not so as their professions do enioine them For the first in particular the rule of health condemnes not daunsing but the mistyming of it that it is vsed after meat when rest is most holesome with full stomacke when digestion should haue all the helpe of naturall heat that to please the beholders such as vse daunsing do displease them selues And sure if daunsing be an exercise as both all antiquitie doth commend it for and I my selfe do allow of it by that name it would by rule of Physick go before meat and not be vsed but long after as a preparatiue against a new meale and a disburdener of superfluities against a surcharge of new diet Howbeit there be in it some more violent measures then some and in beginning with the most staydest and most almanlike and so marching on till the springing galliard and quicker measures take place choice in euerie one vpon knowledge of his owne bodie and his emptinesse or saturitie maye helpe health though the custome of eche countrey commaunde not onely health though to her harme but euen the verie science which professeth the preseruation of health if desire egge delite to shew it selfe in place Wherevpon the second blame of daunsing doth especially builde and take her hold To keepe thinges in order there is in the soule of man but one though a verie honorable meane which is the direction of reason to bring things out of order there be two the one strōgheaded which is the commaundement of courage the other many headed which is the enticement of desires Now daunsing hath properties to serue eche of these exercise for health which reason ratifieth armour for agilitie which courage commendeth liking for allowance which desire doth delite in But bycause it yeildeth most to delite and in most varietie of pleasures desire ministreth most matter to blame daunsing by pleasing desire to much hath pleased reason to litle and when reason obiecteth inconueniences it turneth the deafe side and followeth her owne swinge For when the tailour hath braued where nature hath beawtified when amiablenesse of person hath procured agilitie by cunning what gallant youthes in whom there is any courage can abide not to come to shew hauing such qualities so worthy the beholding here will courage shew her selfe though repentance be her port here will desire throng in prease though it praise not in parting All this doth confesse that daunsing is become seruant to desire though not daunsing alone and yet companions in blame be no dischargers of fault What then for the generall seing thinges which man vseth cannot be quite free from misuse it is halfe a vertue to winne so much as there be as litle misuse as may be and to charge the partie that deserues blame with hinderance of health with corruption of manners with ill losse of good time which if he care not for the precept may passe though he passe not for it But howsoeuer daunsing be or be thought to be seing it is held for an exercise we must thinke there is some great good in it though we protecte not the ill if any come by it Which good we must seeke to get and praie those maisters which fashion it with order in time with reason in gesture with proportion in number with harmonie in Musick to appoint it so as it may be thought both seemely and sober and so best beseeme such persons as professe sobrietie and that with all it may be so full of nimblenesse and actiuitie as it may proue an exercise of health being vsed in wholesome times and not seeking to supplant rest as the rule of health at this daie complaineth And generally of all ages me thinke it beseemeth children best to enable and nimble their iointes therby to stay their ouermuch deliting therin in further yeares The very definition of it declareth what it was then when it was right and what it is now when it seemes to be wronge if right in such thinges be not creature to vse and maye change with time without challenge for the change They define daunsing to be a certaine cunning to resemble the manners affections and doinges of men and women by motions and gestures of the bodie artificially deuised in number and proportion This was to them a kinde of deliuerie to vtter their mindes by signes resemblances of that which came nearest to the thing and was most intelligible to the lookers on But now with vs there is nothing left to the daunser ordinarily but the bare motion without that kinde of hand cunning for so I terme their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bycause the skill seemed then to rest most in the vse of the vpper partes and gesturing by the hand The credit of our daunsing now is to represent the Musick right and to cause the bodye in his kinde of action to resemble and counterfet that liuely which the instrument in his kinde of composition deliuereth delicately and with such a grace to vse the legges and feete as the olde daunsers vsed their armes and handes And as in the olde time both men wymen and children did vse daunsing to helpe and preserue their health to purchace good hauiour and bearing of their bodies so in these our dayes being vsed in time by order and with measure it will worke the same effectes of health hauiour and strength and may well auoide the opinion of either lewdnesse or lightnesse Thus much for daunsing as the motion is for health and the meaning for good Chapter 17. Of wrastling FOr wrastling as it is olde and was accounted cunning sometimes so now both by Physicians in arte and by our countreymen in vse it seemeth not to be much set by being contemned by the most and cared for but by the meanest Yet the auncient Palesira a terme knowen to the learned and ioined with letters and Musick to proue the good bringing vp of youth as a most certaine argument of abilitie well qualified fetcht that name of the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we in English terme wrastling and was alwaye of good note as wrastling it selfe in games gat victories in warre tried forces in health helpt hauiour in the bodye wrought strength and made it better breathed Clemens Alexandrinus which liued at Rome in Galenes time in the third booke of his Paedagogue or training maister in the title of exercise reiecting most kindes of wrastling yet reserueth one as verie well beseeming a ciuill trained man whom both seemelinesse for grace profitablenesse for good health do seeme to recommende Then an exercise it is and healthfully it may be vsed if discretion ouerlooke it our countrey will allow it Let vs therefore vse it so as Clement of Alexandria commendes it for and make choice in our market Wherfore not to deale with the catching pancraticall kinde of wrastling which vsed all kindes of hould to cast ouercome his aduersarie nor any other of that sort which continuance hath reiected and custome refused I
