For the old Church had not entirely neglected popular education, as has been shown, in a very interesting way, in Grant’s _Burgh Schools of Scotland_, and as, indeed, appears on the face of the Reformers’ _First Book of Discipline_ itself (1560). Most of the burghs maintained schools, both secondary and elementary, so that the barons and freeholders who were ordered by the celebrated Act of James IV. (1494) to keep their heirs at school until they had learned ‘perfyt Latyn’--then the international language of the educated and of diplomacy--had abundant opportunity of doing so had they chosen, although unfortunately they too seldom chose; so that the burgh schools were largely recruiting-grounds for the priesthood. There were also elementary Church schools, in many cases taught by women, and private adventure schools; and in these a considerable number of the children of the poor were taught at least to read. Accordingly, when it is said that Knox and the Reformers established the Scottish Parish School system, a little discrimination must be exercised. They did not invent popular education--they found it; but they did invent, on paper, in the _First Book of Discipline_, the idea of bringing education to the people’s doors, by securing that there should be a school wherever there was a ‘kirk’--that is, practically in every parish; so that ‘the youth-head and tender children shall be nourished and brought up in vertue, _in presence of their friends_, by whose good attendance many inconveniences may be avoyded in which the youth commonly fall, either by over much libertie which they have in strange and unknowne places, while they cannot rule themselves; or else for lack of good attendance, and of such necessaries as their tender age requires.’