Discretion in the trayner.
3. But there is a third thing yet besides these two, which is proper to his owne person, which if he haue not, his cunning is worth nought. For though he see and embrace the worthines of his subiect, though he haue gathered in his whole haruest from out of all writers, yet if he want discretion how to apply it according vnto that, which is most fit to the verie meanest not bowghes and braunches, but euen the twigges and sprigges of the petiest circumstances, he is no skillfull trayner: but so much the more daungerous, the more helpe of learning he hath, which will bolden him to much. Therefore of these two other pointes, the one being throughly resolued on, the other perfitly obtained, and all the contemplatiue reasons well vnderstoode, he must bend his wittes to wey the particularities, whereby both the generall conclusions be brought to be profitable, and his owne iudgement to be thought discrete. The want of this is the cause of such a number of discoursers, which swarm ech where, and both like their owne choice, and can say pretily well to the generall position, which is not denyed to any toward youthe, but they shew themselues altogither lame in the particular applying, which is a thing that attendeth onely vpon experience and yeares. The hauing of it will prouide vs notable store of excellent executours, to all their profites, vpon whom they shall execute. Aristotle the great philosopher in all his morall discourses tieth all those vertues which make mens maners praiseworthie, and be subiect to circumstances, to the rule of foresight and discretion, whose commendation he placeth in skill of speciallities to direct mens doinges. Therefore it is no dishonour to the trayner, to be reclaymed vnto discretion, which hath all those so many and so manerly vertues to attend vpon her traine. Is not death commendable, and ascribed to valiancie, when it is voluntary for the common good, by reason of the circumstance? and the sauing of life is it not basely thought of, when it had bene better spent, considering the circumstance? Which circumstance is the line to liue by, the guide to all our doinges, the tuchestone to try a contemplatiue creature from an actiue courage.
In the course of training, a thousand difficulties not possible to be forseene by the generall direction, will offer themselues, and appose the maister, and at the sudden must be salued. What will the trainer do? runne to his booke? nay to his braines. He must remember his rule, that indiuisibles and circunstances be beyond the reach of arte: and are committed to the Artificer whose discretion must helpe, where arte is to weake: though she giue him great light, by fitting this to that, when he hath found wherfore. Arte setteth downe the exercise and all the knowen circunstances. The person bringes with it some difficultie in execution, where is the succour? Arte will not relent, she can not make curtsie, her knees be groune stiffe, and her iointes fast knit, and yet curtsie there must be. The Artificer must make it, and assist his ladie, which if she had not had a man to be her meane, she herselfe would haue done all, and trusting to man whom she hath made her meane, why should she be deceyued, and her clyentes be abused, where she commendes them of trust? Children that come to schoole dwel not in one house, not in the same streate, nay not in the same towne, they cannot lightly come at one houre, they be not of one age, nor fit for one exercise, and yet they must haue some. The arte knoweth my child no more then my neighbours, but the trainer must, and stay those vncertainties vpon the arrest of discretion: being enstructed afore hand in the generall skill though bound but of voluntarie: as the like cause shall lead the like case.
The rule is, no noysome sauour neare the newly exercised: how shall the poore boye do, that is to go home thorough stinking streates, and filthy lanes.
The rule is, change apparell after sweat: what if he haue none other? or not there where he sweateth? Here must the trainers discretion shew it selfe, either to chuse exercises that be not subiect to any such extremities, or to vse them with the fewest. But I am to long, neither neede I to doubt of mens discretion, though I say thus much of it, which many haue and moe wishe for, I shall haue occasion to supplie the rest in the generall teacher.
Thus haue I runne thorough the whole argument of exercises, and shewed not onely what I thinke of them in generall, but also what be the cheife particulars, and the circunstances belonging thereunto: and according to my promise I haue delt with the training maister, and ouertreated him to thinke honorably of his profession, to gather knowledge, where it is abundantly to be got: and last of all to ioine discretion as a third companion to his owne admiration and sufficiency.
CHAPTER 36.
That both young boyes, and young maidens are to be put to learne. Whether all boyes be to be set to schoole. That to many learned be to burdenous: to few to bare: wittes well sorted ciuill, missorted seditious. That all may learne to write and read without daunger. The good of choice, and ill of confusion. The children which are set to learne, hauing either riche or poore freindes: what order and choice is to be vsed in admitting either of them to learne. Of the time to chuse.
Now that the thinges be appointed, wherwith the minde must be first furnished, to make it learned, and the bodie best exercised, to keepe it healthfull, we are next to consider of those persons, which are to be instructed in this furniture, and to be preserued by this exercise: which I take to be children of both sortes, male and female, young boyes and young maidens, which though I admit here generally, without difference of sex, yet I restraine particularly vpon difference in cause, as herafter shall appeare. But young maidens must giue me leaue to speake of boyes first: bycause naturally the male is more worthy, and politikely he is more employed, and therfore that side claimeth this learned education, as first framed for their vse, and most properly belonging to their kinde: though of curtsie and kindnesse they be content to lend their female in youth, the vse of their traine in part, vpon whom in age they bestow both themselues, and all the frute of their whole traine.