applyed by proprietie in matter first offered them to learne by considerate ascent in order encreasing by degrees by wary handling of them to draw them onward with courage We finde also in them as a quickenes to take so a fastnesse to retaine therfore their memorie would streight waye be furnished with the verie best seeing it is a treasurie exercised with the most seeing it is of receite neuer suffered to be idle seeing it spoiles so soone For in defaulte of the better the worse will take chaire and bid it selfe welcome and if idlenesse enter it will exclude all earnest and call in her kinsfolkes toyes and triffles easie for remembraunce heauy for repentaunce We finde in them further an ability to discern what is good and what is ill which ought foorthwith to be made acquainted with the best by obedience and order and dissuaded from the worse by misliking and frowne These three thinges witte to take memorie to kepe discretion to dscern and moe if ye seeke though but braunches to these which I chuse for my purpose shall ye finde pearing out of the litle young soules when you may see what is in them and not they themselues Whose abilitie to encrease in time and infirmitie to crawle at that time is commended to them which first begot them or best can frame them Now these naturall towardnesses being once espied in what degree they rise bycause there is ods in children by nature as in parentes by purchace they must be followed with diligence encreased by order encouraged by comfort till they come to their proofe Which proofe trauell in time will perfourme hast knittes vp to soone and vnperfit flownesse to late and to weake But for the best waie of their good speede that witte maie conceiue and learne well memorie retaine and hold fast discretion chuse and discerne best the cheife and chariest point is so to plie them all as they may proceede voluntarily and not with violence that will may be a good boye ready to do well and lothe to do ill neuer fearing the rod which he will not deserue For wheresoeuer will in effecting doth ioyne with abilitie to conceiue and memorie to retaine there industrie will finde frute yea in the frowne of fortune By discretion to cause them take to that which is best to forsake that which is worst in common dealinges is common to all men that haue interest in childrē parentes by nature maisters by charge neighbours of curtesie all men of all humanitie whom either priuate care by custome or publike cure by commaundement of magistrate and lawe doth compell in conscience to helpe their well doing and to fray them from ill wheresoeuer they meete them or when so euer they see them do that which is naught And therfore that duetie to helpe them in this kinde for their manners is incident to maisters but among others though somwhat more then some others as to whom it is most seemely bycause of their authoritie and most proper bycause of their charge whom knowledge best enfourmeth to embrew them with the best and power best assisteth to cause them embrace the best euen perforce at the first till acquaintaunce in time breede liking of it selfe But this mannering of them is not for teachers alone because they communicate therin as I haue said already both with naturall parentes to whom that point appertaineth nearest as of most authoritie with them and with all honest persons which seing a child doing euill are bid in conscience to terrifie and check him as the quality of the childes offence and the circūstāce of their owne person doth seeme best to require Wherfore reseruing for the teacher so much as is for his office to enstruct the child what is best for him in matter of manners and to see to it so much as in him lyeth to set good orders in his gouernment to see them alwaye well and one waye still executed and perfourmed I referre the rest to those whom either any vertuous consideration of them selues or any particular duetie enioyned by lawe doth charge with the rest either by priuate discipline at home or by publicke ordinaunce abroade to see youth well brought vp that waye to learne to discern that which is well from ill good from bad religious from prophane honest from dishonest commendable from blameworthy seemely from vnseemely that they may honour God serue their countrey comfort their freindes and aide one an other as good countreymen are bound to do But how to handle their conceit in taking and their memorie in holding bycause that appertaineth to teachers wholly for all that the parentes and freindes wilbe medlers somtime to further their young impes I will deale in that and shew wherin children ought to be trained till they be found fit for Grammer wherin neuerthelesse both the matters which they learne and the manners which they are made to serue for ground to vertue and encrease of discretion As I might verie well be esteemed inconsiderate if I should force any farre fet diuises into these my principles which neither my countrey knew nor her custome cared for so dealing but with those and resting content with those which my countrey hath seuered to her priuate vse and her custome is acquainted with of long continuaunce I maye hope for consent where my countrey commendeth and looke for successe where custome leades my hand and feare no note of noueltie where nothing is but auncient Amongst these my countreys most familiar principles reading offereth her selfe first in the entrie chosen vpon good ground continued vpon great proofe enrowled among the best and the verie formost of the best by her owne effectes as verie many so verie profitable For whether you marke the nature of the thing while it is in getting or the goodnesse therof when it is gotten it must needs be the first and the most frutefull principle in training of the minde For the letter is the first and simplest impression in the trade of teaching and nothing before it The knitting and iointing wherof groweth on verie infinitely as it appeareth most plainely by daily spelling and continuall reading till partely by vse and partely by argument the child get the habit and cunning to read well which being once goten what a cluster of commodities doth it bring with all what so euer any other for either profit or pleasure of force or freewill hath published to the world by penne or printe for any ende or to any vse it is by reading all made to serue vs in religion to loue and feare God in lawe to obey and please men in skill to entertaine knowledge in will to expell ignorance to do all in all as hauing by it all helpes to do all thinges well Wherfore I make reading my first and fairest principle of all other as being simply the first in substaunce and leaning to none but leading all other and growing after so great as it raungeth ouer all being somwhat without other
