That young maidens are to be set to learning, which is proued, by the custome of our countrey, by our duetie towardes them, by their naturall abilities, and by the worthy effectes of such as haue bene well trained. The ende whervnto their education serueth which is the cause why and how much they learne. Which of them are to learne, when they are to begin to learne. What and how much they may learne. Of whom and where they ought to be taught.

When I did appoint the persons, which were to receiue the benefit of education: I did not exclude young maidens, and therefore seeing I made them one braunche of my diuision, I must of force say somwhat more of them. A thing perhaps which some will thinke might wel enough haue bene past ouer with silence, as not belonging to my purpose, which professe the education of boyes, and the generall traine in that kinde. But seeing I begin so low as the first Elementarie, wherin we see that young maidens be ordinarily trained, how could I seeme not to see them, being so apparently taught?

And to proue that they are to be trained, I finde foure speciall reasons, wherof any one, much more all may perswade any their most aduersarie, much more me, which am for them toothe and naile. 1. The first is the maner and custome of my countrey, which allowing them to learne, wil be lothe to be contraried by any of her countreymen. 2. The second is the duetie, which we owe vnto them, whereby we are charged in conscience, not to leaue them lame, in that which is for them. 3. The third is their owne towardnesse, which God by nature would neuer haue giuen them to remaine idle, or to small purpose. 4. The fourth is the excellent effectes in that sex, when they haue had the helpe of good bringing vp: which commendeth the cause of such excellencie, and wisheth vs to cherishe that tree, whose frute is both so pleasaunt in taste, and so profitable in triall. What can be said more? our countrey doth allow it, our duetie doth enforce it, their aptnesse calls for it, their excellencie commandes it: and dare priuate conceit, once seeme to withstand where so great, and so rare circunstances do so earnestly commende.

But for the better vnderstanding of these foure reasons, I will examine euerie of them, somwhat nearer, as inducers to the truth, ear I deale with the traine. For the first: If I should seeme to enforce any noueltie, I might seeme ridiculous, and neuer se that thing take place, which I tender so much: but considering, the custome of my countrie hath deliuered me of that care, which hath made the maidens traine her owne approued trauell, what absurditie am I in, to say that is true, which my countrie dare auow, and daily doth trie? I set not yong maidens to publike grammer scholes, a thing not vsed in my countrie, I send them not to the vniuersities, hauing no president thereof in my countrie, I allow them learning with distinction in degrees, with difference of their calling, with respect to their endes, wherefore they learne, wherein my countrie confirmeth my opinion. We see yong maidens be taught to read and write, and can do both with praise: we heare them sing and playe: and both passing well, we know that they learne the best, and finest of our learned languages, to the admiration of all men. For the daiely spoken tongues and of best reputation in our time, who so shall denie that they may not compare euen with our kinde in the best degree, they will claime no other combate, then to talke with him in that verie tongue, who shall seeke to taunt them for it. These things our country doth stand to, these qualities their parentes procure them, as either opportunitie of circunstance will serue, or their owne power wil extend vnto, or their daughters towardnesse doth offer hope, to be preferred by, for singularitie of endowment, either in marriage, or some other meane. Nay do we not see in our countrey, some of that sex so excellently well trained, and so rarely qualified, either for the toungues themselues, or for the matter in the toungues: as they may be opposed by way of comparison, if not preferred as beyond comparison, euen to the best Romaines or Greekish paragonnes be they neuer so much praised: to the Germaine or French gentlewymen, by late writers so wel liked: to the Italian ladies who dare write themselues, and deserue fame for so doing? whose excellencie is so geason, as they be rather wonders to gaze at, then presidentes to follow. And is that to be called in question, which we both dayly see in many, and wonder at in some? I dare be bould therefore to admit yong maidens to learne, seeing my countrie giues me leaue, and her custome standes for me.

