To all whom it may concern.
When Herennius was discarded by Augustus, out of his Armie, for his gross misdemeanors and dissolute and debaucht carriage: begging still Augustus's favor to stay, if it might bee, hee used this deprecation: with what face shall I return home? what shall I say to my father? Augustus answered, Tell thy father, that I could not pleas thee.
WHereas M r Sheepheard (late Usher of Merchant-Taylors School) hath caused a scurrilous paper to bee printed and scattered abroad, whereby hee would insinuate to the world, that hee (with his companion) had suffered much wrong, as domineer'd over, and insufferably abused both by words and actions of M r D. and M r C. These are therefore to undeceiv those that desire not to bee wilfully abused by giving them to understand, that M r Sheepheard complaine's of the wrong, when it is apparent to all that have heard both parties, that hee is the man that hath onely been abusive, and don the wrong: And this was manifestly proved before the Companie, before M r Cranford, and others. Two things were objected against him, and cleerly proved, for which hee was judged not a fit man to have youth under his tuition.
- I. His exorbitancie, in point of manners: viz. Excessive following the pot, haunting Taverns and Ale-houses; and that in School-time.
- II. His insufficiencie, in point of learning: Which appear's in two instances under his own hand
1. This, Prima Class is reddenda est rationem: Where, in five words, are no less then two solecisins or fals latines: And this was written by his own hand, upon deliberate thoughts; and publickly, beyond the bounds of modestie or shame, defended by him against M r Cranford, at a publick examination of the School, before the Companie, without the least color of reason, or rule of Grammar.
2. In a task given to the lower form against Easter last; where, in nine and twentie lines, the very School-boyes observ'd fortie faults: One whereof was, that hee gave them to form for a Verb Active, cono, conas, conat, &c. And for a Verb Passive, conor, conaris, &c.—But the whole, if any desire, may bee seen under his own hand.
3. In this sentence, facile est inventis addere, hee taught his boyes that facile was an Adverb; and that before the Examiners of the School, at a publick examination.
4. Before M r Cranford and others hee refused to give an account of this vers in Virgil.
Now how fit such a man may bee either to govern children, in point of manners; or to teach them, in point of learning (notwithstanding all his mountebanck-like quacking, and fals suggestions) a slender judgment may easily determine.