The Grammar School, Chapter 34
CHAP. XXXIIII.
What Children are to be kept to learning.
Spoud.
SIr, if I should not take heart and courage to set to my calling afresh, I were much to be blamed, hauing all my doubts thus answered, and being thus heartened in eueryevery part. But yet, that I may both returne vntounto it cheerefully; and also goe forward, and continue happily to the end: I pray you let me hauehave your iudgement in these two points:
1. What children you would hauehave set to learning, and incouraged to goe on in the same.
2. Which you would hauehave sent to the Vniuersity, & how qualified.
Phil.
To both these I shall aunswere you vvhat I hold.1. what schollars to be set to learning.
To the first: I would hauehave those who after good time of triall shall be found the fittest amongst a mans children, to be applied vntounto learning;Most apt & of greatest hope. as being the meetest to be offered to God in a more speciall maner, to the publick seruice of his church or their Countries.
And so those onelyonly of them, to be incouraged to goe on in the same, whom you find most ingenuous, and especially whom you perceiue to louelove learning the best; which also do witnesse the same by their painfulnesse and delight in their books. The rest to be fitted so far as may be conueniently, for trades, or some other calling, or to be remoued speedily.
2. To the second I answere: That such onelyonly should be sent to the Vniuersities,2. What schollars to be sent to the Vniuersities. who proue most ingenuous and towardly, and who in a louelove of learning, will begin to take paines of themselues, hauing attained in some sort the former parts of learning;Ingenuous and louers of learning. being good GrammariansGood Grammari…ns. at least, able to vnderstand, write and speake Latine in good sort.
2. Such as hauehave good discretion how to gouerne themselues there,Of discretion. and to moderate their expenses; which is seldome times before 15. yeeres of age: which is also the youngest age admitted by the statutes of the Vniuersity, as I take it.
Some of chiefe note for learning and gouernment, and of long experience in the Vniuersitie (as namely, some worthy heads of Colledges) would hauehave none sent nor admitted into the Vniuersitie,None to be sent to the Vniuersities, be…ore 15. yeeres of age at least. before they be full fifteen yeers olde at least; for these reasons specially amongst others:
1. Because, before that time, they will commonly require more bodily helpe, then can be there afforded.
2. The Vniuersitie statute forbiddeth to admit any vnderunder this age.
3. Because that daily experience doth teach how inconuenient it is in diuers respects.
Finally, all generally of whom I can heare in the Vniuersitie, doe assent hereunto. Many would hauehave them 17. or 18. yeere olde before; because then commonly they hauehave discretion to sticke to their studies and to gouerne themselues.
Spoud.
I doe much approue their iudgement. I would hauehave them good schollars, before they goe to the Vniuersitie; and namely sound Grammarians, that the Tutors need not to be troubled with teaching them to make or to construe Latine; but that they may goe forward in Logick or other studies meet for the Vniuersitie. For such a schollar as is able to vnderstand well what hee reades, or what is read vntounto him there (I meane in regard of the Latine) shall doe more good in a yeere, then a weak schollar shall do in two or three; chiefly, if hee hauehave discretion to gouerne himselfe, and abide close to his booke.
For when as the schollar is faine to turne his Dictionary for eueryevery word, or hearing a Lecture read doth come away as he went; vnlesse he be placed vnderunder a most painefull Tutor, how is it possible that he should profite any thing, in respect of him who goeth a good schollar thither? How many euils doe come vponupon the sending of schollars so rawly thither, both Vniuersity and Countrey doe fully know and …ue.
Now you hauehave so louingly and fully answered me in eueryevery doubt, and so largely laide open your minde vntounto me, as indeede I cannot desire any more of you: OnelyOnly let me tell you this,To practice the most profitable that the points are so many, as I feare that I shall neuer be able to put them in practice.
Phil.
You may make triall of all, or the most likely of them; and constantly practice those which you finde most profitable: the shorter that you can be in eueryevery thing, the better shall you do; so that all be done with vnderstanding, as I said before.
Spoud.
I trust you will giuegive me a copie of them: for otherwise I shall neuer be able to remember them; besides that they will require to be oft read ouer and ouer, vntill I shall grow perfect in them. I doe not doubt, but you hauehave set them downe.
Phil.
I hauehave; though as yet very imperfectly, for lacke of meete leasure. Such as I hauehave I shall impart (seeing your earnest desire to doe good) and more as God shall adde more helpe and experience by your selfe, and by others▪