For the second point. The duetie which we owe them doth straitly commaund vs to see them well brought vp. For what be young maidens in respect of our sex? Are they not the seminary of our succession? the naturall frye, from whence we are to chuse our naturall, next, and most necessarie freindes? The very selfe same creatures, which were made for our comfort, the onely good to garnish our alonenesse, the nearest companions in our weale or wo? the peculiar and priuiest partakers in all our fortunes? borne for vs to life, bound to vs till death? And can we in conscience but carefully thinke of them, which are so many wayes linked vnto vs? Is it either nothing, or but some small thing, to haue our childrens mothers well furnished in minde, well strengthened in bodie? which desire by them to maintaine our succession? or is it not their good to be so well garnished, which good being defeated in them by our indiligence, of whom they are to haue it, doth it not charge vs with breache of duetie, bycause they haue it not? They are committed and commended vnto vs, as pupilles vnto tutours, as bodies vnto heades, nay as bodies vnto soules: so that if we tender not their education duetifully, they maye vrge that against vs, if at any time either by their owne right, or by our default, they winne the vpper roome and make vs stand bare head, or be bolder with vs to.

They that write of the vse of our bodies, do greatly blame such parentes, as suffer not their children to vse the left hand, as well as the right, bycause therby they weaken their strength and the vse of their limmes: and can we be without blame, who seeke not to strengthen that, which was once taken from vs, and yet taryeth with vs, as a part of vs still: knowing it to be the weaker? Or is there any better meane to strengthen their minde, then that knowledge of God, of religion, of ciuil, of domesticall dueties, which we haue by our traine, and ought not to denie them, being comprised in bookes, and is to be compassed in youth?

That some exercise of bodie ought to be vsed, some ordinarie stirring ought to be enioyned, some prouision for priuate and peculiar trainers ought to be made: not onely the ladies of LacedÆmon will sweare, but all the world will sooth, if they do but wey, that it is to much to weaken our owne selues by not strengthning their side. That cunning poet for iudgement in matter, and great philosopher for secrecie in nature, our well knowen Virgill, saw in a goodly horse that was offered vnto Augustus CÆsar an infirmitie vnperceaued by either looker on or any of his stable, which came as he said by some weaknes in the damme, and was confessed to be true. Galene and the whole familie of Physicians ripping vp our infirmities, which be not to be auoided, placeth the seminarie and originall, engraffed in nature, as our greatest and nearest foes. And therfore to be preuented by the parentes, thorough considerate traine, the best and fairest meane, to better weake nature: so that of duety they are to be cared for. And what care in duetie is greater, then this in traine?

