And wheras he gouerneth his state by his two armes, the Ecclesiasticke, to keepe, and cleare religion, which is the maine piller to voluntarie obedience: and the Politike, to preserue, and maintaine the ciuill gouernment, which doth bridle will, and enforceth contentment: if he lacke knowledge to handle both his armes, or want good aduice to assist them in their dealing, is he not more then lame? and doth not the helpe hereof consist in learning? Martiall skill is needfull: But it would be to defend, bycause a sturring Prince still redye to assaile, is a plague to his people, and a punishment to him selfe, and in his most gaine, doth but get that, which either he or his must one daye loose againe, if the losse rest there, and pull not more with it. But religious skill is farre more massiue: bycause religion as it is most necessarie for all, so to a Prince it is more then most of all, who fearing no man, as aboue mans reache, and commanding ouer all as vnder his commission, if he feare not God his verie next both auditour, and iudge, in whose hand is his hart? and what a feare must men be in for feare of most ill, when the Prince feares not him, who can do him most good? Almighty God be thanked, who hath at this day lent vs such a Princesse, as in deede feareth him, that we neede not feare her which deseruing to be loued desires not to be feared. I wish this education to be liked of the Prince, to pull the people onward, by example that they like of, though they cannot aspire to: as I pray God long preserue her, whose good education doth teach vs, what education can do, wherby neither this lande shal euer repent, that education of it selfe did so much good in her: and I haue good cause to reioice that this my labour concerning education comes abroad in her time.
CHAPTER 40.
Of the generall place, and time of education. Publike places, Elementarie, Grammaticall, Collegiate. Of bourding of children abroad from their parentes houses, and whether that be best. The vse and commoditie of a large, and well situate training place. Obseruations to be kept in the generall time.
These two circunstances for the generall place, and the generall time, concerne both the exercise of the bodie, and the training of the minde iointly, bycause they both are to be put in execution in the same place, and at the same time, though not at the same howres. For the particular times, and places I will deale in myne other treatises, where I will accomodate the particular circumstance to the particular argument. Priuate places, where euery parent hath his children taught within his doares, haue but small interest in this place: bycause such a parent, as he may take or leaue of the generall traine, what it shall please him, his owne liking being the measure to leade him: so for exercise, or any other thing he is the appointer of his owne circumstance, and his house is his castle.
Diuision of publike places. Collegiat.
Publike places be either elementarie, grammaticall, or collegiate. For the collegiate places, whether they be in the vniuersities, or without, they be lightly well situate, and for both the traines resonably well builded, specially such as haue a cloysture or galerie for exercise in foule weather, and the open fieldes at hand for the faire. If there be any fault in that kinde, it may be set downe, in hope sooner to haue it amended in new erections, when such founders shalbe found: then to be redressed in those which be erected already: bicause these buildinges be restrained to the soile, where on they stand. Yet wish for the better may take place, when the want is found, though the effect do follow a long while after, if it euer do at all.
Elementarie.
The elementarie places, admit no great counsell, bycause such as enter the yong ones, do prouide the rowmes of them selues, and the litle people be not as yet capable of any great exercise: so that there is no more to be said herein but this, that the Elementarie teachers prouide their rowmes as large as they may, and that the parentes domesticall care supply: where the maisters prouision is not sufficient. For as the collegiate yeares must direct themselues most, bycause they are after a certaine degree set ouer to their owne gouernment: so the elementarie, bycause of their weakenes and youth must be ioyntly helpt betwene the maister and the parent, this point for the petie ones being altogither priuate, and vpon priuate charge, as the other collegiate is altogither publicke and vpon publicke erection though alway proceeding from some priuat meane. But if any well disposed wealthie man for the honour that he beareth to the murthered infantes, (as all our erections haue some respect that way,) would beginne some building euen for the litle yong ons, which were no encrease to schooles, but an helpe to the elementarie degree, all they would pray for him, and he himselfe should be much bound to the memorie of the yong infantes, which put him in remembraunce of so vertuous an act. And rich men which haue much more then necessary enough, though none of them thinke he haue simply enough, would be stirred forward by all good and earnest people, which fauour the publicke weale, whose foundation is laid in these petie infantes, to spend the supererogation of their wealth that waie, where it will do most good to other, and least harme to themselues.
Grammaticall.