Of parents and children The joys of parents are secret, and so are their griefs and fears. They cannot utter the one, nor they will not utter the other. Children sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter. They increase the cares of life, but they mitigate the remembrance of death. The perpetuity by generation is common to beasts, but memory, merit and noble works are proper to men; and surely a man shall see the noblest works and foundations have proceeded from childless men, which have sought to express the images of their minds, when those of their body have failed. So the care of posterity is most in them that have no posterity. They that are the first raisers of their houses are most indulgent towards their children; beholding them as the continuance, not only of their kind, but of their work; and so both children and creatures. The difference in affection of parents towards their several children is many times unequal, and sometimes unworthy, especially in the mother; as Solomon saith, 'A wise son rejoiceth the father, but an ungracious son shames the mother.' A man shall see, where there is a house full of children, one or two of the eldest respected and the youngest made wantons; but, in the middest, some there are, as it were forgotten, who many times nevertheless prove the best. The illiberality of parents, in allowance towards their children, is an harmful error, makes them base, acquaints them with shifts, makes them sort with mean company, and makes them surfeit more when they come to plenty. And therefore the proof is best, where men keep their authority towards their children, but not their purse. Men have a foolish manner (both parents, and schoolmasters, and servants) in creating and breeding an emulation between brothers during childhood which many times sorteth to discord when they are men, and disturbeth families. The Italians make little difference between children and nephews or near kinsfolks. But, so they be of the lump, they care not though they pass not through their own body. And to say truth, in Nature it is much a like matter. In so much that we see a nephew sometimes resembleth an uncle, or a kinsman, more than his own parent, as the blood happens. Let parents choose betimes the vocations and courses they mean their children should take; for then they are most flexible. And let them not too much apply themselves to the disposition of their children, as thinking they will take best to that, which they have most mind to. It is true that if the affection or aptness of the children be extraordinary, then it is good not to cross it. But generally the precept is good: optimum elige, suave et facile illud faciet consuetudo. Younger brothers are commonly fortunate, but seldom or never where the elder are disinherited. FRANCIS BACON, Essays 1597-1625 §2. The Grammar school Mrs Quickly. Mistress Ford desires you to come suddenly. Mrs Page. I'll be with her by and by: I'll but bring my young man here to school. Look, where his master comes; 'tis playing-day, How now, Sir Hugh! no school to-day? I see. Evans. No; Master Slender is get the boys leave to play Mrs Quick. Blessing of his heart! Mrs Page. Sir Hugh, my husband says my son profits nothing in the world at his book: I pray you ask him some questions in his accidence. Evans. Come hither, William; hold up your head; come. Mrs Page. Come on, sirrah; hold up your be not afraid. Evans. William, how many numbers is in nouns ? Evans. Show me now, William, some declensions of your pronouns. William. Forsooth, I have forgot. Evans. It is qui, quae, quod; if you forget your quis, your quaes, and your quods, you must be preeches. Go your ways and play; go. Mrs Page. He is a better scholar than I thought he was. Evans. He is a good sprag memory. Farewell, Mistress Page. The Merry Wives of Windsor, iv. i. An interesting parallel [Shakespeare was an exact contemporary of Willis. Like him, he is supposed to have received no education save that provided by a free grammar school. Like him, too, he found it quite sufficient for his needs in later life.] It was not my happiness to be bred up at the university, but all the learning I had was in the free grammar school, called Christ's school in the city of Gloucester; yet even there it pleased God to give me an extraordinary help by a new school master brought thither, one Master Gregory Downhale of Pembroke Hall in Cambridge, after I had lost some time under his predecessor. This Master Downhale having very convenient lodgings over the school, took such liking to me, as he made me his bedfellow (my father's house being next of all to the school). This bedfellowship begat in him familiarity and gentleness towards me; and in me towards him reverence and love; which made me also love my book, love being the most prevalent affection in nature to further our studies and endeavours in any profession. He came thither but bachelor of arts, a good scholar, and who wrote both the secretary and the Italian hands exquisitely well. But after a few years that he had proceeded master of arts, finding the school's entertainment not worthy of him, he left it, and betook himself to another course of being secretary to some nobleman, and at last became secretary to the worthy Lord Chancellor Ellesmere, and in that service (as I think) died. And myself, his scholar, following his steps, as near as I could, (though furnished with no more learning than he taught me in that grammar school) came at last to be secretary to the Lord Brooke, Chancellor of the Exchequer; and after that to my much honoured Lord, the Earl of Middlesex, Lord high Treasurer