repaft, till bed-time their thoughts will be beft taken up in the eafie grounds of Religion, and the story of Scripture. The next step would be to the Authors of Agriculture, Cato, Varro, and Columella, for the matter is most eafie, and if the language be difficult, fo much the better, it is not a difficulty above their years. And here will be an occafion of inciting and inabling them hereafter to improve the tillage of their Country, to recover the bad Soil, and to remedy the waste that is made of good: for this was one of Hercules praises. Ere half thefe Authors be read (which will foon be with plying hard, and daily) they cannot chufe but be mafters of any ordinary profe. So that it will be then feasonable for them to learn in any modern Author, the use of the Globes, and all the Maps; first with the old names, and then with the new or they might be then capable to read any compendious method of natural Philosophy. And at the fame time might be entring into the Greek tongue, after the fame manner as was before prefcrib'd in the Latin; whereby the difficulties of Grammar being foon overcome, all the Hiftorical Phyfiology of Ariftotle and Theophraftus are open fore them, and as I may fay, under contribution. The like access will be to Vitruvius, to Seneca's natural questions, to Mela, Celfus, Pliny, or Solinus. And having thus past the principles of Arithmetick, Geometry, Aftronomy, and Geography with a general compact of Phyficks, they may defcend in Mathematicks to the inftrumental science of Trigonometry, and from thence to Fortification, Architecture, Enginry, or Navigation. And in natural Philosophy they may proceed leisurely from the History of Meteors, Minerals, plants and living Creatures as far as Anatomy. Then alfo in courfe might be read to them out of fome not tedious Writer the Inftitution of Phyfick; that they may know the tempers, the

be

humours, the feafons, and how to manage a crudity which he who can wifely and timely do, is not only a great Phyfitian to himself, and to his friends, but also may at fome time or other, fave an Army by this frugal and expenfeless means only; and not let the healthy and ftout bodies of young men rot away under him for want of this discipline; which is a great pity, and no lefs a fhame to the Commander. To fet forward all these proceedings in Nature and Mathematicks, what hinders, but that they may procure, as oft as fhal be needful, the helpful experiences of Hunters, Fowlers, Fishermen, Shepherds, Gardeners, Apothecaries; and in the other sciences, Architects, Engineers, Mariners, Anatomifts; who doubtlefs would be ready fome for reward, and some to favour fuch a hopeful Seminary. And this will give them fuch a real tincture of natural knowledge, as they shall never forget, but daily augment with delight. Then also thofe Poets which are now counted moft hard, will be both facil and pleasant, Orpheus, Hefiod, Theocritus, Aratus, Nicander, Oppian, Dionyfius, and in Latin Lucretius, Manilius, and the rural part of Virgil.

By this time, years and good general precepts will have furnisht them more diftinctly with that act of reason which in Ethics is called Proairefis: that they may with fome judgement contemplate upon moral good and evil. Then will be requir'd a special reinforcement of conftant and found endoctrinating to fet them right and firm, inftructing them more amply in the knowledge of Vertue and the hatred of Vice: while their young and pliant affections are led through all the moral works of Plato, Xenophon, Cicero, Plutarch, Laertius, and thofe Locrian remnants; but still to be reduc't in their nightward studies wherewith they close the dayes work, under the determinate fentence of David or Salomon, or the

