That Conference betwene those which haue interest in children: Certainetie of direction in places where children vse most: and Constancie in well keeping that, which is certainely appointed, be the most profitable circumstances both for vertuous manering and cunning schooling.

Of all the meanes which pollicie and consideration haue deuised to further the good training vp of children, either to haue them well learned, or vertueously manered, I see none conparable to these three pointes: conference betwene those persons, which haue interest in children, to see them well brought vp: certainetie in those thinges, wherein children are to trauell, for their good bringing vp: constancie in perfourming that, which by conference betweene the persons is set certaine in the thinges: that there be either no change at all after a sound limitation: or at least verie litle, saue where discretion in execution, is to yeald vnto circumstaunce. Therfore I entend to vtter some part of mine opinion concerning these three things, conference to breede the best: certainetie to plant the best: constancie to continue the best: and first of conference. Which I find to be of foure cooplementes: parentes and neighbours: teachers and neighbours: parentes and teachers: teachers and teachers: whereof euerie one offereth much matter for the furthering of both learning and good maners in children. Vnder the name of neighbours I comprehend all forraine persons, whom either commendable dewtie by countrie lawe: or honest care of common curtesie doth giue charge vnto, to helpe the bettering of children, and to fraie them from euill.

1. Now if parentes in pointes of counsell vse to conferre with such, they may learne by some others experience: how to deale in their owne. And as this point is naturally prouided to assist infirmitie, which craues helpe of others, where it standes in dout: so there is a naturall iniunction wherby all men are charged to bestow their good and faithfull counsell, where it is required, doing thereby great good to the parties, and no harme to themselues, vnlesse it be to be rekened a harme, to gaine the opinion of wisedom, the estimation of honestie, and the note of humanitie, and a well giuen disposition. This consideration resteth most in the partie mouer, which is to receiue aduise, when himselfe shall require it. The next is an euident signe of an excellent inclination, which of it selfe will doe good, euen bycause the thing is good, though he be not conferred with. For if such persons will conferre with parentes, when they spy any thing that is not well in their children is it not honorable in them to deale so honestly? is it not wisdome in parentes to constrew it most friendly? is it not happie for those children which haue such carefull forraine helpers abroad, such considerate naturall hearers at home? A simple meaning in both the parties, the neighbour to tell friendly, the parent to take kindely, and to excute wisely will do maruelous much good. And what is this else but to loue thy neighbour as thy selfe, when thou mindest his childe good, as thou doest thine owne? And what is it else but to thinke of thy neighbour, as thou wouldest be thought on thy selfe, when thou beleeuest him in thine, as thou wouldest be beleeued in his? A true president of naturall humanitie, a religious patterne of honest neighbourhoode, which in no other thing can declare more good will, in no other thing can do one more good, then in respect to his children, whether ye consider the childrens persons, or the thing which is wished them. For in deede what be children in respect of their persons? be they not the effectes of Gods perfourmaunce in blessing? of his commaundement in encrease? be they not the assurance of a state which shall continew by succession, and not dy in one brood? be they not the parentes naturall purtracte? their comfort in hope, their care in prouision? for whom they get all, for whom they feare nought? And can he which desireth the good of this so great a blessing from heauen, so great a staie for the countrie, so great a comfort to parentes, deuise how to pleasure them more in any other thing? for to wish children to be honest, vertuous, and well learned, is to wish that to proue perfitly good, which standeth in a mammering, to proue good or bad. And can this so great a good wish but proceede from a passing honest disposition, and most worthy the embrasing? Nay most happy is that state, where youth hath such a staie, in such libertie as it is, not to helpe vnlesse one list. Hereupon I conclude that conference betwene parentes and others, whether by way of asking counsell, or by aduertisemente to check faultes, is very profitable for the weale of the litle ones.

