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THE LIBRARY

The Ontario Institute
for Studies in Education

Toronto, Canada

LIBRARY

T^^^ O^iTA^lO INSTITUTE
F .< STU:i£:S INI EDUCATION

FEB 25 1968

Heath's Pedaffogfical Library— Vol. XXXIL

ROGER ASCHAM.

The Scholemaster

Written between 1563-8. Posthumously published.

First Edition, 1570; Collated with the Second
Edition, 1572.

Edited by EDWARD ARBER, F.S.A., Etc.

Fellow 0/ King's College, London; Hon. Mem. of the

Virginia Historical Society; Professor of Engliih

Language and Literature , Sir Josiah

Alason^s College, Birtningham.

BOSTON, U.S.A.
D. C. HEATH & CO., PUBLISHERS

1S98

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Introduction, 5

Ascham's Method of teaching Latin, . . 26

Bibliography, 37

THE SCHOLEMASTER. 41

Preface [Margaret Ascham's dedication to Sir

W. Cecil], 42

A Praeface to the Reader [by R. Ascham], . 45

The First Book for the Youth. 59

1. Ascham's Method of teaching Latin, First and Second

Stages: see analysis at pp. 2<^-ii, .... 59-69

2. "Why, in mine opinion, Love is fitter than Fear, Gentle-

ness better than Beating, to bring up a child rightly in
learning," 70

3. The difiference between Quick Wits and Hard Wits, . 72-78

4. The ill choosing of scholars to go to the Universities, . 78-84

5. Plato's seven plain notes to choose a good wit in a child for

learning, 84-94

6. Obj. Some men laugh at us, when we thus wish and

reason that young children should be rather allured to
learning by gentleness and love, than compelled to

learning by beating and fear, 92

Ans. The judgment of Socrates, No learning ought to

be learned with bondage, 93

7. Obj. Some will say, children of nature love pastime and

mislike learning : because, in their kind, the one is easy
and pleasant, the other hard and wearisome, . . 96

Ans. An opinion not so true as some men ween. If
ever the nature of man be given at any time more than
other, to receive goodness : it is in innocency of yong
years ; before experience of evil has taken root in him 99

iv CONTENTS.

8. BetidM cruelty in Schoolmasters in beating away the

Love of Learning from children ; there is a clean con-
trary fault, »°4

From Seven to Seventeen yong gentlemen be carefully
•ooagh brought up: but from Seventeen to Seven and
Twenty (the most dangerous time of all a man's life and
OKWt slippery to stay well in) they have commonly the
r«in« of all license in their own hand, and specially such
»• do live in the Court, 104-no

9. The lulianated Englishmen, 1 10-177

The Second Book. 179

10. Ascham's Method of teaching Latin, Third and Fourth

St Kovs'. see analysis at pp. zz~zfi, .... 179-188

11. The six ways appointed by the learned men for the learn-

ing of tongues and increase of eloquence, . . . 188

TraHslation 0/ Languages 189-196

Paraphrase, 196-212

Metaphrase, 212-221

Epitome t 221-234

Imitation, 234-276

Declamation [not included in this work, possibly
not written by Ascham at his death.]

la. The true difference of authors, 276-282

ij. A survey of the Latin tong in its purity, scarce one hun-
dred years 282-317

Plautus and Tbrbnck, The Correspondents of

Cicero, 283-287, 298

Varro, 301-306

Sallust (The criticism of Sir J. Cheeke), . 306-313

C^SAR[only begunj, 315-317

CiCBRO (probably not written].

14. Critictsm of recent English verse, 187-298

Classical feet v. Rhyme. Dactyles are seldom found
in English. . . . Hexameters do rather trot and hobble
than run smoothly. Yet I am sure, our English tongue
will receive Iambics as naturally as Greek and Latin, . 288-292

The Scholemaster

INTRODUCTION.

1. It is a part of the Divine Providence of the
World that the Strong shall influence the "Weak :
not only on the Battlefield and in Diplomacy ;
but also in Learning and Literature. Thus the
Nations of Modern Europe have been influenced
by the Writings of Greece and Rome : and they
have influenced each other, in turn, with their
own Power and Beauty in Thought and Expres-
sion. Thus, Modern English has been subject
in succession to the influence of Classical Litera-
ture in the time of Ascham; to the literary
fascination of Italy, in the age of Elizabeth ; of
France, at the Restoration ; and of Germany, in
more recent times : without at all ceasing in the
natural progression of its innate capabilities, for
all the fashions and forms which, for a time, it

6 INTRODUCTION.

pleased to adopt. In like manner English Liter-
ature has allured the German, the Frenchman,
and the Italian : thereby restoring benefit for
benefit in the commerce and free trade of the
Mind

2. The stream of Ancient Literature and
Cultivation, which, after the fall of Constantino-
ple, advanced from East to West; at length
reached our shores in the reign of Henry the
Eight. In the planting and engraftment of
Classical learning in England at that time, St.
John's College, Cambridge, — founded on 9th
April, 1511 — had a most distinguished share.
Its Master and Fellows — whether they adhered
to the older or the newer ' faith ' — strove alike
most earnestly to promote the new ' learning.'

Thomas Nashe, writing — twenty years after
Ascham's death — somewhat severely on 'our
triuiall translators,' in his address To the Gentle-
men Students, prefixed to R. Greene's Menaphon,
1589 : bears honourable testimony to the worthi-
ness of this College. ... "I will propound to
your learned imitation, those men of import, that
haue laboured with credit in this laudable kinde
of Translation ; In the forefront of whom, I
cannot but place that aged Father Erasmus^ that
inuested most of our Greeke Writers, in the
roabes of the auncient Romaines ; in whose

INTRODUCTION. 7

traces, Philip Melancthon^ Sadolet, Plantiney and
manie other reuerent Germaines insisting, haue
reedified the ruines of our decayed Libraries, and
merueilouslie inriched the Latine tongue with
the expence of their toyle. Not long after, their
emulation beeing transported into flngand, euerie
priuate Scholler, William Turner^ and who not,
beganne to vaunt the smattering of Latine, in
English Impressions. But amongst others in
that age, Sir Thomas Eliots elegance did seuer
it selfe from all equalls, although Sir Thomas
Moore with his Comicall wit, at that instant was
not altogether idle: yet was not Knowledge
fuUie confirmed in hir Monarchic amongst vs,
till that most famous and fortunate Nurse of all
learning, Saint lohns in Cambridge^ that at that
time was as an Vniuersitie within it selfe ; shin-
ing so farre aboue all other Houses, Halls, and
Hospitalls whatsoeuer, that no Colledge in the
Towne, was able to compare with the tythe of
her Students ; hauing (as I haue hearde graue
men of credite report) more candles light in it,
euerie Winter Morning before fowre of the clocke,
than the fowre of clocke bell gaue stroakes;
till Shee (I saie) as a pittying Mother, put too
her helping hande, and sent from her fruitfull
wombe, sufficient Schollers, both to support her
owne weale, as also to supplie all other inferiour

8 INTRODUCTION.

foundations defects, and namelie that royall
erection of Trinitie Golledge, which the Vniuer-
sitie Orator, in an Epistle to the Duke of Somer-
set, aptlie tearmed Golonia diducta from the
Suburbes of Saint lohns. In which extraor-
dinarie conception, vno partu in rempuUicam
prodiere, the Exchequer of eloquence, Sir
Ihon Cheeke, a man of men, supernaturally
traded in al tongues, Sir John Mason, Doctor
Watson, Redman, Aschame, GrindaU, Leuer,
Pilkington: all which, haue either by their
priuate readings, or publique workes, repurged
the errors of Artes, expelde from their puritie,
and set before our eyes, a more perfect Meth-
ode of Studie.

3. Thomas Baker in his History of St. John
the Evangelist, Ed. by J. E. B., Mayor, 1869 ;
tells us that about 1520-30, " 12d per week was
allowed in common to a fellow, and only 7d to a
scholar. These were times when £120 was
sufficient to found a fellowship [for the private
foundations usually run thereabouts], and when
£6 per an. was enough to maintain a fellow," p.
81, "as £3 per annum was enough to found a
scholar," p. 99.

Baker also gives us a Statement of the finances
of the College when Doctor Metcalfe became its
tliird master, about Dec. 1518, which fully

INTRO D UCTION. 9

corroborates Ascham's account oi p. 133 : which
Statement may be thus summarized : —

Total revenues from lands . . 234 14 4
Less value of private foundations . 48 0 0

186 14 4

Less the ordinary charges

incident to these revenues . 125 9 9
Remaining to the sustentation of

of all such as be to be found of

the said lands, i. e., for their

only commons, stipend, and liv-
ery yearly . . . . 61 4 6
The charges of these viz. of the

master, twenty-eight fellows, six

scholars and of several servants,

is yearly 162 8 0

Excess of Outgoings over

Receipts . . . £101 3 5

Yet Doctor Metcalfe in ways like those des-
cribed by Ascham, as well as by obtaining the
property of the suppressed Nunneries of Hig-
ham and Bromehall, raised the finances of the
College to a flourishing condition, until it was
spending £1000 a year (equal to £15,000 now)
in the spread of knowledge.

4. But the College was not more fortunate in

10 INTRODUCTION.

wealth than in learning when, in 1530, Roger
Ascham, a Yorkshire lad of 15, entered it. John
Cheke had been elected Fellow on the 30th of
March in that year : and John Redman became
a fellow on 3d of November following. Ascham
thus distinctly attributes the race of Scholars
that were bred up in St. John's College to the
unwearying efforts of these two men. "At
Cambridge also, in S. Johns CoUedge, in my
tyme, I do know, that, not so much the good
statutes, as two lentlemen, of worthie memorie,
Syr lohn Cheke, and Doctour Readman, by their
onely example of excellency in learnyng, of
godnes in liuyng, of diligence in studying, of
councell in exhorting, of good order in all thyng,
did breed vp so many learned men in that one
College of S. lohns, at one time, as I beleue, the
whole Vniuersitie of Louaine, in many yeares
was neuer able to affourd.

As Redman became Master of King's College
in 1542, and Cheke went to Court on 10 July
1544 to be tutor to Prince Edward ; the period
of Study to which Ascham so gladly and so
often reverts in this his last work, ' my swete
tyme spent at Cambridge,' would not exceed
fifteen years, at the longest ; so far at least as the
time during which Cheke and Redman gave so
mighty an impulse to classical Learning.

INTRODUCTION. H

5. These Planters of the ancient Literature
in England hoped well of their Mother Tongue.
The more they learnt of the subtilty of Greek
eloquence or the cunning elegance of Roman
prose : the more they desired that English might
be kept pure, the more they believed it to be cap-
able of a worthy literature.

Roger Asciiam while a Fellow of St. John's,
deliberately wrote his Toxophilus, published in
1545, in plain and true English; thus, how
strangely to us, defends himself. " If any man
woulde blame me, eyther for takynge such a
matter in hande, or els for writing it in the Eng-
lyshe tongue, this answere I may make hym,
that whan the beste of the realme thinke it
honest for them to vse, I one of the meanest sorte,
ought not to suppose it vile for me to write;
And though to haue written it in an other tonge,
had bene bothe more profitable for my study, and
also more honest for my name, yet I can thinke
my labour wel bestowed, yf with a little hynder-
aunce of my profyt and name, maye come any
fourtheraunce, to the pleasure or commoditie, of
the gentlemen and yeomen of Englande, for
whose sake I tooke this matter in hande. And
as for ye Latin or greke tonge, euery thing is so
excellently done in them, that none can do better :
In the Englysh tonge contrary, euery thinge in

12 INTRODUCTION.

a maner so meanly, bothe for the matter and
handelynge, that no man can do worse. For
therein the least learned for the moste parte,
haue ben alwayes moost redye to wryte. And
they whiche had leaste hope in latin, haue bene
moste boulde in englyshe : when surelye euery
man that is moste ready to taulke, is not moost
able to wryte. He that wyll wryte well in any
tongue, muste folowe thys councel of Aristotle,
to speake as the common people do, to thinke as
wise men do ; and so shoulde euery man under-
stande hym, and the iudgement of wyse men
alowe hym. Many English writers haue not
done so, but vsing straunge wordes as latin,
french, and Italian, do make all thinges darke
and harde," p. 18. Ed. 1868.

Thomas Hoby, afterwards knighted, having,
after many delays, finished his translation of
Baldassare Castiglione's work, spoken of so
highly by Ascham atj9. 137: in his Epistle, has
the followin<r. "As I therefore haue to mv
smal skil bestowed some labour about this piece
of woorke, euen so coulde I wishe with al my
hart, profounde learned men in the Greeke and
Latin shoulde make the lyke proofe, and euerye
manne store the tunge accordinge to hys know-
ledge and delite aboue other men, in some piece
of learnynge, that we alone of the worlde may

INTRODUCTION. 13

not bee styll counted barbarous in oure tunge, as
in time out of minde we haue bene in our maners.
And so shall we perchaunce in time become as
famous in Englande, as the learned men of other
nations haue ben and presently are."

While the work was yet in MS., Hoby sent it
to Sir John Cheke to look over. Gheke wrote
the following letter in reply ; which is important
as coming from one who, Sir T. Wilson says,
had ' better skill in our English speache to iudge
of the Phrases and properties of wordes and to
diuide sentences : than any one else had that I
haue knowne.' It is also interesting as showing
that uniform spelling had nothing to do with
clean English.

This letter was written while Sir John was
fading out of life ; for shame at his recantation
of the Protestant faith at his pardon, for having
acted — out of zeal for that faith — as Secretary
of State to Lady Jane Grey. He died in the
Sept. following of that year, 1557, at the house
of his friend Peter Osborne, in Woodstreet. The
letter is printed verbatim at the end of the first
edition of The Courtier, 1561.

Cf To his louing frind Mayster Thomas Hoby.

For your opinion of my gud will vnto you as
you wriit, you cannot be deceiued : for submit-

14 INTRODUCTION.

ting your doinges to mi iudgement, I thanke you :
for taking this pain of your translation, you wor-
thilie deseru great thankes of all sortes. I haue
taken sum pain at your request cheflie in your
preface, not in the reading of it for that was
pleasaunt vnto me boath for the roundnes of your
saienges and welspeakinges of the saam, but in
changing certein wordes which might verie well
be let aloan, but that I am verie curious in mi
freendes matters, not to determijn, but to debaat
what is best. Whearin, I seek not the bestnes
haplie bi truth, but bi mijn own phansie, and
shew of goodnes.

I am of this opinion that our own tung shold
be written cleane and pure, vnmixt and vnman-
geled with borowing of other tunges, wherein if
we take not heed bi tijm, euer borowing and
neuer payeng, she shall be fain to keep her house
as bankrupt. For then doth our tung naturallie
and praisablie vtter her meaning, when she
bouroweth no conterfeitness of other tunges to
attire her self withall, but vseth plainlie her own
with such shift, as nature craft, experiens, and
folowing of other excellent doth lead her vnto,
and if she want at ani tijm (as being vnperfight
she must) yet let her borow with suche bashful-
nes, that it mai appeer, that if either the mould of
our own tung could serue us to fascion a woord

INTRODUCTION. 15

of our own, or if the old denisoiied wordes could
content and ease this neede we would not boldly
venture of vnknowen wordes. This I say not
for reproof of you, who haue scarslie and neces-
sarily vsed whear occasion serueth a strange
word so, as it seemeth to grow out of the matter
and not to be sought for: but for mijn own
defens, who might be counted ouerstraight a
deemer of thinges, if I gaue not thys accompt to
you, mi freend and wijs, of mi marring this your
handiwork. But I am called awai, I prai you
pardon mi shortnes, the rest of mi saienges
should be but praise and exhortacion in this your
doinges, which at moar leisor I shold do better.
From my house in Woodstreete the 16 of luly,

^^^' • Yours assured Ioan Cheek.

These three instances may suffice to show the
close connection between their study of the
ancient Literature and their care over their
native speech. Some of these Classical Students
were the best Prose Writers of their time : just
as the best Poets then, were those who drew
their inspiration from Italy. The two literary
influences prepared a way, by creating a favora-
ble literary atmosphere, for our Master Writers
in Elizabeth's reign, Spenser and Shakespeare ;
Bacon and Hooker.

16 INTRODUCTIOlSt.

6. Of these Classical Pioneers, Sir John
Cheke was the chief. His influence on the
English Literature of that and the next age has
hardly been adequately recognized : partly be-
cause his principal work was Oral Teaching : and
partly because only three or four of his thirty to
forty known writings (many now lost) are in
English. Sir Richard Sackville calls him ' the
best Master ... in our tyme,' at jt?. 21. As-
cham quotes him ever and anon in this work as
an authority from whom there was hardly any
appeal, and in particular, relates atjop. 306-315,
with a fresh memory, Cheke' s criticism of Sal-
lust, made to him about twenty-five years before.
Cheke was a Teacher of Teachers. The influ-
ence of simply Oral Teachers rests chiefly in the
hearts and minds of the Taught, and it shows
itself most in their after Lives and Works.
Cheke taught Edward VL; Sir W. Cecil; W.
Bill, 7th Master of St. Johns ; E. Ascham ; Sir
T. Wilson; and many more celebrities of that
time : and their characters and careers reflect
his teaching.

T, afterwards Sir T. Wilson, in his Epistle,
dated 10 June 1570, to Sir W. Cecil [It would
be an interesting list, if English books were
grouped according to their dedicatees : as show-
ing the influence of the Nobility and Gentry on

INTRODUCTION. 17

Literature], prefixed to his translation of the
Ohjntldacs of Demosthenes into English: thus
ably conveys to us a conception of the surpassing
abilities and character of Sir John Cheke.

" Great is the force of vertue (Right Honour-
able Counseller) to wynne loue and good will
vniuersally, in whose minde soeuer it is perfitelye
knowne, to haue once gotte a dwelling. I
speake it for this ende, that being solitarie of late
time from my other studies, and musinge on this
world, in the middest of my bookes : I did then
(as I haue oftentimes else done) deepelye thinke
of Sir lohn Cheeke Knyght, that rare learned
man, and singular ornament of this lande. Anil
as the remembrance of him was deare vnto me,
for his manifolde great gifts and wonderfull
vertues : so did I thinke of his most gentle
nature and godly disposed minde, to helpe all
those with his knowledge and vnderstanding, that
any waye made meanes vnto him, and sought his
fauour. And to say for my selfe amongest
others, I founde him such a friende to me, for
communicating the skill and giftes of hys minde,
as I cannot but during my life speake reuerentlye
of so worthie a man, and honor in my hart the
heauenly remembrance of him. And thinking of
my being with him in Italic in that famous Vni-
uersitie of Padua : I did cal to minde his care

18 INTRODUCTION.

that he had ouer all the Englishe men there, to
go to their bokes : and how gladly he did reade
to me and others, certaine Orations of Demos-
thenes in Greeke, the interpretation wherof, I
and they had then from his mouth. And so
remembring the rather this world by the very
argument of those actions : I did then seeke out
amongest my other writings for the translation
of them, and happily finding some, although not
all : I was caried streightways (I trust by God's
good motion) to make certaine of them to be
acquainted so nigh as I coulde with our Eng-
lishe tongue, aswell for the aptnesse of the mat-
i^, and needefull knowledge now at this time to
be had : as also for the right notable, and most
excellent handling of the same. And here must
I saye, confessing mine owne weakenesse and
imperfection, that I neuer founde in my life any
thing so harde for me to doe. . . .

Maister Cheeke (whome I dare match with
any one before named for his knowledge in the
Greeke tongue,) hauing traueyled in Demos-
thenes as much as any one of them all, and
famous for his learning throughout Europe: yet
was he neuer so passing in his translations that
no exception coulde be made against him. And
then what shall I thinke of my selfe, after the
naming of so manye excellent learned men, but

INTRODUCTION, 19

onely submit my doings to the fauour of others,
and desire men to beare with my weakenesse.
For this must I needes confesse, that I am alto-
gither vnable to doe so in Englishe, as the
excellencie of this Orator deserueth in Greeke.
And yet the cunning is no lesse, and the prayse
as great in my iudgement, to translate anything
excellently into Englishe, as into any -other lan-
guage. And I thinke (although there be many
doers) yet scant one is to be found worthie
amongst vs, for translating into our Countrie
speach. Such a hard thing it is to bring matter
out of any one language into another. And
perhaps it may be that euen those who take
themselues to bee much better learned than I am
(as what is he that is not, hauing any name for
learning at all ?) will finde it an harder peece of
woorke than they thinke, euen to make Greeke
speake Englishe, if they will make proofe thereof
as I haue done. WTiose labor and trauayle I
woulde as gladly see, as they are lyke now to see
mine, that such an Orator as this is, might bee
so framed to speake our tongue, as none were
able to amende him, and that he might be founde
to be most like himselfe. The which enterprise
if any might haue bene moste bolde to haue
taken vpon him. Sir lohn Cheeke was the man,
of all that euer I knew, or doe yet know in Eng-

20 INTRODUCTION.

lande. Such acquaintance had he with this not-
able Orator, so gladly did he reade him, and so
often : that I thinke there was neuer olde Priest
more perfite in his Portreise, nor supers ticious
Monke in our Ladies Psalter as they call it, nor
yet good Preacher in the Bible or testament,
than this man was in Demosthenes. And great
cause moued him so to be, for that he sawe him
to be the perfitest Orator that euer wrate for
these two thousand yeares almost by past (for so
long it is since he was) and also for that he per-
ceyued him to haue before his eyes in all his
Orations the aduauncement of vertue as a thing
chiefly to be sought for, togither with the hofior
and welfare of his countrie. Besides this, mais-
ter Cheekes iudgement was great in translating
out of one tongue into an other, and better skill
he had in our English speach to iudge of the
Phrases and properties of wordes, and to diuide
sentences : than any else had that I haue knowne.
And often he woulde englyshe his matters out of
the Latine or Greeke vpon the sodeyne, by look-
ing of the booke onely without reading or con-
struing any thing at all : An vsage right worthie
and verie profitable for all men, as well for the
vnderstanding of the booke, as also for the apt-
nesse of framing the Authors meaning and bet-
tering thereby their iudgement, and therewithal!

INTRODUCTION. 21

perfitting their tongue and vtterance of speach.
Moreouer he was moued greatly to like Demos-
thenes aboue all others, for that he sawe him so
familiarly applying himselfe to the sense and
vnderstanding of the common people, that he
sticked not to say, that none euer was more fitte
to make an English man tell his tale praise wor-
thily in an open hearing, either in Parlament or
in Pulpit, or otherwise, than this onely Orator
was. . . .

And although your honour hath no neede of
these my doinges, for that the Greeke is so
familiar vnto you, and that you also, as well as I,
haue hearde Sir lohn Cheeke read the same Ora-
tions at other times : yet I thinke for diners
causes I shoulde in right present vnto your
honour this my traueyle the rather to haue it
through your good liking and allowance, to be
made common to many. First the sayd Sir lohn
Cheeke (whome I doe often name, for the honour
and reuerence due of so worthie a man) was
your brother in la we \_Slr W. Cecil's Jirst wife
was Cheeke' s sister'], your deare friende, your
good admonisher, and teacher in your yonger
yeares, to take that way of vertue, the fruit
whereof you do feele and taste to your great ioy
at this day, and shall for euer be remembered
therefore" . . . ^o?. 1570,

22 INTRODUCTION.

We may not wonder then ; if Ascham so
affectionately refers to Cheke in this work ; as
' that lentleman of worthie memorie, my dearest
frend and teacher of all the poore learning I
haue," p. 276.

[We would here add, out of the same Epistle,
by way of parenthesis, Wilson's defence of Trans-
, lations, which was possibly provoked by Ascham's
remarks, at p. 254. " But such as are grieued
with translated bokes, are lyke to them that
eating fine Manchet, are angry with others that
feede on Cheate breade. And yet God knoweth
men would as gladly eate Manchet as they, if
they had it. But all can not weare Veluet, or
feede with the best, and therefore such are con-
tented for necessities sake to weare our Countrie
cloth, and to take themselues to hard fare, that
can haue no better."]

7. We have noticed a few of the influences on
Ascham in his earlier life : in order to under-
stand his outlook on the Literature of his day ;
while — as he was growing from 48 to 53 years
of age — he wrote this book. The Italian influ-
ence had come in like a flood after the publica-
tion of Tottel's Miscellany in June 1557. In
his rejection of this influence, while he kept up
with the classical learning of the time, we judge
him to be a Scholar of Henry's time, surviving

INTRODUCTION. 23

into the reign of Elizabeth. "We do not allude
to his Invective against Italianated Englishmen^
for which he had doubtless adequate grounds:
but to his shunning the airy lightsomeness of
Italian poesy, which so much characterizes Eng-
lish Verse for the next forty years. Every one
is entitled to a preference in such matters, and
Ascham with others. Though he contended for
English Iambics, he confessed he never had a
" poeticall head." He owned to loving the Italian
language next after Greek ^nd Latin : but Fic-
tion and Rhyme he could not abide. So we
realize him as the strong plain Englishman of
Henry's day, with his love for all field sports
and for cock-fighting, his warm generous heart,
his tolerant spirit, his thorough scholarship, his
beautiful penmanship : a man to be loved and
honoured.

8. Ascham's special craft was teaching the
young, Latin and Greek. He had taught the
Queen, as he tells us atj9. 195: and now read
Greek with her, as she desired. Being thus
about the Court, and the Court resting at Wind-
sor on the 10th Dec. 1563; the officers in atten-
dance dined together under the presidency of the
Secretary of State. Of the Table Talk on that
occasion and its results : Ascham's own account
is the best : and need not be repeated here.

24 INTRODUCTION.

9. Looking within the book; we see that
begun in December 1563, it was prosecuted off
and on for two years and a half, until Sir Rich-
ard Sackville's death in July 1566. It was then,
for 'sorrow's sake, flung aside. 'Almost two
yeares togither, this booke lay scattered, and
neglected,' and then finished, so far as we now
possess it, by the encouragement of Cecil, in the
last six or eight months of Ascham's life. Ascham
died 30 Dec: 1568.

If a guess might be hazarded : it would seem
that the Author had but gathered the materials
together, up to Sir Richard Sackville's death:
and that he wove them together in their present
form, after he had resumed the book again. The
allusion at p. 273, to the Queen's visit to Cam-
bridge, in August 1564, as ^late being there,'
would show that that part was written about
1565: while the phrase at jo. 146,' Syr Richard
Sackuille, that worthie lentleman, of worthie
memories as I sayd in the hegynnynge,'' would
proue that at least The Prceface and the Invec-
tive against Italianated Englishmen were written
after the resumption of the book in 1568: and
consequently that it was after then, that the work
was finally planned. The first book waa then
completed, and the second far proceeded with,
when Death parted for ever the busy worker

INTRODUCTION. 25

from his Book. This is also confirmed by As-
cham's last letter to Sturm: which proves him
to have been intent on the work just before his
decease.

1 0. Thanks to the editions of Upton and Ben-
net, The Scholemaster (which, like so many of
the books of Elizabeth's time, had been quite
forgotten in the previous sixteenth century) has
obtained, for a hundred years or more, the repu-
tation of an historic English work of general as
well as of professional interest. With it, more
than with any other of his works, is Ascham's
name usually associated. As Toxophilus was
the gift of his manhood towards the cultivation
of the Body : so in this work — the legacy almost
of his last hours — we inherit his ripest, his most
anxious thought upon the Education of the Mind
and Heart.

11. Among that first race of modern learned
Englishmen, who fed and carried aloft the Lamp
of Knowledge through all those changing and
tempestuous times into the peaceful days of
Elizabeth : none has become more famous than
Roger Ascham : who, taught by the greatest
English Teacher of his youth-tide. Sir John
Cheeke : in due time became, to his undying
delight, the Instructor of the most noble Scholar
within the realm : — the Virgin Queen herself.

26 , ROGER ASCHAM'S METHOD

ROGER ASCHAM'S METHOD OF TEACH-
ING LATIN.

1. That part of The Scholemaster which des-
cribes English life and manners of that age, is
for us an heritage of authentic information : his
Criticism of Ancient and Contemporary Latin
writers, establishes a test of the Classical acumen
of his time: but his system of teaching Latin —
and mutatis mutandis other languages — deserves
our study as a contribution in aid of Education,
for all time.

2. We would wish to associate with this Re-
print, an excellent book. Essays on Educational
Reformers^ by the Rev. R. II. Quick, M.A.,
London, 1868: 7s. Q>d, but worthy of being per-
petually sold at a shilling as a companion volume
to this reprint ; inasmuch as it is in some meas-
ure a continuation and completion of The Schole-
master. For in these Essays, Mr. Quick ably
analyses and compares the successive systems of
Instruction adopted by The Jesuits, Ascham,
Montaigne, Raticii, Milton, Comenius,
Locke, Rousseau, Basedow, Pestalozzi,
Jacotot, and IIeiibeut SrENCKii. We cannot
therefore too strongly recommend the work to

OF TEACHING LATIN. 27

the attention of all those who desire to acquaint
themselves with Modern Thought and Experi-
ment in the Science and Art of Teaching.

3. Ascham's Method is avowedly based upon
B. I. c. 34 of Cicero's De Oratore, of which the
following is a translation : and more especially
upon the latter portion of it. " But in my daily
exercises I used, when a youth, to adopt chiefly
that method which I knew that Caius Carbo, my
adversary, generally practised ; which was, that
having selected some nervous piece of poetry, or
read over such a portion of a speech as I could
retain in my memory, I used to declaim upon
what I had been reading in other words, chosen
with all the judgment that I possessed. But at
length I perceived that in that method there was
this inconvenience, that Ennius, if I exercised
myself on his verses, or Gracchus, if I laid one
of his orations before me, had forestalled such
words as were peculiarly appropriate to the sub-
ject, and such as were the most elegant and alto-
gether the best ; so that, if I used the same
words, it profited nothing ; if others, it was even
prejudicial to me, as I habituated myself to use
such as were less eligible. Afterwards I thouo:ht
proper, and continued the practice at a rather
more advanced age, to translate the orations of
the best Greek orators ; by fixing upon which I
ft

28 ROGER ASCHAM'S METHOD

gained this advantage, that while I rendered into
Latin what I had read in Greek, I not only used
the best words, and yet such as were of common
occurrence, but also formed some words by imi-
tation, which would be new to our countrymen,
taking care, however, that they were unobject-
ionable."

4. Upon these hints, Ascham — after consid-
ering all possible means of teaching languages,
which he there discusses in the second book —
insisted upon the exhaustive study of one or two
books, each to be of the highest excellence in its
way.

In fact his system might be labelled as

The Double Translation of a Model Book.

Mr. Quick remarks, "There are three ways
in which the model-book may be studied. 1st, It
may be read through rapidly again and again,
which was Ratich's plan and Hamilton's ; or,
2nd, each lesson may be thoroughly mastered,
read in various ways a dozen times at the least,
which was Ascham's plan ; or, 3rd, the pupil
may begin always at the beginning, and advance
a little further each time, which was Jacotot's
plan."

5. Ascham, at p. 94, quotes Pliny and Diony-
sius Ilulicarnasseus in support of his Method, in

OF TEACHING LATIN. 29

a passage we have not space to quote, but which
is the key to his system. In the brief space that
remains to us, we can but outline the process of
study he laid down, commending the method to
the careful consideration of all teachers.

PREPARA TOR T.
L EA R NER . After the child hath learned
perfectly the eight parts of speech : let him then
learn the right joining together of substantives
with adjectives, the noun with the verb, the rela-
tive with the antecedent, jo. 59.

A. DOUBLE TRANSLATION.

The Model Book, to begin with, which Ascham
recommended in his time was John Sturm's
selection of Cicero's letters, for the capacity of
children. This work was first published at
Strasburg in 1539, under the title of Ciceronis
Epistolce. Lihri iv, puerili educationi confecti ;
and again in 1572.

I. MASTER, a. Let him teach the child,
cheerfully and plainly, the cause and matter
of the letter, jo. 61.

b. Then let him construe it into English, so
often, as the child may easily carry away the
understanding of it, jo. 61.

t. Let him parse it over perfectly, p. 61.

II. LEARNER, a. Let the child, by and bye,

30 ROGER AS CHAM'S METHOD

both conspire \_i. e. combine] and jKirse it over
again. So that it may appear, that the child
doubteth in nothing that his master taught
him before, jo. 61.
.*. So far it is the Mind and Memory compre-
hending and reproducing the Oral Teaching.
b. Then the child must take a paper book, and
sitting in some place where no one shall prompt
him, by himself, let him translate into English
his former lesson, p. 62.

MASTER, t. Then shewing it to his master:
let his master take from him his Latin book.

LEARNER. 5. Then, pausing an hour at the
least : let the chiM translate his own English
into Latin, in another Paper Book.

IIL MASTER, a. When the child bringeth
it, turned into Latin; let the Master, at the
first, lead and teach his Scholar, to join the
Rules of his Grammar Book, with the examples
of his present lesson, until the Scholar, by
himself, be able to fetch out of his Grammar,
every Rule for every Example. So, as the
Grammar book be ever in the Scholar's hand,
and also used of him as a Dictionary, for every
present use, p. 64.
6. The Master must compare the child's Retraus-
lation with Cicero's book, and lay them both
together, p. 64.

OF TE ACHING LATIN. 31

Praising hiiu where he doth well, either in
choosing or true placing of Cicero's words.

But if the child miss, either in forgetting a
word, or in changing a good for a worse, or
misordering the sentence . . . the master shall
have good occasion to say. "N. [like M. or
N. in the Catechism] Tully would have used
such a word, not this. Tully would have
placed this word here, not there : would have
used this case, this number, this person, this
degree, this gender : he would have used this
mood, this tense, this simple rather than that
compound : this adverb here not there ; he
would have ended the sentence with this verb,
not with that noun or participle, etc.

In these few lines, I have wrapped up the
most tedious part of Grammar and also the
ground of almost all the Rules . . . Which
after this sort, the master shall teach without
all error, and the scholar shall learn without
great pain : the Master being lead by so sure
a guide and the Scholar being brought into so
plain and easy a way, p. 63.
Axiom. A child shall take more profit of two
faults, gently warned of, then of four things
rightly hit.

.'. All this while, the child sb»^l use to
speak no Latin, p. 65.

32 ROGER ASCHAM'S METHOD

With this way of good understanding the matter,
plain construing, diligent parsing, daily translat-
ing, cheerfull admonishing, and heedfull amend-
ing of faults ; never leaving behind just praise for
well doing : I would have the Scholar brought up :
while he had read and translated over the first
book of Cicero's Epistles chosen out by Sturm ;
with a good piece of a Comedy of Terence [Ter-
ence at that time held a position in Latin Educa-
tion, which has not since been maintained], p. 65.

B. ANALYSIS.

As you perceive your scholar to go better and
better on away: first, with understanding his
lesson more quickly, with passing more readily,
with translating more speedily and perfectly
than he was wont.

lY. MASTER, a. After, give him longer les-
sons to translate.
b. Begin to teach him, both in Nouns and
Verbs; what is Proper or Literal what is
Figurative'^ what is Synonymous^ what is
Diverse^ which be Opposites: and which be
the most notable Phrases in all his reading.
V. LEARNER, a. Your scholar, ajler he hath
done his Double translating, let him write in a
third Paper Book four of the fore-named six,
diligently marked out of every lesson. As

Proper.

If there be none

Four or else

Figures.

of these all

three or two

Synonymes.

in some reading

if there be

Differents.

yet omit not

no more.

Oposites.

the order

. Phrases.

but write.

OF TEACHING LATIN. 33

Differents. None.

Opposites. None.

«&c.

This diligent translating, joined with this heedful
marking, in the foresaid Epistles : and afterward
in some plain Oration of TuUy, as pro Lege
Manilla pro Archaia Poeta, or in those three
Ad Caium Ccesarem shall work such a right
choice of words, so straight a framing of sen-
tences, such a true judgement, both to write skil-
fully and speak witty, as wise men shall both
praise and marvel at, pp. 69-72.

C. READING AND A SECOND KIND
OF TRANSLATION.

After that your Scholar shall come indeed:
first to a ready perfectness in translating, then to
a ripe and skilful choice in marking out his six
points, jo. 179.
VI. LEARNER, a. I would have him read

now, a good deal now at every lecture, these

books, p. 180.

[1] Some book of Cicero, as the Third Book
of Epistles chosen out by Sturm, de Amicit.,
de Senect. : or the first book Ad Quint frat.

[2] Some Comedy of Terence or Plautus (But

34 ROGER ASCHAM'S METHOD

in Plautus, skilful choice must be used by
the Master to train his scholar to a judge-
ment, in perfecting, and cutting out over old
and improper words).
[3] Caesar's Commentaries, in which is seen
the unspotted propriety of the Latin tongue ;
even when it was at its acme.
[4] Some Orations of Livy, such as be both
longest and plainest.
b. He shall not now daily use translation : but
only construe again and parse where ye sus-
pect is any need. Yet let him not omit in
these books, marking diligently and writing
out orderly his six points.
VII. MASTER, a. For translating, use you
yourself, every second and third day, to choose
out some Epistle Ad Atticum, some notable
commonplace out of Cicero's Orations, or some
other part of Tully, by your discretion : which
your Scholar may not know where to find.

Translate it you yourself into plain natural
English, and then give it him to translate into
Latin again: allowing him good space and
time to do it: both with diligent heed and
good advisement.

Here his wit will be new set on work ; his
judgement for right choice, truly tried; his
memory for sure retaining, better exercised

OF TEACHING LATIN. 35

than by learning anything without the book.
And here, how much lie hath profited, shall
plainly appear.
VIII. MASTER, a. When he bringeth it
translated unto you, bring you forth the place
of Cicero. Lay them together. Compare the
one with the other. Commend his good choice
and right placing of words. Show his faults
gently, but blame them not over sharply. For
of such missings gently admonished of, pro-
ceedeth Glad and Good Heed-taking. Of Good
Heed-taking, springeth chiefly Knowledge,
which after groweth to perfectness; if this
Order be diligently used by the Scholar and
gently handled by the Master, p. 181.

D. A THIRD KIND OF TRANSLATION.

When, by this diligent and speedy reading
over those forenamed good books of Cicero,
Terence, Caesar, and Livy : and by the second
kind of translating out of your English, time
shall breed skill, and use shall bring perfection :
then you may try, if you will, your scholar, with
the third kind of translation. Although the two
first ways, by mine opinion, be not only sufficient
of themselves, but also surer both for the Master's
teaching and Scholar's learning, than this third
way is. Which is this.

36 METHOD OF TEACHING LATIN.

IX. MASTER. Write you in English, some
letter, as it were from him to his father or to
some other friend ; naturally, according to the
disposition of the child : or some tale or fable,
or plain narration. But yet use you yourself
such discretion for choice therein as the mat-
ter may be within the compass, both for words
and sentences, of his former learning.

X. LEARNER. Let him translate it into Latin
again, abiding in such place where no other
scholar may prompt him.

And now take heed, lest your Scholar do not
better in some point than you yourself : except
you have been diligently exercised in these kinds
of translating before, pp. 184, 185.

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 37

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
THE SCHOLEMASTER.

* Editions not seen.

(a) '^amta in tbe 3ttttl)or*fii lifetime.

None.

(b) ^Tfifittefi fiince tf)e 3[utbnr*ja Ueatl^.

I. ^s a separate publication.

1. 1570. London. 1 vol. 4to. Editio princeps.
See title on page 41. It was thus entered
at Stationers Hall, early in 1570.

" Rd. of m' Daye for his lycense for printinge
of a boke intituled the schole m' of "Wynsore
made by m' Askecham " iijd.

Ext, ofRegrs. of Stat. Co. Ed. hy J. P. Col-
lier, i. 217. Ed. 1848.

2. 1571. London. The same title as No. 1,
1 vol. 4to, from which it differs in spelling and

punctuation. Neither of these two
first editions are to be preferred to
the other, as regards accuracy in
these respects.
There are stated to be editions in 4to of *1572,
*1573, *1579, *1583; but there are no copies

38 BIBLIOGRAPHY.

either in the British Museum or the Bodleian;
neither does Herbert quote them.

3. 1589. London. The Scholemaster, ... As
1 vol. 4to. in No. 1. At London, Printed by

Abell Ieffes, Anno 1589.
. • . Then the work as it were goes out of
memory for 120 years.

4. 1711. London. The Scholemaster: or a
1 vol. 8vo. plain and perfect Way of teaching

Children to Understand, Write, and
speak the Latin tongue. . . . Now
Corrected, and Revised with an
Addition of Explanatory Notes, by
the Reverend Mr. James Upton,
A.M., Rector of Brimpton in Som-
ersetshire ; and late Fellow of King's
College in Cambridge.

5. 1743. London. The Scholemaster : shewing
1 vol. 8vo. a Plain and Perfect Way of Teach-
ing the learned Languages. . . Now
revis'd a second time, and much
improved, by James Upton, A.M.,
Rector of Monhsilver in Somerset'
shire, and late Fellow of King's
College in Cambridge. [A second
Edition of No. 4.]

10. 1863. London. The Scholemaster, hy 'Roger
1 vol. 8vo. Ascham. Edited with notes by

BIBLIOGRAPHY. 39

John E. B. Mayor, M.A., Fellow
of St. John's College, Cambridge.
[This is the best edition that has
yet appeared]. A reprint of No. 1
corrected by No. 2.
12, 10 June 1870. London. English reprints :
1 vol. 8vo. see title at jo. 1. A reprint of No.

