But concerning scholes, and such particularities, as belong thereunto I will then deale, when I shall take in hand the peculiar argumentes, of schooles and schooling, both for the elementarie and the grammarian. Wherein we are no lesse troubled with number and confusion in our petie kingdomes, then the verie common weale is molested with the same in greater yeares, and larger scope.
But bycause it were not orderly delt, to rip the faultes, and not to heale them, I wil post all these pointes ouer to their owne treatises, in my particuler discourses hereafter, where I will presently helpe, whatsoeuer I shall blame. The other meanes wherby choice lesseneth number, be admissions into colleges, prefermentes to degrees, aduauncement vnto liuings, wherein the common weale receiueth the greater blow, the nearer these thinges be to publike execution, and therefore the playner dealing to preuent mischiefe before it infect, is the more praiseworthy.
As concerning _colleges_ I do not thinke the liuinges in them to be peculiar, or of purpose ment to the poorer sort onely, whose want that small helpe could neuer suffice, though there be some prerogatiue reserued vnto them, in consideration of some great towardnes, which might otherwise be trod down, and that way is held vp: but that they be simply preferments for learning, and auauncementes to vertue, as wel in the wealthy for reward of wel doing, as in the poorer for necessarie support. And therefore as I giue _admission_ scope to chuse of both the sortes, so I do restraine it to honest and ciuill towardnes. For if fauour and friendship not for these furnitures, but for priuate respectes, carie away elections though with some enterlarding of towardnes and learning, and some few to giue countenaunce to some equitie of choice, and theerby to maintaine the credit of such places, surely the scholers and heades which deuised the sleight, and conceiued they were not seene, shall repent without recouerie, and finde themselues bound, and their colleges bowelled, when they shal fele themselues ouerruled by their owne deuise: bycause such as come in so, will communicate the like with others, and neuer care for the common, which were helpt by the priuate. For where fauour bringes in almost in despite of order, there must fauour be returned with meruelous disorder, and yet I do not mislike fauour, which helpeth desert, which otherwise might be foiled, if fauour friended not. But when the ground wherupon fauour buildes is not so commendable, _founders_ be discouraged, common _prouision_ supplanted, _learning_ set ouer to _loytering_, _brauerie_ made enheritour to _bookes_. Stirringe wittes haue their will for the time, and repentance at leasure. The fault hereof commeth from scholers themselues, which first make way to sinister meanes, and afterward blame, the verie meane which they vsed themselues. For finding some ease at first in working their owne will, either more cunningly to hide some indirect dealing, or more subtilly to supplant some contrary faction: or in deede desiring rather by commaundement to force, and so to seeme somebodie, then of dutie to entreat, and so seeme abiect to honestie: they stumble at the last vpon the blocke of bondage, being bridled of their owne will, euen when they are in ruffe, by the selfe same meanes, which brought them vnto it, and thought so to staule them, as themselues would commaund where they caused the speed. These fellowes be like to _Horaces_ horse, which to ouercome the stag, vsed man for his meane once, and his maister alway: neither refusing the saddle on his ridg, to be rid on, nether the bit in his mouth, to be bridled by. A braue victory so dearely bought, to the victours bondage, and perpetuall slauerie. Whereas if learning and those conditions which I did lymit to a ciuill wit in this state, were the end in elections, the vnfit should be set ouer to some other course, in conuenient time: the fittest should be chosen, the founders mynde fulfilled: some periurie for non perfourmaunce of statutes auoided: new _patrones_ procured, _religion_ auaunced, good studentes encouraged, and fauour vpon extreame and importunate sute disfranchised: which neuer will oppose it selfe to so honest considerations, so constantly kept: neither euer doth intrude, without some such sollicitours, as should be sorie for it, and vse no meane to haue it, which oftimes vse this meane, to do il by warrant, as if they were forced to that, which in deede they ment before, and sought fauour but for a shadow to hide their deuise.