r. And this office is
perpetual, because it is not known who may be too wise for it or who too
skilled in ruling.

G.M. Who indeed can be so wise? If even anyone has a knowledge of the
sciences it seems that he must be unskilled in ruling.

Capt. This very question I asked them and they replied thus: "We,
indeed, are more certain that such a very learned man has the knowledge
of governing, than you who place ignorant persons in authority, and
consider them suitable merely because they have sprung from rulers or
have been chosen by a powerful faction. But our Hoh, a man really the
most capable to rule, is for all that never cruel nor wicked, nor a
tyrant, inasmuch as he possesses so much wisdom. This, moreover, is not
unknown to you, that the same argument cannot apply among you, when you
consider that man the most learned who knows most of grammar, or logic,
or of Aristotle or any other author. For such knowledge as this of
yours much servile labor and memory work are required, so that a man is
rendered unskilful, since he has contemplated nothing but the words of
books and has given his mind with useless result to the consideration of
the dead signs of things. Hence he knows not in what way God rules the
universe, nor the ways and customs of nature and the nations. Wherefore
he is not equal to our Hoh. For that one cannot know so many arts and
sciences thoroughly, who is not esteemed for skilled ingenuity, very apt
at all things, and therefore at ruling especially. This also is plain to
us that he who knows only one science, does not really know either
that or the others, and he who is suited for only one science and has
gathered his knowledge from books, is unlearned and unskilled. But this
is not the case with intellects prompt and expert in every branch of
knowledge and suitable for the consideration of natural objects, as it
is necessary that our Hoh should be. Besides in our State the sciences
are taught with a facility (as you have seen) by which more scholars are
turned out by us in one year than by you in ten, or even fifteen. Make
trial, I pray you, of these boys."

In this matter I was struck with astonishment at their truthful
discourse and at the trial of their boys, who did not understand my
language well. Indeed it is necessary that three of them should be
skilled in our tongue, three in Arabic, three in Polish, and three in
each of the other languages, and no recreation is allowed them unless
they