To knit vp this question therefore of priuate and publike _education_, I do take publike to be simply the better: as being more vpon the stage, where faultes be more seene, and so sooner amended, as being the best meane both for vertue and learning, which follow in such sort, as they be first planted. What _vertue_ is private? _wisedome_ to forsee, what is good for a desert? _courage_ to defend, where there is no assailant? _temperance_ to be modest, where none is to chaleng? _Iustice_ to do right, where none is to demaunde it? what _learning_ is for alonnesse? did it not come from collection in publike dealinges, and can it shew her force in priuate affaires, which seeme affraid of the publike? Compare the best in both the kinds, there the ods wil appeare. If ye compare a priuate scholer, of a very fine capacity, and worthy the open field, so well trayned by a diligent and a discreat maister as that traine will yeald: with a blockhead brought vp under a publike teacher, not of the best sort, or if in comparison ye march a toward priuate teacher with a weake publike maister, ye say somwhat to the persons but smallie to the thing, which in _equalitie_ shewes the difference, in _inequalitie_ deceiues the doubter, and then most, when to augment his owne liking, he wil make the conference odde, to seeme to auaunce errour, where the truth is against him. And to saye all in one, the publike pestring with any reasonable consideration, though it be not the best, yet in good sooth, it farre exceedeth the priuate alonenesse, though sometime a diligent priuate teacher shew some great effect of his maine endeuour.
[Sidenote: That the circunstance is one in gentlemen and common mens children.]
But to the education of _gentlemen_ and _gentlemanly_ fellowes. What time shal I appoint them to begin to learne? Their witts be as the common, their bodies oftimes worse. The same circunstance, the same consideration for time must direct all degrees. What thing shall they learne? I know none other, neither can I appoint better, then that which I did appoint for all. The common and priuate concurre herin. Neither shall the priuate scholer go any faster on, nay perhaps not so fast, for all the helpe of his whole maister, then our boyes shall, with the bare helpe, that is in number and multitude, euery boye being either a maister for his fellow to learne by, or an example to set him on, to better him if he be negligent, to be like him, if he be diligent.