No More Learning

But
labour, say they, is not meete for a tender age, &
what readines to lerne can be in children whych yet
scarse knowe that they are men: I wyll answere to
bothe these thinges in few wordes. How agreeth it that
that age shulde bee counted vnmeete for learnynge,
whych is nowe apte to learne good maners? But as there
be rudimentes of verture, so be there also of
sciences. Philosophy hath his infancie, hys youthe,
and rype age. An horsecolt, which forthwyth sheweth
his gentle kynd, is not straight way forced wyth the
bytte to cary on his backe an armed manne, but wyth
easy exercises he learneth the fashion of warre.
The calfe that is appoynted to the plowghe, is not
strayght wayes laden wyth werye yockes, nor prycked
wyth sharpe godes, but as Virgyl hath elegantlye
taught: Fyrst they knyt aboute his necke circles made
of tender twygges, and after when his free necke hathe
bene accustumed to do seruice, they make rounde hoopes
mete, & when they be wrythẽ, ioyne a payre of meete
ons together, and so cause the yonge heyfers to gooe
forwardes, and often tymes they make them to draw an
empty cart, and sleightly go awaye, but afterwards
they set on a great heauy axeltree of beeche, and make
them to draw a great plough beame of yrõ. Plowmen can
skyll howe to handell oxen in youthe, and attemper
their exercises after their strength muche more
diligently ought this to be done in bringing vp our
children. Furthermore the prouidẽce of nature hath
geuen vnto litle ons a certen mete habilitte. An
infant is not yet meete to whome thou shuldest reade
y^e offices of Cicero, or the Ethickes of Aristotle,
or the moral bokes of Seneca or Plutarche, or the
epistles of Paule, I confesse, but yet if he do any
thyng vncomly at the table, he is monyshed, and when
he is monyshed, he fashioneth hym selfe to do as he is
taught. He is brought into the temple, he lerneth to
bowe his kne, to holde hys handes manerly, to put of
hys cap, and to fashion all the behaueour of hys bodie
to worshyp God, he is cõmaunded to holde hys peace
when misteries be in doyng, and to turne hys eyes to
the alter. These rudimentes of modestye and vertue the
childe lerneth before he can speake, which because
they sticke fast vntil he be elder, they profit
somwhat to true religiõ. There is no differẽce to a
chyld when he is first borne, betwene his parẽntes &
straungers. Anon after he learneth to knowe his
mother, & after his father. He learneth by litle &
litle to reuerẽce thẽ, he learneth to obey them, & to
loue thẽ. He vnlerneth to be angrye, to be auẽged,
& when he is biddẽ kysse thẽ that he is ãgry withal,
he doth it, & vnlerneth to bable out of measure. He
lerneth to rise vp, & geue reuerence to an old mã, &
to put of his cap at y^e image of the crucifix. Thei
that thinke y^t these lytle rudimẽtes help nothing to
vertue, in my mind be greatly deceiued, A certẽ yonge
man whẽ he was rebuked of Plato because he had plaied
at dice cõplained y^t he was so bitterly chiddẽ, for
so litle harme. Thẽ quod Plato, although it be but
smal hurt to play at dice, yet is it great hurt to vse
it. As it is therefore a greate euyll to accustume thy
selfe to euyl, so to vse thy selfe to small good
thynges is a greate good. And that tender age is so
muche the more apte to learne these thyngs, because of
it selfe it is plyaunt vnto all fashions, because it
is not yet occupyed wyth vyce, and is glad to folowe,
if you shewe it to do any thinge. And as cõmonlye it
accustumeth it selfe to vyce, or euer it vnderstand
what vyce is, so wyth lyke easynes maye it be
accustumed to vertue. And it is beste to vse best
thinges euen at the fyrst. That fashion wyll endure
longe, to the which you make the empty and tender
mynde. Horace wrote that if you thruste oute nature
wyth a forke, yet wyll it styll come againe. He wrot
it and that very truly, but he wrote it of an olde
tre. Therefore the wise husband man wil straight waye
fashion the plante after that maner whyche he wyll
haue tarye for euer when it is a tree. It wyll soone
turne in to nature, that you powre in fyrste of all.
Claye if it be to moyste wyl not kepe the fashion that
is prynted in it: the waxe may be so softe that
nothynge can bee made of it. But scarse is there any
age so tender that is not able to receyue learnyng. No
age sayth Seneca, is to late to learne: whether that
be true or no I wot not, surely elderly age is very
harde to learne some thyngs. This is doutles, that no
age is so yonge but it is apte to be taught,
inespecially those thynges vnto the whych nature hathe
made vs, for as I sayd: for thys purpose she hath
geuen a certen peculier desyre of folowyng, that what
so euer they haue herde or seene, they desyre to do
the lyke, and reioyse when they thynke they can do any
thyng: a man wolde saye they wer apes. And of thys
ryseth the fyrste coniecture of their wyt and aptnes
to be taughte. Therefore assone as the man chyld is
borne, anone he is apte to lerne maners. After whẽ he
hath begon to speake, he is mete to be taught letters.
Of what thynge regarde is fyrste to be had, a readines
by & by is geuen to lerne it. For learnyng although it
haue infinite commodities, yet excepte it wayte vpon
vertue, it bryngeth more harme then good. Worthilye
was refused of wyse menne theire sentence, which
thought that children vnder seuen yere olde shulde not
be set to lernyng: and of thys sayinge many beleued
Hesiodus to be the author, albeit Aristophanes the
gramarian sayd, that those morall preceptes in the
whych worke it was written, were not made by Hesiodus.
