Jonson, Ben, 1573?-1637. | The Cambridge Works of Ben Jonson

CHAPTER I.
Of Grammar, and the Parts.

^(a) GRammar is the art of true, and well speaking a Language: the

writing is but an Accident.

The parts of Grammar are

^(b) Etymologie,
Syntaxe,
which is
the true notation of words.
the right ordering of them.

^(c) A Word, is a part of speech, or note, whereby a thing is knowne,

or called: and consisteth of one, or more Syllabes.

^(d) A Syllabe is a perfect sound in a word, and consisteth of one, or

more Letters.

^(e) A Letter is an indivisible part of a Syllabe, ^(f) whose Prosody,

or right sounding is perceiv'd by the power; the Orthography, or right

writing by the forme.

^(g)Prosodie, and Orthography, are not parts of Grammar, but diffus'd,

like the blood, and spirits through the whole.

CHAPTER II.
^(h)of Letters, and their powers.

IN our Language we use these twentie, and foure Letters. A.B.C.D,

E.F.G.H.I.K.L.M.N.O.P.Q.R.S.T.V.W.X.Y.Z. a.b.c.d.e.f.g.

h.i.k.l.m.n.o.p.q.r.s.t.v.w.x.y.z. The great Letters serve to begin

Sentences, with us, to lead proper names, and expresse numbers. The

lesse make the fabricke of speech.

Our numerall Letters are,

I.
V.
X.
L.
C.
D.
M.
for
I.
5.
10.
50.
100.
500.
1000.

⁽ⁱ⁾ All Letters are either Vowells, or Consonants: and, ^(k) are prin-

pally knowne by their powers. The Figure is an Accident.

^(l) A Vowell will be pronounced by it selfe: A Consonant, not with

out the helpe of a Vowell, either before, or after.

The received Vowells in our tongue, are

a. e. i. o. u.

^Consonants be either Mutes, and close the sound, as b.c.d.g.k.p.q.t. Or,

Halfe Vowells, and open it, as f.l.m.n.r.s.x.z.

H. Is rarely other then an aspiration in power, though a Letter in forme.

W. and Y. have shifting, and uncertaine seates, as shall bee showne in

their places.

CHAP. III.
Of the Vowels.

ALL our ⁽ⁿ⁾Vowels are sounded doubtfully. In quantitie, (which is

Time) long, or short. Or, in accent, (which is Tune) sharp, or,

flat. Long in these words, and their like:

Debāting. congēling. expīring. oppōsing. endūring.

Short, in these: Stomăching. sevėring. vanquishing. ransoming. pictŭring.
Sharpe, in these: Háte. méte. bíte. nóte. púle.
Flat, in these: Hàt. mèt. bìt. nòt. pùl.

^(o)A,

With us, in most words is pronounced lesse, then the French à, as in,

art. act. apple. ancient.

But, when it comes before l. in the end of a Syllabe, it obtaineth the

full French ^(p) sound, and is utter'd with the mouth, and throat wide

open'd, the tongue bent backe from the teeth, as in

al. smal. gal. fal. tal. cal.

So in the Syllables, where a Consonant followeth the l. as in

Salt. malt. balme. calme.

^(q)E,

Is pronounced with a meane opening the mouth, the tongue turn'd to

the inner roofe of the palate, and softly striking the upper great teeth.

It is a Letter of divers note and use: and either soundeth, or is silent.

When it is the last letter, and soundeth, the sound is sharp, as in the French

i. Example in mé. sé. agré. yé shé. in all, saving the Article, thè.

Where it endeth, and soundeth obscure, and faintly, it serves as an ac-

cent, to produce the Vowell preceding: as in máde. stéme. strípe. óre. cúre.

which else would sound, màd. stèm. strìp. òr. cùr.

It altereth the power of o.g.s. so plac'd, as in hence, which else would

sound henc. Swinge, to make it differ from swing. Use, to distinguish it

from us.

It is meere silent in words, where l. is coupled with a Consonant in the

end; as Whistle. gristle. britle. fickle. thimble, &c.

Or after v Consonant, or double ß. as in

love. glove. move. redresse. crosse. losse

Where it endeth a former Syllable, it soundeth longish, but flat: as in

dérive. prépare. résolve.

Except in Derivatives, or Compounds of the sharp e, and then it answers

the Primitive, or simple in the first sound; as

Agreeing, of agree: fore-seeing, of fore-see: being, of bee.

Where it endeth a last Syllable, with one, or mo Consonants after it, it

either soundeth flat, and full: as in Descent. intent. amend. offend. rest. best.

Or, it passeth away obscur'd, like the faint i. as in these,

Written. gotten. open. saieth divel, &c.

^(r) Which two letters e. and i. have such a neerenesse in our tongue,

as often times they enterchange places: as in

enduce, for induce: endite, for indite: her, for hir.

^(s)I,

Is of a narrower sound then e, and uttered with a lesse opening of the

mouth; the tongue brought backe to the palate, and striking the teeth

next the cheeke-teeth.

It is a Letter of a double power.

As a Vowell in the former, or single Syllabes, it hath sometimes the

sharpe accent; as in

bínding. mínding. píning. whíning. wíving. thriving. míne. thíne

Or, all words of one Syllabe qualified by e. But, the flat in more, as in

these, bìll. bìtter. gìddy. lìttle. ìncident. and the like.

In the Derivatives of sharpe Primitives, it keepeth the sound, though

it deliver over the Primitive Consonant to the next Syllabe; as in

diví-ning. requí-ring. repí-ning.

For, a Consonant falling betweene two Vowells in the word, will bee

spell'd with the latter. In Syllabes, and words, compos'd of the same Ele-

ments, it varieth the sound, now sharpe, now flat: as in

gíve, gìve. alíve, lìve. drìve, drìven. tìtle, títle.

But these, use of speaking, and acquaintance in reading, will teach,

rather then rule.

^(t)I. in the other power is meerely another Letter, and would aske

to enjoy an other Character. For, where it leads the sounding Vowell, and

beginneth the Syllabe, it is ever a Consonant: as in

James. John. jest. jump. conjurer. perjur'd.

And before Dipthongs: as Jay. joy. juyce. as, having the force of the

Hebrewes^(u)Jod, and the Italians^(w)Gi.

O,

^(x) Is pronounced with a round mouth, the tongue drawne back to the

root: and is a Letter of much change, and uncertaintie with us.

In the long time it naturally soundeth sharp, and high: as in

^(y)chósen. hósen. hóly. fólly.
ópen. óver. nóte. thróte.

In the short time more flat, and a kin to u. as

^(z)còsen. dòsen. mòther.
bròther. lòve. pròve.

In the Dipthong, sometimes it soundeth out: as

óught. sóught. nóught.
wróught. mów. sów.

But oftner upon the u: as in sòund. bòund. hòw. nòw. thòu. còw.

In the last Syllabes before n. and w. it frequently looseth: as in

persòn. actiòn. willòw. billòw.

It holds up, and is sharpe, when it ends the word, or Syllabe: as in

gó. fró. só. nó

except in tò, the Preposition. Twò, the numerall. Dò, the Verbe, and the

compounds of it; as undò: and the Derivatives; as Dòing.

It varieth the sound in Syllabes of the same Character, and proportion:

as in

shòve. shóve. glòve. gróve

Which double sound it hath from the Latine: as

^(a)Voltus, vultus. vultis, voltis.

V,

^(b) Is sounded with a narrower, and meane compasse, and some de-

pression of the middle of the tongue, and is like our i. a letter of a double

power. As a Vowell it soundeth thin and sharpe, as in úse; thicke and flat,

as in us.

It never endeth any word for the nakednesse, but yeeldeth to the ter-

mination of the Diphthong ew, as in new, trew, knew, &c. or the qualifying

e. as in sue. due; and the like.

^(c) When it leadeth a sounding Vowell in the Syllabe, it is a Consonant:

as in save. reve. prove. love. &c.

Which double force is not the unstedfastnesse of our tongue, or incer-

taintie of our writing, but falne upon us from the Latine.

W,

^(d) Is but the V. geminated in the full sound, and though it have the seate

of a Consonant with us, the power is alwayes Vowellish, even where it

leades the Vowell in any Syllabe: as if you marke it, pronounce the two

uu. like ȣ. quicke in passage, and these words:

ȣ-ine. ȣ-ant. ȣ-ood. ȣ-ast. sȣ-ing. sȣ-am

Will sound, Wine. want wood. wast. swing. swam.

So put the aspiration afore, and these words:

hȣ-at. hȣ-ich. hȣ-eele. hȣ-ether

Will be What. which. wheele. whether.

In the Dipthongs there will be no doubt: as in draw. straw. sow. know.

Nor in Derivatives: as knowing. sowing. drawing.

Whether the double w. is of necessitie used, rather then the single u.

lest it might alter the sound, and be pronounced knoving. soving. draving.

As in saving. having.