3. Their naturall towardnesse which was my third reason doth most manifestly call vpon vs, to see them well brought vp. If nature haue giuen them abilities to proue excellent in their kinde, and yet thereby in no point to let their most laudable dueties in mariage and matche, but rather to bewtifie them, with most singular ornamentes, are not we to be condemned of extreme vnnaturallnes, if we gay not that by discipline, which is giuen them by nature? That naturally they are so richly endowed, all Philosophie is full, no Diuinitie denyes, Plato56 and his Academikes say, that all vertues be indifferent, nay all one in man and woman: sauing that they be more strong and more durable in men, weaker and more variable in wymen. Xeno and his Stoikes though they esteeme the ods betwene man and woman naturally to be as great as the difference, betwene an heauenly and an earthly creature, which Plato did not, making them both of one mould, yet they graunt them equalitie and samenesse in vertue, though they deliuer the strength and constancie ouer vnto men, as properly belonging vnto that side. Aristotle and his Peripatetikes confessing them both to be of one kinde, though to different vses in nature, according to those differences in condition, appointeth them differences in vertue, and yet wherin they agree: alloateth them the same. When they haue concluded thus of their naturall abilities, and so absolutely entitled them vnto all vertues, they rest not there, but proceede on further to their education in this sorte. That as naturally euery one hath some good assigned him, whervnto he is to aspire, and not to cease vntill he haue obtained it, onlesse he will by his owne negligence reiect that benefit, which the munificence of nature hath liberally bestowed on him: so there is a certaine meane, wherby to winne that perfitly, which nature of her selfe doth wish vs franckly. This meane they call education, whereby the naturall inclinations be gently caryed on, if they will curteously follow, or otherwise be hastened, if they must needes be forced, vntill they ariue at that same best, which nature bendeth vnto with full saile, in those fairer, which follow the traine willingly, in those meaner, which must be bet vnto it. And yet euen there where it is sorest laboured, it worketh some effecte vnworthy of repentaunce, and is better forced on in youth, then forgon in age: rather in children with feare, then not in men with greife. Now as the inclinations be common to both the kindes, so they deuide the meane of education indifferently betwene both. Which being thus, as both the truth tells the ignorant, and reading shewes the learned, we do wel then perceaue by naturall men, and Philosophicall reasons, that young maidens deserue the traine: bycause they haue that treasure, which belongeth vnto it, bestowed on them by nature, to be bettered in them by nurture. Neither doth religion contrarie religious nature. For the Lorde of nature, which created that motion to continue the consequence of all liuing creatures, by succession to the like, by education to the best, appointing either kinde the limittes of their duetie, and requiring of either the perfourmaunce therof, alloweth all such ordinarie and orderly meanes, as by his direction in his word may bring them both from his appointment to their perfourmaunce, from the first starting place, to the outmost gole: that is vnto that good, which he hath assigned them, by such wayes, as he hath willed them: so that both by nature the most obedient seruant, and by the Lorde of nature our most bountifull God, we haue it in commandement not onely to traine vp our owne sex, but also our female, seeing he hath to require an account for naturall talentes of both the parties, vs for directing them: them for perfourmance of our direction.

4. The excellent effectes of those women, which haue bene verie well trained, do well declare, that they deserue the best training: which reason was my last in order, but not my least in force, to proue their more then common excellencie. This is a point of such galancie, if my purpose were to praise them, as it is but to giue precept, how to make them praiseworthie, as I might soner weary my selfe with reckening vp of writers, and calling worthie wymen to be witnesses in their owne cause then worthely to expresse their weight and worth, bycause I beleeue that to be most true, which is cronicled of them. I will not medle with any moe writers to whom wymen are most bound, for best speaking of them, and most spreading of their vertues, then with one onely man a single witnes in person, but aboue all singularitie in profe: the learned and honest Plutarch, whose name emporteth a princis treasure, whose writings witnes an vnwearied trauel, whose plaine truth was neuer tainted. Would he so learned, so honest, so true, so sterne, haue become such a trumpet for their fame, to triumph by, so haue gratified that sex, whom he stood not in awe of: so haue beutified their doings, whom he might not haue medled with, so haue auaunced their honour, to hasard his owne sex, by setting them so hie, if he had not resolutely knowne the truth of his subiect? he durst be so bould with his owne Emperour the good Traian, to fore his scholer, in his epistle to him before his booke of gouerning the comon weale, as to say and call his booke to witnes thereof, that if he went to gouerne, and ouerthrew the state, he did it not by the authoritie of Plutarch, as disauowing his scholer, if he departed from his lessons. And would that courage haue bene forced to frame a false argument? or is so great a truth not to haue so great a credit? howsouer some of the lighter heades haue lewdly belyed them, or vainly accused them: yet the verie best and grauest writers thinke worthely of them, and make report of them with honour. Ariosto and Boccacio will beloth to be tearmed light, being so great doctours in their diuinitie, yet they be somwhat ouer heauie to wymen, without any great weight as in generall the Italian writers be, which in the middest of their louing leuities still glaunce at their lightnes, and that so beyound all manhoode, as they feele their owne fault, and dispaire of reconcilement, though they crie still for pardon. As those men know well, which will rather meruell, that I haue red those bookes, then mistrust my report, which they know to be true. In all good and generally authorised histories, and in many particuler discourses, it is most euident, that not onely priuate and particular wymen, being very well trained, but also great princesses and gallant troupes of the same sex haue shewed fourth in them selues meruelous effectes of vertue and valure. And good reason why. For where naturally they haue to shew, if education procure shew, is it a thing to be wondered at? Or is their singularitie lesse in nature, bycause wymen be lesse accustomed to shew it, and not so commonly employed, as we men be? Yet whensoeuer they be, by their dealinges they shew vs that they haue no dead flesh nor any base mettle. Well, I will knit vp this conclusion and burne day light no longer, to proue that carefully, which all men may see clearely, and ther aduersaries grieue at, bycause it confutes their follie, which vpon some priuate errour of their owne, to seeme fautles in wordes, where they be faithles in deedes, blame silly wymen as being the onely cause why they went awrie.