I, collated by No. 2, the important
variations appear in [ ].

II. With other works,

6. 1771. London. The English Works of
1 vol. 4to. Roger Ascham. . . . With Notes

and Observations, and the Author's
Life. By James Bennet, Master
of the Boarding-School at Hoddes-
don in Hertfordshire. The Scheie
Master occupies 'pp. 187-347. [The
Dedication and Life were by Dr.
Johnson, who states that Ascham
'was scarcely known as an author
in his own language till Mr. Upton
published his Scholemaster,'' p. xvi].

7. N. d. London. Another impression of No.
1 vol. 4to. 6.

8. 1815. The English Works of Roger
London. Ascham. A- new Edition. [Only

1 vol. 8vo. 250 Copies printed. Ed. by J. G.

40 BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Cochrane]. Occupying j^p. 183-
333 is " The Scholemaster. Cor-
rected and revised with explanatory
Notes, by the Rev. James Upton,
A.M." : this is therefore a Reprint
of No. 8,

9. N. d. A reissue with a new title and with-

1 vol. 8vo. out a date of No. 8.

11. 1864-5. London. The whole works of
Roger Ascham. Ed. by Rev. Dr.
Giles, formerly Fellow of C.C.C.
Oxford. The Scholemaster occupies
ii-000. It is strange that after the
appearance of Mr. Mayor's Edition
of the previous year, that this edi-
tion should be 'a Reprint of 1815,
[No 8, which is itself a Reprint of
1743 No. 6] collated with the ear-
lier Editions,' and that it should
not have been wholly based on the
original edition.

THE

SCHOLEMASTER

Or plaine and perfite way of teachyng
children^ to vnderstand, write, and speake,
in Latin tong, hut specially purposed for the
priuate hrynging vp of youth in lentlemen
and Noble mens houses, and commodious
also for all such, as haue forgot the Latin
tonge, and would, hy themselues, with-
out a Scholemaster, in short tyme^
and with small paines, recouer a
sufficient hahilite, to vnder-
stand, write, and
speake Latin,

IT By Roger Ascham.

^ An. 15 7 0.

AT L ON DON,

Printed by lohn Daye, dwelling ouer
Aldersgate.

IF Cum Gratia et Priuilegio Regice Maiestatis,
per Decennium.

^ To the honorable

Sir William Cecill Knight,

principall Secretarie to the Quenes
most excellent Maiestie.

Sondry and reasonable be the causes why learned
men haue vsed to offer and dedicate such workes
as they put abrode, to some such personage as they
thinke fittest^ either in respect of abilitie of defense^
or skill for iugement, or priuate regard of kind-
nesse a?id dutie. Euery one of those considerations^
Syr, moue me of right to offer this my late hus-
ba?ids M. Aschams worke vnto you. For well
remembryng how much all good leamyng oweth
vnto you for defense thereof as the Vniuersitie of
Cambrige, of which my said late husband was a
member, haue in chosing you their worthy Chaun-
celler acknowledged, a?id how happily you haue
spent your time in such studies atid caried the vse
thereof to the right ende, to the good seruice of the
Queenes Maiestie and your contrey to all our
beneftes, thyrdly how much my say d husband was
many wayes bound vnto you, and how gladly and
comfortably he vsed in hys life to 7'ecognise and
report your goodnesse toward hym, leauy?ig with
me then hys poore widow and a great sort of

44 PREFACE.

orphanes a good comfort in the hope of your good
continuance^ which I haue truly found to me and
myjte, a?id therfore do duely and dayly pray for
you and yours : I could not finde any man for
whose name this booke was more agreable for
hope \of'\ protection, more mete for submission to
iudgeme?it, nor more due for respect of worthy-
nesse of your part and thankfulnesse of my hus-
bandes and myne. Good I trust it shall do, as I
am put in great hope by many very well learned
that can well iudge thereof Mete therefore I
compt it that such good as my husband was able
to doe and leaue to the common weak, it should be
receiued vnder your name, and that the world
should owe thanke therof to you, to whom my
husband the authour of it was for good receyued
of you, most dutiefully bounden. And so besech-
yng you, to take on you the defense of this booke,
to auaunce the good that may come of it by your
allowance and furtherance to publike v'se atid
benefite, and to accept the thankefull recognition of
me and my poore children, trusty ftg of the continu-
ance of your good memorie of M. Ascham
and his, a?id dayly co7nmendyng the pros-
perouse estate of you and yours to
God whome you serue and
whoes you are, I rest
to trouble you.

Your humble Margaret
Ascham.

A PRiEFACE TO THE READER.

When the great plage was at London,
the yeare 15 6 3. the Quenes Maiestie
Queene Ulizabeth, lay at her Castle of
Windsore : Where, vpon the 10. day of
December, it fortuned, that m Sir William
Cicells chamber, hir liighnesse Principall
Secretarie, there dined togither these per-
sonages, M. Secretarie him selfe, Syr Wil-
liam Pete?', Syr J. 3Iason, D. Wottorij
Syr Richard Sachuille Treasurer of the
Exchecker, Syr Walter Mildmaye Chaun-
cellor of the Exchecker, M. Haddon Master
of Requestes, M. John Astley Master of the
lewell house, M. Bernard Hampton, M.
Nieasius, and J. Of which number, the
most part were of hir Maiesties most hon-
ourable priuie Counsell, and the reast seru-
ing hir in verie good place. I was glad

46 ^ PREFACE TO THE READER.

than, and dp reioice yet to remember, that
my chance was so happie, to be there that
day, in the companie of so manie wise and
good men togither, as hardly than could
haue beene pi[c]ked out againe, out of all
England beside.

M. Secretarie hath this accustomed
maner, though his head be neuer so full of
most weightie affaires of the Realme, yet,
at diner time he doth seeme to lay them
alwaies aside : and findeth euer fitte occa-
sion to taulke pleasantlie of other matters,
but most gladlie of some matter of learn-
ing; wherein, he will curteslie heare the
minde of the meanest at his Table.

Not long after our sitting doune, I haue
; strange newes brought me, sayth M. Secre-
\ M. secretor taric, this morning, that diuerse
\ ^^' Scholers of Eaton, be runne

awaie from the Scheie, for feare of beating.
I Whereupon, M. Secretarie tooke occasion,
*to wishe, that some more discretion were
[in many Scholemasters, in vsing correc-
tion, than commonlie there is. Who
many times, punishe rather, the weakenes
of nature, than the fault of the Scholer.

A PREFACE TO THE READER. 47

Whereby, many Scholers, that might else
proue well, be driuen to hate learning, f
before they knowe, what learning meaneth: \
and so, are made willing to forsake their i
booke, and be glad to be put to any other /
kinde of living.

M. Peter, as one somewhat m.Peter.
seuere of nature, said plainlie, that the
Rodde onelie, was the sworde, that must
keepe, the Schole in obedience, and the
Scholer in good order. M. Wbtton, a man
milde of nature, with soft voice, m. wotton.
and few wordes, inclined to M. Secretaries
iudgement, and said, in mine opinion, the
Scholehouse shoulde be in deede, Lmjus u-
as it is called by name, the house terarum.
of playe and pleasure, and not of feare and
bondage : and as I do remember, so saith
Socrates in one place of Plato. piatode
And therefore, if a Rodde carie ^^^' '^'
the feare of a Sworde, it is no maruell, if
those that be fearefull of nature, chose
rather to forsake the Plaie, than to stand
alwaies within the feare of a Sworde in a
fonde mans handling. M. Mason, m. Afason.
after his maner, was verie merie with both

48 ^ PREFACE TO THE READER.

parties, pleasantlie playing, both, with the
shrewde touches of many courste boyes,
and with the small discretion of many
leude Scholemasters. M. Saddon was
M.ffaddon. fullie of M. Peters opinion, and
said, that the best Scholemaster of our
time, was the greatest beater, and named
The Author the Pcrsou. Though, quoth I,
of thisbooke. 'I- ^^g i^-g gQQ(j fortune, to send

from his Schole, vnto the Vniuersitie, one
of the best Scholers in deede of all our
time, yet wise men do thinke, that that
came so to passe, rather, by the great
towardnes of the Scholer, than by the great
beating of the Master: and whether this
be true or no, you your selfe are best wit-
nes. I said somewhat farder in the matter,
how, and whie, yong children, were soner
allured by loue, than driven by beating, to
atteyne good learning : wherein I was the
bolder to say my minde, because M. Secre-
tarie curteslie prouoked me thereunto: or
else, in such a companie, and namelie in
his prsefence, my wont is, to be more will-
ing, to vse mine eares, than to occupie my
tonge.

A PREFACE TO THE READER. 49

Syr Walter Mlldmai/e, M. Astley^ and
the rest, said verie litle : onelie Syr Rich,
Sackuill, said nothing at all. After dinner
I went vp to read with the Queenes Maies-
tie. We red than togither in the Greke
tonge, as I well remember, that noble
Oration of Demosthenes against Demost
j^schines^ for his false dealing ntpt Tra-
in his Ambassage to king Philip p^^^p^'^p-
of Macedonie. Syr Mich. Sackuile came vp
sone after : and finding me in syr r.
hir Maiesties priuie chamber, he communica-
tooke me by the liand, and cary- *'*^^ with the

•^ . Author of

ing me to a windoe, said, M. thisbooke.
Ascham^ I woujd not for a good deale of
monie, haue bene, this dale, absent from
diner. Where, though I said nothing, yet
I gaue as good eare, and do consider as
well the taulke, that passed, as any one did
there. M. Secretarie said very wisel3% and
most truely, that many yong wittes be
driuen to hate learninge, before they know
what learning is. I can be good witnes to
this my selfe : For a fond Scholemaster,
before I was fullie fourtene yeare olde,
dx-aue me so, with feare of beating, from all

50 ^ PR JE FACE TO THE READER.

loue of learninge, as nowe, when I know,
what difference it is, to haue learninge,
and to haue litle, or none at all, I feele it
my greatest greife, and finde it my greatest
hurte, that euer came to me, that it was
my ill chance so to light vpon so lewde a
Scholemaster. But seing it is but in vain,
to lament thinges paste, and also wisdome
to looke to thinges to cum, surely, God
willinge, if God lend me life, I will make
this my mishap, some occasion of good hap,
to litle Robert Sackuile my sonnes Sonne.
For whose bringinge vp, I would gladlie,
if it so please you, vse speciallie your
good aduice. I heare sale, you haue a
Sonne, moch of his age : we wil deal thus
togither. Point you out a Scholemaster,
who by your order, shall teache my sonne
and yours, and for all the rest, I will pro-
uide, yea though they three do cost me a
couple of hundred poundes by yeare : and
beside, you shall find me as fast a Frend
to you and yours, as perchance any you
haue. Which promise, the worthie len-
tleman surelie kept with me, vntill his
dying daye.

A PR.EFACE TO THE READER. 51
We had than farther tuulke

The cheife

togitlier, of bringing vp of chil- pointes of

1 i? xi i- r> • 1 this booke.

dreii : or the nature, ot quicke,
and hard wittes : of the right choice of a
good vvitte: of Feare, and loue in teach-
inge children. We passed from children
and came to yonge men, namely, lentlemen ;
we taulked of their to moch libertie, to
line as they lust : of their letting louse to
sone, to ouermoch experience of ill, con-
trarie to the good order of many good olde
common welthes of the Persians and Grekes:
of witte gathered, and good fortune gotten,
by some, onely by experience, without
learning. And lastlie, he required of me
verie earnestlie, to shewe, what I thought
of the common goinge of Englishe men
into Italic. But, sayth he, bicause this
place, and this tyme, will not suffer so long
taulke, as these good matters require,
therefore I pray you, at my request, and
at your ley sure, put in some order of writ-
ing, the chiefe pointes of this our taulke,
concerning the right order of teachinge,
and honestie uf lining, for the good bring-
ing vp of children and yong men. And

52 ^ PREFACE TO THE READER.

surelie, beside contentinge me, you shall
both please and profit verie many others.
I made some excuse by lacke of habilitie,
and weakenes of bodie : well, sayth he, I
am not now to learne, what you can do.
Our deare frende, good M. G-oodricke,
whose iudgement I could well beleue, did
once for all, satisfye me fullie therein.
Again e, I heard you say, not long agoe,
that you may thanke Syr John Cheke, for
all the learninge you haue : And I know
verie well my selfe, that you did teach the
Queue. And therefore seing God did so
blesse you, to make you the Scholer of the
best Master, and also the Scholemaster of
the best Scholer, that euer were in our
tyme, surelie, you should please God, ben-
efite your countrie, and honest your owne
name, if you would take the paines, to
impart to others, what you learned of soch
a Master, and how ye taught such a scholer.
And, in vttering the stuffe ye receiued of
the one, in declaring the order ye tooke
with the other, ye shall neuer lacke,
neither matter, nor maner, what to write,
nor how to write iu this Jvinde of Argument.

A PRuEFACE TO THE READER. 53

I beginning some farther excuse, sodein-
lie was called to cum to the Queene. The
night following, I slept litle, my head was
so full of this our former taulke, and I so
mindefull, somewhat to satisfie the honest
request of so deare a frend. I thought to
prajpare some litle treatise for a New yeares
gift that Christmas. But, as it chance th
to busie builders, so, in building thys my
poore Schole house (the rather bicause the
forme of it is somewhat new, and differing
from others) the worke rose dailie higher
and wider, than I thought it would at the
beginninge.

And though it appeare now, and be in
verie deede, but a small cotage, poore for
the stuffe, and rude for the workmanship,
yet in going forward, I found the site so
good, as I was lothe to giue it ouer, but
the making so costlie, outreaching my
habilitie, as many tymes I wished, that
some one of those three, my deare frendes,
with full pursses, Syr Tlio,
Smithcy M. Had don, or M. Wat- m. ) smith.
son, had had the doing of it.
Yet, neuerthelesse, I my selfe, spending

54 ^ PRvEFACE TO THE READER.

gladlie that litle, that I gatte at home by

Syr I. cheke. good Sjr loJiu Cheke^ and that

that I borrowed abroad of my frend Stur-

L sturminus. mius, beside somewhat that was

left me in Reuersion b}^ my olde Masters,

Plato. Aristotle, and Cicero, I
Plato. ' ' '

Aristotle. haue at last patched it vp, as I
^^^ * could, and as you see. If the

matter be meane, and meanly handled,
I pray you beare, both with me, and
it: for neuer worke went vp in worse
wether, with mo lettes and stoppes, than
this poore Scholehouse of mine. Westmin-
ster Hall can beare some witnesse, beside
moch weakenes of bodie, but more trouble
of minde, by some soch sores, as greue me
to toche them my selfe, and therefore I
purpose not to open them to others. And,
in middes of outward iniuries, and inward
cares, to encrease them withall, good Syr
Syr R. Mich. Sackuile dieth, that wor-

sackuiii. j-]-j-g lentleman: That earnest
fauorer and furtherer of Godp. true Reli-
gion : That faithfull Seruitor to his Prince
and Countrie ; A louer of learning, and all
learned men: Wiseinall doinges: Curtesse

A PREFACE TO THE READER. 55

to all persons: shewing spite to none:
doing good to many : and as I well found,
to me so fast a frend, as I neuer lost the
like before. Whan he was gone, my hart
was dead. There was not one, that woare
a blacke gowne for him, who caried a
heuier hart for him, than I. Whan he was
gone, I cast this booke awaie : I could not
looke vpon it, but with weping eyes, in
remembring him, who was the onelie setter
on, to do it, and would haue bene, not
onelie a glad commender of it, but also a
sure and certaine comfort, to me and mine,
for it. Almost two yeares togither, this
booke lay scattered, and neglected, and had
bene quite giuen ouer of me, if the good-
nesse of one had not giuen me some life
and spirite againe. God, the mouer of good-
nesse, prosper alwaies him and his, as he
hath many times comforted me and mine,
and, I trust to God, shall comfort more and
more. Of whom, most iustlie I may saie,
and verie oft, and alwaies gladlie, I am
wont to say, that sweete verse of Sophocles,
spoken by Oedipus to worthie Theseus.

Sop . in , J. . ,,, ^^^ ^^^^ uXXov SpoTuv.

Oed. Col. ^ ' L/ r J V

56 ^ PREFACE TO THE READER.

Thys hope hath helped me to end this
booke : which, if he allowe, I shall thiiike
my labours well imployed, and shall not
moch sesteme the misliking of any others.
And I trust, he shall thinke the better of it,
bicause he shall finde the best part thereof,
to cum out of his Schole, whom he, of all
men loued and liked best.

Yet some men, frendly enough of nature,,
but of small iudgeraent in learninge, do
thinke, I take to moch paines, and spend
to moch time, in settinge forth these chil-
drens aif aires. But those ffood

^ , PZato in initio

men were neuer brought vp in Tiieagis.
Socrates Schole, who saith plain- °^ 7?^ '""'

nept OTov det-

lie that no man goeth about a orepov uudpu-
more godlie purpose, than he '^of ^^ 1^"^^-
that is mindfull of the good "^"^'Zllac,
bringing vp, both of hys owne, kuI tuv
and other mens children. "^'°^: "''}

ruV OLKUCiV.

Therfore, I trust, good and
wise men, will thinke well of this my doing.
And of other, that thinke otherwise, I will
thinke my selfe, they are but men, to be
pardoned for their follie, and pitied for
their ignoraunce.

A PREFACE TO THE READER. 57

In writing this booke, I haue had earnest
respecte to three speciall pointes, trothe of
Religion, honestie in lining, right order in
learning. In which three waies, I praie
God, my poore children may diligently
waulke : for whose sake, as nature would,
and reason required, and necessitie also
somewhat compelled, I was the willinger
to take these paines.

For, seing at my death, I am not like
to leaue them any great store of lining,
therefore in my life time, I thought good
to bequeath vnto them, in this litle booke,
as in my Will and Testament, the right
waie to good learning : which if they fol-
io we, with the feare of God, they shall
verie well cum to sufficiencie of liuinge.

I wishe also, with all my hart, that yong
M. Mob. Sackuille^ may take that fructe of
this labor, that his worthie Grauntfather
purposed he should haue done : And if any
other do take, either proffet, or pleasure
hereby, they haue cause to thanke M.
Robert Saekuille^ for whom speciallie this
my Scholemaster was prouided.

And one thing I would haue the Reader

58 ^ PREFACE TO THE READER.

consider in readinge this booke, that bi-
cause, no Scholemaster hath charge of any
childe, before he enter into hys Schole,
therefore I leaning all former care, of their
good bringing vp, to wise and good Par-
entes, as a matter not belonging to the
Scholemaster, I do appoynt thys my Schole-
master, than, and there to begin, where his
office and charge beginneth. Which charge
lasteth not long, but vntill the Scholer be
made hable to go to the Yniuersitie, to
precede in Logike, Rhetoricke, and other
kindes of learning.

Yet if my Scholemaster, for lone he bear-
eth to hys Scholer, shall teach hym some-
what for hys furtherance, and better iudge-
ment in learning, that may serue him
seuen yeare after in the Vniuersitie, he
doth hys Scholer no more wrong, nor
deserueth no worse name thereby, than
he doth in London, who sellinge silke
or cloth vnto his frend, doth giue
him better measure, than
either hys promise or
bargaine was.

Farewell in Christ,

The First Booke for the Youth.

After the childe hath learned perfitlie
the eight partes of speach, let him then
learne the right ioyning togither of sub-
stantiues with adiectiues, the nowne with
the verbe, the relatiue with the antece-
,dent. And in learninge farther hys Syn-
taxis, by mine aduice, he shall not vse the
common order in common scholes, for
making of latines : wherby, the childe com-
monlie learneth, first, an euill choice of
wordes, (and right choice of cic. de

wordes, saith Ocesar^ is the foun- ^^*- ^'^•

dation of eloquence) than a wrong placing
of wordes: and lastlie, an ill framing of
the sentence, with a peruerse iudgment,
both of wordes and sentences. These
faultes, taking once roote in yougthe, be

60 THE FIRST BO ORE TEACRYNG

neuer, or hardlie, pluckt away in age.
Making of Moreouer, there is no one thing,
mar'reth ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^6, either dulled
Children. the wittes, or taken awaye the
will of children from learning, than the
care they haue, to satisfie their masters,
in making of latines.

For, the scholer, is commonlie beat for
the making, when the master were more
worthie to be beat for the mending, or
rather, marring of the same : The master
many times, being as ignorant as the childe,
what to saie properlie and fitlie to the
matter.

Two scholemasters haue set forth in
print, either of them a booke, of soch*
Horman kindc of latincs, Horman and
whittington. WMttington,

A childe shall learne of the better of
them, that, which an other dale, if he be
wise, and cum to iudgement, he must be
faine to vnlearne againe.

There is a waie, touched in the first
1 De Or. booke of Cicero de Oratore.,
which, wiselie brought into scholes, truely
taught, and constantly vsed, would not

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 61

onely take wholly away this butcherlie
feare in making of latines, but would also,
with ease and pleasure, and in short time,
as I know by good experience, worke a
true choice and placing of wordes, a right
ordering of sentences, an easie vnderstand-
yng of the tonge, a readines to speake, a
facultie to write, a true iudgement, both
of his owne, and other mens doinges, what
tonge so euer he doth vse.

The waie is this. After the three Con-
cordances learned, as I touched before, let
the master read vnto hym the Epistles of
Cicero^ gathered togither and chosen out
by Sturmius^ for the capacitie of children.

First, let him teach the childe, chere-
fullie and plainlie, the cause, and xhe order of
matter of the letter : then, let teaching.
him construe it into Englishe, so oft, as the
childe may easilie carie awaie the vnder-
standing of it : Lastlie, parse it ouer per-
fitlie. This done thus, let the childe, by
and by, both construe and parse it ouer
againe : so, that it may appeare, that the
childe douteth in nothing, that his master
taught him before. After this, the childe

62 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACUYNG

must take a paper booke, and sitting in
some place, where no man shall prompe
him, by him self, let him translate into
Englishe his former lesson. Then shewing
Two paper ^^ "^o his master, let the master
bokes. td,\Q from him his latin booke,

and pausing an houre, at the least, than let
the childe translate his owne Englishe into
latin againe, in an other paper booke.
When the childe bringeth it, turned into
latin, the master must compare it with
Tullies booke, and laie them both togither;
and where the childe doth well, either in
chosing, or true placing of Tullies wordes,
let the master praise him, and

Children ^ ^

learneby saic here jQ do wcll. For I
prayse. assurc jou, there is no such

whetstone, to sharpen a good witte and
encourage a will to learninge, as is praise.
But if the childe misse, either in forget-
ting a worde, or in chaunging a good with
a worse, or misordering the sentence, I
would not haue the master, either froune,
or chide with him, if the childe haue done
his diligence, and vsed no trewandship
therein. For I know by good experience,

THE DRY N GIN G VP OF YOUTH. 63

that a cliilde shall take more profit of two
fautes, ieiitlie warned of, then of lentieness in
foure thiiiges, rightly hitt. For teaching,
than, the master shall haue good occasion
to saie vnto him. N. Tullie would haue
vsed such a worde, not this : Tullie would
haue placed this worde here, not there ;
would haue vsed this case, this number,
this person, this degree, this gender; he
would haue vsed this moode, this tens, this
simple, rather than this compound; this
aduerbe here, not there ; he would have
ended the sentence with this verbe, not
with that nowne or participle, etc.

In these fewe lines, I haue wrapped vp,
the most tedious part of Grammer; and
also the ground of almost all the Rewles,
that are so busilie taught by the Master,
and so hardlie learned by the Scholer, in
all common Scholes : which after this sort,
the master shall teach without all error,
and the scholer shall learne without great
paine ; the master being led by so sure a
guide, and the scholer being brought into
so plaine and easie a waie. And therefore,
we do not contemne Rewles, but we glad-

64 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

lie teach Rewles: and teach them, more
plainlie, sensiblie, and orderlie, than they
be commonlie taught in common Scholes.
For whan the Master shall compare Tullies
booke with his [the] Scholers translation,
let the Master, at the first, lead and teach
his Scholer, to ioyne the Rewles of his
Grammer booke, with the examples of his
present lesson, vntill the Scholer, by him
selfe, be hable to fetch out of his Grammer,
euerie Rewle, for euerie Example : So, as
the Grammer booke be euer in the Scholers
hand, and also vsed of him, as a Dictionarie,
for euerie present vse. This is a liuely and
perfite waie of teaching of Rewles : where
the common waie, vsed in common Scholes,
to read the Grammer alone by it selfe, is
tedious for the Master, hard for the Scholer,
colde and vncomfortable for them bothe.

Let your Scholer be neuer afraide, to
aske you any dou[b]t, but vse discretlie
the best allurements ye can, to encorage
him to the same : lest, his ouermoch hear-
inge of you, driue him to seeke some mis-
orderlie shifte: as, to seeke to be helped
by some other booke, or to be prompted by

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 65

some other Scholer, and so goe aboute to
beg[ii]ile you moch, and him selfe more.

With this waie, of good vnderstanding
the ma[t]ter, plaine construinge^ diligent
parsinge, dailie translatinge, cherefull ad-
monishinge, and heedefull amendinge of
faultes : neuer leauinge behinde iuste praise
for well doinge, I would haue the Scholer
brought vp withal 1, till he had red, and
translated, ouer ye first booke of Epistles
chosen out by Sturmius^ with a good peece
of a Comedie of Terence also.

All this while, by mine aduise, the
childe shall vse to speak no latine: For,
as Cicero saith in like matter, Latin speak-
with like wordes, loquendo^ male ^'^^'
loqui discunt. And, that excellent learned
man, Cr. Budceus^ in his Greeke G.Budsem.
'Commentaries, sore complaineth, that whan
he began to learne the latin tonge, vse of
speaking latin at the table, and elsewhere,
vnaduisedlie, did bring him to soch an
euill choice of wordes, to soch a crooked
framing of sentences, that no one thing
did hurt or hinder him more all the daies
of his life afterward, both for redinesse in

QQ THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

speaking, and also good iudgement in
writinge.

In very deede, if children were brought
vp, in soch a house, or soch a Schole, where
the latin tonge were properlie and perfitlie
spoken, as Tih, and Ca. Gracai.weve brought
vp, in their mother Cornelias house, surelie,
than the dailie vse of speaking, were the
best and readiest waie, to learne the latin
tong. But now, commonlie, in the best
Scholesin England, for wordes, right choice
is smallie regarded, ti-ue proprietrie whollie
neglected, confusion is brought in, barbari-
ousnesse is bred up so in yong wittes, as
afterward they be, not onelie marde for
speaking, but also corrupted in iudgement :
as with moch adoe, or neuer at all, they be
brought to right frame againe.

Yet all men couet to haue their children*
speake latin: and so do I verie earnestlie
too. We bothe, haue one purpose : we
agree in desire, we wish one end: but we
differ somewhat in order and waie, that
leadeth rightlie to that end. Other would
haue them speake at all aduentures: and,
so they be speakinge, to speake, the Master

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTU. 67

careth not, tlie Scholer knoweth not, what.
This is, to seeme, and not to bee : except
it be, to be bolde without shame, rashe
without skill, full of wordes without witte.
I wish to haue them speak e so, as it may
well appeare, that the braine doth gouerne
the tonge, and that reason leadeth forth
the taulke. Socrates doctrine is true in
Plato, and well marked, and piato.

truely by Horace in Arte Poetica, Horat.

that, where so euer knowledge doth accom-
panie the witte, there best vtterance doth
alwaies awaite vpon the tonge : For, good
vnderstanding must first be bred Much writ-
in the childe, which, being nur- reTarspetk-^
ished with skill, and vse of writ- y"s.
ing (as I will teach more largelie hereafter)
is the onelie waie to bring him to iudge-
ment and readinesse in speakinge : and that
in farre shorter time (if he followe constant-
lie the trade of this lit[t]le lesson) then he
shall do, by common teachinge of the com-
mon scholes in England.

But, to go forward, as you perceiue,
your scholer to goe better and better on
awaie, first, with vnderstanding his lesson

68 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

more quicklie, with parsing more readelie,
with translating more spedelie and perfitlie
then he was wonte, after, giue him longer
lessons to translate : and withall, begin to
teach him, both in nownes, and verbes.
The second what is Proprium^ and what is
ordeHn" Translatuw,^ what Synonymum,
teachyng. what Dluevsum^ which be Con-
traria^ and which be most notable Phrases
in all his lecture.
As:

( Rex jSepultus est

I magnijice.

Proprium*

Translatum.

Synonyma,

Diuersa.

Oontraria.

/Cum illo principey
sepulta est et gloria
\^et Salus Ee[i~\publicce,

Ensis^ G-ladius.
Laudare^prcedicare,

/Dillgere^ Amare.
Calere, Exardescere
y^Inimicus^ Ilostis.

( Acerhum et luctuosum
J helium,

] Dulcis et Iceta
I Pax,

THE BRYNGWG VP OF YOUTH. 69

( ahjicere ohedientiam.

Your scholer then, must haue the third
paper booke : in the which, after ^j^e thyrd
he hath done his double transla- p^p®"^ ^^®-
tion, let him write, after this sort foure of
these forenamed sixe, diligentlie marked
out of euerie lesson.

^ Propria.
Translata.
Synonyma.
Dluersa,
Contraria,
Phrases.

Quatuor.

Or else, three, or two, if there be no moe :
and if there be none of these at all in some
lecture, yet not omitte the order, but write
these.

Diuersa nulla.
Contraria nulla^ etc.

This diligent translating, ioyned with
this heedefull marking, in the foresaid Epis-
tles, and afterwarde in some plaine Oration
of Tullle, as pro lege Manil : pro Archia

70 THE FIRST BO ORE TEACHYNG

Poeta^ or in those three ad. C. Cces : shall
worke soch a right choise of wordes, so
streight a framing of sentences, soch a true
iiidgement, both to write skilfullie, and
speake wittelie, as wise men shall both
praise, and maruell at.

If your scholer do misse sometimes, in
marking rightlie these foresaid sixe thinges,
chide not hastelie : for that shall, both
lentienes in ^ull his wittc, and discorage his
teaching. diligence : but monish him gen-
telie: which shall make him, both willing
to amende, and glad to go forward in loue
and hope of learning.

I haue now wished, twice or thrice, this
gentle nature, to be in a Scholemaster :
And, that I haue done so, neither by chance,
nor without some reason, I will now de-
Loue. clare at large, why, in mine

Feare. opinion, louc is fitter then feare,

ientlenes better then beating, to bring vp
a childe rightlie in learninge.

With the common vse of teaching and
Common beating in common scholes of
schoies. England, I will not greatlie
contend: which if I did, it were but a

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 71

small grammatical! controuersie, neither
belonging to lieresie nor treason, nor
greatly touching God nor the Prince:
although in very deede, in the end, the
good or ill bringing vp of children, doth
as much serue to the good or ill seruice,
of God, our Prince, and our whole coun-
trie, as any one thing doth beside.

I do gladlie agree with all good Schole-
masters in these pointes : to haue children
brought to good perfitnes in learning: to
all honestie in maners: to haue all fau[l]tes
rightlie amended: to haue euerie vice
seuerelie corrected: but for the order
and waie that leadeth rightlie to these
pointes, we somewhat differ. For com-
monlie, many scholemasters, some, as I
haue seen, moe, as I haue heard

Sharpe

tell, be of so crooked a nature, schoie-
as, when they meete with a
hard witted scholer, they rather breake
him, than bo we him, rather marre him,
then mend him. For whan the schole-
master is angrie with some other mat-
ter, then will he sonest faul -to beate his
scholer : and though he him selfe should

72 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

be punished for his folie, yet must he
beate some scholer for his pleasure : though
there be no cause for him to do so, nor yet
fault in the scholer to deserue so. These
we will say, be fond scholemasters, and
fewe they be, that be found to be soch.
They be fond in deede, but surelie ouer-
many soch be found euerie where. But
this will I say, that euen the wisest of
Nature your great beaters, do as oft

punished. punishc uaturc, as they do cor-
recte faultes. Yea, many times, the better
nature, is sorer punished : For, if one, by
quicknes of witte, take his lesson readelie,
an other, by hardnes of witte, taketh it not
so speedelie : the first is alw^aies com-
mended, the other is commonlie punished;
whan a wise scholemaster, should rather
discretelie consider the right disposition
of both their natures, and not so moch
wey what either of them is able to do now,
Quickewittes ^s what either of them is likelie
foriearnyng. ^^ ^^ hereafter. For this I
know, not onelie by reading of bookes in
my studie, but also by experience of life,
abrode in the world, that those, which be

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 73

commonlie the wisest, the best learned,
and best men also, when they be olde,
were neuer commonlie the quickest of
witte, when they were yonge. The causes
why, amongst other, which be many, that
moue me thus to thinke, be these fewe,
which I will recken. Quicke wittes com-
monlie, be apte to take, vnapte to keepe:
soone bote and desirous of this and that : as
colde and sone wery of the same againe :
more quicke to enter spedelie, than liable
to pearse farre : euen like ouer sharps
tooles, whose edges be verie soone turned.
Soch wittes delite them selues in easie
and pleasant studies, and neuer passe farre
forward in hie and hard sciences. And
therefore the quickest wittes commonlie
may proue the best Poetes, but not the
wisest Orators: readie of tonge to speak
boldlie, not deep of iudsjement,

^ *^ _ Quicke -wittes

either for good counsell or wise for maners
writing. Also, for maners and ^" ^ ^'
life, quicke wittes commonlie, be, in desire,
newfangle[d], in purpose, vnconstant, light
to promise any thing, readie to forget
euery thing: both benefite and iniurie:

74 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

and therby neither fast to frend, nor feare-
full to foe : inquisitiue of euery trifle, not
secret in greatest affaires : bolde, with any
person: busie, in euery matter: so [o] th-
ing, soch as be present : nipping any that
is absent : of nature also, alwaies, flatter-
ing their betters, enuying their equals,
despising their inferiors : and, by quicknes
of witte, verie quicke and readie, to like
none so well as them selues.

Moreouer commonlie, men, very quicke
of witte, be also, verie light of conditions :
and thereby, very readie of disposition, to
be caried ouer quicklie, by any light cum-
panie, to any riot and vnthriftines when
they be yonge: and therfore seldome,
either honest of life, or riche in lining,
when they be olde. For, quicke in witte,
and light in maners, be, either seldome
troubled, or verie sone we[e]ry, in carying
a verie heuie purse. Quicke wittes also be,
in most part of all their doinges, ouer
quicke, hastie, rashe, headie, and brain-
sicke. These two last wordes, Headie, and
Brainsicke, be fitte and proper wordes,
rising naturallie of the matter, and tearmed

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 75

aptlie by the condition, of ouer moch
quickenes of witte. In yoiigthe also they
be, readie scoffers, priuie mockers, and
euer ouer light and mer[r]y. In aige,
sone testie, very waspishe, and alwaies
ouer miserable : and yet fewe of them cum
to any great aige, by reason of their mis-
ordered life when they were yong: but a
greate deale fewer of them cum to she we
any great countenance, or beare any great
authoritie abrode in the world, but either
line obscurelie, men know not how, or dye
obscurelie, men mark not whan. They be
like trees, that shewe forth, faire blossoms
and broad leaues in spring time, but bring
out small and not long lasting fruite in
haruest time : and that onelie soch, as fall,
and rotte, before they be ripe, and so,
neuer, or seldome, cum to any goode at
all. For this ye shall finde most true by
experience, that amongest a number of
quicke wittes in youthe, fewe be found, in
the end, either verie fortunate for them
selues, or yerie profitable to serue the
common wealth, but decay and vanish, men
know not which way : except a very fewe.

76 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

to whom peraduenture blood and happie
parentage, may perchance purchace a long
standing vpon the stage. The which feli-
citie, because it commeth by others procur-
ing, not by their owne deseruinge, and
stand by other mens feete, and not by
their own, what owtward brag so euer is
borne by them, is in deed, of it selfe, and
in wise mens eyes, of no great estimation.
Some wittes, moderate enough by nature,
som sciences be many tymes marde by ouer

hurt mens i, ^ j • j s*

wits, and mar "^och studie and vse of some
mensmaners. gciences, name He, Musicke,
Arithmetick, and Geometrie. Thies sci-
ences, as they sharpen mens wittes ouer
moch, so they change mens maners ouer
sore, if they be not moderatelie mingled,
and wiselie applied to som good vse of life.
Mathemati- Markc all Mathcmaticall heades,
call heades. -vvhicli be oucly and wholy bent
to those sciences, how solitarie they be
themselues, how vnfit to liue with others,
and how vnapte to serue in the world.
This is not onelie knowen now by common
experience, but vttered long before by
wise mens Judgement and sentence.

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 77

Galene saith, mocli Musick mar- QaUn.

reth mens maners: and Plato ^^to.

hath a notable place of the same thing in
his bookes de Rep. well marked also, and
excellentlie translated by Tullie himself.
Of this matter, I wrote once more at large,
XX. yeare a go, in my booke of shoting:
now I thought but to touch it, to proue,
that ouer moch quicknes of witte, either
giuen by nature, or sharpened by studie,
doth not commonlie bring forth, eyther
greatest learning, best maners, or happiest
life in the end.

Contrariewise, a witte in youth, that is
not ouer duUe, heauie, knottie Hard wits in
and lumpishe, but hard, rough, ^eammg.
and though somwhat staffishe, as Tullie
wisheth otium, quietum^ non languidum:
and negotium cum lahore^ non cum periculo,
such a witte I say, if it be, at the first
well handled by the mother, and rightlie*
smo[o]thed and wrought as it should, not
ouer[t]whartlie, and against the wood, by
the scholemaster, both for learning, and
hole course of lining, proueth alwaies the
best. In vvoode and stone, not the softest,

78 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

but hardest, be alwaies aptest, for portra-
ture, both fairest for pleasure, and most
durable for proffit. Hard wittes be hard
to receiue, but sure to keepe : painefull
without wermesse, hedefull without wauer-
ing, constant without newfanglenes : bear-
ing heauie thinges, thoughe not lightlie,
yet willinglie ; entring hard thinges, though
not easelie, yet depelie ; and so cum to
that perfitnes of learninge in the ende,
that quicke wittes, seeme in hope, but do
not in deede, or else verie seldome, euer
attaine vnto. Also, for maners

Hard wits

in maners and life, hard wittes commonlie,
^ ^ ^^C®] hardlie caried, either to
desire euerie new thing, or else to maruell
at euery strange thinge : and therefore
they be carefull and diligent in their own
matters, not curious and busey in other
mens affaires: and so, they becum wise
them selues, and also ar[e] counted honest
by others. They be graue, stedfast, silent
of tong, secret of hart. Not hastie in
making, but constant in ke[e]ping any pro-
mise. Not rashe in vttering, but war[y]e
in considering euery matter: and therby,

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 79

not quicke in speaking, but deepe of iudge-
ment, whether they write, or giue counsell
in all waightie affaires. And theis be the
men, that becum in the end, both most
happie for themselues, and alwaise best
estemed abrode in the world.

I liaue bene longer in describing, the na-
ture, the good or ill successe, of the quicke
and hard witte, than perchance som will
thinke, this place and matter doth ^^^^ ^^^^
require. But my purpose was ^^^"^8 driuen

. from learn-

hereby, plamlie to vtter, what yng to other

iniurie is offered to all learninge, ^^"y°*f-

and to the common welthe also, first, by

the fond father in chosing, but chieflie by

the lewd scholemaster in beating and driu-

ing away the best natures from learning.

A childe that is still, silent, constant, and

somwhat hard of witte, is either neuer

chosen by the father to be made a scholer,

or else, when he commeth to the schole, he

is smally regarded, little looked vnto, he

lacketh teaching, he lacketh coraging, he

lacketh all thinges, onelie he neuer lacketh

beating, nor any word, that may moue him

to hate learninge, nor any deed that may

80 THE FIRST BO ORE TEACHYNG

driue him from learning, to any other
kinde of lining.

And when this sadde natured, and hard
Hard wits witted child, is bette from his

proue best in •, t it j^t j>j^

euerykynde ^ooke, and becummeth alter
ofiyfe. eyther student of the common

lawe, or page in the Court, or seruingman,
or bound prentice to a merchant, or to som
handiecrafte, he proueth in the ende, wiser,
happier and many tymes honester too,
than many of theis quick wittes do, by
their learninge.

Learning is, both hindred and iniured
to[o], by the ill choice of them, that send
yong scholers to the vniuersities. Of
whom must nedes cum all oure Diuines,
Lawyers, and Physicions.

Thies yong scholers be chosen common-
lie, as yonff apples be chosen by

The ill choice ' J & i -t' J

of wittes for children, in a faire garden about
earnyug. ^^ James tydc : a childe will
chose a sweeting, because it is presentlie
faire and pleasant, and refuse a Runnet,
because it is than grene, hard, and sowre,
whan the one, if it be eaten, doth breed,
both wormes and ill humors : the other if

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 81

it stand his tyme, be ordered and kepte as
it should, is holsom of it self, and helpeth
to the good digestion of other meates:
Sweetinges, will receyue worraes, rotte, and
d^^e on the tree, and neuer or seldom cum
to the gathering for good and lasting store.

For verie greafe of hearte I will not
applie the similitude : but hereby, is plain-
lie seen, how learning is robbed of hir best
wittes, first by the greate beating, and
after by the ill chosing of scholers, to go to
the vniuersities. Whereof cummeth parte-
lie, that lewde and spitefull prouerbe,
sounding to the greate hurte of learning,
and shame of learned men, that, the great-
est Clerkes be not the wisest men.

