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For during my

weal of his country, I vouchsafe they so name me. life I will in that affection continue." To the physicians who were offended because he intermeddled in their department and particularly that he should treat of medicine in English, he, in reply, condemned them for aiming to keep their art a secret, and claimed, "that before he was twenty years old, one of the most learned physicians in England read to him the works of Hippocrates, Galen, Oribasius, Paulus Celius, Alexander Trallianus, Discorides, and Joanicius." To these Sir Thomas added "the study of Avicen, Averroes, and many more. Therefore, though he had never been at Montpelier, Padua, or Salerno, yet he had found something in physic, by which he had experienced no little profit for his own health.”

"THE GOVERNOUR "

"The Governour," although it was designed to instruct men, and especially men of noble birth, in good morals, and in the ways of usefulness, is not so much a treatise on Education as a contribution to the science of Political Ethics. It was dedicated to King Henry VIII, who, according to Strype, "read it and much liked it, making this observation:-That Sir Thomas Elyot intended to augment our English tongue, whereby men should as well express more abundantly things conceived in their breasts, (wherefore language was ordained,) having words apt for the purpose; as also interpret out of Greek, Latin, or any other tongues, into English, as sufficiently as out of any of the said tongues into another. The king observed also, that throughout the book, there was no new turn made by him of a Latin or French word, that no sentence throughout the said book was thereby made dark or hard to be understood."

GENERAL AIM AND PLAN OF THE TREATISE.

The author's general aim and plan, as set forth in the Proheme "unto the most noble and victorious prince, King Henry the Eighth," is "to describe in our vulgar tongue the form of a just Public Weal, which matter I have gathered, as well of the sayings of most noble authors, (Greek and Latin,) as by my own experience; I being continually trained in some daily affairs of the Public Weal, of this your most noble realm, almost from my childhood. Which attempt is not from presumption to teach any person, I myself having most need of teaching; but only to the intent that men, who will be studious about the Public Weal, may find the thing, thereto expedient, compendiously written. And forasmuch as this present book treateth of the education of them that hereafter may be deemed worthy to be governors of the Public Weal under your highness, (which Plato affirmeth to be the first and chief part of a Public Weal; Solomon saying also, where governors be not the people shall fall into ruin;) I therefore have named it "The Governour;" and do now dedicate it to your highness as the first fruits of my study; verily trusting that your most excellent wisdom will therein esteem my loyal heart and diligent endeavor, by the example of Artaxerxes, the noble King of Persia, who rejected not the poor husbandman, who offered to him his homely hands full of clean water, but most graciously received it with thanks, esteeming the present not after the value,

but rather according to the will of the giver. In like manner King Alexander retained with him the poet Cherilus honorably, for writing his history, although that the poet was but of small estimation; which that prince did not for lack of judgment, he being of excellent learning, as disciple of Aristotle, but to the intent that his liberality employed on Cherilus, should animate or give courage to others much better learned, to contend with him in a like enterprise."

The First Book opens with the following signification of a "Public Weal," which it is the object of the governor to promote:

A Public Weal is a body living composed of many and sundry degrees of inen, which is disposed by the order of men, which is disposed by the order of equity, and governed by the rule and moderation of reason. In the Latin language it is called Respublica, of the which the word Res has divers significations, doth not only betoken that which is called a thing, which is distinct from a person, but also signifieth estate, condition, substance, and profit.

So in this world, they who excel other in this influence of understanding, and do employ it to the detaining of other within the bounds of reason, and show them how to provide for their necessary living, such ought to be set in a more high place than the residue, where they may see, and also be seen, that by the beams of their excellent wit, showeth through the glass of authority, other of inferior understanding may be directed to the way of virtue and commodious living.

Wherefore to conclude, it is only a Public Weal, where, like as God hath disposed the said influence of understanding, are also appointed degrees and places, according to the excellence thereof, and thereto also would be substance convenient, and necessary, for the ornament of the same; which also impresseth a reverence and due obedience to the vulgar people or commonalty, and without that it can be no more said, that there is a Public Weal, than it may be affirmed, that a house without its proper and necessary ornaments, is well and sufficiently furnished.