pallida iuris Omine spem laedit deteriore suam Sed sine sole nequit viui prodire necesse est Curaque quod peperit publica iura vocant Fortunae credenda salus quam prouida virtus Quam patris aeterni dextera magna regit Sic sua Neptuno committit vela furenti Spem solam in medijs docta phaselus aquis Sed mihi spes maior cui res cum gēte Deorum Quae certo dubijs numine rebus adest Perge igitur sortique tuae te crede parentis Tessera parue liber prima future tui Et quia quà perges hominum liberrima de te Iudicia in medijs experiere vijs Quidnam quisque notet quidnam desideret in te Quo possim in reliquis cautior esse refer Interea veniam supplex vtrique precare Nam meus error erat qui tuus error erit Qui neutrius erit cum quis sit sensero quippe Nullum in correcto crimine crimen erit Ergo tuae partes quae sint errata referre Emendare mei cura laboris erit Namque rei nouitas nulli tentata priorum Hac ipsa qua tu progrediere via Vtrique errores multos lapsusque minatur Quos cum resciero num superesse sinam Cui tam chara mei lectoris amica voluntas Vt deleta illi displicitura velim R. M. THE ARGVMEMTES HANDLED IN EVERY PARTICVLAR TITLE Cap. 1. THe entrie to the Positions conteining the occasiō of this present discourse and the causes why it was penned in English Cap. 2. Wherfore these Positions serue what they be and how nrcessarie it was to begin at them Cap. 3. Of what force circunstance is in matters of action and how warily authorities be to be vsed where the contemplatiue reason receiues the check of the actiue circunstance if they be not well applyed Of the alledging of authours Cap. 4. What time were best for the childe to begin to learne What matters some of the best writers handle eare they determine this question Of lettes and libertie whervnto the parentes are subiect in setting their children to schoole Of the difference of wittes and bodies in children That exercise must be ioyned with the booke as the schooling of the bodie Cap. 5. What thinges they be wherein children are to be trained eare they passe to the Grammar That parentes and maisters ought to examine the naturall abilities in children whereby they become either fit or vnfit to this or that kinde of life The three naturall powers in children Witte to conceiue by Memorie to retaine by Discretion to discerne by That the training vp to good manners and nurture doth not belong to the teacher alone though most to him next after the parent whose charge that is most bycause his commaundement is greatest ouer his owne childe and beyond appeale Of Reading Writing Drawing Musicke by voice and instrument and that they be the principall principles to traine vp the minde in A generall aunswere to all obiections which arise against any or all of these Cap. 6. Of exercises and training the body How necessarie a thing exercise is What health is and how it is maintained what sicknesse is how it commeth and how it is preuented What a parte exercise playeth in the maintenaunce of health Of the student and his health That all exercises though they stirre some one parte most yet helpe the whole bodie Cap. 7. The braunching order and methode kept in this discourse of exercises Cap. 8. Of exercise in generall and what it is And that it is Athleticall for games Martiall for the fielde Physicall for health preparatiue before postparatiue after the standing exercise some within dores for foule whether some without for faire Cap. 9. Of the particular exercises Why I do appoint so manie and how to iudge of them or to deuise the like Cap. 10. Of lowd speaking How necessarie and how proper an exercise it is for a scholer Cap. 11. Of lowd singing and in what degree it commeth to be one of the exercises Cap. 12. Of lowde and soft reading Cap. 13. Of much talking and silence Cap. 14. Of laughing and weeping And whether children be to be forced toward vertue and learning Cap. 15. Of holding the breath Cap. 16. Of daunsing why it is blamed and how deliuered from blame Cap. 17. Of wrastling Cap. 18. Of fensing or the vse of the weapon Cap. 19. Of the Top and scourge Cap. 20. Of walking Cap. 21. Of running Cap. 22. Of leaping Cap. 23. Of swimming Cap. 24. Of riding Cap. 25. Of hunting Cap. 26. Of shooting Cap. 27. Of the ball Cap. 28. Of the circumstances which are to be considered in exercise Cap. 29. The nature and qualitie of the exercise Cap. 30. Of the bodies which are to be exercised Cap. 31. Of the exercising places Cap. 32. Of the exercising time Cap. 33. Of the quantitie that is to be kept in exercise Cap. 34. Of the manner of exercising Cap. 35. An aduertisement to the training master Why both the teaching of the minde and the training of the bodie be assigned to the same master The inconueniences which ensue where the bodie and the soule be made particular subiectes to seuerall professions That who so will execute any thing well must of force be fully resolued in the excellencie of his owne subiect Out of what kinde of writers the exercising maister maie store himselfe with cunning That the first groundes would be laide by the cunningest workeman That priuate discretion in any executour is of more efficacie then his skill Cap. 36. That both yong boyes and yong maidens are to be put to learne Whether all boyes be to be set to schoole That to many learned be burdenous to few to bare wittes well sorted ciuill missorted seditious That all may learne to write and reade without daunger The good of choice the ill of confusiō The childrē which are set to learne hauing either rich or poore freindes what order choice is to be vsed in admitting either of them to learne Of the time to chuse Cap. 37. The meanes to restraine the ouerflowing multitude of scholers The cause why euery one desireth to haue his childe learned and yet must yeilde ouer his owne desire to the disposition of his countrie That necessitie and choice be the best restrainers That necessitie restraineth by lacke and law Why it may be admitted that all may learne to writ and reade that can but no further What is to be thought of the speaking and vnderstanding of latine and in what degree of learning that is That considering our time and the state of religion in our time law must needes helpe this restraint with the aunswere to such obiections as are made to the contrarie That in choice of wittes which must deale with learning that wit is fittest for our state which aunswereth best the monarchie and how such a wit is to be knowne That choice is to helpe in schooling in admission into colledges in proceding to degrees in