And though I, in all this discourse, seem
plainlie to prefer, hard and roughe wittes,
before quicke and light wittes, both for
learnyng and maners, yet am I not igno-
rant that som quicknes of witte, is a singu-
ler gifte of God, and so most rare emonges
men, and namelie such a witte, as is quicke
without lightnes, sharpe without brittlenes,
desirous of good thinges without newfan-
glenes, diligent in painfull thinges without

32 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

werisomnes, and constant in good will to
do all thinges well, as I know was in Syr
lohn Cheke^ and is in som, that yet line,
in whome all theis fair qualities of witte
ar[e] fullie mette togither.

But it is notable and trewe, that Socrates
Plato, in saith in Plato to his frende Crito,
crito7ie. rj.^^^^ ^^^^ number of men is

fewest, which far excede, either in good or
ill, in wisdom or folic, but the meane
Veriegoodor bctwixt botli, be the greatest
verie ill men, nm^^i^gj. . wliich hc proucth trcwc

be fewest m ^

number. in diucrsc othcr thinges: as in
greyhoundes, emonges which fewe are
found, exceding greate, or exceding litle,
exceding swift, or exceding slowe : And
therfore, I speaking of quick and hard
wittes, I ment, the common number of
quicke and hard wittes, emonges the which,
for the most parte, the hard witte, proueth
manie times, the better learned, wiser and
honester man : and therfore, do I the more
lament, that soch wittes commonlie be
either kepte from learning, by fond fathers,
or be[a]t[e] from learning by lewde
scholemasters.

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 83

And speaking thus moche of the wittes
of children for learning, the opportunitie
of the place, and ffoodnes of the

*■ *=" Horsemen be

matter might require to haue wiser in
here declared the most speciall ag^^coue,
notes of a eood witte for learn- *^*" schoie-

*^ masters be, in

ing in a childe, after the maner knowledge of

, . ^ 1 , a good witte.

and custume ot a good horsman,
who is skilfuU, to know, and hable to tell
others, how by certain sure signes, a man
may choise a colte, that is like to proue an
other day, excellent for the saddle. And
it is pit[t]ie, that commonlie, more care is
had, yea and that emonges verie wise men,
to finde out rather a cunnynge ^ good Rider
man for their horse, than a cun- i>e"er

, . i .1 1 rewarded \

nyng man for their children, than a good \
They say nay in worde, but they sci^oiemaster. \
do so in dede. For, to the one, they will
gladlie giue a stipend of 200. Crounes by
[the] yeare, and loth to offer to the other,
200. shillinges. God, that sitteth in heauen
laugheth their choice to skorne, and re-
wardeth their liberalitie as it Horse weii
should: for he suffereth them, drenm'*^ ^'
to haue, tame and well ordered taught.

i.

84 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

horse, but wilde and vnfortunate Children :
and therfore in the ende they finde more
pleasure in their horse, than comforte in
their children.

But concerning the trewe notes of the
best wittes for learning in a childe, I will
reporte, not myne own opinion, but the
very iudgement of him, that was counted
the best teacher and wisest man that
learning maketh mention of, and that is
Plato \m Socrates in Plato^ who express-
deRep. ^^^ ordcrlic thies seuen plaine

notes to choise a good witte in a child for
learninge.

"^ 1. Ev(pv^g.

2. Mvf/iiuv.

3. ^tXofiadTic.
\ 4. ^iXonovog.

5. ^cTiTJKOOC.

6. ZijiTjUKog.

7. ^iXeitaivog.

Trewe notes of a
good witte.

And bicause I write English, and to
Englishemen, I will plainlie declare in
Englishe both, what thies wordes of Plato
meane, and how aptlie they be linked, and
how orderlie they fol[l]ow one an other.

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 85

Is he, that is apte by goodnes witte.

of witte, and appliable by read- '^^"•

ines of will, to learning, hauing all other
qualities of the minde and partes of the
bodie, that must an other day serue learn-
ing, not tro[u]bled, mangled, and halfed,
but sounde, whole, full, and hable to do
their office: as, a tong, notstam- Thetong.
ering, or ouer hardlie drawing forth wordes,
but plaine, and redie to deliuer the mean-
ing of the minde: a voice, not The voice,
softe, weake, piping, womanishe, but audi-
ble, stronge, and manlike : a countenance,
not werishe and crabbed, but Face.

faire and cumlie : a personage, not wretched
and deformed, but taule and stature,
goodlie : for surelie a cumlie countenance,
with a goodlie stature, geueth Leamying
credit to learning, and authoritie numnr^*^
to the person : otherwise com- personage,
monlie, either open contempte, or priuie
disfauour doth hurte, or hinder, both per-
son and learning. And, euen as a faire
stone requireth to be sette in the finest

86 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

gold, with the best workmanshyp, or else
it leseth rnoch of the Grace and price, euen
so, excellencye in learning, and namely
Diuinitie, ioyned with a cumlie personage,
is a meruelous lewell in the world. And
how can a cumlie bodie be better employed,
than to serue the fairest exercise of Goddes
greatest gifte, and that is learning. But
commonlie, the fairest bodies, ar[e] be-
stowed on the foulest purposes. I would
it were not so : and with examples herein I
would not medle : yet I wishe, that those
shold, both mynde it, and medle with it,
which haue most occasion to looke to it, as
good and wise fathers shold do, and great-
est authoritie to amend it, as good and wise
magistrates ought to do : And yet I will
not let, openlie to lament the vnfortunate
case of learning herein.

For, if a father haue foure sonnes.
Deformed three fairc and well formed both
creatures myude and bodie, the fourth,

ooramonlie

Bet to learn- wrctchcd, lame, and deformed,
^°*' liis choice sluilbe, to put the

worst to learning, as one good enoughe to
becum a scholer. I haue spent the most

THE BRYNGING VP OP TOVTO. 87

parte of mj lifie in tbe Viienier5itie« ajid
therfore I can beare good witnes that man j
fathers commonlie do thus : wfaerof^ I hane
hard man j wise, learned, and as good men
as euer I knew, make great, and oft oonir
plainte: a good horseman will choise no
soch colte, neither ior his own, nor jet
£or his masters sadle. And thns moch of
the first note.

Good of memone, a speciall
part of the first note tifiiix; and a mere ben*
efite of nature : jet it is so neoessarie for
learning: as Plato maketh it a separate
and perfite note of it sel£e, and that so
principall a note, as without it, all other
giftes of nature do small semioe to learn-
ing. AfraniuM^ that olde Latine ^Ad: GeL
Poete maketh Memorie the mother of
learning and wisedome, sajing thus.

Vhu me gemuit^ MaJUr feperit memoria^
and though it be the mere gifte of nature,
jet L» memorie well presented bj Tse, and
moch encreased bj order, as our scholer
must leame an other da j in the Yni-

88 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG
Three sure ueisitie : but in a childe, a

signes of a -■ • . ii i

good me- good memorie is well known,
morie. jjy three properties: that is, if

it be, quicke in receyuing, sure in keping,
and redie in deliuering for the againe.

3. ^Ih)fia6^c.

Giuen to loue learning: for though, a
child haue all the giftes of nature at wishe,
and perfection of memorie at will, yet if he
haue not a speciall loue to learning, he
shall neuer attaine to moch learning. And
therfore Isocrates, one of the noblest schole-
masters, that is in memorie of learning,
who taught Kinges and Princes, as Kali-
carnassceus writeth, and out of whose
schole, as Tullie saith, came forth, mo
noble Capitanes, mo wise Councelors,
than did out of Upeius horse at Troie,
This Isocrates, I say, did cause to be
written, at the entrie of his schole, in
golden letters, this golden sentence, ^av ijg
<j>t?iOfxad7jc, £orj iroXv/iadr/c: whicli excellcntlie said
in GreeJce, is thus rudelie in Englishe, if
thou louest learning, thou shalt attayne to
moch learning.

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 89

4. ^iXoTTOVOC.

Is he, that hath a lust to labor, and a
will to take paines. For, if a childe haue
all the benefites of nature, with perfection
of memorie, loue, like, and praise learning
neuer so moch, yet if he be not of him
selfe painfull, he shall neuer attayne vnto
it. And yet where loue is present, labor
is seldom absent, and namelie in studie of
learning, and matters of the mynde : and
therfore did Isocrates rightlie iudge, that
if his scholer were fLiofiadm he cared for no
more. Aristotle, variing from Isocrates in
priuate affaires of life, but agreing with
Isocrates in common iudgement of learn-
ing, for loue and labor in learning, is of the
same opinion, vttered in these wordes, in
his Rhetorike ad Theodeeten. 2Rhet. ad
%Libertie kindleth loue: loue re- Ti^eod.
f useth no labor : and labor obteyneth what
so euer it seeketh. And yet neuerthe-
lesse, Goodnes of nature may do little
good ; Perfection of memorie, may serue
to small vse : all loue may be employed in
vayne : Any labor may be sone graualed,

90 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

if a man trust alwaies to his own singuler
witte, and will not be glad somtyme to
heare, take aduise, and learne of an other :
And therfore doth Socrates very notablie
adde the fifte note.

5. ^ikriKOog.

He, that is glad to heare and learne of
an other. For otherwise, he shall sticke
with great troble, where he might go ease-
lie forwarde : and also catche hardlie a
verie litle by his owne toyle, whan he
might gather quicklie a good deale, by an
others mans teaching. But now there be
some, that haue great loue to learning,
good lust to labor, be willing to learne of
others, yet, either of a fonde shamefastnes,
or else of a proud folie, they dare not, or
will not, go to learne of an nother : And
therfore doth Socrates wiselie adde tliQ
sixte note of a good witte in a childe for
learning, and that is.

6. ZjjTj/n/cof.

He, that is naturallie bold to aske any
question, desirous to gearche out any

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 91

dou[b]te, not ashamed to learne of the
meanest, not affraide to go to the greatest,
vntill he be perfitelie taught, and fuUie
satisfiede. The seuenth and last poynte is.

7. ^iXencuvoc.

He, that loueth to be praised for well
doing, at his father, or masters hand. A
childe of this nature, will earnestlie loue
learnyng, gladlie labor for learning, will-
inglie learne of other, boldlie aske any
dou[b]te. And thus, by Socrates iudge-
ment, a good father, and a wise schole-
master, shold chose a childe to make a
scholer of, that hath by nature, the fore-
say d perfite qualities, and cumlie furniture,
both of mynde and bodie, hath memorie,
quicke to receyue, sure to keape, and
readie to deliuer : hath loue to learning :
hath lust to labor: hath desire to learne of
others : hath boldnes to aske any question :
hath mynde holie bent, to wynne praise by
well doing.

The two firste poyntes be speciall bene-
fites of nature : which neuerthelesse, be
well preserued, and moch encreased by

92 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

good order. But as for the fiue laste, loue,
labor, gladnes to learne of others, boldnes
to aske dou[b]tes, and will to wynne
praise, be wonne and maintened by the
onelie wisedome and discretion of the
scholemaster. Which fiue poyntes, whether
a scholemaster shall work so[o]ner in a
childe, by fearefull beating, or curtese
handling, you that be wise, iudge.

Yet some men, wise in deede, but in this
matter, more by seueritie of nature, than
any wisdome at all, do laugh at vs, when
we thus wishe and reason, that yong chil-
dren should rather be allured to learning
by ientilnes and loue, than compelled to
learning, by beating and feare : They say,
our reasons serue onelie to breede forth
talke, and passe a waie tyme, but we neuer
saw good scholemaster do so, nor neuer red
of wise man that thought so.

Yes, forsothe : as wise as they be, either
in other mens opinion, or in their owne
conceite, I will bring the contrarie iudge-
ment of him, who, they them selues shall
confesse, was as wise as they are, or else
they may be iustlie thought to haue small

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 93

witte at all: and that is Socrates^ whose
iudgement m Plato is plainlie piatomi.
this in these wordes : which, bi- ^® ^®P'
cause they be verie notable, I will recite
them in his owne tonge, ovdiv fiddv/^a fiera dovMag

Xp^ fiavduvEiv : ol fiiv yap tov oufiaTog ttSvoi j3ia izovovfievoi
Xdpov obdiv rd cufia unepvu^ovTat ; rlfvxy ^£, (3iaLov ovdev

kfifiovov fiudTjixa: in Englishe thus, No learning
ought to be learned with bondage : For,
bodelie labors, wrought by compulsion,
hurt not the bodie : but any learning
learned by compulsion, tarieth not long in
the mynde : And why ? For what soeuer
the mynde doth learne vnwillinglie with
feare, the same it doth quicklie forget
without care. And lest proude wittes,
that loue not to be contraryed, but haue
lust to wrangle or trifle away troth, will
say, that Socrates meaneth not this of chil-
drens teaching, but of som other higher
learnyng, heare, what Socrates in the same
place doth more plainlie say : firj roiwv (3ig. ;

0) upLOTe, Toilg naldag ev rolg fiaOf/naoLV, a/l."lu Trai^ovrac Tpe(j>e,

that is to say, and therfore, my deare
frend, bring not vp your children in learn-
ing by compulsion and feare, but by play-

94 THE FIRST BO ORE TEACHYNG

ing and pleasure. And you, that do read

Plato, as ye shold, do well perceiue, that

these be no Questions asked by

The right ^ *^

readyngof Socvates, as doutes, but they be
Sentences, first affirmed by
Socrates, as mere trothes, and after, giuen
forth by Socrates, as right Rules, most
necessarie to be marked, and fitte to be
folowed of all them, that would haue chil-
dren taughte, as they should. And in
this counsell, indgement, and authoritie
of Socrates I will repose my selfe, vntill
I meete with a man of the contrarie
mynde, whom I may iustlie take to be
wiser, than I thinke Socrates was. Fonde
scholemasters, neither can understand,

YoBglengle- ^^"^ ^iU foloW this gOOd COUH-

men, be wise- ggH of Socratcs, but wisc rydcrs,

toryde, by in their office, can and will do

ry!re™!"han ^^^^ ' which Is the onclic cause,

to learne, by ^hat commonly, the yong ientle-

common

schoie- men of England, go so vnwill-

mas era. inglie to scliolc, and run so fast
to the stable : For in verie deede fond
scholemasters, by feare, do beats into them,
the hatred of learning, and wise riders, by

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 95

ientle allurementes, do breed vp in them,
the loue of riding. They finde feare, and
bondage in scholes, They feele libertie and
freedome in stables : which causeth them,
vtterlie to abhor [r]e the one, and most
gladlie to haunt the other. And I do not
write this, that in exhorting to the one, I
would dissuade yong ientlemen from the
other : yea I am sorie, with all my harte,
that they be giuen no more to riding, than
they be : For, of all outward Ryding.

qualities, to ride faire, is most cumelie for
him selfe, most necessarie for his contrey,
and the greater he is in blood, the greater
is his praise, the more he doth exce[e]de
all other therein. It was one of the three
excellent praises, amongest the noble ien-
tlemen the old Persians^ Alwaise to say
troth, to ride faire, and shote well: and so,
it was engrauen vpon Darius tumbe, as
Strabo beareth witnesse. strabo. 15.

Darius the king^ lieth buried here.
Who in riding and shoting had neuer peare.

But, to our purpose, yong men, by any
meanes, leesing the loue of learning, whan

96 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

by tyme they cum to their owne rule, they
carie commonlie, from the schole with them,
a perpetuall hatred of their master, and a
continuall contempt of learning. If ten
lentlemen be asked, why they forget so
sone in Court, that which they were learn-
ing so long in schole, eight of them, or let
me be blamed, will laie the fault on their
ill handling, by their scholemasters.

Cuspinian doth report, that, that noble
Emperor Maximilian, would lament verie
oft, his misfortune herein.
Pastime. Yet, some will say, that chil-

Learnyng. drcu of nature, loue pastime,
and mislike learning: bicause, in their
kinde, the one is easie and pleasant, the
other hard and werison : which is an opin-
ion not so trewe, as some men weene : For,
the matter lieth not so much in the dispo-
sition of them that be yong, as in the order
and maner of bringing vp, by them that be
old, nor yet in the difference of learnyng
and pastime. For, beate a chiki, if he
daunce not well, and cherish him, though
he learne not well, ye shall haue him,
vnwilling to go to daunce, and glad to go

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 97

to his booke. Knocke him alwaies, when
he draweth his shaft ill, and fauo[u]r him
againe, though he fau[l]t at his booke, ye
shall haue hym verie loth to be in the field,
and verie willing to be in the schole. Yea,
I sale more, and not of my selfe, but by
the iudgement of those, from whom few
wisemen will gladlie dissent, that if euer
the nature of man be giuen at any tyme,
more than other, to receiue goodnes, it is,
in innocencie of yong yeares, before, that
experience of euill, haue taken roote in
hym. For, the pure cleane witte of a
sweete yong babe, is like the newest wax,
most liable to receiue the best and fayrest
printing : and like a new bright siluer
dishe neuer occupied, to receiue and kepe
cleane, anie good thyng that is put into it.

Will

in cliildren.

And thus, will in chil-
dren, wiselie wrought with-
all, male easelie be won to
be verie well willing to
learne. And witte in chil- witte
dren, by nature, namelie memorie, the onelie
keie and keper of all learning, is readiest
to receiue, and surest to kepe anie maner of

98 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACIIYNG

thing, that is learned in yougth: This,
lewde and learned, by common experience,
know to be most trewe. For we remem-
ber nothyng so well when we be olde, as
those things which we learned when we
were yong : And this is not straunge, but
common in all natures workes. Euery
man sees, (as I sayd before)

Yong yeares

aptestfor ncw wax is bcst for printyng:
earnyng. ^^^ claic, fittest for workiug :
new shorne wo[o]ll, aptest for sone and
surest dying: new fresh flesh, for good and
durable salting. And this similitude is
not rude, nor borowed of the larder house,
but out of his scholehouse, of whom, the
wisest of England, neede not be ashamed
to learne. Yong Graftes grow not onelie
sonest, but also fairest, and bring alwayes
forth the best and sweetest frute: yong
whelpes learne easelie to carie : yong Pop-
ingeis learne quicklie to speake : And so,
to be short, if in all other thinges, though
they lacke reason, sens, and life, tlie simil-
itude of youth is fittest to all goodnesse,
surelie nature, in mankinde, is most bene-
ficiall and effectuall in this behalfe.

THE BRYNGTNG VP OF YOUTH. 99

Therfore, if to the goodnes of nature, be
ioyned the wisedom of the teacher, in lead-
ing yong wittes into a right and plaine waie
of learnyng, surelie, children, kept vp in
Gods feare, and gouerned by his grace, maie
most easelie be brought well to serue God,
and contrey both by vertue and wisedome.

But if will and witte, by farder age, be
once allured from innocencie, delited in
vaine sightes, fil[l]ed with foull taulke,
crooked with wilfulnesse, hardened with
stubburnesse, and let louse to disobedience,
surelie it is hard with ientlenesse, but
Viipossible with seuere crueltie, to call
them backe to good frame againe. For,
where the one, perchance maie bend it, the
other shall surelie breake it: and so in
stead of some hope, leaue an assured des-
peration, and shamelesse contempt of all
goodnesse, the fardest pointe in all mis-
chief, as Xenophon doth most xen. 1. ctjri
trewlie and most wittelie marke. ^®^^'

Therfore, to loue or to hate, to like or
contemne, to plie this waie or that waie to
good or to bad, ye shall haue as ye vse a
child in his youth.

100 THE FIRST DOOKE TEACHYNG

And one examj)le, whether loue or feare
doth worke more in a child, for vertue and
learning, I will gladlie report : which male
be h[e]ard with some pleasure, and fol-
owed with more profit. Before I went into
Germanie^ I came to Brodegate in Le[i]ces-
tershire, to take my leaue of that noble
Lady lane Ladle lane Grey^ to whom I was
Grey. exccdlng mocli beholdinge. Hir

parentes, the Duke and Duches, with all
the houshold. Gentlemen and Gentlewomen,
were huntiiige in the Parke : I founde her,
in her Chamber, readinge Phcedon Platonis
in Greek, and that with as moch delite, as
som ientlemen wold read a merie tale in
Bocase. 'After salutation, and dewtie done,
with som other taulke, I asked hir, whie
she wold leese soch pastime in the Parke?
smiling she answered me : I wisse, all
their sporte in the Parke is but a shadoe
to that pleasure, that I find in Plato : Alas
good folke, they neuer felt, what trewe
pleasure ment. And howe came you
Madame, quoth I, to tliis deepe knowledge
of pleasure, and what did chieflie allure
you vnto it: seinge, not many women, but

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 101

verie fewe men haue atteined thereunto.
I will tell you, quoth she, and tell you a
troth, which perchance ye will meruell at.
One of the greatest benefites, that euer
God gaue me, is, that he sent me so sharpe
and seuere Parentes, and so ientle a schole-
master. For when I am in presence either
of father or mother, whether I speake,
kepe silence, sit, stand, or go, eate, drinke,
be merie, or sad, be sowyng, plaiyng,
dauncing, or doing anie thing els, I must
do it, as it were, in soch weight, mesure,
and number, euen so perfitelie, as God
made the world, or else I am so sharp-
lie taunted, so cruellie threatened, yea pre-
sentlie some tymes, with pinches, nippes,
and bobbes, and other waies, which I will
not name, for the honor I beare them, so
without measure misordered, that I thinke
ray selfe in hell, till tyme cum, that I must
go to M. Ulmer, who teacheth me so ient-
lie, so pleasantlie, with soch faire allure-
ments to learning, that I thinke all the
tyme nothing, whiles I am with him. And
when I am called from him, I fall on weep-
ing, because, what soeuer I do els, but

102 THE FIRST BO'OKE TEACHYNG

learning, is ful of grief, trouble, feare, and
whole misliking vnto me : And thus my
booke, hath bene so moch my pleasure,
and bringeth dayly to me more pleasure
and more, that in respect of it, all other
pleasures, in very deede, be but trifles and
troubles vnto me. I remember this talke
gladly, both bicause it is so worthy of
memorie, and bicause also, it was the last
talke that euer I had, and the last tyme,
that euer I saw that noble and worthie
Ladie.

I could be ouer long, both in shewinge
iust causes, and in recitinge trewe exam-
ples, why learning shold be taught, rather
by lone than feare. He that wold see a
perfite discourse of it, let him read that
sturmius. learned treatese, which my
deinBt.Princ. frgnJe loan. Sturmius wrote de
institutions Principis^ to the Duke of Cleues,
The Q'odlie counsels of Salo-

Qui parcit °

virgae. odit mon and lesus the sonne of Si-
rach, for shari)e kepinge in, and
bridleinge of youth, are ment rather, for
fatherlie correction, than masterlie beating,
rather for maners, tlian for learninge : for

THE DRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 103

other places, than for scholes. For God
forbid, but all euill touches, wantonnes,
lyinge, pickinge, slouthe, will, stubburn-
nesse, and disobedience, shold be with
sharpe chastisement, daily cut awa3^

This discipline was well knowen, and
diligentlie vsed, among the Grcecians, and
old Eomanes, as doth appeare in Aristo-
phanes^ Isocrates, and Plato^ and also in
the Comedies of Plautas : where we see
that children were vnder the rule of three
persones : Prceceptore^ Poeda- ^ ^q^qYq.
gogo, Parente : the scholemaster master,
taught him learnyng withall a.Gouemour.
ientlenes: the Gouernour cor- ^•^*'^®^'
rected his maners, with moch sharpenesse :
The father, held the sterne of his whole
obedience : And so, he that vsed to teache,
did not commonlie vse to beate, but re-
mitted that ouer to an other mans charge.
But what shall we sale, when now in our
dayes, the scholemaster is vsed, both for
Prceceptor in learnyng, and Pcedagogus in
maners. Surelie, I wold he shold not con-
found their offices, but discretelie vse the
dewtie of both so, that neither ill touches

104 THE FIRST BOOKS TEACHYNG

shold be left vnpunished, nor ientle[ne]sse
in teaching anie wise omitted. And he
shall well do both, if wiselie he do appointe
diuersitie of tyme, and separate place, for
either purpose : vsing alwaise soch dis-
Theschoie- Crete moderation, as the schole-
house. house should be counted a sanc-

tuarie against feare : and verie well learn-
ing, a common perdon for ill doing, if the
faulte, of it selfe be not ouer heinous.

And thus the children, kept vp in Gods
feare, and preserued by his grace, finding
paine in ill doing, and pleasure in well
studiyng, shold easelie be brought to hon-
estie of life, and perfitenes of learning, the
onelie marke, that good and wise fathers
do wishe and labour, that their children,
shold most buselie, and carefullie shot at.

There is an other discommoditie, besides
crueltie in scholemasters in beating away
Youth of ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ learning from chil-
Engiand drcu, which hindreth learning

brought vp

with much and vertue, and good bringing
hbertie. ^^ ^^ youth, and namelie yong
ientlemen, verie moch in England. This
fault is cleane contrary to the first. I

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 105

wished before, to liaue lone of learning
bred up in children : I wishe as moch now,
to haue yong men brought vp in good
order of lining, and in some more seuere
discipline, than commonlie they be. We
haue lacke in England of soch good order,
as the old noble Persians so care- xen. 7 cyn
fuUie vsed: whose children, to ^^'^•
the age of xxi. yeare, were brouglit vp in
learnyng, and exercises of labor, and that
in soch place, where they should, neither
see that was vncumlie, nor heare that was
vnhonest. Yea, a yong ientlemen was
neuer free, to go where he would, and do
what he liste him self, but vnder the kepe,
and by the counsell, of some graue gouer-
nour, vntill he was, either maryed, or
cal[le]d to beare some office in the common
wealth.

And see the great obedience, that was
vsed in old tyme to fathers and gouernours.
No Sonne, were he neuer so old of yeares,
neuer so great of birth, though he were a
kynges sonne, miglit not mary, [might
marr}'] but by his father and mothers also
consent. Cyrus the great, after he had

106 THE FIRST BO ORE TEACHYNG

conquered Babylon^ and subdewed Riche
king Croesus with whole Asia minor^ cum-
myng tryumphantlie home, his vncle Cyax-
eris ofPered him his daughter to wife.
Cyrus thanked his vncle, and praised the
maide, but for mariage he answered him
with thies wise and sweete wordes, as they
be uttered by Xenophon^ u Kva^upn, r6 re yhog

eiraivu Kal rfjv rjalda kol rd, Sibpa' (jOvTiOfiat 6e, £(p7], avv Ty
Xen 8 Cvri ^^^ TtQ-Tpbc yvu{j.T^ Kot ry ttjq firjTpbg idraa aoL

P^^' ovvatveai, etc, that is to Say:

Vncle Cyaxeris, I commend the stocke, I
like the maide, and I allow well the dow-
rie, bat (sayth he) by the counsell and
consent of my father and mother, I will
determine farther of thies matters.

Strong Samson also in Scripture saw a
maide that liked him, but he spake not to
hir, but went home to his father, and his
mother, and desired both father and mother
to make the mariage for him. Doth this
modestie, doth this obedience, that was in
great kyng Cyrus^ and stoute Samson,
remaine in our yongmen at this daie ? no
surelie ; For we Hue not longer after them
by tyme, than we line farre different from

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 107

them by good order. Our tyme is so farre
from that old discipline and obedience, as
now, not onelie yong ientlemen, but euen
verie girles dare without all feare, though
not without open shame, where they list,
and how they list, marie them selues in
spite of father, mother, God, good order,
and all. The cause of this euill is, that
youth is least looked vnto, when they
stand [in] most neede of good kepe and
regard. It auaileth not, to see them well
taught in yong yeares, and after whan they
cum to lust and youthfuU dayes, to giue
them licence to Hue as they lust them
selues. For, if ye suffer the eye of a yong
lentleman, once to be entangled with
vaine sightes, and the eare to be corrupted
with fond or lilthie taulke, the mynde
shall quicklie fall seick, and sone vomet
and cast vp, all the holesome doctrine, that
he receiued in childhoode, though he were
neuer so well brought vp before. And
being ons [once] inglutted with vanitie,
he will straight way loth all learning, and
all good counsell to the same. And the
parentes for all their great cost and charge,

108 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

reape onelie in the end, the fru[i]te of
grief and care.

This euill, is not common to

Great mens

sonnes worst poorc men, as God will hane it,
roug tvp. ^^^^ proper to riche and great
mens children, as they deserue it. In
deede from seuen, to seuentene, yong ien-
tlemen commonlie be carefullie enough
brought vp: But from seuentene to seuen
and twentie (the most dangerous tyme of
all a mans life, and most slipperie to stay
well in) they haue commonlie the reigne
of all licens in their owne hand, and
Wise men spcciallie soch as do line in the
fond fathers. Co^rt. And that which is most
to be merueled at, commonlie, the wisest
and also best men, be found the fondest
fathers in tliis behalfe. And if som good
father wold seick some remedie herein, yet
the mother (if the house hold of our Lady)
had rather, yea, and will to, haue her
Sonne cunnyng and bold, in making him
to lyue trimlie when he is yong, than by
learning and trauell, to be able to serue his
Prince and his con trie, both wiselie in peace,
and stoutelie in warre, whan he is old.

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 109

The fault is in your selues, ye Meane mens

IT r T 1 xi sonnes come

noble meiiLs] sonnes, and there- t^ great
fore ye deserue the greater blame, authoritie.
that commonlie, the meaner mens children,
cum to be, the wisest councellours, and
greatest doers, in the weightie affaires of
this Realme. And why ? for God will haue
it so, of his prouidence : bicause ye will
haue it no otherwise, by your negligence.

And God is a good God, and wisest in all
his doinges, that will place vertue, and dis-
place vice, in those kino^domes

^ ° Nobilitie

where he doth gouerne. For he without
knoweth, that Nobilitie, without ^^^^^ °™®'
vertue and wisedome, is bloud in deede,
but bloud trewelie, without bones and sin-
ewes : and so of it selfe, without the other,
verie weeke to beare the burden of weigh-
tie affaires.

The greatest shippe in deede commonlie
carieth the greatest burden, but yet al-
wayes with the greatest ieoperdie, not
onelie for the persons and goodes com-
mitted vnto it, but euen for the Nobmtie with
shyppe it selfe, except it be ^^i^edome.
gouerned, with the greater wisdome.

110 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

Nobilite with

out wisedome.

But Nobilitie, gouerned by learning and
wisedome. wisedome, is in

deede, most like a
faire shippe, hau-
yng tide and winde
at will, vnder the
reule of a skilfull
master : whan con-
trarie wise, a shippe,
carried, yea with the hiest tide and great-
est winde, lacking a skilfull master, most
commonlie, doth either sinck it selfe vpon
sandes, or breake it selfe vpon rockes. And
Vaine pleas- Gucn SO, liow manic hauc bene,
either drowned in vaine pleasure,
or ouerwhelmed by stout wilful-
nesse the histories of England
be able to affourde ouer many
examples vnto vs. Therfore, ye great and
noble mens children, if ye will haue right
fullie that praise, and enioie surelie that
place, which your fathers haue, and elders
had, and left vnto you, ye must kepe it, as
they gat it, and that is, by the onelie waie,
of vertue, wisedome and worthinesse.
For wisedom, and vertue, there be

ure, and
stoute wilful
lies, two
greatest
enemies to
Nobilitie.

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. Ill

manie faire examples in this Court, for
yong lentlemen to fol[l]ow. But they
be, like faire markes in the feild, out of a
mans reach, to far of, to shote at well.
The best and worthiest men, in deede, be
somtimes seen, but seldom taulked withall :
A yong lentleman, may somtime knele to
their person, smallie vse their companie,
for their better instruction.

But yong lentlemen are faine coipimon-
lie to do in the Court, as yong Archers do
in the feild : that is to take soch markes,
as be nie them, although they be neuer so
foule to shote at. I meene, they

111 companie

be driuen to kepe companie with marreth
the worste : and what force ill ^^"^ '
companie hath, to corrupt good wittes, the
wisest men know best.

And not ill companie onelie, but the ill
opinion also of the most part, doth moch
harme, and namelie of those, ^^ ^ ,

' ' The Court

which shold be wise in the trewe ludgeth worst

T 1 . /» . 1 IT . of the best

decyphnng, ot the good disposi- natures in
tion of nature, of cumlinesse y°"*^-
in Courtlie nianers, and all right doinges
of men.

112 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

But error and pliantasie, do commonlie
occupie, the place of troth and iudgement.
For, if a yong ientleman, be demeure and
still of nature, they say, he is simple and
lacketh witte : if he be bashefull, and will
soone blushe, they call him a babishe and
Xen. in 1. i^ brought vp thyng, when Xen-
Cyr. Psed, ophou doth precisclie note in
Cyrus^ that his bashfulnes in youth, was
ye verie trewe signe of his vertue and
stoutnes after : If he be innocent and igno-
rant of ill, they say, he is rude, and hath
The Grace 1^0 gracc, SO vugraciouslie do
inCourte. ^^^^ gracclessc men, misuse the
faire and godlie word grace.

But if ye would know, what grace they
nieene, go, and looke, and learne emonges
them, and ye shall see that it is : First, to
blush at nothing. And blushyng in youth,
sayth Aristotle is nothyng els, but feare to
do ill : which feare beyng once lustely fraid
Grace of away from youth, then foloweth,
courte. ^Q j.^^.g (Jq ,^.^j mischief, to con-

temne stoutly any goodnesse, to be busie
in euery matter, to be skilfuU in euery
thyng, to acknowledge no ignorance at all.

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 113

To do thus in Court, is counted of some,
the chief and greatest grace of all : and
termed by the name of a vertue, called
Corage and boldnesse, whan Crassus in
Cicero teacheth the cleane con- Oc. 3. de or.
trarie, and that most wit telle, saying thus :
Audere, cum bonis etiam rebus Boidnes, yea
coniunctum, per seipsum est mag- matter*^ not
nopere fugiendum. Which is to ^ ^® praised,
say, to be bold, yea in a good matter, is
for it self, greatlie to be exchewed.

Moreouer, where the swing goeth, there
to follow fawne, flatter, laugh and lie lus-
telie at other mens liking. To More Grace
face, stand formest, shoue backe : ®^ courte.
and to the meaner man, or vnknowne in
the Court, to seeme somwhat solume, coye,
big, and dangerous of looke, taulk, and
an s were : To thinke well of him selfe, to
be lustie in contemning of others, to haue
some trim grace in a priuie mock. And
in greater presens, to beare a braue looke :
to be warlike, though he neuer looked
enimie in the face in warre : yet som war-
like signe must be vsed, either a slouinglie
busking, or an ouerstaring frounced hed,

114 rUE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

as though out of euerie heeres toppe,

should suddenlie start out a good big othe,

when nede requireth. Yet praised be

God, England hath at this time,

Menofwarre, ' o '

best of manie worthie Capitaines and

conditions. _ ^. i • i i

good souldiours, which be m
deede, so honest of behauiour, so cumlie
of conditions, so milde of maners, as they
may be examples of good order, to a good
sort of others, which neuer came in warre.
But to retorne, where I left : In place also,
to be able to raise taulke, and make dis-
course of euerie rishe : to haue a verie
good will, to heare him selfe speake : To
Paimistrie. be sccne in Palmestrie, Avherby
to conueie to chast eares, som fond or
filthie taulke :

And, if som Smithfeild Ruffian take vp,
som strange going: som new mowing with
the mouth : som wrinchyng with the shoul-
der, som braue prouerbe : som fresh new
othe, that is not stale, but will rin [run]
round in the mouth: som new disguised
garment, or desperate hat, fond in facion,
or gaurish in colour, what soeuer it cost,
how small soeuer his lining be, by what

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 115

shift soeuer it be gotten, gotten must it be,
and vsed with the first, or els the grace of
it, is stale and gone : som part of this
gracelesse grace, was described by me, in
a little rude verse long ago.

To laughe^ to lie^ to flatter^ to face ;
Foure waies in Court to win men grace.
If thou he thrall to none of theise.
Away good Peek goos^ hens lohn Cheese :
Marke well my word, and marke their dede^
. And thinke this verse part of thy Creed.

Would to God, this taulke were not
trewe, and that som mens doinges were
not thus : I write not to hurte any, but to
proffit som : to accuse none, but to monish
soch who, allured by ill coun- r company,
sell, and following ill exam-
ple, contrarie to their good
bringyng vp, and against
their owne good nature, yeld
ouermoch to tliies folies and i ^ounceii.

faultes: I know many seruing men, of
good order, and well staide : And againe,
I heare saie, there be som seru- seruingemen.
ing men do but ill seruice to their yong

ni

116 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACH YNG

Terentius. iiiasters. Yea, rede Terence and

piautus. Plaut[us'] aduised lie ouer, and ye

shall finde in those two wise writers, almost

ineuerie commedie, no vnthriftie

Serui cor-

rupteia3 Jong man, that is not brought

there vnto, by the sotle intice-
ment of som lewd seruant. And euen now
in our dayes Getce and DauU G-natos and
manie bold bawdie Pltormios to, be preas-
ino^ in, to pratle on euerie staofe,

MultiGetse . .

pauci to medle in euerie matter, whan

Parmenones. -, i t-> in j_ i

honest J^armenos shall not be
hard, but beare small swing with their
masters. Their companie, their taulke,
their ouer great experience in mischief,
doth easelie corrupt the best natures, and
best brought vp wittes.

But I meruell the lesse, that thies mis-
Misordersin ordcrs be cmongcs som in the
thecountrey. Court, for commoulie in the
contrie also euerie where, innocencie is
gone: Bashfulnesse is banished : moch pre-
sumption in yougthe : small authoritie in
aige : Ileuerence is neglected : dewties be
confounded: and to be shorte, disobedi-
ence doth ouerflowe the bankes of good

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 117

order, almoste in euerie place, almoste in
euerie degree of man.

Meane men haue eies to see, and cause
to lament, and occasion to complaine of
thies miseries : but other haue authoritie
to remedie them, and will do so to, whan
God shall think time fitte. For, all thies
misorders, be Goddes iuste plages, by his
sufferance, brought iustelie vpon vs, for
our sinnes, which be infinite in nomber, and
horrible in deede, but namelie, for the
greate abhominable sin of vnkindnesse:
but what vnkindnesse? euen

Contempt of

such vnkindnesse as was in the Gods trewe
lewes, in contemninge Goddes ^ '^^^°*
voice, in shrinking from his woorde, in
wishing backe againe for j^gypt^ in com-
mitting aduoultrie and hordom, not with
the women, but w^ith the doctrine of Baby-
lon, did bring all the plages, destructions,
and Captiuities, that fell so ofte and horri-
blie, vpon Israeli.

We haue cause also in England to be-
ware of vnkindnesse, who haue had, in so
fewe yeares, the Candel of Goddes worde,
so oft lightned, so oft put out, and yet will

118 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

Doctnna Venture by our vnthankfulnesse
Meres. {^ doctiine and sinfull life, to

leese againe, lighte, Candle, Candlesticke
and all.

God kepe vs in liis feare, God grafte in
vs the trewe knowledge of his woorde,
with a forward will to folowe it, and so to
bring forth the sweete fruites of it, and
then shall he preserue vs by his Grace,
from all maner of terrible dayes.

The remedie of this, doth not stand one-
Pubiicse Leges, lie, in making good common
lawes for the hole Realme, but also, (and
perchance cheiflie) in obseruing priuate
Domestica discipline euerie man carefullie
disctphna. ^^^ |^^g ^^^-^ liousc : and namelie,

if speciall regard be had to yougth: and
that, not so much, in teaching them what
Cognitiohoni. is good, as in keping them from
that, that is ill.

Therefore, if wise fathers, be not as well
ignoratio warc in Weeding from their Chil-
*""^*' dren ill thinges, and ill com-

panie, as they were before, in graftinge, in
them learninge, and prouidiug for them
good scholemasters, what frute, they shall

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 119

reape of all their coste and care, common
experience doth tell.

Here is the place, m youthe is the time
whan som ignorance is as neces-
sarie, as moch knowledge : and ance, as good
not in matters of our dewtie
towardes God, as som wilful wittes willing-
lie against their owne knowledge, perni-
ciouslie againste their owne conscience,
haue of late openlie taught. In deede
S. Chrysoftome^ that noble and ckruott.d*
eloquent Doctor, in a sermon ^*^'
contra fatum^ and the curious serchinge of
natiuities, doth wiselie sale, that ignorance
therein, is better than knowledge : But to
wring this sentence, to wreste thereby out
of mens handes, the knowledge of Goddes
doctrine, is without all reason, against
common sence, contrarie to the iudgement
also of them, which be the discretest men,
and best learned, on their own side. I
know, luUanus Apostata did so, iuiia.Apostat.
but I neuer hard or red, that any auncyent
father of the primitiue chirch, either
thought or wrote so.

But this ignorance in youthe, which, i

120 THE FIRST BOOKS TEACHYNG

innocency in Spake OH, OP rather this simplici-
youth. ^|g^ Qj, most trewlie, this inno-

cencie, is that, which the noble Persians^
as wise Xenophon doth testiiie, were so
carefull, to breede vp their yougth in.
But Christian fathers common lie do not
so.. And I will tell you a tale, as moch to
be misliked, as the Persians example is to
be folowed.

