*

To subsist in lasting monuments, to live in their productions, to exist in their names and predicament of chimeras, [360 was large satisfaction unto old expectations, and made one part of their Elysiums. But all this is nothing in the metaphysics of true belief. To live indeed, is to be again ourselves, which being not only an hope, but an evidence in noble believers, 'tis all one to lie in St. Innocent's churchyard, as in the sands of Egypt. Ready to be anything, in the ecstasy of being ever, and as content with [370 six foot as the moles of Adrianus.

THOMAS FULLER (1608-1661)

THE GOOD SCHOOLMASTER

From THE HOLY STATE

There is scarce any profession in the commonwealth more necessary, which is so slightly performed. The reasons whereof I conceive to be these: First, young scholars make this calling their refuge; yea, perchance before they have taken any degree in the university, commence schoolmasters in the country, as if nothing else were required to set up this profession, but only a rod and a [10 ferula. Secondly, others, who are able, use it only as a passage to better preferment, to patch the rents in their present fortune till they can provide a new one, and betake themselves to some more gainful calling. Thirdly, they are disheartened from doing their best with the miserable reward which in some places they receive, being masters to their children and slaves to their parents. [20 Fourthly, being grown rich, they grow negligent, and scorn to touch the school but by the proxy of an usher. But see

His genius inclines him with delight to his profession. Some men' had as lief be schoolboys as schoolmasters, to be tied to the school, as Cooper's "Dictionary" and Scapula's "Lexicon" [30 are chained to the desk therein; and though great scholars, and skilful in other arts, are bunglers in this: but God of His goodness hath fitted several men for several callings, that the necessity of Church and State in all conditions may be provided for. So that he who beholds the fabric thereof may say, "God hewed out this stone, and appointed it to lie in this very place, for it would fit none [40 other so well, and here it doth most excellent." And thus God mouldeth some for a schoolmaster's life, undertaking it with desire and delight, and discharging it with dexterity and happy success.

He studieth his scholars' natures as carefully as they their books, and ranks their dispositions into several forms. And though it may seem difficult for him in a great school to descend to all par- [50 ticulars, yet experienced schoolmasters may quickly make a grammar of boys' natures, and reduce them all, saving some few exceptions, to these general rules:

1. Those that are ingenious and industrious. The conjunction of two such planets in a youth presages much good unto him. To such a lad a frown may be a whipping, and a whipping a death; yea, where their master whips them once, [60 shame whips them all the week after. Such natures he useth with all gentleness.

2. Those that are ingenious and idle. These think, with the hare in the fable, that running with snails (so they count the rest of their schoolfellows) they shall come soon enough to the post, though sleeping a good while before their starting. Oh, a good rod would finely take them napping!

[70

3. Those that are dull and diligent. Wines, the stronger they be, the more lees they have when they are new. Many boys are muddy-headed till they be clarified with age, and such afterwards prove the best. Bristol diamonds are both bright and squared and pointed by nature,

and yet are soft and worthless; whereas, orient ones in India are rough and rugged naturally. Hard, rugged, and dull [80 natures of youth acquit themselves afterwards the jewels of the country, and therefore their dullness at first is to be borne with, if they be diligent. That schoolmaster deserves to be beaten himself who beats nature in a boy for a fault. And I question whether all the whipping in the world can make their parts, which are naturally sluggish, rise one minute before the hour nature hath appointed. [90

4. Those that are invincibly dull, and negligent also. Correction may reform the latter, not amend the former. All the whetting in the world can never set a razor's edge on that which hath no steel in it. Such boys he consigneth over to other professions. Shipwrights and boatmakers will choose those crooked pieces of timber which other carpenters refuse. Those may make excellent merchants [100 and mechanics who will not serve for scholars.

He is able, diligent, and methodical in his teaching; not leading them rather in a circle than forwards. He minces his precepts for children to swallow, hanging clogs on the nimbleness of his own soul, that his scholars may go along with him.

He is, and will be known to be, an absolute monarch in his school. If [110 cockering mothers proffer him money to purchase their sons an exemption from his rod (to live as it were in a peculiar, out of their master's jurisdiction), with disdain he refuseth it, and scorns the late custom in some places of commuting whipping into money, and ransoming boys from the rod at a set price. If he hath a stubborn youth, correction-proof, he debaseth not his authority by contesting [120 with him, but fairly, if he can, puts him away before his obstinacy hath infected others.

He is moderate in inflicting deserved correction. Many a schoolmaster better answereth the name raidoтpíẞns than παιδαγωγός, rather tearing his scholars flesh with whipping than giving them good education. No wonder if his scholars hate the Muses, being presented unto [130 them in the shapes of fiends and furies.

Such an Orbilius mars more scholars than he makes: their tyranny hath caused many tongues to stammer, which spake plain by nature, and whose stuttering at first was nothing else but fears quavering on their speech at their master's [150 presence; and whose mauling them about their heads hath dulled those who, in quickness, exceeded their master.