That yong maidens can learne, nature doth giue them, and that they haue learned, our experience doth teach vs, with what care to themselues, them selues can best witnes, with what comfort to vs, what forraine example can more assure the world, then our diamond at home? our most deare soueraine lady and princesse, by nature a woman, by vertue a worthy, not one of the nyne, but the tenth aboue the nyne, to perfit in her person that absolute number, which is no fitter to comprehend all absolutnes in Arithmetike, then she is knowne to containe al perfections in nature, all degrees in valure, and to become a president: to those nyne worthy men, as Apollo57 is accounted to the nyne famouse wymen, she to vertues and vertuous men, he to muses, and learned wymen: thereby to proue Plutarches conclusion true, that oppositions of vertues by way of comparison is their chiefe commendation. Is Anacreon a good poet, what say you to Sappho? Is Bacis a good prophet, what say you to Sibill? was Sesostris a famouse prince, what say you to Semiramis? was Seruius a noble king, what say you to Tanaquill? was Brutus a stowt man, what say you to Porcia? Thus reasoneth Plutarch,58 and so do I, is it honorable for Apollo a man to haue the presidencie ouer nyne wymen, the resemblers of learning? then more honorable it is for our most worthy Princesse to haue the presidencie ouer nyne men, the paragons of vertue: and yet to be so familiarly acquainted with the nyne muses, as they are in strife who may loue her best, for being best learned? for whose excellent knowledge and learning, we haue most cause to reioyce, who tast of the frute: and posteritie to praise, which shall maintaine her memorie: though I wish their memorie abridged, to haue our tast enlarged: our prouing lengthened, to haue their praising shortened: to be glad that we haue her, not to greue, that we had her: as that omnipotent god, which gaue her vnto vs, when we had more neede of such a prince, then shee of such a people, will preserue her for vs, I do nothing dout, that we both may serue him, she as our carefull soueraine, to set forth his glory, we as her faithfull subiectes, to submit our selues to it.

If no storie did tell it, if no state did allow it, if no example did confirme it, that yong maidens deserue the trayning, this our owne myrour, the maiestie of her sex, doth proue it in her owne person, and commendes it to our reason. We haue besides her highnes as vndershining starres, many singuler ladies and gentlewymen, so skilfull in all cunning, of the most laudable, and loueworthy qualities of learning, as they may well be alleadged for a president to prayse, not for a pattern to proue like by: though hope haue a head, and nature be no nigard, if education do her dutie, and will seeke to resemble euen where presidentes be passing, both hope to attaine to, and possibilitie to seeme to. Wherefore by these profes, I take it to be very clear, that I am not farre ouershot, in admitting them to traine being so traineable by nature, and so notable by effectes.

