up with high hopes of living to be brave men, and worthy patriots, dear to GOD, and famous to all ages. That they may despise and scorn all their childish, and ill-taught qualities, to delight in manly, and liberal exercifes: which he who hath the art, and proper eloquence to catch them with, what with mild and effectuall perfwafions, and what with the intimation of fome fear, if need be, but chiefly by his own example, might in a fhort space gain them to an incredible diligence and courage: infufing into their young brefts fuch an ingenuous and noble ardor, as would not fail to make many of them renowned and matchleffe men. At the fame time, fome other hour of the day, might be taught them the rules of Arithmetick, and foon after the elements of geometry even playing, as the old manner was. After evening repaft, till bed time their thoughts. will be best taken up in the eafic grounds of religion, and the ftory of fcripture. The next step would be to the Authors of Agriculture, Cato, Varro, and Colummella, for the matter is moft eafie, and if the language be difficult, fo much the better, it is not a difficultie above their yeers. And here will be an occafion of inciting and inabling them hereafter to improve the tillage of their country, to recover the bad foil, and to remedy the waft that is made of good; for this was one of Hercules praifes. Ere halfe thefe Authors be read, which will foon be with plying N 2 plying hard, and dayly, they cannot choose but be mafters of any ordinary profe. So that it will be then seasonable for them to learn in any modern Author, the use of the globes, and all the maps firft with the old names; and then with the new or they might be then capable to read any compendious method of naturall philofophy. 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 Hiftoricall Phyfiology of Ariftotle and Theophraftus are open before them, and as I may say, under contribution. The like acceffe will be to Vitruvius, to Senecas naturall quef tions, to Mela, Celfus, Pliny, or Solinus. And having thus paft the principles of Arithmetic, Geometry, Aftronomy, and Geography, with a general compact of Phyficks, they may defcend in Mathematicks to the inftrumental science of Trigonometry, and fr m thence to Fortification, Architecture, Enginry, or Navigation. And in naturall Philofophy they may proceed leisurly from the Hiftory of Meteors, minerals, plants, and living creatures as farre as anatomy. Then also in course might be read to them out of fome not tedious writer the inftitution of Phyfick; that they may know the tempers, the humors, the feafons, and how to manage a crudity: which he who can wifely and timely doe, is not N 3 only only a great Phyfician to himselfe, and to his friends, but also may at fome time or other, fave an Army by this frugall, and expençeleffe meanes only; and not let the healthy and ftout bodies of young men rot away under him for want of this difcipline, which is a great pitty, and no leffe 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 fhall be needfull, the helpfull experiences of Hunters, fowlers, Fishermen, Shepherds, Gardeners, Apothecaries; and in the other sciences, Architects, Engineers, Mariners, Anatomists; who doubtleffe would be ready fome for reward, and fome to favour fuch a hopefull fe minary. |