He makes his school free to him who sues to him in forma pauperis. And surely learning is the greatest alms that can be given. But he is a beast who, because the poor scholar cannot pay him his wages, pays the scholar in his whipping. Rather are diligent lads to be encouraged [160 with all excitements to learning. This minds me of what I have heard concerning Mr. Bust, that worthy late schoolmaster of Eton, who would never suffer any wandering begging scholar (such as justly the statute hath ranked in the forefront of rogues) to come into his school, but would thrust him out with earnestness (however privately charitable unto him), lest his schoolboys should be dis- [170 heartened from their books by seeing some scholars, after their studying in the university, preferred to beggary.

He spoils not a good school to make thereof a bad college, therein to teach his scholars logic. For, besides that logic may have an action of trespass against grammar for encroaching on her liberties, syllogisms are solecisms taught in the school, and oftentimes they are forced [180 afterwards in the university to unlearn. the fumbling skill they had before.

Out of his school he is no whit pedantical in carriage or discourse; contenting himself to be rich in Latin, though he doth not jingle with it in every company wherein he comes.

To conclude, let this amongst other motives make schoolmasters careful in their place, that the eminencies of [190 their scholars have commended the memories of their schoolmasters to posterity, who otherwise in obscurity had altogether been forgotten. Who had ever heard of R. Bond, in Lancashire, but for the breeding of learned Ascham, his scholar, or of Hartgrave, in Burnley school, in the same county, but because he was the first did teach worthy Dr. Whitaker? Nor do I honor the memory of Mulcaster for [200 anything so much as for his scholar, that gulf of learning, Bishop Andrews. This made the Athenians, the day before the great feast of Theseus, their founder, to sacrifice a ram to the memory of Conidas, his schoolmaster, that first instructed him.

Her royal birth by her father's side doth comparatively make her motherdescent seem low, which otherwise, considered in itself, was very noble and honorable. As for the bundle of scandalous aspersions by some cast on her birth, they are best to be buried without once opening of them. For as the rascal will presume to miscall the best lord, when far enough out of his hearing, so slan- [20 derous tongues think they may run riot in railing on any, when once got out of the distance of time and reach of con

futation. But majesty, which dieth not, will not suffer itself to be so abused, seeing the best assurance which living princes have that their memories shall be honorably continued is founded (next to their own deserts) in the maintaining of the unstained reputation of their pred- [30 ecessors. Yea, Divine Justice seems herein to be a compurgator of the parents of Queen Elizabeth, in that Nicholas Sanders, a Popish priest, the first raiser of these wicked reports, was accidentally famished as he roved up and down in Ireland; either because it was just he should be starved that formerly surfeited with lying, or because that island, out of a natural antipathy against poisonous [40 creatures, would not lend life to so venomous a slanderer.

Under the reign of her father, and brother King Edward VI (who commonly called her his "sister Temperance"), she lived in a princely fashion. But the case was altered with her when her sister Mary came to the crown, who ever looked upon her with a jealous and frowning face, chiefly because of the difference be- [50 tween them in religion. For though Queen Mary is said of herself not so much as to have barked, yet she had under her those who did more than bite; and rather her religion than disposition was guilty in countenancing their cruelty by her authority.

This antipathy against her sister Elizabeth was increased with the remembrance how Catherine dowager, Queen Mary's [60 mother, was justled out of the bed of Henry VIII by Anna Boleyn, mother to Queen Elizabeth; so that these two sisters were born, as I may say, not only in several, but opposite, horizons, so that the elevation and bright appearing of the one inferred the necessary obscurity and depression of the other; and still Queen Mary was troubled with this fit of the mother, which incensed her against [70 this her half-sister. To which two grand causes of opposition this third may also be added, because not so generally known, though in itself of lesser consequence: Queen Mary had released Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devonshire, out of the Tower, where long he had been detained

prisoner, a gentleman of a beautiful body, sweet nature, and royal descent; intending him, as it was generally [80 conceived, to be a husband for herself. For when the said earl petitioned the queen for leave to travel, she advised him rather to marry, insuring him that no lady in the land, how high soever, would refuse him for a husband; and urging him to make his choice where he pleased, she pointed herself out unto him as plainly as might stand with the modesty of a maid and majesty of a queen. Here- [90 upon the young earl-whether because that his long durance had some influence on his brain, or that naturally his face was. better than his head, or out of some private fancy and affection to the Lady Elizabeth, or out of loyal bashfulness, not presuming to climb higher, but expecting to be called up-is said to have requested the queen for leave to marry her sister Elizabeth, unhappy that [100 his choice either went so high or no higher. For who could have spoken worse treason against Mary, (though not against the queen), than to prefer her sister before her? And she, innocent lady, did afterwards dearly pay the score of this earl's

indiscretion.

For these reasons Lady Elizabeth was closely kept and narrowly sifted all her sister's reign, Sir Henry Bedingfield, [110 her keeper, using more severity towards her than his place required, yea, more than a good man should-or a wise man would have done. No doubt the least tripping of her foot should have cost her the losing of her head, if they could have caught her to be privy to any conspiracies.

