The Grammar School, Chapter 35
CHAP. XXXV.
A briefe rehearsall of the chiefe points and helpes mentioned in this booke.
Spoud.
HOw much shall you make me more indebted by that fauour, aboue all your other kindnesse hitherto! Yet in the meane time before we depart, to the end to helpe my weake memory, and to cause me to goe on more cherefully, let me request onelyonly these two things of you further:
1 To repeat the principall heads of those things which should be as it were in the Masters remembrance alwayes,A briefe rehearsall of the chief points mentioned in this booke. to be continually put in practice.
2 To set me downe a short Catalogue of the bookes and helpes which you hauehave mentioned belonging hereunto,A rehearsall of the bookes and helps mentioned. for the better accomplishing of all these seuerall parts of learning.
Phil.
For those principall heads, though most of them were named in the obseruations; yet sith such little briefes doe much helpe memory, I will rehearse them so neere as I can.
These were of the chiefe:
1 To cause all to be done with vnderstanding.The principall heads of those things which would be kept euer in memory, to be put in practice by the Master continually.
2 To cut off all needlesse matters, so much as may be, and passe by that which is vnprofitable.
3 To note all hard and new wordes: to obserue matter and phrase carefully.
4 To learne and keepe all things most perfectly, as they goe.
5 To hauehave few fourmes.
6 To discourage none, but to draw on all by a desire of commendation.
7 To stirre vp to emulation of aduersaries, and to vse all good policy for one to prouoke another.
8 Continuall examining (which is the life of all) and chiefly posing of the most negligent.
9 Right pronuntiation.
10 Some exercise of memory daily.
11 To hauehave the best patternes for eueryevery thing; and to doe all by imitation.
12 The Master to stirre vp both himselfe and his Schollars to continuall cheerefulnesse.
13 Constancy in order.
These were generally premised. To these we may adde;
14 To get an Idea or short summe and generall notion of eueryevery Treatise or Chapter.
15 To parallel all by examples, or to giuegive like examples for each thing, and where they hauehave learned them.
16 To see that they hauehave continually all necessaries.
17 To countenance and preferre the best, to be markes for the rest to aime at, and that all may be incouraged by their example.
18 Maintayning authority, by carefull execution of iustice in rewards and punishments, with demonstration of louelove, faithfulnesse and painefulnesse in our place, with grauitie; working by all means a louelove of learning in the schollars, and a strift who shall excell most therein, of a conscience to do most honour and seruice vntounto the Lord, both presently, and chiefly in time to come.
19 In a word; Seruing the Lord with constant cheerefulnesse, in the best courses which he shall make knowne vntounto vsus▪ we shall vndoubtedly see his blessing, according to our hearts.
M. Askam hath these steps to learning:Master Askam his steps to learning. First, Aptnesse of nature: Secondly, LoueLove of learning: Thirdly, Diligence in right order: Fourthly, Constancy with pleasant moderation: Fiftly, Alwayes to learne of the most learned; pointing and ayming at the best, to match or go beyond them.
Philip Melanchton also, in his Preface before Hesiod, aduiseth after this manner;Philip Melanchtons direction. To striue to make schollars exceeding cunning in eueryevery Authour which they reade. doe this by oft reading and construing ouer their Authors; causing them to note eueryevery thing worthy obseruation, with some marke, to run ofter ouer those: not regarding how many the Authours are, but how exactly they learne them; chiefly all their sentences & speciall phrases, that the speech of the children may euer sauor of them: for thus he saith; Vt quis que author optimus, it a saepissimè relegendus ad imit ationem: And that thereby they may alwayes hauehave of a sudden a patterne or president in their minde, whereunto to run, as the painter hath. And so much for the chiefe points: for the seuerall books and helps, I referre you rather to the seuerall Chapters; where you may soone see them together, as you shal hauehave occasion to vse them for their seuerall purposes.
Spoud.
But it is a great charge to poore men, to prouide so many bookes as may seeme necessary.
Phil.
It is true indeede; yet one yeare gained in their childrens learning, will recompence abundantly all charge in bookes which they shall neede: and much more, if by them they shall gaine sundry yeares, and be furnished with all kinde of excellent learning meet for their yeares; which without the best bookes, it is no more likely to do, then for any to proue exquisite in other trades and sciences, without the most fine instruments seruing thereunto.
And this one certaine assurance of the obtayning this treasure of learning, by following the right meanes and courses, may counterpoize all labour and charges whatsoeuer can be furmised, for attayning of the same.
Spoud.
Sir, I rest fully satisfied; praysing the Lord, and acknowledging my perpetual debt for this our conference.
Phil.
Let vsus giuegive God all the glory; to whom of due it appertaines: and let vsus euer intreate him, that as he hath thus begun, so he will perfect his owne worke, for the euerlasting praise of his owne name, and the perpetuall good of all his people, vntill Christ Iesus shall come. foreign.
foreign.