Yet nedes must be some excellẽt wryter, which put
forth such a booke that euen learned menne thought it
to be of Hesiodus doing. But in case it were Hesiodus,
without doute yet no mans authoritie oughte to be of
suche force vnto vs, that we shulde not folowe the
better if it be shewed vs. Howebeit who soeuer wer of
thys mynd, they meant not thys, that all thys time
vntyll seuen yeres shulde bee quite voyde of teachyng,
but that before that tyme chyldren shulde not bee
troubled wyth the laboure of studies, in the whych
certeine tediousnes muste bee deuoured, as of cannyng
wythout booke, sayinge the lesson agayn, and wyth
wrytinge it, for scant maye a man fynde anye that
hathe so apte a wytte to bee taught, so tractable and
that so wil folowe, whyche wyll accustume it selfe to
these thynges wythout prickyng forward. Chrisippus
apoynted thre yeres to the nourses, not that in the
meane space there shuld be no teachynge of manners,
and speach, but that the infante shulde be prepared by
fayr meanes to lern vertue and letters, ether of the
nurses, or of the parentes, whose maners wythout
peraduẽture do help very much to the good fashionynge
of chyldren. And because the fyrste teachyng of
chyldren is, to speake playnly and wythout faute, in
this afore tyme the nourses and the parentes helpe not
a lytle. Thys begynnyng, not only very muche profiteth
to eloquẽce, but also to iudgement, and to the
knowledge of all disciplines: for the ignoraunce of
tonges, eyther hath marred all the sciences, or
greatly hurt thẽ, euẽ diuinitie it selfe also,
phisicke & law. The eloquence of the Gracchians was
muche merueyled at in tyme paste, but for the most
they myghte thanke theyr mother Cornelia for it,
as Tullie iudgeth. It apeareth sayth he, that the
chyldren wer not so much brought vp in the mothers
lappe, as in the mothers cõmunicacion. So theyr fyrste
scholyng was to them the mothers lap. Lelia also
expressed in her goodly talke the eloquence of her
father Caius. And what marueile. While she was yet
yonge she was dyed wyth her fathers communicacion,
euen when she was borne in his armes. The same
happened to the two sisters, Mucia and Licinia, neeces
vnto Caius. Specially is praysed the elegaunce of
Licinia in speakyng, whiche was the daughter of Lucius
Crassus, one Scipios wyfe as I weene. What nedes many
words? All the house and all the kynred euen to the
nepheus, and their cosyns dyd often expresse elegance
of their fore fathers in artificiall and cunnyng
speakyng. The daughter of Quintus Hortencius so
expressed her fathers eloquence, that ther was longe
ago an oracion of hers to se, that she made before the
officers called Triumuiri, not only (as Fabius sayth)
to the prayse of womankynd. To speake without faut no
litle helpe brynge also the nourses, tutors, and
playefelowes. For as touching the tonges, so great is
the readines of that age to learne them, that within a
few monethes a chylde of Germany maye learne Frenche,
and that whyle he dothe other thinges also: neyther
dothe that thynge come euer better to passe then in
rude and verye yonge yeres. And if this come to passe
in a barbarous and vnruled tonge, whych wryteth other
wyse then it speaketh, and the whych hathe hys
schriches and wordes scarse of a man, howe muche more
easely wyl it be done in the Greeke or Latine tonge?
Kyng Mithridates is read to haue perfitly knowen
. xxii. tonges, so that he could plead the lawe to
euery nacion in their owne tonges wythoute anye
interpreter. ¶ Themistocles within a yeres space lerned
perfitely the Persians tong because he wolde the
better cõmen wyth the kyng. If sũwhat old age can do
that, what is to be hoped for of a chylde? And all
this businesse standeth specially in two thynges,
memorye and imitacion. We haue shewed before alredy
that there is a certein naturall greate desyre in
chyldren to folowe other, and very wyse men wryte that
memorie in chyldren is verye sure in holdinge faste:
and if we distrust there authoritie, experience it
selfe wyll proue it vnto vs. Those thynges that we
haue seene beying chyldren, they so abide in our
mindes, as thou we had sene them yesterdaie. Thinges
that we read today whẽ we be old, wythin two daies
after if we read thẽ agayn they seme newe vnto vs.
Furthermore howe fewe haue we seene whych haue had
good successe in lernynge the tonges when they were
olde? And if some haue wel spedde them in knowledge,
yet the right sound and pronunciacion hath chaunsed
either to none, or to very few. For rare examples be
no common rules. Neyther for thys muste we call
chyldren to lerne the tonges after sixtene yere olde,
because that the elder Cato lerned latine, and Greeke,
when he was thre score and ten yeres olde. But Cato of
Vtica muche better lerned then the other and more
eloquent, when he was a chylde was continuallye wyth
hys master Sarpedo. And hẽce we ought so much the more
to take heede, because that yonge age led rather by
sense then iudgemẽt, wyll assone or peraduenture soner
lerne leudnes & things y^t be naught. Yea we forget
soner good thinges thẽ naught. Gentile philosophers
espyed that, & merueyled at it, and could not search
out the cause, whiche christẽ philosophers haue shewed
vnto vs: which telleth y^t this redines to mischiefe
is setteled in vs of Adam the first father of mãkind.
Thys thynge as it can not be false, so is it very
true, that the greateste parte of this euyll cõmeth of
leude and naughty bryngyng vp, inespeciallye of tender
youthe, whyche is plyeable to euerye thynge.

¶ We fynd in writyng that great Alexander lerned
certeine fautes of hys master Leonides, whyche he
could not leaue when he was well growẽ vp, and a great
Emperour. Therfore as long as amonge the latines
floryshed that old vertuousnes of good maners,
chyldren were not committed to an hyrelynge to be
taught, but were taughte of the parentes them selues &
their kinsfolke, as of their vncles both by father and
mother, of the graundfathers, as Plutarch sayth: For
they thought it especially perteyned to the honour of
their kynred, if they had very manye excellentlye well
seene in liberall knowledge, where as now adayes all
nobilitie almost stãdeth in painted & grauen armes,
dauncing, huntynge and dicynge. Spurius Carbilius of a
bond man made free, whose patron Carbilius brought in
the fyrste example of diuorce, is reported to be the
fyrste that taught an opẽ grãmer schole. Before thys
tyme it was counted a verye vertuous office if euery
mã taughte hys kynsefolke in vertue and lernyng. Nowe
is thys theyr onlye care, to seeke for their chyld a
wyfe wyth a good dowrye. That done, they thynke they
haue done all that belongeth to a father. But as the
world is alwayes redy to be worse and worse, dayntines
hathe perswaded vs to comune this office to a tuter
that is one of our householde, and a gentleman is put
to be taught of a seruaunte. In whyche thynge in
deede, if we wolde take heede whom we chose, the
ieopardy were so muche the lesse, because the teacher
liued not only in y^e fathers syght, but also wer
vnder hys power if he dyd amysse. They that wer very
wyse, either bought lerned seruauntes, or prouided
they myghte be lerned, that they myghte be teachers to
their children. But howe muche wyser were it, if the
parents wolde get lernyng for thys entent, that they
them selues myght teach theyr owne chyldren. Verelye
by thys meanes the profite wolde be double, as the
cõmoditie is double if the Byshoppe shewe hym selfe a
good man, to the entente he maye encourage very many
to the loue of vertue. Thou wyle saye; euerye mã hath
not leasure, and they be lothe to take so greate
payne. But go to good syr, Lette vs caste wyth oure
selfe howe muche tyme wee lose at dice, bankettynge,
and beholdynge gaye syghtes, and playinge wyth fooles,
and I weene wee shall bee ashamed, to saye wee lacke
leasure to that thynge whych oughte to be done, all
other set asyde. We haue tyme sufficiente to do all we
shoulde do, if we bestowe it so thriftelye as we
shulde do. But the daye is short to vs, whẽ we lose
the greater part thereof. Consider thys also, howe
greate a porcion of tyme is geuen now and then to the
foelyshe busines of our friendes. If we can not do as
they all wolde haue vs, verelye wee oughte chiefely to
regarde our chyldren. What payne refuse we to leaue
vnto oure chyldren a ryche patrimonye and well
stablished: and to get that for them whiche is better
then all this, shulde it yrke vs to take laboure?