Y,

Is also meere Vowellish in our tongue, and hath only the power of an i.

even where it obtaines the Seat of a Consonant: as in Young. Younker.

Which the Dutch, whose Primitive it is, write Iunk. Iunker.

And so might we write

Iouth. ies. ioke. ionder. iard. ielke.
Youth. yes. yoke yonder. yard. yelke.

But that we choose y. to distinguish from j. Consonant.

In the Dipthong it sounds alwayes i. as in

may. say. way. joy. tey. they.

And in the ends of words: as in

deny. reply. defy. cry

Which sometimes are written by i. but qualified by e.

But where two i.i. are sounded, the first will be ever a y. as in Deri-

vatives:

denying. replying. defying.

^(f) Only in the words received by us from the Greeke, as Syllabe,

Tyran, and the like, it keepes the sound of the thin, and sharpe u. in some

proportion; And this we had to say of the Vowells.

CHAP. IIII.
of the Consonants.

B

HAth the same sound with us, as it hath with the Latine, alwayes

one, and is utter'd with ^(g) closing of the lips.

C

^Is a letter, which our Fore-fathers might very well have spar'd in our

tongue: but since it hath obtained place, both in our Writing, and Lan-

guage, we are not now to quarrell Orthographie, or Custome; but to note

the powers.

Before a. u. and o. it plainly founds k. Chi. or Kappa. as in

cable. coble. cudgell.

Or before the Liquids. l. and r. as in

clod. crust.

Or, when it ends a former Syllabe before a Consonant: as in

acquaintance. acknowledgement. action.

In all which it sounds strong.

⁽ⁱ⁾ Before e. and i. it hath a weake sound, and hisseth, like s. as in

certaine. center. civill. citizen. whence.

Or, before the Dipthongs: as in

cease. deceive.

^(k) Among the English-Saxons it obtain'd the weaker force of Chi. or

the Italians C. as in

Capel. canc. cild. cyrce

Which were pronounced

Chapel. chance. child. church.

^(l) It is sounded with the top of the tongue, striking the upper teeth,

and rebounding against the Palate.

D

Hath the same sound, both before, and after a Vowell with us, as it hath

with the Latines: and is pronounc'd softly, ^(m) the tongue a little affe-

cting the teeth, but the nether teeth most.

F

Is a Letter of two forces with us: and in them both sounded with the

nether-lip rounded, and a kind of blowing out: but gentler in the one,

then the other.

The more generall sound is the softest; ⁽ⁿ⁾ and expresseth the Greeke

ø as in Faith. field. feight. force.

Where it sounds ef.

^(o) The other is ϝ, or vau. the Digamma of Claudius: as in

cleft. of cleave. left, of leave.

The difference will best be found in the word of. which as a preposi-

tion sounds

cv. of

. him.

As the Adverbe of Distance.

off, farre off.

G

^(p) Is like wise of double force in our tongue, and is sounded with an

impression made on the mid'st of the palate.

Before a.o. and u. strong. as in these,

gate. got. gut.

Or, before the Aspriateth. or, Liquids l. and r. as in

ghost. glad. grant.

Or in the ends of words: as in

long. song. ring. swing.
eg. leg. lug. dug.

Except the qualifying e. follow; and then the sound is ever weake;

as in

age. stage. hedge.
sledge. judge. drudge.

Before u. the force is double: as in

guile. guide. guest. guise.

Where it soundeth like the French gu. And in

guin. guerdon. languish. anguish.

Where it speakes the Italian gu.

Likewise, before e. and i. the powers are confus'd; and utter'd, now

strong, now weake: as in

get. geld. give.
Gitterne. finger.
long.
In
genet. gentle. gin.
gibe. ginger.
weake.

But this use must teach: the one sound being warranted to our Letter,

from the Greeke: the other from the Latine throughout.

Wee will leave H. in this place; and come to

K,

^(q) Which is a Letter the Latines never acknowledged, but only bor-

row'd in the word Kalendæ. They used qu. for it. Wee sound it as the

Greeke x. and as a necessarie Letter it precedes, and followes all Vowells

with us.

It goes before no Consonants but n. as in

knave. knel. knot. &c.

And l. with the quiet e. after: as in

mickle. pickle. trickle. fickle.

Which were better written without the c. if that which wee have re-

ceived for Orthographie, would yet be contented to be altered. But that is

an emendation, rather to be wished, then hoped for, after so long a raigne

of ill-custome amongst us.

It followeth the s. in many words: as in

skape. skoure. skirt.
skirmish. skrape. skuller.

Which doe better so sound, then if written with c.

L

^(r) Is a Letter halfe-vowellish: which, though the Italians (especially

the Florentines) abhorre, we keepe entire with the Latines, and so pro-

nounce.

It melteth in the sounding, and is therefore call'd a liquid, the tongue stri-

king the root of the palate gently.

It's seldome doubled, but where the Vowell sounds hard upon it: as in

hell. bell. kill.
shrill. trull. full.

And, even in these, it is rather the haste, and superfluitie of the pen, that

cannot stop it selfe upon the single l. then any necessitie we have to use it.

For, the letter should be doubled only for a following Syllabe's sake:

as in

killing. beginning. begging. Swimming.

M

^(s) Is the same with us in sound, as with the Latines. It is pronounc'd

with a kind of humming inward, the lips clos'd. Open, and full in the

beginning: obscure in the end: and meanly in the midd'st.

N

^(t) Ringeth somewhat more in the lips and nose: the tongue striking

back on the palate, and hath a threefold sound, shrill in the end: full in

the beginning, and flat in the mid'st.

They are Letters neere of kin, both with the Latines, and us.

P

^(u) Breaketh softly through the lips; and is a Letter of the same force

with us, as with the Latines.

Q

^(w) Is a Letter we might very well spare in our Alphabet, if we would

but use the serviceable k. as he should be, and restore him to the right of

reputation he had with our Fore-fathers. For, the English-Saxons knew

not this halting Q. with her waiting-woman u. after her, but exprest

quaile.
quest.
quick
quil.
by
kuaile.
kuest.
kuick.
kuil.

Till custome under the excuse of expressing enfranchis'd words with us,

intreated her into our Language, in

quality, quantity,
quarel, quintescence, &c.

And hath now given her the best of ks. possessions.

R

^(x) Is the Dogs Letter, and hurreth in the sound; the tongue striking

the inner palate, with a trembling about the teeth. It is sounded firme in

the beginning of the words, and more liquid in the middle, and ends:

as in

rarer. riper.

And so in the Latine.

S

^(y) Is a most easie, and gentle Letter, and softly hisseth against the teeth

in the prolation. It is called the Serpents Letter, and the chiefe of the

Consonants. It varieth the powers much in our pronunciation, as in the

beginning of words it hath the sound of weake c. before Vowells, Dip-

thong, or Consonant: as,

Salt. say. small. sell.
shrik shift. soft. &c.

Sometime it inclineth to z. as in these,

Muse. use. rose.
nose. wise.

And the like: where the latter Vowell serves for the marke, or accent

of the formers production.

So, after the Halfe-Vowells, or the obscure e. as in

Bels. gems. wens. burs.
Chimes. rimes. games.

Where the Vowell sits hard, it is commonly doubled.

T,

^(x) Is sounded with the tongue striking the upper teeth, and hath one

constant power, save where it precedeth; and that followed by a Vowell;

as in

Faction. action. generation. corruption.

Where it hath the force of s. or c.

X,

^(y) Is rather an abbreviation, or way of short writing with us, then

a Letter. For, it hath the sound of k. and s. It begins no word with us,

that I know, but ends many: as

Ax. kex. six. fox. box.

Which sound the same with these,

Backs. knacks. knocks. locks. &c.

Z,

^(z) Is a Letter often heard amongst us, but seldome seene: borrow'd

of the Greekes at first, being the same with ζ. and soundeth a double ß.

with us it hath obtained another sound; but in the end of words: as

Muse. maze. nose.
Hose. gaze. as.

Never in the beginning, save with rustick people, that have,

zed. zay. zit. zo. zome.

And the like, for

Said. say. sit. so. some.

Or in the body of words indenison'd; as

azure. zeale. zephyre. &c.

H,

^(a) Whether it be a Letter or no, hath beene much examined by the

Ancients, and by some, too much, of the Greeke partie condemned, and

throwne out of the Alphabet, as an Aspirate meerely, and in request only

before Vowells in the beginning of words, and after x. where it added a

strong Spirit, which the Welsh retaine after many Consonants. But, be it a

Letter, or Spirit, we have great use of it in our tongue, both before, and

after Vowells. And though I dare not say, she is, (as I have heard one call

her) the Queene mother of Consonants: yet she is the life, and quickening

of them.

What her powers are before Vowells and Dipthongs, will appeare in

hal. heale. hill. hot. how. hew hoiday. &c.

In some it is written, but sounded without power: as

host. honest. humble.

Where the Vowell is heard without the Aspiration, ost. onest. umble.

After the Vowell it sounds; as in ah, and oh.

