The education or bringinge vp of children, translated oute of Plutarche by syr Thomas Eliot knyght

Of the commodite of vertuous exercise. Cap. viii. (Book 8)

EXercyse is not a lyttell to be estemed / and for that pur∣pose children muste also be commytted to maysters, whiche maye exercise them sufficientlye, to the intente that thereby, good shappe of lymmes and membres & strengthe of bodye maye be acquired. For the good habitie and disposition in the bodyes of chylderne, is for age a sure fundation.

And as in somer and fayre wether men prouide agaynste wynter: so the best prouision for age, is good maners and temperance goten in youth.

Also labour is to be kepte in, as it were in a closet or selle, and so moderatly vsed, that children be∣ynge tendre and flexible, be not in study ouermo∣che fatigated. For as Plato sayth, laboure and slepe be ennemyes to lernynge. But what nede I to tarye here vpon, seynge that I pourpose to declare that whiche is more necessarye to speake of. It shall be most expedient to exercise children in feates of armes, as in rydynge and chasyng, castynge of iauelyns and dartes, shotynge in the longe bowe, and suche other marcial actes, wher in the vanquiss hours appoynt for their rewarde to haue the goodes of them that be vāquysshed. All be hit warre lyttell estemeth the parsonage brought vp in the shadowe. The pure and leane souldiour, alwayes hauntynge the affayres of warre, oftē times ouerthroweth the great wrast∣ler in bataile, and enforceth the front all redy im∣batayled to recule. what is that to the purpose, sayth some man to me? For where thou dyddest promyse to gyue aduertisementes, concernynge the bryngynge vp of honest mens children, not withstandynge thou passest ouer poure men and the cōmune people, that thou goest aboute to in∣structe onely ryche menne and nobles. whervnto it is no great difficultie to replie. Certeynly myn entent is, that my exhortation shulde be cōmune and also profitable to euery man. But if any be of suche pouertie, that he is not able to vse this my counsayle, he shal blame fortune and not me, that do the best I can to aduise hym. It is to be

assayed with all that may be, that the beste ways of bryngynge vp of chyldren may be knowen al∣so to poure men: and at the leste to do that that is possible. And these be the moste sorest obiecti∣ons that be in this matter. Nowe frō hensforth I purpose to adde therto the sure and streyghte way howe yonge men shulde be instructed.