namelye when naturall loue and the profite of them
whyche be mooste deareste vnto vs, maketh sweete al
the grief and payne. If that were not, when wolde the
mothers beare so longe tediousenes of chyldbyrth and
nursyng. He loueth his sonne lyghtlye whych is greued
to teache hym. ¶ But the manner to enstructe them was
the more easy to them in olde tyme, because the
learned and vnlearned people spake all one tong, saue
that the learned spake more truelye, more elegantly,
more wiselye, and more copiouselye. I confesse that,
and it were a very shorte way to learnynge, if it were
so nowe a dayes. And there haue bene some that haue
gone aboute to renewe and brynge again those olde
examples, and to doo as those olde fathers haue done
afore tyme, as in Phrisia, Canterians, in Spayne
Queene Elisabeth the wyfe of Fardinandus, out of whose
familye there haue come forthe verye manye womenne
bothe merueylouselye well learned and verteouse. Emong
the englishe men, it greued not the ryght worshypful
Thomas More, although beyng much occupyed in the
kynges matters, to be a teacher to hys wyfe,
daughters, and sonne, fyrste in vertue, and after to
knowledge of Greke and Latine. Verely this ought to be
done in those that we haue apoynted to learnynge.
Neyther is there anye ieopardie that they shulde be
ignoraunt in the peoples tonge, for thei shall learne
that whether they wyl or not by companye of men. And
if there be none in oure house that is lerned, anon we
shulde prouide for some cunnyng man, but tryed both in
maners and lernyng. It is a folyshe thyng to make a
profe in thy sone, as in a slaue of litle value,
whether hys teacher be learned or not, and whether he
bee a good man that thou haste gotten hym or not. In
other thinges pardon may be geuen to negligence, but
here thou muste haue as manye eyes as Argus had, and
muste be as vigilant as is possible. They say: a man
maye not twyse do a faute in war: here it is not
laweful to do once amisse. Moreouer the soner the
child shall be set to a master, so much shal hys
brynginge vp come the better to passe. I knowe some
men fynde thys excuse, that it is ieopardy lest the
labour of studies make y^e good health of the tender
bodye weaker. Here I myght ensure, y^t althoughe the
strength of the bodye wer sumwhat taken awaye, that
thys incõmoditie is well recompensed by so goodly
gyftes of the mynd. For we fashion not a wrestler, but
a philosopher, a gouernour of the common wealth, to
whõ it is sufficient to be healthful, although he haue
not the strengthe of Milo: yet do I cõfesse that
somewhat we must tender the age, that it maye waxe the
more lustye. But there be manye that foolyshely do
feare leste their chyldren shulde catche harme by
learnynge, whych yet feare not the much greater peryll
that cometh of to muche meate, whereby the wyttes of
the litle ons no lesse be hurted then bee theyr bodyes
by kyndes of meates and drynkes that be not meete for
that age. They brynge theyr lytle children to great
and longe feastes, yea feastyng sometyme vntyl farre
forth nyghtes, they fyl them wyth salt and hoat
meates, somtyme euẽ tyl thei vomite. They bynde in and
loade the tender bodies wyth vnhandsome garmentes to
set them out, as some trym apes, in mans apparel, and
otherwayes they weaken their children, and they neuer
more tenderlye be afrayed of their health, then when
cõmunication is begon to be had of lernynge, that is
of that thynge whych of al other is moste wholesom and
necessarye. That whych we haue spoken touchyng health,
that same perteineth to the care of hys bewety, whyche
as I confesse is not to be lyght set bye, so to
carefully to be regarded, is not very meete for a man.
[Sidenote: A wayward feare for hurting childrẽs
bewtye. ] Neyther do we more weywardlye fear any other
thyng then the hurt of it to come by studie, where it
is hurt a greate deale more by surfet, dronkennes,
vntymelye watchynge, by fyghtyng and woundes, finally
by vngracious pockes, which scarse anie man escapeth
that liueth intemperatly. From these thyngs rather let
thẽ see they keepe their children then frõ lernyng,
whych so carefully take thought for the health and
bewtie. [Sidenote: Prouisiõ for easinge chyldrens
labour] Howbeit thys also may be prouided for by our
care & diligẽce that ther shuld be very litle labour
and therfore litle losse. This shal be if neyther many
thyngs, neither euery lyght thynge be taught them when
they be yong, but the best only & that be mete for
their age, whiche is delighted rather in pleasaũt
thynges then in subtile. Secondly, a fayre manoure of
teachynge shall cause y^t it may seme rather a playe
then a labour, for here the age must be beguiled with
sweete flattering wordes, which yet cã not tell what
fruit, what honour, what pleasure lernyng shall brynge
vnto them in tyme to come. And this partly shal be
done by the teachers gẽtlenes & curteous behaueour, &
partlye by his wit & subtile practise, wherbi he shal
deuise diuerse prety meanes to make lerning plesaũt to
y^e chylde, & pul hym away frõ feling of labour. For
there is nothynge worse then when the waywardnes of
the master causeth the children to hate lernyng before
they knowe wherefore it shulde be loued. The fyrst
degree of lerning, is the loue of the master. In
processe of tyme it shall come to passe that the chyld
whych fyrst began to loue lernyng for the masters
sake, afterwards shall loue the master because of
lernyng. For as many giftes are very dere vnto vs euẽ
for thys cause, that they come from them whome wee
loue hertelye: so lernyng, to whom it can not yet be
pleasaunt thorowe discrescion, yet to them it is
acceptable for the loue they beare to the teacher. It
was very well spoken of Isocrates that he lerneth very
much, whych is desirous of lernyng. And we gladlye
lerne of them whome we loue. But some be of so
vnpleasaunt maners that they can not bee loued, no not
of their wyues, theyr countenaũce lowryng, their
companye currishe, they seme angrye euen when they be
beste pleased, they can not speke fayre, scarse can
they laughe when men laugh vpon them, a man wold saye
they were borne in an angrye hour. These men I iudge
scant worthye to whome we shulde put oure wylde horses
to be broken, muche lesse wuld I thynke that thys
tender and almost suckynge age shuld be committed to
them. Yet be ther some that thynke that these kynde of
men, euen inespecyally worthye to be set to teache
yonge chyldren, whylest they thynke their sturdynes in
lookynge is holynes. But it is not good trustyng the
lookes, vnder that frownynge face lurke oftẽ tymes
most vnchaste and wanton maners, neyther is to be
spoken amonge honeste men, to what shamefulnes these
bouchers abuse chyldren by fearyng them. No nor the
parents thẽ selues can well bring vp theyr chyldrẽ, if
they be no more but feared. The fyrste care is to be
beloued, by lytle and lytle foloweth after, not feare,
but a certen liberall and gentle reuerence which is
more of value then feare. Howe properly then I praye
you be those chyldren prouided for, which being yet
scante foure yere olde are sente to schole, where
sytteth an vnknowen scholemaster, rude of manners, not
verye sober, and sometyme not well in hys wytte, often
lunatike, or hauynge the fallyng sycknes, or frenche
pockes? For there is none so vyle, so naughte, so
wretched, whome the common people thynketh not
sufficiente ynoughe to teache a grammer schole. And
thei thynkyng they haue gotten a kingdome, it is
marueyle to see howe they set vp the brystels because
thei haue rule, not vpon beastes, as sayeth Terence,
but vpõ that age whiche ought to be cheryshed wyth all
gentlenes. You wolde saye it were not a schole, but a
tormentynge place: nothynge is hearde there beside the
flappynge vpon the hande, beside yorkynge of roddes,
besyde howlynge and sobbinge and cruell threatnynges.
