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

¶ What company is pernicious to chyldren. Ca. xiii.

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

marie dishonestly, ••o••ten tymes ••••••••nge and spe••∣dynge awaye theyr fathers substance, wherwith they shulde honestely lyue in theyr age. Dissem∣blers of frendshyppe is an vnhappy kynde of people, absteynynge from all lybertie of speche, onely flatterynge the great men•• and sk••minge the poure men / also prepared to disceyue yonge men. For whan they do se them skorne their pa∣rentes or tutours, they also laugh with them, as men on all partes impfect and alienate from their nature. For where god made them fre, with flat∣tery they do bryng them selfe in bōdage, also thin∣kynge them selfe not regarded, whan they syt at other mens tables, if they be not iested at & rebu∣ked. wherfore he that is a father, & desireth the good bringinge yp of his children, let hym in any wyse put away & abiect those lothely beastis and vnthryfty companyons. For by them a gentyll nature may sone be abused and corrupted.