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

disorders thereof; as watching and striving for the club and loitering then in the fields, some hindered that they cannot go forth at all. But hereby all may have their free liberty in due time; and none can abuse their liberty in that sort, nor have their minds drawn away, nor stir abroad all the day at school times, except upon some urgent necessity, to be signified to the master or usher; and so leave to be gotten privately, to return presently again. And also in those cases to loose their places for that day, unless the case be approved very necessary and sure; to the end to cut off occasions from such as will pretend necessities. If any one be catched abusing his master or his liberty, without necessity only, upon desire of idleness or play, he is to be corrected sharply for ensample. By this means you shall bring them to that order and obedience in a short time, as they will not think of stirring all the day, but at their times appointed, or upon very urgent and almost extraordinary necessity.

3. Besides these benefits, this will also gain so much time every day, as is lost in those intermissions; because there is no day but they will all look for so much time or more to the campo: especially as the shrewdest boys, who use to wait for the club, and watch their times, these will be sure to have much more than that. Besides all the time which they lose in waiting for that idle fit and that, they will, if they can, be away at lectures, and shewing exercises: and likewise they will exceedingly trouble the master in asking three or four sometimes together, what business soever he be about.

Spoudeus. I have been well acquainted with these disorders of the campo, and vexed with them many a time. I shall be most glad, if I may thus reform them and find these benefits instead thereof. But what say you for their recreations? Let me also hear your judgment in them: for I see that you would have in like manner a special regard to be kept thereof.

Philoponus. I would indeed have their recreations as well looked unto, as their learning; as you may perceive plainly by their intermissions at nine and at three. Besides those and all other their intermissions, it is very requisite also, that they should have weekly one part of an afternoon for recreation, as a reward of their diligence, obedience and profiting: and that to be appointed at the master's discretion, either the Thursday after the usual custom, or according to the best opportunity of

the place. That also to be procured by some verses made by the victors, as was shewed: and then only when there hath been already no play-day in the week before nor holy day in all the week...

All recreations and sports of scholars would be meet for gentlemen. Clownish sports, or perilous, or yet playing for money are no way to be admitted. The recreations of the studious are as well to be looked unto, as the study of the rest: that none take hurt by his study, either for mind or body, or any way else.

Yet here of the other side, very great care is to be had in the moderating of their recreation. For schools, generally, do not take more hindrance by any one thing, than by over-often leave to play. Experience teacheth, that this draweth their minds utterly away from their books, that they cannot take pains, for longing after play and talking of it; as also devising means to procure others to get leave to play: so that ordinarily when they are but in hope thereof, they will do things very negligently; and after the most play they are evermore far the

worst.

JOHN BRINSLEY, Ludus Literarius or the Grammar Schoole 1612

Punishment

Philoponus. For inflicting punishments we ought to come thereunto unwillingly, and even enforced; and therefore to proceed by degrees: that who cannot be moved by any of the former means of preferments nor encouragements nor any gentle exhortation nor admonition, may be brought into order and obedience by punishment. And therefore, first to begin with the lesser kinds of punishments; and so by degrees to the highest and severest, after this manner observing carefully the natures of everyone, as was said:

I. To use reproofs; and those sometimes more sharp according to the nature of the offender and his fault.

2. To punish by loss of place to him who doth better according to our discretion.

3. To punish by a note, which may be called the black bill. This I would have the principal punishment, I mean most of use. For you shall find by experience, that it being rightly used, it is more available than all other, to keep all in

obedience; and specially for any notoriously idle or stubborn, or which are of evil behaviour any way. The manner of it may be thus. To keep a note in writing, or, which may more easily be done, to keep a remembrance of all whom you observe very negligent, stubborn, lewd, or any way disobedient, to restrain them from all liberty of play. And therefore to give them all to know so much beforehand, that whosoever asketh leave to play, or upon what occasion soever, yet we intend always to except all such; and that liberty is granted only for the painful and obedient which are worthy to have the privileges of scholars and of the school, because they are such, and are an ornament to the school: not for them who are a disgrace unto it.

So always at such playing times before the exeats, the master and ushers to view every form through; and then to cause them all to sit still whom they remember to have been negligent or faulty in any special sort worthy of punishment, and to do some exercises in writing besides; either those which they have omitted before or such as wherein they cannot be idle. But herein there must be a special care when they are thus restrained from play, that either master or usher, if it can be conveniently, have an eye to them, that they cannot loiter; or some one specially appointed, to see that they do their tasks. Also that they be called to an account the next morning whether they have done the tasks enjoined, under pain of six jerks to be surely paid.

Moreover for all those who are notoriously stubborn or negligent or have done any gross fault, to cause them to sit thus, not only one day but every play-day continually, until they shew themselves truly sorry for their faults, and to amend; becoming as dutiful and submiss as any other; and until they do declare by good signs their desire and purpose to please and obey their master; unless they be released at very great suit or upon sufficient sureties of their fellows to incur otherwise their penalty if they amend not. This course straitly observed, partly through the shame of being noted in the rank of disordered fellows and also lest their parents should know it; and partly through depriving them of play and more also through this strict account to be given of their tasks, and severity of correction otherwise, will more tame the stubbornest