certeine fautes of hys master Leonides, whyche he
could not leaue when he was well growẽ vp, and a great
Emperour. Therfore as long as amonge the latines
floryshed that old vertuousnes of good maners,
chyldren were not committed to an hyrelynge to be
taught, but were taughte of the parentes them selues &
their kinsfolke, as of their vncles both by father and
mother, of the graundfathers, as Plutarch sayth: For
they thought it especially perteyned to the honour of
their kynred, if they had very manye excellentlye well
seene in liberall knowledge, where as now adayes all
nobilitie almost stãdeth in painted & grauen armes,
dauncing, huntynge and dicynge. Spurius Carbilius of a
bond man made free, whose patron Carbilius brought in
the fyrste example of diuorce, is reported to be the
fyrste that taught an opẽ grãmer schole. Before thys
tyme it was counted a verye vertuous office if euery
mã taughte hys kynsefolke in vertue and lernyng. Nowe
is thys theyr onlye care, to seeke for their chyld a
wyfe wyth a good dowrye. That done, they thynke they
haue done all that belongeth to a father. But as the
world is alwayes redy to be worse and worse, dayntines
hathe perswaded vs to comune this office to a tuter
that is one of our householde, and a gentleman is put
to be taught of a seruaunte. In whyche thynge in
deede, if we wolde take heede whom we chose, the
ieopardy were so muche the lesse, because the teacher
liued not only in y^e fathers syght, but also wer
vnder hys power if he dyd amysse. They that wer very
wyse, either bought lerned seruauntes, or prouided
they myghte be lerned, that they myghte be teachers to
their children. But howe muche wyser were it, if the
parents wolde get lernyng for thys entent, that they
them selues myght teach theyr owne chyldren. Verelye
by thys meanes the profite wolde be double, as the
cõmoditie is double if the Byshoppe shewe hym selfe a
good man, to the entente he maye encourage very many
to the loue of vertue. Thou wyle saye; euerye mã hath
not leasure, and they be lothe to take so greate
payne. But go to good syr, Lette vs caste wyth oure
selfe howe muche tyme wee lose at dice, bankettynge,
and beholdynge gaye syghtes, and playinge wyth fooles,
and I weene wee shall bee ashamed, to saye wee lacke
leasure to that thynge whych oughte to be done, all
other set asyde. We haue tyme sufficiente to do all we
shoulde do, if we bestowe it so thriftelye as we
shulde do. But the daye is short to vs, whẽ we lose
the greater part thereof. Consider thys also, howe
greate a porcion of tyme is geuen now and then to the
foelyshe busines of our friendes. If we can not do as
they all wolde haue vs, verelye wee oughte chiefely to
regarde our chyldren. What payne refuse we to leaue
vnto oure chyldren a ryche patrimonye and well
stablished: and to get that for them whiche is better
then all this, shulde it yrke vs to take laboure?
namelye when naturall loue and the profite of them
whyche be mooste deareste vnto vs, maketh sweete al
the grief and payne. If that were not, when wolde the
mothers beare so longe tediousenes of chyldbyrth and
nursyng. He loueth his sonne lyghtlye whych is greued
to teache hym. ¶ But the manner to enstructe them was
the more easy to them in olde tyme, because the
learned and vnlearned people spake all one tong, saue
that the learned spake more truelye, more elegantly,
more wiselye, and more copiouselye. I confesse that,
and it were a very shorte way to learnynge, if it were
so nowe a dayes. And there haue bene some that haue
gone aboute to renewe and brynge again those olde
examples, and to doo as those olde fathers haue done
afore tyme, as in Phrisia, Canterians, in Spayne
Queene Elisabeth the wyfe of Fardinandus, out of whose
familye there haue come forthe verye manye womenne
bothe merueylouselye well learned and verteouse. Emong
the englishe men, it greued not the ryght worshypful
Thomas More, although beyng much occupyed in the
kynges matters, to be a teacher to hys wyfe,
daughters, and sonne, fyrste in vertue, and after to
knowledge of Greke and Latine. Verely this ought to be
done in those that we haue apoynted to learnynge.
