The Works of John Knox Volume II Part 25

Seeing that the office and dewtie of the G.o.dlie Magistrat is nocht onlie to purge the Churche of G.o.d from all superst.i.tioun, and to set it at libertie from bondage of tyrranis;[447] but also to provide, to the uttermost of his power, how it may abide in the same puritie to the posteriteis[448] following; we can not but frelie[449] communicat our judgementis with your Honouris in this behalf.

[447] In edit. 1621, "from tyranny and bondage."

[448] In edit. 1021, "in some purity in the posterity."

[449] In edit. 1621, "we can but freely."

I. THE NECESSITIE OF SCHOLLIS.[450]

[450] In the present edition, the sub-divisions have been numbered, I., II., &c. The Editor of the Collection of Confessions, in 1722, has not only numbered the chapters and sub-divisions, but also the paragraphs of each chapter.

Seing that G.o.d hath determined that his Churche heir in earth, shallbe tawght not be angellis but by men; and seing that men ar born ignorant of all G.o.dlynes; and seing, also, now G.o.d cea.s.sith[451] to illuminat men miraculuslie, suddanlie changeing thame, as that he did his Apostlis and utheris in the Primitive Churche: off necessitie it is that your Honouris be most cairfull for the virtuous educatioun, and G.o.dlie upbringing of the youth of this Realme, yf eathir ye now thirst unfeanedlie [for] the advancement of Christis glorie, or yit desire the continewance of his benefits to the generatioun following. For as the youth must succeed till us, so aucht we to be cairfull that thei have the knawlege and eruditioun, to proffit and confort that whiche aucht to be most deare to us, to wit, the Churche and Spouse of the Lord Jesus.

[451] In edit. 1621, "ignorant of G.o.d and of all G.o.dliness, and seing also he cea.s.ses."

Off necessitie thairfore we judge it, that everie severall Churche have a Scholmaister[452] appointed, suche a one as is able, at least, to teache Grammer and the Latine toung, yf the Toun be of any reputatioun. Yf it be Upaland, whaire the people convene to doctrine bot once in the weeke, then must eathir the Reidar or the Minister thair appointed, take cayre over the children and youth of the parische, to instruct them in thair first rudimentis, and especiallie in the Catechisme,[453] as we have it now translaited in the Booke of our Common Ordour, callit the Ordour of Geneva.[454] And farther, we think it expedient, that in everie notable toun, and especiallie in the toun of the Superintendent, [there] be erected a Colledge, in whiche the Artis, at least Logick and Rethorick, togidder with the Tongues, be read be sufficient Maisteris, for whome honest stipendis must be appointed: as also provisioun for those that be poore, and be nocht able by them selfis, nor by thair freindis, to be sustened at letteris, especiallie suche as come frome Landwart.

[452] In edit. 1621, "Kirk have one."

[453] That is, the translation of Calvin's Catechism: see subsequent note.

[454] It was so named from having been compiled for the use of the English congregation at Geneva, while Knox was minister there. It bears this t.i.tle: "The Forme of Prayers and Ministration of the Sacraments, &c., used in the English Churche at Geneva," &c. From Knox's share in this book of Common Order, it will be included in a subsequent volume of his Works. Having been subsequently approved and received by the Church of Scotland, the Geneva edition of 1558 was reprinted at Edinburgh in 1562; and it continued with occasional alterations, to be prefixed to most editions of the old metrical version of the Psalms, printed in this country. The translation of Calvin's Catechism, first reprinted at Edinburgh in 1564, was also usually adjoined to the volume.

The frute and commoditie heirof shall suddanlie appeare. For, first, the youtheid and tender children sall be nurischit and brocht up in virtue, in presence of thair freindis; by whose good attendence many inconvenientis may be avoided, in the which the youth commonlie fallis, eathir by too muche[455] libertie, whiche thei have in strange and unknawin placis, whill thei can not rule them selfis; or ellis for lacke of gude attendence, and of suche necessiteis as thair tender aige requireth. Secoundarlie, The exercise of the children in everie Churche shall be great instructioun to the aigeit.[456]

[455] In edit. 1621, "over much."

