lacking a skilfull master, most commonlie, doth either, sinck it selfe vpon sandes, or breake it selfe vpon rockes. And euen so, Vaine plea- // how manie haue bene, either drowned in vaine sure, and // pleasure, or ouerwhelmed by stout wilfulnesse, stoute wil- // the histories of England be able to affourde ouer fulnes, two // many examples vnto vs. Therfore, ye great and greatest // noble mens children, if ye will haue rightfullie enemies to // that praise, and enioie surelie that place, which Nobilitie. // your fathers haue, and elders had, and left vnto you, ye must kepe it, as they gat it, and that is, by the onelie waie, of vertue, wisedome, and worthinesse. For wisedom, and vertue, there be manie faire examples in this Court, for yong Ientlemen to folow. But they be, like faire markes in the feild, out of a mans reach, to far of, to shote at well. The best and worthiest men, in deede, be somtimes seen, but seldom taulked withall: A yong Ientleman, may somtime knele to their person, smallie vse their companie, for their better instruction. But yong Ientlemen ar faïne commonlie to do in the Court, as yong Archers do in the feild: that is take soch markes, as be Ill compa- // nie them, although they be neuer so foule to nie marreth // shote at. I meene, they be driuen to kepe youth. // companie with the worste: and what force ill companie hath, to corrupt good wittes, the wisest men know best. And not ill companie onelie, but the ill opinion also of the The Court // most part, doth moch harme, and namelie of iudgeth // those, which shold be wise in the trewe de- worst of the // cyphring, of the good disposition of nature, of best natures // cumlinesse in Courtlie maners, and all right in youth. // doinges of men. But error and phantasie, do commonlie occupie, the place of troth and iudgement. For, if a yong ientleman, be demeure and still of nature, they say, he is simple and lacketh witte: if he be bashefull, and will soone blushe, they call him a babishe _Xen. in_ 1. // and ill brought vp thyng, when _Xenophon_ doth _Cyr. Pæd._ // preciselie note in _Cyrus_, that his bashfulnes in youth, was y^e verie trewe signe of his vertue & The Grace // stoutnes after: If he be innocent and ignorant of in Courte. // ill, they say, he is rude, and hath no grace, so _the brynging vp of youth._ 207