Neyther is there anye ieopardie that they shulde be
ignoraunt in the peoples tonge, for thei shall learne
that whether they wyl or not by companye of men. And
if there be none in oure house that is lerned, anon we
shulde prouide for some cunnyng man, but tryed both in
maners and lernyng. It is a folyshe thyng to make a
profe in thy sone, as in a slaue of litle value,
whether hys teacher be learned or not, and whether he
bee a good man that thou haste gotten hym or not. In
other thinges pardon may be geuen to negligence, but
here thou muste haue as manye eyes as Argus had, and
muste be as vigilant as is possible. They say: a man
maye not twyse do a faute in war: here it is not
laweful to do once amisse. Moreouer the soner the
child shall be set to a master, so much shal hys
brynginge vp come the better to passe. I knowe some
men fynde thys excuse, that it is ieopardy lest the
labour of studies make y^e good health of the tender
bodye weaker. Here I myght ensure, y^t althoughe the
strength of the bodye wer sumwhat taken awaye, that
thys incõmoditie is well recompensed by so goodly
gyftes of the mynd. For we fashion not a wrestler, but
a philosopher, a gouernour of the common wealth, to
whõ it is sufficient to be healthful, although he haue
not the strengthe of Milo: yet do I cõfesse that
somewhat we must tender the age, that it maye waxe the
more lustye. But there be manye that foolyshely do
feare leste their chyldren shulde catche harme by
learnynge, whych yet feare not the much greater peryll
that cometh of to muche meate, whereby the wyttes of
the litle ons no lesse be hurted then bee theyr bodyes
by kyndes of meates and drynkes that be not meete for
that age. They brynge theyr lytle children to great
and longe feastes, yea feastyng sometyme vntyl farre
forth nyghtes, they fyl them wyth salt and hoat
meates, somtyme euẽ tyl thei vomite. They bynde in and
loade the tender bodies wyth vnhandsome garmentes to
set them out, as some trym apes, in mans apparel, and
otherwayes they weaken their children, and they neuer
more tenderlye be afrayed of their health, then when
cõmunication is begon to be had of lernynge, that is
of that thynge whych of al other is moste wholesom and
necessarye. That whych we haue spoken touchyng health,
that same perteineth to the care of hys bewety, whyche
as I confesse is not to be lyght set bye, so to
carefully to be regarded, is not very meete for a man.
[Sidenote: A wayward feare for hurting childrẽs
bewtye.] Neyther do we more weywardlye fear any other
thyng then the hurt of it to come by studie, where it
is hurt a greate deale more by surfet, dronkennes,
vntymelye watchynge, by fyghtyng and woundes, finally
by vngracious pockes, which scarse anie man escapeth
that liueth intemperatly. From these thyngs rather let
thẽ see they keepe their children then frõ lernyng,
whych so carefully take thought for the health and
bewtie. [Sidenote: Prouisiõ for easinge chyldrens
labour] Howbeit thys also may be prouided for by our
care & diligẽce that ther shuld be very litle labour
and therfore litle losse. This shal be if neyther many
thyngs, neither euery lyght thynge be taught them when
they be yong, but the best only & that be mete for
their age, whiche is delighted rather in pleasaũt
thynges then in subtile. Secondly, a fayre manoure of
teachynge shall cause y^t it may seme rather a playe
then a labour, for here the age must be beguiled with
sweete flattering wordes, which yet cã not tell what
fruit, what honour, what pleasure lernyng shall brynge
vnto them in tyme to come. And this partly shal be
done by the teachers gẽtlenes & curteous behaueour, &
partlye by his wit & subtile practise, wherbi he shal
deuise diuerse prety meanes to make lerning plesaũt to
y^e chylde, & pul hym away frõ feling of labour. For
there is nothynge worse then when the waywardnes of
the master causeth the children to hate lernyng before
they knowe wherefore it shulde be loued. The fyrst
degree of lerning, is the loue of the master. In
processe of tyme it shall come to passe that the chyld
whych fyrst began to loue lernyng for the masters
sake, afterwards shall loue the master because of
lernyng. For as many giftes are very dere vnto vs euẽ
for thys cause, that they come from them whome wee
loue hertelye: so lernyng, to whom it can not yet be
pleasaunt thorowe discrescion, yet to them it is
acceptable for the loue they beare to the teacher. It
