod 〈…〉 . the wals of our téeth , we shall not be endangered . Euen as a Beare , ( while she is kept in hole ) wil hurt no man , but assone as she is let out from thence , ( while she rageth against them she méeteth ) doth hurt both hir self & other : so the tong as long as she is imprisoned within the fold & hedge of the téeth , it is harmlesse : but when she vnaduisedly leaueth the felde of the téethe , ( wherwith she is enuir●ned ) wil entangle both hir self & others with many euils . And for this ( as me semeth ) haue the men of old time constituted their sacred ceremonies , full of mysteries & secrecies , that men being accustomed in those diuine mysteries to hold their peace , might with like fear accustom themselues faithfully to kepe humane secrecie . The religious monks in old time ( I haue herd say ) wer wont among other vertues ( wherw t but few of them were indued among so populous a rablement ) to practise silence , that they might lern what & when they shuld speak , lest peraduenture with their vnaduised temeritie , they might endanger themselues in lothsom labirinths , & implunge others in deuouring gulfs . Paulus the monk by surname Simplex , when he asked Paulu● Monach●● . whither Christ was firster than the prophets . &c. being commaunded to lie vp in silence den his folish question , by that space of iii. yeres , durst speak neuer a word to any man ▪ so lerned he bi his silence , what things ought to be spoken , and not to be spoken . And it is noysed that Agatho the Abbot , How Agatho learned to hold his peace . putting daily a stone in his mouth , lerned to hold his peace , and for the space of thrée yeares obserued it , least when he would speake , he might not readely : for he had red in Salomons Prouerbes thus : qui custodit os suum , custodit animam suam : qui autem inconsideratu● est ad loquendum sentiet mala . ✚ Againe I neuer heard man say he repented for kéeping his tong , but Men haue repented speking , but none holding theyr peace . many I haue heard repenting for theyr talking and futilitie of their tongue . Besides this , it is an easie thing for a man to vtter , that he hath kept in , but a difficile thing , nay rather impossible , to cal again that he hath spoken , and rashly and vnaduisedly vttered . I remember I haue heard tell that innumerable , ( for the intemperancie of their tongue ) haue falne into gréeuous calamities , miseryes , misfortunes and discomfitures . Of the infinitie of the which , ( for examples sake ) I will recite one or two , relinquishyng the rest . When Philadelphus espoused nuptials wyth his owne sister Arsinoes , and one Solades sayde these wordes : 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . He was inforced Solades for his tongue rotted in pryson . in prisone , fettered in bondes and chaines , a long time to rotte and pine away , and payd the price for his vntymely loquacitie . For that he might be a laughing stocke and skorne to many , he long gréeued , lamented , and pitifully bewayled . Also Theocritus the Sophister spoke , Theocritus for his loquacitie was beheaded . and suffered things like to these , and a great deale more greuous . For when Alexander commaunded the Greekes to prepare them Purple garments , that ( when he returned ) he might solempnise the triumphe of the warlike exployts atchéeued against the Barbarians and his vassalles particularly , and man by man brought in their mony , before ( sayd he ) I douted , and now I euidently perceiue that this is thy purple deathe as Homer sayeth . From which time Alexander was euer his foe , and enemie . Also he gréeuously offended and irritated Antigonus king of the Macedonians , when he cast his blindnesse in his nose . For he commaunded Eutropion his maister Cooke ( whych was in a certain ordinarie empechement ) to come vnto him , to giue and take an accompt . And when the Cooke had often denounced these things to him , I know well ( said Theocritus ) that thou art about to set me raw before a one eyed king . And so to the one , the is to the king , he vpbraided his blindnesse , & to the Cooke he twited his euil cookery . Eutropion therfore sayd , thou shalt léese thy head , that thou maist worthely be punished for thy madnesse & dicacitie . When these were told to the king , he sent those which executed and cut off the hed of Theocritus . A due gained guerdon for the intemperancie of his leudly walking and clattering tong . Notwithstanding two times there be ( as Isocrates sayeth ) wherin it is There bee two tymes wher●● it is better too speake than to holde thy peace o● knowne things and neceslarie things . better to speake , than to vse silence . The one is , when occasion of talk is offered of the things thou knowest most plainely and perfitly . For to reson of vnknown things is a dishonest thing : wher on the contrary part , it is laudable to speake in time , of the things thou art perfect in . Gorgias Leontinus came to that temeritie , that he willed eche man to propound the question , which he wold haue canuased and discussed , and that he sodenly ( and ex tempore ) wold answer to euery poynt . Many he deceyued in this profession with his loquacitie . But this proud sophister , and hautie soyler of questions , sapient Socrates brought to that poynt , ( as the dialogue of Plato doth manifest , Gorgias Leontin●● was reproched of Socrates for his temeritie . which is intituled Gorgias ) that he knew not howe to define an Rhetorica which he professed . The same reproch sustained Protagoras , which ( in the dialogue of Plato which is called Protagoras ) did make his great vaunt , & too largely promised that he wold so frame the yongman Hippocrates ( if he wer committed to his tuting ) the daily he shuld conceiue wonderful increasings and augmentations of vertue . But when he was asked this