An humble REMONSTRANCE Presented to the Right Worshipful COMPANY OF Merchant-Tailors Maii 15. 1661. By william DUGARD. Qui non deliquit, decet a●dace● esse, audacter & confidenter pro se loqui. Plaut. Vi opprimi in bona causa melius est q●à● malè cedere. Cic. LONDON, Printed in the Year of our Lord. 1661. To the worshipful, the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the Right worshipful Company of Merchant-Tailors. Maii 15▪ 1661. The humble Remonstrance of William Dugard, touching his Discharge from the place of Chief Schoolmaster. GENTLEMEN! I Have received an Order from you Decemb. 27. 1660. whereby you are pleased to discharge me from the place of chief Schoolmaster of your School▪ only▪ out of savour to me, you give me time until Jun. 24. 1661. the better to provide for myself. For that Favor, though I humbly acknowledge my thankfulness: yet I cannot but wonder at your proceedings with me in my discharge from the place. For, 1. You have do● it indictâ caus●▪ the innocentest man living may be condemned by this Course. When Ter●●llu● the Orator in an eloquent Oration accused▪ Saint Paul before Fel●● the Governor, Act. ●4. yet Felix▪ though an Heathen, gave St Paul leave to answer for himself. The Law gives a Felon▪ or a Traitor leave to except against some of a Jury, and to answer to his indictment before he be condemned. 'Tis a rational and just saying of Julian, Si accusâsse sufficere●, 〈◊〉 es●et innoceus. And Seneca, Qui statuit aliquid parte i●a●di●● alter●, aqu●m licèt statuerit, haud aequ●● est. 2. You have done it, some of my Capital adversaries being both my Accusers and Judges: and how easy it is for men of parts and power, upon specious pretences, when there is no liberty for the Defendant to answer, to draw others to their opinion, and pronounce sentence, an ordinary judgement may quickly understand▪ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Qui ad 〈◊〉 respi●iu●t de facili pronunciant. But what is my Crime, that must deserve so hard a Censure? It is alleged in your Order, That many Complaints have been frequently from time to time made to the Master and Wardens of the Company, and to the Court, by the parents and friends of the young Scholars, of the neglect of the chief-Master's duty in that School, and of the breach of the company's Orders and Ordinances thereof. — pudet hac opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse, & non potuisse refelli. — A shame 'twould be reputed That such things should be said, and not refuted. The French have a Proverb, That when a man would have his dog hanged, he must first make folks believe he is mad. Two things are here objected: 1. Neglect of Duty. 2. Breach of the company's Orders. 1. To the first I answer, That it is very strange to me, that so many Complaints should be made by the Parents of the Scholars, and I never hear of any, nor ever called to answer one complaint in seventeen years' space. D●lus est in generalibus. Let any particular Parent appear, that ever accused me in particular, as to any neglect, on my part▪ and I shall willingly be your bondslave. But I may say as innocently as David, Psalm. 35.11. They laid to my charge things that I knew not. I have been in the profession 33 years, and in all places wherever I came, I have had ample Testimonials of my faithfulness and diligence, and my Scholar's proficiency. Religion hath taught me better than to be an eye-Servant. Besides, experience of my painfulness and diligence, easily confute's this allegation: for I have kept the School in as flourishing a condition, as in any seventeen years from the foundation: and might do so still, if I might be permitted to have the ordering of it. Formerly I have had many thanks from the Company for my care and diligence, and no encouragement they thought too much for me: I am the same man still: yet such is my unhappiness, that I cannot give some men content, do what I can. — Tempora mutantur.— It is alleged in the Order, as an Aggravation of my Negligence, and as an issue and consequence thereof, That the School must Decay, and that the Decay thereof will tend to the prejudice of the Common wealth in general, and to the great dishonour and disgrace of the Company in particular, if the same be not timely prevented. To which I answer, 1. THat, if the premises were true, that indeed would be the Consequence: but the premises can never be proved; and therefore that Conclusion cannot follow. 2. It is to be considered what is to be understood by the Decay of the School, which must thus tend to the prejudice of the Common wealth in general, and the dishonour and disgrace of the Company in Particular. The Decay of a School (in common understanding) is, when Scholars cease to resort to it: which may proceed from divers causes: viz. either for negligence of the Master, unskilfulness in his teaching, or exorbitancy in his life▪ as the decay of a shop is, when Customers forsake it for want of good wares; or of an handicraftsman for want of skill; or ill husbandry, when a man cannot get his work done in due time. But it is obvious for any man to say, that when he see's a shop well customed, There are good wares or a mechanic well employed, he is a good Artist▪ or an house well-furnished, there is a good husband. What ever the Pretence is I bless God for it, it cannot truly be said, that the school ever decayed under my hand. The Records of the School will easily show the contrary▪ and when ever I leave it, I may say, as the Emperor said of Rome, Lu●erit●am●●ccepi, ma● more ●m relic. When Sir Thomas More, by commission from the King, went down into Kent, to inquire the cause of Goodwin sands, he ●ound not that Te●ter●●n steeple was the cause of the decay of Sandwich Haven, though that was alleged before him. But, under favour, I will demonstrate unto you the true cause, that now is, and hereafter will be the decay of the School, if not timely remedied▪ wherein I shall give an answer to your second objection, viz. the Breach of the Companies Orders. TWO▪ By your Order of Ma●●●i 16. 