This lady as well deserved the title of "Elizabeth the Confessor" as ever Edward, her ancient predecessor, did. [120 Mr. Ascham was a good schoolmaster to her, but affliction was a better; so that it is hard to say whether she was more happy in having a crown so soon, or in having it no sooner, till affliction had first

laid in her a low-and therefore sure-foundation of humility for highness to be afterwards built thereupon.

We bring her now from the cross to the crown, and come we now to describe [130 the rare endowments of her mind; when,

behold, her virtues almost stifle my pen, they crowd in so fast upon it.

She was an excellent scholar, understanding the Greek, and perfectly speaking the Latin: witness her extempore speech in answer to the Polish ambassador, and another at Cambridge, Et si fœminalis iste meus pudor (for so it began), elegantly making the word fæminalis; [140 and well might she mint one new word who did refine so much new gold and silver. Good skill she had in the French and Italian, using interpreters not for need, but state. She was a good poet in English, and fluently made verses. her time of persecution, when a Popish priest pressed her very hardly to declare her opinion concerning the presence of Christ in the sacrament, she truly and [150 warily presented her judgment in these

verses:

"Twas God the Word that spake it, He took the bread and brake it; And what the Word did make it, That I believe, and take it."

In

And though perchance some may say, "This was but the best of shifts and the worst of answers, because the distinct manner of the presence must be be- [160 lieved," yet none can deny it to have been a wise return to an adversary who lay at wait for all advantages. Nor was her poetic vein less happy in Latin. When, a little before the Spanish invasion in eighty-eight, the eighty-eight, the Spanish ambassador, after a larger representation of his master's demands, had summed up the effect thereof in a tetrastich, she instantly in one verse rejoined her answer. We [170 will presume to English both, though confessing the Latin loseth lustre by the

translation.

Te veto ne pergas bello defendere Belgas; Quæ Dracus eripuit nunc restituantur oportet;

Quas pater evertit jubeo te condere cellas;
Religio Papa fac restituatur ad unguem.

"These to you are our commands:
Send no help to the Netherlands;
Of the treasure took by Drake, [180
Restitution you must make;

"Worthy King, know this your will

At latter Lammas we'll fulfil."

Her piety to God was exemplary: none more constant or devout in private [190 prayers; very attentive also at sermons, wherein she was better affected with soundness of matter than quaintness of expression. She could not well digest the affected over-elegancy of such as prayed for her by the title of "Defendress of the Faith," and not the "Defender," it being no false construction to apply a masculine word to so heroic a spirit. She was very devout in returning thanks [200 to God for her constant and, continual preservations: for one traitor's stab was scarce put by before another took aim at her. But as if the poisons of treason by custom were turned natural to her, by God's protection they did her no harm. In any design of consequence she loved to be long and well advised; but where her resolutions once seized, she would never let go her hold, according to her [210 motto, Semper eadem.

By her temperance she improved that stock of health which nature bestowed on her, using little wine and less physic. Her continence from pleasures was admirable, and she the paragon of spotless chastity, whatever some Popish priests (who count all virginity hid under a nun's veil) have feigned to the contrary. The best is, their words are no slander whose words [220 are all slander, so given to railing that they must be dumb if they do not blaspheme magistrates. One Jesuit made this false anagram on her name Elizabeth, JESABEL: false both in matter and manner. For allow it the abatement of H, (as all anagrams must sue in chancery for moderate favor), yet was it both unequal and ominous that T, a solid letter, should be omitted the presage of the gallows [230

whereon this anagrammatist was afterwards justly executed. Yea, let the testimony of Pope Sixtus V himself be believed, who professed that amongst all the princes in Christendom he found but two who were worthy to bear command, had they not. been stained with heresy: namely, Henry IV, King of France, and Elizabeth, Queen of England. And we may presume that the Pope, if commending his enemy, is [240 therein infallible.

We come to her death, the discourse whereof was more welcome to her from the mouth of her private confessor than from a public preacher; and she loved. rather to tell herself than to be told of her mortality, because the open mention thereof made, as she conceived, her subjects divide their loyalty betwixt the present and the future prince. We need [250 look into no other cause of her sickness than old age, being seventy years old. (David's age), to which no king of England since the Conquest did attain. Her weakness was increased by her removal from London to Richmond in a cold winter day, sharp enough to pierce through those who were armed with health and youth. Also melancholy (the worst natural parasite-whosoever [260 feeds him shall never be rid of his company) much afflicted her, being given over to sadness and silence.

Then prepared she herself for another world, being more constant in prayer and pious exercises than ever before. Yet spake she very little to any, sighing out more than she said, and making still music to God in her heart. And as the red rose, though outwardly not so fra- [270 grant, is inwardly far more cordial than the damask, being more thrifty of its sweetness and reserving it in itself, so the religion of this dying queen was most turned inward, in soliloquies betwixt God and her own soul, though she wanted not outward expressions thereof. When her speech failed her, she spake with her heart, tears, eyes, hands, and other signs, so commending herself to God, the [280 best Interpreter, who understands what his saints desire to say. Thus died Queen Elizabeth: whilst living, the first maid on earth, and when dead, the second in