What other thynge maye chyldren learne hereof, then to
hate learnyng? When this hatered hath once setteled in
the tender myndes, yea when they be old they abhorre
studye. It is also muche more foolyshe, that some men
sende their lytle chyldren to a pyuyshe dronken woman
to learne to reade and wryte. It is agaynste nature
that women shulde haue rule vpon menne: besyde that,
nothynge is more cruell then that kynde, if they bee
moued with anger, as it wyll soone be, and wyll not
cease tyll it be full reuenged. Monasteries also, and
colleges of brethern, for so they cal them selues,
seeke for their liuynge hereof, and in theyr darke
corners teache the ignoraunt chyldren commenlye by
menne that be but a lytle learned, or rather leudlye
learned, althoughe we graunte they bee bothe wyse and
honeste. ¶ Thys kynde of teachynge howe so euer other
menne alowe it, by my counsell no manne shall vse it,
who soeuer entendeth to haue hys child well brought
vp. It behoueth that eyther there were no schole, or
else to haue it openlye abrode. It is a shorte waye in
dede that cõmonlye is vsed: for manye be compelled of
one more easelye by feare, that one brought vp of one
liberallye. ¶ But it is no great thynge to beare rule
vpon Asses or Swyne, but to brynge vp chyldren
liberallye as it is veri hard, so is it a goodly
thing. It is tiranny to oppresse citizens by feare,
to keepe them in good order, by loue, moderacion and
prudence, it is princely. Diogenes beynge taken out of
the Agenites, and brought oute to be solde, the cryer
axed hym by what title he wolde be set out to the
byer. Axe quod he if any wyl bye a man that can rule
chyldren. At this straunge prayse manye laughed.
One that hadde chyldren at home communed wyth the
philosopher, whether he could do in deede that he
professed. He sayde he coulde. By shorte communicacion
he perceyued he was not of the cõmon sorte, but vnder
a pore cloke, ther was hydden great wisedome: he
bought hym, and brought hym home, & put his chyldrẽ to
him to be taught. As y^e Scots say, ther be no greater
beaters then frenche scholemasters. When they be tolde
thereof, they be wonte to answere, that that naciõ
euen lyke the Phrigians is not amẽded but bi stripes.
Whether this be true let other mẽ iudge. Yet I graunt
that there is some difference in the nacion, but much
more in the propertie of euerye seueral wyt. Some you
shal soner kyl, then amende wyth stripes: but the same
bi loue and gentle monicions you may leade whither ye
wyll. Truth it is that of thys disposicion I my selfe
was when I was a childe, and when my master whych
loued me aboue all other, because he sayd he conceiued
a certen great hope of me, toke more heede, watched me
well, and at laste to proue howe I could abyde the
rod, and laying a faute vnto my charge which I neuer
thought of, did beat me, that thinge so put awaye from
me all the loue of studie, and so discouraged my
chyldyshe mynd, that for sorowe I hadde almost
consumed awaye, and in deede folowed therof a
quartaine ague. When at laste he had perceiued hys
faute, among his friendes he bewailed it. ¶ This wyt
(quod he) I had almoste destroyed before I knewe it.
For he was a man both wyttye and well learned, and as
I thynke, a good mã. He repẽted him, but to late for
my parte. Here nowe (good syr) cõiecture me howe many
frowarde wyttes these vnlerned greate beaters do
destroye, yet proud in their owne conceite of
learnyng, wayeward, dronken, cruel, and that wyl beate
for their pleasure: them selues of suche a cruell
nature, that they take plesure of other mens
tormentes. These kynde of men shuld haue ben bouchers
or hangmẽ, not teachers of youth. Neyther do any
torment chyldren more cruelly, thẽ they that canne not
teache them. ¶ What shulde thei do in scholes but passe
the daye in chydyng and beatynge? I knewe a diuine and
that familierly, a man of greate name, whych was neuer
satisfied wyth crudelity against his scholers, whẽ he
him selfe had masters that were very great beaters. He
thought y^t dyd much helpe to caste downe the fiersnes
of their wittes, & tame the wãtonnes of their youth.
He neuer feasted amonge hys flocke, but as Comedies be
wont to haue a mery endyng, so contrary when they had
eaten theyr meat, one or other was haled oute to be
beaten wyth roddes: and sometime he raged against them
that had deserued nothynge, euen because they shuld be
accustumed to stripes. I my selfe on a time stode
nerre hym, when after diner he called out a boie as he
was wõt to do, as I trow ten yere olde. And he was but
newe come frome hys mother into that compani. He told
vs before that the chyld had a very good woman to hys
mother, and was earnestly committed of her vnto hym:
anon to haue an occacion to beate hym, he beganne to
laye to hys charge I wotte not what wãtonnesse: When
the chylde shewed hym selfe to haue nothyng lesse,
and beckened to hym to whome he committed the chyefe
rule of hys colledge, surnamed of the thynge,
a tormentoure, to beate, hym ne by and by caste doune
the chylde, and beate hym as thoughe he had done
sacrilege. The diuine sayde once or twyse, it is
inoughe, it is inoughe. But that tormentour deaffe
with feruentnes, made no ende of his bochery, tyl the
chylde was almost in a sounde: Anon the diuine
turninge to vs, he hathe deserued nothynge quod he,
but that he muste be made lowe. Who euer after that
maner hath taught hys slaue, or hys Asse? A gẽtle
horse is better tamed with puping of the mouth or
softe handlyng, then wyth whyp or spurres. And if you
handle hym hard, he wil whynche, he wyll kycke, he
wyll byte, and go backwardes. An oxe if you pricke hym
to harde wyth godes, wyl caste of his yocke, and run
vpon hym that pricked hym. So muste a gentle nature be
handled as is the whelpe of a Lion. Onlye arte tameth
Elephantes, not violence, neyther is there any beaste
so wylde, but that it wyl be tamed by gentlenes,
neyther any so tame, but immoderate cruelnes wil anger
it. It is a seruyle thynge to be chastened by feare,
and common custume calleth chyldren free men, because
liberall and gentle bringyng vp becommeth them, much
vnlike to seruile. Yet they that be wyse do thys
rather, that seruantes by gentelnes and benefites
leaue of their slauyshe condicions: remẽbryng that
they also be men, and not beastes. There be rehearsed
meruelous examples of seruauntes toward their masters,
whome verely they shulde not haue founde such if they
hadde kept them vnder only by strypes. ¶ A seruaunt if
he be corrigible is better amended by monicions, by
honestie, & good turnes, then by stripes: if he be
paste amendmente, he is hardened to extreme mischief
and eyther wyll runne awaye and rob hys master, or by
some craft go aboute his masters deathe. Sometime he
is reuenged on his masters crueltie, thoughe it coste
hym his lyfe. And there is no creature more fereful
thẽ man, whõ cruell iniurie hathe taught to dispyse
his owne lyfe. Therfore the commõ prouerb that sayth a
man hath as manye enemies as he hath seruauntes, If it
be true, I thynke it may be chiefly imputed to the
vnreasonablenes of the master: for it is a poynte of
arte, and not of chaunce to rule wel seruauntes. And
if the wyser masters go aboute thys thynge, so to vse
their seruauntes, that thei shuld serue them well and
gently, and in stede of seruantes had rather haue them
fre men, how shameful is it bi bryngyng vp, to make
seruantes of those that be gentle and free by nature?