16●9. you have absolutely forbid the Schoolmaster to admit any Scholars, but such as bring a warrant under the Master and Warden's hands: which being rigorously observed and exacted, must needs destroy the School, as in part it hath been the decay of it already. For, to my knowledge, within this twelvemonth, at least threescore Scholars that would have come to the School, for want of the Master's power to admit them, have gone to other Places, to the great prejudice and decay of your own School, and to the great advantage of other places. I have no Scholar now in the School, but what I have warrant for according to your Order. But what inconveniences it hath already brought on the School, we are too too sensible, it hath been damage to the Master and Ushers at least 100 ● and yet neither profit nor honour to the Company. We cannot compel Parents to come to the Company, when they can have them at other places for their money; nor will they suffer their children to lose their time in waiting sometimes a month, sometimes six weeks before there be an ordinary Court to admit them, unless they be such poor people that expect benefit from the company's Charity. Some have answered, that they will not pay and pray too 〈◊〉 others, that they expect not to have their children gratis▪ and therefore if the Master cannot admit them they will go to other places that wil●; and so they carry them away, and never return again. 'Tis the company's honour, that they are the Founder's, Patrons, Go●ernors of the School. But yet the Company cannot make a Scholar. As the Parent is the natural cause of the Child's Being; the Company the providential Political cause of good education▪ so Scholars▪ that are skilful in▪ Arts and Sciences, are the instrumental cause of their learning: and yet the credit of the whole Art and work redound's to the honour of the principal efficient. True it is, that an hundred years ago, when it was an hard matter to get a Scholar to read Greek▪ there was such an Order made, That no Scholar should be taught in the School, unless first admitted by the Company. But afterward there was found a necessity to dispense with that Order; and so it was with my Predecessors; which I can prove for above threescore years bygone: They (and myself too from them, until the last year) had such an Indulgence, that did not limit nor restrain them to admit quarteridg-Scholars, who did not immediately depend on the Charity of the Company: and the Motto engraven on the School speaks as much▪ Nulli pracludor, Tibi pat●o. Since the Company have been so strict and severe with me, as to urge and press the Observation of that Order, I have obeyed▪ though to the great prejudice of the School in general, the damage of the Master and Ushers in particular, and discouragement of all. I am not so void of reason, but that I know, if the Company will have it so, I must obey, nor can I contradict. Yet I cannot but▪ deplore the sad condition the Master▪ is cast into▪ For by this means the School must decay, the Master cannot remedy it▪ and yet the blame must be laid upon the Master for negligence; when as in truth the Master's hand's are tied, and be he never so industrious and obedient, he cannot help it. It is an easy matter to fi●de a staff to beat a dog. 'Tis said of Draco, the Athenian Lawgiver, that he wrote his Laws, not with Ink, but Blood, because he made the least offence capital. 'Tis said of some penal Statutes, that they are like Statute— lace, make a fair show afar off, but look near upon them, they are but cruel. In point of Divinity, if God should mark what we do amiss, who could abide? In Political conversation, if the extremest rigour in every thing be exacted, no man could live by his Neighbour: In Scholastic discipline, if every punctilio should be punished, the School would be no better than a Bridewell. I know nothing by myself (I thank God) but, for the substance, I have been a faithful Servant, and observed your Orders. Allow me but common and humane infirmities (which Christian charity will allow, for there is no Angelical perfection in this life) and, I bless God for it, I know the Devil himself cannot justly accuse me of any notorious or scandalous Crime: But if you will be so extremely rigorous, as to make every conceived punctilio capital; and, upon suggestions, without hearing, discharge your Servant pro arbitrio, I do not know any man living, of any part● fit for the place, that either can or will serve you on that condition. My Comfort is, That I have faithfully discharged my conscience in my place: That I have maintained the School in honour and credit for my time, notwithstanding the sinister prejudice of some men: That I have as really and truly honoured the Company as ever any man did in the place: That I have not only bestowed pain▪ but cost in a Scholastic way, the better to furnish myself for my employment: That I have done that for the School in some particulars, that few men in England could have done besides, whereof I shall leave lasting monuments behind me, and I know there be not many that can follow me, even in that, which some men count negligence. And I hope I have done God good service in training up many that are now excellent and eminent instruments of God's glory both in Church and Commonwealth. Howbeit I count it some unhappiness, that, after seventeen years' service to such a noble Company, I should be condemned for negligence, that I was never guilty off▪ and to have so hard measure, as to be discharged from my place and livelihood▪ indictâ causâ, and not to be suffered to answer for myself. Yet I must lay my hand upon my mouth▪ and look up unto God, without whose providence an hair falls not from our heads, nor a Sparrow to the ground, and conclude; That, If I cannot longer with love and encouragement serve the Company▪ I must humbly take my leave and pray for them; and wish that my Successor (whatever he be that is designed to my place) may be more painful, more diligent, and do more for the honour of the Company than I have done. My former experience of God's merciful providence assures me, that whatever befall's me in my pilgrimage here is for my eternal good. That he can turn the enmity of men to my advantage; that still he will accept of my service, in my generation, having fitted me in some sort for my calling: and I doubt not with God's blessing still to be, as formerly, a successful instrument in training up of Youth, to his glory, both for Church and Commonwealth. