The boke named the Gouernour, deuysed by syr Thomas Elyot knight

The seconde and thyrde decay of lerninge amonge gentylmen. Cap. xiii.

THe seconde occasion, wher∣fore gentyll mens chyldren seldome haue sufficiente ler∣nyng, is auarice. For where theyr parentes wyll not ad∣uenture, to sende them farre out of theyr propre countreyes, partly for feare of dethe, whiche perchance dare not approche them at home with theyr father, partely for expence of money, whiche they suppose wold be lesse in theyr own houses, or in a vyllage with some of theyr tenantes or frendes, hauynge seldome any regarde to the teacher, whether he be well lerned or ignorant. For if they hire a schole may∣ster

to teche in theyr houses, they chiefely enquire, with howe smal a salary he wyl be contented, and neuer doo inserche, howe moche good lernynge he hath, and howe amonge well lerned men, he is therin este∣med: vsynge therin lesse dilygence than in takynge seruantes, whose seruice is of mo∣che lesse importaunce, and to a good schole mayster, is not in profyte to be compared.

¶ A gentyllman, er he take a cooke in his seruice, wyll fyrste examine him diligently, howe many sortes of meates, potages, and sauces he can perfectely make, and howe well he can season them: that they maye be both pleasant and nourishynge. Yea, and if it be but a fauconer, he wyll scrupulusly en∣quire, what skyll he hath in fedynge, cal∣led dyete, and kepyng of his hauke from al syckenes: also howe he can reclaime her & prepare her to flight. And to suche a cooke or fauconer, whom he fyndeth experte, he spareth not to gyue moche wages, with o∣ther bounteous rewardes. But of a schole maister, to whom he wyll cōmytte his child to be fedde with lernyng, and instructed in vertue, whose lyfe shall be the princypall monument of his name and honour, he ne∣uer maketh further enquirie, but where he may haue a schole maister, and with howe lytel charge. And if one perchance be foū∣den

well lerned, whiche wyll not take pei∣nes to teache without great salary: he than speketh nothynge more, or els sayth, what shall so moche wages be gyuen to a schole mayster, whiche wolde kepe me two ser∣uantes? To whom may be sayd these wor∣des, that by his sonne, beynge well lerned, he shall receyue more commoditie and also worshyp, than by the seruyce of a hundred cookes and fauconers.

¶ The thyrde cause of this hyndrance, is negligence of parentes: which I note spe∣cially in this poynte. There haue ben dy∣uers, as well meane gentyll men as of the nobilitie, whiche delytynge to haue theyr sonnes excellent in lernynge, haue prouy∣ded for them connynge maisters, who sub∣stancially haue taught them grammer, and very wel instructed them, to speake latin e∣legantly: wherof the parentes haue taken moch delectation, but whan they haue had of grammer sufficient, and be comen to the aege of .xiiii. yeres, and do approche or drawe towarde the astate of man, whiche aege is called mature or rype (wherin not onely the saide lernynge continued by mo∣che experyence shall be perfectely dyge∣sted and confyrmed in perpetuall remem∣brance, but also more seriouse lernyng con∣teyned in other lyberall sciences, and also

philosophy wolde than be lerned) the pa∣rentes, this thynge nothynge regardinge, but beinge suffised, that theyr chyldren can onely speke latine proprely, or make verses without matter or sentence: they from thēs forthe do suffre theym to lyue in idelnes, or elles puttynge them to seruyce, do as it were banishe them from al vertuous study, and from excercise of that, whiche they be fore lerned. So that we maye beholde dy∣uers yonge gentyll menne, whiche in theyr infancie and chyldehod, were wondred at for theyr aptnes to lernynge, and prompte speakynge of elegant latine, nowe beynge men,: haue not onely forgotten theyr con∣gruite (as the commune worde is) and vn∣neth can speake one hole sentence in trewe latine, but that wars is, haue all lernynge in derision, and in skorne therof, wil of wā∣tonnesse speake the moste barberously that they can imagine.

¶ Nowe some mā wil require me to shewe myne opinion, if it be necessary, that gentil men shulde, after the aege of .xiiii. yeres, continue in study. To be plaine and trewe, therin I dare affirme, that if the elegante speakynge of latine be not added to other doctrine, lytel fruite may come of the tong, sins latine is but a naturall speche, and the fruite of speche is wyse sentence, which is

gathered and made of sondry lernynges. And he that hath nothyng but langage on∣ly, maye be no more praysed than a popin∣iay, a pye, or a stare, whan they speake feat∣ly. There be many nowe a days in famouse scholes and vniuersities, whiche be so mo∣che gyuen to the study of tonges only, that whan they write epistels, they seme to the reder, that lyke to a trumpet they make a soune without any purpose, where vnto mē herken more for the noyse than for any de∣lectation that therby is meued. Wherfore they be moche abused, that suppose elo∣quence to be onely in wordes or colours of Rhetorike. For as Tully sayth, what is so furiouse or mad a thynge, as a vayne soune of wordes of the best sort and most ornate, conteyninge neither conning nor sentence.

