And yet oftimes seueritie is to fowre, while the maister beateth the parentes folly, and the childes infirmitie, with his owne furie. All which extremities some litle discretion would easely remoue, by conference before, to forecast what would follow, and by following good counsell, when it is giuen before. Which will then proue so, when the parent will do nothing in placing or displacing of his childe, without former aduise, and communicating with the maister: and the maister likewise without respecting his owne gaine, will plainely and simply shew the parent or freind, what vpon good consideration he thinketh to be best. Wherein there wilbe no error if the parent be wise, and the maister be honest.
WHAT THINGES THEY BE, WHERIN CHILDREN ARE TO BE TRAINED, EARE THEY PASSE TO THE GRAMMAR. THAT PARENTES, AND MAISTERS OUGHT TO EXAMINE THE NATURALL ABILITIES IN THEIR CHILDREN, WHERBY THEY BECOME EITHER FIT, OR VNFIT, TO THIS, OR THAT KINDE OF LIFE. THE THREE NATURALL POWERS IN CHILDREN, WITTE TO CONCEIUE BY, MEMORIE TO RETAINE BY, DISCRETION TO DISCERNE BY. THAT THE TRAINING VP TO GOOD MANNERS, AND NURTURE, DOTH NOT BELONG TO THE TEACHER ALONE, THOUGH MOST TO HIM, NEXT AFTER THE PARENT, WHOSE CHARGE THAT IS MOST, BYCAUSE HIS COMMAUNDEMENT IS GREATEST, OUER HIS OWNE CHILD, AND BEYOND APPEALE. OF READING, WRITING, DRAWING, MUSICK BY VOICE, AND INSTRUMENT: AND THAT THEY BE THE PRINCIPALL PRINCIPLES, TO TRAINE VP THE MINDE IN. A GENERALL AUNSWERE TO ALL OBIECTIONS, WHICH ARISE AGAINST ANY, OR ALL OF THESE.
Now that I haue shewed mine opinion concerning the time, when it were best to set the child to schoole, the next two questions seeme to be, what he shall learne and howe he shalbe exercised, when he is at schoole. For seeing he is compound of a soule and a bodie: the soule to conceiue and comprehend, what is best for itselfe, and the bodie to: The bodie to waite, and attend the commaundement and necessities of the soule: he must be so trained, as neither for qualifying of the minde, nor for enabling of the bodie, there be any such defecte, as iust blame therfore may be laide vpon them, which in nature be most willing, and in reason thought most skilfull, to preuente such defaultes. For there be both in the body, and the soule of man certaine ingenerate abilities, which the wisedom of parentes, and reason of teachers, perceiuing in their infancie, and by good direction auancing them further, during those young yeares, cause them proue in their ripenesse very good and profitable, both to the parties which haue them, and to their countries, which vse them. Which naturall abilities, if they be not perceiued, by whom they should: do condemne all such, either of ignorance, if they could not iudge, or of negligence, if they would not seeke, what were in children, by nature emplanted, for nurture to enlarge. And if they be perceiued, and either missorted in place, or ill applyed in choice, as in difference of iudgementes, there be many thinges practised, which were better vnproued, to the losse of good time, and let of better stuffe, they do bewray that such teachers, and trainers, be they parentes, be they maisters, either haue no sound skill, if it come of infirmitie, or but raw heades, if it spring of fansie. If they know the inclination, and do not further it rightely, it is impietie to the youth, more then sacrilege to the state, which by their fault be not suffered to enioy those excellent benefits, which the most munificent God, by his no niggardishe nature, prouided for them both. If they found them, and followed them, but not so fully, as they were to receiue: if for want wherwith, it deserues pardon, if for want of will, exceeding blame: and cryeth for correction of the state by them hindred, and small thankes of the parties, no more furthered.