It might seeme sufficient for the determining of this case to say onely thus much: that they must needes be boyes which are to be trayned in this sorte, as I haue declared, bycause the bringing vp of young maidens in any kynd of learning, is but an accessory by the waye. But for so much as there be many considerations in the persons, both of boyes and maidens worthy the deciding, I meane to entreat of them both somwhat largely: and as neare as I can, to resolue both my selfe and my reader in some pointes of controuersie and necessitie, or rather in some pointes of apparent necessities, being out of all controuersie. For the male side, that doubt is long ago out of doubt, that they be to be set to schoole, to qualifie themselues, to learne how to be religious and louing, how to gouerne and obey, how to fore cast and preuent, how to defende and assaile, and in short, how to performe that excellently by labour, wherunto they are borne but rudely by nature. For the very excellency of executions and effectes where by we do so great things, as we vonder at our selues in all histories and recordes of time, (which be but stages for people to gase on, and one to maruell at an others doings) testifieth and confirmeth that it were great pitie, that such towardnesse should be drowned in vs for lacke of education, which neuer comes to proofe, but where education is the meane. That we can proue learned, the effect doth shew, but that not vnlesse we learne, the defect declares. That our bodies can do great thinges, healthfull strength is witnesse to it selfe: but where weaknesse is, what doinges there be, verie want will pronounce. But now in the way of this so commended a traine, there be two great doubtes which crosse me. 1. The first is, whether all children be to be set to schoole, without restraint to diminish the number. 2. The second is, how to worke restraint, if it be thought needefull. Touching the first question, whether all children be to be set to schoole or no, without repressing the infinitie of multitude, it is a matter of great weight, and not only in knowledge to be resolued vpon, but also in deede so to be executed, as the resolution shall probably giue sentence. For the bodie of a common weale in proportion is like vnto a naturall bodie. In a naturall bodie, if any one parte be to great, or to small, besides the eye sore it is mother to some euill by the verie misfourming, wherupon great distemperature must needes follow in time, and disquiet the whole bodie. And in a bodie politike if the like proportion be not kept in all partes, the like disturbance will crepe thorough out all partes. Some by to much will seeke to bite to sore, some by to litle will be trode on to much: as both will distemper: which if it fortune not to kill in the ende, yet it will disquiet where it greiues, and hast forward the ende. But though the pestering of number do ouerlaie the most professions and partes of any common weale, and harme there where it doth so ouercharge, yet I will not medle with any, but this of learning and the learner, which I haue chosen to be my peculiar subiect. Wherof I saye thus, that to many learned be to burdenous, that to few be to bare, that wittes well sorted be most ciuill, that the same misplaced be most vnquiet and seditious.
To many learned.
1. To many burdens any state to farre: for want of prouision. For the rowmes which are to be supplyed by learning being within number, if they that are to supply them, grow on beyound number how can yt be but too great a burden for any state to beare? To haue so many gaping for preferment, as no goulfe hath stoore enough to suffise, and to let them rome helpeles, whom nothing else can helpe, how can it be but that such shifters must needes shake the verie strongest piller in that state where they liue, and loyter without liuing? which needeles superfluitie fleeting without seat, what ill can it but breede? A dangerous residence it is at hoome, still seeking shiftes to liue as they may, though with enemitie to order, which neede cannot see. A perilous searcher it is abroode, to seeke to fish in a troubled water, if any cause promote their quarrell, bycause the cleare is not for them, which they haue sounded allready. Sure neede is an imperious mistres to force conclusions, whether shee build vpon fantsie and desire, which is a maniheaded neede, euen before neede, and mostwhat without neede: or vpon meere lacke and want in deede, which though it haue but one head, yet that one is exceeding strong, importunate, and furiouse. And shee hath at hand to salue her mischiefes, a ready and an ordinarie excuse, wherewith she will seeme to craue pardon for all that is done by needy men, as there vnto enforced by her ineuitable violence. A violent remedy, which doth not heale infections, but will alleage cause, where to haue mischiefes excused and foregiuen.