was very well spoken of Isocrates that he lerneth very
much, whych is desirous of lernyng. And we gladlye
lerne of them whome we loue. But some be of so
vnpleasaunt maners that they can not bee loued, no not
of their wyues, theyr countenaũce lowryng, their
companye currishe, they seme angrye euen when they be
beste pleased, they can not speke fayre, scarse can
they laughe when men laugh vpon them, a man wold saye
they were borne in an angrye hour. These men I iudge
scant worthye to whome we shulde put oure wylde horses
to be broken, muche lesse wuld I thynke that thys
tender and almost suckynge age shuld be committed to
them. Yet be ther some that thynke that these kynde of
men, euen inespecyally worthye to be set to teache
yonge chyldren, whylest they thynke their sturdynes in
lookynge is holynes. But it is not good trustyng the
lookes, vnder that frownynge face lurke oftẽ tymes
most vnchaste and wanton maners, neyther is to be
spoken amonge honeste men, to what shamefulnes these
bouchers abuse chyldren by fearyng them. No nor the
parents thẽ selues can well bring vp theyr chyldrẽ, if
they be no more but feared. The fyrste care is to be
beloued, by lytle and lytle foloweth after, not feare,
but a certen liberall and gentle reuerence which is
more of value then feare. Howe properly then I praye
you be those chyldren prouided for, which being yet
scante foure yere olde are sente to schole, where
sytteth an vnknowen scholemaster, rude of manners, not
verye sober, and sometyme not well in hys wytte, often
lunatike, or hauynge the fallyng sycknes, or frenche
pockes? For there is none so vyle, so naughte, so
wretched, whome the common people thynketh not
sufficiente ynoughe to teache a grammer schole. And
thei thynkyng they haue gotten a kingdome, it is
marueyle to see howe they set vp the brystels because
thei haue rule, not vpon beastes, as sayeth Terence,
but vpõ that age whiche ought to be cheryshed wyth all
gentlenes. You wolde saye it were not a schole, but a
tormentynge place: nothynge is hearde there beside the
flappynge vpon the hande, beside yorkynge of roddes,
besyde howlynge and sobbinge and cruell threatnynges.
What other thynge maye chyldren learne hereof, then to
hate learnyng? When this hatered hath once setteled in
the tender myndes, yea when they be old they abhorre
studye. It is also muche more foolyshe, that some men
sende their lytle chyldren to a pyuyshe dronken woman
to learne to reade and wryte. It is agaynste nature
that women shulde haue rule vpon menne: besyde that,
nothynge is more cruell then that kynde, if they bee
moued with anger, as it wyll soone be, and wyll not
cease tyll it be full reuenged. Monasteries also, and
colleges of brethern, for so they cal them selues,
seeke for their liuynge hereof, and in theyr darke
corners teache the ignoraunt chyldren commenlye by
menne that be but a lytle learned, or rather leudlye
learned, althoughe we graunte they bee bothe wyse and
honeste. ¶ Thys kynde of teachynge howe so euer other
menne alowe it, by my counsell no manne shall vse it,
who soeuer entendeth to haue hys child well brought
vp. It behoueth that eyther there were no schole, or
else to haue it openlye abrode. It is a shorte waye in
dede that cõmonlye is vsed: for manye be compelled of
one more easelye by feare, that one brought vp of one
liberallye. ¶ But it is no great thynge to beare rule
vpon Asses or Swyne, but to brynge vp chyldren
liberallye as it is veri hard, so is it a goodly
thing. It is tiranny to oppresse citizens by feare,
to keepe them in good order, by loue, moderacion and
prudence, it is princely. Diogenes beynge taken out of
the Agenites, and brought oute to be solde, the cryer
axed hym by what title he wolde be set out to the
byer. Axe quod he if any wyl bye a man that can rule
chyldren. At this straunge prayse manye laughed.
One that hadde chyldren at home communed wyth the
philosopher, whether he could do in deede that he
professed. He sayde he coulde. By shorte communicacion
he perceyued he was not of the cõmon sorte, but vnder
a pore cloke, ther was hydden great wisedome: he
bought hym, and brought hym home, & put his chyldrẽ to
him to be taught. As y^e Scots say, ther be no greater
beaters then frenche scholemasters. When they be tolde
thereof, they be wonte to answere, that that naciõ
euen lyke the Phrigians is not amẽded but bi stripes.