¶ Undoubtedly, very eloquence is in eue∣ry tonge where any matter or acte done or to be done is expressed in wordes clene, pro pise, ornate, and comely, wherof sentencis be so aptly compact, that they by a vertue inexplicable, do drawe vnto them the myn∣des and consent of the herers, being ther∣with eyther persuaded, meued, or to dele∣ctation induced.

¶ Also euery man is not an oratour, that can write an epistle or a flatterynge oration in latin, wherof the laste (as god helpe me)

is to moche vsed. For a ryght oratour may not be without a moche better furniture. Tulli sayth, that to hym belongeth the ex∣ply catynge or vnfoldinge of sentence, with a great estimation, in gyuynge counsaylle concernyng matters of great importaunce: also to hym apperteyneth the sterynge and quickenynge of people, languysshynge or dyspeyryng, and to moderate them that be rashe and vnbrydled. Wherfore noble au∣ctours do affyrme, that in the fyrste infancy of the worlde, men wandrynge lyke beastis in woddes and on mountaynes, regarding neyther the religion due vnto god, nor the office perteynynge vnto man, ordered all thynge by bodyly strength: vntyl Mercu∣rius (as Plato supposeth) or somme other man holpen by sapience, and eloquence, by some apt or propre oration, assembled them to gether, and perswaded to theym, what commoditie was in mutual couersation and honest maners.

¶ But yet Cornelius Tacitus descrybeth an oratour, to be of more excellēt qualites, sayinge, An oratour is he, that can or may speke or reason in euery question sufficiēt∣ly, elegantly, and to perswade proprely, ac∣cordynge to the dygnitie of the thing that is spoken of, the oportunitie of tyme, and pleasure of them that be herers.

¶ Tully before hym affyrmed, that a man may not be an oratour, heaped with preise, but if he haue gotten the knowlege of all thinges, and artes of greatest importance. And howe shall an oratour speake of that thynge, that he hath not lerned? And by∣cause there maye be nothynge, but it maye happen to come in preyse or dysprayse, in consultation or iugemente, in accusation or defence: therfore an oratour, by others in∣struction perfectly furnyshed, maye in eue∣ry matter and lernynge, commende or dys∣prayse, exhorte or dissuade, accuse or defēd eloquently, as occasion hapneth. Wherfore in as moche as in an oratour is required to be a heape of all maner of lernynge, whi∣che of some is called the worlde of science, of other the circle of doctrine, whiche is in one worde of Greeke ENCYCLOPEDIA, therfore at this daye, maye be founden but a very fewe oratours. For they that come in message from pryncis, be for ho∣nour named nowe oratours, if they be in a∣ny degre of worshyppe: onely poore men, hauynge equall or more of lernynge, beyng called messagers.

¶ Also they, which only teache rhetorike (whiche is the scyence, wherby is taughte an artisiciall fourme of spekyng, wherin is the power to perswade, moue, and delyte,

or by that science onely do speake or write without any admynistratyon of other scy∣ences) ought to be named rhetoriciens, de clamatours, artificiall speakers (named in Greke Logodedali) or any other name than oratours.

¶ Semblably they that make verses, ex∣pressynge therby none other lernynge, but the crafte of versifienge, be not of auncient writers named poetes, but only called ver∣sifyers. For the name of a Poete (wherat nowe, specially in this realme, men haue su¦che indignation, that they vse only poetes and poetry in the contempte of eloquence) was in auncient tyme in highe estymation: in so moche that all wysedome was suppo∣sed to be therin included. And poetry was the first philosophy that euer was knowen, wherby men from theyr chyldhode were brought to the reason, how to liue wel, ler∣nynge therby not onely maners and natu∣rall affections, but also the wonderful war∣kes of nature, myxtyng serious mater with thynges that were pleasaunt: as it shall be manyfeste to them that shall be so fortunate to rede the noble warkes of Plato and A∣ristotle: wherin he shall fynde the auctori∣tie of poetes frequentely alleged: ye and that more is, In poetis was supposed to be science misticall and inspired: and therfore

in latyne they were called VATES, whi∣che worde signifieth as moche as prophe∣tes. And therfore Tulli in his Tusculane questions supposeth, that a poete can not abundantly expresse verses sufficiente and complete, or that his eloquence may flowe without labour, wordes well sounyng and plentuouse, without celestial instinciō, whi∣che is also by Plato ratified.

