[Sidenote: Conference betwene teachers and neighbours.]
2. This _conference_ may fall betwene the _neighbour_ and the _teacher_. Wherein the _teacher_ must be verie warie bycause he hath to deale with the informer for credit: with his scholer for amendment: with the parent for liking. When the parent dealeth with his owne childe, either of his owne knowledge, or by credited report, his doome is death or life, the childe hath no appeale, but either must amend, or feele the like smart. At the _teachers_ dealing, vpon any aduertisement, there may and wilbe taken many pretie exceptions. Why did you beleeue? why should he medle? why dealt you in this sort? And whatsoeuer quarell miscontentment can deuise, being incensed with furie: or some extreme heat, as angrie nature is an eager monster. And in deede some ouerthwart conceit may moue the complainant, whatsoeuer the pretence be. Againe some wise man, may light vpon so conuenient a maister, as he may proue a better meane to redresse, then the parent will be, in whom blinde nature will neither see the childes fault, nor the friendes faith. But how soeuer it be, the maister must be warie, where his commission is not absolute. But in the wise handling of this ciuill _conference_ the childe shall gaine much towardes his well doing, when wheresoeuer he shall be, or whatsoeuer he shall do, he shall both finde it true, and feele it so, that either his parent or his maister, or both together see him, if any other bodie see him.
[Sidenote: Conference betwene parentes and teachers.]
3. The next _conference_ is betweene _parentes_ and _maisters_, whereof though I haue saide much, yet can I neuer say to much, the point is so needefull: bycause their friendly and faithfull communicating workes perpetuall obedience in the childe, contempt of euill, and desire to do well: seeing both they trauell to make one good. There is nothing so great an enemie to this so great a good as credulitie is in parentes, not able to withstand the childes eloquence, when shed of teares, and some childish passion do plead against punishment for assured misdemeanour. But though for the time such parentes seeme to wynne, bycause they haue their will: yet in the conclusion, they want their will, when they wish it were not so. Before change either of place, to proceede onward to further learning: or of maisters when the old is misliked, and a new sought for, then this _conference_ is a meruelous helpe. For in change of place, it growndes vpon knowledge, and growes by aduice: in change of maisters, it is mistresse to warines not to lease by the change. For can the new maister vnderstand and iudge of the childes fault in so small a time, as the old maister may amend it if he be conferred with? You are offended with the former maister, haue ye conferred with him? haue ye opened vnto him your owne griefe, your childes defect, his owne default? are ye resolued that the fault is in the maister? may not your sonne forge? or may he not halt, to procure alteration vpon some priuate peuishnes? _Cyrus_ as _Zenophon_ writeth[80] surprised the king of _Armenia_ being tributarie to the _Medians_ but minding to reuolt, when the _Assyrians_ armie should enter into _Media_. And yet though he found him in manifest blame, he left him his state, as the best steward for the _Medians_ vse, considering the partie pardoned is bound by defect, he that shall be chosen, will thanke his owne merit, not the chusers munificence. Such consideration had _Cyrus_, and such _conference_ with him, whom he knew to be a foe, before he surprised him, and yet found the frute of his considerate _conference_ and his determination vpon his _conference_, to be exceding good and gainefull for himselfe after, and his friendes for the time. A number of ills be auoided, and a number of goodes obtained by this same _conference_ betwene _parentes_ and _maisters_. If the _maister_ be wise and aduisedly chosen though he chaunce to misse, he knowes to amend: if he neither be such a one, nor so considerately chosen, yet _conference_ will discouer him, and shew hope her listes, and what she may trust to. But not to dwel any longer in this point, wherein elsewhere I haue not bene parciall, I must needes say thus much of it at once for all, that no one meane either publike or priuate makes so much for the good bringing vp of children, as this _conference_ doth.