of England; and lastly to the most worthy, my most noble Lord, the Lord Coventry, Lord-keeper of the great seal, in whose service I expect to end my days. And this I note, that though I were no graduate of the university, yet (by God's blessing) I had so much learning as fitted me for the places whereunto the Lord advanced me, and (which I think to be very rare) had one that was after a Lord Chancellor's secretary to be my schoolmaster, whom (by God's blessing) I followed so close, that I became a successor to his successors in the like place of eminent service and employment. R. WILLIS (b. 1564), Mount Tabor 1639 The School Day Philoponus. The school-time should begin at six.... Spoudeus. Would you then have the master and usher present so early? Philoponus. The usher should necessarily be there to be present amongst them, though he follow his own private study that hour, yet to see that all the scholars do their duties appointed, and that there be no disorder: which will be, unless he or some other of authority be amongst them. For otherwise the best children, left to their own liberty, will shew themselves children. If the master be present at seven it may suffice, where there is any in his place, whose presence they stand in awe of. Spoudeus. But it is hard for the little children to rise so early, and in some families all lie long: how would you have have them come so soon then? You would not have them beaten every time they come over-late, as the custom is in some schools. Philoponus. That I take far too great severity and whereby many a poor child is driven into wonderful fear, and either to play the truant, or make some device to leave the school; at least to come with a marvellous ill will, and oft to be dragged to school, to the reproach of the master and the school. The best means that ever I could find to make them to rise early, to prevent all this fear of whipping, is this: by letting the little ones to have their places in their forms daily, according to their coming after six of the clock. So many as are there at six, to have their places as they had them by election on the day before. All who come after six, every one to sit as he cometh, and so to continue that day and until he recover his place again by the election of the form or otherwise. Thus deal with them at all times, after every intermission, when they are to be in their places again and you shall have them ever attending who to be first in his place. So greatly even children are provoked by the credit of their places. If any cannot be brought by this, then to be noted in the black bill by a special mark, and feel the punishment thereof: and sometimes present correction to be used for terror; though this (as I said) to be more seldom, for making them to fear coming to the school. The higher scholars must of necessity rest to do their exercises, if their exercises be strictly called for. Thus they are to continue until nine, signified by monitors, subdoctor, or otherwise. Then at nine I find that order which is in Westminster to be far the best; to let them to have a quarter of an hour at least, or more for intermission, either for breakfast, for all who are near unto the school, that can be there within the time limited, or else for the necessity of everyone, or their honest recreation, or to prepare their exercises against the master's coming in. After, each of them to be in his place in an instant upon the knocking of the door or some other sign given by the subdoctor or monitors, in pain of loss of his place, or further punishment, as was noted before; so to continue until eleven of the clock; or somewhat after, to countervail the time of the intermission at nine. To be again all ready and in their places at one, in an instant; to continue until three or half an hour after: then to have another quarter of an hour or more, as at nine, for drinking and necessities. So to continue till half an hour after five, thereby in that half hour to countervail the time at three. Then to end so as was showed, with reading a piece of a chapter and with singing two staves of a psalm: lastly with prayer to be used by the master. For the psalms, every scholar should begin to give the psalm and the time in order, and to read every verse before them; or every one to have his book (if it can be) and read it as they do sing it. Where anyone cannot begin the time, his next fellow beneath is to help him and take his place. By this they will all learn to give the tunes sweetly which is a thing very commendable; and also it will help reading, voice and audacity in the younger. Spoudeus. But these intermissions at nine and three may be offensive. They who know not the manner of them may reproach the school, thinking that they do nothing but play. Philoponus. We are, so much as may be, in all things to avoid offence. But when by long custom the order is once made known, it will be no more offensive than it is at Westminster, or than it is at noon and night; so that it be done in a decent order. The benefits of such intermissions will be found very great and to prevent many inconveniences. 1. By this means neither masters nor scholars shall be over-toiled, but have fit times of refreshing. For there is none (no not almost of the least) but being used to it a while, they will sit very well in their places for two hours together, or two hours and a half, without any weariness or necessity, observing duly those times. 2. By this means also the scholars may be kept ever in their places, and hard to their labours, without that running out to the campo (as they term it) at school times, and the manifold |