[456] In edit. 1722, "to the aged and unlearned."

Last, The great Schollis callit Universiteis, shallbe repleanischit with those that be apt to learnyng; for this must be cairfullie provideit, that no fader, of what estait or conditioun that ever he be, use his children at his awin fantasie, especiallie in thair youth-heade; but all must be compelled to bring up thair children in learnyng and virtue.

The riche and potent may not be permitted to suffer thair children to spend thair youth in vane idilnes, as heirtofore thei have done. But thei must be exhorted, and by the censure of the Churche compelled to dedicat thair sones, by goode exercise,[457] to the proffit of the Churche and to the Common-wealth; and that thei must do of thair awin expensses, becaus thei ar able. The children of the poore must be supported and sustenit on the charge of the Churche, till tryell be tackin, whethir the spirit of docilitie be fund in them or not. Yf thei be fund apt to letteris and learnyng, then may thei not (we meane, neathir the sonis of the riche, nor yit the sonis of the poore,) be permitt.i.t to reject learnyng; but must be chargeit to continew thair studie, sa that the Commoun-wealthe may have some confort by them. And for this purpose must discreit, learned, and grave men be appoint.i.t to visit all Schollis for the tryell of thair exercise, proffit, and continewance; to wit, the Ministeris and Elderis, with the best learned in everie toun, shall everie quarter tak examinatioun[458] how the youth hath proffitted.

[457] In edit. 1722, "their sonnes, by training them up in good exercises."

[458] In edit. 1621, "the Minister and Elders, and the rest of learned men in every town, shall in every quarter make examination."

A certane tyme must be appointed to Reiding, and to learning of the Catechisme; ane certane tyme to the Grammar, and to the Latine toung; ane certane tyme to the Artis, Philosophie, and to the [other]

Toungis; and a certane to that studie in which thei intend cheaflie to travell for the proffit of the Commoun-wealth. Whiche tyme being expired, we meane in everie course, the children must eathir proceid to farther knawledge, or ellis thei must be send to sum handie-craft, or to sum othir profitable exercise; provideit alwayis, that first thei have the forme of knawledge[459] of Christiane religioun, to wit, the knawledge of G.o.ddis law and commandimentis; the use and office of the same; the cheaf articulis of our beleve; the richt forme to pray unto G.o.d; the nomber, use, and effect of the sacramentis; the trew knawledge of Christ Jesus, of his office and natures, and suche otheris,[460] as without the knawledge wheirof, neathir deservith [any] man to be named a Christiane,[461] neather aught ony to be admitt.i.t to the partic.i.p.atioun of the Lordis Tabill: And thairfore, these princ.i.p.allis aught and must be learned in the youth-heid.

[459] In MS. 1566, "have the formar knawledge;" in edit. 1621, "that they have further knawledge."

[460] In edit. 1621, "such other points."

[461] In edit. 1621, "neither any man deserves to be called a Christian."

II. THE TYMES APPOINTED TO EVERIE COURSE.

Two yearis we think more then sufficient to learne to read perfitelie, to answer to the Catechisme, and to have some entresse in the first rudimentis of Grammar; to the full accomplischement whairof, (we meane of the Grammar,) we think other thre or foure yearis at most, sufficient. To the Artis, to wit, Logick and Rethorick, and to the Greik toung, foure yeiris; and the rest, till the aige of twenty-foure yearis to be spent in that studye, whairin the learnar wald proffit the Churche or Commoun-wealth, be it in the Lawis, or Physick or Divinitie: Whiche tyme of twenty-foure yearis being spent in the schollis, the learnar most be removed to serve the Churche or Commoun-wealth, unless he be fund a necessarie Reidare in the same Colledge or Universitie. Yf G.o.d shall move your heartis to establische and execut this Ordour, and put these thingis in practise, your hole Realme, (we doubt nott,) within few yearis, shall serve the self of trew preacharis, and of uther officiaris necessarie for your Common-wealth.