Beside, it is coupled with divers Consonants, where the force varies,

and is particularly to be examin'd.

Wee will begin with Ch.

Ch

^(b) Hath the force of the Greeke χ. or ϰ. in many words derived from

the Greeke: as in Charact. Christian. Chronicle.

Archangel. Monarch.

In meere English words, or fetch'd from the Latine the force of the

Italian c. Chaplaine. chast. chest. chops.

chin. chuf. churle.

Gh

^(c) Is only a piece of ill writing with us: if we could obtaine of Custome

to mend it, it were not the worse for our Language, or us: for the g.

sounds just nothing in trough. cough.

might. night. &c.

Only, the writer was at leisure, to adde a superfluous Letter, as there

are too many in our Pseudographie.

Ph. & Rh

^(d) Are used only in Greeke infranchis'd words: as

Philip. Physick. Rhetorick. Rhodes. &c.

Sh

^(e) Is meerely English; and hath the force of the Hebrew ש. shin, or

the French ch. as in

shake. shed. shine. show.
shrinke. rush. blush.

Th

^(f) Hath a double, and doubtfull sound, which must be found out by

use of speaking; sometimes like the Greekeθ. as in

thief. thing. lengthen. strengthen. loveth. &c.

In others, like their δ. or the Spanish d. as

this. that. then. thence.
those. bathe. beqweath.

And in this consists the greatest difficultie of our Alphabet, and true

writing: since wee have lost the Saxon Characters ð. and þ. that distinguished

the

ðe.
ðou.
ðine.
ðo.
from
þick.
þin.
þred.
þrive.

Wh

Hath beene inquir'd of in w. and this for the Letters.

A,

(q) E,

(s) I.

O. V,

W,

B

C

D.

D Appulsu linguæ circa dentes superiores innascitur.

Terentianus.

F.

G.

K.

L. M

(t) N

(u) P

Q

R

S.

T.

X.

Z. (a) H,

Ch.

Gh.

Ph. & Rh.

Sh.

Th.

CHAP. V.
of the Dipthongs.

(g) DIpthongs are the complexions, or couplings of Vowells, when

the two Letters send forth a joynt sound, so as in one Syllabe

both sounds be heard: as in

Ai. or Ay.

Aide. maide. said. pay. day. way.

Au. or Aw.

audience. author. aunt. law. saw. draw.

Ea.

Earle. Pearle. meate. seate. sea. flea.

To which adde rea, and plea; and you have at one view all our words

of this termination.

Ei.

sleight. streight. weight.
theirs. peint. feint.

Ew.

Few. strew. dew.
anew.

Oi. or, Oy.

Point. joynt. soile. koile.
joy. toy. boy..

OO.

good. food. moode. brood. &c.

Ou. or, Ow.

rout. stout. how.
now. bow. low.

Vi. or, Vy.

buye. or buie. juice. or juyce.

These nine are all I would observe: for to mention more, were but to

perplexe the Reader. The Oa. and Ee. will be better supplied in our Or-

thographie by the accenting e. in the end: as in

bróde. lóde. cóte.
bóte. quéne. séne.

Neither is the double ee. to be thought on, but in derivatives; as trees,

sees, and the like: where it is as two Syllabes. And for eo. it is found but

in three words in our tongue.

Yeoman. people. jeopard

Which were truer written

Ye-man. péple. jépard.

And thus much shall suffice for the Dipthongs.

The Tripthong is of a complexion, rather to be fear'd then lov'd: and

would fright the young Grammarian to see him. I therefore let him passe,

and make haste to the notion.

CHAPTER. VI.
of the Syllabes.

A Syllabe is a part of a word, that may of it selfe make a perfect sound;

and is sometimes of one only letter, sometimes of more.

Of one, as in every first Vowell in these words:

a. abated.
e. ecclipsed.
i. imagin'd.
o. omitted.
u. usurped.

A Syllabe of more letters is made, either of Vowells only, or of Conso-

Conso- joyned with Vowells.

Of Vowells only, as the Dipthongs
Ai. in Aiton. Ayding.
Au. in Austere. Audients.
Ea. in Easy. Eating.
Ei. in Eirie of Hawkes.
Ew. in Ewer. &c. and in the
Tripthong Yea.

Of the Vowells mixt; sometimes but with one Consonant, as to:some-

times two, as try: sometimes three, as best: or foure, as nests: or five, as

stumps: other-while sixe, as the latter Syllabe in re-straints. At the most

they can have but seven, as strengths.

Some Syllabes, as

The. then. there. that.
with. and. which.

Are often compendiously, and shortly written: as

e
y.
en
y.
ere
y.
t
y.

Which, whoso list may use: but Orthographie commands it not. A

man may forbeare it, without danger of falling into Premunire.

Here order would require to speake of the Quantitie of Syllabes, their

speciall Prerogative among the Latines and Greekes: whereof so much as is

constant, and derived from Nature, hath beene handled already. The

other which growes by Position, and placing of letters, as yet (not through

default of our Tongue, being able enough to receive it, but our owne care-

lesnesse, being negligent to give it) is ruled by no Art. The principall

cause where of seemeth to be this; because our Verses and Rythmes (as it is

almost with all other people, whose Language is spoken at this day) are

naturall, and such where of Aristotle speaketh, ἐκ τῶν αὐτοσχεδιαςμάτων, that

is, made of a naturall, and voluntarie composition, without regard to the

Quantitie of Syllabes.

This would aske a larger time and field, then is here given, for the exa-

mination: but since I am assigned to this Province; that it is the lot of my

age, after thirty yeares conversation with men, to be elementarius Senex:

I will promise, and obtaine so much of my selfe, as to give, in the heele of

the booke, some spurre and incitement to that which I so reasonably

seeke. Not that I would have the vulgar, and practis'd way of making,

abolish'd and abdicated, (being both sweet and delightfull, and much tak-

king the eare) but, to the end our Tongue may be made equall to those of

the renowned Countries, Italy, and Greece, touching this particular. And,

as for the difficultie, that shall never withdraw, or put me off, from the

Attempt: For, neither is any excellent thing done with ease, nor the

compassing of this any whit to be despaired: Especially, when Quintilian

hath observ'd to me, by this naturall Rythme, that we have the other Ar-

tificiall, as it were by certaine Markes, and footing, was first traced, and

found out. And the Grecians themselves before Homer, as the Romanslike-

wise before Livius Andronicus, had no other Meters. Thus much there-

fore shall serve to have spoken concerning the Parts of a Word, in a Letter,

and a Syllabe.

It followeth to speake of the common affections, which unto the La-

tines, Greekes, and Hebrewes, are two; the Accent, and Notation. And first

CHAPTER VII.
Of the Accent

THe Accent (which unto them was a tuning of the voyce, in lifting it

up, or letting it downe) hath not yet obtained with us any signe;

which notwithstanding were most needfull to be added; not wheresoe-

ver the force of an Accent lieth, but where for want of one, the word is

in danger to be mis-tuned: as in

abásed. excéßive. besóted,
obtéine. ungódly. surrénder.

But the use of it will be seene much better by collation of words, that

according unto the divers place of their Accent, are diversly pronounc'd,

and have divers significations. Such are the words following, with their

like; as

díffer, différ. désert, desért. présent, presént.
réfuse, refúse. óbject, objéct. íncense, incénse.
cónvert, convért. tórment, tormént. &c.

In originall Nounes Adjective, or Substantive, derived according to the

rule of the writer of Analogie, the Accent is intreated to the first: as in

fáther linesse. móther linesse.
péremptory. háber dasher.

Likewise, in the Adverbs:

bróther by. sísterly.

All Nounes Dißyllabick, simple in the first; as

béleefe. hónor. crédit.
sílver. súrety.

All Nounes trißyllabick, in the first:

coúntenance, jéopardye. &c.

All Nounes compounded in the first, of how many Syllabes soever

they be: as Ténnis-court-keeper. Chímney-sweeper.

Words simple in able, draw the Accent to the first, though they be of

foure Syllabes: as

Sóciable. tólerable.

When they be compounded, they keepe the same Accent: as

insóciable. intólerable.

But in the way of comparison, it altereth thus: Some men are sóciable,

some ínsociable; some tólerable, some íntolerable. For, the Accent sits on the

Syllabe that puts difference: as

Síncerity. ínsincerity.

Nounes ending in tion, or sion; are accented in antepenultimâ: as

condítion, infúsion. &c.

In ty, à Latinis, in antepenultimâ: as

vérity. chárity. simplícity.

In ence, in antepenultimâ: as

péstilence. ábstinence.
sústenance. cónsequence.

All Verbes dissyllabes, ending in er.el.ry. and ish. accent in prima: as

cóver, cáncel. cárry. búry.
lévy. rávish. &c.

Verbes made of Nounes, follow the Accent of the Nounes: as

to blánket. to básquet.

