3. For Philosophie to haue the third place it will be easily obtained, though there be some pretended doubt in the order of the partes for the training. We vse to set young ones to the morall and politike first and reason against Aristotles conclusion, that a young stripling is a fit hearer of morall Philosophie. But Aristotle himselfe being well brought vp in the Mathematicalles placeth naturall Philosophie next vnto them, as very intelligible vnto very young heades, by reason of their necessarie consequence, and Theoreticall consideration. Wheras the other partes being subiect to particular circunstance in life are to be reserued for elder yeares. For not onely the Philosophicall resolution, but also the very religious was in the best, and eldest time to cause youth abide long in study, and to forbeare publike shew, till it were very late. To make Logicke, and Rhetoricke serue to those vses, and in those places, where I appointed them, was no absurdity. For Rhetoricke, there will be small contradiction, though declamations, and such exercises seeme to make some further claime. Pythagoras his fiue yeares silence, hath a meaning that ye heare sufficiently, eare ye speake boldly. And Socrates that great maister in Plato calleth Logicke the ridge, or toppe of the Mathematicalles, as then to succeede, when they were gotten: and good reason, why, bycause their methode in teaching, and order in prouing did bring forth Logicke. As he that will make Plato the example to Aristotles preceptes shall easily perceaue.
The necessitie of three colledges peculiar for Diuinitie, Law, Physicke.
3, 4, 5. For Diuinitie, Lawe, and Physicke to haue their owne colledges, for their full exercises, and better learning, then now thus to haue their studentes scattered, it is a thing that implyeth no great repugnaunce with any reason, and is not without president. As for the Lawe, if the whole studie were made one and whatsoeuer appertaineth to that profession, for either Ecclesiasticall, or Temporall vse were reduced into one body, had our countrey any cause to complaine? or but great cause to be very glad? wheras now three seuerall professions in lawe, bewraye a three headed state, one English and French, an other, Romish Imperiall, the third Romish ecclesiasticall, where meere English were simply our best. I shall not neede to say any more herein, but onely giue occasion to those which can iudge, and helpe it, to thinke of the position: the distraction of temporall, ciuill, and Canon lawe being in many pointes very offensiue to our countrey.
6. Some difficultie there will be to winne a colledge for such as shall afterward passe to teach in schooles.
The seuenth colledge for training maisters, and the necessitie therof.
7. There is no diuerting to any profession till the student depart from the colledge of Philosophie, thence he that will go to Diuinitie, to Lawe, to Physicke, may, yet with great choise, to haue the fittest according to the subiect. He that will to the schoole is then to diuert. In whom I require so much learning to do so much good, as none of the other three, (honour alway reserued to the worthinesse of the subiect which they professe,) can chalenge to himselfe more: either for paines which is great: or for profit which is sure: or for helpe to the professions: which haue their passage so much the pleasaunter, the forwarder studentes be sent vnto them, and the better subiects be made to obay them: as the scholing traine is the trak to obedience. And why should not these men haue both this sufficiencie in learning, and such roome to rest in, thence to be chosen and set forth for the common seruice? be either children, or schooles so small a portion of our multitude? or is the framing of young mindes, and the training of their bodies so meane a point of cunning? be schoolemaisters in this Realme such a paucitie, as they are not euen in good sadnesse to be soundly thought on? If the chancell haue a minister, the belfray hath a maister: and where youth is, as it is eachwhere, there must be trainers, or there will be worse. He that will not allow of this carefull prouision for such a seminarie of maisters, is most vnworthy either to haue had a good maister him selfe, or herafter to haue a good one for his. Why should not teachers be well prouided for, to continue their whole life in the schoole, as Diuines, Lawyers, Physicians do in their seuerall professions? Thereby iudgement, cunning, and discretion will grow in them: and maisters would proue olde men, and such as Xenophon setteth ouer children in the schooling of Cyrus. Wheras now, the schoole being vsed but for a shift, afterward to passe thence to the other professions, though it send out very sufficient men to them, it selfe remaineth too too naked, considering the necessitie of the thing. I conclude therfore that this trade requireth a particular college, for these foure causes. 1. First for the subiect being the meane to make or mar the whole frye of our state. 2. Secondly for the number, whether of them that are to learne, or of them that are to teache. 3. Thirdly for the necessitie of the profession which maye not be spared. 4. Fourthly for the matter of their studie which is comparable to the greatest professions, for language, for iudgement, for skil how to traine, for varietie in all pointes of learning, wherin the framing of the minde, and the exercising of the bodie craueth exquisite consideration, beside the staidnes of the person.
1. These seuen colledges being so set vp, and bearing the names of the thinges which they professe, for Toungues, for Mathematickes, for Philosophie, for Traine, for Physicke, for Lawe, for Diuinitie were there any great absurditie committed either in the thing if it were so, or in me for wishing it so? If it had bene thus appointed at the first, as he might, if the whole building had bene made at once, which is scant possible where thinges grow by degrees, and buildinges by patches: it would haue bene liked very well, and the Vniuersities in their commencementes, and publike actes would haue commended their pollicy, and wisedome, which first did appoint it. And maye not that be now toucht without blame, which if it had bene then done, had deserued great honour, and when soeuer it shall be done will deserue euerlasting memorie? and maye now be well done, seeing we haue all thinges needful for the well doing redie: And why should it seeme straunge to wish such an alteration, seeing greater chaunges haue bene both wished, and wrought within this our time? Sad, and lingring thoughts, which measure common weales as buildinges grounded vpon some rocke of marble, finde many, and sober difficulties: resolute mindes make no bones: there is stuffe enough, the places be ready, the landes be neither to be begd, ne yet to be purchased, they be got, and giuen already: they maye be easily brought into order, seeing our time is the time of reformation. Before my wish be condemned, I desire my reader to consider it well, and marke if it maye take place, and whether it maye not with great facilitie.
The second meane, to sorte like yeares into ye same roomes.
2. For sorting like yeares into one roome, which was my second interrogatorie, it is no new deuice, nor mine: All good common weales not fained by fantsie, but being in deede such haue vsed it both for likenes of education in like yeares, and for trying out where most excellencie lodged, to bestow prefermentes vpon apparent desert, besides that it is most fit, and emulation to the better doth best beseeme like yeares. The greeke poet saith, that God draweth allway the like to the like, and therefore men may well follow the president.
The third meane to better the studentes maintenaunce.