¶ But sens we be now occupied in the de∣fence of Poetes, it shall not be incongru∣ent to our matter, to shewe what profytte maye be taken by the dyligente redynge of auncient poetes: contrary to the false opi∣nion that nowe rayneth, of them that sup∣pose, that in the warkes of poetes is con∣teyned nothynge but baudry (such is their foule word of reproche) and vnprofytable leasynges. But fyrst I wyl interprete some verses of Horace, wherin he expresseth the offyce of poetes, and after wyl I resorte to a more playne demonstration of some wise∣domes and counsaylles conteyned in some verses of poetes. Horace in his seconde boke of epistles, sayth in this wyse, or mo∣che lyke,

The poete facioneth by some plesant meane, The speche of chyldren tendre and vnsure: Pulling their eares from wordes vnclene, Gyuinge to them preceptes that are pure:

Rebukynge enuy and wrath, if it dure: Thinges wel done he can by exāple cōmende, The nedy and sycke he doth also his cure To recomforte, if aught he can amende.

¶ But they, which be ignorant in poetes, wyll perchance obiecte as theyr maner is, agaynst these verses, sayinge, that in The∣rēce and other, that were writers of come∣dies, Ouide, Catullus, Martialis, and all that route of lasciuious poetes, that wrate epistles and ditties of loue, some called in latin Elegiae, some Epigrāmata, is nothing conteyned, but incitation to lechery.

¶ Fyrste comedies, whiche they suppose to be a doctrinall of rybaudry, they be vn∣doutedly a picture, or as it were a mirrour of mans lyfe: wherin yuell is not taughte, but dyscouered, to the intent that men, be∣holding the promptnes of youth vnto vice, the snares of har lottis and baudes, layd for yonge myndes, the disceipt of seruauntes, the chaunces of fortune, contrary to mens expectation, they beynge therof warned, maye prepare them selfe to resyste and pre∣uente occasion. Semblably remembrynge the wysedomes, aduertysementes, coun∣sayīes, dissuasyon from vice and other pro∣fytable sentences, moste eloquently and fa∣miliarly shewed in those comedyes, Un∣doubtedly there shall be no lyttel fruite out

of them gathered. And if the vices in them expressed, shulde be cause, that myndes of the reders shuld be corrupted: than by the same argumente not onely enterludes in englyshe but also sermones, wherin some vyce is declared, shulde be to the behol∣ders and herers lyke occasion to encreace sinners. And that by comedies, good coū∣saylle is ministred: it appereth by the sen∣tence of Parmeno, in the seconde comedy of Therence.

In this thing I triūphe in mine own cōceipte, That I haue foūden for al yong mē the way, Howe they of harlots shal knowe the deceipt, Their witt{is}, their maners, y^• therby they may Them perpetnally hate: for so moch as they Out of their own houses be freshe & delicate, Fedynge curiousely: at home all the daye Lyuynge beggarly, in most wretched ast ate.

¶ There be many mo wordes spoken, whi¦che I purposelye omytte to translate, not with standynge the substaunce of the hole sentence is herein comprised. But nowe to come to other poetes. what may be better sayde, thanne is witten by Plautus in his fyrste comedie?

¶ Verily vertue doth all thinges excelle. For if libertie, helthe, lyuynge, and substance, Our countrey, our parētes & children do wel, It hapneth by vertue, she doth al aduaunce.

Vertue hath all thinge vnder gouernaunce, And in whom of vertue is fouden gret plētie, Any thinge that is good may neuer be deinte.

¶ Also Ouidius, that semeth to be most of al poetes lasciuious, in his mooste wanton bokes, hath ryghte commendable and no∣ble sentēces: as for proufe therof, I wil re∣cyte some that I haue taken at aduenture.

¶ Tyme is in medicine, if it shall profytte. Wyne giuen out of tyme, may be annoyaunce. A man shall irritate vice, if he prohibite. Whan time is not mete vnto his vtteraunce. Therfore, if thou yet by counsayle arte recu∣perable Fle thou from idelnesse, and alway Be stable.

¶ Martialis, whiche for his dissolute wry∣ting, is most seldome red of men of moche grauitie, hath not withstanding many com∣mendable sentences and ryght wyse coun∣sailes, as among diuers, I wil reherce one, whiche is first come to my remembraunce.

¶ If thou wyit eschewe byttev aduenture And aduoyde the gnawyng of a pensiful hart Sette in no one person all holly thy pleasure The lesse shalte thou ioye, But lesse shalt thou smarte.