All Verbes comming from the Latine, either of the Supine, or other-

wise; hold the Accent, as it is found in the first person present of those

Latine Verbes: as from

ánimo. ánimate.
célebro, célebrate.

Except words compound of facio: as

liquefácio, liquefí.

And of statuo. constítuo, constitúte.

All variations of Verbes hold the Accent in the same place, as the

Theme,

ánimatest. &c.

And thus much shall serve to have opened the fountaine of Orthogra-

phie. Now let us come to the notation of a word.

CHAPTER. VIII.
The Notation of a Word

IS, when the originall there of is sought out, and consisteth in two

things; the Kind, and the Figure.

The Kind is to know, whether the word bee a Primitive, or Deriva

tive, as

Man. love

Are Primitives:

Manly. lover

Are Derivatives.

The Figure is to know, whether the word bee simple, or compounded;

as, learned. say

Are simple: unlearned. gain-say are compounded.

In which kind of composition, our English tongue is above

all other very hardy, and happy; joyning together, after a most

eloquent manner, sundry words of every kind of Speech:

Mil-horse. lip-wise. self-love.
twy-light. there-about.
not-with-standing. by-cause.
cut-purse. never-the-lesse.

These are the common affections of a word: His divers sorts

now follow. A word is of Number, or without Number. Of Num-

ber, that word is termed to be, which signifieth a number singu-

lar, or plurall.

Singular, which expresseth one only thing: as

tree. bookes. teachers.

Againe, a word of number is finite, or infinite. Finite, which

varieth his number with certaine ends: as

man. run. horse.

Infinite, which varieth not: as

true. strong running.

Moreover, a word of number is a Noune, or a Verbe. But,

here it were sit, we did first number our Words, or parts of

Speech, of which our Language consists.

CHAP. IX.
of the Parts of Speech.

IN our English speech, we number the same parts with the Latines.

Noune.
Pronoune.
Verbe.
Participle.
Adverbe.
Conjunction.
Præposition.
Interjection.

Only, we adde a ninth, which is the Article: And that is two-fold,

Finite. as The.
Infinite. as A.

The finite is set before Nounes Appellatives: as

The Horse. The Tree.
The Earth. or specially
The nature of the Earth.

Proper Names, and Pronounes refuse Articles, but for Emphasis sake: as

The Henry of Henries.
The only Hee of the Towne.

Where Hee stands for a Noune, and signifies Man.

The Infinite hath a power of declaring, and designing uncertaine, or

infinite things: as

A man. A house.

This Article A. answers to the Germane Ein. or the French, or Italian

Articles, deriv'd from one, not Numer all, but Prepositive: as

A House. EinHause.
Un Maison. Una Casa.

The is put to both numbers, and answers to the Dutch Article

Der. die. das.

Save, that it admits no inflexion.

CHAP. X.
of the Noune.

ALL Nounes are words of Number, Singular, or Plurall.

They are
common.
proper.
personall.
And are all
Substantive.
or,
Adjective.

Their Accidents are,

Gender. Case. Declension.

Of the Genders there are sixe. First, the Masculine, which comprehen-

deth all Males, or what is understood under a Masculine species: as Angels,

Men, Starres: and (by Prosopæia) the Moneth's, winds, almost all the Pla-

nets. Second, the Feminine, which compriseth Women, and femal species:

I'lands. Countries. Cities.

And some Rivers with us: as

Severne, Avon, &c.

Third, the Neuter, or feined Gender: whose notion conceives neither

Sexe; under which are compriz'd all inanimate things; a ship excepted:

of whom we say, shee sayles well, though the name be Hercules, or Henry,

the Prince. As Terence call'd his Comedie Eunuchus, per vocabulum

Artis.

Fourth, the Promiscuous, or Epicene, which understands both kindes:

especially, when we cannot make the difference; as, when we call them

Horses, and Dogges, in the Masculine, though there be Bitches, and Mares

amongst them. So to Fowles for the most part, we use the Feminine, as of

Eagles, Hawkes; we say, shee flies well; and call them Geese, Ducks, and

Doves, which they flye at.

Fift, the Common, or rather Doubtfull gender, wee use often, and with

elegance: as in

Cosin, Goßip. friend, Neighbour

Enemie, Servant, Theefe

, &c.

When they may be of either Sexe.

Sixt, is the Common of three Genders: by which a Noune is divided into

Substantive, and Adjective. For a Substantive is a Noune of one only Gen-

der, or (at the most) of two. And an Adjective is a Noune of three Gen-

ders, being alwayes infinite.

CHAP. XI
of the Diminution of Nounes.

THe common Affection of Nounes is Diminution. A Diminutive is a

Noune, noting the diminution of his Primitive.

The diminution of Substantives hath these foure divers terminations:

Ell,
Et,
Ock,
Ing,
part,
capon,
Hill,
Goose
parcell.
caponet.
hillock.
gosling.
cocke,
poket,
Bull,
Duck,
cockrell.
poket. Baron,Baronet.
bullock.
duckling.

So from the Adjective, Deare, darling.

Many Diminutives there are, which rather be abusions of speech, then

any proper English words. And such for the most part are Mens, and Wo-

mens Names: Names, which are spoken in a kind of flatterie, especially

among familiar friends and lovers: as

Richard, Dick. William, Will.
Margery, Madge. Mary, Mal.

Diminution of Adjectives is in this one end, ish: as

White, Whitish. Greene, greenish.

After which manner certainAdjectives of likenesse are also formed from

their Substantives: as

Divel, divelish.
Coult, coultish.
Theefe, theevish.
Elf, elvish.

Some Nounes steale the forme of Diminution, which neither in signifi-

cation shew it, nor can derive it from a Primitive: as

Gibbet. Doublet. peevish.

CHAP. XII.
of Comparisons.

THese then are the common Affections, both of Substantives, and Adje-

ctives: there follow certaine other, not generall to them both, but

proper and peculiar to each one. The proper affection therefore of Adje-

ctives is Comparison; of which, after the Positive, there be two degrees reckoned,

namely, the Comparative, and the Superlative.

The Comparative is a degree declared by the Positive, with this Adverbe

more; as

Wiser, more wise.

The Superlative is declared by the Positive with this Adverbe most: as

Wisest, most wise.

Both which degrees are formed of the Positive: the Comparative, by

putting to er: the Superlative by putting to est: as in these examples:

Learned, learneder, learnedest.
Simple, simpler, simplest.
Trew, trewer, trewest.
Black, blacker, blackest.

From this generall rule a few speciall words are excepted: as

Good. better.best.
Ill. worse. worst.
Little. lesse.least.
Much. more.most.

Many Words have no comparison; as

Reverend. Puissant..
Victorious. Renowned.

Other have both degrees; but lacke the Positive: as former. formost.

Some are formed of Adverbs: as

Wisely. wiselier. wiseliest
Justly. justlier. .justliest.

Certaine Comparisons, forme out of themselves: as

Lesse. lesser.
Worse. worser.

CHAP. XIII.
Of the First Declension.

ANd thus much concerning the proper Affection of Adjectives: The

proper Affection of Substantives followeth: And that consisteth in

Declining.

A Declension is the varying of a Noune Substantive into divers terminations.

Where besides the Absolute, there is, as it were a Genitive Case, made in the

Singular number by putting to s.

Of Declensions there be two kindes: the first maketh the Plurall of the

Singular, by adding thereunto s. as

Tree. Trees.
Thing. things.
Steeple. Steeples.

So with s. by reason of the neere affinitie of these two Letters, where-

of we have spoken before:

Parke, Parkes. Bucke, Buckes.
Dwarfe, Dwarfes. Path, pathes.

And in this first Declension, the Genitive plur all is all one with the plu-

rall absolute.

Singular
Father.
Father.
Plur.
Fathers.
Fathers.

Generall exceptions: Nounes ending in z. s. sh. g. and ch. in the decli-

ning take to the genitive singular i. and to the plurall e. as

Sing.
Prince,
Princes.
Plur.
Princes.
Princes.

So, rose. bush. age.breech. &c. Which distinctions, not observed, brought

in first the monstrous Syntaxe of the Pronoune, his, joyning with a Noune,

betokening a Possessor; as, the Prince his house; for, the Princes house:

Many words ending in Dipthongs, or Vowells, take neither Z. nor s. but

only change their Dipthongs or Vowells, retaining their last Consonant: as

Mouse. Mice, or Meece
Louse. Lyce, or Leece
Goose, Geece. Foot, Feet.
Tooth. Teeth.

Exception of number: Some Nounes of the first Declension lacke the

Plurall: as

Rest. Gold. Silver. Bread.

Other the Singular: as

Riches. Goods.

Many being in their principall signification Adjectives are here declined,

and in the Plurall stand in stead of Substantives: as

Other, others. One, ones.
Hundred, hundreds. Thousand, thousands.
Necessarie, necessaries: and such like.

CHAPTER XIIII.
Of the second Declension.

