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?