knowledge of Christes true Religion, I counte this the greatest, that it pleased God to call me, to be one poore minister in settyng forward these excellent giftes of learnyng in this most excellent Prince. Whose onely example, if the rest of our Ill Exam- // nobilitie would folow, than might England be, ples haue // for learnyng and wisedome in nobilitie, a spectacle more force, // to all the world beside. But see the mishap of then good // men: The best examples haue neuer such forse examples. // to moue to any goodnes, as the bad, vaine, light and fond, haue to all ilnes. And one example, though out of the compas of learning, yet not out of the order of good maners, was notable in this Courte, not fullie xxiiij. yeares a go, when all the actes of Parlament, many good Proclamations, diuerse strait commanude- mentes, sore punishment openlie, speciall regarde priuatelie, cold not do so moch to take away one misorder, as the example of one big one of this Courte did, still to kepe vp the same: The memorie whereof, doth yet remaine, in a common prouerbe of Birching lane. Take hede therfore, ye great ones in y^e Court, yea though Great men // ye be y^e greatest of all, take hede, what ye do, in Court, // take hede how ye liue. For as you great ones by their // vse to do, so all meane men loue to do. You be example, // in deed, makers or marrers, of all mens maners make or // within the Realme. For though God hath placed marre, all // yow, to be cheife in making of lawes, to beare other mens // greatest authoritie, to commaund all others: yet maners. // God doth order, that all your lawes, all your authoritie, all your commaundementes, do not halfe so moch with meane men, as Example // doth your example and maner of liuinge. And in Religion. // for example euen in the greatest matter, if yow your selues do serue God gladlie and orderlie for conscience sake, not coldlie, and somtyme for maner sake, you carie all the Courte with yow, and the whole Realme beside, earnestlie and orderlie to do the same. If yow do otherwise, yow be the onelie authors, of all misorders in Religion, not onelie to the Courte, but to all England beside. Infinite shall be made cold in Religion by your example, that neuer were hurt by reading of bookes. And in meaner matters, if three or foure great ones in _the brynging vp of youth._ 221