Nor wythout cause dothe the olde manne in the comedie
thynke that there is greate difference betwixte a
master and a father. The master only compelleth,
the father by honestie and gentelnes accustumeth hys
sonne, to do well of hys owne mynde, rather then by
feare of an other: and that he shulde bee all one in
hys presence and behind hys backe. He that can not do
this sayth he, lette hym confesse that he can not rule
chyldren. But there oughte to be a litle more
difference betwyxte a father and the master, then
betwixt a kinge and a tirant. Wee putte awaye a
tiraunte from the common wealthe, and we chose
tirauntes, yea for oure sonnes, eyther we oure selfes
exercyse tirannye vpon them. Howebeit thys vyle name
of seruitude oughte vtterlye to be taken awaye oute of
the lyfe of chrysten menne. Sainte Paule desyreth
Philo to bee good to Onesimus, not nowe as a
seruaunte, but as a deere brother in steede of a
seruaunte. And wrytyng to the Ephesians, he monysheth
the masters to remitte theyr bytternesse agaynst theyr
seruauntes, and their threatnynges, remembrynge that
they are rather felow seruauntes then masters, because
they both haue a common master in heauen, whyche as
well wyll punyshe the masters if they do amysse, as
the seruauntes. The Apostle wolde not haue the masters
ful of threatning, muche lesse full of beatynge: for
he saythe not, pardonynge your strypes, but pardonynge
your threatenynges, and yet wee woulde haue oure
chyldren nothynge but beaten, whyche scarse the Galeye
masters or Sea robbers do agaynste theyr slaues and
rowers. But of chyldren, what dothe the same Apostle
commaunde vs?

¶ In somuch he wyll not haue them beaten slauyshely,
he cõmaundeth all crueltye and bytternes to be awaye
from our monicions and chydyng.
You fathers saythe he,
prouoke not your chyldren to anger, but bring them vp
in discipline and chastisyng of the Lorde. And what
the discipline of the lorde is, he shal soone se that
wyll consider, wyth what gentlenes, what meekenes,
what charitie the Lord Iesus hath taught, suffered and
noryshed and brought vp by litle and lytle his
disciples. The lawes of man do temper the fathers
power: the same also permit vnto the seruauntes an
accion of euyll handlyng, and from whence then commeth
thys crueltye amonge christen men? In time paste one
Auxon a knight of Rome, whylest he wente about to
amende hys sonne by beatynge hyn vnmesurably, he
kylled him. That crueltye so moued the people, that
the fathers and chyldren haled hym in to the market
place, & al to be pricked hym, thrust him in with
theyr wrytyng pinnes, nothynge regarding the dignitie
of his knighthod, and Octauus Augustus had much a do
to saue hym. But now a daies howe many Auxons do we
see whiche thorowe cruell beatynge, hurte the
chyldrens healthe, make them one eyed, weaken them,
and sometyme kyll them. Roddes serue not to some mens
crueltie, they turne them and beate thẽ wyth the great
ende, they geue them buffettes, and stryke the yonge
ons wyth their fistes, or whatsoeuer is next at hand
they snatche it, and dashe it vpon them. It is told in
the lawe, that a certen sowter, when he layd one of
hys sowters vpon the hynder parte of the heade wyth a
laste, he stroke oute one of hys eyes, and that for
that deede he was punyshed by the lawe. What shall we
saye of them whyche beside their beatinges, do thẽ
shamefull despite also? I wolde neuer haue beleued it,
excepte both I had knowen the chylde, and the doer of
this crueltie perfitelye.

¶ A chylde yet scante . vii. yere olde, whose honeste
parentes had done good to his master, they handled so
cruellye, that scarse anye suche tiraunt as was
Mezencius or Phalaris coulde do more cruelly. They
caste so much mans donge into the childes mouth y^t
scarsely he coulde spit, but was cõpelled to swallowe
doune a great parte of it. What tiraunt dyd euer suche
kynde of despyght? After suche daynties, they
exercysed suche lozdelynes. The chylde naked was
hanged vp wyth cordes by y^e armeholes, as though he
hadde bene a stronge thyefe, and there is amonge to
Germanes no kynde of punishement more abhorred then
thys. Anone as he honge, they all to beat hym wyth
roddes, almoste euen tyll deathe. For the more the
chylde denyed the thynge that he dyd not, so muche the
more dyd they beate hym. Put also to thys, the
tormentour hym selfe almoste more to be feared then
the verie punyshemente, hys eyes lyke a serpente,
hys narowe and wrythen mouth, hys sharpe voyce like a
spirite, hys face wanne and pale, hys head roulyng
about, threatninges and rebukes suche as they lusted
in theyr anger: a manne wolde haue thought it a furie
out of hel. What folowed? anone after this punishement
the chyld fel sicke, with great ieopardye both of
mynde and lyfe. Then this tormentour began fyrst to
complayne, he wrote to hys father to take awaye hys
sonne as sone as could be, and that he had bestowed as
much phisicke vpon him as he coulde, but in vayne vpon
the chylde that was paste remedye. ¶ When the sicknes of
the body was somewhat put away by medicines, yet was
the minde so astonied, that we feared leste he wold
neuer come agayne to the olde strength of hys mynd.
Neither was thys y^e cruelty of one daye, as longe as
the childe dwelte wyth hym there passed no daye but he
was cruelly beatẽ once or twise. I know y^u suspectest
o reader, that it was an haynouse faute, wherunto so
cruell remedie was vsed. I wyl shew you in few words.
Ther was foũd both of hys y^t was beaten, and of two
others, theire bookes blotted wyth ynke, their
garmentes cutte, and their hose arayed wyth mannes
donge.

¶ He that played thys playe was a chylde borne to all
myschiefe, whiche by other vngracious deedes
afterwardes, made men beleue the other to be true that
were done before. And he was nephewe by the systers
syde to this mad docter: euẽ then playing a part
before to these thyngs whych souldiers are wont to do
in bataile or robbynge. At an hostes house of his, he
pulled oute the faucet, and let the wyne runne vpõ the
ground, and as one to shew a pleasure, he sayde that
he felt the sauour of the wyne: wyth an other of hys
felowes he daylye played at the sworde, not in sporte,
but in earnest, that euen then you myght wel perceyue
he wolde be a thyefe or a murtherer, or whych is very
lyke to them, that he wolde be an hyred souldier.