question , ( an virtus doceri posset ) he had nothing to say : but sounded many trifeling toyes which made nothing for the purpose . Is not he a laughing stock to al men that reasons of that things he knoweth not ? now adays many vaunt themselues very leudly to be passing lerned men among the ignorant sort , & thunder out their boastes and gloriations , as though they were painfull students , and déepely lerned clarks , bolstring out with chaunting tongs , the names of Greke and Latin authors , to séeme in the iudgments of the vnlearned crewe , the pearlesse men in these dayes : when ( if he that is learned aske ) what is this author or that author , whom with their eloquent tongues and magnifical ( forsooth ) commendation they extoll and lift vp to the skies , or what matter they intreate vpon or discourse , then they be mute and not a worde for a thousand pounde . Thus many shame themselues , and great is the number of suche vnlettered bragging gallants , as experience sheweth . Therefore very merily & trimly Zeuxis admonyshed Megabizus Zeuxis almonition to Megabyzus . after this sort , that he should not rashly speake of the things he knew not . Megabizus in times past entred into Zeuxis shoppe , and with great commendations praised certain rudely and grossely painted pictures , with no art nor cunning polished , and blamed and dislyked others , which were very exquisitely wrought and finished : at whose follie Zeuxis seruaunts and boyes laughed , and Zeuxis sayde : O Megabyzus , while thou holdest thy peace , and kéepest silence , these boyes can but maruell at the beholding thy gay garments , costly roabes , & thy seruaunts which folowe thy traine , but when thou vtterest and speakest of the things which pertaine to this Arte , thou art a gibe and laughing stock vnto them . Beware therfore , and take héed of thy selfe by these , in whose sight thou dost praise these , and represse thy tong : and furthermore endeuer , that neuer thou rashely speake of those Artes that thou knowest not . The other time is , that thou mayest speake , and not kéepe silence , when talke of things ( necessarily to be spoken vpon ) is ministred . For if necessitie require thée to speake , to defend either thy selfe or thy frendes , it is a dishonest and vndecent thing to bée silent . But if no necessitie enforce thée to If necessitie enforce thee to speake , talke is better than silence . 〈◊〉 speake , it is better for thée to holde thy peace . Euen as it is the parte of a good man , to harme or hurt no man : but ( if contrary to Gods law and mannes lawe he be iniured of the wycked ) laudably taketh vp weapons , and defends himselfe . Likewise is that man accompted good , which seldome speaketh , vnlesse necessitie driue him to vse hys tongue . Zeno the Prince of the Stoikes was called wyth other Philosophers , ( by the Ambasiadors of Antigonus sent to Athens ) to a banket : and when euery one of them wel whittled with Pacchu barrels ) boasted vpon and shewed out his learning , Zeno helde his peace . But when the Legates asked him , what they should declare to Antigonus concerning him ? Hoc ipsum dixit quod vide 〈…〉 s euen this you sée : for the Zenot ' answer to the Legates of Antigonus . talke and tong of all other is hardest to be moderated and measured . Aelchines the scholler of Socrates , ( being reprehended for his silence , séeing he had so good Aeschines . and vertudus a master as Socrates ) sayd : Nonloqui solum a Socrate , sed etiam ●cere didici , I haue not only lerned of my master Socrates to speake , but to holde my pea●● . These kinde of talkes of things , which thou knowest , and when necessity constraineth , containeth many commodities , many vtilities , & bringeth great honestie . But otherwise great incommodities & harmes thou shalt reape , if thou temper thy tong to tattling and vntimely talking . Besides all these things , children must be accustomed to speake and tell Children must be fiamed to speake truthes . truthes , which is the best and most sacred thing of all : a seruile thing it is , & nothing decent , for a frée born man to lie & forge : which all men do abhorre and hate . And not in bondmen and seruaunts to be permitted . * Great enormities issue of thys Of lying flow many mischeeues . vile vice , and most detestable wyckednesse : from hence come periuries , fra●ds , deceits , violation & breaking of promisse and faith , and innumerable such horrible vices , which sow amongs men discords , debates , & deadly hatreds . When Demetrius Phalereus was asked of a certaine Demetrius Phalereus . man , what punishment liers were werthy of , he answered : vt ne dicentes quidem ●era , digm fide haberen●ur● therfore as it is the duetie of iustice , to kéepe truthe in déedes , sayings and tong : so is it the part of iniustice to lie : Lying greatly displeaseth God , and is odious to the societie of men . Aboue all things Parents must be carefull to roote out from their childrens tender breastes , this vgly monster , least it ouerthrowe and quyte depraue all the good qualities , and carefull erudition , which they from theyr infancie and youth haue trayned them in . And neuer more néede than now ought Parentes Lying was neuer more a flote than 〈◊〉 to looke to this . For it neuer so muche raigned as now . Al children almost haue learned to dash out loud lies , and not one amongs a hundred , but can inuent handsomly , and mainteine cunningly a lye , & with suche meanes and wayes , as it is a wonder to beholde : they are as perfite in their Arte , if they be but sixe yeares olde , as if they had gone twentie yere to schole to learne some good discipline . Where is the fault ? in parents that be so vncarefull to vertuously teach them , and while they be yong , to eradicate such growing euils . The parentes be more to be blamed , for