said very wisely, and most truely, that many yong wittes be driven to hate learninge, before they know what learninge is. I can be good witness to this myselfe: for a fond scholemaster, before I was fullie fourtene yeare olde, drave me so, with feare of beating, from all love of learninge, as nowe, when I know what difference it is to have learninge, and to have little, or none at all, I feele it my greatest griefe, and find it my greatest hurte, that ever came to me, that it was my so ill chance to light upon so lewde a scholemaster. But seeing it is but in vain to lament thinges paste, and also wisdome to looke to thinges to come, surelie, God willing, if God lend me life, I will make this my mishap, some occasion of good hap to litle Robert Sackville my sonnes sonne; for whose bringinge up I would gladlie, if it so please you, use speciallie your good advice." But, sayth he, because this place, and this tyme, will not suffer so long taulke, as these good matters require, therefore I praye you, at my request, and at your leysure, put in some order of writing, the chiefe

pointes of this our taulke, concerning the right order of teachinge, and honesty of living, for the good bringing up of children, and yong men. And surelie, beside contenting me, you shall both please and profit very many others."

I beginning some further excuse, sodainlie was called to come to the Queene. The night following I slept little, my head was so full of this our former talke, and I so mindfull somewhat to satisfie the honest request of so deare a friend. I thought to prepare some little treatise, for a new years gift, that Christmass. But, as it chaunceth to busie builders, so, in building this my poor schole-house, (the rather because the form of it is somewhat new, and differing from others) the work rose dailie higher and wider, than I thought it would at the beginninge.

In consequence of this conversation Ascham wrote his Schoolmaster: in the commencement of this work he says, "But concerning the trewe notes of the best wittes for learning in a childe, I will

reporte not myne own opinion, but the

very judgement of him that was counted the best teacher and wisest man that learning maketh mention of, and that is Socrates in Plato, who expresseth orderlie these seven plaine notes, to chose a good witte in a childe for learninge.

1. Ευφυής.

2. Μνήμων.

5. Φιλήχους.

6. Ζητητιχὸς.

3. Φιλομαθής.

4. Φιλόπονος.

7. Φιλέπαινος.

Φιλέπαινος, He that loveth to be praised for well doing at his father or masters hand. A childe of this nature will earnestlie love learninge, gladlie labor for learninge, willinglie learne of others, boldlie ask any doubte.

And thus, by Socrates judgement, a good father, and a wise scholemaster should chose a childe to make a scholer of, that hath, by nature, the foresaid perfite qualities, and cumlie furniture, both of minde and bodie: hath memorie quicke to receyve, sure to kepe, and readie to deliver; hath love to learning;

hath lust to labor; hath desire to learne of others; hath boldnesse to aske any question; hath minde holie bent to wynne praise by well doing.

The two first pointes be speciall benefites of nature; which, neverthelesse, be well preserved, and much encreased by good order.. But, as for the five last, love, labor, gladnesse to learne of others, boldnesse to aske doubtes, and will to wynne praise, be wonne and maintained by the onelie wisdome and discretion of the scholemaster. Which five poyntes, whether a scholemaster shall worke soner in a childe by fearfull beating, or curtese handling, you that be wise, judge.

Yet some men, wise in deede, but, in this matter, more by severitie of nature than any wisdome at all, do laugh at us, when we thus wishe and reason, that young children should rather be allured to learning by jentlenesse and love, than compelled to learning by beating and feare: they say our reasons serve onlie to breede forth taulke, and passe awaie time, but we never saw good scholemasters

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do so, nor never red of wise men that thought so."

Yes, forsothe: as wise as they be, either in other mens opinions, or in their own conceite; I will bring the contrarie judgement of him, who, they themselves shall confesse, was as wise as they are, or else they may be justlie thought to have small witte at all; and that is Socrates, whose judgement in Plato is plainlie this, in these words; which, because they be very notable, I will recite them in his own toung: Οὐδὲν μάθημα μετὰ δουλείας τὸν ἐλεύθερον χρὴ μανθάνειν. οἱ μὲν γὰρ τοῦ σώματος πόνοι βία πονούμενοι, χεῖρον ουδὲν τὸ σῶμα ἀπεργάζονται ψυχῇ δὲ βίαιον ουδὲν ἔμμενον μάθημα. In Englishe thus; "No learning ought to be learned with bondage: for bodily labours, wrought by compulsion, hurt not the bodie; but any learning learned by compulsion, tarieth not long in the mynde." And why? For whatsoever the mynde doth learne unwillinglie with feare, the same it doth quicklie forget without care. And lest proude wittes,