This last somer, I was in a lentlemans
house : where a yong childe, somewhat
A ciiiide ill P^st fowcr yearc olde, cold in no
brought vp. ^,|gg frame his tonge, to sale, a
little shorte grace : and yet he could round-
lie rap out, so manie vgle othes, and those
of the newest facion, as som good man of
fourescore yeare olde hath neuer hard
named before : and that which was most
detestable of all, his father and mother

IllParentes. WOld laughc at it. I UlOChc

doubte, what comforte, an other dale, this
childe shall bring vnto them. This Childe
vsing moch the companie of seruinge men,
and geuing good eare to their taulke, did
easelie learne, which he shall hardlie for-
get, all [the] dales of his life hereafter:

THE DRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 121

So likewise, in the Courte, if a yong len-
tleman will veiitur[e] liim self into the
companie of Ruffians, it is ouer greate a
ieopardie, lest, their facions, maners,
thoughtes, taulke, and deedes, will verie
sone, be euer like. The confounding of
companies, breedeth confusion iii companie.
of good maners both in the Courte, and
euerie where else.

And it male be a great wonder, but a
greater shame, to vs Christian men, to
vnderstand, what a heithen writer, Isocrates,
doth leaue in memorie of writ> isocmtes.
ing, concerning the care, that the noble
Citie of Athens had, to bring vp their
yougthe, in honest companie, and vertuous
discipline, whose taulke in Greke, is, to
this effect, in Englishe.

"The Citie, was not more carefull, to
" see their Children well taughte, i„ orat
"than to see their yong men Ariopa«.
"well gouerned: which they brought to
"passe, not so much by common la we, as
"by priuate discipline. For, they had
"more regard, that their yougthe, by good
"order sliold not offend, than how, by

122 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

"la we, they might be punished: And if
"offense were committed, there was,
"neither waie to hide it, neither hope of
"pardon for it. Good natures, were not
"so moche openlie praised as they were
" secretlie marked, and watchfullie regarded
"lest they should lease the goodnes they
" had. Therefore in scholes of singing and
"dauncing, and other honest exercises,
" gouernours were appointed, more diligent
" to ouersee their good maners, than their
"masters were, to teach them anie learn-
" ing. It was som shame to a yong man,
"to be scene in the open market: and if
"for businesse, he passed throughe it, he
"did it, with a meruelous modestie, and
"bashefuU facion. To eate, or driiike in a
" Tauerne, was not onelie a shame, but also
" punishable, in a yong man. To contrarie,
" or to stand in termes with an old man,
"was more heinous, than in som place, to
"rebuke and scolde with his owne father:
w^ith manie other mo good orders, and faire
disciplines, which I referre to their reading,
that haue lust to looke vpon the descrip-
tion of such a worthie common welthe.

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 123

And to know, what wortliie Goodsede,
frute, did spring of soch wortliie ^^rthiefrute.
seade, I will tell yow the most meruell of
all, and yet soch a trothe, as no man shall
denie it, except such as be ignorant in
knowledge of the best stories.

AthenSy by this discipline and Athene$.
good ordering of yougthe, did breede vp,
within the circu[i]te of that one Citie,
within the compas of one hondred yeare,
within the memorie of one mans life, so
manie notable Captaines in warre, for
worthinesse, wisdome and learning, as be
scarse matchable no not in the state of
Rome, in the compas of those Roma,

seauen hondred yeares, whan it flourished
moste.

And bicause, I will not onelie sale it,
but also proue it, the names of them be
these. Miltlades. Themistocles.

The noble

Xantippus^ Pericles^ Cymon^ Al- Capitaines of
cybiades, Thrasyhulus, Conon^
Iphicrates, JCenophon, Timotheus, Theopom-
pus^ Demetrius^ and diuers other mo: of
which euerie one, male iustelie be spoken
that worthie praise, which was geuen to

124 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

Scipio Africanus^ who, Cicero douteth,
whether he were, more noble Capitaine m
warre, or more eloquent and wise coun-
celor in peace. And if ye beleue not me,
^mii. Probus. read diligentlie, ^milius Probus
piutarchus. [y^ Latin, and Plutarche in Greke,
which two, had no cause either to flatter
or lie vpon anie of those which I haue
recited.

And beside nobilitie in warre, for excel-
lent and matchles masters in all maner of
The learned Icaminge, in that one Citie, in
of Athenes. memoric of one aige, were mo
learned men, and that in a maner alto-
gether, than all tyme doth remember, than
all place doth affourde, than all other
tonges do conteine. And I do not meene
of those Authors, which, by iniurie of
tyme, by negligence of men, by crueltie of
fier and sworde, be lost, but euen of those,
which by Goddes grace, are left yet vnto
vs: of which I thank God, euen my poor
studie lacketh not one. As, in Philosophic,
Plato, Aristotle, Xenophon, Euclide, and
Theophrast : In eloquens and Ciuill lawe,
Demosthenes, ^schines, Lycurgus, Dinar-

THE BRYNGJNG VP OF YOUTH. 125

cTius., Demades, Isocrates, laceus^ Lysias^
Antisthenes, Andocides : In histories, He-
rodotus^ Thueydidei^ Xenophon: and which
we lacke, to our great losse, Theopompus
and UpJilortisI : In Poctrie, j^schylus,
Sophocles^ Euri'pides^ Aristophanes^ and
somewhat of Menander^ Demosthenes sis-
ter[s] Sonne.

Now, let Italian, and Latin it self,
Spanishe, French, Douch, and j^^^^^
Erifflishe brins: forth their lern- chiefly con-

. . , . teinedintbe

mg, and recite their Authors, oreke, and in
Cicero onelie excepted, and in ""^^^®'*o"8.
one or two moe in Latin, they be all
patched cloutes and ragges, in comparison
of faire woueii broade cloathes. And trewe-
lie, if there be any good in them, it is either
lerned, borowed, or stoliie, from some one
of those worthie wittes of Athens.

The remembrance of soch a common
welthe, vsing soch discipline and order for
youthe, and thereby bringing forth to
their praise, and leaning to vs for our
example, such Capitaines for warre, soch
Councelors for peace, and matcheles mas-
ters, for all kiiide of learninge, is pleasant

126 TRE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

for me to recite, and not irksum, I trust,
for other to heare, except it be aoch, as
make neither counte of vertue nor learninge.
And whether there be anie soch or no.
Contemners I Can not wcll tell I jet I hcare
ofiearnyng. ^r^^Q^ somo jong Icntlemcn of
oures, count it their shame to be counted
learned: and perchance, they count it
their shame, to be counted honest also, for
I heare sale, they medle as litle with the
one, as with the other. A meruelous case,
that lentlemen shold so be ashamed of
good learning, and neuer a whit ashamed
of ill maners : sock do laie for them, that
lentlemen of "^hc lentlemeu of France do so :
France. which is a lie, as God will haue

it. Langceus^ and Bellceus that be dead,
and the noble Vidam of Chartes, that is
aliue, and infinite mo in France, which I
heare tell of, proue this to be most false.
And though som, in France, which will
nedes be lentlemen, whether meii \\\\\ or
no, and haue more ientleshipe in their hat,
than in their lied, be at deedlie feude, with
both learning and honestie, yet I beleue,
if that noble Prince, king Francis the first

THE DRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 127

were aliue, they shold liaue, Franciscus i.
neither place in his Courte, nor Fmncorum
pension in his warres, if lie had ^®*-
knowledge of them. This opinion is not
French, but plaine Turckishe : from whens,
som French fetche moe faultes, than this :
which, I praie God, kepe out of England,
and send also those of oures better mindes,
which bend them selues againste vertue
and learninge, to the contempte of God,
dishonor of their contrie, to the hurte of
manie others, and at length, to the greatest
harme, and vtter destruction of themselues.
Some other, hauing better nature, but
lesse witte, (for ill commonlie, haue ouer
moch witte) do not vtterlie dispraise learn-
ino:, but they sale, that without

° J ' Experience

learning, common experience, without
knowledge of all facions, and ^^^^^s-
haunting all companies, shall worke in
yougthe, both wisdome, and habilitie, to
execute anie weightie affaire. Surelie long
experience doth proifet moch, but moste,
and almost onelie to him (if we meene
honest affaires) that is diligentlie before
instructed with preceptes of well doinge.

128 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

For good precepts of learning, be the eyes
of the mincle, to looke wiselie before a man,
which waie to go right, and which not.
Learnyng. Learning teacheth more in one

Experience, yeare than experience in twen-
tie : And learning teacheth safelie, when
experience maketh mo miserable then wise.
He hasardeth sore, that waxeth wise by
experience. An vnhappie Master he is,
that is made cunning by manie shippe
wrakes: A miserable merchant, that is
neither riche or wise, but after som bank-
routes. It is costlie wisdom, that is bought
by experience. We know by experience
it selfe, that it is a meruelous paine, to
find oute but a short waie, by long wander-
ing. And surelie, he that wold proue wise
by experience, he may be wittie in deede,
but euen like a swift runner, that runneth
fast out of his waie, and vpon the niglit,
he knoweth not whither. And verilie
tliey be fewest of number, that be happie
or wise by vnlearned experience. And
looke well vpon the former life of those
fewe, whether jomy example be olde or
yonge, who without learning haue gathered,

THE DRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 129

by long experience, a little wisdom, and
som liappines : and whan you do consider,
what mischiefe they haue committed, what
dangers they haue escaped (and yet xx.
for one, do perishe in the aduenture) than
thinke well with your selfe, whether ye
wold, that your owne son, should cum to
wisdom and happines, by the waie of soch
experience or no.

It is a notable tale, that old syr noger
Syr Roger Chamloe, sometime <^'""»'^-
cheife Justice, wold tell of him selfe.
When he was Auncient in Inne of Courte,
certaine yong lentlemen were brought
before him, to be corrected for certaine
misorders : And one of the lustiest saide :
Syr, we be yong ientlemen, and wise men
before vs, haue proued all facions, and yet
those haue done full well : this they said,
because it was well knowen, that Syr
Roger had bene a good feloe in his yougth.
But he aunswered them verie wiselie. In
deede saith he, in yoilgthe, I was, as you
ar[e] now: and I had twelue feloes like
vnto my self, but not one of them came to
a good ende. And therfore, folow not my

130 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

example in yougth, but folow my councell
in aige, if euer ye tliinke to cum to this
place, or to thies yeares, that I am cum
vnto, lesse 3'e meete either with pouertie
or Tiburn in the way.
Experience. Thus, experience of all facions
in yougthe, beinge, in profe, alwaise daun-
gerous, in isshue, seldom lucklie, is a waie,
in deede, to ouermoch knowledge, yet vsed
commonlie of soch men, which be either
caried by som curious affection of mynde,
or driuen by som hard necessitie of life, to
hasard the triall of ouer manie perilous
aduentures.

Erasmus. Erasmus the honour of learn-

ing of all oure time, saide wiselie that expe-
rience is the common schole-

Expenence,

the schoie- housc of folcs, and ill men : Men,

house of /I . 1 ^ ' ^

Foies, andin of wittc and honestie, be other-
™®"' wise instructed. For there be,

that kepe them out of fier, and yet was
neuer burned : That beware of water, and
yet was neuer nie drowninge : That hate
harlottes, and was neuer at the stewes:
That abhorre falshode, and neuer brake
promis themselues.

THE BRYNGTNG VP OF YOUTH. 131

But will ye see, a fit Similitude of this
aduentureci experience. A I'ather, that
doth let louse his son, to all experiences, is
most lilvc a fond Hunter, that letteth slippe
a whelpe to the hole herde. Twentie to
one, he shall fall vpon a rascall, and let go
the faire game. Men that hunt so, be
either ignorant persones, preuie stealers,
or night walkers.

Learning therefore, ye wise fathers, and-
good bringing vp, and not blinde and dan-
gerous experience, is the next and readiest
waie, that must leede your Children, first,
to wisdom, and than to worthinesse, if euer
ye purpose they shall cum there.

And to saie all in shorte.

How experi-
though I lacke Authoritie to encemay

giue counsell, yet I lacke not "^^^
good will to wisshe, that the yougthe in
England, speciallie lentlemen, and name-
lie nobilitie, shold be by good bringing vp,
so grounded in iudgement of learninge, so
founded in loue of honestie, as, whan they
sho[u]ld be called forthe to the execution
of great affaires, in seruice of their Prince
and co[u]ntrie, they might be liable, to

132 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

vse and to order, all experiences, were
they good were they bad, and that, accord-
ing to the square, rule, and line, of wis-
dom, learning, and vertue.

And, I do not meene, by all

Diligente ^ ''

learninge this my taulke, that yong len-

ought to be , 1, 1 1 1 • 1

ioynedwith tlcmcu, should alwaics be por-
pieasant '^^^ ^^ ^ bookc, and by ysing

pastimes, ° ' ./ o

namelieina gOOd StudicS, shold IcaSC llOn-
lentleman. ^ , i i , i

est pleasure, and haunt no good
pastime, I meene nothing lesse : For it is
well knowne, that I both like and loue,
and haue alwaies, and do yet still vse, all
exercises and pastimes, that be fitte for my
nature and habilitie. And beside naturall
disposition, in iudgement, also, I was neuer,
either Stoick in doctrine, or Anabaptist in
Religion to mislike a merie, pleasant, and
plaifuU nature, if no outrage be committed,
against lawe, me [a] sure, and good order.

Therefore, I wo[u]ld wishe, that, beside

some good time, fitlie appointed, and con-

stantlie kepte, to encrease by readinge, the

knowledge of the tonges and

Learnyng <=* °

Ioynedwith learning, yong ientlemen shold
pas meg. ^^^^ ^^^ delitc in all Courtelie

THE ERYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 133

exercises, and lentlemanlike pastimes.
And good cause whie : For the self same
noble Citie of Athenes, iustlie commended
of me before, did wiselie and vpon great
consideration, appoint, the Muses, Musse.

Apollo and Pallas^ to be patrones of learn-
inge to their yougthe. For the Muses,
besides learning, were also Ladies of daun-
ciiige, mirthe and ministrelsie : Apoiio.

Apollo, was god of shooting, and Author
of cunning playing vpon Instrumentes :
Pallas also was Laidie mistres Paiias.

in warres. Wherbie was nothing else ment,
but that learninge shold be alwaise min-
gled, with honest mirthe, and cumlie exer-
cises: and that warre also shold be gou-
erned by learning, and moderated by
wisdom, as did well appeare in those Capi-
taines of Athenes named by me before, and
also in Scipio and Ccesar the two Diamondes
of Rome.

And Pallas, was no more feared, in
weering JEgida, than she was Learning

I i> 1 • /-17 . rewleth both

praised, tor chosmg Ohua : .^arreand
whereby shineth the glory of p^^^'®-
learning, which thus, was Gouernour and

134 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

Mistres, in the noble Citie of Athenes, both
of warre and peace.

Therefore, to ride cumlie : to run faire
at the tilte or ring : to plaie at all wea-
pones : to shote faire in bow, or surelie in
gon : to vaut lustely : to runne : to leape :
The pastimes to wrestle : to swimme : To

that be fltte j t x • J

forcourtiie ^aunce cumlie: to smg, and
lentiemen. playe of instrumcntes cunnyng-
ly: to Hawke ; to hunte : to playe at ten-
nes, and all pastimes generally, which be
ioyned with labor, Ysed in open place, and
on the day light, conteining either some
fitte exercise for warre, or some pleasant
pastime for peace, be not onelie cumlie and
decent, but also verie necessarie, for a
Courtlie lentleman to vse.

But, of all kinde of pastimes, fit for a
lentleman, I will, god willing, in fitter
place, more at large, declare fullie, in my
TheCoirpitte. book of the Cockpittc : which 1
do write, to satisfie som, I trust, with som
reason, that be more curious, in marking
other mens doinges, than carefull in mend-
yng their owne faultes. And som also will
nedes busie them selues in merueling, and

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 135

adding therevnto vnfrendlie taulke, why I,
a man of good yeares, and of no ill place,
I thanke God and my Prince, do make
choise to spend soch tyme in writyng of
trifles, as the schole of shoting, the Cock-
pitte, and this booke of the first Principles
of Grammer, rather, than to take some
weightie matter in hand, either of Religion,
or Ciuill discipline.

Wise men I know, will well allow of my
choise herein : and as for such, who haue
not witte of them seines, but must learne of
others, to iudge right of mens doynges, let
them read that wise Poet Horace

• -t • A rk • 1 -n 1 A booke of

m his Arte Foetica^ who wiUeth lofty title,
wisemen to beware, of hie and ^'TlV.^'

' brag of ouer

loftie Titles. For, great shippes, e^e^* *

promise.

require costlie tackling, and also
afterward dangerous gouernment: Small
boates, be neither verie chargeable in mak-
yng, nor verie oft in great ieoperdie : and
yet they cary many tymes, as good and
costlie ware, as greater vessels tj^^ right
do. A meane Argument, may choise, to

chose a fitte

easelie beare, the light burden of Argument to
a small faute, and haue alwaise ^^^ ^ ^^^"'

136 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

at hand, a ready excuse for ill handling :
And, some praise it is, if it so chaunce, to
be better in deede, than a man dare venture
to seeme. A hye title, doth charge a man,,
with the heauie burden, of to great a pro-
mise : and therefore sayth Horace verie
HorjnArte wittclic, that, that Pocte was
^^^^' a verie foole, that began hys

booke, with a goodlie verse in deede, but
ouer proude a promise.
Fortunam Priami cantaho et nohile helium^
And after, as wiselie.

Quanto rectiiXs hie, qui nil molitur inepte etc.
Homers wis- Mecning Homer, who, within the
ofTil A^g"!!^^ compasse of a smal Argument,
ment. of One liarlot, and of one good

wife, did vtter so much learning in all
kinde of sciences, as, by the iudgement of
Quintilian, he deserueth so hie a praise,
that no man yet deserued to sit in the
second degree beneth him. And thus mocli
out of my way, concerning my purpose
in spending penne, and paper, and tyme,
vpon trifles, and namelie to aunswere
some, that haue neither witte nor learning,

THE BRYNGING TT OF YOUTH. 137

to do any thyng them selues, neither will
nor honestie, to say well of other.

To ioyne learnyng with cumlie exercises,
Conto Baldesoer Castiglione in his booke,
Cortegiane, doth trimlie teache : ^^^^ corte-
which booke, aduisedlie read, gian, an

1 V'T T /» 1 11 excellent

and diligentlie folowed, but one booke for a
yeare at home in England, would *e"*i®™*^-
do a yong ientleman more good, I wisse,
than three yeares trauell abrode spent in
Italie. And I meruell this booke, is no
more read in the Court, than it is, seyng
it is so well translated into English by
a worthie Ientleman Syr Th. gyr tiw.
Hohhie^ who was many wayes Hobhie.
well furnished with learnyng, and very
expert in knowledge of diuers tonges.

And beside good preceptes in bookes, in
all kinde of tonges, this Court also neuer
lacked manie faire examples, for yong
ientlemen to folow : And surelie, one exam-
ple, is more valiable, both to

Examples

good and ill, than xx. preceptes better than
written in bookes : and so Plato, ^^^^^^ ^^'
not in one or two, but in diuerse places,
doth plainlie teach.

138 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

King Ed. 6. If kyng Edwavd had liued a
litle longer, his onely example had breed
soch a rase of worthie learned ientlemen,
as this Realme neuer yet did affourde.

And, in the second degree, two noble
The yong Primeroscs of Nobilitie, the yong
Dukeof D^|.g of Suffolke, and Lord H.

Suttolke.

L. H. Mar- Matreuevs^ were soch two exam-
trauers. pj^s to the Court for learnyng,

as our tyme may rather wishe than looke
for agayne.

At Cambridge also, in S. lohns Colledge,
in my tyme, I do know, that, not so much
the good statutes, as two Ientlemen, of
Syr John wor thie memorie Syr lohn Cheke^
cheke. ^^^^ Doctour Headman, by their

onely example of excellency in learnyng,
of godnes in liuyng, of diligence in stud}^-
ing, of councell in exhorting, of [by] good
£>. Readman. order iu all thyug, did breed vp,
so many learned men, in that one College
of S. lohns, at one time, as I beleue, the
whole Vniuersitie of Louaine, in many
yeares, was neuer able to affourd.

Present examples of this present tyme,
I list not to the touch: yet there is one

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 139

example, for all lentlemen of this Queene
Court to fol[l]ow, that may well Elisabeth.
satisfie them, or nothing will serue them,
nor no example moue them, to goodnes
and learning.

It is your shame, (I speake to you all,
you yong lentlemen of England) that one
mayd[e] should go beyond you all, in
excellencie of learnyng, and knowledge of
diuers tonges. Pointe forth six of the
best giuen lentlemen of this Court, and all
they together, shew not so moch good will,
spend not so moch tyme, bestowe not so
many houres, dayly, orderly, and constantly
for the increase of learning and knowledge,
as doth the Queenes Maiestie her selfe.
Yea, I beleue, that beside her perfit readi-
nes, in Latin., Italian^ French., and Spanish.,
she readeth here now at Windsore more
Greeke euery day, than some Prebendarie
of this Chirch doth read Latin in a whole
weeke. And that which is most praise
worthie of all, within the walles of her
priuie chamber, she hath obteyned that
excellencie of learnyng, to vnderstand,
speake, and write, both wittely with head.

140 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

and faire with hand, as scarce one or two
rare wittes in both the Vniuersities haue
in many yeares reached vnto. Amongest
all the benefites yat God hath blessed me
with all, next the knowledge of Christes
true Religion, I counte this the greatest,
that it pleased God to call me, to be one
poore minister in settyng forward these
excellent giftes of learnyng in this most
excellent Prince. Whose onely example,
if the rest of our nobilitie would folow,
than might England be, for j^^ Examples
learnyng and wisedome in nobil- ^^"® ^^^^

force, then

itie, a spectacle to all the world good exam-
beside. But see the mishap of ^^^^'
men : The best examples haue neuer such
forse to moue to any goodnes, as the bad,
vaine, light and fond, haue to all ilnes.

And one example, though out of the
compas of learning, yet not out of the
order of good maners, was notable in this
Courte, not fullie xxiiij. yeares a go, when
all the actes of Parlament, many good Pro-
clamations, diuerse strait commaunde-
mentes, sore punishment openlie, speciall
regarde priuatelie, cold not do so moch to

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 141

take away one misorder, as the example of
one big one of this Courte did, still to kepe
vp the same : The memorie whereof, doth
yet remaine, in a common prouerbe of
Birching lane.

Take hede therfore, ye great ones in ye
Court, yea though ye be ye Great men in
greatest of all, take hede, what c^"'"*' ^^

*=• their exarn-

ye do, take hede how ye liue. pie, make or

T-, , , , marre, all

For as you great ones vse to do, other mens
so all meane men loue to do. "^^"^'"s-
You be in deed, makers or marrers, of all
mens maners within the Realme. For
though God hath placed yow, to be cheife
in making lawes, to beare greatest author-
itie, to commaund all others : yet God doth
order, that all your lawes, all your author-
itie, all your commaundementes, do not
halfe so moch with meane men, as doth
your example and maner of liu- Example in
inge. And for example euen in Religion,
the greatest matter, if yow your selues do
serue God gladlie and orderlie for con-
science sake, not coldlie, and somtj-me for
maner sake, you carie all the Courte with
yow, and the whole Realme beside, earnest-

142 THE FIRST DO ORE TEACHYNG

lie and orclerlie to do the same. If yow
do otherwise, yow be the onelie authors, of
all misorders in Religion, not onelie to the
Courte, but to all England beside. Infi-
nite shall be made cold in Religion by your
example, that neuer were hurt by reading
of bookes.

And in meaner matters, if three or foure
great ones in Courte, will nedes outrage
Example in i^ apparell, in huge hose, in
appareii. monst[e]rous hattes, in gaurishe
colers, let the Prince Proclame, make
Lawes, order, punishe, commaunde euerie
gate in London dailie to be watched, let
all good men beside do euerie where what
they can, surelie the misorder of apparell
in mean men abrode, shall neuer be
amended, except the greatest in Courte
will order and mend them selues first. I
know som greate and good ones in Courte,
were authors, that honest Citizens in Lon-
don, shoulde watche at euerie gate, to take
misordered persones in apparell. I know,
that honest Londoners did so : And I sawc,
which I sawe than, and reports now with
some greife, that som Courtlie men were

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 143

offended with these good men of London.
And that, which greued me most of all, I
sawe the verie same tyme, for all theis good
orders, commaunded from tte Courte and
executed in London, I sawe I say, cum out
of London, euen vnto the pres- Masters,
ence of the Prince, a great rable J.toTe^^"'^
of meane and light persons, in offense.
apparell, for matter, against lawe, for mak-
ing, against order, for facion, namelie hose,
so without all order, as he thought him-
selfe most braue, that durst do most in
breaking order and was most monsterous
in misorder. And for all the great com-
maundementes, that came out of the
Courte, 3'et this bold misorder, was winked
at, and borne withall, in the Courte. I
thought, it was not well, that som great
ones of the Court, durst declare them-
selues offended, with good men of London,
for doinge their dewtie, and the good ones
of the Courte, would not shew themselues
offended, with the ill men of London, for
breaking good order. I fownde thereby a
sayinge of Socrates to be most trewe that
ill men be more hastie, than good men be

144 THE FIRST BOOKS TEACHYNG

forwarde, to prosecute their purposes, euen
as Christ himselfe saith, of the Children of
light and darknes.

Beside apparell, in all other thinges to,
not so moch, good lawes and strait com-
maundementes as the example and maner
of liuing of great men, doth carie all meane
men euerie where, to like, and loue, and
do, as they do. For if but two or three
noble men in the Court, wold but beginne
Example in to shoote, all joug leutlemeu,
shootyng. ^i^g ^j^oi3 Court, all Loudou,

the whole Realme, would straight waie
exercise shooting.

What praise shold they wynne to them-
selues, what commoditie shold they bring
to their contrey, that wold thus deserue to
be pointed at : Beholde, there goeth, the
author of good order, the guide of good
men. I cold say more, and yet not ouer-
moch. But perchance, som will say, I
haue stepte to farre, out of my schole, into
,„ ,,^ ^ the common welthe, from teach-

Written not '

for great ing a youg scliolcr, to monishe

men, but for

great mens greatc and noble men : yet 1 trust

children. ^^^^ ^^^^ ^-^^ ^^^^ ^j|| tllUlkc

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 145

and iudge of me, that my minde was, not so
mocli, to be busie and bold with them, that
be great now, as to giue trewe aduise to
them, that may be great hereafter. Who, if
they do, as I wishe them to do, how great so
euer they be now, by blood and other mens
meanes, they shall becum a greate deale
greater hereafter, by learninge, vertue, and
their owne desertes : which is trewe praise,
right worthines, and verie Nobilitie in
deede. Yet, if som will needes presse me,
that I am to bold with great men, and
stray to farre from my matter, I will
answere them with aS'. Paul, sine Ad pwiip.
per contentionem, sine quocunque modo, modo
Christus proedicetnr, etc. euen so, whether
in place, or out of place, with my matter,
or beside my matter, if I can hereby either
prouoke the good, or staye the ill, I shall
thinke my writing herein well imployed.

But, to cum downe, from greate men, and
hier matters, to my litle children, and
poore schoolehouse againe, I will, God
willing, go forwarde orderlie, as I purposed,
to instructe Children and yong men, both
for learninge and maners.

146 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

Hitherto, I liaue shewed, what harme,
ouermoch feare bringeth to children : and
what hurte, ill companie, and ouermoch
libertie breedeth in yougthe : meening
thereby, that from seauen yeare olde, to
seauentehe, lone is the best allurement to
learninge : from seauentene to seauen and
twentie, that wise men shold carefuUie see
the steppes of yougthe surelie staide by
good order, in that most slipperie tyme :
and speciallie in the Courte, a place most
dangerous for yougthe to liue in, without
great grace, good regarde, and diligent
looking to.

Syr Richard Sackuile, that worthie len-
tleman of worthy memorie, as I sayd in the
begynn3'nge, in the Queenes priuie Cham-
Traueiiing ^^^r at Wiudcsorc, after he had
intoitaiie. talked with me, for the right
choice of a good witte in a child for learn-
yng, and of the trewe difference betwixt
qui eke and hard wittes, of alluring yong
children by ientlenes to loue learnyng, and
of the speciall care that was to be had, to
keepe yong men from licencious liuyng, he
was most earnest with me, to haue me say

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 147

my mynde also, what I thought, concern-
yiig the faiisie that many yong lentlemen
of England haue to trauell abroad, and
namelie to lead a long lyfe in Italie. His
request, both for his authoritie, and good
will toward me, was a sufficient com-
maundement vnto me, to satisfie his pleas-
ure, with vtteryng plainlie my opinion in
that matter. Syr quoth I, I take goyng
thither, and lining there, for a ybnge ientle-
man, that doth not goe vnder the ke[e]pe
and garde of such a man, as both, by wise-
dome can, and authoritie dare rewle him,
to be meruelous dangerous. And whie I
said so than, I will declare at large now;
which I said than priuatelie, and write now
openlie, not bicause I do contemne, either
the knowledge of strange and diuerse
tonges, and namelie the Italian The Italian
tonge, which next the Greeke *°"^*
and Latin tonge, I like and loue aboue all
other: or else bicause I do despise, the
learning that is gotten, or the experience
that is gathered in strange contries : or for
any priuate malice that beare to Italie :
which contrie, and in it, namelie itaiia

148 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

Roma. Kome, I haue alwayes speciallie

honored : bicause, tyme was, whan Italie
and Rome, haue bene, to the greate good
of vs that now line, the best breeders and
bringers vp, of the worthiest men, not
onelie for wise speakinge, but also for well
doing, in all Ciuill affaires, that euer was
in the worlde. But now, that the tyme is
gone, and though the place remayne, yet
the olde and present maners, do differ as
farre, as blacke and white, as vertue and
vice. Yertue once made that contrie Mis-
tres ouer all the worlde. Vice now maketh
that contrie slaue to them, that before,
were glad to serue it. All man seeth it :
They themselues confesse it, namelie soch,
as be best and wisest amongest them. For
sinne, by lust and vanitie, hath and doth
breed vp euery where, common contempt
of Gods word, priuate contention in many
families, open factions in euery Citie : and
so, makyng them selues bonde, to vanitie
and vice at home, they are content to
beare the yoke of seruyng straungers
abroad. Italie now, is not that Italie^ that
it was wont to be : and therfore now, not

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 149

SO fitte a place, as some do counte it, for
yong men to fetch either Avisedome or hon-
estie from thence. For surelie, they will
make other but bad Scholers, that be so
ill Masters to them selues. Yet, if a ientle-
man will nedes trauell into Italie^ he shall
do well, to looke on the life, of the wisest
traueller, that euer traueled thether, set
out by the wisest writer, that euer spake
with tong, Gods doctrine onelie excepted :
and that is Vlysses in Homere. viysses.

Vlysses, and his trauell, I wishe i^omere.
our trauelers to looke vpon, not so much
to feare them, with the great daungers,
that he many tymes suffered, as to instruct
them, with his excellent wisedome, which
he alwayes and euerywhere vsed. Yea
euen those, that be learned and wittie
trauelers, when they be disposed to prayse
traueling, as a great commendacion, and
the best Scripture they haue for it, they
gladlie recite the third verse of ITomere, in
in his first booke of Odyssea, conteinyng a
great prayse of Vlysses, for the bdvg, a.

witte he gathered, and wisedome he vsed
in trauelling.

160 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

Which verse, bicause, in mine opinion,
it was not made at the first, more natural-
lie in Grehe by Homere^ nor after turned
more ap telle into Latin by Horace^ than it
was a good while ago, in Cambridge, trans-
lated into English, both plainlie for the
sense, and roundlie for the verse, by one of
the best Scholers, that euer S. lohns Col-
ledge bred, M. Watson^ myne old frend,
somtime Bishop of Lincolne, therefore, for
their sake, that haue lust to see, how our
English tong, in avoidyng barbarous rym-
ing, may as well receiue, right quantitie of
sillables, and trewe order of versifying (of
which matter more at large hereafter) as
either Greke or Latin, if a cunning man
haue it in [the] handling, I will set forth
that one verse in all tliree tonges, for an
Example to good wittes, that shall delite
in like learned exercise.

J)omcrtt«.

TToXhjv 6' dvOpoTTuv Uhv uarea koI voov iyvu,

|)orattu0»

Qui mores hominum multorum vidit et vrbes.

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 151

pi. OTlatfion.

All trauellers do qladly report great prayse of Vlysses,
For that he knew many mens maners, and saw many Cities.

And yet is not Vlysses commended, so
moch, nor so oft, in Homere^ bicause he

Vlysa

KoXvTpOWOC

K0?.VIi1JTlC

was TTolvrponog, that is, skil-
full in many mens man-
ners and facions, as bicause
he was TroXvfcrjng, that is, wise
in all purposes, and war[y]e in all places:
which wisedome and warenes will not
serue neither a traueler, except Paiias from
Pallas be alwayes at his elbow, ^^^^^u.
that is Gods speciall grace from heauen, to
kepe him in Gods feare, in all his dojmges,
in all his ieorneye. For, he shall not
alwayes in his absence out of England,
light vpon the ieu tie Alcynous, Aicyrums. 66. 2.
and walke in his faire gar-
dens full of all harmelesse
pleasures : but he shall some-
tymes, fall, either into the
handes of some cruell Cyclops^ Cycioys. 66. i.
or into the lappe of some
wanton and dalying Dame

152 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

Sirenes.

Scylla.

Caribdis

Circes.

■ 66. fi.

66. K.

Calypso. 66. e. Calypso : and so suffer tlie
danger of many a deadlie
Denne, not so full of perils,
to distroy the body, as, full
of vayne pleasures, to poyson
the mynde. Some Siren shall
sing him a song, sweete in
tune, but sownding in the
ende, to his vtter destruction.
If Scylla drowne him not,
Caryhdis may fortune swal-
ow hym. Some Circes shall
make him, of a plain e English man, a right
Italian. And at length to hell, or to some
hellish place, is he likelie to go : from
whence is hard returning, although one
66.?,. Vlysses^ and that by Pallas

ayde, and good counsell of Tirefias once
escaped that horrible Den of deadly darke-
nes.

Therfore, if wise men will nodes send
their sonnes into Italic, let them do it wise-
lie, vnder the kepe and garde of him, who,
by his wisedome and honestie, by his exam-
ple and authoritie, may be hable to kepe
them safe and sound, in the feare of God,

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 153

in Christes trewe Religion, in good order
and lionestie of liuyng : except they will
haue them run headling [headlong], into
ouermany ieoperdies, as Vlysses had done
many tymes, if Pallas had not alwayes
gouerned him : if he had not vsed, to stop
his eares with waxe : to bind b6. ^i.

him selfe to the mast of his ^^- '^■

shyp : to feede dayly, vpon that swete
herbe Moly with the bla[c]ke MoiyHerba.
roots and white floore, giuen vnto hym by
Mercurie, to auoide all enchantmentes of
Circes. Wherby, the Diuine Poete Homer
ment couertlie (as wise and Godlymen do
iudge) that loue of honestie, and hatred of
ill, which Dauid more plainly Psai.ss.
doth call the feare of God : the onely
remedie agaynst all inchantementes of
sinne.

I know diuerse noble personages, and
manie worthie lentlemen of England,
whom all the Siren songes of Italie, could
neuer vntwyne from the maste of Gods
word : nor no inchantment of vanitie, ouer-
turne them, from the feare of God, and
loue of honestie.

154 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

But I know as many, or mo, and some,
sometyme my deare frendes, for whose
sake I hate going into that countrey the
more, who, partyng out of England feruent
in the loue of Christes doctrine, and well
furnished with the feare of God, returned
out of Italie worse transformed, than euer
were any of Circes Court. I know diuerse,
that went out of England, men of innocent
life, men of excellent learnyng, who re-
turned out of Italie^ not onely with worse
manners, but also with lesse learnyng:
neither so willing to Hue orderly, nor yet
so liable to speake learnedlie, as they were
at home, before they went abroad. And
why? Plato, yat wise writer, and worthy
traueler him selfe, telleth the cause why.
He went into Sicilia, a countrey, no nigher
Italy by site of place, than Italic that is
now, is like Bicilia that was then, in all
corrupt maners and licenciousnes of life.
Plato found in Slcilia^ euery Citie full of
vanitie, full of facions, euen as Italie is
now. And as Ilomere, like a learned Poete,
doth feyne, that Circes, by pleasant inchant-
mentes, did turne men into beastes, some

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 155

into Swine, som in Asses, some into Foxes,
some into Wolues etc. euen so,

Plat, ad

Plato, like a wise Philosopher, Dionys.
doth plainelie declare, that pleas- ^

ure, by licentious vanitie, that sweet and
perilous poyson of youth, doth ingender in
all those that yeld vp themselues to her,
foure notorious proporties.

1. ?[,7ldT]V

2. dvafxafftav

3. a(j)poavv7jv

4. v(3piv.

The fruits of
vayne pleas-
ure.

The first, forgetfulnes of all good thinges
learned before : the second, dul-

Causes why

nes to receyue either learnyng menretume
or honestieeuer after: the third, ^^^f learned
a mynde embracing lightlie the ^^^ ^^'■s®

manered.

worse opinion, and baren of dis-
cretion to make trewe difference betwixt
good and ill, betwixt troth and vanitie, the
fourth, a proude disdainfulnes of other
good men, in all honest matters. Homer and
Homere and Plato, haue both one ^^T '''^''^^

' ana ex-

meanyng, looke both to one end. pounded.
For, if a man inglutte himself with vanitie,
or waiter in filthines like a S wyne, a swyne.

156 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

all learnyng, all goodnes, is sone forgotten :
Than quicklie shall he becuni a dull Asse,
An Asse. to vnderstand either learnyng or
honestie: and yet shall he be as sutle as a
AFoxe. Foxe, in breedyng of mischief,

in bringyng in misorder, with a busie head,
a discoursing tong, and a factious harte, in
euery priuate affaire, in all matters of state,
with this pretie propertie, alwayes glad to
MpoavvT] commend the worse partie, and
Quid.etvnde. ^ucr ready to defend the falser
opinion. And why? For, where will is
giuen from goodnes to vanitie, the mynde
is sone caryed from right iudgement to any
fond opinion, in Religion, in Philosophic,
or any other kynde of learning. The
i)/9jOtf. fourth fruite of vaine pleasure,

by Homer and Platos iudgement, is pride
in them selues, contempt of others, the
very badge of all those that serue in Circes
Court. The true meenyng of both Homer
and Plato^ is plainlie declared in one short
sentence of the holy Prophet of God
Hieremas Hieremle, crying out of the
4. Cap. vaine and vicious life of the

Israelites, This people (sayth he) be fooles

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 157

and dulhedes to all goodiies, but sotle,
cunning and bolde, in any mischief e. etc.

The true medecine against the inchant-
mentes of Circes^ the vanitie of licencious
pleasure, the inticeraentes of all sinne, is,
in Ilomere^ the herbe Mohj^ with the blacke
roote, and white flooer, sower at the first;
but sweete in the end : which, Hesiodus
termeth the study of vertue, nesiodusde
hard and irksome in the begin- ^'"^^^^^^e-
nyng, but in the end, easie and pleasant.
And that, which is most to be marueled at,
the diuine Poete Homere sayth Homerusdi-
plainlie that this medicine "^""^I'oeta.
against sinne and -vanitie is not found out
by man, but giuen and taught by God. And
for some [ones] sake, that will haue delite
to read that sweete and Godlie Verse, I
will recite the very wordes of Homere and
also turne them into rude English metre.

j^a/leTTov dh r' opvaaeiv
av6pdoi ye OvrjTolai, Oeol 6i iravra dvvavTi.

In English thus.

No mortall man, with sweat of hrowe, or toile of minde.
But onely God, who can do all, that herbe dothfinde.