ordinarie so where it lighteth it giues vs the gaze and bides all beginninges but that which is to soone bycause God hath prouided that strength in nature wherby he entendes no exception in nurture for that which is in nature Such spirites there be and such bodies they haue if they will and may so keepe them with orderly regard which is extreme hard vnto them For that oftimes they will not do so but distemper their bodies with disordinate doinges when pleasures haue possessed them and rashenesse is their ruler Oftimes they maie not thorough varietie and weight of important affaires which commaundeth them too farre in some kinde of calling But where so euer they light or what so euer waye they take they shewe what they be and alwaye proue either the verie best or the most beastly For there can scantly be any meane in those constitutions which are so notably framed and so rarely endued And therefore those parentes which haue such children must take great heede of them as the tippes of euill if they chuse that waye or the toppes of good if they minde that is best For the middle and most moderate wittes which commonly supplie eche corner in eche countrey and serue most assaies some ordinary meane will serue to order them but where extraordinarie pointes begin to appeare there common order is not commonly enough This is my opinion concerning the time when the child shall begin to learne which I do restraine to the strength of witte and hardnes of body the one for to receiue learning the other not to refuse labour and therfore I conclude thus that the parent himselfe ought in reason to be more then halfe a iudge of the entrie to schooling as being best acquainted with the particular circunstance of his owne child Yet I do not allow him to be an absolute iudge without some counsell vnlesse he be a very rare father and well able to be both a rule to himselfe and a paterne to others Bycause most where men be most blinded where they should see best I meane in their owne such a tyrant is affectioÌ„ when she hath wonne the field vnder the conducte of nature and so imperious is nature when she is disposed to make affection her deputie But now for so much as in setting our child to schoole we consider the strength of his bodie no lesse then we do the quicknesse of his witte it should seeme that our traine ought to be double and to be applyed to both the partes that the body may aswell be preserued in his best as the minde instructed in that which is his best that the one may still be able to aunswere the other well in all their common executions As for the training vp of the minde the waye is well beaten bycause it is generally entreated on in euery booke and beareth the honour and title of learning But for the bettering of the body is there not any meane to maintaine it in health and cheifly in the student whose trade treads it downe Yes surely A very naturall and a healthfull course there is to be kept in exercise wherby all the naturall functions of the body be excellently furthered and the body made fit for all his best functions And therfore parentes and maisters ought to take such a waie euen from the beginning as the childes diet neither stuffe the bodye nor choke the conceit which it lightly doeth when it is to much crammed That his garmentes which oftimes burden the bodie with weight sometimes weaken it with warmth neither faint it with heat nor freese it with cold That the exercise of the body still accompanie and assist the exercise of the minde to make a dry strong hard and therfore a long lasting body and by the fauour therof to haue an actiue sharp wise and therwith all a well learned soule If long life be the childes blessing for honoring his parentes why should not the parentes then which looke for that honour all that in them lyeth forsee in youth that their children may haue some hope of that benefit to ensue in their age which cannot take effect vnlesse the thing be begon in their youth Which if it be not by times looked vnto they afterwardes become vncapable of long life and so not to â—nioye the reward of their honour for any thing that their parentes helpe to it though God will be true and perfourme that he promiseth how so euer men hault in doing of their duetie And yet tempting is pernicious where the meane to hit right is laid so manifest and the childes honour to his parentes beginnes at obedience in his infancie which they ought to reward with good qualities for honour and may worke them like waxe bycause they do obey This negligence of the parentes for not doing that which in power they might and in duetie they ought giues contempt in the children some colour of iustice to make their requitall with dishonour in their age were it not that the Christian religion doth forbid reuenge which in presidentes of prophanisme we finde allowed where both curtesie to such parentes as failed in education of their children is countercharged by lawe and dissolute parentes by entreating ill are well entertained of their neglected children the vnfortunate childreÌ„ much moaned for their chaunce that they came to so ill an ende and the vndiscrete parentes more rated for their charge which they looked so ill to wherby themselues did seeme to haue forced such an ende The minde wilbe stirring bycause it stirres the body and some good meane will make it to furnish very well so the choice be well made wherin the order well laid wherby and both well kept wherwith it shalbe thought best trained The body which lodgeth a restlesse minde by his owne reste is betrayed to the commoÌ„ murtherers of a multitude of scholers which be vnholesome and superfluous humors needelesse and noysom excrementes ill to feele within good to send abroad Neither is it enough to saye that children wilbe stirring alwaie of themselues and that therefore they neede not any so great a care for exercising their bodies For if by causing them learne so and sitting still in schooles we did not force them from their ingenerate heat and naturall stirring to an vnnaturall stilnesse then their owne stirring without restraint might seeme to serue their tourne without more adoe But stilnesse more then ordinarie must haue stirring more then ordinarie and the still breding of ill humours which stuffe vp the body for want of stirring must he so handled as it want no stilling to send them away Wherfore as stilnesse hath her direction by order in schooles so must stirring be directed by well appointed exercise And as quiet sitting helpes ill humors to breede and burden the bodie so must much stirring make a waie to discharge the one and to disburden the other Both which helpes as I most earnestly require at the parent and maisters hand so I meane my selfe to