Evanges and Apoftolic Scriptures. Being perfect in the knowledge of personal duty, they may then begin the ftudy of Economics. And either now, or before this, they may have easily learnt at any odd hour the Italian Tongue. And foon after, but with wariness and good antidote, it would be wholsome enough to let them tafte fome choice Comedies, Greek, Latin, or Italian: Thofe Tragedies also that treat of Houshold matters, as Trachinia, Alceftis, and the like. The next remove must be to the study of Politicks; to know the beginning, end, and reasons of Political Societies; that they may not in a dangerous fit of the Common-wealth be fuch poor, shaken, uncertain Reeds, of fuch a tottering Conscience, as many of our great Counsellors have lately shewn themselves, but ftedfaft pillars of the State. After this they are to dive into the grounds of Law, and legal Justice; deliver'd first, and with best warrant by Mofes; and as far as humane prudence can be trusted, in those extoll'd remains of Grecian Lawgivers, Licurgus, Solon, Zaleucus, Charondas, and thence to all the Roman Edicts and Tables with their Juftinian; and fo down to the Saxon and common Laws of England, and the Statutes. Sundayes also and every evening may be now understandingly spent in the highest matters of Theology, and Church History ancient and modern and ere this time the Hebrew Tongue at a fet hour might have been gain'd, that the Scriptures may be now read in their own original; whereto it would be no impoffibility to add the Chaldey, and the Syrian Dialect. When all these employments are well conquer'd, then will the choise Histories, Heroic Poems, and Attic Tragedies of stateliest and most regal argument, with all the famous Political Orations offer themfelves; which if they were not only read; but fome of them got by memory, and folemnly pronounc't with right ac

per

cent, and grace, as might be taught, would endue them even with the spirit and vigor of Demofthenes or Cicero, Euripides, or Sophocles. And now laftly will be the time to read with them thofe organic arts which inable men to discourse and write fpicuoufly, elegantly, and according to the fitted stile of lofty, mean, or lowly. Logic therefore fo much as is useful, is to be referr'd to this due place withall her well coucht Heads and Topics, untill it be time to open her contracted palm into a gracefull and ornate Rhetorick taught out of the rule of Plato, Ariftotle, Phalereus, Cicero, Hermogenes, Longinus. To which Poetry would be made fubfequent, or indeed rather precedent, as being lefs futtle and fine, but more fimple, sensuous and paffionate. I mean not here the profody of a verfe, which they could not but have hit on before among the rudiments of Grammar; but that fublime Art which in Ariftotles Poetics, in Horace, and the Italian Commentaries of Caftelvetro, Taffo, Mazzoni, and others, teaches what the laws are of a true Epic Poem, what of a Dramatic, what of a Lyric, what Decorum is, which is the grand master-piece to observe. This would make them foon perceive what defpicable creatures our common Rimers and Play-writers be, and fhew them, what religious, what glorious and magnificent use might be made of Poetry both in divine and humane things. From hence and not till now will be the right season of forming them to be able Writers and Compofers in every excellent matter, when they shall be thus fraught with an univerfal infight into things. Or whether they be to speak in Parliament or Counfel, honour and attention would be waiting on their lips. There would then alfo appear in Pulpits other Vifages, other geftures, and stuff otherwife wrought then what we now fit under, oft times to as great a trial of our patience as any other that they preach to

us.

These are the Studies wherein our noble and our gentle Youth ought to bestow their time in a difciplinary way from twelve to one and twenty ; unless they rely more upon their ancestors dead, then upon themselves living. In which methodical course it is fo fuppos'd they muft proceed by the fteddy pace of learning onward, as at convenient times for memories fake to retire back into the middle ward, and fometimes into the rear of what they have been taught, untill they have confirm'd, and folidly united the whole body of their perfeted knowledge, like the laft embattelling of a Roman Legion. Now will be worth the feeing what Exercises and Recreations may best agree, and become these Studies.

Their Exercife.

The course of Study hitherto briefly defcrib'd, is, what I can guess by reading, likeft to those ancient and famous Schools of Pythagoras, Plato, Ifocrates, Ariftotle and fuch others, out of which were bred up fuch a number of renowned Philofophers, Orators, Hiftorians, Poets and Princes all over Greece, Italy, and Afia, befides the flourishing Studies of Cyrene and Alexandria. But herein it shall exceed them, and supply a defect as great as that which Plato noted in the Common-wealth of Sparta; whereas that City train'd up their Youth most for War, and thefe in their Academies and Lycaum, all for the Gown, this institution of breeding which I here delineate, shall be equally good both for Peace and War. Therefore about an hour and a half ere they. eat at Noon should be allow'd them for exercise and due reft afterwards: But the time for this may be enlarg'd at pleasure, according as their rifing in the morning fhall be early. The Exercise which I commend first, is the exact use of their Weapon, to guard