Rules of Life/The editor to the reader

by Johan Amos Comenius

THE EDITOR TO THE READER

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When the venerable John Amos Comenius removed for a time from Lissa in Poland, to Elbing in Prussia, his fame attracted many students to the public grammar school, founded in the latter town by the Archduke Albert, in the year 1542, the parents of the wealthier pupils desiring him to impart private instruction to their children. But as the then law of the school was said to exclude its scholars from the advantages of tuition under private teachers, Comenius, who wished to be freed for the time from such employment, excused himself by a reference to that law. This induced one of the parents to seek the interference of the town council, under whose government the school appears to have been organised. His appeal was readily responded to, and the council, seconding the desire of the parent, Comenius was constrained to take the son under his care, who was the only youth favoured with the instruction of that most worthy man, during his abode at Elbing.

This youth, Christian Ambrose Koklewski (Cochlevius), to whom the following "Rules of Life" were addressed, was son of the appellant, the honourable Peter Koklewski, a native of Kuttenberg, in Bohemia, who, at the date of the appeal, fulfilled the high and responsible office of Royal Judge in the district of Breste (Brestensis), in the province of Lithuania, where the Polish Bible for Sarmatia was printed in 1563. The appeal, of which a copy is among the letters of Comenius, in the Royal Library of Prague, is dated at Norcium (Nurek), June the 27th, 1644; and included also a widowed sister's son, who probably, through the jealousy of the office-bearers in the school, was prevented from sharing in the requested privilege.

D. B.

18, Regent Square, W.C, London,
18th March, 1865.

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