THe second Declension formeth the Plurall from the Singular, by putting

to n. which notwithstanding it have not so many Nounes, as

hath the former, yet lacketh not his difficultie, by reason of sundry ex-

ceptions that cannot easily be reduced to one generall head. Of this for-

mer are,

Oxe, Oxen. Hose, Hosen.

Exceptions. Man, and Woman, by a contraction make men and women,

or wemen, in stead of manen and womenen. Cow, makes Kine, or keene:

Brother, for Bretheren, hath Brithren, and Brethern. Child formeth the

plurall by adding r. besides the root; for we say not childen, which ac-

cording to the Rule given before, is the right formation; but childern, be-

cause that sound is more pleasant to the eares.

Here the genitive plurall is made by adding s. unto the Absolute: as

Sing.
childe
childes.
Plur.
childern.
childerns.

Exceptions from both Declensions: Some Nounes have the plurall of

both Declensions: as

House. houses. housen.
Eye. eyes. eyen.
Shoo. shooes. shooen.

CHAPTER. XV.
Of Pronounes.

A Few irregular Nounes, varying from the generall precepts, are

commonly termed Pronounes: where of the first foure in stead of the

Genitive have an Accusative case: as.

I.
Me.
Plur.
We.
Us.
Thou.
Thee.
Plur.
You.
or
Yee.

Hee. shee. That. All three make in the Plurall, They. Them.

Foure Posseßives: My, or Myne. Plurall: Our, ours. Thy, thine. Plurall,

Your, yours. His, Hers, both in the plurall making, Their, theirs: As many

Demonstratives. This, plurall, These. That, plurall Those: yonne, or yon-

der same.

Three Interrogatives, where of one requiring both Genitive, and Ac-

cusative and taken for a Substantive: who? whose? whom? The other two

Infinite, and Adjectively used, what. whether.

Two Articles in gender, and number infinite, which the lacke:

A. The.

One Relative, which: One other signifying a Reciprocation, self. pl. selves.

Composition of Pronounes is more common:

My-self. our-selves.
Thy-self. your-selves.
Him-self.
Her-self.
It-self.
Plurall: Them-selves.

This-same, that-same. yonne-same, yonder-same, self-same.

CHAP. XVI.
Of a Verbe.

HItherto we have declared the whole Etymologie of Nounes: which

in easinesse, and shortnesse, is much to be preferred before the La-

tines, and the Grecians. It remaineth with like brevitie, if it may be, to

prosecute the Etymologie of a Verbe. A Verbe is a word of number, which

hath both Tyme, and Person. Tyme is the difference of a Verbe, by the pre-

sentspast, and future, or to come. A Verbe finite therefore hath three only

Tymes, and those alwayes imperfect.

The first is the present: as

Amo, Love.

The second is the Tyme past: as

Amabam, loved.

The third is the Future: as

Ama, amato: Love, love.

The other Tymes both imperfect: as

Amem, amarem, amabo.

And also perfect: as

Amavi, amaverim, amaveram,
Amavissem, amavero.

Wee use to expresse by a Syntaxe, as shall be seene in the proper place.

The future is made of the present, and is the same alwayes with it.

Of this future ariseth a Verbe infinite, keeping the same termination:

as likewise of the present, and the Tyme past, are formed the Participle pre-

sent by adding of ing: as

Love, loving.

The other is all one with the Tyme past.

The Paßive is expressed by a Syntaxe, like the tymes going before, as

hereafter shall appeare.

A Person is the speciall difference of a verball number, where of the

present, and the Tyme past, have in every number three.

The second, and third person singular of the present are made of the

first, by adding est, and eth; which last is sometime shortned into z. or s.

The tyme past is varied, by adding in like manner in the second person

singular est: and making the third like unto the first.

The future hath but only two persons; the second, and the third, end-

ing both alike.

The persons Plurall, keepe the termination of the first personSingu-

lar. In former times, till about the reigne of King Henry the eighth, they

were wont to be formed, by adding en: thus,

Loven. sayen. complainen.

But now (whatsoever is the cause) it hath quite growne out of use,

and that other so generally prevailed, that I dare not presume to set this

a-foot againe. Albeit, (to tell you my opinion) I am perswaded, that

the lacke here of well considered, will be found a great blemish to our

tongue. For, seeing time, and person be, as it were, the right, and left hand

of a Verbe; what can the mayming bring else, but a lamenesse to the

whole body?

And by reason of these two differences, a Verbe is divided two manner

of wayes. First, in respect of persons, it is called personall, or impersonall.

Personall, which is varied by three persons: as

Love, lovest, loveth.

Impersonall, which onely hath the third person: as

behoveth. yrketh.

Secondly, in consideration of the times, we terme it active, or neuter:

Active, whose Participle past may be joyned with the Verbe am: as,

I am loved. Thou art hated.

Neuter, which cannot be so coupled: as

Pertaine. Dye. Live.

This therefore is the generall forming of a Verbe, which must to every

speciall one hereafter be applied.

CHAP. XVII.
of the first Conjugation.

THe varying of a Verbe by persons, and times, both finite, and infinite,

is termed a Conjugation. Where of there bee two sorts. The first

fetcheth the time past from the present, by adding ed: and is thus varyed

Pr.
Pa.
Fu.
Love, lovest, loveth.
Loved, loved'st, loved.
Love, love.
Pl.
Pl.
Pl.
Love, love, love.
Loved, loved, loved.
Love, love.
Inf.
Part. pr.
Part. past.
Love.
Loving.
Loved.

Verbes are ost-times shortned: as

Sayest, sest. would, woud.
should, shoud. holpe, hope.

But, this is more common in the leaving out of e. as

Loved'st, for lovedest.
Rubbed, rub'd. tookest, took'st.

Exception of the time-past, for ed. have t. as

Licked, lick't. leaved, left.
Gaped, gap't. Blushed, blush't.

Where Verbes ending with d. for avoyding the concourse of two ma-

ny Consonants, doe cast it away: as

Lend, lent. Spend, spent. Gyrd, gyrt.

Make by a rare contraction is here turned into Made. Many Verbes in

the time past vary not at all from the present: such are

Cast. hurt. cost. burst. &c.

CHAP. XVIII.
Of the second Conjugation.

ANd so much for the first Conjugation; being indeed the most usuall

forming of a Verbe, and thereby also the common Inne to lodge

every strange, and forraine guest. That which followeth for any thing,

I can find (though I have with some diligence searched after it,) inter-

taineth none, but naturall, and home-borne words, which though in

number they be not many, a hundred and twenty, or thereabouts; yet

in variation are so divers, and uncertaine, that they need much the stampe

of some good Logick, to beat them into proportion. We have set downe

that, that in our judgement agreeth best with reason, and good order.

Which, not with standing, if it seeme to any to be too rough hewed, let him

plane it out more smoothly, and I shall not only not envy it, but, in the

behalfe of my Countrey, most heartily thanke him for so great a benefit;

hoping that I shall be thought sufficiently to have done my part, if in

to wling this Bell, I may draw others to a deeper consideration of the

matter: for touching my selfe, I must needs confesse, that after much

painfull churning, this only would come, which here we have devised.

The second Conjugation therefore turneth the present into the time past,

by the only change of his Letters, namely of Vowells alone, or Consonants

also.

Verbes changing Vowells only, have no certaine termination of the par-

ticiple past, but derive it as well from the present, as the time past, and that

other while differing from either, as the examples following do declare.

The change of Vowells is, either of simple Vowells, or of Dipthongs;

whereof the first goeth by the order of Vowells, which we also will ob-

serve.

An a. is turned into oo.

Pres.
Past.
Fut.
Inf.
Part. pre.
Part. pa.
Shake, shakest, shaketh.
Shooke, shookest, shooke.
Shake, shake.
Shake.
Shaking.
Shaken.
Plur.
Pl.
Plur.
Shake, shake, shake.
Shooke, shooke, shooke.
Shake, shake.

This forme doe the Verbes, take, wake, for sake, and hang, follow, but

hang, in the time past maketh hung; not, hangen.

Hereof the Verb, am, is a speciall exception, being thus varyed:

Pr. Am, art, is. Pl. are, are, are; or, Be, be, be, of the unused word, Bee,

beëst, beëth, in the singular.

Past.
Fut.
Inf.
Part. pr.
Part. past.
Was, wast, was. or,Were, wert, were.
Be, be.
Be.
Being.
Bene.
Pl. Were, were, were.
.Plur. Be, be.

Ea. maketh first e. short:

Pr. Leade. Past. Ledde. Part. pa. Ledde.

The rest of the times and persons, both singular, and plurall in this, and the

other Verbs that follow, because they jumpe with the former examples,

and rules, in every point, we have chosen rather to omit, then to thrust in

needlesse words.

Such are the Verbs, eate, beate, (both making Participles past: besides

ette, and bette; eaten, and beaten) spread, shead, dreade, sweate, shreade, treade.

Then a, or o. indifferently;

Pr.
Past.
Par. pa.
Breake
Brake, or broke.
Broke, or broken.

