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Of the Association of Pain with the Acquisition of knowledge.

When, says Ascham, the great plage was at London, the yeare 1563, the Queenes Majestie Queen Elizabeth lay at her castle of Windsore: where, upon the 10th day of December, it fortuned, that, in Sir William Cicells chamber, her Highnesse principal secretarie, there dined together these personages, M. Secretarie himselfe, Sir William Peter, Sir J. Mason, D. Wotton, Sir Richard Sackville treasurer of the Exchequer, Sir Walter Mildmaye chauncellor of the Exchequer, M. Haddon master of Requestes, M. John Astely master of the Jewell-house, M. Bernard Hampton, M. Nicasius, and I. Of which number, the most part were of her Majesties most honourable Privie Counsell, and the rest serving her in very good place. I was glad then, and do rejoice yet to remember, that my chance was so

happie to be there that day, in the companie of so manie wise and good men together, as hardly then could have beene piked out againe out of all Englande besides.

M. Secretarie hath this accustomed maner, though his head be never so full of most weightie affaires of the realme, yet, at dinner time he doth seem to lay them always aside: and findeth ever fitte occasion to taulke pleasantlie of other matters, but most gladlie of some matter of learning: wherein he will curteslie heare the minde of the meanest at his table".

a No man was more pleasant and merry at meals; and he had a pretty wit-rack in himself to make the dumbe to speak, to draw speech out of the most sullen and silent guest at his table, to shew his disposition in any point he should propound. For foreign intelligence, though he traded sometimes on the stock of Secretary Walsingham, yet wanted he not a plentiful bank of his own. At night when he put off his gown, he used to say, Lye there, Lord Treasurer, and bidding adieu to all state affairs, disposed himself to his quiet FULLER'S Holy State.

rest.

b Rawley, speaking of Bacon, says, He would draw a man on and allure him to speak upon such a subject as wherein he was peculiarly skilful, and would delight to speak. And for himself, he contemned no man's observations, but would light his torch at every man's candle.

Not long after our sitting doune "I have strange newes brought me, sayth M. Secretarie, this morning, that diverse scholers of Eaton be runne away from the schole, for feare of beating." Whereupon, M.Secretarie took occasion to wishe, that some more discretion were in many scholemasters, in using correction, than commonlie there is: who many times punishe rather the weakness of nature, than the fault of the scholer. Whereby many scholers, that might else prove well, be driven to hate learning, before they knowe what learning meaneth: and so are made willing to forsake their booke, and be glad to be put to any other kinde of living.

M. Peter, as one somewhat severe of nature, said plainlie, "That the rodde onelie was the sworde, that must keepe the schole in obedience, and the scholer in good order." M. Wotton, a man milde of nature, with soft voice and fewe wordes, inclined to M. Secretaries judgment, and said, “In mine opinion, the schole-house should be in deede, as it is called by name, the house of play and pleasure,

and not of feare and bondage: and as I do remember, so saith Socrates in one place of Plato. And therefore, if a rodde carie the feare of a sworde, it is no marville, if those that be fearfull of nature, chose rather to forsake the place, than to stande alwayes within the feare of a sworde in a fonde mans handling. M. Mason, after his maner, was verie merrie with both parties, pleasantlie playing, both with the shrewde touches of many curste boyes, and with the small discretion of many leude scholemasters. M. Haddon was fullie of M. Peter's opinion, and said, "That the best scholemaster of our time was the greatest beater," and named the person. "Though,", quoth I, "it was his good fortune to send from his schole unto the university one of the best scholers indeede of all our time, yet wise men do thincke, that that came so to passe, rather by the great towardnesse of the scholer, than by the great beating of the master; and whether this be true or no, you yourselfe are best witnesse." I said somewhat further in the matter, how and why yong children were soner

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allured by love, than driven by beating, to attayne good learning: wherein I was the bolder to say my minde, because M. Secretarie courteslie provoked me thereunto, or else, in such a companie, and namelie in his presence, my wonte is, to be more willing to use mine eares than to occupy my tonge.

Sir Walter Mildmaye, M. Astely, and the rest, said verie litle; onelie Sir Richard Sackville said nothing at all. After dinner I went up to read with the Queenes Majestie. We red then together in the Greeke tonge, as I well remember, that noble oration of Demosthenes against Æschines, for his false dealing in his ambassage to king Philip of Macedonie. Sir Richard Sackville came up sone after; and finding me in her Majesties privy chamber, he tooke me by the hand, and carrying me to a windoe, said, "M. Ascham, I would not for a good deale of monie, have been this day absent, from dinner. Where, though I said nothing, yet I gave as good eare, and do consider as well the taulke that passed, as any one did there. M. Secretarie