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¶ What company is pernicious to chyldren. Ca. xiii. (Book 13)
BUt nowe to returne to the purpose that I fyrste spake of. Let vs withdrawe our chyldren from men of yll dis∣position, and specially flatte∣rers & dyssemblers. And I doubte not to aduertyse you faders, there is nat lyuynge a thynge more mischeuous than flatterers, nor any thynge that soner causeth yonge men to de∣cay, than they, who confounde bothe the fa∣thers and chyldren, turmentynge the fathers age with pensiuenes, and subuertynge the yonge men with pernicious counsayle, surmisyng plea∣sure, where in is bydde a bayte of vice and vn∣thryftynes. The fathers exhorte theyr chyldren, whiche haue abundance to sobrenes: the flatte∣rers stere them to riotte and wantonnesse. The fathers aduise them to vse mesurable sparynge: the flatterers sumptuous expenses and reue∣lynge. The one preyseth labour and exercise: the other slouthe and desolute idelnes / sup∣posynge that man liueth but a moment: wher∣fore he shulde lyue frankely and lyberally, and not skantly. Nowe a dayes what carethe the chylde for the fathers menace thinkynge that in age his father doteth. And yet often tyme suche chyldren we preyse and make moche of: All be it diuers of them haunte brothels, and some tyme