But now hauing graunted them the benefit and society of our education, we must assigne the end, wherfore their traine shall serue, whereby we may apply it the better. Our owne traine is without restraint for either matter or maner, bycause our employment is so generall in all thinges: theirs is within limit, and so must their traine be. If a yong maiden be to be trained in respect of mariage, obedience to her head, and the qualities which looke that way, must needes be her best way: if in regard of necessitie to learne how to liue, artificiall traine must furnish out her trade: if in respect of ornament to beawtifie her birth, and to honour her place, rareties in that kinde and seemly for that kinde do best beseeme such: if for gouernment, not denyed them by God, and deuised them by men, the greatnes of their calling doth call for great giftes, and generall excellencies for generall occurrences. Wherefore hauing these different endes alwayes in eye, we may point them their traine in different degrees. But some Timon will say, what should wymen do with learning? Such a churlish carper will neuer picke out the best, but be alway ready to blame the worst. If all men vsed all pointes of learning well, we had some reason to alleadge against wymen, but seeing misuse is common to both the kinds, why blame we their infirmitie, whence we free not our selues? Some wymen abuse writing to that end, some reading to this, some all that they learne any waye, to some other ill some waye. And I praie you what do we? I do not excuse ill: but barre them from accusing, which be as bad themselues: vnlesse they will first condemne themselues, and so proceede in their plea with more discretion after a repentant discouerie. But they will not deale thus, they will rather retire for shame and proue to be nonsuite, then confesse themselues faulty and blush for their blaming. Wherfore as the communitie of vertues, argueth the communitie of vices naturally in both: so let vs in that point enterchaunge forgiuenesse, and in hope of the vertues direct to the best, not for feare of the vices, make an open gap for them. Wherefore in directing of that traine, which I do assigne vnto young maidens, I will follow this methode, and shew which of them be to learne, and when, what and how much, where and of whom.

As concerning those which are to be trained, and when they are to begin their traine, this is my opinion. The same restraint in cases of necessitie, where they conueniently cannot, and the same freedom in cases of libertie, when they commodiously may, being reserued to parentes in their daughters, which I allowed them in their sonnes, and the same regard to the weaknesse and strength of their witts and bodies, the same care for their womanly exercises, for helpe of their health, and strength of their limmes, being remitted to their considerations, which I assigned them in their sonnes, I do thinke the same time fit for both, not determinable by yeares, but by ripenesse of witte to conceiue without tiring, and strength of bodie to trauell without wearying. For though the girles seeme commonly to haue a quicker ripening in witte, then boyes haue, for all that seeming, yet it is not so. Their naturall weaknesse which cannot holde long, deliuers very soone, and yet there be as prating boyes, as there be pratling wenches. Besides, their braines be not so much charged, neither with weight nor with multitude of matters, as boyes heades be, and therefore like empty caske they make the greater noise. As those men which seeme to be very quicke witted by some sudden pretie aunswere, or some sharp replie, be not alwaye most burthened, neither with lettes, nor learning, but out of small store, they offer vs still the floore, and holde most of the mother. Which sharpnesse of witte though it be within them, as it bewraeth it selfe: yet it might dwell within them a great while, without bewraying of it selfe, if studie kept them still, or great doinges did dull them: as slight dealinges and imperious, do commonly maintaine that kinde of courage. Boyes haue it alwaye, but oftimes hide it, bycause their stuffe admitteth time: wenches haue it alwaye, and alwaye bewray it, bycause their timber abides no tarying. And seeing it is in both, it deserues care in both, neither to timely to stirre them, nor let them loyter to long. As for bodies the maidens be more weake, most commonly euen by nature, as of a moonish influence, and all our whole kinde is weake of the mother side, which when she was first made, euen then weakned the mans side. Therefore great regard must be had to them, no lesse, nay rather more then to boyes in that time. For in proces of time, if they be of worth themselues, they may so matche, as the parent may take more pleasure in his sonnes by law, then in his heires by nature. They are to be the principall pillers in the vpholding of housholdes, and so they are likely to proue, if they proue well in training. The dearest comfort that man can haue, if they encline to good: the nearest corrosiue if they tread awry. And therfore charilie to be cared for, bearing a iewell of such worth, in a vessel of such weaknesse. Thus much for there persons whom I turne ouer to the parentes abilitie for charge: to their owne capacitie for conceit: in eche degree some, from the lowest in menaltie, to the highest in mistriship.

The time hath tied it selfe to strength in both parts, for the bodie to trauell, for the soule to conceiue. The exercises pray in no case to be forgot as a preseruatiue to the body, and a conserue for the soule.