158 THE FIRST BO ORE TEACHYNG

Plato also, that diuiiie Philosopher, hath
many Godly medicines agaynst the poyson
of vayne pleasure, in many places, but
specially in his Epistles to Dionisius the
Plat. ad. Dio. tyrant of Sicilie : yet agaynst
those, that will nedes becum beastes, with
seruyng of Circes^ the Prophet Dauid,
Psai. 32. crieth most loude, Nolite fieri
sicut eques et mulus : and by and by giueth
the right medicine, the trewe herbe Moly,
In camo etfreno maxillas eorum constringe^
that is to say, let Gods grace be the bitte,
let Gods feare be the bridle, to stay them
from runnyng headlong into vice, and to
turne them into the right way agayne.
Psai.zz. Dauid in the second Psalme
after, giueth the same medicine, but in
these plainer wordes, Dluerte a malo et
fac honum. But I am affraide, that ouer
many of our trauelers into Italie^ do not
exchewe the way to Olrces Court: but
go, and ryde, and runne, and Hie thether,
they make great hast to cum to her :
they make great sute to serue her: yea,
I could point out some with my finger,
that ueuer had gone out of England, but

THE DRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 159

onelie to serue Circes, in Italie. Vanitie
and vice, and any licence to ill liuyng
in England was counted stale and rude
vnto them. And so, beyng Mules and
Horses before they went, returned verie
Swyne and Asses home agayne : yet euerie
where verie Foxes with as suttle and
busie heades ; and where they may, verie
Woolues, with cruell malici- AtrewePic-
ous hartes. A maruelous mon- I'^'i^^f* ^.

knight of Cir-

ster, which, for filthines of liu- ces court,
yng, for dulnes to learning him selfe, for
wilinesse in dealing with others, for malice
in hurting without cause, should carie at
once in one bodie, the belie of a Swyne,
the head of an Asse, the brayne of a Foxe,
the wombe of a wolfe. If you thinke, we
indge amisse, and write to sore against
you, heare, what the Italian The Italians
sayth of the English Man, what iudgement of

•^ ° Englishmen

the master reporteth of the brought vp
scholer : who vttereth playnlie, ^^ ^**^^^'
what is taught by him, and what learned
by you, saying, Englese Italianato, e vn
diaholo incarnato, that is to say, you re-
maine men in shape and facion, but becum

160 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

deuils in life and condition. This is not,
the opinion of one, for some priuate spite,
but the iudgement of all, in a common
Prouerbe, which riseth, of that learnyng,
and those maners, which you gather in

The Italian I^<^^^^ ' ^ gOod ScholchoUSC of

ditfanieth wholcsomc doctiinc, and wortln^

them selfe, to •

shame the Mastcrs of Commendable Schol-
Engiisheman. ^^^^ ^.^^^^^ ^^^ Mastcr had rather

diffame hym selfe for hys teachyng, than
not shame his Scholer for his learnyng. A
good nature of the maister, and faire con-
ditions of the scholers. And now chose
you, you Italian Englishe men, whether
you will be angrie with vs, for calling you
monsters, or with the Italianes, for callyng
you deuils, or else with your owns selues,
that take so moch paines, and go so farre,
to make your selues both. If some yet do
not well vnderstand, what is an English
man Italianated, I will plainlie tell him.
He, that by liuyng, and traueliiig in Italie^
bringeth home into Enorland out

An English ° ^ ^ ^ ^

man of Italie, the Religion, the learn-

Italianated. . .., t • .i

mg, the policie, the experience,
the maners of Italie. That is to say, for

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 161

gotten

in
Italic.

Religion, Papistrie or
worse : for learnyng,
lesse commonly than
they caried out with
them : for pollicie, a
factious hart, a dis-
coursing head, a
mynde to medle in
all mens matters : for
experience, plentie
of new mischieues
n e u e r knowne in
England before : for
maners, varietie of
vanities, and chaunge of filthy lyuing.
These be the inchantementes of Circes,
brought out of Italic^ to marre mens man-
ers in England; much, by example of
ill life, but more by preceptes of fonde
bookes, of late translated out of , ,. ^ ,

Itaiian bokes

Italian into English, sold in translated

, • T 1 i'^to English.

euery shop in London, com-
mended by honest titles the so[o]ner to
corrupt honest maners : dedicated ouer
boldlie to vertuous and honorable person-
ages, the easielier to beg[u]ile simple and

1. Religion.

2. Learn-

ing.

3. Pollicie.

The

4. Experi-

ence.

5. Maners.

162 TJIE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

innocent wittes. It is pitie, that those,
which haue authoritie and charge
to allow and dissalow bookes to
be printed, be no more circumspect herein,
than they are. Ten Sermons at Paules
Crosse do not so moch good for mouyng
men to trewe doctrine, as one of those
bookes do harme, with inticing men to ill
lining. Yea, I say farder, those bookes,
tend not so moch to corrupt honest lining,
as they do, to subuert trewe Religion. Mo
Papistes be made, by your mer[r]y bookes
of Italie, than by your earnest bookes of
Louain. And bicause our great Phisicians,
do winke at the matter, and make no counte
of this sore, I, though not admitted one of
their felowshyp, yet hauyng bene many
yeares a prentice to Gods trewe Religion,
and trust to continewe a poore iorney
man therein all dayes of my life, for the
devvtie I owe, and loue I beare, both to
trewe doctrine, and honest lining, though
I haue no authoritie to amend the sore my
selfe, yet I will declare my good will, to
discouer the sore to others.
Ad Gal. a. S. Paul saith, that sectes and

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 163

ill opinions, be the workes of the flesh, and
frutes of sinne, this is spoken, no more
trewlie for the doctrine, than sensiblie for
the reason. And why? For, ill doinges,
breed ill thinkinges. And of corrupted
maners, spryng peruerted iudgementes.
And how? there be in man two speciall
thinges : Mans will, voluntas ^ r Bonum.

mans mynde.
Where will inclin-
eth to goodnes, the
mynde is bent to

Mens

Respicit -

Verum,

troth: Where will is
caried from goodnes to vanitie, the mynde
is sone drawne from troth to false opinion.
And so, the readiest way to entangle the
mynde with false doctrine, is first to intice
the will to wanton liuyng. Therfore, when
the busie and open Papistes abroad, could
not, by their contentious bookes, turne
men in England fast enough, from troth
and right iudgement in doctrine, than the
sutle and secrete Papistes at
home, procured bawdie bookes
to be translated out of the Italian tonge,
whereby ouer many yong willes and wittes
allured to wantonnes, do now boldly con-

164 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

temne all seuere bookes that sounde to
honestie and godlines. In our forefathers
tyme, whan Papistrie, as a standyng poole,
couered and ouerflowed all England, fewe
bookes were read in our tong, sauyng cer-
taine bookes Cheualrie, as they sayd, for
pastime and pleasure, which, as some say,
were made in Monasteries, by idle Monkes,
or wanton Chanons : as one for example,
Morte Arthur. Movte Arthur c : the whole pleas-
ure of which booke standeth in two spe-
ciall poyntes, in open mans slaughter, and
bold bawdrye: In which booke those be
counted the noblest Knightes, that do kill
most men without any quarrell, and com-
mit fowlest aduoulter[i]es by sutlest
shiftes : as Sir Launcelote^ with the wife of
king Arthure his master: Syr Tristram
with the wife of king Marke his vncle:
Syr Lamerocke with the wife of king Lote^
that was his own aunte. This
is good stuffe, for wise men to
laughe at, or honest men to take pleasure
at. Yet I know, when Gods Bible was
banished the Court, and Morte Arthure
receiued into the Princes chamber. What

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 165

toyes, the dayly readyng of such a booke,
may worke in the will of a yong ientlemaii,
or a yong mayde, that liueth welthelie and
idlelie, wise men can iudge, and honest
men do pitie. And yet ten Morte Arthures
do not the tenth part so much harme, as
one of these bookes, made in Italie, and
translated in England. They
open, not fond and common
wayes to vice, but such subtle, cunnyng,
new, and diuerse shiftes, to cary yong
willes to vanitie, and yong wittes to mis-
chief, to teach old bawdes new schole
poyntes, as the simple head of an English-
man is not liable to inuent, nor neuer was
hard of in England before, yea when Pap-
istrie ouerflowed all. Suffer these bookes
to be read, and they shall soone displace
all bookes of godly learnyng. For they,
carying the will to vanitie and marryng
good maners, shall easily corrupt
the mynde with ill opinions, and
false iudgement in doctrine : first, to thinke
nothyng of God hym selfe, one speciall
pointe that is to be learned in
Italie, and Italian bookes. And

166 THE FIRST BOOKS TEACHYNG

that which is most to be lamented, and ther-
fore more nedefull to be looked to, there
be moe of these vngratious bookes set out
in Printe within these fewe monethes, than
haue bene sene in England many score
yeare[s] before. And bicause our English
men made Italians can not hurt, but cer-
taine persons, and in certaine places, ther-
fore these Italian bookes are made English,
to bryng mischief enough openly and
boldly, to all states great and meane, yong
and old, euery where.

And thus yow see, how will intised to
wantonnes, doth easelie allure the mynde
to false opinions : and how corrupt maners
in liuinge, breede false iudgement in doc-
trine : how sinne and fleshlines, bring forth
sectes and heresies: And therefore suffer
not vaine bookes to breede vanitie in mens
willes, if yow would haue Goddes trothe
take roote in mens myndes.

That Italian, that first inuented the Ital-
ian Prouerbe against our Knolislie men
ItalianatcMl, nient no more llicii- vanitie in
lining, than their lewd opinion in Religion.
For, in calling them Deuiles, he carieth

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 167
them clearie from God : and yet

•^ The Italian

he carieth them no farder, than prouerbe
they willinglie go themselues, ®*p^"^
that is, where they may freely say their
mindes, to the open contempte of God and
all godlines, both in lining and doctrine.

And how ? I will expresse how, not by
a Fable of Homere^ nor by the Philosophic
of Plato^ but by a plain e troth of Goddes
word, sensiblie vttered by Dauid thus.
Thies men, ahJwminahiles facti in studijs
suis^ thinkc verily, and singe gladlie the
verse before. Dixit insipiens in Corde suo,
non est Deus : that is to say, Psa. u.

they geuing themselues vp to vanitie, shak-
inge of the motions of Grace, driuing from
them the feare of God, and running head-
long into all sinne, first, lustelie contemne
God, than scorn efullie mo eke his worde,
and also spitefullie hate and hurte all well
willers thereof. Than they haue in more
reuerence, the triumphes of Petrarche :
than the Genesis of Moses : They make
more account of Tullies offices, than S.
Paules epistles : of a tale in Bocace^ than
a storie of the Bible. Than they counte

168 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACH YNG

as Fables, the holie misteries of Christian

Religion. They make Christ and his Gos-

pell, onelie serue Ciuill pollicie : Than ney-

ther Religion cummeth amisse to them:

In tyme they be Promoters of both openlie :

in place againe mockers of both priuilie,

as I wrote oncein a rude ryme.

Now new, now olde, now both, now neither,

To serue the worldes course, they care not with whether.

For where they dare, in cumpanie where
they like, they boldlie laughe to scorne
both protestant and Papist. They care for
no scripture : they make no counte of gen-
erall councels : they contemne the consent
of the Chirch : They passe for no Doctores :
They mocke the Pope : The}^ raile on
Luther: They allow neyther side: They
like none, but onelie themselues: The
marke they shote at, the ende they looke
for, the heauen they desire, is onelie, their
owne present pleasure, and priuate proffit :
whereby, they plainlie declare, of whose
schole, of what Religion they be : that is,
Epicures in liuiiig, and uBcol in doctrine:
this last worde, is no more vnknowne now
to plaine Englishe men, than the l*erson

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 169

was vnknown somtyme in England, vntill
som [e] Englishe man tooke peines to fetch
that (leuelish opinion out of Italie. Thies
men, thus Italianated abroad, can not
abide our Godlie Italian Chirch ^, ^^ ,.

The Italian

at home: they be not of that chirchein
Parish, they be not of that fel-
owshyp : they like not yat preacher ; they
heare not his sermons : Excepte sometymes
for companie, they cum thither, to heare
the Italian tongue naturally spoken, not to
hear Gods doctrine trewly preached.

And yet, thies men, in matters of Diuin-
itie, openlie pretend a great knowledge,
and haue priuately to them seines, a verie
compendious vnderstanding of all, which
neuertheles they will vtter when and where
they liste : And that is this : All the mis-
teries of Moses^ the whole lawe and Ceri-
monies, the Psalmes and Prophetes, Christ
and his Gospell, GOD and the Deuill,
Heauen and Hell, Faith, Conscience, Sinne,
Death, and all they shortlie wrap vp, they
quickly expounde with this one halfe verse
of Horace,

Credat ludceus Appella.

170 THE FIRST BO ORE TEACHYNG

Yet though in Italie they may freely be
of no Eeligion, as they are in Englande in
verie deede to, neuerthelesse returning
home into England they must countenance
the profession of the one or the other,
howsoeuer inwardlie, they laugh to scorne
both. And though, for their priuate mat-
ters they can follow, fawne, and flatter
noble Personages, contrarie to them in all
Papistrie and Tcspectes, yet commoulie they

impietie agree ^^^-^ themSeluCS with the WOrst
in three

opinions. Papistcs, to whoui they be wed-
ded, and do well agree togither in three
proper opinions : In open contempte of
Goddes worde : in a secret securitie of
sinne : and in a bloodie desire to liaue all
taken awa}^, by sword and burning, that be
not of their faction. They that do read,
Pigius. with indifferent iudgement, P^*

Machiaueius. gius and MacMauel^ two indif-
ferent Patriarches of thies two Religions,
do know full well what I say trewe.

Ye see, what manners and doctrine, our
Englishe men fetch out of Italie: For find-
ing no other there, they can bring no other
hither. And therefore, manie godlie and

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 171
excellent learned Enelishe men, _

° Wise and

not manie yeares ago, did make honest

... , . , trauelers.

a better choice, whan open cru-
eltie draue them out of this contrie, to
place them seines there, where Christes doc-
trine, the feare of God, punish- Germanic.
ment of sinne, and discipline of honestie,
were had in speciall regarde.

I was once in Italic my selfe : Venice.

but I thanke God, my abode there, was but
ix. daj^es: And yet I sawe in that lit[t]le
tyme, in one Citie, more libertie to sinne,
than euer I h[e]ard tell of in our noble
Citie of London in ix. yeare. I London.

sawe, it was there, as free to sinne, not
onelie without all punishment, but also
without any mans marking, as it is free in
the Citie of London, to chose, without all
blame, whether a man lust to weare Shoo
or Pantocle. And good cause why: For
being vnlike in troth of Religion, they
must nedes be vnlike in honestie of lining.
For blessed be Christ, in our Citie of Lon-
don, commonlie the commande-

Seruice of

mentes of God, be more diligent- God in
lie taught, and the seruice of "^^° '

172 THE FIRST BO ORE TEACHYNG

God more reuerentlie vsed, and that daylie
in many priuate mens houses, than they be
seruiceof i^^ Italie once a weeke in their
God in itaiie. common Chirches I where, mask-
ing Ceremonies, to delite the eye, and
vaine soundes, to please the eare, do quite
thrust out of the Chirches, all seruice of
God in spirit and troth. Yea, the Lord
Maior of London, beino- but a

The Lord ' ° ^

Maior of CiuiU officer, is commonlie for

London. i • . -t'T- , •

his tyme, more, diligent, in pun-
ishing sinne, the bent enemie against God
and good order, than all the bloodie Inquis-
Theinquisi- itoi'S in Italie be in seauen yeare.
torsinitaiie. YoY, their care and charge is,
not to punisli sinne, not to amend man-
ners, not purge doctrine, but onelie to
watch and ouersee that Christes trewe
Religion set no sure footing, where the
Pope hath any Jurisdiction. I learned,
when I was at Venice^ that there it is
Anvngodiie couutcd good pollicic, wlion
poiiicie. there be foure or fiue brethren
of one familie, one, onelie to marie : and
all the rest, to waulter, with as litle shame,
in open lecherie, as Swyne do here in the

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 173

common myre. Yea, there be as fayre
houses of Religion, as great prouision, as
diligent officers, to kepe vp this misorder,
as Bridewell is, and all the Masters there,
to kepe downe misorder. And therefore,
if the Pope himselfe, do not onelie graunt
pardons to furder thies wicked purposes
abrode in Italic, but also (although this
present Pope, in the beginning, made som
shewe of misliking thereof) assigne both
meede and merite to the maintenance of
stewes and brothelhouses at home in Rome,
than let wise men thinke Italic a safe place
for holsom doctrine, and godlie manners,
and a fitte schole for yong ientlemen of
England to be brought vp in.

Our Italians bring home with them other
faultes from Italic, though not so great as
this of Religion, yet a great deale greater,
than many good men well beare. For com-
monlie they cum home, common contempt of
contemners of mariage and manage,
readie persuaders of all other to the same :
not because they loue virginitie, nor yet
because they hate prettie yong virgines,
but, being free in Italic, to go whither so

174 THE FIRST BO ORE TEACIIYNG

euer lust will cary them, they do not like,
that lawe and honestie should be soch a
barre to their like libertie at home in Eng-
land. And yet they be, the greatest mak-
ers of loue, the daylie daliers, with such
pleasant wordes, with such smilyng and
secret countenances, with such signes, to-
kens, wagers, purposed to be lost, before
they were purposed to be made, with bar-
gaines of wearing colours, floures, and
herbes, to breede occasion of ofter meeting
of him and her, and bolder talking of this
and that, etc. And although I haue scene
some, innocent of ill, and stayde in all hon-
estie, that haue vsed these thinges without
all harme, without all suspicion of harme,
yet these knackes were brought first into
England by them, that learned them before
in Italie in Circes Court : and how Court-
lie curtesses so euer they be counted now,
yet, if the meaning and maners of some
that do vse them, were somewhat amended,
it were no great hurt, neither to them
selues, nor to others.

An other propertie of this our English
Italians is, to be meruelous singular in all

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 175

their matters : Singular in knowledge, igno-
rant of notlijng: So singular in wisedome
(in their owne opinion) as scarse they
oounte the best Counsellor the Prince
hath, comparable with them: Common
discoursers of all matters : busie searchers
of most secret affaires : open flatterers of
great men : priuie mislikers of good men :
Faire speakers, with smiling countenances,
and much curtessie openlie to all men.
Ready ba[c]kbiters, sore nippers, and
spitefull reporters priuilie of good men.
And beyng brought vp in Italie, in some
free Citie, as all Cities be there : where a
man may freelie discourse against what he
will, against whom he lust; against any
Prince, agaynst any gouernement, yea
against God him selfe, and his whole Reli-
gion ; where he must be, either Guelphe or
Gihillne^ either French or Spanish : and
alwayes compelled to be of some partie, of
some faction, he shall neuer be compelled
to be of any Religion: And if he medle
not ouer much with Christes true Religion,
he shall haue free libertie to embrace all
Religions, and becum, if he lust at once,

176 THE FIRST BOOKE TEACHYNG

without any let or punishment, Jewish,
Turkish, Papish, or Deuillish.

A yong lentleman, thus bred vp in this
goodly schole, to learne the next and
readie way to sinne, to haue a busie head,
a factious hart, a talkatiue tonge, fed with
discoursing of factions: led to contemne
God and his Religion, shall cum home into
England, but verie ill taught, either to be
an honest man him self, a quiet subiect to
his Prince, or willyng to serue God, vnder
the obedience of trewe doctrine, or with in
the order of honest liuing.

I know, none will be offended with this
my generall writing, but onelie such, as
iinde them selues giltie priuatelie therin:
who shall haue a good leaue to be offended
with me, vntill they begin to amende them
selues. I touch not them that be good:
and I- say to litle of them that be nought.
And so, though not enough for their deseru-
ing, yet sufficientlie for this time, and more
els when, if occasion so require.

And thus farre haue I wandred from my
first purpose of teacliing a child, yet not
altogether out of the way, bicause tliis

THE BRYNGING VP OF YOUTH. 177

whole taulke hath tended to the onelie
aduancement of trothe in Religion, an hon-
estie of lining : and hath bene wholie within
the compasse of learning and good maners^
the speciall pointes belonging in the right
bringing vp of youth.

But to my matter, as I began, plainlie
and simplie with my yong Scholer, so will
I not leaue him, God willing, vntill I haue
brought him a perfite Scholer out of the
Schole, and placed him in the Vniuersitie,
to becum a fitte student, for Logicke and
Rhetoricke : and so after to Phisicke, Law,
or Diuinitie, as aptnes of nature, aduise of
frendes, and Gods disposition shall lead
him.

THE ENDE OF THE FIRST BOOKE.

The Second Booke.

After that your scholer, as I sayd
before, shall cum in deede, first, to a readie
perfitnes in translating, than to a ripe and
skilfull choice in markyng out hys sixe
pointes, as

1. Proprium.

2. Translatum.

3. Synonynum.

4. Contrarium,
^. Diuersum

( 6. Phrases,

Than take this order with him : Read
dayly vnto him, some booke of Tullie, as
the third booke of Epistles cicero.

chosen out by Sturmius, de Amicitia^ de
Senectute, or that excellent Epistle con-

180 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACIIYNG

teiiiyng almost the whole first booke ad Q.
Terentius. /^^ •* som Coinedie of Terence or
piautus. Plautus: but in PZazifws, skilful!
choice must be vsed by the master, to
traine his Scholler to a iudgement, in cut-
ting out perfitelie ouer old and vnproper
lui. Cxsar. wordes : Cces. Commentaries are
to be read with all curiositie, in specially
without all exception to be made either by
frende or foe, is scene, the vnspotted pro-
prietie of the Latin tong, euen whan it was,
as the Grecians say, in uKiirj, that is, at the
hiest pitch of all perfitnesse : or some Ora-
T.Liuius. tions of T. Liuius^ such as be
both longest and plainest.

These bookes, I would haue him read
now, a good deale at euery lecture : for he
shall not now vse da [i] lie translation, but
onely construe againe, and parse, where ye
suspect is any nede: yet, let him not
omitte in these bookes, his former exercise,
in marking diligently, and writyng orderlie
out his six pointes. And for translating,
vse you your selfe, euery second or thyrd
day, to chose out, some Epistle ad Atticum,
some notable common place out of his

THE READY WA Y TO LATIN TONG. 181

Orations, or some other part of Tullle^ by
your discretion, which yo\X£ scholer may \
not know wliere to finde : and translate it 1
you your selfe, into plains naturall Eng- \
lish, and than giue it him to translate into I
Latin againe : allowyng him good space ?
and tyme to do it, both with diligent heede,
and good aduisement. Here his witte shal-
be new set on worke : his iudg^ement, for
right choice, trewlie tried: his memorie,
for sure reteyning, better exercised, than
by learning, any thing without the booke :
and here, how much he hath proffited,
shall plainly appeare. Whan he bringeth
it translated vnto you, bring you forth the
place of Tullie : lay them together : com-
pare the one with the other: commend his
good choice, and right placing of wordes :
Shew his faultes iently, but blame them
not ouer sharply: for, of such missings,
ientlie admonished of, proceedeth glad and
good heed taking : of good heed taking,
springeth chiefly knowledge, which after,
groweth. to perfitnesse, if this order, be
diligentlie vsed by the scholer and iently
handled by the master : for here, shall all

182 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

the hard pointes of Grammer, both easely
and surelie be learned vp : which, scholers
in common scholes, by making of Latines,
be groping at, with care and feare, and yet
in many yeares, they scarce can reach vnto
them. I remember, whan I was yong, in
the North, they went to the Grammer
schole, litle children : they came from
thence great lubbers : alwayes learning,
and litle profiting : learning without booke,
euery thing, vnderstandyng with in the
booke, little or nothing. Their whole
knowledge, by learning without the booke,
was tied onely to their tong and lips, and
neuer ascended vp to the braine and head,
and therfore was sone spitte out of the
mouthe againe : They were, as men, al-
wayes goyng, but euer out of the way:
and why ? For their whole labor, or rather
great toyle without order, was euen vaine
idlenesse without proffit. In deed, they
tooke great paynes about learning: but
employed small labour in learning : Whan
by this way prescribed in this booke, being
streight, plaine, and easie, the scholer is
alwayes laboring with pleasure, and euer

THE READ Y WAY TO LA TIN TONG. 183

going right on forward with profiit: Al-
wayes laboring I say, for, or he haue con-
strued, parced, twise translated ouer by
good aduisement, marked out his six pointes
by skilfull iudgement, he shall haue neces-
sarie occasion, to read ouer euery lecture,
a dosen tymes, at the least. Which, bi-
cause he shall do alwayes in order, he shall
do it alwayes with pleasure : And pleasure
allureth loue : loue hath lust to labor :
labour alwayes obteineth his purpose, as
most trewly, both Aristotle in his Rheto-
ricke and Oedipus in Sophocles ^^^^^ 2

do teach, saying, ttuv yap ekhovov^evov InOedip.Tyr.

uIloke. et ce^. and this oft reading, Epist. iib.T.
is the verie right folowing, of that good
Counsell, which Plinie doth geue to his
frende Fuscus^ saying, Multum non multa.
But to my purpose againe :

Whan, by this diligent and spedie read-
ing ouer, those forenamed good bokes of
Tullie^ Terence^ Ccesar and Liuie^ and by
this second kinde of translating out of
your English, tyme shall breed skill, and
vse shall bring perfection, than ye may
trie, if you will, your scholer, with the

184 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

third kinde of translation : although the
two first wayes, by myne opinion, be, not
onelie sufficient of them selues, but also
surer, both for the Masters teaching, and
scholers learnyng, than this third way is :
Which is thus. Write you in English,
some letter, as it were from him to his
father, or to some other frende, naturallie,
according to the disposition of the child,
or some tale, or fable, or plaine narration,
according as Aphthonius beginneth his
exercises of learning, and let him translate
it into Latin againe, abiding in soch place,
where no other scholer may prompe him.
But yet, vse you your selfe soch discretion
for choice therein, as the matter may be
within the compas, both for wordes and
sentences, of his former learning and read-
ing. And now take lieede, lest your
scholer do not better in some point, than
you your selfe, except ye haue bene dili-
gentlie exercised in these kindes of trans-
lating before :

I had once a profe hereof, tried by good
experience, by a deare frende of myne,
whan I came first from Cambrige, to

THE READY WAY TO LATIN TONG. 185

serue the Queenes Maiestie, than Ladie
Elizabeth^ Ijii^g ^^t worthie Sir Ant. Benys
in Cheston. lolin WJdtneye, a yong ien-
tleman, was my bedfeloe, who willy ng by
good nature and prouoked by mine aduise,
began to learne the Latin tong, after the
order declared in this booke. We began
after Christmas: I read vnto him Tullie
de Amicitia^ which he did euerie day twise
translate, out of Latin into English, and
out of English into Latin agayne. About
S. Laurence tyde after, to proue how he
proffited, I did chose out Torquatus taulke
de Amieitia^ in the lat[t]er end of the first
booke de finib. because that place was, the
same in matter, like in wordes and phrases,
nigh to the forme and facion of sentences,
as he had learned before in de Amicitia. I
did translate it my selfe into plaine Eng-
lish, and gaue it him to turne into Latin :
Which he did, so choislie, so orderlie, so
without any great misse in the hardest
pointes of Grammer, that some, in seuen
yeare in Grammer scholes, yea, and some in
the Vniuersities to, can not do halfe so well.
This worthie yong lentleman, to my greatest

186 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

grief, to the great lamentation of that whole
house, and speciallie to that most noble
Ladie, now Queene Elizabeth, her selfe,
departed within few dayes, out of this world.
And if in any cause a man may without
offence of God speake somewhat vngodlie,
surely, it was some grief vnto me, to see
him hie so hastlie to God, as he did. A
Court, full of soch yong lentlemen, were
rather a Paradise than a Court vpon earth.
And though I had neuer Poeticall head, to
make any verse, in any tong, yet either
loue, or sor[r]ow, or both, did wring out
of me than, certaine careful! thoughtes of
my good will towardes him, which in my
m[o]urning for him, fell forth, more by
chance, than either by skill or vse, into
this kinde of misorderlie meter.

Myne owne John Whitney^ now farewell^ now

death doth parte vs iwaine^
No deaths but party ng for a while ^ whom life

shall ioyne agayne.
Therfore my hart cease sighes and sobbes^ cease

sor\_r']o7ves seede to sow^
Wherof no gaine^ but greater grief and hurtfull

care may grow*

THE READ Y WAY TO LA TIN TONG. 187

Yet, whan I thinke vpon soch giftes of grace as

God him lent,
My losse, his gaine, I must a while, with ioyfull

teares lament.
Yong yeares to yelde sochfrute in Courts where

seede of vice is sowne.
Is S07neiime read, in some place seene, amongst vs

seldom knowne.
His life he ledde, Christes lore to learne, with

\w\ill to worke the same :
He read to know, and knew to Hue, and lined to

praise his name.
So fast to frende, so foe to few, so good to euery

wight,
I may well wishe, but scarcelie hope, agayne to

haue in sight.
The greater ioye his life to me, his death the

greater pay ne :
His life in Christ so surelie set, doth glad my

hearte agayne :
His life so good, his death better, do mingle mirth

with care.
My spirit with ioye, my flesh with grief, so deare

a f rend to spare.
Thus God the good, while they be good, doth take,

and leaues vs ill.
That we should mend our sinfull life, in life to

tary still.

188 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

ThuSy we well left^ be better re/t^ in heatten to take

his place ^
That by like life, and death, at last, we may

obteine like grace,
Myne owne John Whiteney agayne fairewell, a

while thus parte in twaine,
Whom Payne doth parte in earth, in heauen great

ioye shall ioyne agayne.

In this place, or I precede farder, I will
now declare, by whose authoritie I am led,
and by what reason I am moued, to thinke,
that this way of d[o]uble translation out
of one tong into an other, is either onelie,
or at least chiefly to be exercised, speciallie
of youth, for the ready and sure obteining
of any tong.

There be six wayes appointed by the
best learned men, for the learning of tonges,
and encreace of eloquence, as

1. Translatio Unguarum,

2. Paraphrasis,

3. Metaphrasis,

4. Epitome,

5. Imitatio,

, 6. Declamatio,

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 189

All theis be vsed, and commended, but
in order, and for respectes: as person,
habilitie, place, and tyme shall require.
The fine last, be fitter, for the Mastei*, than
the scholer : for men, than for children : for
the vniuersities, rather than for Grammer
scholes : yet neuerthelesse, which is, fittest
in mine opinion, for our schole, and which
is, either wholie to be refused, or partlie
to be vsed for our purpose, I will, by good
authoritie, and some reason, I trust i)erti-
cularlie of euerie one, and largelie enough
of them all, declare orderlie vnto you.

IF Translatio Linguarum.

Translation, is easie in the beginning for
the scholer, and bringeth all [so] moch
learning and great iudgement to the Mas-
ter. It is most common, and most com-
mendable of all other exercises for youth :
most common, for all your constructions in
Grammer scholes, be nothing els but trans-
lations: but because they be not double
translations, as I do require, they bring
forth but simple and single commoditie,
and bicause also they lacke the daily vse

190 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

of writing, which is the onely thing that
breedeth deepe roote, both in ye witte, for
good vnderstanding, and in ye memorie,
for sure keeping of all that is learned.
Most commendable also, and that by ye
iudgement of all authors, which intreate of
i.de. Or. theis cxercises. Tullie in the
person of L. Crassus, whom he maketh his
example of eloquence and trewe iudgement
in learning, doth, not onely praise specially,
and chose this way of translation for a yong
man, but doth also discommend and refuse
his owne former wont, in exercising Para-
phrasin et Metaphrasin. Paraphrasis is,
to take some eloquent Oration, or some
notable common place in Latin, and ex-
presse it with other wordes : Metaphrasis
is, to take some notable place out of a
good Poete, and turn the same sens into
meter, or into other wordes in Prose.
Crassus, or rather Tullie, doth mislike both
these wayes, bicause the Author, either
Orator or Poete, had chosen out before, the
fittest wordes and aptest composition for
that matter, and so he, in seeking other,
was driuen to vse the worse.

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 191

Quintilian also preferreth translation
Quint. X. before all other exercises: yet
hailing a lust, to dissent, from Tullie (as
he doth in very many places, if a man read
his Rhetoricke ouer aduisedlie, and that
rather of an enuioiis minde, than of any
iust cause) doth greatlie commend Para-
phrasis, crossing spitefullie Tullies iudge-
ment in refusing the same: and so do
Ramus and Talceus euen at this day in
France to. But such singularitie, in dis-
senting from the best mens iudgementes,
in liking onelie their owne opinions, is moch
misliked of all them, that ioyne with learn-
ing, discretion, and wisedome. For he,
that can neither like Aristotle in Logicke
and Philosophic, nor Tullie in Rhetoricke
and Eloquence, will, from these steppes,
likelie enough presume, by like pride, to
mount hier, to the misliking of greater
matters : that is either in Religion, to haue
a dissentious head, or in the common wealth,
to haue a factious hart : as I knew one a stu-
dent in Cambridge, who, for a singularitie,
began first to dissent, in the scholes, from
Aristotle, and sone after became a peruerse

192 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

Arian, against Christ and all true Religion :
and studied diligentlie Origene, Basileus,
and S. Hlerome, onelie to gleane out of their
workes, the pernicious heresies of Oelsus^
Eunomius^ and Heluidius^ whereby the
Church of Christ, was so poysoned withall.
But to leaue these hye pointes of diuini-
tie, surelie, in this quiet and harmeles con-
trouersie, for the liking, or misliking of
Faraphrasis for a yong scholer, euen as
far, as TuUie goeth beyond Quintilian^
Ramus and Talceus^ in perfite Eloquence,
euen so moch, by myne opinion, cum they
behinde TuUie, for trew iudgement in
teaching the same.
* piinius se- * PUnius Secuudus^ a wise

cundus. Plin- o a i? j.

iusdedit oenator, oi great experience,
Quintiiiano excellentUe learned him selfe, a

praeceptorl

suo, in raatri- libcrall Patrouc of learned men,

monium flliae, i ii • • i. '

50000 [60000] a^id tlie purest writer, in myne
uumum. opinion, of all his age, I except
not Suetonius^ his two scholemasters Quirv-
tilian and Tacitus, nor yet his most excel-
Epistiib.T. lent learned Vncle, the Elder
Epist.o. PUnius, doth expresse in an
Epistle to his frende Fuscus, many good

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 193

wayes for order in studie : but he begin-
neth with transhxtion, and preferreth it to
all the rest : and because his wordes be
notable, I will recite them.

Ft//e in primis, vt multi pnecipiunt, ex Grceco in
Latimim, et ex Latino vertere i?i Grcecum : Quo
genere exercifationis, propreitas splc?idorque ver-
borum, apta stritctura senientiarum. figurarum
copia et explicandi vis colligitur. Prceterea^
imitatione optimorum^faculias similia inuenien-
di paratur : et qiice legentem, fefellissent^ trans-
ferentem fugere non possimt. Intelligentia ex
hoc, et indicium acquiritur.

Ye perceiue, how Plinie teacheth, that
by his exercise of double translating, is
learned, easely, sensiblie, by litle and litle,
not onelie all the hard congruities of Gram-
mer, tlie choice of aptest wordes, the right
framing of wordes and sentences, cumlines
of figures and formes, fitte for euerie mat-
ter, and proper for euerie tong, but that
which is greater also, in marking dayly, and
folowing diligentlie thus, the steppes of
the best Aut[li]ors, like inuention of Argu-
raentes, like order in disposition, like vtter-

194 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

ance in Elocution, is easelie gathered vp :
whereby your scholer shall be brought not
onelie to like eloquence, but also, to all
trewe vnderstanding and right iudgement,
both for writing and speaking. And where
Dlonys, JTalicarnassceus hath written two
excellent bookes, the one, de delectu opti-
morum verborum., the which, I feare, is lost,
the other, of the right framing of wordes
and sentences, which doth remaine yet in
Greeke, to the great proffet of all them,
that trewlie studie for eloquence, yet this
waie of double translating, shall bring the
whole proffet of both these bookes to a dili-
gent scholer, and that easelie and pleasant-
lie, both for fitte choice of wordes, and apt
composition of sentences. And by theis
authorities and reasons am I moued to
thinke, this waie of double translating,
either onelie or chieflie, to be fittest, for
tlie spedy and perfit atteyning of any tong.
And for spedy atteyning, I durst venture
a good wager, if a scholer, in whom is apt-
nes, loue, diligence, and constancie, would
but translate, after this sorte, one litle
booke in Tullle, as de senectute, with two

THE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 1 95

Epistles, the first ad Q.fra: the other ad
Lentulum^ the last saue one, in the first
booke, that scholer, I say, should cum to a
better knowledge in the Latin tong, than
the most part do, that spend four or fine
yeares, in tossing all the rules of Grammer
in common scholes. In deede this one
booke with these two Epistles, is not suffi-
cient to affourde all Latin wordes (which
is not necessarie for a yong scholer to
know) but it is able to furnishe him fully,
for all pointes of Grammer, with the right
placing, ordering, and vse of wordes in all
kinde of matter. And why not ? for it is
read, that Dion. Prussceus^ that wise Phil-
osopher, and excellent orator of all his
tyme, did cum to the great learning and
vtterance that was in him, by reading and
folowing onelie two bookes, Phcedon Pla-
tonis, and Demosthenes most notable ora-
tion nepl napanpea^eiaq. And a better, and

nerer example herein, may be, our most
noble Queene Elizabeth^ who neuer toke
yet, Greeke nor Latin Grammer in her
hand, after the first declining of a nowne
and a verbe, but onely by this double

196 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

translating of Demosthenes and Isocrates
dailie without missing euerie forenone, for
the space of a yeare or two, hath atteyned
to soch a perfite vnderstanding in both the
tonges, and to soch a readie vtterance of
the latin, and that wyth soch a iudgement,
as they be fewe in nomber in both the
vniuersities, or els where in England, that
be, in both tonges, comparable with her
Maiestie. And to conclude in a short
rowme, the commodities of double transla-
tion, surelie the mynde by dailie marking,
first, the cause and matter: than, the
wordes and phrases : next, the order and
composition: after, the reason and argu-
mentes : than the formes and figures of
both the tonges : lastelie, the measure and
compas of euerie sentence, must nedes, by
litle and litle drawe vnto it the like shape
of eloquence, as the author doth vse, which
is re[a]d.
And thus much for double trauslation.

Paraphrasis.

Lib. X. Paraphrasis, the second point,

is not onelie to expresse at large with moe

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 197

wordes, but to striue and contend (as Quin-
tilian saith) to translate the best latin
authors, into other latin wordes, as many
or thereaboutes.

This waie of exercise was vsed first by
C. Craho^ and taken vp for a while, by L.
Crassus^ but sone after, vpon dewe profe
thereof, reiected iustlie by Crassus and
Cicero : yet allowed and made sterling
agayne by 3f. Quintilian : neuerthelesse,
shortlie after, by better assaye, disalowed
of his owne scholer Pliniiis Secundus^ who
termeth it rightlie thus Audax contentio.
It is a bold comparison in deede, to thinke
to say better, than that is best. Soch turn-
ing of the best into worse, is much like the
turning of good wine, out of a faire sweete
flagon of siluer, into a foule mustie bottell
of ledder : or, to turne pure gold and siluer,
into foule brasse and copper.

Soch kinde of Paraphrasis, in turning,
chopping, and changing, the best to worse,
either in the mynte or scholes, (though M.
BroJcke and Quintilian both say the con-
trary) is moch misliked of the best and
wisest men. I can better allow an other

198 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

kinde of Paraphrasis^ to turne rude and
barbarus, into proper and eloquent : which
neuerthelesse is an exercise, not fitte for a
scholer, but for a perfite master, who in
plentie hath good choise, in copie hath
right iudgement, and grounded skill, as did
appeare to be in Sebastian Oastalio, in
translating Kemppes booke de Imitando
Christo.

But to folow Quint ilianus aduise to Para-
phrasis^ were euen to take paine, to seeke
the worse and fowler way, whan the plaine
and fairer is occupied before your eyes.

The olde and best authors that euer
wrote, were content if occasion required
to speake twise of one matter, not to
change the wordes, but i^rjruc, that is, worde
for worde to expresse it againe. For they
thought, that a matter, well expressed with
fitte wordes and apt composition, was not
to be altered, but liking it well their selues,
they thought it would also be well allowed
of others.

A scholemaster (soch one as I require)
knoweth that I say trewe.
Homerus. He readeth in Somer^ almost

THE READY WAY TO LATIN TONG. 199

in euerie booke, and speciallie in Secundo
et nono IlladoSy not onelie som verses, but
whole leaues, not to be altered

( 2.

with new, but to be vttered with ['I]A [
the old selfe same wordes.

He knoweth, that Xenophon, Xenophon.
writing twise of Agesilaus^ once in his life,
againe in the historie of the Greekes, in
one matter, kepeth alwayes the selfe same
wordes. He doth the like, speaking of
Socrates^ both in the beginning of his
Apologie and in the last ende of anofivijfwvev-

/XUTUV.

Demosthenes also in 4. Philip- Demosthenes.

pica, doth borow his owne wordes vttered
before in his oration de Chersoneso. He
doth the like, and that more at large, in his
orations, against Andration and Timoerates.

In latin also, Cicero in som cicero.
places, and Virgil in mo, do nrgiUus.
repeate one matter, with the selfe same
wordes. Thies excellent authors, did thus,
not for lacke of wordes, but by iudgement
and skill; whatsoeuer, other, more curious,
and lesse skilfull, do thinke, write, and do.

Paraphrasis neuerthelesse hath good

200 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

place in learniDg, but not, in myne opin-
ion, for any scboler, but is onelie to be left
to a perfite Master, eytlier to expound
openlie a good author witliall, or to com-
pare priuatelie, for his owne exercise, how
some notable place of an excellent author,
may be vttered with other fitte wordes:
But if ye alter also, the composition, forme,
and order than that is not Paraphrasis^
but Imitatio, as I will fullie declare in
fitter place.

The scholer shall winne nothing by
Paraphrasis^ but onelie, if we may beleue
TulUe^ to choose worse wordes, to place
them out of order, to feare ouermoch the
iudgement of the master, to mislike ouer-
moch the hardnes of learning, and by vse,
to gather vp faultes, which hardlie ^vill be
left of again e.

The master in teaching it, shall rather
encrease hys owne labo[u]r, than his schol-
ers proffet: for when the scholer shall
bring vnto his master a peece of Tullie or
CcBsar turned into other latin, than must
the master cum to QulntlUans goodlie les-
son de U mend at lone y which, (as lie saith)

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 201

is the most profitable part of teaching, but
not in myne opinion, and namelie for
yougthe in Grammer scholes. For the
master no we taketh double paynes : first, to
marke what is amisse : againe, to inuent
what may be sayd better. And here per-
chance, a verie good master may easelie
both deceiue himselfe, and lead his
schol[l]er[s] into error.