Although the teacher fauored hym, yet fearynge leste
they shulde one kyll an other, he sente awaye his
cosen. For he had for that other a good rewarde: and
he was of this sorte of gospellers, to whom nothing is
more swete then monei. His godfather was made surely
to beleue that the child was w^t a good and diligent
master, when in deede he dwelte wyth a boucher, & was
continually in company, and made drudge with a man
that was halfe mad, and continually sicke. Thus
fauoringe more his kynseman then hym by whom he had so
much profite, the suspicion was layde vpon the
harmeles, to whom they ascribed so muche malice that
he wolde teare and defile his owne garmentes to auoide
suspicion if any suche thyng had bene done. But the
child commyng both of good father and mother, dyd
neuer shewe any tokẽ of such a naughtie disposicion:
and at thys daye there is nothing farther from all
malice then are hys maners, whyche nowe free frome all
feare telleth all the matter in order as it was donne.

¶ To suche tutors do honest citizens committe their
chyldren whome they moste loue, and suche do complayne
that they be not wel rewarded for their paynes. And
this tormentour wolde not once knoweledge he had done
amisse, but had rather playe the starke mad man, then
confesse his faute: and yet agaynst such is not taken
an accion of euyll handlyng, neither hath the rigoure
of the lawe anye power agaynste suche huge crueltie.
There is no anger worse to be pleased thẽ theirs that
be lyke to haue the fallynge sycknes. Howe many things
be crepte in, into the lyfe of christen men, not meete
neither for the Phrigians nor y^e Scithians, of y^e
which I wyl shew one much like this matter. The yong
gentlemã is send in to y^e vniuersitie to lerne the
liberall sciences. But w^t how vngentle despightes is
he begun in them? Fyrst they rub his chyn, as though
they wolde shaue his bearde: hereunto thei vse pisse,
or if ther be any fouler thyng. This liquour is dashed
into his mouth, & he may not spit it out. Wyth
paynfull bobbes they make as though thei drewe hornes
from him: sõtime he is cõpelled to drinke a great
deale of vinegre or salte, or whatsoeuer it listeth
y^e wyld cõpany of yong mẽ to geue him: for whẽ they
begin the play, thei make him swere y^t he shal obey
al that they cõmaund him. At last they hoyse him vp,
& dashe his backe against a post as oftẽ as they list.
After these so rustical despightes sũtime foloweth an
ague or a paine of y^e backe y^t neuer cã be remedied.
Certes this foolishe play endeth in a drõken bãket:
w^t such beginninges enter they into y^e studies of
liberal sciences. But it were mete that after this
sorte ther shuld begin a boucher, a tormẽtour a baud
or a bõde slaue or a botemã, not a child appointed to
y^e holy studies of lerning. It is a meruel that yong
mẽ geuen to liberal studies be mad after this fashiõ,
but it is more meruel y^t these things be alowed of
suche as haue the rule of youth. To so foule & cruel
folyshenes is pretẽsed the name of custume, as though
the custume of an euil thing wer any thing else thẽ an
old errour, whiche ought so much the more diligẽtly to
be pulled vp bicause it is crept among many. So
cõtinueth amõg the diuines y^e maner of a vesper, for
they note an euyl thynge w^t a like name, more mete
for scoffers thẽ diuines. But thei y^t professe
liberal sciẽces, shuld haue also liberal sports. But I
come againe to chyldren, to whome nothyng is more
vnprofitable, then to be vsed to stripes, whiche
enormittie causeth that the gẽtle nature is
intractable, and the viler driuen to desperacion:
and cõtinuaunce of thẽ maketh that both the bodye is
hardened to stripes, & the mynd to wordes. Nay we may
not oftentymes chyde thẽ to sharplye. A medicine
naughtelye vsed, maketh the sickenes worse, helpeth it
not, and if it be layde to continuallye, by litle and
litle, it ceaseth to be a medicine, and dothe nothinge
else then dothe stinkynge and vnwholesome meate. But
here some man wyl laye vnto vs the godlye sayings of
the Hebrues. He that spareth the rod hateth hys chylde
and he that loueth hys sonne, beateth hym muche.
Agayne: Bowe downe the necke of thy chylde in youth,
and beate hys sydes whyle he is an infante very yonge.
Suche chastisemente peraduenture was meete in tyme
paste for the Iewes. Nowe must the sayinge be
expounded more ciuilely. And if a man wil be hard to
vs wyth letters and sillables, what is more cruell
then to bend the necke of a chyld, & to beat the sides
of an infant? woldest thou not beleue that a bull were
taught to y^e plowgh, or an asse to bear paniars, and
not a mã to vertue? And what rewarde doth he promise
vs? That he grope not after other mẽnes dores. He is
afeard lest his son shulde be poore, as the greateste
of all mischiefe. What is more coldly spoken then thys
sentence? Let gentle admonicion be oure rodde, and
sometyme chydyng also, but sauced wyth mekenes, not
bitternes. Let vs vse thys whyp continuallye in our
chyldren, y^t beyng wel brought vp, they maye haue at
home a meanes to lyue well, and not be cõpelled to beg
counsell at their neighbours how to do their busines.