Hither belong, speake, sweare, teare, cleave, weare, steale, beare, sheare, weave.

So, gett, and helpe: but halpe, is seldome used, save with the Poëts.

i. is changed into a.

Pr.
Past.
Par. pa.
give.
gave.
given.

So, bid, and sit.

And here sometimes i. is turned into a. and o. both.

Pr.
Past.
Par. pa.
Winne.
Wanne, or Wonne.
Wonne.

Of this sort are fling, ring, wring, sing, sting, stick, spinne, strick, drinke,

sinke, spring, begin, stinke, shrinke, swing, swimme.

Secondly, long i. into e.

Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
reede.
read.
read.

Also feed, meet, breed, bleed, speed.

Then into o.

Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
Seeth.
sodde.
sodde, or sodden.

Lastly, it makes, aw.

Pr.
Pa.
Par. Pa.
see.
saw.
seene.

O. hath a.

Pr.
Pa.
Par.
come.
came.
come.

And here it may besides keepe his proper Vowell.

Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
runne.
ranne, or runne.
runne.

oo. maketh o.

Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
choose.
chose.
chosen.

And one more, shoote, shotte, in the Participle.

past. shott, or shotten.

Some pronounce the Verbs by the Dipthong, ew. chewse, shewte, and that

is Scottish-like.

CHAP. XIX.
Of the third Conjugation.

THe change of Dipthongs is of ai. and y. or aw. and ow. All which are

changed into ew.

ai.
Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
Slay.
slew.
slaine.

y.
Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
Fly.
flew.
flyne, or flowne.

aw.
Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
draw.
draw.
drawne.

ow.
Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
know.
knew.
knowne.

This forme commeth oftener, then the three former: snow, grow, throw,

blow, crow.

Secondly, y. is particularly turned, sometimes into the Vowells i. and o.

i.
Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
Byte.
Bitte.
Bitte, or bitten.

Likewise, hyde, quyte, chyde, stride, slyde

o.
Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
Hyght.
Hoght.
Hoght.

So, Shine, strive, thrive.

And, as Y. severally frameth either; so may it joyntly have them both:

Pr.
Past.
Par. pa.
Ryse.
Rise, or rose.
Rise, or risen.

To this kind pertaine: Smyte, wryte, byde, ryde, clyme, dryve, clyve.

Sometimes, into the Dipthongs, ai, and ou.

ai.
Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
Lye.
lay.
lyne, or layne.

ou.
Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
Fynd.
found.
found.

So, bynde, grynde, wynde, fyght.

Last of all; aw, and ow; doe both make e.

aw.
Pr.
Past.
Par. pa.
Fall.
fell.
fallen.

Such is the Verbe, fraught: which Chaucer in the Man of Lawes tale:

This Merchants have done, freight their ships new.

ou
Pr.
Pa.
Par. pa.
Howld.
Held.
Held, or howlden.

Exceptions of the Time past.

Some that are of the first Conjugation, only have in the Partisiple past,

besides their owne, the forme of the second, and the third: as

Hew, hewed, and hewne.
Mow, mowed, and mowen.
Load, loaded, and loaden.

CHAP. XX.
Of the fourth Conjugation.

VErbs that convey the Time past for the present, by the change both

of Vowells and Consonants, following the terminations of the

first Conjugation, end in d. or t.

Pr.
Pa.
Stand.
Stood.

Such are these words,

Pr.
Pa.
Fut.
Wolle. wolt. wolle.
wolde, or woulde. wouldest, would.
wolle. woll.

The infinite Times are not used:

Pr.
Pa.
Can, canst, can.
^*Colde, or could.

Pr.
Pa.
Sholle. sholt. sholl.
Sholde, or shoulde.

The other Times of either Verbe are lacking.

Pr.
Pa.
Heare.
Heard.

Pr.
Pa.
Sell.
Sold.

So, Tell, told.

Of the other sort are these, and such like:

Pr.
Pa.
Feele.
felt.

So, creepe, sleepe, weepe, keepe, sweepe, meene.

Pr.
Pa.
Teach.
Taught.

To this forme belong: thinke, retch, seake, reach, catch, bring, worke; and

buy, and owe, which make, bought, and ought.

Pr.
Pa.
Dare, darest, dare.
Durst, durst, durst

Pr.
Pa.
May, mayst, may.
Might, mightest, might.

These two Verbs want the other Times.

A generall exception from the former Conjugations. Certaine Verbs

have the forme of either Conjugation: as

Hang, hanged

, and

hung

Reach, reach't

, and

rought

So, cleave, sheare, sting, clyme, cetch, &c.

CHAP. XXI.
Of Adverbes.

THus much shall suffice for the Etymologie of Words, that have num-

ber, both in a Noune, and a Verbe: where of the former is but short,

and easie: the other longer, and wrapped with a great deale more difficul-

tie. Let us now proceed to the Etymologie of words without number.

A Word without number is that, which without his principall signification

noteth not any number. Whereof there be two kindes, an Ad-

verbe, and a Conjunction.

An Adverb is a word without number, that is joyned to another word: as

Well-learned.
Hee fighteth valiantly.
Hee disputeth very subtlely.

So that an Adverbe is as it were an Adjective of Nounes, Verbes; yea, and

Adverbs also themselves.

Adverbs are either of Quantitie or Qualitie. Of Quantitie: as

Enough. too-much. altogether.

Adverbs of Qualitie be of divers sorts:

First of Number: as Once. twice. thrice.

Secondly, of Time: as To day. yesterday. then.

By, and by. ever. when.

Thirdly of Place: as Here. there. where. yonder.

Fourthly, in affirmation, or negation: as

I. yes. indeed. no. not. nay.

Fiftly, in wishing, calling, and exhorting: wishing, as

O. Yf.

Calling; as, Ho. sirrah. Exhorting: as so, so. there, there.

Sixtly in similitude, and likenesse: as

So. even so. Likewise, even as.

To this place pertaine Adverbs of qualitie whatsoever, being formed

from Nounes, for the most part, by adding ly: as

Iust, justly. True, truly.
Strong, strongly. Name, namely.

Here also Adjectives, as well positive, as compared stand for Adverbs:

When he least weeneth, soonest shall he fall.

Interjections, commonly so termed, are in right Adverbs, and therefore

may justly lay title to this roome. Such are these, that follow, with their

like: as

Ah. alas. wo. fie. tush. ha, ha, he.

st. a note of silence. Rr. that serveth to set dogges

together by the eares. Hrr, to chase birds away.

Prepositions are also a peculiar kind of Adverbs, and ought to be refer-

red hither. Prepositions are separable, or inseparable. Separable are for the

most part of Time, and Place: as

Among. according. without.
Afore. after. before. behind.
Under. upon. beneath. over.
Against. besides. neere.

Inseparable Prepositions are they, which signifie nothing, if they be not

compounded with some other word: as.

re. un. in Release. unlearned

CHAP. XXII.
Of Conjunctions.

AConjunction is a word without number, knitting divers speeches to-

gether: and is declaring, or reasoning. Declaring, which uttereth the

parts of a Sentence: And that againe is gathering, or separating. Gathering,

whereby the parts are affirmed to be true together, which is coupling, or

conditioning. Coupling, when the parts are severally affirmed: as

And. also. neither.

Conditioning, by which the part following dependeth, as true, upon

the part going before; as If. unlesse. except.

A separating conjunction is that, where by the parts (as being not true

together) are separated; and is

Severing,
or,
sundring.

Severing, when the parts are separated only in a certaine respect, or

reason: as

But. although. notwithstanding.

Sundring, when the parts are separated indeed, and truly, so as more

then one cannot be true: as

Either. whither. or.

Reasoning Conjunctions are those which conclude one of the parts by

the other, whereof some render a reason; and some doe inferre.

Rendring are such, as yeeld the cause of a thing going before: as

For. because.

Inferring, by which a thing that commeth after, is concluded by the

former: as

Therefore. Wherefore.
So that. insomuch that.

THE SECOND
BOOKE,
OF THE ENGLISH
GRAMMAR.
Of Syntaxe.

CHAP. I.
Of Apostrophus.

AS yet we have handled Etymologie, and all the parts thereof. Let

us come to the consideration of the Syntaxe.

Syntaxe is the second part of Grammar, that teacheth the Constu-

ction of words; whereunto Apostrophus, an affection of words coupled,

and joyned together, doth belong.

Apostrophus is the rejecting of a Vowell from the beginning, or ending

of a Word. The note whereof, though it many times, through the neg-

ligence of Writers and Printers, is quite omitted, yet by right should,

and of the learneder sort hath his signe and marke, which is such a Semi-

circle' placed in the top.

In the end a Vowell may be cast away, when the word next following

beginneth with another: as

Th' outward man decayeth:

So th'inward man getteth strength.

If ye' utter such words of pure love, and friendship,

What then may wee looke for, if ye' once begin to hate?

Gower. lib. I. de confess. Amant.

