with one conceit of mine, which contrarie to the common use I hold, and that is all I am able to affoord you concerning that matter.  The charge of the Tutor, which you shall appoint your sonne, in the choice of whom consisteth the whole substance of his education and bringing up; on which are many branches depending, which (forasmuch as I can adde nothing of any moment to it) I will not touch at all.  And for that point, wherein I presume to advise him, he may so far forth give credit unto it, as he shall see just cause.  To a gentleman borne of noble parentage, and heire of a house that aymeth at true learning, and in it would be disciplined, not so much for gane or commoditie to himselfe (because so abject an end is far unworthie the grace and favour of the Muses, and besides, hath a regard or dependencie of others) nor for externall shew and ornament, but to adorne and enrich his inward minde, desiring rather to shape and institute an able and sufficient man, than a bare learned man; my desire is therefore, that the parents or overseers of such a gentleman be very circumspect, and careful in chusing his director, whom I would rather commend for having a well composed and temperate braine, than a full stuft head, yet both will doe well.  And I would rather prefer wisdome, judgement, civill customes, and modest behaviour, than bare and meere literall learning; and that in his charge he hold a new course.  Some never cease brawling in their schollers eares (as if they were still pouring in a tonell) to follow their booke, yet is their charge nothing else but to repeat what hath beene told them before.  I would have a tutor to correct this part, and that at first entrance, according to the capacitie of the wit he hath in hand, he should begin to make shew of it, making him to have a smacke of all things, and how to choose and distinguish them, without helpe of others, sometimes opening him the way, other times leaving him to open it by himselfe.  I would not have him to invent and speake alone, but suffer his disciple to speake when his turne commeth.  Socrates, and after him Arcesilaus, made their schollers to speake first, and then would speake themselves.  Obest plerumque iis qui discere volunt, auctoritas eorum qui docent:  [Footnote:  Cic.  De Nat. 1. i] “Most commonly the authoritie of them that teach, hinders them that would learne.”

It is therefore meet that he make him first trot-on before him, whereby he may the better judge of his pace, and so guesse how long he will hold out, that accordingly he may fit his strength; for want of which proportion we often marre all.  And to know how to make a good choice, and how far forth one may proceed (still keeping a due measure), is one of the hardest labours I know.  It is a signe of a noble, and effect of an undanted spirit, to know how to second, and how far forth he shall condescend to his childish proceedings, and how to guide them.  As for myselfe, I can better and with more strength walke up than