of England where the Children of the Town are onely to be taughr gratis without any other allowance Consider we therefore though these Erections have been of late whether the practice be so modern In the yeare 1215 it is expressly further enacted in the fourth Lateran that not onely in every Cathedral but also in other Churches whose means be not able to beare a Divinity Lecture there be at least appointed an able Master to be chosen by the Prelate with the Chapters consent to teach the Clerks of those Churches freely Grammar and others according to his ability and that a Prebends place be assign'd every Master by the Chapter This was ordain'd in the times of King John in whose Reign Newbury Schoole is said to have been founded and endow'd with many other in sequel which were supprest or continued by King Henry the Eighth or King Edward the Sixth §. 11. Thus are we arriv'd at the fourth and present Age of the Church being that of the Reformation and about the times of the Councel of Trent This Councel wanted not some men of Politiques profound enough These awaken'd with the revolution of National Churches well advis'd that conduct of Conscience that is if I may so speak of the Reasonable subject is most safely committed to such as can render a reason and that to the gaining Consequences it is ordinate to deliver Principles made eminent provision for Seminaries whereinto poor mens sons especially should be elected not excluding the richer This order was accordingly put into execution in the Provincial Councels of divers Countries most effectually in that of Milan where all their Offices with their particular charges are amply deliver'd by that eminent of Cardinals the since canoniz'd Borromaeo Others in Flanders at the sollicitation of Cardinal Allen nor hath this constitution devis'd for the maintaining that power then shaken been wholly unanswerable in the success to its first intention §. 12. About what time upon the several dissolutions of Religious Houses in England some Schools were reserv'd some erected with general licence for well-dispos'd Persons to found others and endow them within a Mortmain by the State determin'd According to which gracious liberty such as have contributed to so pious a work seem to have deserv'd well of their Town For however we may be prone to judge of the forward accommodations of life all is not in present food and raiment There is improvement of mind the fruits of discipline not to be despis'd A learned slave would sell for more A youth brought up at school will be taken Apprentice with less mony then one illiterate The broken Colt tam'd Heifer polish'd Diamond known instances nay ground reclaim'd by culture will set at the higher rent Grammar-learning is requisite to very many honest callings and with industry faith and other vertues qualifying for trust hath open'd a way for high preferment nor is it a priviledg to be meanly priz'd by any people to have such education provided that out of their children in due season may be chosen such as may beare the Office of the Ministry Hence too accrues advantage to the state That instruments be fitted for emploiment imports but more that Officers of trust be prevented with sound principles Miserable is the face of any Nation where neither Schools nor Universities be frequented no Law no safe commerce a general ignorance and neglect of duty both to God and man Now that Universities flourish and Schooles are in many populous Towns erected from those places of public education especially persons are sent into all parts of the Land ingag'd in the strictest bonds of Allegiance § 13. Lastly as to the Church these Foundations have to that a more immediate respect The statutes of these Houses generally injoyne a diligent and decent attendance on the publick worship Nay learning well the first rudiments of Religion and bearing a yoke of Government prepares a people to be more docile under their proper Ministers stay'd in judgment and compliant with the Discipline as well as Doctrine of their Spiritual Pastors Further what is a manifest advantage the salaries to Masters and exhibitions to Scholars provide in great mesure that the Church be not burthen'd since upon supposition of their being withheld Ecclesiastical Benefices are taxable to the breeding up of students as in fact at the beginning of Queen Elizabeths reign they were tax'd a thirtieth part When the Fathers at the Councel of Trent assembled had propounded a fair Model of Seminaries knowing the advantages that arise to Religion from Learning and the necessity of endowments to the attaining those advantages till such endowments could be had for the immediate bringing that designe to effect they levied a Tax on all the rents assign'd for the Bishops and the Chapters Table on the profits of all Dignities Personages Offices Prebends Portions Abbies Priories Benefices as well of Regulars as Peculiars on the Fabrick of Churches and other Religious Houses on Colledges Corporations Guilds and Fraternities Monasteries and Exhibitions Of such importance was this work by them then esteem'd as indeed it hath since prov'd a great accession to the relatives of that exempt and peculiar jurisdiction and firmest support of the Papal throne §. 