It requireth greater learning, and deeper
iudgement, than is to be hoped for at any
scholemasters hand: that is, to be able
alwaies learnedlie and perfi telle.

Mutare quod ineptum est :
Transmutare quod peruersum est :
Replere quod deest ;
Detrahere quod ohest :
Expungere quod inane est.

And that, which requireth more skill,
and deaper consideracion.

Premere tumentia:
Extollere humilia :
Astringere luxuriantia :
Componere dissohita.

202 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

The master may here onelie stumble,
and perchance faull in teaching, to the
marring and mayning of the Scholer in
learning, whan it is a matter, of moch
readyng, of great learning, and tried iudge-
ment, to make trewe difference betwixt.

Sublime^ et Tumidum :
Grande^ et immodicum :
Decorum^ et ineptum :
. Perfectum^ et nimium.

Some men of our time, counted perfite
Maisters of eloquence, in their owne opin-
ion the best, in other mens iudgem'ents
very good, as Omphalius euerie where,
Sadoletus in many places, yea also my
frende Osorius, namelie in his Epistle to
the Queene and in his whole booke de
lusticia, haue so ouer reached them selues,
in making trew difference in the poyntes
afore rehearsed, as though they had bene
brought vp in some schole in Asia, to
learne to decline rather then in Athens
with Plato, Aristotle, and Demosthenes,
(from whence Tullie fetched his eloquence)
to vnderstand, what in euerie nuitter, to

THE RE A DY WAY TO LA TIN TONG. 203

be spoken or written on, is, in verie deede,
Nimium, Satis, Parum, that is for to say,
to all considerations. Decorum, which, as it
is the hardest point, in all learning, so is it
the fairest and onelie marke, that scholers,
in all their studie, must alwayes shote at,
if they purpose an other day to be, either
sounde in Religion, or wise and discrete in
any vocation of 'the common wealth.

Agayne, in the lowest degree, it is no
low point of learning and iudgement for a
Scholemaster, to make trewe difference
betwixt.

Humile et depressum :
Lene et remissum :
Siccum et aridum :
Exile et macrum :
. Inaffectatum et neglectum.

In these poyntes, some, louing Melanc-
tlion well, as he was well worthie, but yet
not considering well nor wiselie, how he
of nature, and all his life and studie by
iudgement was wholly spent in genere Dls-
eiplinabili, that is, in teaching, reading, and
expounding plainlie and aptlie schole mat-

204 THE SECOND BO OKE TEA CIIYNG

ters, and therefore imployed thereunto a
fitte, sensible, and caulme kinde of speak-
ing and writing, some I say, with very
well liuyng [likyng?], but not with verie
well weying Melancthones doinges, do
frame themselues a style, cold, leane, and
weake, though the matter be neuer so
warme and earnest, not mo oh vnlike vnto
one, that had a pleasure, in a roughe,
raynie, winter day, to clothe him selfe with
nothing els, but a demie bukram cassok,
plaine without pl[a]ites, and single without
lyning : which will neither beare of winde
nor wether, nor yet kepe out the sunne, in
any bote day.

Some suppose, and that by

Paraphrasis ii/r i r

invseof good rcasou, that Melancthon
h?r?]?fw hi^ selfe came to this low kinde
thons stile in of writing, by vsing ouer moch

writing. , . . ,. T^

Jraraphrasis in reaamg : J^ or
studying therbie to make euerie thing
streight and easie, in smothing and playn-
ing all things to much, neuer leaueth,
whiles the sence it selfe be left, both lowse
and lasie. And some of those Paraphrasis
of Melancthon be set out in Printe, as. Pro

THE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 205

Archla Poeta^ et Marco Mar cello : But a
scholer, by myne opinion, is better occupied
in playing or sleping, than in spendyng
time, not onelie vainlie but also liarme-
fullie, in soch a kinde of exercise.

If a Master woulde haue a perfite exam-
ple to folow, how, in Genere sublimit to
auoide Nimiu7n^ or in Mediocri, to atteyne
Satis, or in Hujnili, to exchew Parum,
let him read diligently for the cuxro.

first, Secundam Philippicam, for the meane,
De Natura Deorum, and for the lowest,
Partltiones. Or, if in an other tong, ye
looke for like example, in like perfection,
for all those three degrees, read Pro
Ctesiphonte^Ad Leptlnem, et Con- Detnosthenes.
tra Olympiodorumf and, what witte, Arte,
and diligence is hable to affourde, ye shall
plainely see.

For our tyme, the odde man to performe
all three perfitlie, whatsoeuer he doth, and
to know the way to do them skilfullie,
whan so euer he list, is, in m}' poore
opinion, lohannes Sturmius. loan. stur.

He also councelleth all scholers to beware
of Paraphrasis, except it be, from worse

206 THE SECOND DO OKE TEA CHYNG

to better, from rude and barbarous, to pro-
per and pure latin, and yet no man to
exercise that neyther, except socli one, as
is alreadie furnished with plentie of learn-
ing, and grounded with stedfast iudgement
before.

All theis faultes, that thus manie wise
men do finde with the exercise of Para-
phrasis, in turning the best latin, into
other, as good as they can, that is, ye may
be sure, into a great deale worse, than it
was, both in right choice for proprietie,
and trewe placing, for good order is com-
mitted also commonlie in all common
scholes, by the scholemasters, in tossing
and trebling yong wittes (as I sayd in
the beginning) with that boocherlie feare
in making of Latins.

Therefore, in place of Latines for yong
scholers, and Paraphrasis for the masters,
I wold haue double translation specially
vsed. For, in double translating a perfite
peece of Tullie or Ocasar, neyther the
scholer in learning, nor ye Master in teach-
ing can erre. A true tochstone, a sure
metwand lieth before both their eyes.

THE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 207

For, all right congruitie : proprietie of
wordes : order in sentences : the right imi-
tation, to iiiuent good matter, to dispose it
in good order, to confirme it with good
reason, to expresse any purpose fitlie and
orderlie, is learned thus, both easelie and
perfitlie: Yea, to misse somtyme in this
kinde of translation, bringeth more proffet,
than to hit right, either in Paraphrasi or
making of Latins. For though ye say
well, in a latin making, or in a Para-
phrasis^ yet you being but in do[u]bte,
and vncertayne whether ye sale well or
1^0, ye gather and lay vp in memorie,
no sure frute of learning thereby : But if
ye fault in translation, ye ar[e] easilie
taught, how perfitlie to amende it, and so
well warned, how after to exchew, all
soch faultes againe.

Paraphrasis therefore, by myne opinion,
is not meete for Grammer scholes : nor
yet verie fitte for yong men in the vniuer-
sitie, vntill studie and tyme, haue bred in
them, perfite learning, and stedfast iudge-
ment.

There is a kinde of Paraphrasis^ which

208 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

may be vsed, without all hurt, to moch
proffet : but it serueth onely the Greke and
not the latin, nor no other tong, as to alter
linguam lonicam aut Doricam into meram
Atticam : A notable example there is left
vnto. vs by a notable learned man Diony :
Halicarn : who, in his booke, Tvepl avvrd^eog,
doth translate the goodlie storie of Oan-
daulus and G-yges in 1 Herodoti^ out of
lonica lingua^ into Atticam. Read the
place, and ye shall take, both pleasure and
proffet, in conference of it. A man, that is
exercised in reading, Thucydides^ Xeno-
pJion^ Plato^ and Demosthenes^ in vsing to
turne, like places of Herodotus^ after like
sorte, shold shortlie cum to such a knowl-
edge, in vnderstanding, speaking, and writ-
ing the Greeke tong, as fewe or none liatli
yet atteyned in England. The like exer-
cise out of Dorica lingua may be also vsed,
if a man take that litle booke of Plato^
Timceus Locrus, de Animo et natura, which
is written Dorice^ and turne it into soch
Greeke, as Plato vseth in other workes.
The booke, is but two leaues: and the
labor wold be, but two weekes : but surelie

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 209

the proifet, for easie vnderstanding, and
trewe writing the Greeke tonge, wold con-
teruaile wyth the toile, that som men
taketh, in otherwise coldlie reading that
tonge, two yeares.

And yet, for the latin tonge, and for the
exercise of Paraphrasis, in those places of
latin, that can not be bettered, if some
yong man, excellent of witte, couragious
in will, lustie of nature, and desirous to
contend euen will the best latin, to better
it, if he can, surelie I commend his for-
wardnesse, and for his better instruc-
tion therein, I will set before him, as
notable an example of Paraphrasis, as is
in -Record of learning. Cicero him selfe,
doth contend, in two sondrie places, to
expresse one matter, with diuerse wordes :
and that is Paraphrasis, saith Quinti-
lian. The matter I suppose, is taken
out of Pancetius : and therefore being
translated out of Greeke at diners times,
is vttered for his purpose, with diners
wordes and formes : which kind of exer-
cise, for perfite learned men, is verie pro-
fitable.

210 THE SECOND DOOKE TEACHYNG
2. De Finib.

a» Homo enim Rationem habet a natwa menti
datam guce, et causas rerum et consecutiones videt^
ei simil itu dines ^ transfert, et disiuncta coniungif,
et cu?n prcEsentibus futura copidat^ omnemque
coviplectitur vitce consequentis statum. b. Eadem-
que ratio facit homitiem hominum appetendum^
eumquehis, natura, et sermone in vsu cotigruentem :
yt profectus a caritate domesticoriim ac suorum,
currat longius ^ et se implicet,primo Ciuium^ deinde
omnium mortalium societati : vtque non sibi soli
se natum meminerit, sed patrice, sed suis, vt exi-
gua pars ipsi relinquatur. (♦ Et quoniam eadem
natura cupiditatem ingenuit homini veri inueni-
endiy quod facilUme apparet, cum vacui curis,
etiam quid in cxlofiat., scire avemus^ etc.

1. Officiorum.

a* Homo autem, qui rationis est particeps,per
quam consequentia cernit, et causas rerum videt^
earumque progressus, et qiiasi antecessiones non
ignorat, simiiitudines, comparat, rebusque prcesen-
iibus adiungit, atque annectit futur as ^ facile totius
vitce cursum videt, ad eamque degendam prceparat
res necessarias. b» Eademque natura vi rationis
hominem conciliat homini, et ad Orationis et ad
vitcB societatem : ingeneratque imprimis prcecipuum

THE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 211

quendam amorcm in eos, qui procreaii sunt, im-
pellitque vt hominum cactus et celebrari inter se, et
sibi obediri [a se obiri"] velit, ob easque causas stu-
dent parare ea, qucB sttppeditent ad cultum et ad
victum^ nee sibi soli, sed eoniugi, liberis, cceterisque
quos char OS habeat^ tuerique deb eat. c« Quce cur a
exsuscitat etiatn animos, et maiores ad rem geren-
damfacit : imprimisque hominis est propria vert
inquisitio atque inuestigatio : ita cum sumus neces-
sarijs negocijs curisque vacui^ turn auemus aliquid
videre, audire, addiscere^ cognitionemque rerum
mirabiiiumy etc.

The conference of these two places, con-
teinyng so excellent a peece of learning, as
this is, expressed by so worthy a witte, as
TulUeK was, mustneedes bring great pleas-
ure and proffit to him, and maketh trew
counte, of learning and honestie. But if
we had the GreJce Author, the first Pat-
terne of all, and therby to see, how Tidlies
witte did worke at diuerse tymes, how,
out of one excellent Image, might be
framed two other, one in face and fauor,
but somwhat differing in forme, figure,
and color, surelie, such a peece of worke-
mansliip compared with the Paterne it

212 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

selfe, would better please the ease of hon-
est, wise, and learned myndes, than two
of the fairest Venusses, that euer Apelles
made.

And thus moch, for all kinde of Para-
phrasis, fitte or vnfit, for Scholers or other,
as I am led to thinke, not onelie, by mine
owne experience, but chiefly by the author-
itie and iudgement of those, whom I my
selfe would gladly folow, and do counsell
all myne to do the same : not contending
with any other, that will otherwise either
thinke or do.

Metaphrasis.

This kinde of exercise is all one with
Paraphrasis^ saue it is out of verse, either
into prose, or into some other kinde of
meter: or els, out of prose into verse,
Plato in which was Socrates exercise and
Phsedone. pastime (as Plato reporteth)
when he was in prison, to'translate JEsopes
Fahules into verse. Quintilian doth great-
lie praise also this exercise : but bicause
Tullie doth disalow it in young men, by
myne opinion^ it were not well to vse it

THE READY WAY TO LATIN TONG. 213

[in] Grammer Scholes, euen for the selfe
same causes, that be recited against Para-
phrasis. And therfore, for the vse or mis-
use of it, the same is to be thought, that is
spoken of Paraphrasis before. This was
Sulpitius exercise : and he gatliering vp
thereby, a Poeticall kinde of talke, is iustlie
named of Cicero, grandis et Tragicus Orator :
which I think is spoken, not for his praise,
but for other mens warning, to exchew the
like faulte. Yet neuertheles, if our Schole-
master for his owne instruction, is desirous,
to see a perfite example hereof, I will
recite one, which I thinke, no man is so
bold, will say, that he can amend it : and
that is Chrises the Priestes Oration to the
Grekes, in the beginnyng of Homers Ilias,
turned excellentlie into prose Hom.i.ii.
by Socrates him selfe, and that Pio,-^'Rep-
aduisedlie and purposelie for other to
folow: and therfore he calleth this exer-
cise, in the same place, p>7?(7if, that is, Imi-
tatio, which is most trew: but, in this
booke, for teachyng sake, I will name it
Metaphrasis, reteinyng the word, that all
teachers, in this case, do vse.

214 THE SECOND BO OKE TEA CEYNG
|)omerttfi; I. Uiad.

6 yap Tjlde doag km v^ag 'Axaubv,
XvaoiiEvog re dvyarpa, ^epuv r' inzepdai' anoiva,
CTEfifiar' kx<^v kv x^po^^v iKT](36?iov ' Knolluvog,
XpvaeG) ava OK^Trrpu- Koi e?uaaeTO navrac 'Axaiavc,
'Arpeida 6e fxaXiaTa dvu, Koan^rope Tiauv.

'Arpeldai re, aai uXkot evKVTjfxtdeg 'Axatol,
vfuv fiev deol dolev, 'OXvfiTTta Sufiar' exovrec,
kKirepaai Hpidfioto noTiiv, ev 6^ o'lKod' iKeadai'
Tvalda 6' e/ioi "kvaat re <^i7ajv, tu t' unoLva dexeodcu^
d^ofievoi Atbc "^i-^v tKr](idAjov ^ AizoXkuva.

eud' uaXoi juv Tzavreg kirevipTJurjGav 'Axaioi
aldeladcu d' leprja, Kal ayTjia, dexdai uTZOLva'
aXk* ovK 'Arpeldy 'Aya/iifivovi ^vdave dv/au),
oDJj, KaKug u<j)lei, Kparepdv (5' e7r^ fj.vdov ereT^lev.

fiTj ae, yepov, Kol^yatv kyu napu vrjval Kixeto),
7] vvv dr]dvvovT\ tj (crepov avrig lovra,

llTj VV TOL OV XP^'l'^H'V aKTJTZTpOV, Kul aTEfifxa dcOlO.

TTjv (5' kyui oh "Kvca, irpiv fiiv koX yfipag iireLaiv,
Tjiierepif) kvl oIku, ev *'Apyei, nj^odi KUTpijc,
loTov eTZOLXOfievrjv, koi Iftbv leyog uvrcouaav'
aA/l' Idi, fiTf //' kpidi^e' aaurepog ug ke veijai.

ug i<l>aT^' Iddeiaev d' 6 yepuv, koi kt: eider o (ivdur
^fi 6^ uKeuv napu diva noXv(j>?Mia(3oio Bakaaarjg^
■koTOm 6' lireiT^ undvevde kluv rjpad'' 6 yepaiog
'Ano^Tujvi dvaKTL, rdv TjVKOfiog, reKe Atjtu'

kIvOl /lev, upyvpoTo^', bg Xpvarjv ufi<pi(3e(3r}Kag,
dTikav re (^aderjv, Tevedoio re l<l>i uvdoaeig,
a/uvdev' h irori rot xctpt^T* iwl vrjdv Ipet^a^
y el dff nori rot Kuril rttova ftrjpV iKtja
ravpuv T/d' alyuv, ruih fxoL Kpiirjvov keXdup'
rioeiav ^avaol kfiH 6(iKpva aaHai fik'Ktaaiv,

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 215
^ocratefi in 3 de Rep saith thus.

^pacjo) yap uvev /j£Tpov,
ov yup elfxi notrjTiKOC.

^Tidev 6 XpvoTjc TTJc re dvyarpbc "kvrpa <fEpuv koX Ikettjc Tnv
^Axaiuv, ituhaia 61 tuv (^aaileuv : koI eix^TO, eKsivoic fiiv
TO<)g deovg dovvai tAovra^ ttjv Tpoiav, ahrovg de aajdijvat, ttjv
61 dvyarepa ol avrCJ 2.vaai, 6e^afiEvovg u'rroiva, Koi rdv dedv
alSeodevTag. Toiavra 6e eIttovtoq avrov, ol /lev uXXoi loefjOVTO
Kol avvyvovv, 6 6e ^Aya{j.Efj.vuv rjypiatvev, hreXXofievoc vvv
T€ dnievat, Kal avdic fii) eXdeiv, fi^ avu to te aKfinrpoV, leal
Ta Tov deov arififiaTa ovk enapKEOoi. nptv de Tcvdfjvat alrov
dvyarepa, ev "Apyet k^rj yrjpaaetv fiETu ov. urrtevat 6£ eKeXeve^
Kal ^T] Epedi^eiv, iva aug oiKaSE eXdor 6 6e TrpEoldvTTjg aKovaaq
IdeloE T£ Kal aTTjffi aty^, unoxcjpTjoag d' ek tov aTpaTOTri6oi}
ttoaIu iC) ^AirbTJXuvL evxero, rag te kircjwfjuac tov d£od ava-
KaTiiJv Kal v-o/iiLivf/CKCJV koi uTvaiTuv, Et ri ttuttote fj kv vaQV
olKO(hfj.7]G£aiv y ev lepuv Bvaiag Kexapiaiiivov 6cjpTjoairo. ov
6^ Xapiv KaTEi'XETO naat tovc ^Axaiovg to. a duKpva role

kKEtVOi) ^E'kEOlV.

To compare Homer and Plato together,
two wonders of nature and arte for witte
and eloquence, is most pleasant arid profit-
able, for a man of ripe iudgement. Platos
turning of Homer in this place, doth not
ride a loft in Poeticall termes, but goeth
low and soft on foote, as prose and Pedes-
tris oratio should do. If Sulpitius had had
Platos consideration, in right vsing this

216 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

exercise, he had not cleserued the name of
Tragicus Orator^ who should rather haue
studied to expresse vim Demosthenes^ than
furorem Pocetce^ how good so euer he was,
whom he did follow.

And therfore would I haue our Schole-
master wey well together Hgmer and Plato^
and marke diligentlie these foure pointes,
what is kept ; what is added ; what is left
out : what is changed, either, in choise of
wordes, or forme of sentences ; which foure
pointes, be the right tooles, to handle like
a workeman, this kinde of worke : as our
Scholer shall better vnderstand, when he
hath be[e]ne a good while in the Yniuer-
sitie: to which tyme and place, I chiefly
remitte this kind of exercise.

And bicause I euer thought examples to
be the best kinde of teaching, I will recite
a golden sentence out of that Poete, which
is next vnto Horner^ not onelie in tyme,
but also in worthines : which hath beene a
paterne for many worthie wittes to follow,
by this kind of Metaphrasis^ but I will
content my selfe, with foure workemen,
two in Greke^ and two in Latin^ soch, as

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 217

in both the tonges, wiser and worthier, can
not be looked for. Surelie, no stone set
in gold by most cunning workemen, is in
deede, if right counte be made, more
worthie the looking on, than this golden
sentence, diuerslie wrought upon, by soch
foure excellent Masters.

^tmtiuti. 2.

1. ovTOf iikv navupLoroc;, bg avTtj rdvro vo^try,
<l>paooufievog to. /c' eTreira Kal kg teXoc ijaiv ufieivu.

2. iaBTibg 6' av KiiKelvog, og ev eiirovn mdrjToi.

3. Of 6i KE fiTjT^ avrdg voiij, (itjt^ uXKov ukovuv
h dvfuj ^a^TjTCU, 6 6^ avT* axpf/'iog uvrjp.

^ Thus rudelie turned into base English.

1. That man in wisedotne passeth ally
to know the best who hath a head:

2. And meet lie wise eeke counted shall^
who yeildes him selfe to wise mens read.

3. Who hath no witte, nor none will heare,
amongest allfooles the belles may beare.

^opl)oclcfi in Antigone.

1. 4»^jU' eyuye TrpeajSevecv TroTii),
^vvai Tov uvSpa ttuvt' eTtcorfifiijc ttXcwv :

2. Et <5' ovv {(bLXel yap tovto (jl^ TavTg (ikneiv),
Kal Tuv AeyovTuv ev KaTibv rh fiavdaveiv.

218 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

Marke the wisedome of Sopliocles^ in
leauyng out the last sentence, because it
was not cumlie for the sonne to vse it to
his father.

IF £)♦ "iSagileufiS in his Exhortation to youth.

Mifivj^adE Tov 'HmoSov, bg ^rjci, upccrov fiev elvai rbv nap'
eavTov Tu. deovra ^vvopuvra. 2. ^Ead?MV de kukelvov, rbv
Tolg, nap' kripuv VTTodEixdEcaiv enofievov. 3. tov 6e npbg
ovdETEpov EniTTfdEiov uxpElov eIvm TvpoQ <inavTa.

1[ ilt» Cic, Pro. A. Cluentio.

1. Sapieniissimum esse dicunt eum, cut, quod opus

sit, ipsi veniat in mentem : 2. Froxime accedere

illum^ qui alterius bene inuentis obiemperet.

3. In stuliicia contra est: minus enim stultus

est is, cui nihil in mentem venit, quam ille, qui,

quod stulte alteri venit in mente?n comprobat.

Cicero doth not plainlie expresse the

last sentence, but doth inuent it fitlie for

his purpose, to taunt the folic and simpli-

citie in his aduersarie Actius^ not wey-

ing wiselie, the subtle doynges of Chryso-

gonus and Stalenus,

IT (EiU linittd in Orat. Minutij. Lib. 22.

1. Scepe ego audiui milites ; eum primum esse
virum, qui ipse consulate quid in rem sit : 2.

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 219

Secundum eum, qui bene monenti obediai : 3.
Qui^ nee ipse consider e^ nee alieri parere sci\a'\t^
eum extremi esse ingenij.

Now, which of all these foure, Sophocles^
S. Basils Cicero, or Liuie, hath, expressed
Hesiodiis best, the iudgement is as hard,
as the workemanship of euerie one is most
excellent in deede. An other example out
of the Latin tong also I will recite, for the
worthines of the workeman therof, and that
is Horace, who hath so turned the begyn-
ning of Terence Uunuchus, as doth worke in
n)e, a pleasant admiration, as oft so euer,
as I compare those two places togither.
And though euerie Master, and euerie good
Scholer to, do know the places, both in
Terence and Horace, yet I will set them
heare, in one place togither, that with
more pleasure, they may be compared
together.

1" (JTerentittfii in Eunucho.

Quid igiturfaciam ? non earn ? ne nunc quidem
cum accessor vitro ? an poiiiis ita me comparem,
no7i perpeti meretricum contumclias ? exclusit:
reuocat, redeam ? non, si me obsecret, p a r m e n o

220 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

a little after. ITere, quce res in se neque consilium
neque modum habet vllum, earn consilio regere non
potes. In Amore hxc omnia insunt vitia, in-
iurios, suspiciones, inimicitice, helium, pax rursum.
Incerta hoec si tu postules ratione certa facere,
nihilo plus agas, quam si des operam, vt cum
ratione insanias.

IT {)orattttfi, lib. Ser. 2. Saty. 3.

Nee nunc cum me vocet vltro^
Accedam ? anpotius mediter finire dolores ?
Exclusit : reuocaf, redeam ? non si obsecret. Ecce
Seruus non Paulo sapientior : o Here, quoe res
Nee modum habet, neque consilium, ratione modoque
Tractari non vult. In amore, ho2c sunt mala,

bellum.
Pax rursum : hcec si quis tempestaiis prope ritu
Mobilia, et coeca fluitaiitia sorte, labor et
Reddere certa, sibi Jiihilo plus explicet, ac si
Insanire paret certa natione, modhque.

This exercise may bring mocli profite to
ripe heads, and stayd iudgementes : bicause
in traueling in it, the mynde must nedes
be verie attentiue, and busilie occupied,
in turning and tossing it selfe many wayes :
and conferryng with great pleasure, the
varietie of worthie wittes and iudgementes

TTIE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 221

togitlier: But this harme may sone cum
tlierb}*, and namelie to yong Scliolers,
lesse, in seeking other wordes, and new
forme of sentences, they chance vpon the
worse : for the which onelie cause, Cicero
thinketh this exercise not to be fit for
yong men.

Epitome.

This is a way of studie, belonging, rather
to matter, than to wordes: to memorie,
than to vtterance : to those that be learned
alreadie, and hath small place at all amonges
yong scholers in Grammer scholes. It may
proffet priuately some learned men, but it
hath hurt generallie learning it selfe, very
moch. For by it haue we lost whole
Trogus^ the best part of T. Liuius^ the
goodlie Dictionarie of Pompeius festus, a
great deale of the Ciuill lawe, and other
many notable bookes, for the which cause,
I do tlie more mislike this exercise, both
in old and yong.

Epitome^ is good priuatelie for himselfe
that doth worke it, but ill commonlie for
all other that vse other mens labor therein :

222 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

a silie poore kinde of studie, not vnlike to
the doing of those poore folke, which
neyther till, nor sowe, nor reape them-
selues, but gleane by stelth, vpon other
mens gowndes. Soch haue emptie barnes,
for deare yeares.

Grammar scholes haue fewe Epitomes to
hurt them, except Epitheta Textoris^ and
such beggarlie gatheringes, as Horman^
Whittington^ and other like vulgar es for
making of latines : yea I do wishe, that all
rules for yong scholers, were shorter than
they be. For without doute, Grrammatica
it selfe, is sooner and surer learned by
examples of good authors, than by the
naked rewles of Grammarians. Epitome
hurteth more, in the vniuersities and studie
of Philosophic : but most of all, in diuinitie
it selfe.

In deede bookes of common places be
verie necessarie, to induce a man, into an
orderlie generall knowledge, how to referre
orderlie all that lie rciuhdh, ad certa rerum
Capita^ and not wander in studie. And to
that end did J\ Lomhardus the master of
sentences and Ph, Melancthon in our

THE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 223

dales, write two notable bookes of com-
mon places.

But to dwell in Epitomes and bookes of
common place?, and not to binde himselfe
dailie by orderlie studie, to reade with all
diligence, principallie the holyest scripture
and withall, the best Doctors, and so to
learne to make trewe difference betwixt,
the authoritie of the one, and the Counsell
of the other, maketh so many seeming, and
sonburnt ministers as we haue, whose learn-
ing is gotten in a sommer heat, and washed
away, with a Christmas snow againe : who
neuerthelesse, are lesse to be blamed, than
those blind bussardes, who in late yeares,
of wilfull maliciousnes, would neyther
learne themselues, nor could teach others,
any thing at all.

Paraphrads hath done lesse hurt to
learning, than Epitome : for no Paraphra-
sis, though there be many, shall neuer take
away Dauids Psalter. Erasmus Paraphra-
sis being neuer so good, shall neuer banishe
the New Testament. And in an other
schole, the Paraphrasis of Brocardus, or
Samhucus, shal neuer take Aristotles Rhe-

224 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

toricke, nor Horace de Arte Poetica^ out of
learned mens liandes.

But, as concerning a schole Epitome^ he
that wo[u]ld haue an example of it, let
him read Lucian nepl mX?u)vc which is the
verie Epitome of Isocrates oration de laudi-
hus Helence^ whereby he may learne, at the
least, this wise lesson, that a man ought to
beware, to be ouer bold, in altering an
excellent mans worke.

Neuertheles, some kinde of Epitome may
be vsed, by men of skilful iudgement, to
the great proffet also of others. As if a
wise man would take Halles C[h]ronicle,
where moch good matter is quite raarde
with Indenture Englishe, and first change,
strange and inkhorne tearmes into proper,
and commonlie vsed wordes : next spe-
cially to wede out that, that is superfluous
and idle, not onelie where wordes be vain-
lie heaped one vpon an other, but also
where many sentences, of one meaning, be
so clowted vp together as though M, Hall
had bene, not writing the storie of Eng-
land, but varying a sentence in Hitching
schole : surelie a wise learned man, by this

THE READ Y WAY TO LA TIN TONG. 225

v/ay of Epitome^ in cutting away wordes
and sentences, and diminisliing nothing at
all of the matter, shold leaue to mens vse,
a storie, halfe as moch as it was in quanti-
tie, but twice as good as it was, both for
pleasure and also commoditie.

An other kinde of JEpitome may be vsed
likewise very well, to moch proifet. Som
man either by lustines of nature, or brought
b}^ ill teaching, to a wrong iudgement, is
ouer full of words, [and] sentences, and
matter, and yet all his words be proper,
apt and well chosen : all his sentences be
rownd and trimlie framed: his whole
matter grownded vpon good reason, and
stuffed with full arguments, for this intent
and purpose. Yet when his talke shalbe
heard, or his writing be re[a]d, of soch
one, as is, either of my two dearest friendes,
M Haddon at home, or lohi Sturmius in
Germanic, that Nimium in him, which
fooles and vnlearned will most commend,
shall e3^ther of thies two, bite his lippe, or
shake his heade at it.

This fulnes as it is not to be misliked in
a yong man, so in farder aige, in greater

226 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

skill, and weightier affaires, it is to be tem-
perated, or else discretion and iudgement
shall seeme to be wanting in him. But if
his stile be still oner rancke and lustie, as
some men being neuer so old and spent by
yeares, will still be full of youthfull condi-
tions as was Syr F. Bryan^ and euermore
wold haue bene, soch a rancke and full
writer, must vse, if he will do wiselie the
exercise of a verie good kinde of Epitome^
and do, as certaine wise men do, that be
ouer fat and fleshie : who leaning their
owne full and plentif ull table, go to soiorne
abrode from home for a while, at the tem-
perate diet of some sober man, and so by
litle and litle, cut away the grosnesse that
is in them. As for an example : If Osorius
would leaue of his lustines in striuing
against jS. Austen, and his ouer rancke
rayling against poore Luther, and the troth
of Gods doctrine, and giue his whole studie,
not to write any thing of his owne for a
while, but to translate Demosthenes, with
so straite, fast, and temperate a style in
latine, as lie is in Greeke, he would becume
so perfit and pure a writer, I beleue, as

THE RE A b Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 22T

hath be[e]ne fewe or none sence Oiceroes
dayes: And so, by doing himself and all
learned moch good, do others lesse harme,
and Christes doctrine lesse iniury, than he
doth : and with all, wyn vnto himselfe many
worthy frends, who agreing with him gladly,
in ye loue and liking of excellent learning,
are sorie to see so worthie a witte, so
rare eloquence, wholie spent and consumed,
in striuing with God and good men.

Emonges the rest, no man doth lament
him more than I, not onelie for the excel-
lent learning that I see in him, but also
bicause there hath passed priuatelie betwixt
him and me, sure tokens of moch good
will, and frendlie opinion, the one toward
the other. And surelie the distance be-
twixt London and Lysbon, should not
stoppe, any kinde of frendlie dewtie, that
I could, eyther shew to him, or do to his,
if the greatest matter of all did not in
certeyne pointes, separate our myndes.

And yet for my parte, both tow^ard him,
and diuerse others here at home, for like
cause of excellent learning, great wisdome,
and gentle humanitie, which I haue scene

228 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

in them, and felt at their handes my selfe,
where the matter of difference is mere con-
science in a quiet minde inwardlie, and
not contentious malice with spitefull ray-
ling openlie, I can be content to followe
this rewle, in misliking some one thing,
not to hate for anie thing els.
Psai.8o. But as for all the bloodie

beastes, as that fat Boore of the wood : or
those brauling Bulles of Basan : or any
lurking I)orm\_o~\us, blinde, not by nature,
but by malice, and as may be gathered of
their owne testimonie, giuen ouer to blind-
nes, for giuing ouer God and his word ; or
soch as be so lustie runnegates, as first,
runne from God and his trew doctrine,
than, from their Lordes, Masters, and all
dewtie, next, from them selues and out of
their wittes, lastly from their Prince, con-
trey, and all dew allegeance, whether they
ought rather to be pitied of good men, for
their miserie, or contemned of wise men,
for their malicious folic, let good and wise
men determine.

And to returne to Epitome agayne, some
will iudge moch boldiies in me, thus to

THE READ Y WAY TO LA TIN TONG. 229

iudge of Osorius style : but wise men do
know, that meane lookers on, may trewelie
say, for a well made Picture : This face
had bene more cumlie, if that hie redde in
the cheeke, were somwhat more pure san-
guin than it is : and yet the stander by,
can not amend it himselfe by any way.

And this is not written to the dispraise
but to the great commendation of Osorius^
because Tullie himselfe had the same ful-
nes in him: and therefore went to Bodes
to cut it away : and saith himselfe, recepi
me domum prope mutatus^ nam quasi refer-
uerat iam oratio. Which was brought to
passe I beleue, not onelie by the teaching
of Molo Appollomius but also by a good
way of Epitome^ in binding him selfe to
translate meros Atticos Oratores^ and so to
bring his style, from all lowse grosnesse,
to soch firme fastnes in latin, as is in
Demosthenes in Greeke. And this to be
most trew, may easelie be gathered, not
onelie of L. Crassus talke in 1. de Or, but
speciallie of Clceroes owne deede in trans-
lating Demosthenes and ^schines orations
7r£p?c7£d. to that verie ende and purpose.

230 TEE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

And although a man growndlie learned
all readie, may take moch proffet him selfe
in vsing, by Epitome^ to draw other mens
workes for his owne memorie sake, into
shorter rowme, as Conterus hath done
verie well the whole Metamorphosis of
Quid, and Dauid Cythrceiis a great deale
better, the. ix. Muses of Herodotus^ and
Melancthon in myne opinion, far best of
all, the whole storie of Time, not onelie to
his own vse, but to other mens proffet and
hys great prayse, yet. Epitome is most
necessarie of all in a mans owne writing,
as we learne of that noble Poet Virgill^
who, if Donatus say trewe, in writing that
perfite worke of the GeorgicJces, vsed dailie,
when he had written 40. or 50. verses, not
to cease cutting, paring, and polishing of
them, till he liad brought them to the
nomber of x. or xij.

And this exercise, is not more nede-
fullie done in a great worke, than wiselie
done, in your common dailie writing,
either of letter, or other thing else, that
is to say, to peruse diligent! ie, and see
and spie wiselie, what is alwaies more

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 231

then nedeth: For, twenty to one, offend
more, in writing to moch, than to litle :
euen as twentie to one, fall into sicknesse,
rather by oner mochfulnes, than by anie
lacke or emptinesse. And therefore is he
alwaies the best English Physition, that
best can gene a purgation, that is, by way
of Epitome^ to cut all oner much away.
And surelie mens bodies, be not more
full of ill humors, than commonlie mens
myndes (if they be yong, lustie, proude,
like and loue them selues well, as most
men do) be full of fan[ta]sies, opinions,
errors, and faultes, not onelie in inward
inuention, but also in all their vtterance,
either by pen or taulke.

And of all other men, euen those tliat
haue ye inuentiuest heades, for all pur-
poses, and roundest tonges in all matters
and places (except they learne and vse
this good lesson of Epitome) commit com-
monlie greater faultes, than dull, staying
silent men do. For, quicke inuentors, and
faire readie speakers, being boldned with
their present habilitie to say more, and
perchance better to, at the soden for that

232 THE SECOND BOOKS TEACHYNG

present, than any other can do, vse lesse
helpe of diligence and studie than they
ought to do : and so haue in them common-
lie, lesse learning, and weaker iudgement,
for all deepe considerations, than some
duller heades, and slower tonges haue.

And therefore, readie speakers, general-
lie be not the best, playnest, and wisest
writers, nor yet the deepest iudgers in
weightie affaires, bicause they do not tarry
to weye and iudge all thinges, as they
should : but hauing their heades ouer full
of matter, be like pennes ouer full of incke,
which will soner blotte, than make any
faire letter at all. Tyme was, whan I had
experience of two Ambassadors in one
place, the one of a hote head to inuent, and
of a hastie hand to write, the other, colde
and stayd in both: but what difference of
their doinges was made by wise men, is not
vnknowne to some persons. The Bishop
of Winchester Steph. Gardiner had a
quicke head, and a readie tong, and yet
was not the best writer in England. Cicero
in Brutus doth wiselie note the same in
iSer(/ : Galbo, and Q, ITortentius, who were

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 233

both, hote, lustie, and plaine speakers, but
colde, lowse, and rough writers: And
Tullie telleth the cause why, saying, whan
they spake, their tong was naturally caried
with full tyde and wynde of their witte :
whan they wrote their head was solitarie,
dull, and caulme, and so their style was
blonte, and their writing colde : Quod
vitium, sayth Cicero^ peringeniosis homini-
hus neque satis doctis plerumque accidit.

And therfore all quick inuentors, and
readie faire speakers, must be carefuU,
that, to their goodnes of nature, they adde
also in any wise, studie, labor, leasure,
learning, and iudgement, and than they
shall in deede, pass all other, as I know
some do, in whome all those qualities are
fullie planted, or else if they giue ouer
moch to their witte, and ouer litle to their
labor and learning, they will sonest ouer
reach in taulke, and fardest cum behinde
in writing whatsoeuer they take in hand.
The methode of Epitome is most necessarie
for soch kinde of men. And thus much
concerning the vse or misuse of all kinde
of Epitome in matters of learning.

234 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

Imitatio.

Imitation^ is a facultie to expresse liuelie
and perfitelie that example ; which ye go
about to fol[l]ow. Aiid of it selfe, it is
large and wide: for all the workes of
nature, in a maner be examples for arte to
folow.

But to our purpose, all languages, both
learned and mother tonges, be gotten, and
gotten onelie by Imitation, For as ye vse
to heare, so ye learne to speake : if ye
heare no other, ye speake not your selfe ;
and whom ye onelie heare, of them ye
onelie learne.

And therefore, if ye would speake as the
best and wisest do, ye must be conuersant,
where the best and wisest are : but if yow
be borne or brought vp in a rude co[u]n-
trie, ye shall not chose but speake rudelie :
the rudest man of all kuoweth this to be
trewe. v

Yet neuerthelesse, the rudenes of com-
mon and mother tonges, is no bar for wise
speaking. For in tlie rudest contrie, and
most barbarous mother laiigunge, many be

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 235

found [yat] can speake verie wiselie : but
in the Greeke and latin tong, the two one-
lie learned tonges, which be kept, not in
common taulke, but in priuate bookes, we
finde alwayes, wisdome and eloquence,
good matter and good vtterance, neuer or
seldom a sonder. For all soch Authors, as
be fullest of good matter and right iudge-
ment in doctrine, be likewise alwayes,
most proper in wordes, most apte in sen-
tence, most plaine and pure in vttering
the same.

And contrariwise, in those two tonges,
all writers, either in Religion, or any sect
of Philosophic, who so euer be founde
fonde in iudgement of matter, be common-
lie found as rude in vttering their mynde.
For Stoickes, Anabaptistes, and Friers:
with Epicures, Libertines and Monkes,
being most like in learning and life, are no
fonder and pernicious in their opinions,
than they be rude and barbarous in their
writinges. They be not wise, therefore
that say, what care I for a mans wordes
and vtterance, if his matter and reasons be
good. Soch men, say so, not so moch of

236 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

ignorance, as eytlier of some singular pride
in themselues, or some speciall malice or
other, or for some priuate and parciall
matter, either in Religion or other kinde
of learning. For good and choice meates,
be no mote requisite for helthie bodies,
than proper and apte wordes be for good
matters, and also plaine and sensible vtter-
ance for the best and de[e]pest reasons:
in which two pointes standeth perfite elo-
quence, one of the fairest and rarest giftes
that God doth geue to man.

Ye know not, what hurt ye do to learn-
ing, that care not for wordes, but for mat-
ter, and so make a deuorse betwixt the tong
and the hart. For marke all aiges : looke
vpon the whole course of both the Greeke
and Latin tonge, and ye shall surelie linde,
that, whan apte and good wordes l)egan
to be neglected, and properties of those
two tonges to be confounded, than also
began, ill deedes to spring : strange maners
to oppresse good orders, newe and fond
opinions to striae Avith olde and trewe
doctrine, first in Philosophic : and after in
Religion: right iudgement of all tliinges

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 237

to be peruerted, and so vertue with learn-
ing is contemned, and studie left of: of ill
tliouglites cummeth peruerse iudgement : of
ill deedes springeth lewde taulke. Which
sower misorders, as they mar mans life, so
destroy they good learning withall.

But behold the goodnesse of Gods proui-
dence for learning: all olde authors and
sectes of Philosophy^ which were fondest
in opinion, and j:udest in vtterance, as
Stoickes and Epicures, first contemned of
wise men, and after forgotten of all men,
be so consumed by tymes, as they be now,
not onelie out of vse, but also out of
memoriB of man: whicli thing, I surelie
thinke, will shortlie chance, to the whole
doctrine and all the bookes of phantasticall
Anabaptistes and Friers, and of the beast-
lie Libertines and Monkes.