in them is the remedy héereof . There be to many parentes ( the more is the pitie ) that are delighted in their children , that can handsomely frame a lie : and they them selues suche is the peruersitie of some ) teach them how to lay somtime the foundation therof . They count their children ioly boyes , if they once face a lie , sweare , stare , and tear God with othes . Such vngodly and vngratious parentes , shall not be vnpunished for such their information , if they do not in time séeke to recure thys pitifal sore and large vlcer , they can neuer come to goodnesse when in youth they tast so much of that lakes of lies and puddles of vntruthes . Neither euer will they be honest men , or estéemed in honest company for the author of lies is the hater of honesty , Sathan is the authoure of lying . truth , right and goodnesse . If any féele themselues giltie héerein , I meane them , let them séeke chéefely to abandon such a polluting euill , and infecting sore , from the hearts of their children : as for such as be godly , I thinke they knowe the enormities thereof well inough , and are carefull to wéede out suche euill swelling herbes from their childrens brestes . ✚ Hitherto Yong men ought no : to liue as they list and run at randon , but vnder a gouernor , the viewer of their studies , and honest informer of their manners . haue I spoken of the good institution , and right bringing vp of children , and of their behauior and decoration : now I thinke it conuenient to turne my talke to yongmen , and giue them some preceptes and good lessons . I haue often perceyned and found Parents to be the authors and only causes of naughtynesse and peruerse manners , which for theyr children haue prepared and appoynted masters , gouernors , tutors , and guides , but haue giuen the bridle at large to their yong men , and suffered them to liue as they list , and to vagè and runne at their pleasure : when contrarywise , they ought to haue greater care , and more vigilant respect to suche , than to theyr children . Who knoweth not that childrens faults and transgressions Yong men ought more narowly be loked to than children . be small and curable , perpetrated perhappes through the negligence of gouernors , and committed by disobedience ? But the trespasses and offences of yongmen , are oftentimes great , horrible , and The transgressions of yong men . miserable , as intemperate gluttonie , and rauening of the bellie , the expilation and robbing of their fathers goodes , cardes , diceplay , banketting , the lawlesse loue of virgins and women , the pollutings and corruptels of mariages . Wherfore it behoueth to tame , cohibite and represse the mindes of these with cares , diligence and sedulitie . For this age is prone to pleasures , wanton and vncircumspect , and néedeth a bridle . Therefore they ( whych defendor pamper this age ) doe open the window to offences , and giue them libertie , winking at their wickednesse . But wise parents ought chéefely at this time , to haue a diligent care of their yongmen , teaching them to be vigilant , modest , and sober with preceptes , lessons , menaces , obseruations , persuasions , promisses , and with the commemoration of those mennes example , which ( hauing pitched their tents in pleasures field ) haue cast themselues hedlongs into peremtorie perils , & casual calamities , and with rehersal of their examples , which with constancie , sufferance and abstinencie , haue got them passing pure praise , gay glory , and conuement commendation , for their worthinesse , curtesie , good behauior , courage , and valiance . For these two things are as it were ) the Principles and incitations of The hope of honor , and fear of punishment be the incitations to vertue . vertue , the hope of honor , and the feare of punishment . The one , that is the hope of honoure doth incite , and maketh couragious and hilarous to famous feates and excellent studyes : and the other , that is the feare of punyshment , draweth vs away from perpetrating filthynesse , and repelles vs from scelerous myschéeues . And first of all they ought to be banyshed the companie and conuersation of The acquaintarce and familiantie of wicked persons is to be elchued . flagitious and naughtie men : for wyth theyr malitious manners and beastly behauior , they are embroyned , infected , and tainted . Thys same commaunded prudent Pythagoras by his obscure and darke sayings , which muche auaile to the attaynement Pythagora ●nigmata . of vertue . As 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 : that is to say , vse not company with those men , whose leudnesse of manners , may spot , blemish , diffame , and dishonest thée . Againe , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , passe not the ballance , that is , doe nothyng against right and equitie . For the ballance in olde time , was accompted a signe of equitie , as an other prouerbe witnesseth , 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , iuster than the ballance , or as true as Stéele . 