Positions vvherin those primitiue circumstances be examined, which are necessarie for the training vp of children, either for skill in their booke, or health in their bodie. VVritten by Richard Mulcaster, master of the schoole erected in London anno. 1561. in the parish of Sainct Laurence Povvntneie, by the vvorshipfull companie of the merchaunt tailers of the said citie

Chapter 9. Of the particular exercises, why I do appoint so manie, and how to iudge of them, or to deuise the like.

I will not here runne thorough all the kindes of exercises that be named either by Galene or any other writer, wherof ma∣ny be discontinued, many be yet in vse, but out of the whole heape I haue pickt out these for within dores, lowd speaking, singing, lowd reading, talking, laughing, weaping, holding the breath, daunsing, wrastling, fensing, and scourging the Top. And these for without dores, walking, running, leaping, swimming, riding, hunting, shooting, and playing at the ball. Wherof though the very most be vsed oftimes, not in nature of exercises, but either of pleasure, or necessitie, yet they be all such, as will serue well that waie, and be so made account of among the best wri∣ters, that deale in this kinde: and for that some of them maye be said to be most proper to men, and farre aboue boyes plaie: you must remember, that I deale for all studentes, and not for children alone, to whom it is in choice, besides all these to de∣uise other for their good, as circunstance shal lead them. There may also be reasons, to perswade some men to mislike of, I do not thinke all, but I suppose some, of these thinges, which I do appoint, as both commendable and profitable exercises, with whom I will not here striue, but desire them to iudge of me, without preiudice, and to stay their sentence, vntill they see in what sorte I allow them. For knowing the cause of offence, I might seeme very simple, if I should simply allow that, which is disallowed vpon reason, and not misliked without manifest shew of probable cause: and so to reserue the thing, as I did not remoue the blame. They must also thinke that nothing is▪ abused, but that both may and ought to be well vsed, which well, they must vse, and refuse the ill: seing where misuse draweth blame, there right vse deserueth praise.

Therfore I wishe those that be of yeares, & abilitie to guide themselues to call circunstance to counsell, and consideration to aduise. For as consideration shapeth the circunstance, so cir∣cunstance is a thing, which maketh all that is done, either to please or displease: to be sent awaie with a cutting checke: or to be bid tarie, with a cheary contenaunce. As for the child in whom wisdom wanteth, to way with discretion, what it is that he doeth, the maister alone must supplie all wantes, or beare all blames, though it be but a simple recompence, to blame wante of consideration, when harme is receiued. Some man may also say, what needes so many, and mislike the multitude. Of many to chuse some, is vsuall in all choice, and where store is, why should choice be stinted? he may lessen the number, that alloweth but of one, and I haue pickt out the likest, to sa∣tisfie all in diuersities of liking, who so shall like any of these, may vse them with me, or vpon the like ground, may deuise himselfe other. In handling of eche of these, I will first shew for what partes, to what end, and in what manner, they be pro∣fitable and holesome being moderatly vsed: then for whom, and with what daunger, they be strained to the contrarie.