If thou' art of his company, tell forth, my sonne.

It is time to' awake from sleepe.

Vowells suffer also this Apostrophus before the Consonant h.

Chaucer in the 3. Booke of Troilus.

For of Fortunes sharpe adversitie,

The worst kind of infortune is this:

A man to' have becne in prosperitie,

And it to remember when it passed is.

The first kind then is common with the Greekes; but that which followeth,

is proper to us, which though it bee not of any, that I know,

either in Writing, or Printing, usually express'd: Yet considering that

in our common speech, nothing is more familiar, (upon the which all Pre-

cepts are grounded, and to the which they ought to be referred) who

can justly blame me, if, as neere as I can, I follow Natures call.

This rejecting therefore, is both in Vowells, and Consonants, going

before,

Gower, lib.4.

There is no fire, there is no sparke,

There is no dore, which may charke.

Who answered, that he was not privy to it, and in excuse seem'd to be

very fore displeased with the matter, that his men of Warre had done it

without his commandement, or consent.

CHAP. II.
Of the Syntaxe of one Noune with another.

Syntaxe appertaineth, both to words of number, and without num-

ber, where the want, and superfluity of any part of speech are two

generall, and common exceptions. Of the former kind of Syntaxe is that

of a Noune; and Verbe.

The Syntaxe of a Noune, with a Noune, is in number, and gender: as

Esau could not obtaine his fathers bleßing, though he sought it with
teares.

Jesabel was a wicked woman, for she slew the Lords Prophets.

An Idol is no god, for it is made with hands.

In all these examples yee see Esau, and hee; Iezabel, and shee; Idol, and it,

to agree in the singular number. The first example also in the Masculine

gender: the second in the Feminine: the third, in the Neuter. And in this

Construction (as also throughout the whole English Syntaxe) order, and

the placing of words is one especiall thing to be observed. So that when

a Substantive, and an Adjective, are immediatly joyned together, the Ad-

jective must goe before: as

Plato shut Poets out of his Common-wealth, as effeminate Writers, un-

profitable members, and enemies to vertue.

When two Substantives come together, whereof one is the name of a

Possessor, the other of a thing Possessed, then hath the name of a Possessor the

former place, and that in the Genitive:

All mans righteousnesse is like a defiled cloth.

Gower. lib. I.

An Owle flieth by night,

Out of all other birds sight.

But if the thing posseß'd goe before, then doth the Preposition of,

come betweene:

Ignorance is the mother of errour.Gower. lib.

So that it proveth well therefore

The strength of man is sone lore.

Which Preposition may be coupled with the thing possessed, being in

the Genitive.

Nort. in Arsan.

Aroad made into Scanderbech's Countrey by the Duke of Mysia's

men; for the Dukes men of Mysia.

Here the absolute serveth sometimes in stead of a Genitive:

All trouble is light, which is endured for righteousnesse sake.

Otherwise, two Substantives are joyned together by apposition; Sir

Thomas More in King Richards Storie: George Duke of Clarence, was a Prince

at all points fortunate. Where if both be the names of Possessors, the latter

shall be in the Genitive.

Foxe in the 2. Volume of Acts and Monuments:King Henry the Eight, married with the Lady Katherine
his Brother, Prince Arthurs wife.

The generall exceptions:

The Substantive is often lacking: Sir Thomas More.

Sometime without small things, greater cannot stand.

Chaucer.

For some folke woll be wonne for riches,

And some folke for strokes, and some folke for gentlenesse.

Like wise the Adjective:

It is hard in prosperitie to preserve true Religion, true godlinesse,
and true humilitie.

Lidgate, lib.8. speaking of Constantine,

That whilome had the divination

As chiefe Monarch, chiefe Prince, and chiefe President

Over all the world, from East to Occident.

But the more notable lacke of the Adjectives is in the want of the re-

lative;

In the things, which we least mistrust, the greatest danger
doth often lurke. Gower, lib.2.

For thy the wise-men ne demen

The things after that their they semen.

But, after that, which they know, and finde.

Ps. II8.22. The stone, the builders refused. for, which the buildersefused.

And here besides the common wanting of a Substantive, where of we

spake before; there is another more speciall, and proper to the Absolute,

and the Genitive.

Chaucer in the 3. booke of Fame.

This is the mother of tydings,

As the Sea is mother of Wells, and is mother of Springs.

Rebecca clothed Jacob with garments of his brothers

Superfluity also of Nounes is much used:

Sir Tho:More, whose death King Edward (although he commanded it)

when he wist it was done, pitiously bewailed it, and sorrowfully re-

pented it.

Chaucer in his Prologue to the Man of Lawes tale.

Such law, as a man yeveth another wight,

He should himself usen it by right.

Gower, l.I.

For, who-so woll another blame,

Hee seeketh oft his owne shame.

Speciall exceptions, and first of Number. Two Singulars are put for

our Plurall:

All Authority, and Custome of men, exalted against the word of
God, must yeeld themselves prisoners.

Gower.

In thine aspect are all alich,

The poore man, and eke the rich.

The second Person plurall is for reverence sake to one singular thing:

Gower, lib.I.

O good Father dare,

Why make ye this heavie chere.

Where also after a Verbe plurall, the singular of the Nouneis reteined:

I know you are a discreet, and faithfull man, and therefore am come to aske

your advice.

Exceptions of Genders.

The Articles hee, and it, are used in each others Gender:

Sir Tho.More.The south wind sometime swelleth of himselfe before a tem-
pest.

Gower of the earth.

And for thy men it delve, and ditch,

And earen it, with strength of plough:

Where it hath of himselfe enough,

So that his need is least.

It, also followeth for the Feminine:

Gower, lib.4.

He swore it should nought be let,

That, if she have a daughter,

That it ne should be for lore.

CHAP. III.
Of the Syntaxe of a Pronoune with a Noune.

THe Articles a. and the, are joyned to Substantives common never to

proper names of men: William Lambert in the Perambulation of

Kent.

The cause only, and not the death maketh a Martyr.

Yet, with a proper name used by a Metaphor, or borrowed manner of

speech, both Articles may be coupled:

Who so avoucheth the manifest, and knowne truth, ought not there-

foreto be called a Goliah, that is amonster, and impudent fellow, as

he was.

Jewell against Harding:

You have adventured your selfe to be the noble David, to conquer

this Giant.

Nort.in Arsan.

And if ever it were necessarie, now it is, when many an

Athanasius, many an Atticus, many a noble Prince, and godly Per-

sonage lyeth prostrate at your feet for succour.

Where this Metaphor is expounded. So, when the proper name is used to

note ones parentage, which kind of Nounes the Grammarians call Patroni

micks: Nort.in Gabriells Orationto Scanderbech.

For you know well enough the wiles of the Ottomans.

Perkin Warbeck, a stranger borne, fained himselfe to

be a Plantaginet.

When a Substantive, and an Adjective are joyned together, these Ar-

ticles are put before the Adjective:

A good conscience is a continuall feast.

Gower, lib.I.

For false semblant bath evermore

Of his counsell in companie,

The darke untrue Hypocrisie.

Which Construction in the Article, A, not withstanding some Adje-

ctives will not admit:

Sir Tho: More.Such a Serpent is ambition, and desire of vain-glory.

Chaucer.

Under a Shepheard false, and negligent,

The Wolfe hath many a Sheepe, and Lamb to rent.

Moreover, both these Articles are joyned to any cases of the Latines,

the Vocative only excepted: as,

A man saith. The strength of aman.
I sent to a man. I hurt a man.
I was sued by a man.

Likewise, the Apostle testifieth: The zeale of the Apostle; Give eare to the

Apostle: Follow the Apostle: Depart not from the Apostle.

So that in these two Pronounes the whole Construction almost of

the Latines is contained. The, agreeth to any number: A, only to the sin-

gular, save when it is joyned with those Adjectives, which doe of neces-

sitie require a Plurall:

The Conscience is a thousand witnesses.

Lidgate, lib.I.

Though for a season they sit in high cheares,

Their fame shall fade within a few yeares.

A, goeth before words beginning with Consonants, and before all

Vowells, (Dipthongs, whose first letter is y. or w. excepted) it is turn'd

into An:

Sir Tho:More:

For men use to write an evill turne in marble stone; but a good

turne they write in the dust.

Gower, lib.I.

For all shall dye; and all shall passe

As well a Lyon, as an Asse.

So may it be also before h.

Sir Tho: More.

What mischiefe worketh the proud enterprize of an high

heart.

A, hath also the force of governing before a Noune:

Sir Tho.More:

And the Protector had layd to her for manner sake, that she was a

Councell with the Lord Hastings to destroy him.

Chaucer, 2.booke of Troylus:

And on his way fast homeward he sped,

And Troylus he found alone in bed.

Likewise, before the Participle present, An, hath the force of a Gerund:

Nort.in Arsan.

But there is some great tempest a brewing towards us.

Lidgate, lib.7.

