APPENDIX. No. I. (p. 9.) NEW ENGLAND'S FIRST FRUITS, in respect of the progress of learning, in the Colledge at Cambridge in Massachusetts-bay ; with divers other speciall matters concerning that countrey; published in London, in the year 1643, by the instant request of sundry friends, who desire to be satisfied in these points, by many New-England men who are here present, and were eye or eare witnesses of the same. 1. AFTER God had carried us safe to New England, and wee had builded our houses, provided necessaries for our livelihood, rear'd convenient places for God's worship, and settled the civill government: One of the next things we longed for and looked after was to advance learning and perpetuate it to posterity; dreading to leave an illiterate ministery to the churches, when our present ministers shall lie in the dust. And as wee were thinking and consulting how to effect this great work; it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr. Harvard (a godly gentleman, and a lover of learning, there living amongst us,) to give one half of his estate (it being in all about £1700) towards the erecting of a Colledge, and all his Library: After him another gave £300 others after him cast in more, and the publique hand of the state added the rest: The Colledge was, by common consent, appointed to be at Cambridge, (a place very pleasant and accommodate,) and is called (according to the name of the first founder) Harvard Colledge. The edifice is very faire and comely within and without, having in it a spacious hall where they daily meet at Commons, Lectures, and Exercises; and a large library with some bookes to it, the gifts of diverse of our friends, their chambers and studies also fitted for, and possessed by the students, and all other roomes of office necessary and convenient, with all needfull offices thereto belonging: And by the side of the Colledge a faire Grammar Schoole, for the training up of young schollars, and fitting of them for Academical learning, that still as they are judged ripe, they may be received into the Colledge of this schoole: Master Corlet is the Mr. who hath very well approved himself for his abilities, dexterity and painfulnesse in teaching and education of the youths under him. Over the Colledge is Master Dunster placed, as President, a learned conscionable and industrious man, who hath so trained up his pupills in the tongues and arts, and so seasoned them with the principles of divinity and christianity, that we have to our great comfort (and in truth) beyond our hopes, beheld their progresse in learning and godlinesse also: The former of these hath appeared in their publique declamations in Latine and Greeke, and disputations Logicall and Philosophicall, which have been wonted (besides their ordinary exercises in the Colledge-Hall) in the audience of the magistrates, ministers and other schollars, for the probation of their growth in learning, upon set dayes, constantly once every moneth to make and uphold The latter hath been manifested in sundry of them by the savoury breathings of their spirits in their godly conversation, insomuch that we are confident, if these early blossomes may be cherished and warmed with the influence of the friends of learning and lovers of this pious worke, they will, by the help of God, come to happy maturity in a short time. Over the Colledge are twelve Overseers chosen by the General Court, six of them are of the magistrates, the other six of the ministers, who are to promote the best good of it, and (having a power of influence into all persons in it) are to see that every one be diligent and proficient in his proper place. 2. Rules and Precepts that are observed in the Colledge. 1. When any schollar is able to understand Tully, or such like clasical Latine author extempore, and make and speake true Latine in verse and prose, suo ut aiunt Marte; and decline perfectly the paradigms of nounes and verbes in the Greek tongue: Let him then, and not before, be capable of admission into the Colledge. 2. Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternall life, Joh. xvii. 3. and therefore to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisedome, let every one seriously set himselfe by prayer in secret to seeke it of him. Prov. ii. 3. 3. Every one shall so exercise himselfe in reading the Scriptures twice a day, that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein, both in theoreticall observations of the language, and logick, and in practicall and spiritual truths, as his Tutor shall require, according to his ability; seeing the entrance of the word giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple. Psalm cxix. 130. 