Positions

by Richard Mulcaster

Certaintie.

2. The next point after conference is the chiefe and best offspring of all wise conferences, certainetie in direction, which in all thinges commendes it selfe, but in bringing vp of children it doth surpasse commendation, both for their manners and their learning. This same so much praised certainetie concerneth the limiting of thinges, what to do and what to learne, how to do and how to learne, where, when, and so furth to do that, which fineth the behauiour, and to learne that which aduanceth knowledge. For children being of themselues meere ignorant must haue certainetie to direct them: and trainers being not dailie to deuise, are at once to set downe certaine, both what themselues will require at the childrens hand for the generall order: and what the children must looke for at their handes for generall perfourmance. This certainetie must specially be set sure, and no lesse soundly kept, in schooles for learning, in priuate houses for behauiour, in churches for religion, bycause those three places, be the greatest aboades, that children haue.

Certainetie in schooles.

1. Concerning certainetie in schoole pointes, and the benefit thereof, I haue delt verie largely in the last title: so that I shall not neede to vse any more spreading in that point, sauing onely that I do continue in the same opinion: as the thing it selfe continueth in it selfe most assurance of best successe, when the childe knoweth his certainetie in all limitable circumstances, whether he be at schoole himselfe to prouide that must be done: or if he be not there, yet to know in abscence, what is done there of course. So that where ignorance of orders cannot be pretended, there good orders must needes be obserued, which ordenarily bringe foorth a well ordered effect. The best and most heauenly thinges be both most certaine, and most constantly certaine, and the wisest men the certainest to builde on, in the middest of our vncertaineties. So that certainetie must needes be a great leuell, which procureth such liking in those thinges where it lighteth. In schooling it assureth the parentes, what is promised there, and how like to be perfourmed, by sight of the method and orders set downe: it directeth the children as by a troden path, how to come thither, as their iourney lieth: it disburdeneth the maisters heade, when that is in writing, which he was in waying, and when experience by oft trying hath made the habit able to march on of it selfe without any renewing: whereunto mutabilitie is euerie day endaungered.

Certainetie in priuate houses.

2. The second point of certainetie entereth into families and priuate houses, which in part I then touched, when I wished the parentes so to deale at home, as there might be a conformitie betwene schoole and home. This point will preuent two great inconueniences euen at the first, besides the generale sequele of good discipline at home. For neither shall schooles haue cause to complaine of priuate corruption from home, that it infecteth them, when nothing is at home done or seene, but that which is seemely: neither shall the schooles lightly send any misdemeanour home, when the childe is assured to be sharpely chekt, for his ill doing, if it appeare within doares. This is that point which all writers that deale with the œconomie of householdes, and pollicie of states do so much respect, bycause the fine blossomes of well trained families, do assure vs of the swetest flowres in training vp of states, for that the buddes of priuate discipline be the beauties of pollicie. I shall not neede to say, what a good state that familie is in, where all thinges be most certainely set, and most constantly kept, which do belong to the good example of the heades, the good following of the feete, the good discipline of the whole house. Though some not so resolute wittes, or gredier humours will neither harken to this rule, neither keepe it in their owne, bycause the distemperature is both blinde, and deafe, where the minde is distempered, and violently giuen ouer either to extreame desire of gaine, or to some other infirmitie which cannot stoup to staid order: yet those families which keepe it, finde the profitablenesse of it. There children so well ordered by certaineties at home: when to rise: when to go to bed: when and how to pray euening and morning: when and how to visit their parentes ear they goe to bed, after they rise, ear they go abroad, when they returne home, at tables about meat, at meeting in dutie with officious and decent speches of course, well framed, and deulie called for, cannot but proue verie orderly and good. He that in his infancie is thus brought vp, will make his owne proufe his fairest president, and what housholde knoweth not this is extreame farre of from any good president. Obedience towardes the prince and lawes is assuredly grounded, when priuate houses be so well ordered: small preaching will serue there, where priuate training settes thinges so forward. Being therefore so great a good, it is much to be thought on, and more to be called for.

Certaintie in Churches.

3. Now can certaintie being so great a bewtifier both to publik schooles, and priuate houses, be but very necessary to enter the Church with children vpon holydaies? to haue all the young ones of the Parish, by order of the Parish set in some one place of the Church? with some good ouer looking, that they be all there, and none suffred to raunge abroad about the streates, vpon any pretence? that they may be in eye of parentes and parishioners? that they may be attentiue to the Diuine seruice, and be time learne to reuerence that, wherby they must after liue? I do but set downe the consideration, which they will execute, who shall allow of it, and deuise it best, vpon sight of the circunstance. How other men will thinke herof I know not, but sure methinke, both publikly and priuately, that certaintie in direction where it may be well compassed, is a merueilous profitable kinde of regiment, and best beseeming children, about whose bettering my trauell is employed. In the very executing it sheweth present pleasure, and afterward many singular profites: and is in very deede the right meane to direct in vncertainties, as a stayed yearde to measure flexible stuff. Bladders and bullrushes helpe swimming: the nurses hand the infantes going: the teachers line the scholers writing, the Musicians tune, his learners timing: what to do? by following certaintie at first to direct libertie at last. And he that is acquainted with certaintie of discipline in his young yeares will thinke himselfe in exile, if he finde it not in age, and by plaine comparisons, will reclaime misorders, which he likes not, to such orders as he sees not. Who so markes and moanes the varietie in schooling, the disorder in families, the dissolutenesse in Church, will thinke I saye somwhat.

Constancie.

3. The third part of my diuision was constancie. For what auaileth it to conferre about the best, and to set it in certaine, where mutabilitie of mindes vpon euery infirmitie either of iudgement, or other circunstance, is seeking to retire, and to leaue that rouling, which was so well rewled. In this point of constancie there be but two considerations to be had, the one of knowledge in the thing, the other of discretion in the vse. For he that is resolued in the goodnesse and pith of the thing, will neuer reuolt, but like a valiant general building vpon his owne knowledge, is certaine to conquere, what difficultie so euer would seeme to dasle his eyes, or to dash his conceit. It is weake ignorance that yeildes still, as being neuer well setled: it is pusillanimitie that faintes still, not belieuing where he sees not. Assured knowledge will resemble the great Emperour of all, which is still the same and neuer changeth, which set a lawe, that yet remaines in force euen from the first, among all his best and most obedient thinges. The sunnes course is certaine, and constantly kept. The moone hath her mouing without alteration, and that so certaine, as how many yeares be their eclypses foretold? A good thing such as wise conference is most like to bring forth, would be certainly knowen, and being so knowen would be constantly kept. The fairest bud will bring forth no frute, if it fall in the prime, but being well fostered by seasonable weather, it will surely proue well. The greatest thinges haue a feeble footing, though their perfitnesse be strong, but if their meane be not constant, that first feeblenesse will neuer recouer that last strength. I medle not with change of states, nor yet with any braunches, whose particular change, quite altereth the surface, of any best setled state, but with the training of children, and the change therin: which being once certaine would in no case be altered before the state it selfe vpon some generall change do command alteration, whervnto all our schooling must be still applyed, to plant that in young ones, which must please in old ones. As now our teaching consisteth in toungues, if some other thing one daye seeme fitter for the state, that fitter must be fitted, and fetcht in with procession. But yet in changes this rule would be kept, to alter by degrees, and not to rush downe at once. Howbeit the nature of men is such, as they will sooner gather a number of illes at once to corrupt: then pare any one ill by litle and litle with minde to amend.