other nothing without it and a thing of such moment as it is vainely begon if it be not soundly goten and being once sound it selfe it deliuereth the next maister from manifest toile and the child himselfe from maruellous trouble from feare where he failes not from staggering where he stops not with comfort where he knowes with courage where he dare a securitie to the parent a safty to eche partie I wishe the childe to haue his reading thus perfect and ready in both the English and the Latin tongue verie long before he dreame of his Grammar Of the which two at whether it were better to begin by some accident of late it did seeme somwhat doubtfull but by nature of the tongues the verdit is giuen vp For while our religion was restrained to the Latin it was either the onely or the onelyest principle in learning to learne to read Latin as most appropriate to that effect which the Church then esteemed on most But now that we are returned home to our English abce as most naturall to our soile and most propter to our faith the restraint being repealed and we restored to libertie we are to be directed by nature and propertie to read that first which we speake first and to care for that most which we euer vse most bycause we neede it most and to begin our first learning there where we haue most helpes to learne it best by familiaritie of our ordinarie language by vnderstanding all vsuall argumentes by continuall company of our owne countreymē all about vs speaking English and none vttering any wordes but those which we our selues are well acquainted with both in our learning and liuing There be two speciall whether ye will call them rules or notes to be obserued in teaching wherof the first is That thinges be so taught as that which goeth before may induce that which followeth by naturall consequence of the thing it selfe not by erronious missorting of the deceiued chuser who like vnto an vnskilfull hoste oftimes misplaceth euen the best of his guestes by not knowing their degrees The second is that those thinges be put vnto children which being confessed to be most necessarie and most proper to be learned in those yeares haue lest sense to their feeling and most labour without fainting For can any growne man so moile him selfe without to much cumber with either the principles of Grammar or cunning without booke as a child will the ones memorie being empty the other being distracte with diuersitie of thoughtes Reason directes yeares and roate rules in youth reason calls in sense and feeling of paine roate runnes on apase and mindeth nothing else but either play in the ende or a litle praise for a great deale of paines Now praise neuer wearies nor paine euer but wearies and play pleaseth children with any yea the greatest iniquitie of circunstance whether the weather lowre or the maister frowne so he will giue them leaue to go Though the Latin tounge be already discharged of all superfluities exempt from custome to chaunge it laid vp for knowledge to cherish it and of long time hath bene smoothed both to the eye and to the eare yet in course of teaching it doth not naturally draw on the English which yet remaineth in her lees vnrackt and not fined though it grow on verie faire Our spelling is harder our pronouncing harsher our syllabe hath commonly as many letters as the whole Latin word hath So that both consequence and hardnesse preferre the English Euen here must memorie begin her first traine and store her selfe with such stuffe as shall laie the best foundation to religion and obedience which beginning in these yeares will crepe on very strongly and no lesse soundly so that the child cannot but proue very good in age which was so consideratly entred in his youth What the thinges shall be wherin both reading must trauell and memorie must make choice I will shew in mine Elementarie wherin the whole education before Grammer shalbe comprised Next to reading followeth writing in some reasonable distance after bycause it requireth some strength of the hand which is not so soone staied nor so stiffe to write as the tōgue is stirring redy to read And though writing in order of traine do succede reading yet in nature and time it must needes be elder For the penne or some other penlike instrument did carue and counterfeat the letter or some letterlike deuise first rawly and rudely neither all at once then finely and fully when all was at once and therby did let the eye beholde that in charact which the voice deliuered to the eare in sounde which being so set downe to vtter the power and knitting of the articulate voice and afterward obserued to expresse them in deede caused writing be much vsed as interpreter to the minde and reading be embrased as expounder to the penne and expressing that in force which the penne set downe in fourme Wherby it must needes follow that raw and rude charactes were the primitiue writing which being expressed what they did signifie brought forth reading and that experience vpon triall of their vertues made so much of them both as she recommended them to profit to haue them appointed for principles in the training vp of youth So that reading being but the expresser of the writen charactes must needes acknowledge and confesse her puniship to writing of whom she tooke both her being and her beginning To limite any one cause how writing began or to runne ouer the inuentours of thinges to finde out who deuised it first were to gesse at some vncertaine though probable coniecture without any assuraunce to build on as the thing it selfe is of small importaunce for any to tarie on It is more then likely wherof so euer the first charact came that necessitie caught hold of it to serue her owne tourne and so enlarged it still till it came to that perfection which we see it now in I will neither paint out reading with such ornamentes as it needes not neither praise writing with such argumentes as it craues not For it is praise enough to a good thing to be confessed good what so euer is said more is doubtfully to groūd that which is determinatly graunted and to seeke for defence when the forte is surrendred After that reading was reduced into forme and brought to her best she fined her foundresse and is therfore aboue all praise bycause she makes the eye the paragon sense by benefit of that obiect And writing it selfe hath profited so much since it hath bene perfited as it now proues the proppe to remembraūce the executour of most affaires the deliuerer of secretes the messager of meaninges the enheritance of posteritie whereby they receiue whatsoeuer is left them in lawe to liue by in letters to learne in euidence to enioye To come by this thing so much commended so as it may bring foorth all her effectes redily and roundly these notes