Licon the philosopher hath shewed . ii. sharpe spurres
to quicken vp chyldrens wyttes, shame, and prayse:
shame is the feare of a iust reproch, prayse is the
norysher of all verteous actes: wyth these prickes
lette vs quicken our chyldrens wyttes. Also if you
wyl, I wyl shewe you a club to beate their sides
wythall. Continuall labour vanquysheth all thynges
sayth the best of al poetes. Let vs wake, let vs
prycke thẽ forwardes, & styl call vpon them, by
requiringe, repetynge, and often teachyng: Wyth this
club let vs beate the sydes of our infantes. Fyrst let
them lerne to loue, and maruell at vertue and lernyng,
to abhor sinne and ignorance. Let them hear some
praysed for theyr well doinges, and some rebuked for
their euyl. Let examples be brought in of those men to
whom lernyng hath gottẽ hygh glorye, ryches, dignitie,
and authoritie. And againe of them to whom their euyll
condicions & wyt wythout all lernyng hath brought
infamie, contempt, pouertye and myschiefe. These
verely be the clubbes meete for christians, that make
disciples of Iesu. [Sidenote: Emulacion is an enuye
wythout malice, for desire to be as good as an other,
& to be as much praysed. ] And if we cã not profite by
monicions, nor prayers, neyther by emulacion, nor
shame, nor prayse, nor by other meanes, euen the
chastenyng w^t the rod, if it so require, ought to be
gentle & honeste. For euen thys that the bodies of
gẽtle children shulde be made bare, is a kind of
despice. Howbeit Fabius vtterly cõdemneth al y^e
custume to beate gentle chyldrẽ. Some mã wil saye,
what shall be done to them if they can not be driuen
to study but by stripes? I answer roũdly, what wold ye
do to asses or to oxen if thei went to schole? Woldest
thou not driue them in to the contrey, & put the one
to the backhouse, the other to the plowe. For there be
men as well borne to the plowe and to the backehouse,
as oxen and asses be. But they wyll saye: then
decreseth my flocke. What then? Yea and myne
aduauntage to. Thys is an harde matter: thys maketh
them to weepe. They set more money then by the profite
of the chyldren. But suche are all the cõmon sorte of
folyshe teachers. I graunte. As the philosophers
describe a wyse mã, y^e rethoricians an oratour, such
one as scarse maye be foũd in anye place: So muche
more easye it is to prescribe what manner of man a
scholmaster shuld be, thẽ to find many y^t wil be as
you wold haue thẽ. [Sidenote: Ciuile officers and
prelates shuld se that ther wer good schole masters. ]
¶ But this oughte to be a publyque care and charge, and
belongeth to the ciuyle officer, and chyef prelats of
the churches that as ther be men appointed to serue in
war, to singe in churches, so muche more there shulde
be ordeined that shuld teach citizens chyldren well
and gently. [Sidenote: Vespasian. ] Vespasianus oute of
hys owne cofers gaue yerely sixe hũdred poũde to
Latine and Greke rethoricians. [Sidenote: Plinie. ]
Plinie the nephew of his owne liberalitie bestowed a
great sũme of money to the same purpose. And if the
comẽty in thys poynt be slacke, certenly euerye man
ought to take hede at home for his owne house. ¶ Thou
wylt saye: what shall poore men do which can scarse
fynd their chyldren, muche lesse hyre a master to
teache them? Here I haue nothynge to saye, but thys
out of the comedie: We muste do as we maye do, when we
can not as we wolde. We do shewe the beste waye of
teachynge, we be not able to geue fortune: Saue that
here also the liberalitie of ryche men ought to helpe
good wyttes, whych can not shewe forthe the strength
of naturall inclinacion because of pouertye.
[Sidenote: Pouertie hurteth good wittes. ] I wyll that
the gentlenes of the master shulde be so tempered,
that familiaritie, the companion of contempte, put not
away honeste reuerence, suche one as men say Sarpedo
was, tutour to Cato of Vtica, which thorowe hys gentle
maners gat greate loue, and by hys vertue as lyke
authoritie, causynge the chylde to haue a greate
reuerence, and to set much by him wythout anye feare
of roddes. But these y^t can do nothynge elles but
beate, what wolde they do if they had taken vpon them
to teache Emperoures or kynges chyldren, whome it were
not lefull to beate? They wyll saye that greate mens
sonnes muste be excepted from thys fashion. What is
that? Be not the chyldren of citizens, men as well as
kynges chyldren be? Shulde not euerye manne as wel
loue hys chylde as if he wer a kynges sonne? If his
estate be sũwhat base, so much the more neede hath he
to be taught, and holpen by lernynge, that he maye
come vp, from his pore case. But if he be of hye
degre, philosophy & lernyng is necessary to gouerne
hys matters well. Further not a fewe be called frome
lowe degre to hye estate, yea sometyme to be great
byshops. All men come not to thys, yet oughte al men
to be brought vp to come to it. I wil braule no more
with these greate beaters, after I haue tolde you this
one thing: How that those lawes & officers be
condemned of wyse men, whych can no more but feare men
wyth punyshement, & do not also entyse men by
rewardes: and the whych punyshe fautes, and prouide
not also y^t nothyng be done worthy punishmẽt. The
same must be thought of the cõmon sort of teachers,
whych only beate for fautes, and do not also teache
y^e mynd that it do not amysse. They straitlie require
their lesson of them: if the chylde fayle, he is
beaten: and whẽ this is done daily because the child
shuld be more accustumed to it, thei thinke they haue
plaied the part of a gaye scholemaster. But the chyld
shulde fyrste haue ben encoraged to loue lernyng, and
to be afeared to displease hys teacher. But of these
thynges peraduenture some man wyl thynke I haue spoke
to much & so myght I worthely be thought, except that
almoste all men dyd in this poynte so greatly offende,
that hereof a mã cã neuer speke inough. Furthermore it
wyll helpe verye muche, if he that hathe taken vpon
hym to teache a chylde, so sette hys mynd vpon hym,
that he bear a fatherly loue vnto hym. By thys it
shall come to passe, y^t both the child wil lerne more
gladly, & he shal fele lesse tediousnes of his
laboure. [Sidenote: A sentence to be marked. ] For in
euery busines loue taketh away y^e greatest part of
hardnes. And because after the olde prouerbe: Lyke
reioyseth in lyke, y^e master muste in maner play the
childe againe, that he may be loued of the chylde. Yet
this lyketh me not, y^t men set theyr children to be
taught their fyrst beginnings of letters vnto those
that be of extreme and dotyng olde age, for they be
chyldren in verye deede, they fayne not, they
coũterfait not, stuttinge, but stutte in deede.

¶ I wolde wyshe to haue one of a lustye yonge age,
whome the chylde myght delyght in, and which wold not
be lothe to playe euerye parte. [Sidenote: A lykenynge
of scholemasters and nurses together. ] Thys man shulde
do in fashionyng hys wytte, that parentes and nurses
be wont to do in formynge the bodye. Howe do they
fyrst teache the infante to speake lyke a man? They
applye their wordes by lyspyng accordyng to the
chyldes tatlynge. How do they teach them to eat? They
chaw fyrst their milke soppes, and when they haue
done, by lytle & litle put it in to the chyldes
mouthe. Howe do they teache thẽ to go? They bowe downe
their owne bodies, and drawe in theyre owne strides
after the measure of the infantes. Neyther do they
fede them wyth euerye meate, nor putte more in then
they bee able to take: and as they increase in age,
they leade them to bigger thinges. First they seeke
for noryshemente that is meete for them, not differyng
much frõ mylke, whych yet if it be thrust into the
mouthe to muche, either it choketh the chylde, or
beynge caste oute defileth hys garmente. When it is
softelye and pretelye put in, it doth good. Whych
selfe thynge we se cõmeth to passe in vesselles that
haue narowe mouthes: if you pour in muche, it bubbleth
out agayne, but if you powre in a litle, and as it
were by droppes, in deede it is a whyle, and fayre and
softely erste, but yet then fylled. [Sidenote: The
fedyng of the bodye and mynd cõpared together. ] So
then as by small morsels, and geuen now and then,
the lytle tender bodies are noryshed: in lyke manner
chyldrens wyttes by instruccions meete for them taught
easely, and as it were by playe by lytle & litle
accustume thẽ selues to greater thyngs: & the
wearynesse in the meane season, is not felte, because
that small encreasynges so deceyue the felynge of
labour, that neuerthelesse they helpe much to great
profite. As it is told of a certen wrestler, whych,
accustumed to beare a calfe by certein furlonges, bare
hym whẽ he was waxen a bull, wythoute anye payne: for
the encrease was not felt, whych euerye daye was put
to the burden. But there be some that looke that
chyldren shulde strayghtwaye become olde men, hauyng
no regarde of their age, but measure the tender
wittes, by theyr owne strengthe. ¶ Straightway they call
vpon them bytterly, straightway they straitly require
perfect diligence, by and by they frowne wyth the
forhead if the childe do not as wel as he wold haue
hym, and they bee so moued as thoughe they had to do
wyth an elder body, forgettyng you maye be sure y^t
they thẽ selues wer once children. How much more
curteouse is it that Pliny warneth a certen master
that was to sore. Remember saythe he, that bothe he is
a yonge man, and that thou hast ben one thi selfe.