The author favors that form of Public Weal as "the best and the most sure" in which "one king or prince ruleth only for the weal of his people," which he substantiates by an appeal to history, but he advocates the appointment by the sovereign governor of inferior magistrates on account of their excellent virtue and learning, and who have a competent substance to live without taking rewards, and to instruct and furnish their sons to follow them in the administration of the Public Weal. To this end he advises that the education of the governing class begin with the right selection of mother, nurse, and schoolmaster, and that the tender minds of children and youth should be kept clean of all vulgar or vicious sights or conversation, and be made familiar with high and unobling objects.

SCARCITY OF GOOD SCHOOLMASTERS.

Sir Thomas Elyot devotes a chapter to "the chief impediments of excellent learning," viz., “for what cause at this day (1544) there be in this realm few perfect schoolmasters."

Good Lord! how many good and clean wits of children be now-a-days perished by ignorant schoolmasters, how little substantial doctrine is apprehended by the fewness of good grammarians! Notwithstanding I know that there be some well learned, who have taught and also do teach, but God knoweth a few, and they with small effect, having thereto no comfort; their aptest and most proper scholars, after they be well instructed in speaking Latin, and understanding some poets, being taken from their school by their parents, and either be brought to the court, made lacqueys or pages, or else are bound apprentices, whereby the worship that the master above any reward coveteth to have by the praise of his scholar, is utterly drowned. Whereof I have heard schoolmasters very well learned, of good right, complain. But vet (as I said) the fewness of

good grammarians is a great impediment of doctrine. And here I would the readers should mark, that I note to be few good grammarians, and not none. I call not them grammarians, who can only teach or make rules, whereby a child shall only learn to speak good Latin, or to make six verses standing in one foot, wherein perchance shall be neither sentence nor eloquence. But I name him a grammarian by the authority of Quinctilian, that speaking of Latin elegantly, can expound good authors, expressing the invention and disposition of the matter, their style or form of eloquence, explicating the figures, as well of sentences as words, leaving nothing, person or place named by the author, undeclared or hidden from his scholars. Wherefore Quinctilian saith, it is not enough for him to have read poets, but all kinds of writing must also be sought for, not for the histories only, but also for the property of words, which commonly do receive their authority of noble authors. Moreover, without music, grammar may not be perfect; forasmuch as therein must be spoken of metres and harmonies, called rythm in Greek. Neither if he have not the knowledge of stars, he may understand poets, who in description of time (I omit other things) they treat of the rising and going down of planets. Also he may not be ignorant in philosophy, for many places that be almost in every poet, fetched out of the most subtle part of natural questions. These be well nigh the words of Quinctilian. Then behold how few grammarians, after this description, be in this realm.

Undoubtedly there be in this realm many well learned, which if the name of a schoolmaster were not so much had in contempt, and also if their labors with abundant salaries might be requited, were right sufficient and able to induce their hearers to excellent learning, so they be not plucked away green, and ere they be in doctrine sufficiently rooted. But now-a-days, if to a bachelor or master of arts study of philosophy waxeth tedious, if ye have a spoonful of Latin, he will show forth a hog's head without any learning, and offer to teach grammar, and expound noble writers; and to be in the room of a master, he will, for a small salary, set a false color of learning on proper wits, which will be washed away with one shower of rain.

Some men peradventure do think, that at the beginning of learning it forceth not although the masters have not so exact doctrine as I have rehearsed, but let them take good heed what Quinctilian saith. It is so much the better to be instructed by them that are best learned, forasmuch as it is difficult to put out of the mind that which is once settled, the double burden being painful to the masters who shall succeed, and verily much more to unteach than to teach. Wherefore it is written, that Timothy, the noble musician, demanded alway a greater reward of them whom other had taught, than of them that never any thing learned. These be the words of Quinctilian or like.