For the matter what they shall learne, thus I thinke, following the custome of my countrie, which in that that is vsuall doth lead me on boldly, and in that also which is most rare, doth shew me my path, to be already troden. So that I shall not neede to erre, if I marke but my guide wel. Where rare excellencies in some wymen, do but shew vs some one or two parentes good successe, in their daughters learning, there is neither president to be fetcht, nor precept to be framed. For preceptes be to conduct the common, but these singularities be aboue the common, presidentes be for hope, those pictures passe beyond al hope. And yet they serue for profe to proceede by in way of argument, that wymen can learne if they will, and may learne what they list, when they bend their wittes to it. To learne to read is very common, where conuenientnes doth serue, and writing is not refused, where oportunitie will yeild it.

Reading if for nothing else it were, as for many thinges else it is, is verie needefull for religion, to read that which they must know, and ought to performe, if they haue not whom to heare, in that matter which they read: or if their memorie be not stedfast, by reading to reuiue it. If they heare first and after read of the selfe same argument, reading confirmes their memorie. Here I may not omit many and great contentmentes, many and sound comfortes, many and manifoulde delites, which those wymen that haue skill and time to reade, without hindering their houswifery, do continually receiue by reading of some comfortable and wise discourses, penned either in forme of historie, or for direction to liue by.

As for writing, though it be discommended for some priuate cariages, wherein we men also, no lesse then wymen, beare oftentimes blame, if that were a sufficient exception why we should not learne to write, it hath his commoditie where it filleth in match, and helpes to enrich the goodmans mercerie. Many good occasions are oftentimes offered, where it were better for them to haue the vse of their pen, for the good that comes by it, then to wish they had it, when the default is felt: and for feare of euill, which cannot be auoided in some, to auert that good, which may be commodious to many.

Musicke is much vsed, where it is to be had, to the parentes delite, while the daughters be yong, more then to their owne, which commonly proueth true, when the yong wenches become yong wiues. For then lightly forgetting Musicke when they learne to be mothers, they giue it in manifest euidence, that in their learning of it, they did more seeke to please their parentes, then to pleasure themselues. But howsoeuer it is, seeing the thing is not reiected, if with the learning of it once, it may be retained still (as by order it may) it is ill let go, which is got with great paines, and bought with some cost. The learninge to sing and plaie by the booke, a matter soone had, when Musike is first minded, which still preserue the cunning, though discontinuance disturbe. And seeing it is but litle which they learne, and the time as litle wherein they learne, bycause they haste still on toward husbandes, it were expedient, that they learned perfitly, and that with the losse of their pennie, they lost not their pennieworth also, besides the losse of their time, which is the greatest losse of all. I medle not with nedles, nor yet with houswiferie, though I thinke it, and know it, to be a principall commendation in a woman: to be able to gouerne and direct her houshold, to looke to her house and familie, to prouide and keepe necessaries, though the goodman pay, to know the force of her kitchen, for sicknes and health, in her selfe and her charge: bycause I deale onely with such thinges as be incident to their learning. Which seeing the custome of my country doth permit, I may not mislike, nay I may wish it with warrant, the thing being good and well beseeming their sex. This is the most so farre as I remember, which they commonly vse in youth, and participate with vs in. If any parent do priuately traine vp his children of either sex in any other priuate fantsie of his owne, I cannot commend it, bycause I do not know it, and if it fortune to die within his priuate walles, I cannot giue it life by publike rehearsall. The common and most knowne is that, which I haue saide.