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . That is , flée idlenesse , eschue slonth , and prouide for things necessa●y against the morow . Again 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , desire not euery mans frendshippe , nor put thy selfe to euery mannes familiaritie , but choose , whome thou maist loue . And many suche like , as be left to our memorie by prudent Pythagoras , but I wil turn again to my former talke , from which I haue digressed . As I haue sayd before that Parentes ought to endeuoure them selues , and be circumspect , that theyr children auoyde and flée all wicked , leude , and vicious company : so likewise I thinke it most méete and conuenient , they be abandoned from fléering , flanting , and franticke flatterers . As I haue spoken it to many parents so now I dout not agayn to confirme it , There is nothing worse than the company of flatterers , chefly to yongmen that there is no kind of men more pernicious or worse , whiche more depraueth and sooner corrupteth tender age , and strangleth youth , than flatterers : whiche euen the fathers themselues , with their children most miserably infect , and search to the quicke : for olde hoare hearedmen by such gabbing Gnathoes , and pickthanke parasites , are afflicted and conuerted into luctuous heauinesse , and their children runne headlong into present destruction . * Euen as the olde serpent turned his blandiments , and sugry sweete words , to the perdition and ouerthrow of mankind , ( while he deceiued our first parents ) so flatterers with their gallant blandishing tong circumuent vs , and throw vs into a thousande miseries . ✚ They allure and entice yongmen to delicious plesure , wherwith the age is very gretly delighted . When their fathers exhort them to frugalitie , to modesty , and to sobriety , that hagard and sauage crue of caytife Ctesiphoes , prating Phormioes , and guilefull Getaes , impell them to drunkeanes and surfetting . When their The persuasion of parasites . parents moue them to temperance and continency , this rascall rout inuegle them to lasciuiousnesse and inordinate lustes : when their parents persuade them too bee sparing , laborious , and paynefull , this ragmannes roll drawe them from labours , to ydlenesse , slouth , and drousinesse , saying , that all our life is but a moment of time , and therfore ought they to liue , and not basely and obscurely spende the short time , defrauding pleasures : wherfore ought we to care for our fathers threats & many menaces ? he doteth through age , he is a neibour to the coffin , and a graue spirite , whiche very shortly we will lifte vp , and carry out a doores to his funerall farewell . And some of these makelesse marchantes draw them to baddes , & to other mens maried wiues , so that they robbe , spoyle , and pray vpon their fathers treasures , whiche be as a viandry and necessary prouision for their olde age . O execrable ennemyes too yong men , and wicked graffes , which while they fayne them selues hipocritically to bée fréends ) they vtter nothing fréely . They gape and wayte vppon riche men , and set not a straw by poore persons , and indigent men : marking what yong men doo , that ( when they that Si quis ait aio . Si quis negat , nogo . maynteyne them laughe ) they maye laughe also , as they whiche doo all things with a fayned and flattering mind . And when they turne them selues to the becke and boke of ryche men , by fortune they be frée , but in mynde bondeflaues . And althoughe they haue not beene affected with iniuries , yet notwithstanding they crye out , and piteously playne , that they be wrongfully intreated . And for this purpose , least not in vayne , and withoute a cause , they shoulde be thoughte to be nourished and maynteyned . Marcus tho rough parasites was corrupted .

* Commodus the sonne of Marcus the Emperour wold neuer haue so degenerated from his fathers vertues , & chosen a kinde of life more worthy a worseler or champion , than an Emperour , yf flatterers ( whom Constantinus the Emperour named rattes and mothes of the palace ) had not so corrupted him , and so haue throwen him headlong into that dishonest life . And therefore This saying some attribute to Diogenes . Antisthenes ( wel waying the great incommodities that come by flatterers ) was wont to say : It is farre better to fal amongs rauens than flatterers . For flatterers eate vp , and deuour quicke bodyes , and the rauens dead carkasses . ✚ Wherfore if any parents haue a care to haue their children well instructed and rightly brought vp , they must amoue and banish these pestiferous parasites , hellish hounds , and mischeuous monsters , and other vngracious felow scholers farre from the company and societie of their children : for these are able to euert and vtterly depraue , and coinquinate any méek natures good dispositions & pregnant wits . * Also parents must modestly adorne and decke Parents must modestly apparell their children . their children , and moue them by their exhortation or rather example , to despise riot and to much elegancie in apparell . For to gayne glory , and to require renoume by the superfluous elegancie of garments , is a dishonest thing , but to respect ( in euery thing , and in apparel ) decency is a glorious thing , and therby were men wont to be beautified with glories garlands . Euen as to ouerlade himselfe with to much wine , and to incurre the vice of ebrietie is great filthinesse to a man : so not to obserue measure in furnishing the body , is subiect to crime . One exhorted once Alphonsus The answer of Alphonsus to one that exotted him . to weare gay garments . king of Aragon to wear rial robes , and princely apparel ( for in aray he nothing differed from his vassals and subiects . ) But he gaue this worthy aunswere : Malo moribus & authoritate meos excellere , quàm diademate & purpura , I had lieuer surpasse my subiects in good behauiour , maiestie , and authoritie , than in crown and purple clothing . So Augustus Augustus Caesar hated excesse in apparell . Caesar the renowmed Romane , had in deadly hate the excesse of apparell : for this was he accustomed most grauely to say : gallaunt and trimme clothing is the banner of pride , and nest or lodging of luxurious lasciuiousnesse : and we by experience are taught , that euen in these dayes , they that be to curious in aray , and perillous braue fellowes , thinking better of themselues than any other , gimping in the stréets like gamesters , and manifesting themselues to the eyes & looks of people , are counted light persons , spendthriftes , riottous , proud , hautie , foolish , impudent , & of wise men more euilly thought of , & seuerely reprehended : A meane in al things is to be kept , which ( whosoeuer in his degree He that passeth the meane passeth honesties bonds . doth passe ) doth infringe the bonds of honesty . Diogenes ( when he saw a yongman delicately and effeminately appareled ) sayd : Non te pudet , qui peius tibi velis , qua ipsa natura voluit ▪ illa siquidem te virum esse voluit , tu vero teipsum ex vestitu mulie●e● facis , Art thou not ashamed to wish worse to thy selfe than nature hir selfe would ? she would haue thée to be a man , and thou makest thy self by thy aray , a woman . Grauely therfore saith Marius in Salust , Ex parente meo , & ex alijs sanct●s viris ita accepi , munditias mulieribus , ●iris laborem conuenire , I haue thus heard of my father , and of other holy men , that the curious clenlynesse and gandy garments are méete for women , and labour for men . Labour and studie must yong men be accustomed too , not to superfluous apparell , and curious decking of the body : they ought to refuse no payne , no toyle , no trauell , no iourney to attayne learning , and to haste to suche as may instruct them in vertue and lerning , whiche by sweat and labour must be atchieued , or else it will neuer be gotten . No iorney so long , no way so tedious Vertue and learning are by labour obtayned . ought to deterre a yongman , no payne ( though it be neuer so greeuous ) ought to holde him backe , from going to learned masters , persuading him selfe , that he shall so remunerate al his toyles so tedious and yrkesome , with more ample commodities , and larger gaynes within a little whyle . He must remember that Pythagoras the moste Pythagoras . perfect worke of wisedome ( from his youthe , entring into a desire of Philosophie , and all other good learning and honest vertues ) went into Aegipt ▪ where being trained in the lerning of that nation , searching out the commentaries of the priests of former age , knew the obseruations of innumerous worlds : thus he departing vnto the Persians , gaue him selfe to the exact wisedome of the Magi , to be fashioned and framed : of whom with great docilitie of minde , he learned the mouings and courses of the constellations , and propriety and effect of euery thing . Then sayled he to Crete and Lacedemone , ( whose manners and lawes when he had séene and grauen in minde ) he went to the games of Olympus Here is example for yongmen to follow that woulde be perfecte men , and in time to come , profitable members in the common weale . And not Pythagoras onely , but diuine Plato , leauing Plato . his owne countrey Athens , and his lerned wise master Socrates , a place and master most resplendent in learning and experience of things , ( béeing beautified with abundance of wit , and garnished with all good learning and sw●●tenesse of tongue before ) passed ouer ▪ Aegipt , where he learned of the Priests the manyfolde numbers of Geometry , and the obseruation of celestiall planets , and their influences . And at that time when yong men came flocking to Athens to séeke & heare their master Plato , he becam a scholer of the Aegiptian elders , passing the banks inexplicable of Nilus , the huge fields , the danrous dens and mountayns , and bowing circuites of riuers & lakes , no payne called him back , no trauell could abate his gréedy desire of lerning . These examples ought parents to set before their yongmen , to moue them to labour for good lerning , vertue , & honesty : we read that many noble yongmen , from the furthest coasts of Spayne and France , went once to Rome to Titus Liuius flowing with the swéet milky fountaine of eloquence : and now shall it yrke yongmen of these days to measure out , & run ouer a little way and short iorney , to learne the precious precepts of learning , of learned professours ? Whiche learning is as it were the staffe to a weake body , and vaindry to olde age . ●socrates admonished Isocrates . Demonicus , to spende the voyde tyme and vacant houres that were giuen him in hearing : not in vayne thinges , in studies ( whereof alwayes doe procéede the increase of learning , and augmentation of vertue ) as to heare learned men , to read their lucubrations , not in riot , in wantonnesse , in trifles and toyes . Plato oftentimes disputed , and when he sent away the company of the reasoners , he alwayes vled to admonish them thus : Videte ô adolescentes , vt etium in re quapram honesta collocetis , Take héede , O ye yongmen , and beware , that ye contrine and spende your leasured houres in some honest thing . What can be more honest than to heare ( if leysure permit ) men resplendent in arts , and to peruse the worthy works , and modest monuments of surpassing authors , in al good sciences : what more dishonest , than to wallow in ydlenes , to spend the time in dicing , carding , riot , drunkennesse , and other naughtie and pernicious exercises . I woulde olde Scipio his words were Scipio . written with golden letters , in the tables of yongmens hearts , who ( when he from mortall affayres gayned any leysure or vacant time , and was intentiue to lerning ) was wont to say : Se nunquam minus ot●osum esse , qua cum ot●osus : nec minus solum quam cum solus esset . So shal thei with out any vexation or gret toyle vnderstand those things , & be perfited in those sacred stiēces , which those lerned authors with vnspekable labour , toyle , & encombrous payn haue found out . But those yongmen which be dissolute , & refuse this institution , shall neuer be beautified with sciences , nor replenished with knowledge of good arts . What a benefite is it to enioy the lucubracions of famous learned men , out of which issues profites to vs , & labours redounded to them . These thinges therfore are honest & profitable , and ( if yongmen & parents