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quicquid patimur mortale gen●●s Quicquid facimus venit ab alto. This former Remonstrance was enclosed in this Letter following Maii 15. 1661. To the Worshipful, the Masters, Wardens, and Assistants of the right Worshipful Company of Merchant-Tailors. Right Worshipful! I Make bold to present to your Worships my humble Remonstrance touching my Discharge; and I humbly crave this favour That, if I may not longer continue with your love and encouragement, as formerly, yet that I may be dismissed fairly with your favour: and therefore may it please you to consider. 1. That I left a good livelihood in another place, when I entered upon your service; and brought with me many Scholars to the School. 2. That I have continued seventeen years in your service▪ and till of late, with much encouragement. 3. That I had the company's leave to set up my Press. 4. That when the Company were displeased with it, I sold it with as much expedition as I could, at 300l. loss. 5. That in seventeen years I have lost above 800l. by nonpayment of quarteridges. 6. That by a strict observance of your Order of Mar. 16. 1659. the School hath lost above 100l. this last year. These considerations I humbly lay before you, and take my leave, Maii 15. 1661. Your Worship's most humble Servant William Dugard. To the right Worshipful, the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the right Worshipful Company of Merchant-Tailors. GENTLEMEN! I Read of Hen. 7. who, being very thirsty, called for a cup of Beer: his Cupbearer making more haste than good speed stumbled and fell, and spilt the beer, even then, when he was ready to deliver it: The King, though a little moved with his heedlessness, yet, seeing the man did it not willingly to offend him, demanded of him, is this well done? yes, answered the Cupbearer, it is well done: how canst thou make that good, quoth the King? thus Sir, said he: we have a Proverb, That every thing is well done that is well taken: and if it please your Majesty to take it well, it is well done: the King not displeased with his answer, pardoned his offence, and dismissed him without displeasure. I wish I could say this were my case. I perceive that I have offended the Company by my Remonstrance, presented Maii 15. 1661. My Aim and End in it was no further than to vindicate mine own innocency, and to assoil myself from that Crime which was objected against me; not to lay any aspersions on the Company. I know very well that it is my duty to submit to the Company▪ in all Reverential respect and Observance: which I have ever done, and shall ever do, whether my Relation hold, or cease: those that know my deportment, could never justly charge me with the contrary. I know likewise, that I owe a despotical respect, that is, such as a Servant owe's to his Master▪ at whose command he is: this I acknowledge to be my duty: and where ever I have erred in either of these respects either in unbeseeming words or deeds I confess my fault and humbly crave your pardon: 'tis an error of my judgement, not of my Will and Intention. Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea. But to make myself guilty of a Crime that I am not obnoxious unto, were to betray mine own innocence; which cannot reasonably be expected from a rational man; much less from a Christian. Nothing is charged upon me but in general; to which I have given a general answer. I looked no further than your Order of Dec. 12. 1660. whereby I stand discharged▪ at that time (I hope I may speak the Truth without offence) I was not called, or summoned to answer for myself at all: nor did I receive that Order until Dec. 2●. following. I must needs acknowledge that formerly many Disquisitions were made concerning the irregularities of Scholars admissions▪ and other things: and, upon debate, all was concluded in an Order made Febr. 15. 1659.▪ and delivered to me Mar●ii 16. 1659. strictly forbidding the Master to admit any Scholars, without warrant: which I have observed to my own great damage, and the unspeakable prejudice of the School. I conceived then that all forepast irregularities and errors, swerving from the primitive Statutes were then canceled, and an Act of indemnity passed upon them: and therefore I could not but wonder, that they should be revived again, and raised from the grave of Oblivion (wherein I thought they had been all buried) to give a Charge against me. If his Majesty should now null and make void his gracious Act of indemnity and Oblivion, and deal severely according to the strict rigour of the Laws of the Land, few men could escape the condemnation of Treason. I suppose not many made conscience of eating flesh in Lent, though by Statute forbidden, because for a long time it was intermitted▪ yet when his majesty's Proclamation revive's it, it is dangerous to do it. I kept the School for 16 years, as I received it from my predecessors: but when your Order of Martii 16. 1660. came and revived the former statutes, I have fasted from the former permitted Custom, though I have grown lean upon it. I hope there is no Crime in that. I set up my Press by the leave of the Company: when that was offensive, I sold it at 300 l. loss▪ I hope there is no Crime in that. When a Minister is presented to a Benefice, he is not usually ejected, nisi ob aliquam rationabilem causam, as the Civil ●aw speaks, and in such a case the judicial proceedings are secundùm allegasa & pr●bata: I conceived myself in the same Constitution. But if it be otherwise, I must be contented. I humbly submit to your ●●easure, and God's providence. Friday Junii 12.16 Your most humble servant William Dugard.