Part 17 (1/2)

The son oft foloweth the faders behauour And if the fader be discrete and vertuous.

The son shal suche wayes practyse both day and hour.

But if that the fader be lewde and vicious By falshode lyuynge: and by wayes cautelous.

The son also the same wayes wyl ensue And that moche rather than goodnes or vertue

Therfore it nedeth that better prouysion.

Were founde for youthe by sad and wyse counsayle Far from theyr faders of this condicion.

And other lewde gydes which myght theyr myndes a.s.sayle Greuously wyth syn. So were it theyr auayle From theyr faders frawde and falshode to declyne And them submyt to some lawdable mannys doctryne.

Peleus, somtyme a n.o.ble and worthy kynge Subdued Achylles vnto the doctryne Of phenix whiche was both worthy and cunnynge Wherfore Achyllys right gladly dyd enclyne With his hert and mynde vnto his disciplyne Wherby his name so n.o.ble was at the last That all Asy in worthynes he past

Ryght so Philippus a kynge worthy of name Ouer all Grece made great iniquicion To fynde one wyse, sad and laudable of fame To Alexander his sonne for to gyue Instruccion Founde was great Aristotyl at the conclusion Disciple of Plato. whiche in euery Science.

Infourmed this chylde with parfyte diligence.

Whiche Alexander afterward had so great dignyte.

What by his strength, his cunnynge, and boldenes.

That he was lorde both of Londe and See.

And none durst rebel aganst his worthynes.

Lo here the lawde, the honour, and n.o.bles.

Which dothe procede of vertue and doctryne But few ar the faders that nowe hereto inclyne

Fewe ar that forceth nowe adayes to se Theyr chyldren taught: or to do any cost On som sad man, wyse, and of auctorite: Al that is theron bestowed thynke they loste.

The folyssh Fader oft tymes maketh great boste.

That he his son to habundant riches shal auance But no thynge he speketh of vertuous gouernance.

The feder made but smal shyft or prouysion.

To induce his Son by vertuous doctryne.

But whan he is dede and past: moche les shal the son To stody of grace his mynde or hert inclyne.

But abuse his reason: and from al good declyne.

Alas folysshe faders gyue your aduertence To Crates complaynt comprysed in this sentence.

If it were graunted to me to shewe my thought Ye follysshe faders Caytifes I myght you cal Whiche gather riches to brynge your chylde to nought.

Gyuynge him occasion forto be prodigal.

But goode nor cunnynge shewe ye hym none at all.

But whan ye drawe to age, ye than moste comonly.

Sorowe for your suffrance. But without remedy.

An olde sore to hele is oft halfe incurable Ryght so ar these Chyldren roted in myschefe Some after euer lyueth a lyfe abhomynable To all theyr Kyn great sorowe and reprefe.

The one is a murderer the other a fereles thefe, The one of G.o.d nor goode man hath no fors ne care.

Another so out wasteth that his frendes ar ful bare.

Some theyr londe and lyuelode in riot out wasteth, At cardes, and, tenys, and other vnlawful gamys.

And some wyth the Dyce theyr thryft away casteth.

Some theyr soule d.a.m.nes, and theyr body shames.

With flesshly l.u.s.t: which many one dyffamys.