Positions

by Richard Mulcaster

What wit is fittest for learning in a monarchie.

But bycause the choice is to be made by the wit, and the wit is to be applied to the frame and state of the countrie, where it continueth: I will first seeke out, what kinde of wit is euen from the infantcie to be thought most fit, to serue for this state in the learned kinde. Which if it be to stirring, troubleth, if it be well staied, setleth the countrie where it lyueth, so farre as it dealeth. And yet oftymes that wit maketh least show at the first, to be so plyable, which at the last doth best agree with the pollicy. And therefore it is then to be taken, when it beginnes first to shew, that it will proue such: wherefore precise reiecting of any wit, which is in way to go onward, before due ripenes, as it is harmefull to the partie reiected, so it bewraieth some rashnes in him that reiecteth: bycause the varietie is exceeding great, though the coniectures be as great, and the most likelyhood must needes leade, where certaintie is denied. But to the wittes: wherein as lacke and law do guide necessitie so the qualitie of the witte, conformable to the state directeth choice.

There be three kindes of gouernment most noted among all writers, 1. whereof the first is called a monarchie, bycause one prince beareth the sway, by whose circumspection the common good is shielded, and the common harme shouldred: 2. the second an oligarchie: where some few beare all the swinge: 3. the third a democratie, where euery one of the people hath his interest in the direction, and his voice in elections. Now all these three be best maintained by those kindes of wit, which are most proper for that kinde of gouernment, wherein they liue. But bycause the gouernment of our countrie is a monarchie: I will in choise seeke out that kinde of wit, which best agreeth with the monarchie, neither will I touch the other two, vnles I fortune to trip vpon them by chaunce. And for as much as I haue made the yong child my first subiect, I will continue therein still: bycause that which beginneth to shew it selfe neare vpon infancie, will so commonly continue, though alteration creepe in sometime. But lightly these wittes alter not, bycause the tokens be so fast and firme in nature, and tend to so certaine and so resolute a iudgement.

A wit for learning in a monarchie.

The child therefore is like to proue in further yeares, the fittest subiect for learning in a monarchie, which in his tender age sheweth himselfe obedient to scholeorders, and either will not lightly offend, or if he do, will take his punishment gently: without either much repyning, or great stomaking. In behauiour towardes his companions he is gentle and curteous, not wrangling, not quarelling, not complaining, but will put to his helping hand, and vse all perswasions, rather then to haue either his maister disquieted, or his fellowes punished. And therefore he either receiueth like curtesie againe of his scholefellowes: or who so sheweth him any discurtesie must abyde both chalenge and combate with all the rest.

If he haue any excellent towardnes by nature, as commonly such wittes haue, whereby he passeth the residue in learning, it will shew it selfe so orderly, and with such modestie, as it shall soone appeare, to haue no loftines of minde, no aspiring ambition, no odiouse comparisons ioyned withall.

At home he will be so obsequious to parentes, so curteous among seruauntes, so dutiefull toward all, with whom he hath to deale: as there will be contention, who may praise him most behinde his backe, who may cherish him most before his face: with prayer that he may go on, with feare of too hastie death, in so od a towardnes of wit and demeanour. These thinges will not lightly make any euident shew, til the childe be either in the grammar schole, by orderly ascent, and not by two forewardly hast, or vpon his passage from the perfited elementarie, bycause his yeares by that time, and his contynuaunce vnder gouernment, will somwhat discouer his inclination. Before that time we pardon many thinges, and vse pointes of ambition and courage, to enflame the litle ones onward, which we cut of afterward, for making them to malapart, as in their apparell frise is successour to silke. When of them selues without any either great feare, or much hartening, they begin to make some muster and shew of their learning to this more then that, then is coniecture on foote to finde, what they willbe most likely to proue.