Againe behold on the other side, how
Gods wisdome hath wrought, that of Acad-
emici and Peripatetici^ those that were
wisest in iudgement of matters, and purest
in vttering their m3aides, the first and
chiefest, that wrote most and best, in either
tong, as Plato and Aristotle in Greeke,

238 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

TulUe ill Latin, be so eitlier wholie, or
sufficiently left vnto vs, as I neuer knew
yet scholer, that gaue himselfe to like, and
loue, and folowe chieflie those three Au-
thors but he proued, both learned, wise,
and also an honest man, if he ioyiied with
all the trewe doctrine of Gods holie Bible,
without the which, the other three, be but
fine edge tooles in a fole or mad mans hand.

But to returne to Imitation agayne:
There be three kindes of it in matters of
learning.

The whole doctrine of Comedies and
Tragedies, is a perfite imitation^ or faire
liuelie painted picture of the life of euerie
degree of man. Of this Imitation writeth
Plato at large in 3. de Rep. but it doth not
moch belong at this time to our purpose.

The second kind of Imitation^ is to folow
for learning of tonges and sciences, the
best authors. Here riseth, emonges proude
and enuious wittes, a great controuersie,
whether, one or many are to be folowed :
and if one, who is that one : Seneca^ or
Cicero: Salust or Coesar^ and so forth in
Greeke and Latin.

THE READY WA Y TO LATIN TONG. 239

The tliird kinde of Imitation^ belongeth
to the second : as when you be determined,
whether ye will folow one or mo, to know
perfitlie, and which way to folow that one :
in what place : by what meane and order :
by- what tooles and instrumentes ye shall
do it, by what skill and iudgement, ye shall
trewelie discerne, whether ye folow right-
lie or no.

This Imitatio^ is dissimilis materei simi-
Us tractatlo : and also, similis materei dis-
similis tractatio, as Virgill folowed Homer :
but the Argument to the ©ne was Vlysses^
to the other ^neas. Tullie persecuted
Antonie with the same wepons of elo-
quence, that Demosthenes vsed before
against Philippe. *

Horace foloweth Pindar^ but either of
them his owne Argument and Person : as
the one, Hiero king of Sicilie, the other
Augustus the Emperor: and yet both for
like respectes, that is, for their coragious
stoutnes in warre, and iust gouernment in
peace.

One of the best examples, for right Imi-
tation we lacke, and that is Menander,

240 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA C/IYNG

whom our Terence^ (as the matter required)
in like argument, in the same Persons,
with equall eloquence, foote by foote did
folow.

Som peeces remaine, like broken lew-
elles, whereby men may rightlie esteme,
and iustlie lament, the losse of the whole.

Erasmus^ the ornament of learning, in
our tyme, doth wish that som man of learn-
ing and diligence, would take the like
paines in Demosthenes and Tullie^ that
Maerohius hath done in Homer and Virgill^
that is, to write out and ioyne together,
where the one doth imitate the other.
Erasmus wishe is good, but surelie, it is
not good enough : for Maerohius gatherings
for the uEneodos out of Horner^ and Eoha-
nus Hessus more diligent gatherings for the
Bucolikes out of Theocritus^ as they be not
fullie taken out of the whole heape, as they
should be, but euen as though they had
not sought for them of purpose, but fownd
them scatered here and there by chance in
their way, euen so, onelie to point out, and
nakedlie to ioyne togither their sentences,
with no farder declaring the maner and

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 241

way, how the one doth folow the other,
were but a colde helpe, to the encrease of
learning.

But if a man would take his paine also,
whan he hath layd two places, of Homer
and Virgin^ or of Demosthenes and Tullie
togither, to teach plainlie withall, after
this sort.

1. Tullie reteyneth thus moch of the
matter, thies sentences, thies wordes:

2. This and that he leaueth out, which
he doth wittelie to this end and purpose.

3. This he addeth here.

4. This he diminisheth there.

5. This he ordereth thus, with placing
that here, not there.

6. This he altereth, and changeth, either
in propertie of wordes, in forme of sen-
tence, in substance of the matter, or in one,
or other conuenient circumstance of the
authors present purpose. In thies fewe
rude English wordes, are wrapt vp all the
necessarie tooles and instrumentes, where
with trewe Imitation is rightlie wrought
withall in any tonge. Which tooles, I
openlie confesse, be not of myne owne

242 THE SE COND DO OKE TEA CHYNG

forging, but partlie left vnto me by the
cunni[n]gest Master, and one of the wor-
thiest lentlemen that euer England bred,
Syr John Cheke : partelie borowed by me
out of the shoppe of the dearest "^rende I
haue out of England, lo. St. And there-
fore I am the bolder to borow of him, and
here to leaue them to other, and namelie
to my Children : which tooles, if it please
God, that an other day, they may be able
to vse rightlie, as I do wish and daylie
pray, they may do, I shall be more glad,
than if I were able to leaue them a great
quantitie of land.

This foresaide order and doctrine of
Imitation^ would bring forth more learning,
and breed vp trewer iudgement, than any
other exercise that can be vsed, but not for
yong beginners, bicause they shall not be
able to consider dulie therof. And trewe-
lie, it may be a shame to good studentes
who liauing so faire examples to follow, as
Flato and Tullie^ do not vse so wise waves
in folowing them for the obteyning of
wisdome and learning, as rude ignorant
Artificers do, for gayning a small commod-

THE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 243

itie. For surelie the meanest painter vseth
more witte, better arte, greater diligence,
in hys shoppe, in Mowing the Picture of
any meane mans face, than commonlie the
best studentes do, euen in the vniuersitie,
for the atteining of learning it selfe.

Some ignorant, vnlearned, and idle stu-
dent: or some busie looker vpon this litle
poore booke, that hath neither will to do
good him selfe, nor skill to iudge right of
others, but can lustelie contemne, by pride
and ignorance, all painfull diligence and
right order in study, will perchance say,
that I am to precise, to curious, in mark-
ing and piteling [pidling] thus about the
imitation of others : and that the olde
worthie Authors did neuer busie their
heades and wittes, in folowyng so precise-
lie, either the matter what other men wrote,
or els the maner how other men wrote.
They will say, it were a plaine slauerie,
and iniurie to, to shakkle and tye a good
witte, and hinder the course of a mans
good nature with such bondes of seruitude,
in folowyng other.

Except soch men thinke them selues

244 THE SE COND B 0 OKE TEA CHYNG

wiser then Cicero for teaching of eloquence,
they must be content to turne a new leafe.
The best booke that euer TulUe wrote,
by all mens iudgement, and by liis owne
testimonie to, in vvrytyng wherof, he
employed most care, studie, learnyng and
iudgement, is his booke de Orat. ad Q. F,
Now let vs see, what he did for the matter,
and also for the maner of writing therof.
For the whole booke consisteth in these
two pointes onelie : In good matter, and
good handling of the matter. And first,
for the matter, it is whole Aristotles^ what
so euer Antonie in the second, and Orassus
in the third doth teach. Trust not me,
but beleue Tullie him selfe, who writeth so,
first, in that goodlie long Epistle ad P.
Lentulum^ and after in diuerse places ad
Atticum. And in the verie booke it selfe,
Tullie will not haue it hidden, but both
Catulus and Crassus do oft and pleasantly
lay that stelth to Antonius charge. Now,
for the handling of the matter, was Tullie
so precise and curious rather to follow an
other mans Paterne, than to inuent some
newe shape him selfe, namelie in that

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 245

booke, wherein he purposed, to leaue to
posteritie, the glorie of his witte ? yea for-
soth that lie did. And this is not my
gassing and gathering, nor onelie per-
formed by TulUe in verie deed, but vttered
also by Tull'ie in plaine wordes : to teach
other men thereby, what they should do,
in taking like matter in hand.

And that which is especially to be
marked, Tullie doth vtter plainlie his con-
ceit and purpose therein, by the mouth of
the wisest man in all that companie : for
sayth Scceuola him selfe. Cur non imitamur^
Crasse, Socratem ilium, qui est in Phcedro
Platonis etc.

And furder to vnderstand, that Tullie
did not obiter and bichance, but purposelie
and mindfullie bend him selfe to a precise
and curious Imitation of Plato, concernyng
the shape and forme of those bookes,
marke I pray you, how curious Tullie is to
vtter his purpose and doyng therein, writ-
ing thus to Atticus.

Quod in his Oratories lihris, quos tanto-
pere laudas, personam desideras Scmuolw,
non eam temere dimoui: Sed feci idem.

246 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

quod in TioTiereia Deus ille noster Plato, cum
in Pirceeum Socrates venisset ad Cephalum
locupletem etfestiuum Senem, quoad primus
ille sermo Itaheretur, adest in disputando
senex: Deinde, cum ipse quoque commodis-
sime locutus esset, ad rem diuinam dicit se
velle discedere, neque postea reuertitur.
Credo Platonem vix putasse satis consonum
fore, si hominem. id cetatis in tarn longo ser-
mone diutius retinuisset : Multo ego satius
hoc mihi cauendum putaui in Scoeuola, qui
et cetate et valetudine erat ea qua meministi,
et his honoribus, vt vix satis decorum vide-
retur eum plures dies esse in Crassi Tuscu-
lano. Et erat primi lihri sermo non alienus
a Scoeuoloe studijs : reliqui lihri rexvoloaiav
habent, vt scis. Huic ioculatorice disputa-
tioni senem ilium vt noras, interesse sane
nolui.

If Cicero had not opened liini selfe, and
declared hys owne thought and doynges
herein, men that be idle, and ignorant,
and enuious of other mens diligence and
well doinges, would haue sworne that
Tullie had neuer mynded any soch thing,
but that of a precise curiositie, we fayne

I

THE READ Y WAY TO LA TIN TONG. 247

and forge and father soch thinges of Tullie^
as he neuer ment in deed. I write this,
not for nought: for I haue heard some
both well learned, and otherwayes verie
wise, that by their lustie misliking of soch
diligence, haue drawen back the forward-
nes of verie good wittes. But euen as
such men them selues, do sometymes stum-
ble vpon doyng well by chance and bene-
fite of good witte, so would I haue our
scholer alwayes able to do well by order
of learnyng and right skill of iudgement.

Concernyng Imitation, many learned
men haue written, with moch diuersitie
for the matter, and therfore with great con-
trarietie and some stomacke amongest
them selues. I haue read as many as I
could get diligentlie, and what I thinke of
euerie one of them, I will freelie say my
mynde. With which freedome I trust
good men will beare, bicause it shall tend
to neither spitefull nor harmefull contro-
uersie.

In Tullie^ it is well touched, cicero.

shortlie taught, not fullie declared by AnL
in 2. de Orat : and afterward in Orat, ad

248 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

Brutum^ for the liking and misliking of
Isocrates: and the contrarie iudgement of
Tullie agaynst Caluus, Brutus, and Calid-
ius, de genere dieendi Attico et Asiatico.

DioHalicar. DioTlis. Halic. wept iniirjaeug. I

feare is lost : which Author next Aristotle,
Plato, and Tullie, of all other, that write
of eloquence, by the iudgement of them
that be best learned, deserueth the next
prayse and place.

Quintii. Quintilian writeth of it, short-

ly and coldlie for the matter, yet hotelie
and spitefullie enough, agaynst the Imita-
tion of Tullie.

Erasmus. Urasmus, bcyug more occu-

pied in spying other mens faultes, than
declaryng his owne aduise, is mistaken of
many, to the great hurt of studie, for his
authoritie sake. For he writeth rightlie :
rightlie vnderstanded : he and Longolius
onelie differing in this, that tlie one seem-
eth to giue ouermoch, the other ouer litle,
to him, whom they both, best loued, and
chiefly allov\^ed of all other.
Budseus. Budceus iu his Commentaries

roughlie and obscurelie, after his kinde of

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 249

writyng : and for the matter, caryed some-
what out of the way in ouermoch misliking
the Imitation of Tullie,

Phil. Melanethon, learnedlie Ph. Meianch.
and trewlie. Camerarius large- ^^' ^<^"^^-
ly with a learned iudgement, but sume-
what confusedly, and with ouer rough a
stile.

Samhucus^ largely, with a Sambucus.
right iudgement, but somewhat a crooked
stile.

Other liaue written also, as ^ . .

Cortestus.

Oorteslus to Politian^ and that p.Bembm.
verie well : Bemhus ad Picum a loan stur-
great deale better, but loan. """*'
Sturmius de Nohilitate literata^ et de Amis-
sa dieendi ratione, farre best of all, in
myne opinion, that euer tooke this matter
in hand. For all the rest, declare chiefly
this point, whether one, or many, or all,
are to be folowed: but Sturmius onelie
hath most learnedlie declared, who is to be
folowed, what is to be folowed, and the
best point of all, by what way and order,
trew Imitation is rightlie to be exercised.
And although Sturmius herein doth farre

250 THE SECOND BO OKE TEA CHYNG

passe all other, yet hath he not so fuUie
and perfitelie done it, as I do wishe he had,
and as I know he could. For though he
hath done it perfitelie for precept, yet hath
he not done it perfitelie enough for exam-
ple : which he did, neither for lacke of skill,
nor by negligence, but of purpose, con-
tented with one or two examples, bicause
he was mynded in those two bookes, to
write of it both shortlie, and also had to
touch other matters.

BarthoL Riccius Ferrariensis also hath
written learnedlie, diligentlie and verie
largelie of this matter euen as hee did
before verie well de Apparatu linguce Lat.
He writeth the better in myne opinion,
bicause his whole doctrine, iudgement, and
order, semeth to be borowed out of lo,
Stur. bookes. He addeth also examples,
the best kinde of teaching : wherein he
doth well, but not well enough : in deede,
he committeth no faulte, but yet, deserueth
small praise. He is content with the
meane, and followeth not the best: as a
man, that would feede vpon Acornes, whan
he may eate, as good cheape, the finest

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 251

wheat bread. He teacheth for example,
where and how, two or three late Italian
Poetes do follow Virgil: and how Virgil
him selfe in the storie of Dido^ doth wholie
Imitate Catullus in the like matter of
Ariadna: Wherein I like better his dili-
gence and order of teaching, than his iudge-
ment in choice of examples for Imitation.
But, if he had done thus : if he liad de-
clared where and how, how oft and how
many wayes Virgil doth folow Homer, as
for example the comming of Vlgsses to
Alcgnous and Calgpso, with the comming
oi j^neas to Cartl^Jijage emd Dido: Like-
wise the games running, wrestling, and
shoting, that AcJiilles maketh in Homer,
with the selfe same games, that u^neas
maketh in Virgil : the harnesse of Achilles,
with the harnesse of j^neas, and the maner
of making of them both by Vulcane : The
notable combate betwixt Achilles and Hec-
tor, with as notable a combate betwixt
u^neas and Turmis. The going downe
to hell of Vlgsses in Homer, with the going
downe to hell of ^neas in Virgil: and
other places infinite mo, as similitudes,

252 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

narrations, messages, discriptions of per-
sons, places, battels, tempestes, shipwrackes
and common places for diuerse purposes,
which be as precisely taken out of Homer,
as euer did Pamter in London follow the
picture of any faire personage. And when
thies places had bene gathered together by
this way of diligence than to haue con-
ferred them together by this order of
teaching, as, diligently to marke what is
kept and vsed in either author, in wordes,
in sentences, in matter: what is added:
what is left out : what ordered otherwise,
either prceponendo^ interponendo, or post-
ponendo : And what is altered for any
respect, in word, phrase, sentence, figure,
reason, argument, or by any way of cir-
cumstance : If Riccius had done this, he
had not onely bene well liked, for his dili-
gence in teaching, but also iustlie com-
mended for his right iudgement in right
choice of examples for the best Imitation.

Riccius also for Imitation of prose de-
clareth where and how LongoUus doth
folow Tullie, but as for LongoUus^ I would
not liaue him the patern of our Imitation,

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 253

In deede : in Longolius shoppe, be proper
and faire shewing colers, but, as for shape,
figure, and naturall cumlines, by the iudge-
ment of best iudging artificers, he is rather
allowed as one to be borne withall, than
especially commended, as one chieflie to
be folowed.

If Riccius had taken for his examples,
where Tidlie him selfe foloweth either
Plato or Demosthenes^ he had shot than at
the right marke. But to excuse Riccius^
somwhat, though I can not fiillie defend
him, it may be sayd, his purpose was, to
teach onelie the Latin tong, when thys way
that I do wi-h, to ioyne Virgil with Horner^
to read Tullie with Demosthenes and Plato^
requireth a cunning and perfite Master in
both the tonges. It is my wish in deede,
and that by good reason : For who so euer
will write well of any matter, must labor
to expresse that, that is perfite, and not to
stay and content himselfe with the meane :
yea, I say farder, though it not be vnposi-
ble, yet it is verie rare, and maruelous
hard, to proue excellent in the Latin tong,
for him that is not also well seene in the

254 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

Greeke tong. Tullie him selfe, most excel-
lent of nature, most diligent in labor,
brought vp from his cradle, in that place,
and in that tyme, where and whan the
Latin tong most florished naturallie in
euery mans mouth, yet was not his owne
tong able it selfe to make him so cunning
in his owne tong, as he was in deede : but
the knowledge and Imitation of the Greeke
tong withall.

This he confesseth himselfe : this he
vttereth in many places, as those can tell
best that vse to read him most.

Therefore thou, that shotest at perfec-
tion in the Latin tong, think not thy selfe
wiser than Tullie was, in choice of the way,
that leadeth rightlie to the same : thinke
not thy witte better than Tulliei< ^^ ;is, as
though that may serue thee that was not
sufficient for him. For euen as a hauke
flieth not hie with one wing : euen so a man
reacheth not to excellency with one tong.

I haue bene a looker on in the Cokpit of
learning thies many yeares : And one
Cock onelie haue I knowne, which with
one 'wing, euen at this day, doth passe all

THE RE A DY WAY TO LA TIN TONG. 255

other, in mywQ opinion, that euer I saw in
any pitte in England, though they had two
winges. Yet neuerthelesse, to flie well
with one wing, to runne fast with one leg,
be rather, rare Maistreis moch to be mer-
ueled at, than sure examples safelie to be
folowed. A Bushop that now liueth, a
good man, whose iudgement in Religion I
better like, than his opinion in perfitnes in
other learning, said once vnto me: we
haue no nede now of the Greeke tong,
when all thinges be translated into Latin.
But the good man vnderstood not, that
euen the best translation, is, for mere
necessitie, but an euill imped wing to flie
withall, or a heuie stompe leg of wood to
go withall: soch, the liier they flie, the
sooner they falter and faill : the faster they
runne, the ofter they stumble, and sorer
they fall. Soch as will nedes so flie, may
flie at a Pye, and catch a Dawe : And soch
runners, as commonlie, they shoue and
sholder to stand formost, yet in the end
they cum behind others and deserue but
the hopshakles, if the Masters of the game
be right iudgers.

256 THE SECOND B 0 ORE TEA CHYNG

Therefore in perusing thus, so many
Optima ratio tUuerse bookes for Imitation^ it

profitable booke might be made de Imita-
tione, after an other sort, than euer yet
was attempted of that matter, conteyning
a certaine fewe fitte preceptes, vnto the
which shoulde be gathered and applied
plentie of examples, out of the choisest
authors of both the tonges. This worke
would stand rather in good diligence, for
the gathering, and right iudgement for the
apte applying of those examples : than any
great learning or vtterance at all.

The doing thereof, would be more pleas-
ant, than painfull, and would bring also
moch proffet to all that should read it, and
great praise to him would take it in hand,
with iust desert of thankes.

Erasmus, c^iuynff him selfe to

Erasmus o ^ o

order in iii6 read oucr all Authors Greke
and Latin^ seemeth to haue
prescribed to him selfe this order of read-
yng : that is, to note out by the way, three
speciall pointes: All Adagies, all simili-
tudes, and all wittie sayinges of most nota-

Plato.

Xenophon

Cicero. ■{ Isocrates.

Demosth.

[ Arlstotles.

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 257

ble personages : And so, by one labour, he
left to posteritie, three notable bookes, and
namelie two his Chillades, Apophtliegmata^
and Similia, Likewise, if a good student
would bend him selfe to read diligently
ouer Tullie, and with him also at the same
t3-me, as diligently Plato^
and Xenophon^ with his
bookes of Philosophie, Iso-
crates^ and Demosthenes
with his orations, and Aris-
totle with his Rhetorickes: which fine of
all other, be those, whom Tallle best loued,
and speciallie followed : and would marke
diligently in Tullie^ where he doth expri-
mere or effingere (which be the verie proper
wordes of Imitation) either, Copiam Pla-
tonis or venustatem Xenophontis, suaultatem
Isocratis^ or vim Demosthenes^ propriam et
piiram subtilitatem Aristotelis, and not one-
lie write out the places diligentlie, and lay
them together orderlie, but also to con-
ferre them with skilfiill iudgement by
those few rules, which I haue expressed
now twice before : if that diligence were
taken, if that order were vsed, what per-

258 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACIIYNG

iite knowledge of both the tonges, what
readie and pithie vtte ranee in all matters,
what right and deepe iudgement in all
kinde of learnyng would follow, is scarce
credible to be beleued.

These bookes, be not many, nor long,
nor rude in speach, nor meane in matter,
but next the Maiestie of Gods holie word,
most worthie for a man, the loner of learn-
ing and honestie, to spend his life in. Yea,
1 haue heard worthie M. Cheke many
tynies say : I would haue a good student
passe and iorney through all Authors both
Greke and Latin: but he that will dwell
in these few bookes onelie : first, in Gods
holie Bible, and than ioyne with it, Tullie
in Latin^ Plato, Aristotle : Xenophon :
Isocrates : and Demosthenes in Greke:
tnust nedes proue an excellent man.

Some men alreadie in our dayes, haue
put to their helping handes, to this worke
Perionus. ^^ Imitation. As Perionius,
B.steph. ITenr, Stephanus in dictionario
p. victorius. Ciceroniano, and P. Victorius
most praise worthelie of all, in that his
learned worke conteyning xxy. bookes de

THE READY WAY TO LATIN TONG. 259

varia lectione : in which bookes be ioyned
diligeiitlie together the best Authors of
both the tonges where one doth seeme to
imitate an other.

But all these, with Macrobius, Hessus^
and other, be no more but common porters,
caryers, and bringers of matter and stuffe
togither. They order nothing : They laye
before you what is done : they do not
teach you, how it is done : They busie not
themselues with forme of buildyng : They
do not declare, this stuffe is thus framed
by Demosthenes^ and thus and thus by
Tullie^ and so likewise in Xenophon^ Plato,
and Isocrates and Aristotle. For ioyning
Virgil and Homer I haue sufficientlie de-
clared before.

The like diligence I would Pmdarus.
wish to be taken in Pindar and Horatius.
Horace an equall match for all respectes.

In Tragedies, (the goodliest Argument
of all, and for the vse, either of a learned
preacher, or a Ciuill lentleman, more pro-
fitable than Homer, Pindar, Virgill, and
Hoi^aee : yea comparable in myne opinion,
with the doctrine of Aristotle^ Plato,, and

260 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

Xenophon,} the Grecians^ /Sophocles and
Sophocles. Euripides far ouer match our
Euripides. Seueca in Latin, namely in
Seneca. oiKovofj,ta et Decovo, although Sen-

acaes elocution and verse be verie com-
mendable for his tyme. And for the mat-
ters of Hei'cules^ Thebes, Hippolytus, and
Troie, his Imitation is to be gathered into
the same booke, and to be tryed by the
same touchstone, as is spoken before.

In histories, and namelie in Liuie, the
like diligence of Imitation, could bring
excellent learning, and breede stayde iudge-
ment, in taking any like matter in hand.
Tit. Liuius. Onely Liuie were a sufficient
tasks for one mans studie, to compare him,
first with his fellow for all respectes, Dion,
Dion. Hall- HalicamasscBus : who both lined
cam. -j-^ Qj^g tyme : toke both one his-

toric in hande to write : deserued both like
prayse of learnynge and eloquence. Than
Poiibius. with Polyhius that wise writer,
whom Liuie professeth to follow : and il"
he would denie it, yet it is plaine, that the
best part of the thyrd Decade in Liuie, is
in a maner translated out of the thyrd and

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 261

rest of Polihius: Lastlie with Thucydides^
to whose Imitation Liuie is curi- Thucidides.
ouslie bent, as may well appeare by that
one Oration of those of Campa- j Decad.
nia, asking aide of the Romanes ^^^' "'•
agaynst the Samnites, w^hich is wholie
taken, Sentence, Reason, Argument, and
order, out of the Oration of Coreyra^ asking
like aide of the Athemenses Thucid. lo.
against them of Corinth. If some diligent
student would take paynes to compare
them togither, he should easelie perceiue,
that I do say trew. A booke, thus wholie
filled with examples of Imitation, first out
of Tullie^ compared with Plato^ Xenophon^
Isocrates, Demosthenes and Aristotle : than
out of Virgil and Horace^ with Homer and
Pindar: next out of Seneca with Sopho-
cles and Euripides: Lastlie out of Liuie,
with Thucydides, Polihius and Halicarnas-
sceus, gathered with good diligence, and
compared with right order, as I haue ex-
pressed before, were an other maner of
worke for all kinde of learning, and namely
for eloquence, than be those cold gather-
inges of Macrohius, Hessus, Perionius, Ste-

262 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

phanus, and Victorius, which may be vsed,
as I saj'd before, in this case, as porters
and caryers, deseruing like prayse, as soch
men do wages ; but onely Sturmius is he,
out of whom, the trew suruey and whole
workemanship is speciallie to be learned.

I trust, this my writyng shall giue some
good student occasion, to take some peece
in hand of this worke of Imitation. And
opusde as I had rather haue any do it,

ratione. sclfc rather than none at all.

And by Gods grace, if God do lend me
life, with health, free laysure and libertie,
with good likyng and a merie heart, I will
turne the best part of my studie and tyme,
to toyle in one or other peece of this worke
of Imitation.

This diligence to gather examples, to
giue light and vnderstandyng to good pre-
ceptes, is no new inuention, but speciallie
vsed of tlie best Authors and oldest writers.
Ariatoteiea. For Aristotle him selfe, (as Dioj,
Laertius declareth) when he had written
that goodlie booke of tlie Toplckes^ did
gather out of stories and Onitors, so many

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 263

examples as filled xv. bookes, onelie to
expresse the rules of his Topickes. These
were the Commentaries, that commentarij
Aristotle thoudit fit for hys Graeciet

Latini in

Topickes : And therfore to speake Dialect

T ,1 . 1 T , Aristotelis.

as J thinke, 1 neuer saw yet any
Commentarie vpon Aristotles Logicke,
either in G-reke or Latin, that eiier I lyked,
bicause they be rather spent in declaryng
scholepoynt rules, than in gathering fit
examples for vse and vtterance, either by
pen or talke. For preceptes in all Authors,
and namelie in Aristotle, without applying
vnto them, the Imitation of examples, be
hard, drie, and cold, and therfore barrayn,
vnfruitfull and vnpleasant. But Aristotle,
namelie in his Tojjickes and Elenches,
should be, not onelie fruitfull, but also
pleasant to, if examples out of Plato, and
other good Authors, were diligentlie gath-
ered, and aptlie applied vnto his most
perfite preceptes there. And it Preceptain
is notable, that my frende Stur-

•^ Exempla in

mius writeth herein, that there piafone.
is no precept in Aristotles Topickes, wherof
plentie of examples be not manifest in

264 THE SECOND BOOKS TEACHYNG

Platos workes. And I heare say, that an
excellent learned man, Tomitanus in Ital'te^
hath expressed euerie fallacion in Aristotle^
with diuerse examples out of Plato, Would
to God, I might once see, some worthie
student of Aristotle and Plato in Cam-
brige, that would ioyne in one booke the
preceptes of the one, with the examples of
the other. For such a labor, were one
speciall peece of that worke of Imitation,
which I do w^she were gathered together
in one Volume.

Cambrige, at my first cumming thither,
but not at my going away, committed this
fault in reading the preceptes of Aristotle
without the examples of other Authors:
But herein, in my time thies men of
worthie memorie, M. Redman^ M. Cheke,
M. Smith, M. Iladdon, M. Watson, put so
to their helping handes, as that vniuersitie,
and all students there, as long as learning
shall last, shall be bounde vnto them, if
that trade in studie be trewlie folowed,
which those men left behinde them there.

By this small mention of Cambridge, I
am caryed into three imaginations: first,

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 265

into a sweete remembrance of my tyme
spent there : than, into some carefull
thoughts, for the greuous alteration that
folowed sone after : hastlie, into much ioy
to heare tell, of the good recouerie and
earnest forwardnes in all good learning
there agayne.

To vtter theis my thoughts somwhat
more largelie, ware somwhat beside my
matter, yet not very farre out of the way,
bycause it shall wholy tend to the good
encoragement and right consideration of
learning, which is my full purpose in writ-
ing this litle booke : whereby also shall
well appeare this sentence to be most
trewe, that onelie good men, by their gou-
ernment and example, make happie times,
in euery degree and state.

Doctor Nico. Medcalfe^ that D.mc.
honorable father, was Master of Medcaif.
S. lohnes Colledge, when I came thether :
A man meanelie learned himselfe, but not
meanely affectioned to set forward learn-
ing in others. He found that Colledge
spending scarse two hundred markes by
[the] yeare : he left it spending a thousand

266 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

markes and more. Which he procured,
not with his mon}^, but by his wisdome ;
not chargeablie bought by him, but liberal-
lie geuen by others by his meane, for the
zeale and honor they bare to learning.
And that which is worthy of memorie, all
thies giuers were almost Northenmen : who
being liberallie rewarded in the seruice of
their Prince, bestowed it as liberallie for
the good of their Contrie. Som men
thought therefore, that D. Medcalfe was
parciall to Northrenmen, but sure I am of
this, that Northrenmen were parciall, in
The parciaii- doing more good, and geuing
tie of North- more laudcs to ye forderance of

ern men in S.

Mines col- learning, than any other con-
^ ^^* trie men, in those daj^es, did:

which deede should haue beene, rather an
example of goodnes, for other to folowe,
than matter of malice, for any to enuie, as
some there were that did. Trewly, D.
Medcalfe was parciall to none : but indii-
ferent to all : a master for the whole, a
father to euerie one, in that CoUedge.
There was none so poore, if he had, either
wil in goodnes, or wit to learning, that

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 267

could lacke being there, or should depart
from thence, for any need. I am witnes
my selfe, that mony many times was
brought into yong mens studies by stran-
gers whom they knew not. In which
doing, this worthie Nieolaus folowed the
steppes of good olde S. Nieolaus^ that
learned Bishop. He was a Papist in deede,
but would to God, amonges all ys Protes-
tants I might once see but one, that would
winne like praise, in doing like good, for
the aduauncement of learning and vertue.
And yet, though he were a Papist, if any
yong man, geuen to new learning (as they
termed it) went beyond his fellowes, in
witte, labor, and towardnes, euen the same,
neyther lacked, open praise to encorage
him, nor priuate exhibition to mainteyne
hym, as worthy Syr /. Cheke^ if he were
aliue would beare good witnes and so can
many mo. I my selfe one of the meanest
of a great number, in that Colledge, be-
cause there appeared in me som small shew
of towardnes and diligence, lacked not his
fauor to forder me in learning.

And being a boy, newe Bacheler of arte,

268 THE SECOND B 0 OKE TEA CHYNG

I chanced amonges my companions to
speake against the Pope : which matter
was than in euery mans mouth, bjcause
D. Haines and D. Skippe \vere cum from
the Court, to debate the same matter, by
preaching and disputation in the vniuer-
sitie. This hapned the same tyme, when
I stoode to be felow there : my taulke
came to D. Medcalfes eare ; I was called
before him and the Seniores : and after
greuous rebuke, and some punishment,
open warning was geuen to all the felowes,
none to be so hardie to geue me his voice
at that election. And yet for all those
open threates, the good father liimselfe
priuilie procured, that I should euen than
be chosen felow. But, the election being
done, he made countinance of great discon-
tentation thereat. This good mans L^ood-
nes, and fatherlie discretion, vsed towardes
me that one day, shall neuer out of my
remembrance all tlie dayes of my life.
And for the' same cause, haue I put it
here, in tliis small record (if learning. For
next (iods prounh'iicc, siirtily tluit day,
was 1)\ I hat good fatlicrs meanes, Dies

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 269

natalis^ to me, for the whole foundation of
the poore learning I haue, and of all the
furderance, that hetherto else where I haue
obteyned.

This his goodnes stood not still in one
or two, but flowed aboundantlie ouer all
that CoUedge, and brake out also to
norishe good wittes in euery part of that
vniuersitie : whereby, at this departing
thence, he left soch a companie of fellowes
and scholers in S. lohnes Colledge, as can
scarse be found now in some whole vniuer-
sitie : which, either for diuinitie, on the
one side or other, or for Ciuill seruice to
their Prince and contrie, haue bene, and
are yet to this day, notable ornaments to
this whole Realme : Yea jS. lohnes did then
so florish, as Trinitie college, that Prince-
lie house now, at the first erection, was but
Colonia deducta out of S. lohnes^ not one-
lie for their Master, fellowes, and scholers,
but also, which is more, for their whole,
both order of learning, and discipline of
maners: and yet to this day, it neuer
tooke Master but such as was bred vp
before in S. lohnes : doing the dewtie of a*

270 THE SE COND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

good Oolonia to her Metropolis^ as the
auncient Cities of Grece and some yet in
Italie, at this day, are accustomed to do.

S. lohnes stoode in this state, vntill
those heuie tymes, and that greuous change
that chanced. An. 1553. whan mo perfite
scholers were dispersed from thence in one
moneth, than many yeares can reare vp
Psai.80. againe. For, whan Aper de
Sylua had passed the seas, and fastned his
foote againe in England, not onely the
two faire groues of learning in England
were eyther cut vp, by the roote, or trod-
en downe to the ground and wholie went
to wracke, but the jong spring there, and
euerie where else, was pitifullie nipt and
ouertroden by very beastes, and also the
fairest standers of all, were rooted vp, and
cast into the fire, to the great weakening
euen at this day of Christes Chirch in
England, both for Religion and learning.

And what good could chance than to
the vniuersities, whan som of the greatest,
though not of the wisest nor best learned,
nor best men neither of that side, did labor
to perswade, that ignorance was better

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 271

than knowledge, whicli they ment, nor for
the laitie onelie, but also for the greatest
rable of their spiritualitie, what other pre-
tense openlie so euer they made: and
therefore did som of them at Cambrige
(whom I will not name openlie,) cause
hedge priestes sette oute of the contrie, to
be made fellowes in the vniuersitie : saying,
in their talke priuilie, and declaring by
their deedes openlie, that he was, felow
good enough for their tyme, if he could
were a gowne and a tipet cumlie, and haue
hys crowne shorne faire and roundlie, and
could turne his Portresse and pie readilie :
whiche I speake not to reproue any order
either of apparell, or other dewtie, that
may be well and indifPerentlie vsed, but to
note the miserie of that time, whan the
benefites prouided for learning were so
fowlie misused. And what was the frute
of this seade ? Verely, iudgement in doc-
trine was wholy altered : order in disci-
pline very sore changed : 'the loue of good
learning, began sodenly to wax cold: the
knowledge of the tonges (in spite of some
that therein had florished) was manifestly

272 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNO-

contemned : and so, ye way of right studie
purposely peruerted: the choice of good
authors of mallice confownded. Olde soph-
istrie (I say not well) not olde, but that
new rotten sophistrie began to beard and
sholder logicke in her owne tong : yea, I
know, that heades were cast together, and
counsell deuised, that Duns, with all the
rable of barbarous questionistes, should
haue dispossessed of their place and rowmes,
Aristotle, Plato, Tullie, and Demosthenes,
when good M. Redman, and those two
worthy starres of that vniuersitie, M.
Cheke and M. Smith, with their scholers,
had brought to ilorishe as notable in Cam-
Aristoteies. brigc, as cucr they did in Grece
Cicero. ^^^ ^^^ Italic : and for the doc-

Dejnosf. trine of those fowre, the fowre

pillers of learning, Cambrige than geuing
place to no vniuersitie, neither in France,
Spaine, Germanic, nor Italic. Also in out-
ward behauiour, than began siiupluiiie in
apparell, to be lavd aside. Courtlie gal-
antnes to be talscn vp : frugalitie in diet
was priuately misliked: Towne going to
shoting. good cheare opcnlic vscd; hon-

THE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 273

est pastimes, ioyned with labor, left of in
the fiekles : vnthrifty and idle games
haunted corners, and occupied the nightes :
contention in youth, no where for learning :
factions in the elders euery where for tri-
fles : All which miseries at length, by Gods
prouidence, had their end 16. Nouemh,
1558. Since which tyme, the young spring
hath shot vp so faire, as now there be in
Cambrige againe, many goodly plantes (as
did well appeare at the Queenes Maiesties
late being there) which are like to grow to
mightie great timber, to the honor of
learning, and great good of their contrie,
if they may stand their tyme, as the best
plantes there were wont to do : and if
som old dotterell trees, with standing ouer
nie them, and dropping vpon them, do not
either hinder, or crooke their growing,
wherein my feare is ye lesse, seing so
worthie a Justice of an Oyre hath the
present ouersight of that whole chace, who
was himself e somtym, in the fairest spring
that euer was there of learning, one of the
forwardest yong plantes, in all that worthy
College of S. lohnes : who now by grace is

214: THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

growne to socli greatnesse, as, in the tem-
perate and quiet shade of his wisdome,
next the prouidence of God, and goodnes
of one, in theis our daies, Religio for sin-
ceritie, literce for order and aduauncement,
Bespub. for happie and quiet gouernment,
haue to great rejoj^sing of all good men,
speciallie reposed them selues.

Now to returne to that Question, whether
one, a few, many or all, are to be followed,
my aunswere shalbe short : All for him
that is desirous to know all : yea, the worst
of all, as Questionistes, and all the barbar-
ous nation of scholemen, helpe for one or
other consideration : But in euerie sepa-
rate kinde of learning and studie, by it
selfe, ye must follow, choselie a few, and
chieflie some one, and that namelie in our
schole of eloquence, either for penne or
talke. And as in portracture and paintyng
wise men chose not that workman, that
can onelie make a faire hand, or a well
facioned legge, but soch [a] one, as can
furnish vp fullie, all the fetures of the
whole body, of a man, woman and child:
and with all is able to, by good skill, to

THE READY WA Y TO LATIN TONG. 275

giue to euerie one of these three, in their
proper kinde, the right forme, the trew
figure, the naturall color, that is fit and
dew, to the dignitie of a man, to the bew-
tie of a woman, to the sweetnes of a yong
babe : euen likewise, do we seeke soch one
in oar schole to folow, who is able alwayes,
in all matters, to teach plainlie, to delite
pleasantlie, and to cary away by force of
wise talke, all that shall heare or reade
him ; and is so excellent in deed, as witte
is able, or wish can hope, to attaine vnto :
And this not onelie to serue in the Latin
or Grreke tong, but also in our own Eng-
lish language. But yet, bicause the proui-
dence of God hath left vnto vs in no other
tong, saue onelie in the Greke and Latin
tong, the trew preceptes, and perfite exam-
ples of eloquence, therefore must we seeke
in the Authors onelie of those two tonges,
the trewe Paterne of Eloquence, if in any
other mother tongue we looke to attaine,
either to perfit vtterance of it our selues,
or skilfull iudgement of it in others.

And now to know, what Author doth
medle onelie with some one peace and

276 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

member of eloquence, and who doth per-
fitelie make vp the whole bodie, I will
declare, as I can call to remembrance the
goodlie talke, that I haue had ot'tentymes,
of the trew difference of Authors, with
that lentleman of worthie memorie, my
dearest frend, and teacher of all the litle
poore learning I haue, Syr lohn Cheke.

The trewe difference of Authors is best
knowne, per diuersa genera dicendi^ that
euerie one vsed. And therefore here I
will deuide genus dicendi, not into these
three, Tenue^ mediocre^ et grande^ but as
the matter of euerie Author requireth, as

in Genus ■

Poeticum.
Historicum.
Philosophicum.
Oratorium,

These differre one from an other, in
choice of wordes, in framyng of Sentences,
in handling of Argumentes, and vse of
right forme, figure, and number, proper
and fitte for euerie matter, and euerie one
of these is diuerse also in it selfe, as the
first.

