The Grammar School, Chapter 1
CHAP. 1.
A Discourse between two Schoolemasters, concerning their function. In the end, determining a conference about the best way of teaching, and the manner of their proceeding in the same.
SPOVDEVS. PHILOPONVS.
Spoud.
GOd saue you, good Sir: I am glad to see you in health.
Phil.
What mine old acquaintance, M. Spoudaeus?
Spoud.
The very same, sir.
Phil.
Now, I am as right glad to see you well: you are heartily welcome to this my poore house.
Spoud.
Sir, I giuegive you many thanks.
Phil.
But how hauehave you done these many yeares?
Spoud.
I thank God I hauehave had good health,The Schoolemasters place ordinarily wearisome, thankelesse. euer since wee liued in the Colledge together: but for my time, I hauehave spent it in a fruitlesse, wearisom, and an vnthankfull office; in teaching a poore country schoole, as I hauehave heard, that your selfe hauehave also beene imployed in the same kinde of life; and am therefore perswaded, that you hauehave had some experience of my griefe.
Phil.
Experience, say you? yea indeed I hauehave had so much experience of that whereof you now complaine, that if all other things were according thereunto, I might bee able to teach very many. But I pray you sir, what good occasion hath brought you into these parts? It is a wonder to see you in this countrey. I should hardly hauehave knowen you (it is so long since we liued together, now aboue twentie yeeres, and also for that you seeme to me so aged) but that I did better remember your voice then your fauour.
Spoud.
Sir, you see the Prouerbe verefied in me; Cura facit canos. They who hauehave felt the euils of labouring without fruit in their calling, wil neither spare labor nor cost to help the same.Cares and troubles hauehave made me aged long before my time. As for my iourney, a very great and necessary occasion hath driuen me into these quarters, to come euen vntounto you, to seeke your helpe and direction, in matter wherein (I hope) you may exceedingly pleasure me, without hurt any way, or so much as the least preiudice vntounto your selfe.
Phil.
You might thinke mee very vnkinde, and forgetfull of our auncient louelove, if I should not be readie to shew you anie kindnesse; especially sith you hauehave taken so long a iourney vntounto me.If for to gain a little politick experience or to see fashions, many will aduēture both by sea and land, into enemies countries, to the hazarding ofttimes both of body and soule; how much more ought we to trauel at home, amongst our friends, to gain lasting comfort in our labours? But I pray what is the matter?
Spoud.
The matter (if you will giuegive mee leaue) is this. I hauehave heard that you hauehave long taken great pains in teaching; and that of late yeares▪ you hauehave set your selfe wholly to this happy kinde of trauell; to finde out the most plaine, easie, and sure waies of teaching, for the benefit both of your selfe and others: whereby you hauehave attained much happy knowledge in this behalfe. Now my long iourney hath bin for this same very purpose, to desire some conference with you, and to intreat your louing fauour and helpe. I should thinke my selfe for eu…r bound vntounto you, if you would vouchsafe to impart vntounto me some of those experiments, which I hauehave beene certainely informed, that by your trauels you hauehave obtained. For, I my selfe hauehave so long laboured in this moyling and drudging life, without any fruite to speake of, and with so many discouragements and vexations insteede of any true comfort,Many honest and painefull School-masters weary of their places, liue in continuall discontent, thorow lacke of knowledge of a good cour…e of teaching. that I waxe vtterly wearie of my place, and my life is a continuall burden vntounto me. Insomuch as that it causeth me to feare, that God neuer called me to this function, because I see his blessing so little vponupon my labors; neyther can I finde any delight therein: whereas, notwithstanding, I heare of some others, and euen of our old acquaintance, whom GOD blesseth greatly in this calling; though such bee verie rare,Some few God much blesseth in this calling though they be very rare. some one or two spoken of almost in a whole countrey.
Phil.