Whether this be true let other mẽ iudge. Yet I graunt
that there is some difference in the nacion, but much
more in the propertie of euerye seueral wyt. Some you
shal soner kyl, then amende wyth stripes: but the same
bi loue and gentle monicions you may leade whither ye
wyll. Truth it is that of thys disposicion I my selfe
was when I was a childe, and when my master whych
loued me aboue all other, because he sayd he conceiued
a certen great hope of me, toke more heede, watched me
well, and at laste to proue howe I could abyde the
rod, and laying a faute vnto my charge which I neuer
thought of, did beat me, that thinge so put awaye from
me all the loue of studie, and so discouraged my
chyldyshe mynd, that for sorowe I hadde almost
consumed awaye, and in deede folowed therof a
quartaine ague. When at laste he had perceiued hys
faute, among his friendes he bewailed it. ¶ This wyt
(quod he) I had almoste destroyed before I knewe it.
For he was a man both wyttye and well learned, and as
I thynke, a good mã. He repẽted him, but to late for
my parte. Here nowe (good syr) cõiecture me howe many
frowarde wyttes these vnlerned greate beaters do
destroye, yet proud in their owne conceite of
learnyng, wayeward, dronken, cruel, and that wyl beate
for their pleasure: them selues of suche a cruell
nature, that they take plesure of other mens
tormentes. These kynde of men shuld haue ben bouchers
or hangmẽ, not teachers of youth. Neyther do any
torment chyldren more cruelly, thẽ they that canne not
teache them. ¶ What shulde thei do in scholes but passe
the daye in chydyng and beatynge? I knewe a diuine and
that familierly, a man of greate name, whych was neuer
satisfied wyth crudelity against his scholers, whẽ he
him selfe had masters that were very great beaters. He
thought y^t dyd much helpe to caste downe the fiersnes
of their wittes, & tame the wãtonnes of their youth.
He neuer feasted amonge hys flocke, but as Comedies be
wont to haue a mery endyng, so contrary when they had
eaten theyr meat, one or other was haled oute to be
beaten wyth roddes: and sometime he raged against them
that had deserued nothynge, euen because they shuld be
accustumed to stripes. I my selfe on a time stode
nerre hym, when after diner he called out a boie as he
was wõt to do, as I trow ten yere olde. And he was but
newe come frome hys mother into that compani. He told
vs before that the chyld had a very good woman to hys
mother, and was earnestly committed of her vnto hym:
anon to haue an occacion to beate hym, he beganne to
laye to hys charge I wotte not what wãtonnesse: When
the chylde shewed hym selfe to haue nothyng lesse,
and beckened to hym to whome he committed the chyefe
rule of hys colledge, surnamed of the thynge,
a tormentoure, to beate, hym ne by and by caste doune
the chylde, and beate hym as thoughe he had done
sacrilege. The diuine sayde once or twyse, it is
inoughe, it is inoughe. But that tormentour deaffe
with feruentnes, made no ende of his bochery, tyl the
chylde was almost in a sounde: Anon the diuine
turninge to vs, he hathe deserued nothynge quod he,
but that he muste be made lowe. Who euer after that
maner hath taught hys slaue, or hys Asse? A gẽtle
horse is better tamed with puping of the mouth or
softe handlyng, then wyth whyp or spurres. And if you
handle hym hard, he wil whynche, he wyll kycke, he
wyll byte, and go backwardes. An oxe if you pricke hym
to harde wyth godes, wyl caste of his yocke, and run
vpon hym that pricked hym. So muste a gentle nature be
handled as is the whelpe of a Lion. Onlye arte tameth
Elephantes, not violence, neyther is there any beaste
so wylde, but that it wyl be tamed by gentlenes,
neyther any so tame, but immoderate cruelnes wil anger
it. It is a seruyle thynge to be chastened by feare,
and common custume calleth chyldren free men, because
liberall and gentle bringyng vp becommeth them, much
vnlike to seruile. Yet they that be wyse do thys
rather, that seruantes by gentelnes and benefites
leaue of their slauyshe condicions: remẽbryng that
they also be men, and not beastes. There be rehearsed
meruelous examples of seruauntes toward their masters,
whome verely they shulde not haue founde such if they
hadde kept them vnder only by strypes. ¶ A seruaunt if
he be corrigible is better amended by monicions, by
honestie, & good turnes, then by stripes: if he be
paste amendmente, he is hardened to extreme mischief
and eyther wyll runne awaye and rob hys master, or by
some craft go aboute his masters deathe. Sometime he
is reuenged on his masters crueltie, thoughe it coste
hym his lyfe. And there is no creature more fereful
thẽ man, whõ cruell iniurie hathe taught to dispyse
his owne lyfe. Therfore the commõ prouerb that sayth a
man hath as manye enemies as he hath seruauntes, If it
be true, I thynke it may be chiefly imputed to the
vnreasonablenes of the master: for it is a poynte of
arte, and not of chaunce to rule wel seruauntes. And
if the wyser masters go aboute thys thynge, so to vse
their seruauntes, that thei shuld serue them well and
gently, and in stede of seruantes had rather haue them
fre men, how shameful is it bi bryngyng vp, to make
seruantes of those that be gentle and free by nature?
