The Charge of Children in their Carriage

Thy prayer so commended to God, have a care

To wash hands and face, and to combing thy hair.

And then for the school bethink thou to go,

The secrets of God the better to know.

In entering to school, let eyes be upcast,

To God for His blessings, formerly past,

To endue thee with godliness, virtue and piety,

Sent thee from heaven from God in His Deity:

For without His help can nothing be done,

Nothing be finished, nothing begun.

Then mark thou with diligence being so provided,

What shall at school be said or decided.

Let not thy thoughts go wandering about,

And not minding thy practice, abroad for to scout:

And answer with shamefastness what is required,

For modesty in youth is chiefly desired.

Deserve not correction, as near as thou mayest,

Nor to thy schoolmaster give any distaste,

Nor yet thy companions, or school-fellows kind:

Observe what I speak, and bear it in mind.

Be ready to teach, and not to confute

Thy schoolfellows’ arguments, when you dispute.

Let Christ have His library placed in thy heart,

And ever of Scriptures be reading a part.

Let all be well-measured what thou shalt read,

Not posting away with’t, or making much speed;

For haste overthroweth the mind and the wit,

Eschew and abandon then things so unfit.

If all at an instant thou not comprehend,

To-morrow seek further, thy fault to amend.

Desire of authors to read of the choice,

Of such as for eloquence carry the voice,

As Cicero, Sallust, Gellius [^[352]] and Terence,

Quintilian and others, great authors of reverénce.

Observe all with care and diligent ear,

Thy learning the greater shall grow and appear.