For the choice of wittes definitely, till they come to the time, or verie neare to it, when they are themselues naturally and for ripenesse of yeares to chuse their owne kinde of life, how so euer circunstance free, or binde their choice, I cannot say much, though I do see what other haue said in that behalfe. A quicke witte will take soone, a staid memorie will hold fast, a dull head may proue somwhat, a meane witte offers faire, _praise_ bewrayeth some courage, _awe_ some, in eche kinde there is likelyhood, and yet error in eche. For as there be faire blossomes, so there be nipping frostes. And till the daunger of reuolt be past, the quicke must be helde in hope, the dull without dispaire, the meane the meetest, if the sequele do aunswere. I can limit no one thing, though I see great shewes, where there is such vncertaine motion, both in soule and body, as there is in children. The maisters _discretion_ in time and vpon triall, may see and say much, and in a number there will some leaders appeare of themselues, as some speciall deare in the whole heard. Where great appearance is, there one may prophecie, and yet the lying spirite may sit in his lippes. For God hath reserued, his calling and discouering houres, as all other future euentes to his owne peculiar and priuate knowledge: probabilities be our guides, and our coniectures be great, though not without exception. What kinde of witte I like best for my countrey, as most proper to be the instrument for learning, it shall appeare herafter. But for the first question of the two, it seemeth to me verie plaine that all children be not to be set to schoole, but onely such as for naturall wittes, and sufficient maintenance, either of their naturall parentes, or ciuill patrones, shall be honestly and wel supported in their study, till the common weale minding to vse their seruice, appoint their prouision, not in hast for _neede_, but at leasure with _choice_.
THE MEANES TO RESTRAINE THE OUERFLOWING MULTITUDE OF SCHOLERS. THE CAUSE WHY EUERIE ONE DESIRETH TO HAUE HIS CHILDE LEARNED, AND YET MUST YELDE OUER HIS OWNE DESIRE TO THE DISPOSITION OF HIS COUNTRIE. THAT NECESSITIE AND CHOYCE BE THE BEST RESTRAYNERS. THAT NECESSITIE RESTRAYNETH BY LACKE AND LAWE. WHY IT MAY BE ADMITTED, THAT ALL MAY WRITE AND READ THAT CAN, BUT NO FURTHER. WHAT IS TO BE THOUGHT OF THE SPEAKING AND VNDERSTANDING OF LATINE, AND IN WHAT DEGREE OF LEARNING THAT IS. THAT CONSIDERING OUR TIME AND THE STATE OF RELIGION IN OUR TIME, LAWE MUST NEEDES HELPE THIS RESTRAINT: WITH THE ANSWERE TO SUCH OBIECTIONS AS ARE MADE TO THE CONTRARY. THAT IN CHOICE OF WITTES, WHICH MUST DEALE WITH LEARNING, THAT WIT IS FITTEST FOR OUR STATE, WHICH AUNSWERETH BEST THE MONARCHIE, AND HOW SUCH A WIT IS TO BE KNOWNE. THAT CHOICE IS TO HELPE IN SCHOLING, IN ADMISSION INTO COLLEDGES, IN PROCEEDING TO DEGREES, IN PREFERRING TO LIUINGES, WHERE THE RIGHT AND WRONG OF ALL THE FOURE POINTES BE HANDLED AT FULL.