¶ I could recite a great nombre of sembla∣ble good sentences, out of these and other wanton poetes, whiche in latine do expres them incomparably, with more grace and

delectation to the reder, than our englishe tonge may yet comprehend. Wherfore sens good and wyse mater maye be pycked out of these poetes, it were no reason for some lyttel mater, that is in theyr verses, to abā∣done therfore all theyr warkes, noo more than it were to forbeare or prohibite a man to come into a fayre gardeyne, lest the re∣dolēt sauours of swete herbes and floures, shall meue hym to wanton courage, or leste in gadringe good and holsome herbes, he may happen to be stunge with a nettle. No wyse man entreth into a gardeyne, but he sone espieth good herbes from nettils, and treadeth the nettils vnder his feete, whiles he gadreth good herbes: wherby he ta∣keth no damage. Or if he be stungen, he ma¦keth lyght of it, and shortly forgetteth it.

Semblably if he do rede wanton mattier, mixte with wisedome, he putteth the worst vnder fote, and sorteth out the beste: or if his courage be stered or prouoked, he re∣membreth the lyttel pleasure and great de∣trimente that shulde ensue of it: and with∣drawynge his mynde to some other study or exercise, shortely forgetteth it.

¶ And therfore among the iewes though it were prohibyte to chyldren, vntyll they came to rype yeres, to rede the bookes of Genesis, of the iuges, Cantica Canticorum,

and some parte of the booke of Ezechiel the prophete, For that in theym was con∣teyned some matter, whiche moughte hap∣pen to incense the yonge mynde, wherin were sparkes of carnall concupiscence, yet after certayne yeres of mennes aeges, it was lefull for euery man to rede and dily∣gently studye those warkes. So al though I approue not the lesson of wanton poetes, to be taughte vnto al chyldren: yet thinke I conueniente and necessary, that whanne the mynde is become constaunte, and cou∣rage is asswaged, or that chyldren of theyr naturall dysposition be shamefaste and con∣tinente, none aunciente poete wolde be ex∣cluded frome the lesson of suche one, as desyreth to come to the perfecty on of wise¦dome.

¶ But in defendyng of oratours and poe∣tes, I had almost forgotten where I was. Ueryly there maye no man be an excellent poete, nor oratour, vnlesse he haue parte of all other doctrine, specially of noble philo∣sophy. And to saye the trouthe, no man can apprehende the very delectation, that is in the lesson of noble poetes, vnlesse he haue redde very moche, and in dyuers autours of dyuers lernynges. Wherfore, as I late sayde, to the augmentation of vnderstan∣dynge, called in latine Intellectus et mens,

is required to be moche redynge and vigi∣lante studye in euery scyence, specially of that part of philosophy named moral, whi∣che instructeth menne in vertue and poly∣tike gouernance. Also no noble autour, spe¦cially of them that wrate in greke or latine before .xii. C. yeres passed, is not for any cause to be omytted. For therin I am of Quintilians opinion, that there is fewe or none auncyente warke, that yeldeth not some fruite or commoditie to the diligente reders. And it is a very grosse or obstinate wytte, that by redyng moche, is not some what amended.

¶ Concernynge the election of other au∣tours, to be redde, I haue (as I trust) de∣clared sufficiently my conceipte and opini∣on, in the x. and .xi. chapiters.

¶ Fynally, like as a delycate tree, that co∣meth of a kernell, whiche as sone as it bur∣geneth out leues, if it be plucked vppe, or it be sufficiently rooted, and layde in a cor∣ner, becometh drye or rotten, and no fruite cometh of it: if it be remoued and sette in an other ayre or erthe, whiche is of con∣trary qualities where it was before, it ei∣ther sēblably dieth, or beareth no fruite, or els the fruite that commeth of it, leseth his verdure and tast, and fynally his estimatiō. So the pure and excellent lerning, wherof

I haue spoken, thoughe it be sowen in a chylde neuer so tymely, and spryngeth and burgeneth neuer so pleasauntly, if before it take a depe rote in the minde of the childe, it be laide a side, eyther by to moch solace, or continuall attendaunce in seruice, or els is translated to an other study, which is of a more grosse or vnplesaunt qualitie, before it be confirmed or stablyshed by often re∣dynge or dilygent exercise, in conclusion it vanisheth and cometh to nothynge. Wher∣fore let men replie as they lyst, in myne o∣pinion, men be wonderfully disceiued nowe a days (I dare not say with the persuasion of auarice) that doo put theyr chyldren at the age of xiiii. or .xv. yeres, to the study of the lawes of the realme of Englande. I wil shewe them reasonable causes why, if they wil paciently here me, informed partely by myne owne experience.

Notes

• Eloquēce cōmended
• what elo∣quence is.
• Corn. Ta. de orat.
• Poetes.
• Ci. Tusc. quest. ••.
• Horat. ep. li. ii. ep••a ad Augu∣stum.
• Comedies
• Therent. in Euneu.
• Plautus •• Amphit. Alc. loqtur
• Ouidius de reme. amoris.
• Wartialis li. xii. ad Julium.