4. That they eshewing all profanation of God's name, attributes, word, ordinances, and times of worship, doe studie with good conscience, carefully to retaine God, and the love of his truth in their mindes, else let them know, that (notwithstanding their learning) God may give them up to strong delusions, and in the end to a reprobate minde. 2 Thes. ii. 11, 12. Rom. i. 28. 5. That they studiously redeeme the time; observe the general hours appointed for all the students, and the speciall houres for their own classis: And then diligently attend the lectures, without any disturbance by word or gesture. And if in any thing they doubt, they shall enquire as of their fellowes, so, (in case of non-satisfaction) modestly of their Tutors. 6. None shall, under any pretence whatsoever, frequent the company and society of such men as lead an unfit and dissolute life. Nor shall any without his Tutors leave, or (in his absence) the call of parents or guardians, goe abroad to other townes. 7. Every schollar shall be present in his Tutors chamber at the 7th houre in the morning, immediately after the sound of the bell at his opening the Scripture and prayer, so also at the 5th houre at night, and then give account of his own private reading, as aforesaid, in particular the third, and constantly attend lectures in the hall at the houres appointed. But if any (without necessary impediment) shall absent himself from prayer or lectures, he shall be lyable to admonition, if he offend above once a weeke. 8. If any schollar shall be found to transgresse any of the lawes of God or the schoole, after twice admonition, he shall be lyable, if not adultus to correction, if adultus, his name shall be given up to the Overseers of the Colledge, that he may bee admonished at the public monethly act. 3. The times and order of their Studies, unlesse experience shall shew cause to alter. The second and third day of the weeke, read Lectures, as followeth. To the first yeare at 8th of the clock in the morning, Logick, the first three quarters, Physicks the last quarter. To the second yeare, at the 9th houre, Ethicks and Politicks at convenient distances of time. To the third year, at the 10th, Arithmetick and Geometry, the three first quarters, Astronomy the last. Afternoone. The first yeare disputes at the second houre. The 2d yeare at the 3d houre. The 3d yeare at the 4th, every one in his art. The 4th day reads Grecke. To the first year, the Etymologie and Syntax at the eighth houre. To the 2d at the 9th houre, Prosodia and Dialects. Afternoone. The first yeare at 2d houre, practice the precepts of Grammar, in such authors as have variety of words. The 2d yeare at 3d houre practice in Poesy, Nonnus, Duport, or the like. The 3d yeare perfect their Theory before noon, and exercise Style, Composition, Imitation, Epitome, both in prose and verse, afternoone. The fifth day reads Hebrew, and the Easterne Tongues. Grammar to the first yeare, houre the 8th. To the 2d Chaldee, at the 9th houre. To the 3d Syriack at the 10th houre. Afternoone. The first yeare practice in the Bible at the 2d houre. The 3d at the 4th houre in Trostius New Testament. The 6th day reads Rhetorick to all at the 8th houre. Declamations at the 9th. So ordered that every schollar may declaime once a moneth. The rest of the day vacat Rhetoricis studiis. The 7th day reads Divinity Catecheticall at the 8th houre, common places at the 9th houre. Afternoone. The first houre reads history in the winter. The nature of plants in the summer. The summe of every lecture shall be examined, before the new lecture be read. Every schollar, that on proofe is found able to read the originals of the Old and New Testament into the Latine tongue, and to resolve them logically; withall being of godly life and conversation; and at any publick act hath the approbation of the Overseers and Master of the Colledge, is fit to be dignified with his first degree. Every schollar that giveth up in writing a System, or Synopsis, or summe of Logick, naturall and morall Philosophy, Arithmetick, Geometry and Astronomy: And is ready to defend his Theses or positions: Withall skilled in the originalls as abovesaid: And of godly life and conversation: And so approved by the Overseers and Master of the Colledge, at any publique Act, is fit to be dignified with his 2d degree. 4. The manner of the late Commencement, expressed in a letter sent over from the Governour, and divers of the Ministers, their own words these. The students of the first classis that have beene these foure yeeres trained up in University learning (for their ripening in the knowledge of the tongues, and arts) and are approved for their manners, as they have kept their publick Acts in former yeares, ourselves being present at them; so have they lately kept two solemn Acts for their Commencement, when the Governour, Magistrates, and the Ministers from all parts, with all |