Helmdon Mantle Tree Infcriptlon, &c. 1 63

than any other heretofore published : Ve'rie necefTarie for all men. Nothing "without labour. All things with reafon." Notwithstanding the circulation in print of the treatifes above mentioned, which were to teach to reckon in a fpeedier and more complete method than had been hitherto purfued, is there not fcope for a conjecture whether the proficients were as numerous as might reafbnably have been expected under thefe advantages ! The entries in the churchwardens books of accounts being made as far as yet has been traced in the Latin numerals, and indeed the very few fpecimens now remaining of practical Arithmetick in the vulgar figures, afford a prefumptive proof in iupport of the fur- mife. And it is further obfervable, that fo late as the year 1595, perfons were taught to reckon with counters, mofl of them un- queftionably becaufe they were illiterate ; and probably it might be found on examination, that there were then very few fchools cftablifhed, or encouraged by voluntary contributions, for inftrucl;- ing the children of the lower clafs of people in reading, writing, and cyphering [V]. Of [] By a flatute of the Grammar School founded at Sandwich, A. 1580, by uY Robert Manwood, " Every fcholler hereafter to be admitted to be hable before his admiffion to write competentlie and to read perfe6llie both Englifti and Lattyne. Such as are already placed in the fchole to attaine writing competentlie within one quarter of a yere next comminge, or elfe to attain the fame." ( Collections for Hiftory of Sand- wich, by William Boys, Efq. p. 226.) But in a note the founder grants a further la- titude and indulgence. " I do ordain when fufficient place in the fchool-houfe is more than to fuffice the Grammar fcholars, than one convenient perfon that can write well

ihall in the faid fchool-houfe teach fcholars to read and write; to be appointed by the mayor and jurates, and have a flipend yearlie of ^.Ib. And that during fuch teaching no other perfon fhall be permitted within the town to teach writing of English, un- lefs licenced by the mayor and jurates." May not this be an unique instance of a pro- hibition and monopoly adapted to prevent the progrefs of youth in learning their native language? The founder mult have meant by writing competentlie to write Jegibly, which can hardly be faid of himfelf ? judging from the fac finiile epiflle publimcd by Y 2 Mr.