14. Now the better to form in us a right sense of what regards we ought to beare to these worthy Patriots whom God rais'd up to be Founders and Benefactors it may be not improper to examine in what posture the state Scholastick was found at the entrance of King Edw. 6 upon the Government It is well known that a great part of the former Teaching was in Monasteries Now there were in England 118 Monasteries of Royal Foundation whereof 27 mitred Abbots and 2 Priors held their Estates in Barons Fee and gave vote in Parliament All these were dissolv'd with the others which were many more during the Reign of K. Hen. 8. First 40 of the lesser by Cardinal Woolsey with the leave of Clement 7. then such as were under two hundred pound per annum to the number of 376 afterwards the greater the year following the great Priory of S. Johns of Jerusalem At last all Hospitals Chantries Schools Colleges were without any condition given into the Kings hands to be dispos'd of according to his better intentions Then was the survey of Eaton and Winchester Colleges return'd up but the death of the King that year interpos'd between the Act and its utmost Execution Henry the fifth when he supprest the Priors Aliens had thoughts of going farther but was diverted upon a French War by the prudent address of that most vigilant and Reverend Prelate Chichly Strange may it be thought here why the Lords Spiritual and Temporal should agree with the Commons to put up these Bills to King Henr. 8. in so unlimited a manner unless it did argue as to the incumbents of those Monasteries and Chantries a publick dissatisfaction about their having
CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING Free-Schools As settled in ENGLAND Printed at the THEATER in OXFORD and are to be had there And in London at Mr Simon Millers at the signe of the Star near the West end of S. Pauls Church Anno 1678. Imprimatur HENRICVS CLERKE Vice-Cancel Oxon. May 25. Anno Dom. 1677. To the Reverend Dr. HENRY CLERKE President of Magdalene College AND Vice-Chancellor of OXFORD To the Worshipful Dr. THO. BOVCHIER Kings Professor of the Civil Law in the same University Much Honored Patrons THE Subject of this Enquiry low in it self and accordingly apt to be deprest is yet a part of this State not altogether inconsiderable since it hath formerly engag'd the concern of Personages great for Parts and Quality Onely that Probleme must needs have somewhat Topical in it upon which able men and well-affected and on both sides in earnest are divided though perhaps unequally the practice of some few who had manag'd their own affairs with discretion and whose good meaning is not doubted bearing up against the declar'd sense of many of like unquestionable Prudence This address in a Cause conjectural and prejudg'd by Popular Fame being devested of other Authority from the Reporter then what the matter furnishes can onely hope for a Reception as upon tryal it shall approve it self to you before whose impartial Determination those ill-grounded prejudices which have for these not few years averted many charitable intentions for the incouragement of learning will abate Reverend Sir That which gave occasion to this small discourse receiv'd hopes of life from the Right Reverend Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells at that time our Vice-Chancellor in whom without respect to this instance was a Prudence watchful against surreption a judgement known to be stable back'd with Courage as being the result of his own clear reasonings He therefore is advanc'd to an Honorable Government in the Church Suffer now with the Service of the Author the Patronage of this Work to devolve upon your self In the Vniversities are helps of Study Examples of accurate performance The Favors of Oxford to me great as undeserv'd not obscure All Motives from without command an humble Deference of Honor eminently to you which your own inward worth invites Give your self the importunity with patience to glance over this piece and allow some of the imperfections to difficulties to my present circumstances insuperable which difficulties upon a nearer Review may give way to a right understanding through your favourable acceptance Nor may I Worshipful Sir without due Veneration tender these Papers to your Perusal Provisions for School-Masters while Ecclesiastical Benefices for Students in the Vniversity while Portions of Tythes lying originally in the Canon-Law before what more competent Judge can they justify their Reason The Privileges of Students are there most amply deduc'd with us in England laid up in Charters through the Royal Indulgence Their Revenues indeed fenc'd by the Statutes of the Realm Whatever Court take the cognisance of School-causes let them prove their claim by tenderness to the interess'd you are more Zealous for Justice then enlarg'd Jurisdiction Thus you do right to that Faculty which manag'd with such Knowledge Prudence and Integrity must reconcile Commerce with Church-Judicature and by Authority justify'd from the strongest Reason happily advance all the ends of right Government Many are the Blessings vouchsafed to this place among the chief of which we thankfully acknowledge a prudent Magistracy wholesome Laws and Statutes intent Exercise of Discipline administration of Justice temper'd but not corrupted with Mercy Reverend Sir These Genial Influences of your unwea'rid Cares cherish the Studies of Oxford propagate a lasting honor on your memory and lay up for you the blessing of many Orators Give me leave from sense of particular duty to add increase of Happiness on both your Persons to be the unfeigned Prayer of Your most obedient Servant Christopher Wase The Analysis 1. The scope of the Work 2. Education granted universally necessary 3. Learning doubted whether universally useful 4. Some Learning argu'd universally necessary 5. The good understanding between Learning and Trade 6. Schools necessary Free-Schools advantagious to the publick 7. erected by Heathens 8. Catechistical Schools in the Primitive times 9. The Congregation of Canons under the Fathers 10. Cathedral and Parochial Schools of Christianity in the German Empire 11. Since the Councel of Trent Seminaries 12. Upon the English Reformation Free-Schools 13. necessary to the subsistence of the Church 14. as left by K. Henry 8. 