Indeede I hauehave trauelled in this too vnthankefull a calling (as you doe most iustly complaine) and that in all this time, since we liued together▪ In the greatest part whereof, I hauehave beene well acquainted with your griefes and vexations; which are no other then doe ordinarily waite vponupon this our function: yet this I thankefully acknowledge (according to your former speech, and to giuegive you likewise some reuiuing) that now of late, since I set my selfe more conscionably and earnestly to seeke out the best waies of teaching, by inquiring, conferring and practicing constantly all the most likely courses, which I could heare or deuise, God hath graunted vntounto mee, to finde so great contentation and ioy of this same labour in my schoole, that it hath swallowed vp the remembrance of all my former grieuances. For I doe plainely see such a change,More true contentment may be …ound in this calling rightly followed, then in any recreation whatsoeuer. that now I doe not only labour in my place vsually without griefe, or any wearinesse at all, but that I can take ordinarilie more true delight and pleasure in following my children (by obseruing the earnest strife and emulation which is amongst them, which of them shall doe the best, and in the sensible increase of their learning and towardnesse) then anie one can take in following hawkes and hounds, or in any other the pleasantest recreation,The fruit of this trauel is euer the sweetest in the remembrance of it after. as I verely perswade my selfe. And the rather because after my labour ended, my chiefest delight is in the remembrance thereof; and in the consideration of the certaine good, that I knowe shall come thereby, both vntounto Church and Common-wealth: and also that my labour and seruice is acceptable to the Lord, though all men should be vnthankfull. So that now I am neuer so well, as when I am most diligent in my place. Yea I do seeme to my selfe to finde withall so great a blessing vponupon my labours,Knowledge & practi…e of the best courses will much augment the blessing of our labours, and fill our liues with contentment. aboue all former times, that if I had knowen the same courses from the beginning, I doe assure my selfe that I had done ten times more good, and my whole life had beene full of much sweete contentment, in regard of that which it hath bin. Although my labours hauehave neuer been vtterly vnprofitable, but that I hauehave still sent forth for eueryevery yeere, some vntounto the Vniuersities, and they approoued amongst the better sort of those which hauehave come thither: yet this hath been nothing to that good which I might vndoubtedly hauehave done.
Spoud.
Sir,Feeling of the griefe and want of others, will make vsus more compassionate. I am perswaded that you speake as you thinke: and therefore I doe grow into greater hope, that you hauing had so much experience of the griefe in the one, and ioy in the other, will be more compassionate of me, and more ready also to impart your experiments with me, to make me partaker of your comfort.
Phil.
For communicating vntounto you, for your helpe and comfort, what God hath made knowne vntounto me, I take it to be my dutie.Wee are but stuards of Gods gifts & to bee accountable for eueryevery talent. We all of vsus know the danger of hiding our talent, or keeping backe our debt, when the Lord hauing giuen vsus abilitie, doth call vponupon vsus to paie it.
Spoud.
I thank God vnfainedly (good sir) for this harty affection, which I doe finde in you, and for this readinesse to communicate with mee the fruites of your trauells.What our affection and resolution should be in receiuing any speciall blessing from the Lord: as namely direction how to walke more fruitfully in our calling. You shall see. I hope, that I shall receiue them, with like alacritie and thankfulnesse, and bee as ready to employ them to the best, to doe my vttermost seruice in my place and calling hereafter. So that although my first beginnings hauehave been small, through ignorance of better courses, yet I trust my after fruits shall much increase. Hereby my last dayes shall prooue my best, and make some amends for that which is past: and also my newe comforts shall sweeten all the remainder of my life, and make mee likewise to forget the daies that are past. How true is that Prouerbe of wise Salomon, that heauinesse in the heart of man doth bring it down, but a good word doth reioice it? You hauehave reuiued my heart, and put new spirits into mee, by that which you hauehave alreadie saide.
Phil.
The Lord will reuiue you,How the way of all good learning may be more easie then euer in former ages. I hope, and all of vsus also who labour in this toyling kinde; by causing vsus to finde more …ound fruit, and pleasant content in our teaching, then euer yet we felt; if wee will but set our selues to seeke of him, and readily impart our seuerall experiments for the good of all: if withall we will receiue thankfully, and cheerefully put in practice those gracious helpes of so many learned men, which he in this last age of the world hath afforded aboundently, aboue all former times, very many whereof lie vtterly hid and vnknowne to the greatest sort,Many most worthy helps lie vtterly hid from the greatest part, only thorow neglect. vntounto this day. And that partly thorow lacke of care and conscience, to doe that good which we might, and ought in our places; partly thorow extreame vnthankfulnesse, neglecting the rich giftes of the Lord, so plentifully powred downe from heauen vponupon vsus, to leaue the world more without excuse. But as for mine own selfe, all that I can promise is, onelyonly my studie and desire, to doe you and all other the greatest good that euer I shall be able; and hereunto we hauehave all bound our selues. If I knowe anie thing wherein I hauehave, or you may receiue benefit, I acknowledge it wholly where it is due, euen to him who giueth liberally to all who seeke him aright, and casteth no man in the teeth. And resting vponupon his rich bounty for a further supply, if you shall propound in order the particular points, wherein you would wish my aduise, I shall very willingly goe on with you; and acquaint you with all things which hitherto I hauehave learned in all my search, and more hereafter as his wisdome shall adde vntounto me.
Spoud.
I reioice in your confidence and wish that so it may bee. In the meane time I like well of your motion, of going through in order the principall matters of difficultie. If therfore you shall thinke meete, I shall reduce all to certaine heads, which a friend of mine shewed vntounto me of late, set downe in a certaine Table, which it may bee that your selfe hauehave seene.
