3. But how haue I delt in them. For the time to begin I haue measured it by strenght of body and minde that may well awaye with the trauell in learning without emparing of the good of either parte. For the continuing time in euery degree of studie, I haue limited it by sufficiencie and perfitnesse of habit, before the student remoue. For the ending time, the bounder of it is abilitie to serue the common countrey, and the priuate student in euery particular calling. In this distinction and sorting of time, I thinke I haue so dealt, as no reason will gainsaye me. 2. For pointing so many thinges to be learned in the Elementarie schoole, as I do it vpon good warrant, so is no man iniuried by it, and euery man may be helpt by it. For though neither all men deale with all, nor all men can obtaine all, it is no reason but that those which will and may, shall know what is best to get: and that those which neither will nor can, yet maye see, what they maye and ought to get, if circunstances serue. For the traine is to be framed after the height, which freedome in circunstance maye well attaine vnto. A poore mans purse will not stretch so farre: must abilitie therfore be to much restrained? Some mans time will not dispense with all: must therfore the libertie of leasure be forced to the fetter? Some parente makes light of that, which some other esteemeth greatly: must he therefore be disapointed of his liking, which alloweth to serue his humour, which misliketh? Some maime in some circunstance may be some particular let: must therefore parciality in not pointing the best proue the generall losse.
The best being set downe, without euident dispaire to come by it, or manifest noueltie to disgrace it, why should it not be sought for by them, which are willing to haue it, and know the meanes how? It is no noueltie for some to towre aboue the clowdes though other in the same flight do but flutter about the ground, and yet with commendation. For where the whole is good, and partible by degrees, euerie ascent hath his praise, though the prerogatiue be his that mounteth highest. And therefore my plat is to satisfie those which will medle with the most, and yet so left at libertie, as it may serue euen them, which seeke but for the least. 3. For the choice of wittes and restraint of number, not to pesture learning with to great a multitude, no wisedome will blame me. 4. For the helpe and health of body, that the doinges of the soule may be both strong and long, to ioine ordinarie exercise in forme of traine, who so shall mislike, I will match him with melancholie, with fleame, with reumes, with catarres, and all needelesse residences, to see how they will musle him. The limitation of certaineties in maisters for their securitie, and parentes for their assurance, if it be well wayed; is worth the wishing. 5. For the places and personall circumstances, who so will cauill, neither deserues such a place to be trained in, nor such a maister to be trained by, nor such parentes to prouide him such a traine. 6. For the good bringing vp of yong gentlemen, he that taketh no care, is more then a foole considering their place and seruice in our countrie: and so of all the rest. 7. But did any man thinke that I would not mention my dealing in trayning vp of yong maidens, whether that be to be admitted in such sort as I haue appointed it? That is such a bulwarke for me, as who so shall seeme to pinche me for dealing liberally with them, had neede to arme himselfe against them. For they will translate the crime, and becomming parties themselues discharge me from daunger for vsing them so curteously. Is that point in suspition of any noueltie or fantasticallnes to haue wymen learned? Then is nature fantasticall for giuing them abilitie to learne: custome for putting them to it: pollicie for placing them where to vse it: in all ages in all degrees, in all countries, both at home and abroad. Innouation it is not, for I reade it, I see it, I finde it, it is not my deuise. I put the case, that it were one of my wishes, that wymen might learne, if they did not. Assuredly the proufe that wee see, the profit that we feele, the comfort that we haue, the care that we haue not, the happines we enioy, the mishap we auoide, the religion we liue by and like, the superstition we fly from and hate, the clemencie we finde, the cruelitie we feare, by the meere benefit of our learned princesse, whom God hath so rarely endewed and endowed, giue me leaue to wish that sexe most successe in learning, and her maiesties person all successe in liuing: all the residew, all the best, and her highnes alone all aboue the best: as wish can aspire, where nothing else can come. In generall I do not remember any thing, that I haue dealt in, but it may be very well digested by any stomake, if it be not to farre distempered.
My wishes perhaps may seeme sometimes to be nouelties. Nouelties perhappes, as all amendementes be to the thing that needeth redresse, but not fantasticall, as hauing their seat in the cloudes. If no man did euer wish, then were I alone. If my wish were vnpossible though it made shew of very great profit, impossibilitie in deede, would desire profit in wish to be content with repulse: but where the thing is both profitable, and possible to, why should not profitable possibilitie haue rowme, if wishing may procure it? I wish commodious situation and rowmh in places for learning and exercise. Our countrie hath it not echwhere, nay scant any where as yet. Euen by wishing that it had, I graunt that it hath not: but I would not haue wished it, if the meane had bene hard: and the motion naturally goeth before the effect. I wish that the colledges in the vniuersities were deuided by professions: I wish graue and learned readers: I wish repetition to the same readers, yea euen for the best graduate, that is yet an hearer. I wish neither heresie nor harme, ne yet any thing, but that may very well be wrought, and deserues endlesse wishing till it be brought to an ende. I wish restraint to stop ouerflush, and such other things whereto I dare stand, and assuredly beleeue, that I wish my countrie very great good, as I hope many wilbe partakers with me in wish, to be partakers of the good. But some wil say what neede you to medle with so much, or so high matters your selfe creeping so low? Syr, I did professe in the beginning vnder ech title to deale in the generall argument, for all my professing the elementarie example. And by the way I do thinke, that I may deserue some more equitie in construction, bycause I do entend to my great paines to helpe my wish forward, and to trauell for the helping, and healthing of all studentes. Wherfore I conclude thus, that seeing my dealing in those positions was occasioned of so good a ground, and hath so passed through them, as I hope it may abide the tuch. I must craue of my good and curteouse countriemen to laie vp allouance in hope, and misliking in pardon, till the euent dischardge both, and make me bound to all, and some benefited by me.
FINIS.
HARRISON AND SONS, PRINTERS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTY, ST. MARTIN’S LANE, LONDON.
APPENDIX.
RICHARD MULCASTER.[81]