15. as under Edw. 6. and Q. Mary 16. as it proceeded under Q. Elizab. 17. since the Q. represented too many 18. Many Free-Schools necessary to this Church 19. useful to the State in Law 20. in Physick and divers other Professions 21. Many Scholars diverting to no Faculty admitted inconvenient 22. Scholars in England not prov'd too many from the late Differences nor present Divisions 23. nor from the discontent of others 24. nor from the many Schools 25. nor from divers thence highly preferr'd 26. Scholars in England probably not too many 27. Free-Schools probably not too many 28. Schools how far in equity free 29. Church and Schools with Empire flourishing encourag'd decaying neglected 30. An instance that there is room for new Foundations in some places of England 31. Free-Schools would be cherish'd by augmentation of the Masters wages 32. by further Exhibitions to Scholars 33. would not be deserted by the Gentry 34. have not all of them been declin'd by the Nobility 35. Country Free-Schools somewhere improvable by having their Patronage annex'd to some House in the University 36. consist in a right understanding between Town and Master 37. advantag'd by their enfeoffement◠38. Orders 39. Catechising 40. Special and General Visitors 41. Library 42. Writing-Schools to be kept within the esteem due 43. The Conclusion CONSIDERATIONS concerning FREE-SCHOOLS §. 1. THERE is an opinion commonly receiv'd that the Scholars of England are over-proportion'd to the preferments for letter'd Persons Hereupon the Constitution of Free-Schools cometh to be question'd as diverting those whom Nature or Fortune had determin'd to the Plough the Oar or other Handicrafts from their proper design to the study of Liberal Arts and even Divinity it self But the multiplying these Foundations is yet higher represented as dangerous to the Government These jealousies have gain'd upon the Prudent the Powerful and not the least upon the Scholar as indeed allegations of such consequence deserve not to be slighted when proceeding from men of Authority and publish'd in Books by repeated Impressions they have pass'd into a constant Fame Schools a name against which many have an Antipathy carrieth in it at the best an unpleasing notion of restraint Free-Schools sound mean and illiberal yet had bin fafe in their contemt This charge admitted if they escape present Suppression or Diminution they must nevertheless ly under the perpetual displeasure of the Magistrat more grievous then Dissolution it self Besides an Imputation
length seated in the highest pitch of Ecclesiastical Dignity the Seat of Princes Arch-Bishops have founded Free-Schools and if Piety Prudence and Learning by their King approv'd have advanc'd any to that Seat which at times hath becn with like Vertues adorn'd by Persons of Noble and Royal extraction what room is left for envy By such steps have others ascended in the State to great Trust Why then should it seem cause of offence to any that in a matter of highest moment to be manag'd with Prudence and Courage the scrutiny should not alwaies run upon favour or wealth Princes would not be confin'd to employ men of title or mony but in some Affairs of State require abilities well purchas'd at the expence of both the other Should then the Lord of all have less choice in his Ministers Indeed if the certain labors and danger of the Sacred Function be put in the Ballance with the possible honour and profits there is no place for just resentment that either Nobles or the sons of the Menu as one stileth those that are born of the Commonalty should partake of both indifferently This place seems proper to rectify an opinion about the multitude of poor conceiv'd to be bred up to Learning That I may keep close to our age and Nation the Gentry the Plebeians and the poor consider'd of those that come to the University the poor Servitour in all Colledges is for number inconsiderable The Plebeian that is son of the Yeoman or Trades-man not many and for subsistence oftentimes not worst provided for May not then this ungentle Reflexion however let fly light upon the yonger Sons of the Gentry There are Privileges in the way of an ingenuous Education allow'd the poor and since upon the issue of an unnatural War or otherwise many Families of Gentlemen may have render'd their Children honestly poor nothing but an aversness to learning can dispauper them But suppose we otherwise Obscurity of birth is no Canonical obstruction The poor receiv'd the Gospel and sure they that receive it may deliver it There is an honest ambition in many of mean Fortune Generous seeds which would be cherish'd The Jewish Doctors enjoin Children be taught a Trade but above all Trades the Law The better gifts all should follow though all cannot in the same degree obtain §. 