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 277

Poeticum^ in

Comicum.
Tragicum.
Epicum.
Melicum,

And here, who soeuer hath bene diligent
to read aduisedlie ouer, Terence^ Seneca^
Virgil^ Horace^ or els Aristophanus^ Sopho-
cles, Homer, and Pindar, and shall dili-
gently marke the difference they vse, in
proprietie of wordes, in forme of sentence,
in handlyng of their matter, he shall ease-
lie perceiue, what is fitte and decorum in
euerie one, to the trew vse of perlite Imi-
tation. Whan M. Watson in S. lohns
College at Cambrige wrote his excellent
Tragedie of Ahsalon, M, Cheke, he and I,
for that part of trew Imitation, had many
pleasant talkes togither, in comparing the
preceptes of Aristotle and Horace de Arte
Poetica, with the examples of Euripides,
Sophocles, and Seneca. Few men, in writ-
jng of Tragedies in our dayes, haue shot
at this marke. Some in England, moe in
France, Germanic, and Italic, also haue
written Tragedies in our tyme : of the

278 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

which, not one I am sure is able to abyde
the trew touch of Aristotles preceptes, and
Euripides examples, saue onely two, that
euer I saw, M. Watsons Ahsalon, and Greor-
gius Buchananus lephthe. One man in
Cambrige, well liked of many, but best
liked of him selfe, was many tymes bold
and busie, to bryng matters vpon stages,
which he called Tragedies. In one, wher-
by he looked to wynne his spurres, and
whereat many ignorant felowes fast clapped
their handes, he began the Protasis with
Trochoeijs Octonarijs : which kinde of verse,
as it is but seldome and rare in Tragedies,
so is it neuer vsed, save onelie in Epitasi:
whan the Tragedie is hiest and botes t, and
full of greatest troubles. I remember ful
well what M. Watson merelie sayd vnto me
of his blindnesse and boldnes in that
behalfe although otherwise, there passed
much frendship betwene them. M. Wat-
son had an otlier maner [of] care of per-
fection, with a feare and reuerence of the
iudgeraent of the best learned: Who to
this day would nouer suffer, yet his Ahsalon
to go abroad, and that onelie, bicause, in

THE READY WA Y TO LATIN TONG. 279

locis paribus, Anapestus is twise or thrise
vsed in stede of Iambus. A smal faulte,
and such [a] one, as perchance would
neuer be marked, no neither in Italie nor
France. This I write, not so much, to note
the first, or praise the last, as to. leaue in
memorie of writing, for good example to
posteritie, what perfection, in any tyme,
was, most diligentlie sought for in like
maner, in all kiiide of learnyng, in that
most worthie College of S. lohns in Cam-
brige.

Diaria.
Annales.
Commentarios,
lustam Historiam.

Historicum in

For what proprietie in wordes, simplici-
tie in sentences, plainnesse and light, is
cumelie for these kindes, Ccesar and Liuie,
for the two last, are perfite examples of
Imitation : And for the two first, the old
paternes be lost, and as for some that be
present and of late tyme, they be fitter to
be read once for some pleasure, than oft to
be persued, for any good Imitation of them.

280 THE SECOND BO OKE TEA CHYNG

Philosophicum in •

Sermonem, as officia
Cie. et Eth. ArisL

Contentionem,

As, the Dialoges of Plato, Xenophon,
and Cicero : of which kinde of learnyng,
and right Imitation therof, Carolus Sigo-
nius hath written of late, both learnedlie
and eloquentlie : but best of all my frende
loan Sturmius in hys Commentaries vpon
Gorgias Platonis, which booke I haue in
writyng, and is not yet set out in Print.

iHumile.
Mediocre,
Sublime,

Examples of these three, in the Greke
tong, be plentifull and perfite, as Lycias,
Isocrates, and Demosthenes : and all three,
in onelie Demosthenes, in diuerse orations
as contra Olimpiodorum, in Leptinem, et
pro Ctesiphonte. And trew it is, that ITe?'-
mogenes writeth of Demosthenes, that all
formes of Eloquence be perfite in him. In
Ciceroes Orations, Medium et sublime be
most excellentlie handled, but Hiimile in
liis Orations is seldome seue. Yet neuer-

THE READ Y WAY TO LA TIN TONG. 281

thelesse in other bookes, as in some part of
his offices, and specially in Partitionihus^
he is comparable in hoc humili et disciplin-
ahili genere^ euen with the best that euer
wrote in G-reke. But of Cicero more fullie
in fitter place. And thus, the trew differ-
ence of stiles, in euerie Author, and euerie
kinde of learnyng may easelie be knowne
by this diuision.

in Grenus

Poeticum.
Historicum.
Philosophicum.
Oratorium.

Which I thought in this place to touch
onelie, not to prosecute at large, bicause,
God willyng, in the Latin tong, I will
fullie handle it, in my booke de Imitatione.

Now, to touch more particularlie, which
of those Authors, that be now most com-
monlie in mens handes, will sone affourd
you some peece of Eloquence, and what
maner a peece of eloquence, and what
is to be liked and folowed, and what to be
misliked and eschewed in them : and how
some agayne will furnish you fullie withall.

282 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

rightly, and wiselie considered, somwhat I
will write as I haiie heard Syr loJin Cheke
many tymes say.

The Latin tong, concerning any part of
purenesse of it, from the spring, to the
decay of the same, did not endure moch
longer, than is the life of a well aged man,
scarse one hundred yeares from the tyme
of the last Scipio Africanus and Lcelius, to
the Empire of Augustus, And it is notable,
that Vellius Pater cuius writeth of TulUe,
how that the perfection of eloquence did so
remayne onelie in him and in his time, as
before him, were few, which might moch
delight a man, or after him any, worthy
admiration, but soch as Tullie might haue
scene, and such as might haue scene Tullie.
And good cause why : for no perfection is
durable. Encrease hath a time, and decay
likewise, but all perfit ripenesse remaineth
but a moment: as is plainly seen in fruits,
plummes and cherries : but more sensibly
in flowers, as Roses and such like, and yet
as trewlie in all greater matters. For what
natiinillie, can go no hier, must naturallie
yeld and stoupe againe.

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 283

Of this short tyme of any purenesse of
the Latin tong, for the first fortie yeare of
it, and all the tyme before, we haue no
peece of learning left, saue Plautus and
Terence^ with a litle rude vnperfit pamflet
of the elder Cato. And as for Plautus^
except the scholemaster be able to make
wise and ware choice, first in proprietie of
wordes, than in framing of Phrases and
sentences, and chieflie in choice of honest-
tie of matter, your scholer were better to
play, than learne all that is in him. But
surelie, if iudgement for the tong, and
direction for the maners, be wisel}^ ioyned
with the diligent reading of Plautus, than
trewlie Plautus^ for that purenesse of the
Latin tong in Rome, whan Rome did most
florish in wel doing, and so thereby, in well
speaking also, is soch a plentifull store-
ho[u]se, for common eloquence, in raeane
matters, and all priuate mens affaires, as
the Latin tong, for that respect, hath not
the like agayne. Whan I remember the
worthy tyme of Rome, wherein Plautus
did line, I must nedes honor the talke of
that tyme, which we see Plautus doth vse.

284 THE SE COND B 0 ORE TEA CHYNG

Terence is also a storehouse of the same
tong, for an other tyme, following soone
after, and although he be not so full and
plentiful as Plautus is, for multitude of
matters, and diuersitie of wordes, yet his
wordes, be chosen so purelie, placed so
orderly, and all his stuffe so neetlie packed
vp, and wittely compassed in euerie place,
as, by all wise mens iudgement, he is
counted the cunninger workeman, and to
haue his shop, for the rowme that is in it,
more finely appointed, and trimlier ordered,
than Plautus is.

Three thinges chiefly, both in Plautus
and Terence, are to be specially considered.
The matter, the vtterance, the words, the
meter. The matter in both, is altogether
within the compasse of the meanest mens
maners, and doth not stretch to any thing
of any great weight at all, but standeth
chiefly in vtteryng the thoughtes and con-
ditions of hard fathers, foolish mothers,
vntlirifty yong men, craftie seruantes, sotle
bawdes, and wilie harlots, and so, is mocli
spent, in finding out fine fetches, and pack-
ing vp jielliiinr imittors, socli as in London

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 285

commonlie cum to the hearing of the Mas-
ters of Bridewell. Here is base stufPe for
til at scholer, that should be cum hereafter,
either a good minister in Religion, or a
Ciuill lentleman in seruice of his Prince
and contrie : except the preacher do know
soch matters to confute them, whan igno-
rance surelie in all soch thinges were better
for a Ciuill lentleman, than knowledge.
And thus, for matter, both Plautus and
Terence^ be like meane painters, that worke
by halfes, and be cunning onelie, in making
the worst part of the picture, as if one
were skilfull in painting the bodie of a
naked person, from the nauell downward,
but nothing else.

For word and speach, Plautus is more
plentifull, and Terence more pure and
proper : And for one respect, Terence is to
be embraced aboue all that euer wrote in
hys kinde of argument: Bicause it is well
known, by good recorde of learning, and
that by Ciceroes owne witnes that some
Comedies bearyng Terence name, were
written by worthy Scipio, and wise Lcelius,
and namely Heauton : and Adelphi. And

286 THE SE COND BO ORE TEA CIIYNG

therefore as oft as I reade those Comedies,
so oft doth sound in myne eare, the pure
fine talke of Rome, which was vsed by the
floure of the worthiest nobilitie that euer
Rome bred. Let the wisest man, and best
learned that liueth, read aduisedlie ouer,
the first scene of Heauton^ and the first
scene of Adelphi, and let him considerat-
lie iudge, whether it is the talke of a ser-
uile stranger borne, or rather euen that
milde eloquent wise speach, which Cicero
in Brutus doth so liuely expresse in Lcelius,
And yet neuerthelesse, in all this good
proprietie of wordes, and purenesse of
phrases which be in Terence^ ye must not
follow him alwayes in placing of them,
bicause for the meter sake, some wordes in
him, somtyme, be driuen awrie, which
require a straighter placing in plaine prose,
if ye will forme, as I would ye should do,
your speach and writing, to that excellent
perfitnesse, which was onely in Tidlie, or
onelie in Tullles tyme.

The meter and verse of Plautus and
Terence be verie meane, and not to be
followed : which is not their reproch, but

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 287

the faulte of the t3aiie, wherein they wrote,
whan no kinde of Poetrie, in the Latin
tong, was brought to perfection, as doth
well appeare in the fragmentes of Unnius,
Cerilius, and others, and euiden[t]lie in
Plautus and Terence, if thies in Latin be
compared with right skil, with Homer,
Euripides, Aristophanes, and other in
Greeke of like sort. Cicero him selfe doth
complaine of this vnperfitnes, but more
plainly Quintilian, saying, in Comoedia
maxime claudicamus, et vix leuem conse-
quimur vmhram : and most earnestly of all
Horace in Arte Poetica, which he doth
namely propter carmen lambicum, and re-
ferreth all good studentes herein to the
Imitation of the Greeke tong, saying.

Exemplaria G-rceca
nocturna versate manu, versate diurna.

This matter maketh me gladly remember,
my sweete tyme spent at Cambrige, and
the pleasant talke which I had oft with M.
Cheke, and M. Watson, of this fault, not
onely in the olde Latin Poets, but also in
our new English Rymers at this day. They

288 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

wished as Virgil and Horace were not
wedded to follow the faiiltes of former
fathers (a shrewd mariage in greater mat-
ters) but by right Imitation of the perfit
Grecians, had brought Poetrie to perfit-
nesse also in the Latin tong, that we Eng-
lishmen likewise would acknowledge and
vnderstand rightfully our rude beggerly
ryming, brought first into Italic by Gothes
and Hunnes^ whan all good verses and all
good learning to, were destroyed by them :
and after caryed into France and Germanic :
and at last reccyued into England by men
of excellent wit in deede, but of small
learning, and lesse iudgement in that
behalf e.

But now, when men know the difference,
and haue the examples, both of the best,
and of the worst, surelie, to follow rather
the Gothes in Ryming, than the Greekes
in trew versifiyng, were euen to eate
ackornes with swyne, when we may freely
eate wheate bread emonges men. In deede,
Chauser, Th, Norton^ of Bristow, my L. of
Surrey, M. Wiat, Th. Fhaer^ and other
lentleman, in translating Guide, PaHngen-

THE READY WA Y TO LATIN TONG. 289

ius and Seneca^ haue gonne as farre to
their great praise, as the copie they fol-
lowed could cary them, but, if soch good
wittes, and forward diligence, had bene
directed to follow the best examples, and
not haue bene caryed by tyme and custome,
to content themselues with that barbarous
and rude Ryming, emonges their other
worthy praises, which they haue iustly
deserued, this had not bene the least, to
be counted emonges men of learning and
skill, more like vnto the Grecians, than
vnto the Gothians, in handling of their
verse.

In deed, our English tong, hauing in
vse chiefly, wordes of one syllable which
commonly be long, doth not well receiue
the nature of Carmen Heroicum, bicause
dactt/lus, the aptest foote for that verse,
conteining one long and two short, is sel-
dom therefore found in English: and doth
also rather stumble than stand vpon 3Iona-
syllahis, Quintilian in hys learned Chapi-
ter de Compositione^ geueth this
lesson de Monasyllahis^ before
me : and in the same place doth iustlie inuey

290 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

against all Ryming, if there be any, who
be angrie with me, for misliking of Ryming,
may be angry for company to, with Quin-
tilian also, for the same thing : And yet
Qumtilian had not so iust cause to mislike
of it than, as men haue at this day.

And although Carmen Exametrum doth
rather trotte and hoble, than runne smothly
in our English tong, yet I am sure, our
English tong will receiue carmen lamhicum
as naturallie, as either Greke or Latin.
But for ignorance, men can not like, and
for idlenes, men will not labor, to cum to
any perfitnes at all. For, as the worthie
Poetes in Athens and Rome,, were more
carefull to satisfie the iudgement of one
learned, than rashe in pleasing the humor
of a rude multitude, euen so if men in
England now, had the like reuerend regard
to learning skill and iudgement, and durst
not presume to write, except they came
with the like learnyng, and also did vse
like diligence, in searchyng out, not onelie
iust measure in euerie meter, as euerie
ignorant person may easely do, but also
trew quantitie in euery foote and sillable,

THE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 291

as onelie tlie learned slialbe able to do,
and as the Grekes and Romanes were wont
to do, surelie than rash ignorant heads,
which now can easely recken vp fourteen
sillabes, and easelie stumble on euery Ryme,
either durst not, for lacke of such learnyng :
or els would not, in auoyding such labor,
be so busie, as euerie where they
be: and shoppes in London
should not be so full of lewd and rude
rymes, as commonlie they are. But now,
the ripest of tonge, be readiest to write:
And many dayly in setting out bookes and
bal[l]ettes make great shew of blossomes
and. buddes, in whom is neither, roote of
learning, nor frate of wisedome at all.
Some that make Chaucer in English and
Petrarch in Italian^ their Gods in verses,
and yet be not able to make trew differ-
ence, what is a fault, and what is a iust
prayse, in those two worthie wittes, will
moch mislike this my writyng. But such
men be euen like followers of Chaucer and
Petrarhe^ as one here in England did folow
Syr Tho, Ilore : who, being most vnlike
vnto him, in wit and learnyng, neuertheles

292 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

ill wearing liis gowne awrye vpon the one
shoulder, as Syr Tho. More was wont to
do, Avould iiedes be counted lyke vnto him.

This mislikyng of Ryming, beginneth
not now of any newfangle singularitie, but
hath bene long misliked of many, and that
of men, of greatest leariiyng, and deepest
iudgement. And soch, that defend it, do
so, either for lacke of knowledge what is
best, or els of verie enuie, that any should
performe that in learnyng, whereunto they,
as I sayd before, either for ignorance, can
not, or for idlenes will not, labor to attains
vnto.

And you that prayse this Ryming, bi-
cause ye neither haue reason, why to like
it, nor can shew learning to defend it, yet
I will lielpe you, with the authoritie of the
oldest and learnedst tyme. In Grece^
whan Poetrie was eueii at the hiest pitch
of perfitnes, one SlnDiiina Txliodius of a
certaine singularitie wrote a booke in
ryming GreJce verses, naming it <^"^ con-
teyning the fable, 1h>\v liii>ilcr in liknics
of a swan, gat that Q'^^^^ vpon Lcda^ wliere-
of came Cantor^ Pollux iwidiwh'a \^H~\elena.

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 293

This booke was so liked, that it had few to
read it, but none to folow it : But was pre-
sentlie contemned : and sone after, both
Author and booke, so forgotten by men,
and consumed by tyme, as scarce the name
of either is kept in memorie of learnyng :
And the like folic was neuer folowed of
any, many hondred yeares after vntill ye
Hunnes and Gothians, and other barbarous
nations, of ignorance and rude singularitie,
did reuiue the same folic agayne.
The noble Lord TJi. Earle of

The Earle of

Surrey, first of all English men, Surrey,
in translating the fourth booke Gonsaiuo
of Virgin : and Gonsaiuo Periz
that excellent learned man, and Secretarie
to kyng Philip of Spaine, in translating
the Vlisses of Homer out of G-reke into
Spanish, haue both, by good iudgement,
auoyded the fault of Ryming, yet neither
of them hath fuUie hit[t]e perfite and trew
versifying. In deed, they obserue iust
number, and euen feete : but here is the
fault, that their feete: be feete without
ioyntes, that is to say, not distinct by trew
quan title of sillabes : And so, soch feete,

294 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

be but numme [benummed] feete : and be,
eiien as vnfitte for a verse to turne and
runne roundly witliall, as feete of brasse
or wood be vnweeldie to go withall. And
as a foote of wood, is a plaine shew of a
manifest maime, euen so feete, in our Eng-
lish versifing, without quantitie and ioyntes,
be sure signes, that the verse is either,
borne deformed, vnnaturall and lame, and
so verie vnseemlie to looke vpon, except
to men that be gogle eyed them selues.

The spying of this fault now is not the
curiositie of English eyes, but euen the
good iudgement also of the best that write
in these dayes in Italie: and namelie ot
Senese Felice ^^at wortliie Senese Felice Fig-
Fujhncci. llncei, who, writyng vpon Aris-
totles FtJdcJces so excellentlie in Italian, as
neuer did yet any one in myne opinion
either in Greke or Latin, amongest other
thynges doth most earnestlie inuey agaynst
the rude ryming of verses in that tong:
And whan soeuer he expressed Aristotles
preceptes, with any example, out of Homer
or Euripides, he translate th them^ not
after the llymes of Petrarke, but into soch

THE READY WAY TO LATIN TONG. 295

kinde of perfite verse, with like feete and
qiiantitie of sillabes, as he found them
before in the Greke tonge : exhortyng ear
nestlie all the Italian nation, to leaue of
their rude barbariousnesse in ryming, and
folow diligently the excellent G-reke and
Latin examples, in trew versifying.

And you, that be able to vnderstand no
more, then ye finde in the Italian tong:
and neuer went farder than the schole of
Petrarke and Ariostus abroad, or els of
Chaucer at home, though you haue pleas-
ure to wander blindlie still in your soule
wrong way, enuie not others, that seeke, as
wise men haue done before them, the fair-
est and Tightest way : or els, beside the iust
reproch of malice, wisemen shall trcAvlie
iudge, that you do so, as I haue sayd and
say yet agayne vnto you, bicause, either,
for idlenes ye will not, or for ignorance ye
can not, cum by no better your selfe.

And therfore euen as Virgill and Horace
deserue most worthie prayse, that they
spying the vnperfitnes in Unnius and Plau-
tus, by trew Imitation of Homer and Uuri-
pides, brought Poetrie to the same perfit-

296 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

nes in Latin, as it was in Greke, euen so
those, that by the same way would bene-
fite their tong and contrey, deserue rather
thankes than disprayse in that behalfe.

And I reioyce, that euen poore England
preuented Italie, first in spying out, than
in seekyng to amend this fault in learnyng.

And here, for my pleasure I purpose a
litle, by the way, to play and sporte with
my Master TuUi/ : from whom commonlie
I am neuer wont to dissent. He him selfe,
for this point of learnyng, in his verses doth
halt a litle by his leaue. He could not
denie it, if he were aliue, nor those defend
hym now that loue him best. This fault I
lay to his charge : bicause once it pleased
him, thoucrh somwhat merelie,

Tulliessay- *^

iiigagainfet yet oucruncurteslie, to rayle
"^*" ■ vpon poore England, obiecting
both, extreme beggerie, and mere barbari-
ousnes vnto it, writyng thus vnto his frend
Ad Att. Lib. Atticu8 : There is not one scruple
iv. Ep. 16. q£ siiiiei- iij that whole Isle, or any
one that knoweth either learnyng or letter.
But now master Cicero^ blessed be God,
and his sonne lesus Christ, whom you neuer

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 297

knew, except it were as it pleased him to
lighten you by some shadow, as couertlie
in one place ye confesse saying : Veritatis
tantum vmhram consectamur, as your Master
Plato did before you: blessed Offic.

be God, I say, that sixten hundred yeare
after you were dead and gone, it may
trewly be sayd, that for siluer, there is
more cumlie plate, in one Citie of Eng-
land, than is in foure of the proudest Cities
in all Italie, and take Home for one of
them. And for learnyng, beside the knowl-
edge of all learned tongs and liberall
sciences, euen your owne bookes Cicero,
be as well read, and your excellent elo-
quence is as well liked and loued, and as
trewlie folowed in England at this day, as
it is now, or euer was, sence your owne
tyme, in any place of Italie either at Arpi-
num, where ye w^ere borne, or els at Eome
where ye were brought vp. And a litle to
brag with you Cicero, where you your
selfe, by your leaue, halted in some point
of learnyng in your owne tong, many in
England at this day go streight vp, both
in trewe skill, and right doing therein.

298 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

This 1 write, not to reprehend TulUe,
whom, aboue all other, I like and loue best,
but to excuse Terence, because in his
tyme, and a good while after, Poetrie was
neuer perfited in Latin, vntill by trew
Imitation of the Grecians, it was at length
brought to perfection: And also thereby
to exhorte the goodlie wittes of England,
which apte by nature, and willing by desire,
geue them selues to Poetrie, that they,
rightly vnderstanding the barbarous bring-
ing in of Rymes, would labor, as Virgil and
Horace did in Latin, to make perfit also
this point of learning, in our English tong.

And thus much for Plautus and Terence,
for matter, tong, and meter, what is to be
followed, and what to be exchewed in them.

After Plautus and Terence, no writing
remayneth vntill Tullies tyme, except a
fewe short fragmentes of L. Crassus excel-
lent wit, here and there recited of Cicero
for example sake, whereby the louers of
learnyng may the more lament the losse of
soch a worthie witte.

And although the Latin tong did faire
blome and blossome in L. Crassus, and

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 299

M. Antonius, yet in Tullies tyme onely,
and in Tullie himselfe chieflie, was the
Latin tong fullie ripe, and grovvne to the
hiest pitch of all perfection.

And yet in the same tyme, it began to
fade and stoupe, Tullie him selfe, in Brutus
de Claris Oratoribus, with weeping wordes
doth witnesse.

And bicause, emong[e]st them of that
tyme, there was some difference, good rea-
son is, that of them of that tyme, should
be made right choice also. And yet let
the best Ciceronian in Italic read Tullies
familiar epistles aduisedly ouer, and I
beleue he shall finde small difference, for
the Latin tong, either in propriety of
wordes or framing of the stile, betwixt
Tullie^ and those that write vnto him. As
Ser. Sulpitius, A. Cecinna^ M. Ccelis, M. et
D. Bruti, A. Pollia^ L. Plan-

Epi. Planci.

X. lib. Epist. eus^ and diuerse other : read the
epistles of L. P'ancus in x. Lib,
and for an assaj^ that Epistle namely to
the Co[7i\ss. and whole Senate^ the eight
Epistle in number, and what could be,
eyther more eloquentlie, or more wiselie

300 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

written, yea by Tullie liimselfe, a man may
iiistly doubt. Thies men and Tullie^ lined
all in one tyme, were like in authoritie,
not vnlike in learning and studie, which
might be lust causes of this their equalitie
in writing: And yet surely, they neyther
were in deed, nor yet were counted in mens
opinions, equall with Tullie in that facultie.
And how is the difference hid in his Epis-
tles ? verelie, as the cunning of an expert
Seaman, in a faire calme fresh Ryuer, doth
litle differ from the doing of a meaner
workman therein, euen so, in the short cut
of a priuate letter, where, matter is com-
mon, wordes easie, and order not moch
diuerse, small shew of difference can ap-
peare. But where Tullie doth set vp his
saile of eloquence, in some broad deep
Argument, caried with full tyde and winde,
of his witte and learnyng, all other may
rather stand and looke after him, than
hope to ouertake him, what course so euer
he hold, either in faire or foule. Foure
men onely whan the Latin tong was full
ripe, be left vnto vs, who in that tyme did
florish, and did leaue to posteritie, the

THE READ Y WAY TO LA TIN TONG. 301

fruite of their witte and learning : Varro^
Salust^ Ccesar^ and Cicero. Whan I say,
these foure onely, I am not ignorant, that
euen in the same tyme, most excellent
Poetes, deseruing well of the Latin tong,
as Lucretius^ Catullus^ Vinjill and Horace^
did write : But, bicause, in this litle booke,
I purpose to teach a yong scholer, to go,
not to daunce : to speake, not to sing,'
(whan Poetes in deed, namelie Epici and
Lyrici^ as these be, are line dauncers, and
trime singers,) but Oratores and Historici^
be those cumlie goers, and faire and wise
speakers, of whom I wishe my scholer to
wayte vpon first, and after in good order,
and dew tyme, to be brought forth, to the
singing and dauncing schole : And for this
consideration, do I name these foure, to be
the onelie writers of that tyme.

IT Varro.

Varro, in his bookes de lingua Varro.

Latina^ et Analogia as these be left man-
gled and patched vnto vs, doth not enter
there in to any great depth of eloquence,
but as one caried in a small low vessel him

302 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

selfe verie nie the common shore, not much
vnlike the fisher men of Kye, and Hermg
men of Yarmouth. Who deserue by com-
mon mens opinion, small commendacion,
for any cunning sa[y]ling at all, yet neuer-
theles in those bookes of Varro good and
necessarie stuffe, for that meane kinde of
Argument, be verie well and learnedlie
gathered togither.

De Rep. ^is bookcs of Husbandric, are

Rustica. moch to be regarded, and dili-
gentlie to be read, not onelie for the pro-
prietie, but also for the plentie of good
wordes, in all contrey and husbandmens
affaires : which can not be had, by so good
authoritie, out of any other Author, either
of so good a tyme, or of so great learnyng,
as out of Varro. And yet bicause, he was
fourscore yeare old, whan he wrote those
bookes, the forme of his style there com-
pared with Tullies writyng, is but euen
the talke of a spent old man : whose wordes
conimonlie fall out of his mouth, though
verie wiselie, yet hardly and coldie, and
more heauelie also, than some eares can
well beare, except onlie for age, and

THE RE A D Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 303

authorities sake. And perchance, in a
rude contrey argument, of purpose and
iudgement, he rather vsed, the speach of
the contrey, than talke of the Citie.

And so, for matter sake, his wordes some-
tyme, be somewhat rude : and by the imi-
tation of the elder Cato, old and out of vse :
And beyng depe stept in age, by negli-
gence some wordes do so [e] scape and fall
from him in those bookes, as be not worth
the taking vp, by him, that is careful! to
speak or write trew Latin, as that sentence
in him, Romania in pace a rus- Lib. 3. Cap. i.
ticis alehantur^ et in hello ah his tuehantur.
A good student must be therfore careful!
and diligent, to read with iudgement ouer
euen those Authors, which did write in
the most perfite tyme : and let him not be
affrayd to trie them, both in proprietie of
wordes, and forme of style, by the touch
stone of Caesar and Cicero^ whose puritie
was neuer foiled, no not by the sentence of
those, that loued them worst.

All loners of learnyng may _^ ,

•^ o '' Theloueof

sore lament the losse of those warroes
boolves of Varro, which he wrote

301 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CIIYNG

in his yong and lustie yeares, with good
leysure, and great learnyng of all partes of
Philosophie : of the goodliest argumentes,
pertej'ning both to the common wealth,
and priuate life of man, as, de Ratione
studij\ et edueandis liheris^ which booke, is
oft recited, and moch praysed, in the frag-
mentes of Nonius^ euen for authoritie sake.
He wrote most diligentlie and largelie, also
the whole historic of the state of Rome :
the mysteries of their whole Religion:
their lawes, customes, and gouernement in
peace : their maners, and whole discipline
in warre : And this is not my gessing, as
one in deed that neuer saw those bookes,
but euen, the verie iudgement, and playne
testimonie of TuUle him selfe, who knew
and read those bookes, in these wordes:
Tu cetatem Patrice: Tu descriptiones tem-
porum: Tusacrorum^tusacerdotumlura: Tu
domesticam^ tu hellicam disciplinam : Tu
sedem Regionum^ locorum, tu omnium di-
uinarum hamanarumque rerum nomina^
In Acad. genera^ officia^ eausas aperuuti.
Q**®"'- etc.

But this great losse of Varro, is a litle

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 305

recompensed by the happy comming of
Bionysius ffaUcarnassceus to Home in
Augustus dayes: who getting the posses-
sion of Varros librarie, out of that treasure
house of learning, did leaue vnto vs some
frute ot Varros witte and diligence, I
meane, his goodlie bookes de Antiquitatlhus
Romanorum. Varro was so e"steemed for
his excellent learnyng, as Tullie him selfe
had a reuerence to his iudgement in all
dou[b]tes of learnyng. And Antonius
Triumuir^ his enemie, and of a cic adAtt.
contrarie faction, \yho had power to kill and
bannish whom he listed, whan Varros name
amongest others was brought in a schedule
vnto him, to be noted to death, he tooke
his penne and wrote his warrant of saue-
gard with these most goodlie wordes, Viuat
Varro vir doctissimus. In later tyme, no
man knew better: nor liked and loued
more Varros learnyng, than did S. Augus-
tine^ as they do well vnderstand, that haue
diligentlie read ouer his learned bookes de
Ciuitate Dei: Where he hath this most
notable sentence : Whan I see, how much
Varro wrote, I meruell much, that euer he

306 THE SECOND DO ORE TEA CHYNG

had any leasiire to read : and wlian I per-
ceiue how many thinges he read, I meruell
more, that euer he had any leasure to
write, etc.

And surelie, if Varros bookes had re-
mained to posteritie, as by Gods proui-
dence, the most part of Tullies did, than
trewlie the Latin tong might haue made
good comparison with the Qreke,

Saluste.

saiust. Salust, is a wise and worthy

writer: but he requireth a learned Reader,
and a right considerer of him. My dearest
frend, and best master that euer I had or
heard in learning, Syr /. CheJce,
chekes soch a man, as if I should Hue

'::^Z1^^ to see England breed the like
forreadyng again c, I fcarc, I should line

of Saluste.

ouer long, did once giue me a
lesson for Saiust^ which, as I shall neuer
forget my selfe, so is it worthy to be
remembred of all those, that would cum to
perfite iudgement of the Latin tong. He
said, that Saiust was not verie fitte for
yong men, to learne out of him, the puritie

THE READY WA Y TO LATIN TONG. 307

of the Latin tong : because, he was not the
purest in proprietie of wordes, nor choisest
in aptnes of phrases, nor the best in fram-
ing of sentences : and therefore is his writ-
ing, sayd he neyther plaine for the matter,
nor sensible for mens vnderstanding. And
what is the cause thereof, Syr, quoth I.
Verilie said he, bicause in Salust writing,
is more Arte than nature, and more labor
than Arte : and in his labor also, to moch
tojde, as it were, with an vncontented care to
write better than he could, a fault common
to very many men. And therefore he doth
not expresse the matter liuely and naturally
with common speach as ye see Xenophon
doth in Greeke, but it is caried and driuen
forth artificiallie, after to learned a sorte,
as Thucydides^ doth in his orations. And
how cummeth it to passe, sayd I, that
Coesar and Ciceroes talke, is so naturall
and plaine, and Salust writing so artificiall
and darke, whan all they three lined in one
tyme? I will freelie tell you my fansie
herein, said he : surely, Ocesar and Cicero,
beside a singular prerogatiue of naturall
eloquence geuen vuto them by God, both

308 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

two, by vse of life, were daylie orators
emonges the common people, and greatest
councellers in the Senate house : and
therefore gaue themselues to vse soch
speech as the meanest should well vnder-
stand, and the wisest best allow : folowing
carefullie that good councell of Aristotle^
loquendum vt multi^ sapiendum vt pauci,
Salust was no soch man, neyther for will
to goodnes, nor skill by learning : but ill
geuen by nature, and made worse by
bringing vp, spent the most part of his
youth very misorderly in ryot and lechery.
In the company of soch, who, neuer geuing
theyr mynde to honest doyng, could neuer
inure their tong to wise speaking. But at
[ye] last cummyng to better yeares, and
b[u]ying witte at the dearest hand, that is,
by long experience of the hurt and shame
that commeth of mischeif, moued, by the
councell of them that were wise, and caried
by the example of soch as were good, first
fell to honestie of life, and after to the lone
to studie and learning : and so became so
new a man, that Ocesar being dictator,
made him Pretor in Numidla where he

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 309

absent from his con trie, and not inured
with the common talke of Rome, but shut
vp in his studie, and bent wholy to read-
ing, did write the storie of the Romanes.
And for the better accomplishing of the
same, he re[a]d Cato and Piso in Latin
for gathering of matter and troth: and
Tlmcydides in Greeke for the order of his
storie, and furnishing of his style. Cato
(as his tyme required) had more troth for
the matter, than eloquence for the style.
And so Salust, by gathering troth out of
Cato^ smelleth moch of the roughnes of his
style : euen as a man that eateth garlike
for helth, shall cary away with him the
fauor of it also, whether he will or not.
And yet the vse of old wordes is not the
greatest cause of Salustes [his] roughnes
and darknesse : There be in Salust some
old wordes in deed as patrare Lib. 8. cap. 3.
helluniy duetare exercitum, well ^^^^'^"ata-
noted by Quintilian^ and verie much mis-
liked of him : and supplicium for supplieatio^
a word smellyng of an older store, than the
other two so misliked by Quint : And yet
is that word also in Varro, speaking of

810 THE SECOND BOOKE TEACHYNG

Oxen thus, houes ad victimas faciunt^ atque
ad Deorum supplicia : and a few old wordes
mo. Eead Saluste and Tullie aduisedlj
together: and in wordes ye shall finde
small diiference : yea Salust is more geiien
to new wordes, than to olde, though som
olde writers say the contrarie : as Claritudo
for Gloria : exacte for perfecte : Facundia
for eloquentia. Thies two last wordes
exacte and facundia now in euery mans
mouth, be neuer (as I do remember) vsed
of Tullie^ and therefore I thinke they be
not good: For surely Tullie speaking
euery where so moch of the matter of elo-
quence, would not so precisely haue abs-
teyned from the word Facundia, if it had
bene good : that is proper for the tong, and
common for mens vse. I could be long,
in reciting many soch like, both olde and
new wordes in Salust: but in very dede
neyther oldnes nor newnesse of wordes
The cause maketh the greatest difference
noufke"'''' betwist Salust and Tullie, but
Tuiiy. first strange phrases made of

good Latin wordes, but framed after the
Greeke tonge, which be neyther choisly

THE READ Y WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 311

borowed of them, nor properly vsed by
him : than, a hard composition and creoked
framing of his wordes and sentences, as a
man would say, English talke placed and
framed outlandish like. As for example
first in phrases, nimius et animus be two
vsed wordes, yet Jiomo nimius a7iimi^ is an
vnused phrase. Vulgus^ et amat, et fieri^
be as common and well known wordes as
may be in the Latin tong, yet id quod vulgd
amat fieri, for solet fieri, is but a strange
and grekysh kind of writing. Ligens et
vires be proper wordes, yet vir ingens
virium is an vnproper kinde of speaking
and so be likewise,

( oeger consilij.

\ promptissimus belli.

[ territus animd.

and many soch like phrases of Salust,
borowed as I sayd not choisly out of
Greeke, and vsed therefore vnproperlie in
Latin. Againe, in whole sentences, where
the matter is good, the wordes proper and
plaine, yet the sense is hard and darke,
and namely in his prefaces and oration [s].

812 THE SECOND BO ORE TEACHYNG

wherein he vsed most labor, which fault is
likewise in Thucydides in Greeke, of whom
Salust hath taken the greatest part of his
darkenesse. For Thueydides likewise wrote
his storie, not at home in Gre[e]ce, but
abrode in Italie, and therefore smelleth of
a certaine outlandish kinde of talk e, strange
to them of Athens^ and diuerse from their
writing, that lined in Athens and Gre[e]ce,
and wrote the same tyme that Thueydides
did, as Lysias, Xenephon, Plato, and Iso-
crates, the purest and playnest writers,
that euer wrote in any tong, and best
examples for any man to follow whether
he write, Latin,' Italian, French, or Eng-
lish. Thueydides also semeth in his writ-
ing, not so much benefited by nature, as
holpen by Arte, and caried forth by desire,
studie, labor, toyle and ouer great curiosi-
tie : who spent xxvii. yeares in writing his
eight bookes of his history. Salust like-
Doinys. wisc wrote out of his contrie,

Q^Inh'^ and followed the faultes of Thuc,
Hist. Thuc to much : and boroweth of him
som kinde of writing, which the Latin tong
can not well beare, as Casus nominatiuus

THE READY WAY TO LATIN TONG. 313

in diuerse places absolute positus, as in that
place of lugurth^ speaking de Leptitanis,
itaque ah imperatore facile quce petehant
adepti, missce sunt ed cohortes Ligurum
quatuor. This thing in participles, vsed so
oft in Thucyd\ides~\ and other Greeke
authors to, may better be borne with all,
but Salust vseth the same more strangelie
and boldlie, as in thies wordes, Multis sihi
quisque imperium petentibus. I beleue, the
best Grammarien in England can scarce
giue a good reule, why quisque the nomi-
natiue case, without any verbe, is so thrust
vp amongest so many oblique cases. Some
man perchance will smile, and laugh to
scorne this my writyng, and call it idle
curiositie, thus to busie my selfe in picking
about these small pointes of Grammar not
fitte for my age, place and calling, to trifle
in : I trust that man, be he neuer so great
in authoritie, neuer so wise and learned,
either, by other mens iudgement, or his
owne opinion, will yet thinke, that he is
not greater in England, than Tullie was at
Home, not yet wiser, nor better learned
than Tullie was him selfe, who, at the pitch

314 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

of three score yeares, in the middes[t] of
the broyle betwixt Ccesar and Fompeie,
whan he knew not, whether to send wife
and children, which way to go, where to
hide him selfe, yet, in an earnest letter,
Ad. Att. Lib. amongest his earnest councelles
7. Epistoia. 3. £qj. ^hosc lieuie tymes concerning
both the common state of his contrey, and
his owne priuate great affaires he was
neither vnmyndfull nor ashamed to reason
at large, and learne gladlie of Atticus, a
lesse point of Grammer than these be,
noted of me in Salust, as, whether he would
write, ad Pirceea, in Pirceea, or in Piroeeum,
or Pirceeum sine prcepositione : And in
those heule tymes, he was so carefull to
know this small point of Grammer, that he
added these wordes St hoc mihi ^irvfia per-
solueris, magna me molestia Uberaris. If
Tullie, at that age, in that authoritie, in
that care for his contrey, in that ieopardie
for him selfe, and extreme necessitie of hys
dearest frendes, beyng also the Prince of
Eloquence hym selfe, was not ashamed to
descend to these low pointes of Grammer,
in his owne uaturall tong, what should

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 315

scholers do, yea what should any man do,
if he do thinke well doyng, better than ill
doyng : And liad rather be, perfite than
meane, sure than doubtefull, to be what he
should be, in deed, not seeme what he is
not, in opinion. He that maketh perfitnes
in the Latin tong his marke, must cume to
it by choice and certaine knowledge, not
stumble vpon it by chance and doubtfull
ignorance. And the right steppes to reach
vnto it, be these, linked thus orderlie
together, aptnes of nature, loue of learn-
yng, diligence in right order, constancie
with pleasant moderation, and alwayes to
learne of them that be best, and so shall
you iudge as they tliat be wisest. And
these be those reules, which worthie Mas-
ter Cheke dyd impart vnto me concernyng
Salust^ and the right iudgement of the
Latin tong.

IT C^SAR.

Ccesar for that litle of him, that is left
vnto vs, is like the halfe face of a Venus,
the other part of the head beyng hidden,
the bodie and the rest of the members

316 THE SECOND BOOKE TEA CHYNG

vnbegon, yet so excellentlie done by Apel-
les, as all men may stand still to mase and
muse vpon it, and no man step forth with
any hope to performe the like.

His seuen bookes de hello Gallico^ and
three de hello Ciuili be written, so wiselie
for the matter, so eloquentlie for the tong,
that neither his greatest enemies could
euer finde the least note of parcialitie in
him (a meruelous wisdome of a man,
namely writyng of his owne doynges) nor
yet the best iudgers of the Latin tong, nor
the most enuious lookers vpon other mens
writynges, can say any other, but all things
be most perfitelie done by him.

Brutus^ Cahius, and Calidlus^ who found
fault with Tullies fulnes in woordes and
matter, and that riglitlie, for Tullie did both,
confesse it, and mend it, yet in Ccesar^ they
neither did, nor could finde the like, or any
other fault.

And therfore thus iustlie I may conclude
of Ccesar^ that where, in all other, the best
that euer wrote, in any tynie, or in any
tong, in Greke and Latin^ I except neither
Plato, Demosthenes, nor Tullie, some fault

THE READY WA Y TO LA TIN TONG. 317

is iustlie noted, in Ccesar onelie, could
neuer yet fault be found.

Yet neuertheles, for all this perfite ex-
cellencie in him, yet it is but in one mem-
ber of eloquence, and that but of one side
neither, whan we must looke for that
example to fol[l]ow, which hath
a perfite head, a whole bodie,
forward and backward,
armes and legges
and all.

FINIS,

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