Also the common experience teacheth that no man will put his son to a butcher to learn, or bind him apprentice to a tailor. Or if he will have him a cunning goldsmith, will bind him first apprentice to a tinker. In these things poor men be circumspect, and the nobles and gentlemen, who would have their sons by excellent learning come unto honor, for sparing of cost, or for lack of diligent search for a good schoolmaster, willfully destroy their children, causing them to be taught that learning which would require six or seven years to be forgotten, by which time the more part of that age is spent wherein is the chief sharpness of wit, (called in Latin acumen,) and also then approacheth the stubborn age, where the child brought up in pleasure disdaineth correction.

MUSIC.

"The Governour" commends with some limitations that the future magistrates of the land acquire a mastery of music, both vocal and instrumental, that it may serve "for recreation after tedious or laborious affairs," and he cites with approbation the choice of Alexander-after the conquest of Ilium-"to see, not the harp of Paris where he allured the wanton pleasures of love, but the harp of Achilles whereto the valiant acts and noble affairs of excellent princes were duly celebrated." "A wise and circumspect tutor will adapt the pleasant sci. once to a necesary and laudable purpose."

PAINTING AND CARVING-POETRY AND ORATORY.

In the chapter on Painting and Carving "The Governour," in striving to show that "it is commendable for a gentleman to paint and carve exactly," anticipates the arguments which are now used to introduce Drawing and attention to the Fine Arts, and generally the culture of the esthetical part of our nature, in our systems of school or formal instruction.

If the child be of nature inclined (as many have been) to paint with a pen, or to form images in stone or tree, he should not be therefrom withdrawn, or nature be rebuked, which is to him benevolent; but putting one to him, which is in that craft, wherein he delighteth, most excellent, in vacant times from other more serious learning, he should be in the most purewise instructed in painting or carving. And now, perchance, some envious reader will hereof take occa sion to scorn me, saying that I had well hied me, to make of a nobleman a maison or painter. And yet if either ambition or voluptuous idleness would have suffered that reader to have seen histories, he should have found excellent princes, as well in painting as in carving, equal to noble artificers. Such were Cladius Titus, the son of Vespasian, Adrian, both Antonines, and divers other emperors and noble princes, whose works of long time remained in Rome and other cities, in such places where all men might behold them; as monuments of their excellent wits and virtuous occupation in eschewing of idleness. And not without a necessary cause princes were in their childhood so instructed; for it served them afterward for devising of engines for the war; or for the making them better that be already devised. For as Vitruvius (which writeth of building to the Emperor Augustus) saith, all torments of war, which we call engines, were first invented by kings or governors of hosts, or if they were devised by other, they were by them made much better.

Also by the feat of portraiture or painting, a captain may describe the country of his adversary, whereby he shall eschew the dangerous passages with his host or navy; also perceiving the places of advantage, the form of embattling of his enemies, the situation of his camp, for his greatest surety or weakness of the town or fortress which he intendeth to assault. And that which is most specially to be considered, in visiting his own dominions, he shall set them out in figure, in such wise, that at his eye shall appear to him where he shall employ his study and treasure, as well for the safeguard of his country, as for the commodity and honor thereof, having at all times in his sight the surety and feebleness, advancement and hinderance of the same. And what pleasure and also utility is to a man, who intendeth to edify himself to express the figure of the work that he purposeth, according as he hath conceived it in his own fantasy, wherein, by often amending and correcting, he finally shall so perfect the work unto his purpose, that there shall neither ensue any repentance, nor in the employment of his money he shall be by other deceived. Moreover the feat of portraiture shall be an allurement to every other study or exercise. For the wit thereto disposed shall alway covet congruent matter wherein it may be occupied. And when he happeneth to read or hear any fable or history, forthwith he apprehendeth it more dextrously, and retaineth it better than any other that lacketh the said feat; by reason that he hath found matter apt to his fantasy. Finally, every thing that portraiture may comprehend will be to him delectable to read or hear. And where the lively spirit, and that which is called the grace of the thing, is perfectly expressed, that thing more persuadeth and steereth the beholder, and sooner instructeth him, than the declaration in writing or speaking doth the reader or hearer. Experience we have thereof in learning of geometry, astronomy, and cosmography, called in English the description of the world. In which studies, I dare affirm, a man shall more profit in one week by figures and charts well and perfectly made, than he shall by the only reading or hearing the rules of that science, by the space of half a year at the least. Wherefore the late writers deserve no small commendation who added to the authors of those sciences apt and proper figures. And he that is perfectly instructed in portraiture, and happeneth to read any noble and excellent history, whereby his courage is inflamed to the imitation of virtue, he forth