Nor wythout cause dothe the olde manne in the comedie
thynke that there is greate difference betwixte a
master and a father. The master only compelleth,
the father by honestie and gentelnes accustumeth hys
sonne, to do well of hys owne mynde, rather then by
feare of an other: and that he shulde bee all one in
hys presence and behind hys backe. He that can not do
this sayth he, lette hym confesse that he can not rule
chyldren. But there oughte to be a litle more
difference betwyxte a father and the master, then
betwixt a kinge and a tirant. Wee putte awaye a
tiraunte from the common wealthe, and we chose
tirauntes, yea for oure sonnes, eyther we oure selfes
exercyse tirannye vpon them. Howebeit thys vyle name
of seruitude oughte vtterlye to be taken awaye oute of
the lyfe of chrysten menne. Sainte Paule desyreth
Philo to bee good to Onesimus, not nowe as a
seruaunte, but as a deere brother in steede of a
seruaunte. And wrytyng to the Ephesians, he monysheth
the masters to remitte theyr bytternesse agaynst theyr
seruauntes, and their threatnynges, remembrynge that
they are rather felow seruauntes then masters, because
they both haue a common master in heauen, whyche as
well wyll punyshe the masters if they do amysse, as
the seruauntes. The Apostle wolde not haue the masters
ful of threatning, muche lesse full of beatynge: for
he saythe not, pardonynge your strypes, but pardonynge
your threatenynges, and yet wee woulde haue oure
chyldren nothynge but beaten, whyche scarse the Galeye
masters or Sea robbers do agaynste theyr slaues and
rowers. But of chyldren, what dothe the same Apostle
commaunde vs?
¶ In somuch he wyll not haue them beaten slauyshely,
he cõmaundeth all crueltye and bytternes to be awaye
from our monicions and chydyng. You fathers saythe he,
prouoke not your chyldren to anger, but bring them vp
in discipline and chastisyng of the Lorde. And what
the discipline of the lorde is, he shal soone se that
wyll consider, wyth what gentlenes, what meekenes,
what charitie the Lord Iesus hath taught, suffered and
noryshed and brought vp by litle and lytle his
disciples. The lawes of man do temper the fathers
power: the same also permit vnto the seruauntes an
accion of euyll handlyng, and from whence then commeth
thys crueltye amonge christen men? In time paste one
Auxon a knight of Rome, whylest he wente about to
amende hys sonne by beatynge hyn vnmesurably, he
kylled him. That crueltye so moued the people, that
the fathers and chyldren haled hym in to the market
place, & al to be pricked hym, thrust him in with
theyr wrytyng pinnes, nothynge regarding the dignitie
of his knighthod, and Octauus Augustus had much a do
to saue hym. But now a daies howe many Auxons do we
see whiche thorowe cruell beatynge, hurte the
chyldrens healthe, make them one eyed, weaken them,
and sometyme kyll them. Roddes serue not to some mens
crueltie, they turne them and beate thẽ wyth the great
ende, they geue them buffettes, and stryke the yonge
ons wyth their fistes, or whatsoeuer is next at hand
they snatche it, and dashe it vpon them. It is told in
the lawe, that a certen sowter, when he layd one of
hys sowters vpon the hynder parte of the heade wyth a
laste, he stroke oute one of hys eyes, and that for
that deede he was punyshed by the lawe. What shall we
saye of them whyche beside their beatinges, do thẽ
shamefull despite also? I wolde neuer haue beleued it,
excepte both I had knowen the chylde, and the doer of
this crueltie perfitelye.
