And the Locks and Gripes of Wrestling, wherein Eng sport fport but with much exactness, and daily muster, ferv'd out the Rudiments of their Soldiership in all the fkill of Embattling, Marching, Encamping, Fortifying, Befieging and Battering, with all the helps of antient and modern Stratagems, Tafticks, and warlike Maxims, they may as it were out of a long War come forth renown'd and perfect Commanders in the Service of their Country. They would not then, if they were trusted with fair and hopeful Armies, suffer them for want of just and wife Difcipline to fhed away from about them like fick Feathers, tho' they be never fo oft supply'd: they would not fuffer their empty and unrecruitible Colonels of twenty Men in a Company, to quaff out, or convey into fecret Hoards, the Wages of a delufive Lift and a miferable Remnant: yet in the mean while to be over-master'd with a score or two of Drunkards, the only Soldiery left about them, or elfe to comply with all Rapines and Violences. No certainly, if they knew ought of that Knowledge that belongs to good Men or good Governours, they would not fuffer these things. But to return to our own Institute, befides thefe conftant Exercifes at home, there is another Opportunity of gaining Experience to be won from Pleasure itself abroad. In thofe vernal Seasons of the Year, when the Air is calm and pleasant, it were an Injury and fullenness against Nature not to go out, and fee her Riches, and partake in her rejoicing with Heaven and Earth. I should not therefore be a Perfuader to them of ftudying much then, after two or three $ Years Years that they have well laid their Grounds, but to ride out in Companies with prudent and ftaid Guides, to all the Quarters of the Land; learning and obferving all Places of ftrength, all Commodities of building and of foil, for Towns and Tillage, Harbours and Ports for Trade: Sometimes taking Sea as far as to our Navy, to learn there also what they can in the practical Knowledge of failing and of Sea-fight. These ways would try all their pecu, liar Gifts of Nature; and if there were any fecret Excellence among them, would fetch it out, and give it fair opportunities.to advance itself by, which cou'd not but mightily redound to the good of this Nation, and bring into fashion again those old admired Virtues and Excellencies, with far more advantage now in this Purity of Chriftian Knowledge. Nor fhall we then need the Monfieurs of Paris to take our hopeful Youth into their flight and prodi gal Cuftodies, and fend them over back again transform'd into Mimicks, Apes, and Kickshaws. But if they defire to fee other Countries at three or four and twenty Years of Age, not to learn Principles, but to enlarge Experience and make wife Obfervation, they will by that time be such as shall deferve the regard and honour of all Men where they pass, and the Society and Friendship of those in all places who are best and most eminent; And perhaps then other Nations will be glad to visit us for their Breeding, or elfe to imitate us in their own Country. Now laftly for their Diet there cannot be much to say, fave only that it would be beft in the fame Houfe. Houfe; for much Time elfe would be loft abroad, and many ill Habits got; and that it fhould be plain, healthful, and moderate, I fuppofe is out of controverfy. Thus, Mr. Hartlib, you have a general view in writing, as your defire was, of that which at several times I had discours'd with you concerning the best and noblest way of Education; not be ginning as fome have done from the Cradle, which yet might be worth many Confiderations, if brevityhad not been my scope : Many other circumftances. alfo I could have mention'd, but this, to fuch as. have the worth in them to make trial, for Light and Direction may be enough. Only I believe, that this is not a Bow for every Man to shoot in that counts himself a Teacher; out will require finews almoft equal to those which Homer gave Ulyffes; yet I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the Effay, than it now seems at diftance, and much more illustrious: howbeit not more difficult than I imagine, and that Imagination presents me with nothing but very happy and very, poffible according to best wishes; if God have fo decreed, and this Age have Spirit and Capacity, enough to apprehend.. |