ABSTRACT
The French Academie 435 \Trlut>, by the knowledge of things past from the first ages untill this present; that they might refer all to the glorie of the divine majestic, and to the profit and utilitie as well of themselves as of their country. And yet in the meane while these noble and toward youths were not deprived of other exercises meete for them, which (as the divine Plato saith) are very profitable for this age, and helpe much to quicken the spirits of yoong men, and to make their bodies which are weake by nature, more strong and apt to sustaine travell: as namely, to ride horses, to run at the ring, to fight at barriers, to applie themselves to all kind of weapons, and to followe the chace of beasts .... [Their fathers came to visit them and heard their sons discoursing for two hours each morning and as much after dinner, but they enjoyed it so much that they usually gave six to eight hours a day to discussion.]
In this commendable maner of passing their time they continued certaine daies. But the sudden and sorrowfull newes of the last frantike returne of France into civill war brake up their happie assemblie, to the end that these noble youths, betaking themselves to the service due to their prince, and to the welfare and safetie of their countrie, might make triall of their first feates of armes, wherein they wanted neither readiness, nor valure of hart, which being naturally in them was also increased by the knowledge of philosophic.
