provinces, societies, &c. give something to pious uses, build a
satisfactory alms-house, school or bridge, &c. at their last end, or
before perhaps, which is no otherwise than to steal a goose, and stick
down a feather, rob a thousand to relieve ten; and those hospitals so
built and maintained, not by collections, benevolences, donaries, for a
set number, (as in ours,) just so many and no more at such a rate, but
for all those who stand in need, be they more or less, and that ex
publico aerario, and so still maintained, non nobis solum nati sumus,
&c. I will have conduits of sweet and good water, aptly disposed in
each town, common [609] granaries, as at Dresden in Misnia, Stetein in
Pomerland, Noremberg, &c. Colleges of mathematicians, musicians, and
actors, as of old at Labedum in Ionia, [610]alchemists, physicians,
artists, and philosophers: that all arts and sciences may sooner be
perfected and better learned; and public historiographers, as amongst
those ancient [611]Persians, qui in commentarios referebant quae
memoratu digna gerebantur, informed and appointed by the state to
register all famous acts, and not by each insufficient scribbler,
partial or parasitical pedant, as in our times. I will provide public
schools of all kinds, singing, dancing, fencing, &c. especially of
grammar and languages, not to be taught by those tedious precepts
ordinarily used, but by use, example, conversation, [612]as travellers
learn abroad, and nurses teach their children: as I will have all such
places, so will I ordain [613]public governors, fit officers to each
place, treasurers, aediles, quaestors, overseers of pupils, widows'
goods, and all public houses, &c. and those once a year to make strict
accounts of all receipts, expenses, to avoid confusion, et sic fiet ut
non absumant (as Pliny to Trajan,) quad pudeat dicere. They shall be
subordinate to those higher officers and governors of each city, which
shall not be poor tradesmen, and mean artificers, but noblemen and
gentlemen, which shall be tied to residence in those towns they dwell
next, at such set times and seasons: for I see no reason (which
[614]Hippolitus complains of) that it should be more dishonourable for
noblemen to govern the city than the country, or unseemly to dwell
there now, than of old. [615]I will have no bogs, fens, marshes, vast
woods, deserts, heaths, commons, but all enclosed; (yet not
depopulated, and therefore take heed you mistake me not) for that which
is common, and every man's, is no man's; the richest countries are
still enclosed, as Essex, Kent, with us, &c. Spain, Italy; and where
enclosures are least in quantity, they are best [616]husbanded, as
about Florence in Italy, Damascus in Syria, &c. which are liker gardens
than fields. I will not have a barren acre in all my territories, not
so much as the tops of mountains: where nature fails, it shall be
supplied by art: [617]lakes and rivers shall not be left desolate. All
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