be vigilant and laborous but to vew the same ) wil bring infinite commodities , both to themselues and other . ✚ And those things that now I wil speake vpon , are fraught with humanitie , Children must be kept in doing their dune rather with lenity and gerdenesle , than sharpnesse and importunity . & replete with curteous lenity . Neither do I counsel parents to be altother wayward , frowarde , peuish , harde , and by nature to sharp , sell , and seuere : but to winke at certayne faults of your yongmen , and to remitte and pardon their transgressions , remembring , that they themselues were once yong and faultie likewise . Euen as Phisitians do temper bitter drugs and medicines with sweete and dulcete sapours , that béeing concorporate and mixed with swetenes , and receiued of their pacients , may remedy and recure them : so it becommeth fathers and good parents to mixe the bitter rigour of their rebuks , and blustring blasts of their reprehension with méeknesse and lenitie , and to graunt sometime vnto the lustes of their children , and to pardon their offences But yf it pleaseth not them so to doo , fathers may be angry , but soone they ought to quell and quenche it : for it is a great deale better for a time to be wrathfull , than long to be angry . For the continuall abyding in anger , and the harde reconcilement of fauour is a great signe , and manifest token of a minde alienated from children , and hatefull towards them . And also it is decent for parents , that they fayne themselues to conceale some of their childrens faults . For the incommodities of sighte and hearing , ( that is blindnesse and deafnesse which Parents must sometime conceale their childrens faults . follow olde age ) ( as it were ) not to sée certayn things which they see their children do , nor to heare certaine things which they heare . Séeing we wincke at , and suffer our frendes faultes , what maruell is it yf we tolerate the same in our children : & oftentimes we haue not rebuked and reproued our seruants rioting and surfetting . Yf thou sometime wouldest haue him liue sparingly and hardly , other sometime minister vnto him costes liberally : yf thou hast bene angry with him at any time , pardon him agayne : yf at any time he had deceyued thée through thy seruants , refrayne thy anger , if he shall take out of thy field a yoke of oxen , remit him : yf he at any time come exhaling the surfet and drunkennesse the night before receaued , agnize it not , do as thou knewest it not : yf he smell of his odoriferous waters , and siuet powders , make no wordes of it , knowe it not : and by this way may lasciuious youth , and wanton be tamed , ordered , and restrayned . And parents must endeuour to prepare them wiues , which can not resiste vayne pleasures , nor abide bitter rebukes , when they At what time yongmen must be giuen to mariage , & what wiues must be chosen for them . heare of their faults . For matrimony is the most firme bond , and sure bridle of lasciuious and wanton youth . And such wiues muste be matched and coupled with them , which neither in stocke nor substaunce surpasse them : it is a wise part to choose a wife that is his equall , like in all respects : for they whiche espouse wiues which be better than them selues , they are not the husbands of their wiues , they rule not their wiues , but are made their seruants , for their higher bloud and richer dowrie sake . But to draw to an end , and to leaue off this giuing of precepts , before all other things it is requisite and moste necessarye , that parents liue an inculpable life , in nothing Parents must be a liuely paterne and as a glade of vertues , to their yongmen and children of honest life . offending , and do those things only whiche be honest , iust and lawfull : And to shew them selues a lyuely and manyfest example to their children , that beholding their honest and modest lyues , as in a glasse , may shunne the woorks and woords which be dishonest , fylthie and vnlawfull . For parents , whiche ( when they reproue their childrens faultes and vyces ) are filed with the same vyces themselues : whiles they accuse their children , they séeme to insimulate and accuse themselues . And they which leading a scelerous life , haue no libertie to rebuke their bondeslaues , much lesse their children . Moreouer they be the mouers and counsaylers to their children of vicious vices , and foule faultes : for when old men and parents passe the pathes of pudicitie , & leape ouer the limits of shamefastnesse , there must it of necessitie be , that the yonger sorte and their children be moste impudent . * I would to God there were no sucke parents in this land , then should there be more vertuous impes than there be . I feare me the number is very great , and the more to be pitied . But godly parents must carefully practise , and exercise all things whatsoeuer apertaine to temperance , & may draw their children to honesty , and sobrietie : imitating Euridices , which although she was an 〈◊〉 born , and most barbarous , notwithstanding for hir childrens discipline and institution in the last time of hir age , addicted hir selfe wholly to learnyng , and laborously trayned in paynefull studies . Whiche Euridices howe intierely she loued hir children , this Epigramm● ( whiche she dedicated to the muses ) doth manyfestly declare :

〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 . Euridices . Euridices the learned dame and holy citizen , for loue Oflearnings lore , this taske did frame vnto the Muses nynes behoue : For when hir children grew to men , and passed from their childs estate , She laboured to learne ( as then a mother and a spoused mate ) Good artes , euen for their only cause , and monuments of fyled speach , Of eloquence , and ciuill lawes , that she hir children then might teach .