¶ A chylde yet scante .vii. yere olde, whose honeste
parentes had done good to his master, they handled so
cruellye, that scarse anye suche tiraunt as was
Mezencius or Phalaris coulde do more cruelly. They
caste so much mans donge into the childes mouth y^t
scarsely he coulde spit, but was cõpelled to swallowe
doune a great parte of it. What tiraunt dyd euer suche
kynde of despyght? After suche daynties, they
exercysed suche lozdelynes. The chylde naked was
hanged vp wyth cordes by y^e armeholes, as though he
hadde bene a stronge thyefe, and there is amonge to
Germanes no kynde of punishement more abhorred then
thys. Anone as he honge, they all to beat hym wyth
roddes, almoste euen tyll deathe. For the more the
chylde denyed the thynge that he dyd not, so muche the
more dyd they beate hym. Put also to thys, the
tormentour hym selfe almoste more to be feared then
the verie punyshemente, hys eyes lyke a serpente,
hys narowe and wrythen mouth, hys sharpe voyce like a
spirite, hys face wanne and pale, hys head roulyng
about, threatninges and rebukes suche as they lusted
in theyr anger: a manne wolde haue thought it a furie
out of hel. What folowed? anone after this punishement
the chyld fel sicke, with great ieopardye both of
mynde and lyfe. Then this tormentour began fyrst to
complayne, he wrote to hys father to take awaye hys
sonne as sone as could be, and that he had bestowed as
much phisicke vpon him as he coulde, but in vayne vpon
the chylde that was paste remedye. ¶ When the sicknes of
the body was somewhat put away by medicines, yet was
the minde so astonied, that we feared leste he wold
neuer come agayne to the olde strength of hys mynd.
Neither was thys y^e cruelty of one daye, as longe as
the childe dwelte wyth hym there passed no daye but he
was cruelly beatẽ once or twise. I know y^u suspectest
o reader, that it was an haynouse faute, wherunto so
cruell remedie was vsed. I wyl shew you in few words.
Ther was foũd both of hys y^t was beaten, and of two
others, theire bookes blotted wyth ynke, their
garmentes cutte, and their hose arayed wyth mannes
donge.
¶ He that played thys playe was a chylde borne to all
myschiefe, whiche by other vngracious deedes
afterwardes, made men beleue the other to be true that
were done before. And he was nephewe by the systers
syde to this mad docter: euẽ then playing a part
before to these thyngs whych souldiers are wont to do
in bataile or robbynge. At an hostes house of his, he
pulled oute the faucet, and let the wyne runne vpõ the
ground, and as one to shew a pleasure, he sayde that
he felt the sauour of the wyne: wyth an other of hys
felowes he daylye played at the sworde, not in sporte,
but in earnest, that euen then you myght wel perceyue
he wolde be a thyefe or a murtherer, or whych is very
lyke to them, that he wolde be an hyred souldier.
Although the teacher fauored hym, yet fearynge leste
they shulde one kyll an other, he sente awaye his
cosen. For he had for that other a good rewarde: and
he was of this sorte of gospellers, to whom nothing is
more swete then monei. His godfather was made surely
to beleue that the child was w^t a good and diligent
master, when in deede he dwelte wyth a boucher, & was
continually in company, and made drudge with a man
that was halfe mad, and continually sicke. Thus
fauoringe more his kynseman then hym by whom he had so
much profite, the suspicion was layde vpon the
harmeles, to whom they ascribed so muche malice that
he wolde teare and defile his owne garmentes to auoide
suspicion if any suche thyng had bene done. But the
child commyng both of good father and mother, dyd
neuer shewe any tokẽ of such a naughtie disposicion:
and at thys daye there is nothing farther from all
malice then are hys maners, whyche nowe free frome all
feare telleth all the matter in order as it was donne.