The next pointe how much, is a question of more enquirie, and therefore requireth aduised handling. To appoint besides these thinges, which are already spoken of, how much further any maide maye proceede in matter of learning and traine, is a matter of some moment, and concerneth no meane ones. And yet some petie lowlinges, do sometimes seeke to resemble, where they haue small reason, and will needes seeme like, where their petieship cannot light, vsing shew for a shadow, where they haue no fitter shift. And therfore in so doing, they passe beyond the boundes both of their birth, and their best beseeming. Which then discouereth a verie meere follie, when a meane parent traineth vp his daughter hie in those properties, which I shall streight waye speake of, and she matcheth lowe, but within her owne compasse. For in such a case those ouerraught qualities for the toyousnesse therof being misplaced in her, do cause the young woman rather to be toyed withall, as by them giuing signe of some idle conceit otherwise, then to be thought verie well of, as one wisely brought vp. There is a comlynesse in eche kinde, and a decentnesse in degree, which is best obserued, when eche one prouides according to his power, without ouerreaching. If some odde property do worke preferrement beyond proportion, it commonly stayes there, and who so shootes at the like, in hope to hit, may sooner misse: bycause the wayes to misse be so many, and to hit is but one, and wounders which be but onse seene, be no examples to resemble. Euery maide maye not hope to speede, as she would wishe, bycause some one hath sped better then she could wishe.

Where the question is how much a woman ought to learne, the aunswere may be, so much as shall be needefull. If that also come in doubt, the returne may be, either so much as her parentes conceiue of her in hope, if her parentage be meane, or prouide for her in state, if her birth beare a saile. For if the parentes be of calling, and in great account, and the daughters capable of some singular qualities, many commendable effects may be wrought therby, and the young maidens being well trained are verie soone commended to right honorable matches, whom they may well beseeme, and aunswere much better, their qualities in state hauing good correspondence, with their matches of state, and their wisedoms also putting to helping hand, for the procuring of their common good. Not here to note, what frute the common weale may reape, by such witts so worthily aduaunced, besides their owne priuate. If the parentes be meane, and the maidens in their training shew forth at the verie first some singular rarenesse like to ensue, if they florish but their naturall, there hope maye grow great, that some great matche may as well like of a young maiden excellently qualified, as most do delite in brute or brutish thinges for some straunge qualitie, either in nature to embrase, or in art to maruell. And yet this hope may faile. For neither haue great personages alwaye that iudgement, nor young maidens alwaye that fortune, though the maidens remaine the gainers, for they haue the qualities to comfort their mediocrity, and those great ones want iudgement to set forth their nobilitie.

This how much consisteth either in perfiting of those forenamed foure, reading well, writing faire, singing sweete, playing fine, beyond all cry and aboue all comparison, that pure excellencie in things but ordinarie may cause extraordinarie liking: or else in skill of languages annexed to these foure, that moe good giftes may worke more wounder. “For meane is a maime where excellencie is the maruell.” To hope for hie mariages, is good meat, but not for mowers, to haue leasure to take delite in these gentlewomanly qualities, is no worke for who will: Nay to be a paragon among princes, to vse such singularities, for the singular good of the general state, and the wonder of her person, were a wish in dispaire, were not true proofe the iust warrant, that such a thing may be wished, bycause in our time we haue found it, euen then, when we did wish it most, and in the ende more maruellous, then at first we durst haue wished. The euentes in these wymen which we see in our dayes, to haue bene brought vp in learning, do rule this conclusion. That such personages as be borne to be princes, or matches to great peeres, or to furnish out such traines, for some peculiar ornamentes to their place and calling, are to receiue this kinde of education in the highest degree, that is conuenient for their kinde. But princely maidens aboue all: bycause occasion of their height standes in neede of such giftes, both to honour themselues, and to discharge the duetie, which the countries, conmitted to their hands, do daily call for, and besides what matche is more honorable, then when desert for rare qualities, doth ioine it selfe, with highnesse in degree? I feare no workmanship in wymen to giue them Geometrie and her sister sciencies: to make them Mathematicalls, though I meane them Musicke: nor yet barres to plead at, to leaue them the lawes: nor vrinalls to looke on, to lend them some Physicke, though the skil of herbes haue bene the studie of nobilitie, by the Persian storie, and much commended in wymen: nor pulpittes to preach in, to vtter their Diuinitie: though by learning of some language, they can talke of the lining: and for direction of their life, they must be afforded some, though not as preachers and leaders: yet as honest perfourmers, and vertuous liuers. Philosophie would furnish their generall discourses, if their leasure could entend it: but the knowledge of some toungues, either of substaunce in respect of deeper learning, or account for the present time may verie well be wisht them: and those faculties also, which do belong to the furniture of speache, may be verie well allowed them, bycause toungues be most proper, where they do naturally arme. If I should allow them the pencill to draw, as the penne to write, and thereby entitle them to all my Elementarie principles, I might haue reason for me. For it neither requireth any great labour to fraye young maidens from it, and it would helpe their nedle, to beautifie their workes: and it is maintainable by very good examples euen of their owne kinde. Timarete59 the vertuous, daughter to Mycon: Irene the curteous, daughter to Cratinus: Aristarete the absolute, daughter to Nearchus: Lala the eloquent, and euer maide of Cyzicus: Martia the couragious, daughter to Varro the best learned and most loued of any Romain, and many mo besides, did so vse the pencill, as their fame therefore is so much the fairer, bycause the fact in that sex is so seldome and rare.