him to if they light on him about lent when Tops be in time as euerie exercise hath his season both in daie and yeare after the constitution of bodies and quantities in measure Of this kinde of Top that we vse now a dayes both for young and olde people to warme them in cold weather I finde nothing in writing bycause hauing no yron ringes nor pinnes it cā neither be the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though the running about be bold to borrow the last name trochus For they whirled about and along with a marueilous great though a pretie noyse and were pastimes for men euen in the midst of sommer when our Tops be bestowed and laid vp against the spring It resembleth the Latin Turbo most and the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The place of Virgil in the 7. of his AEneis where he compareth Amata the Queene in her furie to this Turbo which the boyes scourged about the wide haule declareth both what Turbo is and whose play it was and that it best resembleth our Top. Of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there was an old Greek Epigram which maketh it either the like or the same with our Top. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which is to say that children when they had their whirling gigges vnder the deuotion of their scourges caused them to troule about the broad streates The harme this exercise may bring must be to the head eyes thorough stouping to much forward or to the backe and shoulders by bending to much downwardes otherwise it warmeth the bodie and worketh all the effectes which those exercises do that either by mouing the legges or armes most and with all the whole bodie in degree enlarge and stirre the naturall heat either to prouoke appetite or to expell superfluities The more roome the Top hath to spinne in the better for the legges and feete the bigger it is the better for the armes and handes The vprighter one scourgeth the better for all partes whom neither bending doth crushe nor moysture corrupt It were to be wished that it were whipt with both the handes in play to traine both the armes seing vse makes the difference and no infirmitie in nature As both Plato wishing the same professeth it to be most true and our experience teacheth vs both in left handed people which vse but the left and in double right handed which vse both the handes a like and beare the name of the right hand as the more common in vse But bycause the place of Plato concerning the left hande is verie pithie to this purpose though I vse not to auouch much in the Greeke toungue yet me thinke I maye not ouerpasse it In the seuenth booke of his lawes allowing the indifferent vse of our feete and legges he complayneth of to much partialitie vsed towardes the armes and handes in these wordes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. For the performance of any kinde of labour there is no difference sayeth he in the legges and lower partes But for our armes thorough ignoraunt nurses and mothers we be euery one of vs halfe lamed For wheras naturally both the armes be almost of equall strength thorough our owne default we make the difference And so he passeth on still prouing the vnnaturall handling of the left hande when it is left weaker then the right hande is These be the exercises which I terme within dores bycause they may be practised at home vnder couert when we cannot go abroad for the weather though all may be vsed abroad if the roome and the weather do serue abroad Wherein I take it that I haue kept Galenes rule in chusing these exercises and that they be all both pleasant profitable and parable the perfect circunstances of all good and generall exercises not to be costly to compasse nor vnpleasant to loth them nor vnprofitable to leaue them Those that require more libertie of roome to raunge at will or to forrage in the field be these which I noted before walking running leaping swimming riding hunting shooting and playing at the ball Chapter 20. Of walking AMong those exercises which be vsed abroade what one deserueth to be set before walking in the order and place of traine what one haue they more neede to know which minde the preseruation continuaunce of health what one is there which is more practised of all men and at all times then walking is I dare saye that there is none whether young or olde whether man or woman but accounteth it not onely the most excellent exercise but almost alone worthy to beare the name of an exercise When the weather suffereth how emptie are the townes and streates how full be the fieldes and medowes of all kindes of folke which by flocking so abroad protest themselues to be fauourers of that they do and delite in for their health If ye consider but the vse of our legges how necessarie they be for the performaunce of all our doings nature her selfe seemeth to haue appointed walking as the most naturall traine that can be to make them discharge their duetie well And sure if there be any exercise which generally can preserue health which can remedie weaknesse which can purchace good hauiour considering it is so generall and neither excludeth person nor age certainly that is walking Herevpon Physicians when they entreat of this argument vse alwaye to giue it the place of preferment and birthright in this kinde The auncient Princes cōmon weales so highly esteemed of it as in the places appointed for exercise whether within their great buildinges or without they seemed to minde no one thing more and still prouided walking roomes to serue for all seasons and times of the yeare some couert and close some vncouert and open some secret and hidden The reason why they thus regarded walking was great for as it seemeth to be so it is in verie deede wholly consecrate to the vse of health Is it euer red that the athlets or gamesters vsed walking for an exercise either in sportes or in theaters or in the solemnising of their sacred ceremonies whervnto they serued did either Plato handling this argument or any good writer else saye that walking was any waye to traine vp soldiars withall Onely Vegetius sayeth in his discourse of warfare that it were good for soldiars to accustome themselues to walke quickly and proportionately for their better breathing and Augustus Cesar and Adrian the Emperours did ordeine by constitution that soldiars both horsemen and footemen should monthly be led abroad to walke and that not only in the plaine fieldes but in all kindes of soile to be able by that acquaintaunce with groundes to make difficultie at none So that walking seemeth to be onely institute both by nature and custome for the vse of health and that in the traine of health no one thing deserueth better place then it doth bycause no other thing besides health