with taketh his pen or pencil, and with a grave and substantial study, gathering to him all the parts of imagination, endeavoreth himself to express actually in portraiture not only the fact or affair, but also the sundry affections of every personage in the history recited, which might in any wise appear or be perceived in their visage, countenance, or gesture; with like diligence as Lysippus made in metal King Alexander fighting and struggling with a terrible lion of incomparable magnitude and fierceness; whom, after long and difficult battle, with wonderful strength and clean might, at the last be overthrown and vanquished. Wherein he so expressed the similitude of Alexander, and of his lords standing about him, that they all seemed to live. Among whom the prowess of Alexander appeared excelling all other, the residue of his lords after the value and estimation of their courage, every man set out in such forwardness, as they then seemed more prompt to the helping of their master, that is to say, one less afra'd than another.

Phidias, the Athenian, whom all writers do commend, made of ivory the image of Jupiter, honored by the Gentiles on the high hill of Olympus; which was done so excellently that Pandenus, a cunning painter, thereat marveling, required the craftsman to show him where he had the example or pattern of so noble a work. Then Phidias answered, that he had taken it out of their verses of Homer, the poet; the sentence whereof ensueth as well as my poor wit can express it in English:

"Than Jupiter, the father of them all,

Thereto assented with his brows black,
Slacking his ear, therewith did let fall

A countenance, that made all heaven to quake."

Sir Thomas defends the reading of the ancient poets and orators, although there are many things even to offend the tastes and corrupt the imagination,. unless the wise tutor guards against these results by timely interposition, explanation, and antidotes, and especially by withdrawing his pupils' minds to other studies, and especially to moral and political philosophy."

But in defending of orators and poets, I had almost forgotten where I was. Verily there may no man be an excellent poet nor orator, unless he have part of another doctrine, especially of noble philosophy. And to say the truth, no men can apprehend the very delight that is in the lesson of noble poets, unless he have read very much, and in divers authors of divers learnings. Wherefore, as I lately said, to the augmentation of understanding (called in Latin Intellectus et mens) is required to be much reading, and vigilant study in every sentence, especially of that part of philosophy named moral, which instructeth men in virtue and political governing. Also no noble author, especially of them that wrote in Greek or Latin, is not for any cause to be omitted. For therein I am of Quinctilian's opinion, that there is few or no ancient work that yieldeth not some fruit or commodity to the diligent reader.

The author adds by the way of caution, that the reading of poets and orators, and "all other pure and excellent learning, though it be sown in a child never so timely, and springeth up and buddeth never so pleasantly, unless the same take deep root in the mind and be incorporated into his habits of thought, will vanish and come to nothing;" and he particularly protests against "putting children at the age of fourteen or fifteen years to the study of the laws of the realm of England;" as well as denying to those children who have a capacity for elegant and useful studies and arts, an opportunity of pursuing the same in preference to the law. "For how many men be there whose sons in childhood are aptly disposed by nature to paint, carve, or grave, to embroider, or do other like things wherein is any art commendable concerning invention, which, as soon as they espy it, be therewith displeased, and forthwith bindeth them apprentices to tailors, weavers, and sometimes to cobblers! which hath been the inestimable loss of many good wits, and hath caused that in the said arts En.

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