But now to examine these signes more nearely and narowly, which I noted to be in the child that is like to proue so fit a subiect for a monarchie, in matters of learning: Is not obedience the best sacrifice, that he can offer vp to his prince and gouernour, being directed and ruled by his countrie lawes? And in the principles of gouernment, is not his maister his monarchie? and the scholelawes his countrey lawes? wherunto if he submit himselfe both orderly in perfourmance, and patiently in penaunce, doth he not shew a mynde already armed, not to start from his dutie? and so much the more, bycause his obedience to his maister is more voluntarie, then that to his prince, which is meere necessarie. For in perswasions of children, which the parentes will give eare to: in desire to chaunge, where their wills be chekt: in multitude of teachers, who thriue by such chaunges: all meanes be good, where there is such plentie, to offer such parentes as be tikelish, and such scholers as be shifting, remouing from maisters and renouncing of obedience. The child hath many shadowes to shift in vpon any pretence, and as many baites, to winne his parentes beleefe, and specially if he stand in feare of beating. Whereas neither he, ne yet his parentes, can forsake their prince, vpon any colour without forfaiting more then a quarters scholehire. And therfore in so many meanes to change, and some perhaps offered, bycause who will not very willingly deale with such a witte, where his trauell will make shew, that child which notwithstanding all these entisementes, will continue both on, and one, and digest dyscurtesies, though his mayster sometyme chaunce to proue churlish, is the peculiar and proper witte, which I commende for obedience, and that is like to proue both honestly learned, and earnestly beloued. 2. In his owne demeanour towardes his fellowes and freindes, and all sortes of people generally, either at home, or abroade, either in schoole, or elsewhere and in their loue and liking of him againe, doth he not shew forth an euident sociabilitie and liklyhood, that he will be very well to be liued withall? and proue a very curteous man, which is so louing, and so beloued while he is yet a boye? 3. In letting nature shew her owne excellencie without vnsweetning it with his owne sawcinesse doth he not argue that he hath stuffe towards preferment, without any sparke of ambition to moue further flame? or to prease to fast forwarde? which shall neuer neede: bycause all men that know him, will either willingly helpe to preferre him, if their voice be in it: or will reioyce at his preferment, if they be but beholders. For who will not be glad to see vertue, which he loueth, auaunced to rewarde? or what can enuie do, in so plausible a case, but set forth the partie, by declaring his desert, in that she is there? There be many consequentes, which hange vpon these, as neither vertue nor vice be single where they be, but are alwaie accompanied with the whoule troupe of the like retinue. And one conuenience graunted draweth on a number of the like kinde, as well as one inconuenience draweth on his like traine.

But these be the maine as I conceiue at the first blush: obedience to superiours and superioritie, freindlynesse and fellowship toward companions, and equalles: substance to deserue well and winne it, desire to auoide ill and flie it. What duetie either towardes God or man, either in publike or priuate societie, in any either hie or low kinde of life is there, whervnto God hath not seemed in nature to haue framed and fashioned this so toward a youth? and therefore to haue appointed him for the vse of learning to be ruled by his betters, and to rule his inferiours, nothing offensiue nor vnpleasant to any? Many such wittes there be, and at them must choice first begin. And as those be the best, and first to be chosen, in whom there is so rare metall, so the second or third after these be vnworthy the refusall, in whom the same qualities do appeare, though not in the same, but in some meaner degree. For wheras great ill is oft in place, and proues the generall foe to that which would be better, there meane good, if it may haue place, will be generall freind to preferre the better: as euen this second mediocritie, if it may be had, as choice will finde it out, will proue verie freindly to set forward all good. Now these properties and signes appeare in some, verie soone, in some verie late, yea oftimes when they are least looked for: as either iudgement in yeares, or experience in dealinges do frame the parties.

The plat for the monarchicall learner being alwaye reseant in the chusers head, concerning the propertie of his witte: and appearance towardes proofe: the rest is to be bestowed vpon the consideration of learning, and towardnesse in children generally (wherof these wittes be still both the first and best frutes) where to stay, or how farre to proceede in the ascent of learning. Whether he be riche or poore, that makes no matter, and is already decided, whether he be quicke or slow, therein is somwhat, and requireth good regard.