neare the newly exercised how shall the poore boye do that is to go home thorough stinking streates and filthy lanes The rule is change apparell after sweat what if he haue none other or not there where he sweateth Here must the trainers discretion shew it selfe either to chuse exercises that be not subiect to any such extremities or to vse them with the fewest But I am to long neither neede I to doubt of mens discretion though I say thus much of it which many haue and moe wishe for I shall haue occasion to supplie the rest in the generall teacher Thus haue I runne thorough the whole argument of exercises and shewed not onely what I thinke of them in generall but also what be the cheife particulars and the circunstances belonging thereunto according to my promise I haue delt with the training maister and ouertreated him to thinke honorably of his profession to gather knowledge where it is abundantly to be got and last of all to ioine discretion as a third companion to his owne admiration and sufficiency Chapter 36. That both young boyes young maidens are to be put to learne Whether all boyes be to be set to schoole That to many learned be to burdenous to few to bare wittes well sorted ciuill missorted seditious That all may learne to write and read without daunger The good of choice and ill of confusion The children which are set to learne hauing either riche or poore freindes what order and choice is to be vsed in admitting either of them to learne Of the time to chuse NOw that the thinges be appointed wherwith the minde must be first furnished to make it learned and the bodie best exercised to keepe it healthfull we are next to consider of those persons which are to be instructed in this furniture and to be preserued by this exercise which I take to be children of both sortes male and female young boyes and young maidens which though I admit here generally without difference of sex yet I restraine particularly vpon difference in cause as herafter shall appeare But young maidens must giue me leaue to speake of boyes first bycause naturally the male is more worthy and politikely he is more employed and therfore that side claimeth this learned education as first framed for their vse and most properly belonging to their kinde though of curtsie and kindnesse they be content to lend their female in youth the vse of their traine in part vpō whom in age they bestow both themselues and all the frute of their whole traine It might seeme sufficient for the determining of this case to say onely thus much that they must needes be boyes which are to be trained in this sorte as I haue declared bycause the bringing vp of young maidens in any kynd of learning is but an accessory by the waye But for so much as there be many conconsiderations in the persons both of boyes and maidens worthy the deciding I meane to entreat of them both somwhat largely and as neare as I can to resolue both my selfe and my reader in some pointes of controuersie and necessitie or rather in some pointes of apparent necessities being out of all controuersie For the male side that doubt is long ago out of doubt that they be to be set to schoole to qualifie themselues to learne how to be religious and louing how to gouerne and obey how to fore cast and preuent how to defende and assaile and in short how to performe that excellently by labour wherunto they are borne but rudely by nature For the very excellency of executions effectes where by we do so great things as we vonder at our selues in all histories and recordes of time which be but stages for people to gase on and one to maruell at an others doings testifieth and confirmeth that it were great pitie that such towardnesse should be drowned in vs for lacke of education which neuer comes to proofe but where education is the meane That we can proue learned the effect doth shew but that not vnlesse we learne the defect declares That our bodies can do great thinges healthfull strength is witnesse to it selfe but where weaknesse is what doinges there be verie want will pronounce But now in the way of this so commended a traine there be two great doubtes which crosse me The first is whether all children be to be fet to schoole without restraint to diminish the number The second is how to worke restraint if it be thought needefull Touching the first question whether all children be to be set to schoole or no without repressing the infinitie of multitude it is a matter of great weight and not only in knowledge to be resolued vpon but also in deede so to be executed as the resolution shall probably giue sentence For the bodie of a common weale in proportion is like vnto a naturall bodie In a naturall bodie if any one parte be to great or to small besides the eye sore it is mother to some euill by the verie misfourming wherupon great distemperature must needes follow in time and disquiet the whole bodie And in a bodie politike if the like proportion be not kept in all partes the like disturbance will crepe thorough out all partes Some by to much will seeke to bite to sore some by to litle will be trode on to much as both will distemper which if it fortune not to kill in the ende yet it will disquiet where it greiues and hast forward the ende But though the pestering of number do ouerlaie the most professions partes of any common weale and harme there where it doth so ouercharge yet I will not medle with any but this of learning and the learner which I haue chosen to be my peculiar subiect Wherof I saye thus that to many learned be to burdenous that to few be to bare that wittes well sorted be most ciuill that the same misplaced be most vnquiet and seditious To many burdens any state to farre for want of prouision For the rowmes which are to be supplyed by learning being within number if they that are to supply them grow on beyound number how can yt be but too great a burden for any state to beare To haue so many gaping for preferment as no goulfe hath stoore enough to suffise and to let them rome helpeles whom nothing else can helpe how can it be but that such shifters must needes shake the verie strongest piller in that state where they liue and loyter without liuing which needeles superfluitie fleeting without seat what ill can it but breede A dangerous residence it is at hoome still seeking shiftes to liue as they may though with enemitie to order which neede cannot see A perilous searcher it is abroode to seeke to fish in a troubled water if any cause promote their quarrell bycause the cleare is not for them which they haue sounded allready Sure neede is an imperious mistres to force conclusions