But many be so cruel against the tender chyldren, as
though thei remẽbred not neyther them selues, neyther
their scolers to be menne. [Sidenote: What things
lytle yonge chyldrẽ shold be fyrste taughte. ] Thou
woldest that I shulde shewe the those thynges that be
meete for the inclinaciõ of that age, and whiche shuld
by and by be taughte the lytle yongons. Fyrst the vse
of tonges whych commeth to them without any greate
studye, ther as olde folkes can scarse be hable to
learne them wyth great labour. [Sidenote: Chyldren
desyre naturally to folow & do as other do. ] And here
to as we sayde, moueth the chyldrẽ a certen desyre to
folowe and do as they se other do: of the which thing
we see a certen lyke fashion in pies and popiniayes.
What is more delectable then the fabels of poetes,
which wyth their swete entisynge plesures to delight
childrens eares that thei profite vs very much whẽ we
be olde also, not only to y^e knowledge of the tong,
but also to iudgement and copye of elegant speche?
What wyll a chyld hear more gladlye then Esops fabels,
whyche in sporte and playe teache earnest preceptes of
philosophy? and the same fruite is also in the fabels
of other poetes. The chylde heareth that Vlisses
felowes were turned into swyne, and other fashions of
beastes. The tale is laughed at, and yet for al that
he lerneth that thing that is the chiefest poynte in
al morall philosophye: Those whyche be not gouerned by
ryght reason, but are caried after the wyll of
affeccions, not to be men, but beastes. ¶ What coulde
a stoycke saye more sagely? and yet dothe a merye tale
teache the same. In a thynge that is manifest I wyll
not make the tarye with many exãples. [Sidenote:
Bucolicall, where y^e herdmen do speke of nete and
shepe. ] Also what is more mery conceited thẽ the
verses called Bucolicall? what is sweter then a
comedie, whych standing by morall maners, deliteth
bothe the vnlearned and chyldren? And heare how great
a parte of philosophye is lerned by playe? Adde vnto
thys the names of all thynges, in the whych it is
meruell to see howe now a dayes, yea euẽ they be blind
which are taken for wel lerned mẽ. Finally, shorte and
mery conceited sentences, as commonly be prouerbes,
and quicke shorte sayinges of noble men, in the whiche
onlye in tyme paste philosophie was wonte to be taught
to the people. Ther appeareth also in the very
chyldren a certen peculier redines to some sciences,
as vnto musicke, arithmetique, or cosmographie. For I
haue proued that they whych were very dull to lerne
the preceptes of grammer and rethorique, were found
verye apte to lerne the subtile artes. Nature therfore
must be holpen to that parte wherunto of it selfe it
is inclined. And down the hyll is very litle labour,
as contrary is great. Thou shalt nether do nor saye
anye thynge agaynst thy naturall inclinacion. I knewe
a child that could not yet speake whych had no greater
pleasure, than to open a booke, and make as thoughe he
read. And when he dyd that sometyme many houres, yet
was he not weery. And he neuer wept so bitterli, but
if you had offered hym a booke, he wolde be pleased.
That thynge made hys friendes hope that in time to
come he wolde be a well lerned manne. His name also
brought some good lucke: for he was called Hierome.
[Sidenote: That is a teacher of holye lernynge. ] And
what he is now I can not tel, for I sawe hym not
beynge growẽ vp. To the knowledge of the tonge it wyll
helpe verye muche if he be broughte vp amonge them
that be talkatiue. Fabels and tales wyll the chylde
lerne so muche the more gladly, and remember the
better, if he maye see before his eyes the argumentes
properly paynted, and what soeuer is tolde in the
oracion be shewed him in a table. The same shall helpe
as much to lerne without boke the names of trees,
herbs, and beastes, and also their properties,
inespecially of these whych be not common to be seene
in euerye place, as is Rhinoceros, whyche is a beaste
that hathe a horne in hys nose, naturall enemye to the
Elephant: Tragelaphus, a goate hart, Duocrotalus,
a byrd lyke to a swã, whyche puttyng hys head into the
water brayeth lyke an asse, an asse of Inde and an
Elephant. The table maye haue an Elephant whom a
Dragon claspeth harde aboute, wrapping in his former
feete with his tayle. The litle chyld laugheth at the
syght of thys straunge paintynge, what shall the
master do then? He shall shewe him that ther is a
greate beaste called in Greeke an Elephante, and in
Latine lykewyse, saue that sometyme it is declined
after the latine fashion. He shall shewe, that that
whyche the grekes cal proboscida, or his snout, the
latines call his hande, because wyth that he reacheth
hys meate. He shall tell hym that that beaste doth not
take breath at the mouthe as we do, but at the snoute:
& that he hath teth standyng out on bothe sides, and
they be iuory, which rich mẽ set much price by, and
therwith shal shew hym an iuory combe. Afterwardes he
shall declare that in Inde ther be dragons as greate
as they. And that dragon is bothe a greke worde and a
latine also, saue that the grekes says dracontes in
the genitiue case. He shall shewe that naturallie
betwyxte the dragons and the Elephantes is great
fyghte. And if the chylde be somewhat gredy of
learnynge, he maye rehearse manye other thynges of the
nature of Elephantes and dragons. Manye reioyse to see
huntinges paynted. Here howe manye kyndes of trees,
hearbes, byrdes, foure footed beastes maye he lerne
and playe? I wyll not holde you longe wyth examples,
seynge it is easye by one to coniecture all. ¶ The
master shall be diligent in chosynge them oute, and
what he shall iudge moste pleasaunt to chyldren, most
mete for them, what they loue best, and is most
floryshyng, that inespecially let hym set before them.
The fyrste age lyke vnto the spring tyme, standeth in
pleasaunt sweete flowres, and goodly grene herbes,
vntyl the heruest time of ripe mans age fyll the barne
full of corne. ¶ Then as it were agaynst reason in ver
or springe tyme to seeke for a rype grape, and a rose
in autumne, [Sidenote: Autumne is the tyme betwyxt
somer and wynter. ] so muste the master marke what is
mete for euerye age. Mery and plesaunte thynges be
conueniente for chyldehod, howbeit all sourenesse and
sadnes muste be cleane awaye from all studies.
[Sidenote: The meaning of y^e poetes deuise touching
the muses & Charites.