2. This conference may fall betwene the neighbour and the teacher. Wherein the teacher must be verie warie bycause he hath to deale with the informer for credit: with his scholer for amendment: with the parent for liking. When the parent dealeth with his owne childe, either of his owne knowledge, or by credited report, his doome is death or life, the childe hath no appeale, but either must amend, or feele the like smart. At the teachers dealing, vpon any aduertisement, there may and wilbe taken many pretie exceptions. Why did you beleeue? why should he medle? why dealt you in this sort? And whatsoeuer quarell miscontentment can deuise, being incensed with furie: or some extreme heat, as angrie nature is an eager monster. And in deede some ouerthwart conceit may moue the complainant, whatsoeuer the pretence be. Againe some wise man, may light vpon so conuenient a maister, as he may proue a better meane to redresse, then the parent will be, in whom blinde nature will neither see the childes fault, nor the friendes faith. But how soeuer it be, the maister must be warie, where his commission is not absolute. But in the wise handling of this ciuill conference the childe shall gaine much towardes his well doing, when wheresoeuer he shall be, or whatsoeuer he shall do, he shall both finde it true, and feele it so, that either his parent or his maister, or both together see him, if any other bodie see him.

3. The next conference is betweene parentes and maisters, whereof though I haue saide much, yet can I neuer say to much, the point is so needefull: bycause their friendly and faithfull communicating workes perpetuall obedience in the childe, contempt of euill, and desire to do well: seeing both they trauell to make one good. There is nothing so great an enemie to this so great a good as credulitie is in parentes, not able to withstand the childes eloquence, when shed of teares, and some childish passion do plead against punishment for assured misdemeanour. But though for the time such parentes seeme to wynne, bycause they haue their will: yet in the conclusion, they want their will, when they wish it were not so. Before change either of place, to proceede onward to further learning: or of maisters when the old is misliked, and a new sought for, then this conference is a meruelous helpe. For in change of place, it growndes vpon knowledge, and growes by aduice: in change of maisters, it is mistresse to warines not to lease by the change. For can the new maister vnderstand and iudge of the childes fault in so small a time, as the old maister may amend it if he be conferred with? You are offended with the former maister, haue ye conferred with him? haue ye opened vnto him your owne griefe, your childes defect, his owne default? are ye resolued that the fault is in the maister? may not your sonne forge? or may he not halt, to procure alteration vpon some priuate peuishnes? Cyrus as Zenophon writeth80 surprised the king of Armenia being tributarie to the Medians but minding to reuolt, when the Assyrians armie should enter into Media. And yet though he found him in manifest blame, he left him his state, as the best steward for the Medians vse, considering the partie pardoned is bound by defect, he that shall be chosen, will thanke his owne merit, not the chusers munificence. Such consideration had Cyrus, and such conference with him, whom he knew to be a foe, before he surprised him, and yet found the frute of his considerate conference and his determination vpon his conference, to be exceding good and gainefull for himselfe after, and his friendes for the time. A number of ills be auoided, and a number of goodes obtained by this same conference betwene parentes and maisters. If the maister be wise and aduisedly chosen though he chaunce to misse, he knowes to amend: if he neither be such a one, nor so considerately chosen, yet conference will discouer him, and shew hope her listes, and what she may trust to. But not to dwel any longer in this point, wherein elsewhere I haue not bene parciall, I must needes say thus much of it at once for all, that no one meane either publike or priuate makes so much for the good bringing vp of children, as this conference doth.

4. The last conference I appoint to be betwene those of the same professions, whereby the generall traine is generally furthered. For whersoeuer any subiect is to be dealt in by many, is not the dealers conference the meane to perfit dealing? and to haue that subiect absolutely well done, which it selfe is subiect to so many doers? Is either the patient any worse if the Physitians conferre, or their facultie baser by their being togither? is not the case still clearer, where there is conference in law? is not the church the purer were conference is in proufe? and doth not the contrarie in all do much harme in all? And do ye thinke that conference among teachers would not do much good in the traine? or is the thing either for moment so meane, or for number so naked, as it may not seeme worthy to be considered vpon? Or can there any one, or but some few, be he or they neuer so cunning, discerne so exactly, as a number can in common conference? do not common companies which professe no learning, both allow it, and proue it, and finde it to be profitable? where it is vsed among teachers for the common good, it profiteth generally by sending abroad some common direction. In places where many schooles be within small compasse, it is very needefull to worke present good, and to helpe one another, where all may haue enough to bestow their labour on.

