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bours and ports for trade. Somtimes taking fea as farre as to our navy; to learn there also what they can in the practical knowledge of failing and of fea fight. These wayes would trie all their peculiar gifts of nature, and if there were any fecret excellence among them, would fetch it out, and give it fair opportunities to advance it felfe by, which could not but mightily redound to the good of this nation, and bring into fafhion again those old admired vertues and excellencies, with farre more advantage now in this puritie of Christian knowledge. Nor fhall we then need the Monfieurs of Paris to take our hopefull youth into thir flight and prodigall cuftodies and send them over back again tranf

form'd

form'd into mimics, apes & Kicfhoes. But if they defire to see other countries at three or four and twenty yeers of age, not to learn principles, but to enlarge experience, and make wife obfervation, they will by that time be such as fhall deferve the regard and honour of all men where they paffe, and the fociety and friendship of thofe in all places who are beft and moft eminent. And perhaps then other nations will be glad to vifit us for their breeding, or elfe to imitate us in their own country.

Now laftly for their diet there cannot be much to fay, fave only that it would be best in the fame houfe; for much time elfe would be loft abroad, and many

ill habits got; and that it fhould be plain, healthfull,

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healthfull, and moderate I fuppofe is out of controverfie. Thus Mafter Harl lib, yon have a generall view in writing, as your defire was, of that which at fevé: rall times I had difcourft with you concerning the beft and Nobleft way of Education; not beginning, as fome havedone from the cradle, which yet might be worth many confiderations, if brevity had not bean my scope, many other circumftances alfo I could have mention'd, but this to fuch as have the worth in them to make triall, for light and direction may be anough. Only I believethat this is not a bow for every man to fhoot in that counts himselfe a teacher; but will require finews almoft equall to those which Homer gave Ulyffes, yet I

am

am withall perfwaded that it may prove much more eafie in the affay, then it now feems at diftance, and much more illuftrious: howbeit not more difficult then I imagine, and that imagination prefents me with nothing but very happy and very poffible according to beft with-es; if God have fo decreed, and this age have spirit and capacity anough to apprehend.

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