III. THE ERECTIOUN OF UNIVERSITEIS.

The Grammar Schollis and of the Toungis being erect.i.t as we have said, nixt we think it necessarie thair be three Universities in this whole Realme, establischeit in the Tounis accustumed.[462] The first in Sanctandrois,[463] the secound in Glasgow,[464] and the thrid in Abirdene.[465]

[462] In edit. 1621, "in three Townes."--It will be observed that this was in 1560; and that the University of Edinburgh was not founded till the year 1582; and Marischall College and University of Aberdeen till 1593.

[463] The University of St. Andrews, founded in the year 1411.

[464] The University of Glasgow, founded in 1450.

[465] The University and King's College of Aberdeen, founded in 1494.

And in the first Universitie and princ.i.p.all, whiche is SANCTANDROIS, thair be thre Colledgeis. And in the first Colledge, quhilk is the entre of the Universitie, thair be four cla.s.ses or saigeis: the first, to the new Suppostis, shalbe onlie Dialectique; the nixt, onlie Mathematique;[466] the thrid, of Phisick onlie; the fourt of Medicine.

And in the secound Colledge, twa cla.s.ses or seigeis: the first, in[467]

Morall Philosophie; the secound in[467] the Lawis. And in the thrid College, twa cla.s.ses or seigeis: the first, in[467] the Toungis, to wit, Greek and Hebreu; the secound, in[467] Divinitie.

[466] In edit. 1621, "Dialecticae," and "Mathematicae."

[467] In edit. 1621, "of."

IV. OFF REIDARIS, AND OF THE GREIS, OFF TYME, AND STUDYE.[468]

[468] In edit. 1621, "Of Readers, and of the Degrees, and time of Study;" to this the edition 1722 adds, "and of Princ.i.p.als and Rector, and of Bursars."

[Sidenote: THE FIRST GRIE.]

[Sidenote: SECOND DEGRIE.]

_Item_, In the first College, and in the first cla.s.se, shallbe ane Reidar of Dealectique,[469] wha shall accomplische his course thairof in one yeare. In the Mathematique,[469] whiche is the secound cla.s.se, shalbe ane Reidar who shall compleit his course of Arithmetique,[469]

Geometrie, Cosmographie, and Astrologie, in ane yeare. In the third cla.s.se, shalbe are Reidar of Naturall Philosophie, who shall compleit his course in a yeare. And wha efter thir thre yearis, by tryell and examinatioun, shall be fund sufficientlie instruct.i.t in thir aforesaid sciences, shall be Laureat and Graduat in Philosophie. In the fourt cla.s.se, shall be ane Reidar of Medicine, who shall compleit his course in five years: after the study of the whiche tyme, being by examinatioun fund sufficient, thei shall be graduat in Medicine.

[469] In edit. 1621, "Dialectica, Mathematica, Arithmetica." In that edition, throughout this chapter, most of these names of the branches of study are in like manner given in a Latin form.

[Sidenote: THIRD DEGRIE].

_Item_, In the Secound Colledge, in the first cla.s.se, one Reader onlie in the Ethicques, OEconomicques, and Politiques, who shall compleit his course in the s.p.a.ce of one yeare. In the secound cla.s.se, shall be tuo Reidaris in the Munic.i.p.all and Romane Lawis, who sall compleit thair coursses in four yeares; after the whiche tyme, being by examinatioun fund sufficient, thei shalbe graduat in the Lawis.

[Sidenote: FOURTH DEGRIE.]

_Item_, In the third Colledge, in the first cla.s.se, ane Reidar of the Hebreu, and ane uther of the Greek toung, wha sail compleit the grammeris thairof in half ane yeare,[470] and the remanent of the yeare, the Reidar of the Hebreu shall interpreit ane booke of Moses, the[471] Propheitis, or the Psalmes; sa that his course and cla.s.se shall continew ane yeare. The Reidar of the Greek shall interpreit some booke of Plato, togidder with some place of the New Testament.

And in the secound cla.s.se, shalbe tuo Reideris in Divinitie, that ane in the New Testament, that uthir in the Auld, who sall compleit thair course in five yearis. After whiche tyme, who sall be fund by examinatioun sufficient shall be graduat in Divinitie.

[470] In edit. 1021, "in three moneths."

[471] In edit. 1722, "or of the."