4. The last _conference_ I appoint to be betwene those of the same professions, whereby the generall traine is generally furthered. For whersoeuer any subiect is to be dealt in by many, is not the dealers _conference_ the meane to perfit dealing? and to haue that subiect absolutely well done, which it selfe is subiect to so many doers? Is either the patient any worse if the _Physitians_ conferre, or their facultie baser by their being togither? is not the case still clearer, where there is _conference_ in law? is not the church the purer were _conference_ is in proufe? and doth not the contrarie in all do much harme in all? And do ye thinke _that_ conference among teachers would not do much good in the traine? or is the thing either for moment so meane, or for number so naked, as it may not seeme worthy to be considered vpon? Or can there any one, or but some few, be he or they neuer so cunning, discerne so exactly, as a number can in common _conference_? do not common companies which professe no learning, both allow it, and proue it, and finde it to be profitable? where it is vsed among teachers for the common good, it profiteth generally by sending abroad some common direction. In places where many schooles be within small compasse, it is very needefull to worke present good, and to helpe one another, where all may haue enough to bestow their labour on.
But this _conference_, and that not in _teachers_ alone must be builded vpon the _honest care_ of the _publike good_, without _respect_ of _priuate gaine_: without _sting_ of _emulation_: without _gaule_ of _disdaine_: which be and haue bene great enemies to conference: great hinderers to good schooling: nay extreame miners in cases aboue schooling, and yet for the footing of that, which must after proue fairest, good schooling is no small onset. I neede not to rip vp the position to them, that be learned, which know what a mischiefe the misse of _conference_ is, where it ought to be of force, and is shouldered out by distempered fantsie. He that can iudge, knoweth the force of this argument, which followeth: “where many illes seeke to chooke one good, which themselues were displaced, if that good tooke place: that good must needes be a great one, and worthy the wishing, that it may procure passage.” Of _conference_ I must needes say this, that it is the cognisance of humanitie, and that of the best humanitie, being vsed for the best causes that concerne humanitie, and all humaine societie. I dare enter no deeper in this so great a good: but certainely in matters of learning there would be more _conference_, euen of verie conscience. And if that honest desire might bring downe great hart, the honorable effect would bring vp great good, in all trades beyond crie, in our traine beyond credit. In matters of engrosing, and _monopoleis_, in matters of forestauling and intercepting there is dealing by _conference_ among the dealers, which we all crie out of, bycause it makes vs crie, in our purses. And yet we are slow to trie that in the good, which proues so strong in the ill, and was first pointed for good. I vse no authorities to proue in these cases, where reason her selfe is in place, and standeth not in neede of alleaging of names, bycause she may well spare her owne retinew, where her hoste himselfe doth tender his owne seruice.