CHAPTER 39. (continued 2)

The Princes traine.

The prince and soueraigne being the tippe of nobilitie: and growing in person most priuate for traine, though in office most publike for rule, doth claime of me that priuate note, which I promised before. The greatest prince in that he is a childe, is, as other children be, for soule sometimes fine, sometimes grosse: for body, sometimes strong, sometimes weake: of mould sometime faire, sometime meane: so that for the time to beginne to learne, and the matter which to learne, and all other circumstances, wherein he communicateth with his subiectes, he is no lesse subiect, then his subiectes be. For exercise to health, the same: to honour, much aboue: as he is best able to beare it, where coast is the burden, and honour the ease. We must take him as God sendes him, bycause we cannot chuse, as we could wish: as he must make the best of his people, though his people be not the best. Our dutie is to obey him, and to pray for him: his care will be to rule ouer vs, and to prouide for vs, the most in safetie the least in perill. Which seeing we finde it proue true in the female, why should we mistrust to find it in the male? If the prince his naturall constitution be but feeble, and weake, yet good traine as it helpeth forwardnes, so it strengthneth infirmitie: and is some restraint euen to the worst giuen, if it be well applyed, and against the libertie of high calling oppose the infamie of ill doing. Which made euen Nero stay the fiue first yeares of his gouernment, and to seeme incomparable good. When the yong princes elementarie is past, and greater reading comes on, such matter must be pikt, as may plant humilitie in such height, and sufficiencie in such neede, that curtesie be the meane to winne, as abilitie to wonder. Continuall dealing with forraine Embassadours, and conferring at home with his owne counsellours require both tongues to speake with, and stuffe to speake of.

And wheras he gouerneth his state by his two armes, the Ecclesiasticke, to keepe, and cleare religion, which is the maine piller to voluntarie obedience: and the Politike, to preserue, and maintaine the ciuill gouernment, which doth bridle will, and enforceth contentment: if he lacke knowledge to handle both his armes, or want good aduice to assist them in their dealing, is he not more then lame? and doth not the helpe hereof consist in learning? Martiall skill is needfull: But it would be to defend, bycause a sturring Prince still redye to assaile, is a plague to his people, and a punishment to him selfe, and in his most gaine, doth but get that, which either he or his must one daye loose againe, if the losse rest there, and pull not more with it. But religious skill is farre more massiue: bycause religion as it is most necessarie for all, so to a Prince it is more then most of all, who fearing no man, as aboue mans reache, and commanding ouer all as vnder his commission, if he feare not God his verie next both auditour, and iudge, in whose hand is his hart? and what a feare must men be in for feare of most ill, when the Prince feares not him, who can do him most good? Almighty God be thanked, who hath at this day lent vs such a Princesse, as in deede feareth him, that we neede not feare her which deseruing to be loued desires not to be feared. I wish this education to be liked of the Prince, to pull the people onward, by example that they like of, though they cannot aspire to: as I pray God long preserue her, whose good education doth teach vs, what education can do, wherby neither this lande shal euer repent, that education of it selfe did so much good in her: and I haue good cause to reioice that this my labour concerning education comes abroad in her time.