26. The temper of the world in variety of dispositions as in diversity of Sexes is order'd by a Providence more then human But besides our own inclinations the will of Parents our fortunes narrow or over-large alike avert from attendance on studies and determine our counsels so that we are dispos'd by a choice mix'd with necessity But work to be sure directs as to the number of Laborers though ordinarily reward excite industry He that saith England is over-stock'd with Scholars for the proportion of its preferments and for its employment for Lettred Persons would do well seriously to consider who may with any right be term'd a Scholar what is to a modest mind preferment and how large the employment for Lettred Persons is in so great a Church and State Suppose we therefore first adult proficients such as are fit to be employ'd and may need as well as deserve to be prefer'd to a subsistence what I mean may not discredit their profession and may comfort them in their labors Then not insisting at present upon other of the superiour Faculties regard we nearly the occasions of Divinity This Emploiment is large as conversant about divers Millions of Persons in England and Wales It is of necessity as wherein the care of Souls is concern'd It must be perform'd with diligence fidelity and prudence as being the Lords work Compute we therefore the yearly number of Inceptours in Arts in the Universities in both perhaps about three hundred by which number 15000 Incumbencies or Titles being divided will produce a Quotient of more years then Masters after their commencing do usually attain unto in which the Succession of Ministers circulates But must the collation of H. Orders or benefices be restrain'd to degrees What the Canons of the Church and Statutes of the Realm have not positively injoin'd neither doth this disquisition suggest but because some knowledge in Languages and Arts with skill in the H. Scriptures hath been ever accounted preparatory to the Ministry because proficiency cannot amongst us be otherwise more publickly known and because dignities have been usually confer'd upon those who by this means have been found eminent I know no Argument in this case more decretory This also with other proofs Bishops doe respect as a good testimonial and Arch-Bishop Chichley did in his time order that Livings of the greater value should be confer'd on Persons that had taken the higher degrees Before this account pass for evidence it may reasonably be demanded whether many are not us'd in the Church before any of the compleat degrees taken To which this reply will be offerd that if many leave the University before the taking of such Degree and enter upon emploiment a great part of them afterwards return to take it the rest were they not streightned in maintenance or perhaps incumber'd with domestical cares would proceed and therefore further towards satisfying the demand if we resume the former calculation not one in five will be found to arrive at 50 years Master so large is the period of succession assign'd Indeed the matter in question is in its own nature incapable of full demonstration because the term of Life is uncertain Such estimate however as may nearest approach truth is needful to direct practise And unless a Paralogism can be discover'd in the present account it will remain highly probable that there are not too many Scholars in England for the necessary emploiment for lettred Persons whatever the provision for them be §. 27. Neither want there grounds of conjecture that the number of Free-Grammar-Schools is not excessive else what means it that so many privat ones are every where judg'd allowable that divers Parishes find themselves necessitated to entertain Masters upon a voluntary contribution no specious reasoning can conclude against experience With far greater reason do the Canons of our Church give liberty to all Vicars and Curats to take out a licence to teach Grammar And the Canon-Law forbids under severe penalties the not granting freely that is without purchase such licence to any person duely qualified desiring it Much better Catholicks are they therefore that have promoted the good institution of many by providing maintenance for Teachers then those who being otherwise disposâ—d propagate evil surmises to the disparagement of these Charities and avert the purposes of such who had intended further incouragement to Learning §. 28. Free-Schools not too many will they say the case is plain for where are there any such in England Hereupon with heat enough urge the intention of Donors every where abus'd salaries paid yet tutorage for all that no where remitted not without some
Disciples asking the solution of what was allegorically deliver'd prescribe Rules to the Scholar of a modest liberty in propounding his doubts apposite to the present lesson and subject in discourse as also to the Master of a gentle condescension in resolving those doubts that he think it not grievous to repeat to inculcate his instructions with regard to the difficulty of the matter in debate or slowness of the Learners comprehension Thus have many Teachers been improv'd by forming an apt answer to pregnant questions propos'd by their Auditors And for our Instruction doubtless was the child Jesus found in the Temple sitting in the midst of the Doctors both hearing them and asking them questions This work hath been carried on by exercise or Books As for Sundaies and Festivals Verses upon the proper Gospel or Psalms reading sacred Poëms Dialogues Epistles Meditations Confessions and such like pieces which have been set forth in a small form fitted for the use of young Learners In divers Places the Statutes require over and above decent attendance on the publick worship that the Scholars be call'd to render an account of what they were taught When S t. Chrysostome upon occasion had prest his Auditors to the repeating at home what they had at Church heard that every House-keeper being return'd would spread a double