And is not a young gentlewoman, thinke you, thoroughly furnished, which can reade plainly and distinctly, write faire and swiftly, sing cleare and sweetely, play wel and finely, vnderstand and speake the learned languages, and those toungues also which the time most embraseth, with some Logicall helpe to chop, and some Rhetoricke to braue. Besides the matter which is gathered, while these toungues be either learned, or lookt on, as wordes must haue seates, no lesse then rayment bodies. Were it any argument of an vnfurnished maiden, besides these qualities to draw cleane in good proportion, and with good symmetrie? Now if she be an honest woman, and a good housewife to, were she not worth the wishing, and worthy the shryning? and yet such there be, and such we know. Or is it likely that her children shalbe eare a whit the worse brought vp, if she be a LÆlia, an Hortensia, or a Cornelia, which were so endued and noted for so doing? It is written of Eurydice the Epirote60 that after she began to haue children, she sought to haue learning, to bring then vp skilfully, whom she brought forth naturally. Which thing she perfourmed in deede, a most carefull mother, and a most skilfull mistresse. For which her well doing, she hath wonne the reward, to be enrowled among the most rare matrones.

Now there is nothing left to ende this treatise of young maidens, but where and vnder whom, they are to learne, which question will be sufficiently resolued, vpon consideration of the time how long they are to learne, which time is commonly till they be about thirtene or fouretene yeares old, wherein as the matter, which they must deale with all, cannot be very much in so litle time, so the perfitting thereof requireth much trauel, though their time be so litle, and there would be some shew afterward, wherein their trayning did auaile them. They that may continue some long time at learning, thorough the state and abilitie of their parentes haue also their time and place sutably appointed, by the foresight of their parentes. So that the time resting in priuate forecast, I can not reduce it to generall precept, but onely thus farre, that in perfitnes it may shew, how well it was employed.

The places wherein they learne be either publike, if they go forth to the Elementarie schole, or priuate if they be taught at home. The teacher either of their owne sex or of ours.

For publike places, bycause in that kinde there is no publike prouision, but such as the professours of their training do make of them selues, I can say little, but leaue them to that and to their parentes circumspection, which both in their being abroad, during their minority, and in bringing them vp at home after their minoritie, I know will be very diligent to haue all thinges well. For their teachers, their owne sex were fittest in some respectes, but ours frame them best, and with good regard to some circumstances will bring them vp excellently well, specially if their parentes be either of learning to iudge, or of authoritie to commaund, or of both, to do both, as experience hath taught vs in those, which haue proued so well. The greater borne Ladyes and gentlewymen, as they are to enioy the benefit of this education most, so they haue best meanes to prosecute it best, being neither restrained in wealth, but to haue the best teachers, and greatest helpes: neither abbridged in time, but to ply all at full. And thus I take my leaue of yong maidens and gentlewymen, to whom I wish as well, as I haue saide well of them.