But this conference, and that not in teachers alone must be builded vpon the honest care of the publike good, without respect of priuate gaine: without sting of emulation: without gaule of disdaine: which be and haue bene great enemies to conference: great hinderers to good schooling: nay extreame miners in cases aboue schooling, and yet for the footing of that, which must after proue fairest, good schooling is no small onset. I neede not to rip vp the position to them, that be learned, which know what a mischiefe the misse of conference is, where it ought to be of force, and is shouldered out by distempered fantsie. He that can iudge, knoweth the force of this argument, which followeth: “where many illes seeke to chooke one good, which themselues were displaced, if that good tooke place: that good must needes be a great one, and worthy the wishing, that it may procure passage.” Of conference I must needes say this, that it is the cognisance of humanitie, and that of the best humanitie, being vsed for the best causes that concerne humanitie, and all humaine societie. I dare enter no deeper in this so great a good: but certainely in matters of learning there would be more conference, euen of verie conscience. And if that honest desire might bring downe great hart, the honorable effect would bring vp great good, in all trades beyond crie, in our traine beyond credit. In matters of engrosing, and monopoleis, in matters of forestauling and intercepting there is dealing by conference among the dealers, which we all crie out of, bycause it makes vs crie, in our purses. And yet we are slow to trie that in the good, which proues so strong in the ill, and was first pointed for good. I vse no authorities to proue in these cases, where reason her selfe is in place, and standeth not in neede of alleaging of names, bycause she may well spare her owne retinew, where her hoste himselfe doth tender his owne seruice.

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.

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.

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 oeconomie 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.

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.

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.

Concerning discretion: there is a circunstance to be obserued in thinges, which is committed alwaye to the executours person, and hath respect to his iudgement, which I call no change, bycause in the first setting downe that was also setled, as a most certaine point to rule accidentarie vncertainties, which be no changes, bycause they were foreseene. Such a supplie hath iustice in positiue lawes by equitie in consideration, as a good chauncellour to soften to hard constructions. That is one reason why the monarchie is helde for the best kinde of gouernment, bycause the rigour and seueritie of lawe, is qualified by the princesse mercie, without breche of lawe, which left that prerogatiue to the princesse person. The conspiracie which Brutus his owne children made against their father for the returne of Tarquinius euen that cruell Prince, leanes vpon this ground, as Dionysius of Halicarnassus, Liuie, and others do note. So that discretion to alter vpon cause in some vncertaine circunstance, nay to alter circunstance vpon some certaine cause, is no enemie to certaintie. When thinges are growen to extremities then change proues needefull to reduce againe to the principle. For at the first planting, euery thing is either perfitest, as in the matter of creation: or the best ground for perfitnesse to build on, as in truth of religion: though posteritie for a time vpon cause may encrease, but to much putting to burdeneth to much, and in the ende procures most violent shaking of, both in religious and politike vsurpations.

But this argument is to high for a schoole position, wherefore I will knit vp in few wordes: that as conference is most needefull, so certaintie is most sure, and constancie the best keeper: that it is no change, which discretion vseth in doing but her duetie: but that altereth the maine. Which in matters engraffed in generall conceites would worke alteration by slow degrees, if foresight might rule: but in extremities of palpable abuse it hurleth downe headlong, yea though he smart for the time whom the change doth most helpe. But in our schoole pointes the case falleth lighter, where whatsoeuer matter shalbe offered to the first education, conference will helpe it, certaintie will staye it, constancie will assure it. Thus much concerning the generall positions wherin if I haue either not handled, or not sufficiently handled any particular point, it is reserued to the particular treatise hereafter, where it will be bestowed a great deale better, considering the present execution must follow the particular.