Diuinitie were there any great absurditie committed either in the thing if it were so or in me for wishing it so If it had bene thus appointed at the first as it might if the whole building had bene made at once which is scant possible where thinges grow by degrees and buildinges by patches it would haue bene liked very well and the Vniuersities in their commencementes and publike actes would haue commended their pollicy and wisedome which first did appoint it And maye not that be now toucht without blame which if it had bene then done had deserued great honour and when soeuer it shall be done will deserue euerlasting memorie and maye now be well done seeing we haue all thinges needful for the well doing redie And why should it seeme straunge to wish such an alteration seeing greater chaunges haue bene both wished and wrought within this our time Sad and lingring thoughts which measure common weales as buildinges grounded vpon some rocke of marble finde many and sober difficulties resolute mindes make no bones there is stuffe enough the places be ready the landes be neither to be begd ne yet to be purchased they be got and giuen already they maye be easily brought into order seeing our time is the time of reformation Before my wish be condemned I desire my reader to consider it well and marke if it maye take place and whether it maye not with great facilitie For sorting like yeares into one roome which was my second interrogatorie it is no new deuice nor mine All good common weales not fained by fantsie but being in deede such haue vsed it both for likenes of education in like yeares and for trying out where most excellencie lodged to bestow prefermentes vpon apparant desert besides that it is most fit and emulation to the better doth best beseeme like yeares The greeke poet saith that God draweth allway the like to the like and therefore men may well follow the president For vniting of colledges enlarging of the vnited and bettering studentes liuinges I dare say none of them wilbe against me which for a better liuing will chaung his colledge Neither will he thinke it any great losse to leaue his old poore place for a fatter rowme which for such a one will abandon the vniuersitie all Sure the liuings in colledges be now to to leane and of necessitie force good wittes to fly ear they be well feathered More sufficiencie of liuing will yeald more conuenient time furniture to studie which two be the onely meanes to procure more sufficiencie in learning more ripenes in iudgement more stay in maners The necessitie of studentes may thus be supplyed of their owne and they not forced by accepting of exhibition at some handes to admit some bondage vnder hand Restraint will ridde needelesse number sufficient liuinges will maintaine and make the nedefull number sufficiently well learned I neede not staie any longer here For methinke all those good studentes ioyne with me in this fourme of the vniuersitie whom want and barenes of liuing will not suffer to tarie long enough there and better it were for our countrie to haue some smaller meanie wel trayned and sufficiently prouided then a loose number and an vnlearned multitude And there were two questions more worthy the resolution then all Iohannes Picus the erle of Mirandula his nine hundred propounded at Rome the one whether it were agreable to the nature of learning being liberall in condition to be elemosinarie in maintenaunce the other whether it were for a common weale to haue the conceit bound to respectes bycause of priuate exhibition which ought to direct simply without respect sauing to the state alone For sure where learning growes vp by props it leaseth her propertie where the stocke of it selfe will beare vp the bowes there it must be best if choice be made leader and fit wittes bestowed on bookes My three forraine pointes for the furtheraunce of learning be choice for wittes time for furniture maintenaunce for direction what shalbe peculiar to the partie himselfe must tender as therein being detter to God and his countrie Diligence to apply his wit continuaunce to store his time discretion to set furth his maintenaunce are required at his handes For readers of yeares of sufficiencie of continuance methinke I durst enter into some combat that it were beyonde all crie profitable and necessarie to haue whom to follow and of whom to learne how to direct our studies for yeares auncient fathers for sufficiencie most able to enstruct for continuance cunning to discerne persons and circumstaunces for aduise skillfull to rule rash heades which runne on to fast being armed with some priuate opinion of their owne petie learning What was Plato to the Academikes Aristotle to the Peripatetikes Xeno to the Stoiks Epicure to the Epecurians Aristippus to the Anicerian and Cyrenaike and other such fathers to the famulies of their professions but readers It is a meruell to thinke on how longe those fellowes continued in in their profession as Diogenes Laertius doth note It should seeme that Plato taught aboue fiftie yeares reckening the time that he left Speusippus his deputie during his trauell into AEgypt and that way whereby both himselfe proued an excellent maister and his hearers proued most excellent scholers They that haue bene acquainted with cunning readers any where will subscribe to this I know Priuate studie tied to one booke led by one braine not alway the best as what counsellour in commonly worse to ones selfe then himselfe so proceeding as the first impression leads be it what it can be cannot compare for iudiciall learning with the benefit of hearing one nay of repeating to one vpon interrogatories after reading to trie his iudgement his keeping and remembrance which one hath red and digested all the best bookes or at the least all the best bookes in that kinde whereof he maketh profession which hath a iudgement settled resolute by the helpe of all those good braines which hath dealte with thousandes of the pregnantest wittes whom experience hath taught stay whom the common weale by sufferance commendes as sufficient He that is not acquainted with such an excellent reader or teacher for both the names import one thing that with repetition but pleaseth himselfe with his owne priuate studie as he taketh more paines vndoutedly so getteth he lesse gaine I dare assure him hauing in one lecture the benefit of his readers vniuersall studie and that so fitted to his hand as he may streight way vse it without further thinking on whereas when he hath beaten his owne braines priuatly about a litle for want of time to digest being to forward to put foorth he vttereth that which he must either amend vpon better aduice or quite reuoke when he findes he is ouer shot Wherfore such readers or rather such nurses to studie must needes be maintained with great allowance to make their heauen there where ye meane to vse them Whose