Phil.
Let mee heare what was contained in it, and then I shall soone answere you, vvhether I hauehave seene it or no.
Spoud.
There was contained, in it, a briefe summe of sundrie particular benefits, which may bee brought to Grammar Schooles, to make schollars very perfect in euerie part of good learning meet for their yeeres; and that all both Masters and Schollars may proceede with ease, certaintie and delight, to fit all apt Schollars for the Vniuersitie euerie waie, by fifteene yeeres of age. Concerning which seuerall heads, although it were a most happie worke if they could be attained vntounto (all of them beeing in my minde verie excellent, and indeede the whole, such a worke as must needes bring a perpetuall benefit, both to Church, and Common-wealth, and that not onelyonly to the present but to all succeeding ages) yet that I may speake freely, what I conceiue of them, many of them seeme very strange vntounto me. And, although I will not say that they are vtterly impossible: yet indeede I take them to be altogether vnlikely; considering the continuall paines and vexation that my selfe hauehave vndergone, and yet could neuer come in many of them, neere vntounto the least part thereof.
Phil.
By that little which you hauehave mentioned, I take it that I hauehave seene the very same: and for them I do not onelyonly thinke it,All the things mentioned in the contents may be effected through diligence, constancy & Gods blessing. but also do know assuredly, that by the Lords gracious assistance and blessing, through constant diligence they may be all effected; for that I hauehave knowne so much trial of al of them, as is sufficient to induce any man therunto: besides that they do all stand vponupon plain & sure grounds, as I trust I am able to make euident demōstration in each particular,See the particulars in the contents set before the booke. so as any man of vnderstanding may perceiue cleerly, that they may be done. Neither doe I doubt but to satisfie you in eueryevery point, and to cause you to yeelde vntounto the euidence hereof, before wee part, if you will but onelyonly aske and still shewe mee wherein you are not satisfied. Moreouer, I am so verie confident herein, not onelyonly vponupon mine owne reason and experience, but because I hauehave knowne the iudgements of sundrie verie learned and experienced both Schoolemasters and others, who hauehave beene acquainted with these selfesame heads, which you hauehave mentioned: who, though at the first reading of them, they hauehave beene of your iudgement, and hauehave thought as you doe, yet within a quarter of an hower after that they hauehave taken a little triall, in some of the most vnlikely, and seene the reason of them, hauehave rested fully satisfied and assured of the whole, that all might bee done, as standing on the like grounds. And therefore I hauehave no cause to distrust the like successe with your selfe.
Spoud.
Sir, if you shall doe this for mee, I shall acknowledge my selfe to hauehave receiued a very great benefit, and be thankfull vntounto the Lord, and to your selfe as his instrument; and do my vttermost indeauour to put them all constantly in practice, that I may confirme them by mine owne experience, and finde the same happie comfort, that your selfe hauehave done.
I will therefore begin in order according vntounto those heads, & so propound the questions, how each thing may be done, and desire your answere vntounto them seuerally.
Phil.
Nay rather,The most easie and profitable manner of procee…ing in this conference▪ for the manner of proceeding, I take this to be far more easie and commodious to vsus both, and whereby God may direct this conference so, as to profit manie others besides our selues: To go through all the whole course of learning, from the first step, beginning at the verie first Elements, euen at the A. B. C. & so to ascend to the highest top of learning, which can be required in Grammar schooles; to make a schollar each way fit for the Vniuersity. Thus to run through all the necessarie points appertaining to the same, as neere as we can remember; To make hereby the whole waie easie and readie to all good learning, and to ranke eueryevery head in the right order and proper place, according to the due manner of proceeding in Schooles. So wee may insert these points which you hauehave spoken of; diuiding the whole into s…uerall chapters, for the full distinguishing & plain setting down of eueryevery matter. To the end therfore that I may be the better guided and occasioned to impart all things vntounto you, I shall request you, first to propound all the seuerall points of learning in order, from point to point as we proceed. Secondly, in the propounding of them, to shewe me in eueryevery one, what course you your selfe hauehave taken, wherein you hauehave found so little fruite or comfort, as you complaine, and which you thinke to be most ordinarie in the countrey schooles. Wherein you shall faile in omitting any necessary head or chapter, or in misplacing any, I shall afford you my best direction.
Spoud.
I will accomplish your desire so well as I can. I doubt not of your patience, seeing you take me thus of a suddaine; and that you who hauehave better thought of these things, will guide me continually, vntill wee hauehave gone thorow the whole.
Phil.
I trust you are so perswaded of me. Therefore I pray you begin.