O that there were many suche mothers as Eurydices or but a few like fathers to the zealous minde of this surmountyng woman . What mother at this day wold take such paine , what parent wold so consume hir selfe with studie for their childrens erudition , though they loue theyr children well , and desire to haue them learned , but they séeke not the way ? No not the father , which were the fittest for such a purpose . A rare Phaenix was Eurydices , whose example if any wold folow , then should they vndoubtedly haue suche vertuous sonnes as Eurydices had . Therfore The epiloge of the translator . to imbrace all these our institutions and wholsome preceptes , is rather the work of prayer than of admonition : how be it , it is no small felicitie & industrie to follow many of them . Let all true parents which desire to bring vp their children vertuously ) trie and proue how muche it It muche auaileth to imbrace these preceptes . auaileth to folow these precepts : no hard matter , it passeth not that power nor reache of man . If they be diligent , if they be careful , if they be vigilant in the good instruction of their children , let them imbrace these precepts , folow them , practise them , and vndoutedly they shall be worthis Parents , and haue vertuous , godly , honest , modest , discrete and painful children , endued with all good qualities , and adorned with all ciuil behauior and good conditions , They shall haue at last the guerdon of theyr trauell , they shall haue the hire of their paine , and reward of theyr diligence . When they are olde , and run ouer many a yeare , the vertues which they espie in their well instructed children , shall prolong their dayes , and comfort theyr heartes wyth great delight .

Héere let Parentes learne to be Parents , Lessons for Parentes . and in the pruning of their yeares looke diligently to the good education of theyr children . For those children which in the beginning be well nurtered , instructed and brought vp , and whose foundation of good education is well and vertuously layd , shall easily vnderstand and folow the other things , which flow from the beginning . But what chylde soeuer is not taught to knowe the principles of good institution , shal be ignorant in al the other duties of life , which flow from the beginnings . He that is seasoned with the wholesome precepts of adolescencie , and after them exerciseth the course of hys lyfe , he shall after wardes easily vnderstand and perceyue , what rules may be anornament and furniture to all the folowing ages . Ioseph in his childehode Ioseph . and adolescencie , was so taught the scare of God , and so geuerned bothe those two ages , according to the feare of God , that when he was well stroken in yeares , he also knewe what dueties were decent and most méete for an olde mannes grauitie . Therefore as his childehode and adolescencie , so also was his olde age famous and passing in those dueties , which euery age requireth . Semblably , whosoeuer shall honestly direct his youth , stall be able to lead the action of his manhode and olde age most orderly , decently , and plausibly . Be which in his youthe shall followe temperance , and learne what conuenient meates and potions , and other good exercises are to be offered to thys age , shall knowe what order of lyuing he ought to vse when he is a man , and an olde man : and what duetyes he ought to practise . So that parents in the beginning must be careful for this , if they will be parents of good children . Yet not with standing I know if they do all these things and practise all these fruteful lessons , yet shal they hardly ouercome , and vtterly eradicate the naughtinesse and prauitie of humane nature . Humane nature is corrupt For our nature by that fall of our first Parentes was so depraued and corrupted , and hidden vnder the vaile of al vices , so that it can hardly be made sound ( vices being abandoned ) although thou leauest nothing vndon , and no wayes & precepts vntride in the good and true education of thy child . But if that fault and crime had not so imbroyned and defiled vs ( the issue of our first parentes ) and also had not oblitterated and obscured in vs that fotesteps of vertue , peraduenture we myght haue with greater facilitie bene called againe to the path of vertue , in it to perseuer . Euen as the Esopicall fable admonysheth , The fable of Esope or the yong man and cat doth resemble mannes nature . so standeth humane state , although there be neuer so much labor , trauel and pame exhausted and consumed in our education and institution . A certaine Cat ( sayth Esope ) was the only delight of a certayne yongman : which yongman desired Venus to change hir into a woman : the goddesse pitiyng the desire of the yongman , conuerted hir into a beutifull woman : with whose beuty the yong man accensed and enflamed , caried hir with him home , and when they wer set togither in a chamber , Venus desirous to proue whither the cat had altred with hir body hir maners , sent a mouse into the middest of the chamber : but she ( hauing forgotten those that wer present , and hir nuptialles , rifing vp ) ranne after the mouse , desirous to catch hir & eate hir : so man howsoeuer he be trayned vp in vertue , can neuer so belche oute the olde poyson and venim of vices , that ( when occasion is ministred and offered ) he feleth not the prickings of vices , If a man bee neuer so ver●o●slye brought vp , yet be not the instigations of vice extinguished in him . and is not enflamed to syn , of this we may take the Iudaicall people for a manifest example , so intierly beloued of the Lord , who although they had receiued fathers , lawes grace fauor , a land flowing with milke and honey , and infinite other benefits of the Lorde , and were subiect to