Wherfore if these mens misdemeanour come of their owne ill, which prouision cannot preuent, bycause in best prouision ill will be ill, so farre as it dare shew, where wealth workes wantonnes, it deserues correction and punishment. If it come of necessitie, for want of foresight in publike gouernment, to helpe the common, from common blame, and to prouide for the priuate: it would be amended and not suffered to runne, till the harme being receiued and felt, cause the question be moued, whether such a mischiefe proceede from priuate insolence, or publike negligence. For as the priuate is to pay, if it do not performe, when the publike hath prouided: so the publike must pardon, if for insufficient foresight, the priuate proue dissolute, and lend the state a blow. But for my number I neede not to dwell any longer in to many, for troubling all with to many wordes, seeing all wise men see, and all learned men say, that it is most necessary to disburden a common weale of vnnecessary number, and multitude in generall, which in some countries they compassed by brothelry, and common stewes, to let the yong spring: in some by exposition and spoile of enfantes, both contrary to nature, and countermaunded by religion: but according to their pollicie and commaunded by their countries. In particular disposing of them that liued, they cast their account, and as the proportion of their states did suffer: so did they allote them with choice, and constrained them to obey. If such regard for multitude be to be had in any one braunche of the common weale, it is most needefull in schollers. For they professe learning, that is to say the soule of a state: and it is to perilous to haue the soule of a state to be troubled with their soules, that is necessary learning with vnnecessary learners, or the publike body with their priuate, which is the common wealth with their priuate want. For in all proportion, to much is to bad, and to much out of all proportion, and to haue to much euen of the soule, is not the soundest, where her offices be appointed and lymited in certaine. Superfluitie and residence bring sickenes to the body, and must not to much then infect the soule sore, being in a sympathie with the body? Scholers by reason of their conceit which learning inflameth, as no meane authority saith,[53] become to imperiall to rest upon a litle: and by their kinde of life which is allway idle they proue to disdainefull to deale with labour, vnlesse neede make them trot, or the Turkish captiuitie catch them, the greatest foe that can fall vpon idle people, where labour is looked for, and they not vsed to it. Contentment in aspiring, which is hard to such wittes, and patience in paines which they neuer learned, be the two cognisances, whereby to discerne a ciuill wit, and fit to enioye the benefit of his countrie. Now of all ouerflush in number, is not that most dangerous, which in conceit is loftie, and in life loytering, as the vnbestowed scoller by profession is?
To few learned.
To few be to bare and naked: bycause necessities must be supplyed, and that by the fittest. For whereas the defect of the fit enforceth supplement of the lookers on, though not the most likely, but whosoeuer they be, without further respect, then that they stand by, bycause neede bides no choyce where there is no pluralitie, and yet biddes pluralitie make choyce: there the vnsufficient seruice of necessarie seruices breedes much miscontentment, and more shaking to any state. And that chiefly in such pointes, as the state embraseth, and the feeble minister doth nothing but deface. So that the defeat of the generall purpose must be most imputed to the bare defect of insufficient persons. For as to many bringes surfettes, so to few breedes consumptions.
Wittes well sorted.
3. Wittes well sorted be most ciuill: This I say bycause to auoyd excessiue number, choice is one principall helpe: for in admitting to vses onely such as be fit, and seeme to be made for them, pares of the vnfit, and lesseneth the number, which yet would be lookt vnto, euen at the verie first. For euen he that is thought most vnfit, and is so in deede, yet will grieue at repulse, vnles ye repell him by preuention, ear he come to the sense and judgement to discerne what a heauie thing a flat repulse is. Which miscontentment if it range in a number, cannot be without daunger to the common body. As to the contrarie such wittes as be placed where the place needes them more then they the place, do performe with sufficiencie, and proceede with contentment of the state that enstawled them. The chiefe signes of ciuilitie be quietnesse, concord, agrement, fellowship and friendship, which likenesse doth lincke, vnliknesse, vndoeth: fitnesse maketh fast, vnfitnesse doth loose: proprietie beares vp, improprietie pulleth downe: right matching makes, mismatching marres. How then can ciuill societie be preserued, where wittes of vnfit humours for seruice, are in places of seruice, by appointment, either vnaduisedly made, or aduisedly marred. Is there any picture so ill fauoured, being compound of incompatible natures, as an execution is, being committed to a contrarie constitution? If fire be to enflame, and cause thinges burne, where water should coole, and be meane to quench, is the place not in danger? If that wit fall to preach, which were fitter for the plough, and he to clime a pulpit, which is made to scale a walle, is not a good carter ill lost, and a good souldier ill placed? If he will needes lawe it, which careth for no lawe, and professe iustice that professeth no right, hath not right an ill caruer, and iustice a worse maister? If he will deale with physicke whose braines can not beare the infinite circumstances which belong thereunto, whether to maintaine health, or to restore it: doth he any thing else, but seeke to hasten death, for helping the disease? to make way to murther, in steede of amendement? to be a butchars prentice for a maister in physike? And so is it in all kindes of life, in all trades of liuing, where fitnes and right placing of wittes doth worke agreement and ease, vnfitnes and misplacing haue the contrarie companions, disagreement and disease.
Wittes misplaced.
4. Againe wittes misplaced most vnquiet and seditious: as any thing else strayned against nature: light thinges prease vpward, and will ye force Fire downe? Heauie thinges beare downeward: and will ye haue Leade to leape vp? An imperiall witte for want of education and abilitie, being placed in a meane calling will trouble the whole companie, if he haue not his will, as winde in the stomacke: and if he haue his will, then shall ye see what his naturall did shoote at. He that beareth a tankarde by meanesse of degree, and was borne for a cokhorse by sharpenes of witte, will keepe a canuase at the Conduites, tyll he be Maister of his companie. Such a stirring thing it is to haue wittes misplaced, and their degrees mislotted by the iniquitie of Fortune, which the equitie of nature did seeme to meane vnto them.