DIRECTIONS FOR THE MASTER OF THE WARDS. 33 



in his motion ; he doth expect things be carried in a 

 sort worthy his own care. 



First, therefore, his majesty hath had this prince 

 ly consideration with himself, that as he is &quot; pater 

 &quot;patriae,&quot; so he is by the ancient law of this kingdom 

 &quot; pater pupillorum,&quot; where there is any tenure by 

 knight s service of himself; which extendeth almost 

 to all the great families noble and generous of this 

 kingdom : and therefore being a representative 

 father, his purpose is to imitate, and approach as 

 near as may be to the duties and offices of a natural 

 father, in the good education, well bestowing in mar 

 riage, and preservation of the houses, woods, lands, 

 and estates of his wards. 



For as it is his majesty s direction, that that part 

 which concerns his own profit and right, be executed 

 with moderation ; so on the other side, it is his 

 princely will that that other part, which concerneth 

 protection, be overspread and extended to the utmost. 



Wherein his majesty hath three persons in his 

 eye, the wards themselves, idiots, and the rest of 

 like nature ; the suitors in this court ; and the sub 

 jects at large. 



For the first, his majesty hath commanded special 

 care to be taken in the choice of the persons, to 

 whom they be committed, that the same be sound 

 in religion, such whose house and families are not 

 noted for dissolute, no greedy persons, no step 

 mothers, nor the like ; and with these qualifications, 

 of the nearest friends : nay, further, his majesty is 

 minded not so to delegate this trust to the com- 



VOL. VI. D 