many punishments , could not bée brought to forget their corupt nature , and aspire into a new man , in whom Adam was dead , and Christ liued . They always desired to go againe into Egipt , and ( neglecting the worshipping of the lord ) toke againe the most vaine superstitions of the Gentiles . The Bethlemeticall king and Prophet Dauid , although God thought King Dauid fell through natures corraption . and spoke of him honorably for his godlinesse and pietie , notwithstanding , ( although he was excellently brought vp , & instructed in gods law ) he could not take heed to himself , but fel into most filthie & detestable adultrie , which he impiously incresed by the slaughter of the stout man Vrias , not deseruing the same . What speake I vpon Dauid ? Not Noah ( whom Noah committed incest God spared , when all other almost perished in the deluge and inundation ) could so warely walke before the Lord , but he committed incest , and not with incest alone , but with drnkennesse polluted he himselfe . Samuel in other things a godly Samuell was negligent in the bringing vp of his children , and rebuked of the Lord. and iust man , notwithstanding he could not take heede but fel into that crime , which to parentes bringeth great reproche and infamie . He was blamed and rebuked bicause he instructed not his children in the Artes , erudition , and learning of the countrey . And to come to Prophane examples , what shall we say of Aristotle that péerelesse Prince of Philosophers ? Aristotle . He could not conquere his corrupt nature , ( although without all controuersie he ascended the top , and scaled the fort of Philosophie ) but fell into the moste filthy loue of a woman , which enforced him like a brute beast to take the brydle in hys mouth , and like a horse to cary a weman vpon his backe . What is filthyer than this , or of a Philosopher what can be fouler spoken . Although ther be some , ( which otherwise expound thys , and referre all things to the nature of things ) which would deliuer him from this infamous reproche , vndecent in a Philosopher . Demosthenes also the Prince of Oratoures , the eloquentest man that demosthenes euer spoke wyth Greekish tong , ( whose Orations fraught with fleudes of Elequence , doe declare the singular granitie of the man , and shewe forth his seuere authoritie ) could not dissemble nor conceale the vice of hys corrupt nature . As the receipt of the monie craued by him of the Miletians to holde his peace , do manifestly purtray , who for the greate sum of money receyued , when he should make his oration against the Miletians comming to Athens , to craue help , came forth among the people ( hauing his necke rolled about with wolle ) and sayd 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , so that he could not speake against the Miletians : then one amongs the people exclamed , that it was not 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 , but 〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 that Demosthenes suffered . And Demosthenes himselfe afterwarde concealed it not , but for a glory assigned to himselfe : for when he ashed Aristodemus the actor of plaies , how much he had taken to play , and Aristodemus answered a talent : but ( sayth Demosthenes ) I haue taken more for to kepe my tong & holde my peace . Cicero the beautie of Rome , and ornament of Italie no lesse excellent C 〈…〉 o. Latin Orator , and famous Philosopher , ( although he was most expert in pleding causes , and beutified and adorned withal the preceptes of Philosophie , as one who had traueld through all learned Gréekish writers , & exenterated the bowels of Philosophie , hindred by his corrupt nature ) could not obey nature , if we beleue Salust his inuectiues against him : which no man wil iudge altogither false , who so euer with equall minde and right iudgement shall read them and iudge of them . The mightie Monarche and puissant Prince Alexander the great , had the eximious teacher of youthe , and best learned scholemaster Aristotle his instructor : He although in all his sayings and déedes ( an ambitious Prince you will say ) did set glory before him ( as the end ) & detested infamie . Notwithstanding , he could not so brydle and tame his nature , but sometime did very filthily , as he may sée , whosoeuer considereth his luxurious riot , ( to which he filthily fel ) after he had conquered the Persian Prince Darius , and other things also , which they impute to him , which hath blased forth , and eternised ( by their writings ) his gestes and worthy exploites . Therfore hath Horace rightly said .

Naturam expellas furca , tamen vsque recurrit . If nature thou abandonest , and dost with forke expell , Nath'lesse it will returne againe , As Horace doth thee tell . And as the common prouerbe sayth , that we by nature haue , Will sticke by vs , it will not thence , till we be layd in graue .

And prudent Pyndarus hath told vs , that neither the subtile and craftie Fore , nor strong and cruel Lion , can change their natiue inclination & nature : for although mannes labor may tame a Lion : yet he turnes to his natural feritie & wildnesse . And a for doth not forget his natiue craft and fraudulent disposition , although he be made gentle , tame & tractable . Therfore as the same Pindarus sayeth , it is a very hard thing to alter nature . Séeing these things be so , and that the nature of man is corrupt , let not parents yet neglect to doe their dueties , but labor with all their power , to preuent the corruption of nature as muche as they may , which must only be by good education , holsome precepts & diligent awe , that when their children grow to mannes estate , they may be a ioy to their parents , a profit to them selues , and great ornaments to the common weale .

FINIS .