Table the one of bodily food the other of the word of God and the Husband to recount what had been there spoken the Wife to learn the Children also to hear nay the very servants not to be debarr'd from that repetition Make thy House saith he a Church as being accountable for the Souls of thy Family as the Minister stands charg'd with those of the whole Congregation the people of Antioch hereupon broke out into loud Acclamations which that Father accepted not as an empty Applause but as the pledge of their obedience As to the religious conduct of youth I shall onely add upon this Head that there is extant a Treatise of the same Fathers anciently styled the Golden Book of Education brought to light by the learned Combefis and render'd into English by M r. John Evelyn a person whose fruitful industry hath oblig'd his Country nor ever to be mention'd by me without much honor §. 40. Further as care is taken that the Masters Salary be duely paid so because the Tenure is not Frank-almain as was that of Abbies and may that of Hospitals be call'd but what implys a duty to be perform'd which gives Title to the Reward in many places besides the Governors special Visitors are appointed whether some Gentry by the designation of the Founder thought fit and willing to oversee the discharge of the trust or some three or four Neighbor Ministers who annually at certain prefix'd time or times preside over the sollemn exercise of the Scholars and from their proficience estimate the abilities and diligence of the Master After all which the Bishop as general Visitor both superintends the Master and is Head of the Commission for charitable Uses Indeed subordination and Dependency is the form of Bodies collective without which nothing is strong nothing is beautiful The more immediat concern of the Church Organical successive is commended to the Bishop not onely by the Holy Scripture but by the ancient Canons by Canon-Law and by the Statutes of this Realm and practise of all Ages and places Christian the Ordinary gives licence to the School-Master and exacts his duty but withall the same with other Commissioners by him engag'd vindicates School-Revenues detain'd by Executors or interverted by Trustees As much fond as any are of Liberty no man surely envys the greatness of that power which he apprehends for his own Interest And Interest in the highest Prelate may the poorest School-Master assure by assiduity and vigilance over himself his small flock I shall onely add upon this Head that such seeming not to have consider'd enough their own weakness draw upon themâ—â—â—â—es the low rate and esteem set upon this Profession and gratify that whether overt hatred or inconsiderate policy of others in impeaching the growth and flourishing of the state Scholastick whosoever do not with humble gratitude embrace that superabundant strength which God hath vouchsaf'd them from the Kings Majesty the common Nursing Father of publick Schools in his gracious Letters Patents from the High and Honorable Court of Parliament in Laws made for their Immunity and Vindication from worthy Neighbors or worshipful Companies of the great City their vigilant and faithful Governors from many of the Nobility Gentry or Neighboring Ministers often their special Visitors lastly from the Right Reverend their Diocesan and Spiritual Father always their general Visitor §. 41. There remains another advantage of publick Schools the greatest benefit to Learners after the Master is a good Library Before the Art of Printing was discover'd when Books all written by hand were rare and however less correct and compleat to be purchas'd at excessive rates those that set up Schools in the Provinces of the Empire Greek and Latine Heathen or Christian provided themselves ordinarily with some store of Copies to promote the common studies of their Scholars with themselves And even in that affluence of Books which this present Age daily furnishes although a Parent can afford to provide his Son of such as are cheap and portable for his present use as he proceeds in Learning yet there are voluminous Authors Pillars of a Library which would highly advance Study yet are not the purchase of every one that is most studious and therefore best able to use them In which regard a Library would even at the present be reputed a necessary Member of a School-House This would not consist of promiscuous Books English Histories Treatises in Faculties of Law Physick and Divinity unseasonably read intervert the time due for other studies preparatory to the Scholars daily exercise and therefore Universities lay a prudent restraint on Artists according to their several progress in the Facultie to keep some years in Seats at the entrance of the publick Library under Books of those Arts about which they are for that time conversant Some having been question'd how it came to pass that former Ages who fram'd the very Theoremes of those Sciences in compiling and transforming the Systemes whereof we so much glory could advance so far have been ready to attribute it to the fewness of their Books upon this very account not without some appearance of reason though how truly I list not here farther to enquire Be therefore onely proper and organical Books hither admitted and few of that sort would be excluded He is a good Workman that can use every Tool Even those writings that are earnestly censurd as hindrances to Scholarship allow'd with careful directions in their time and place prove helps to proficiency Better were it for the peace and comfort of Life if it fell out in matters of higher consequence