The King was slaine, and ye did assent

In a Forrest an hunting, when that he went.

The Article, The, joyned with the Adjective of a Noune proper may

follow, after the Substantive:

Chaucer.

—Their Chaunticleer the faire

Was wont, and eke his Wives to repaire.

Otherwise it varieth from the common Rule. Againe, this Article by

a Synecdoche doth restraine a generall, and common name to some cer-

taine and speciall one:

Gower in his Prologue:

The Apostle writeth unto us all,

And saith, that upon us his fall,

Th' end of the world. for Paul.

So by the Philosopher, Aristotle. By the Poet, among the Grecians, Homer:

with the Latines, Virgill, is understood.

This, and that, being Demonstratives; and what, the Interrogative, are

taken for Substantives:

Sir Iohn Cheeke;in his Oration to the Rebells:

Ye rise for Religion: What Religion taught you that?

Chaucer, in the reves tale:

And this is very sooth, as I you tell.

Ascham, in his Discourse of the Affaires of Germanie. A wonderfull

folly in a great man himselfe, and some peece of miserie in a whole Common-

wealth, where fooles chiefly, and flatterers, may speake freely what

they will; and good men shall commonly be shent, if they speake what

they should.

What, also for an Adverbe of Partition:

Lambert. But now, in our memorie, what by decay of the haven, and

what by overthrow of Religious Houses, and losse of Calice, it is brought

in manner to miserable nakednesse, and decay.

Chaucer.3. booke of Troilus:

Then wot I well, shee might never faile

For to beene holpen, what at your instance?

What at your other friends governance.

That, is used for a Relative:

Sir, Iohn Cheeke. Sedition is an Aposteame, which, when it breaketh in-

wardly, putteth the State in great danger of Recovery; and corrupteth

the whole Common-wealth, with the rotten furie, that it hath putrefied

with. For, with which

They, and those, are sometimes taken, as it were, for Articles:

Fox, 2. Volume of Acts:

That no kind of disquietnesse should be procured against them of

Bern, and Zurick.

Gower, lib.2.

My brother hath us all sold

To them of Rome.—

The Pronoune, These, hath a rare use being taken for an Adjective of si-

militude: It is, neither the part of an bonest man to tell these tales: nor if a wise

man to receive them.

Lidgate, lib.5.

Lo, how these Princes proud, and retchlesse,

Have shamefull ends, which cannot live in peace.

Him, and Them, be used reciprocally for the Compounds, himselfe,

themselves:

Fox.

The Garrison desired, that they might depart with bagge,

and baggage.

Chaucer in the Squires tale:

So deepe in graine he dyed his colours,

Right, as a Serpent hideth him under slowers.

His, their, and theirs, have also a strange use; that is to say, being Pos-

seßives, they serve in stead of Primitives:

Chaucer:

And shortly so farre forth this thing went,

That my will, was his wills instrument.

Which in Latine were a solecisme; for there we should not say, suæ volun-

tatis, but voluntatis ipsius.

Pronounes have not the Articles a, and the, going before which, the Re-

lative, selfe, and same, only excepted: The same lewd cancred Carle, practi-

seth nothing, but how he may overcome, and oppresse the Faith of Christ, for

the which, you, as you know, have determined to labour and travell continually.

The Posseßives, My, thy, our, your, and their, goe before words: as, my

land: thy goods; and so in the rest: Myne, thyne, ours, yours, hers, and theirs,

follow, as it were, in the Genitive case: as these lands are mine, thine, &c.

His, doth indifferently goe before, or follow after: as, his house is a

faire one; and, this house is his.

CHAP. IIII.
of the Syntaxe of Adjectives.

ADjectives of Qualitie are coupled with Pronounes Accusative cases:

Chaucer.

And he was wise, hardy, secret, and rich,

Of these three points, nas none him lych.

Certaine Adjectives include a Partition: From the head doth life and mo-

tion flow to the rest of the members.

The Comparative agreeth to the parts compared, by adding this Pre-

position, than:

Chaucer, 3. booke of Fame.

What did this Æolus, but he

Tooke out his blacke trumpe of brasse,

That blacker than the Divell was.

The Superlative is joyned to the parts compared by this Preposi-

tion, of:

Gower, lib. I.

Pride is of every misse the prick:

Pride is the worst vice of all wick.

Jewell.The friendship of truth is best of all.

Oftentimes both Degrees are expressed by these two Adverbs, more,

and most: as, more excellent, most excellent. Where of the latter seemeth to

have his proper place in those that are spoken in a certaine kind of excel-

lencie, but yet without Comparison: Hector was a most valiant man; that

is, inter fortißimos.

Furthermore, these Adverbs, more, and most, are added to the Comparative,

and Superlative degrees themselves, which should before the Po-

sitive:

Sir Tho. More.

For asmuch as she saw the Cardinall more readier to depart,

then theremnant; For, not only the high dignitie of the Civill

Magistrate, but the most basest handycrafts are holy,

when they are directed to the honour of God.

And, this is a certaine kind of English Atticisme, or eloquent Phrase

of speech, imitating the manner of the most ancientest, and finest Grecians,

who, for more emphasis, and vehemencies sake used to speake.

Positives are also joyned with the Preposition, of, like the

Superlative:

Elias was the only man of all the Prophets that was left alive.

Gower.lib.4.

The first point of slouth I call

Lachesse, and is the chiese of all.

CHAPTER. V.
Of the Syntaxe of a Verb with a Noune.

HItherto we have declared the Syntaxe of a Noune: The Syntaxe of a

Verbe followeth, being either of Verbe with a Noune. or, of one

Verbe with another.

The Syntaxe of a Verbe with a Noune is in number, and person: as

I am content. You are mis-inform'd.

Chaucer 2. booke of Fame.

For, as flame is but lighted smoke;

Right so is sound ayr ybroke.

I my selfe, and your selves, agree unto the first person: You, thou, it, thy

selfe, your selves, to the second: All other Nounes and Pronounes (that

are of any person) to the third: Againe, I, we, thou, he, she, they, who, doe

ever governe: unlesse it be in the Verbe, am, that requireth the like case after

it, as is before it, Mee, us, thee, her, them, him, whom, are govern'd of the

Verbe. The rest, which are Absolute, may either governe, or bee go-

verned.

A Verbe impersonall in Latine is here expressed by an English impersonall,

with this Article, it, going before: as, oportet, it behoveth: decet, itbe-

commeth. Generall Exceptions:

The person governing is oft understood by that went before: True Religion

glorifieth them that honour it; and is a target unto them that are a buck-

ler unto it.

Chaucer.

Womens counsells brought us first to woe,

And made Adam from Paradiseto goe.

But this is more notable, and also more common in the future; where-

in for the most part we never expresse any person, not so much as at the

first:

Feare God. Honour the King.

Likewise the Verbe is understood by some other going before:

Nort.in Arsan.

When the danger is most great, naturall strength most feeble,

and divine ayde most needfull.

Certaine Pronounes, governed of the Verbe, doe here abound. Sir Tho-

mas More. And this I say, although they were not abused, as now they be,

and so long have beene, that I feare me ever they will be.

Chaucer, 3. booke of Fame:

And as I wondred me, ywis

Upon this house.

Idem in Thisbe:

She rist her up with a full dreary heart:

And in cave with dreadfull fate she start.

Speciall Exceptions.

Nounes signifying a multitude, though they be of the Singular num-

ber, require a Verbe plurall.

Lidgate, lib.2.

And wise men rehearsen in sentence

Where folke be drunken, there is no resistance.

This exception is in other Nounes also very common; especially

when the Verbe is joyned to an Adverbe, or Conjunction: It is preposte-

rous to execute a man, before he have beene condemned.

Gower, lib.I.

Although a man be wise himselve,

Yet is the wisdome more of twelve.

Chaucer:

Therefore I read you this counsell take,

Forsake sinne, ere sinne you forsake.

In this exception of number, the Verbe sometime agreeth not with the

governing Noune of the plurall number, as it should, but with the Noune

governed: as, Riches is a thing oft-times more hurtfull, then profitable to the

owners. After which manner the Latines also speake: omnia pontus erat.

The other speciall ^*exception is not in use.

CHAP. VI.
of the Syntaxe of a Verbe, with a Verbe.

WHen two Verbes meet together, whereof one is governed by

the other, the latter is put in the infinite, and that with this signe

to, comming betweene; as Good men ought to joyne-together in good things.

But, will, doe, may, can, shall, dare, (when it is in Transitive) must, and

lett, when it signifieth a sufferance, receive not the signe:

Gower.

To God no man may be fellow.

This signe set before an infinite, not govern'd of a Verbe, changeth it

into the nature of a Noune.

Nort. in Arsan.

To winne is the benefit of Fortune: but to keepe is the

power of wisdome.

Generall Exceptions.

The Verbe governing is understood: Nort. in Arsan. For if the head,

which is the life, and stay of the body, betray the members, must not the members

also needs betray one another; and so the whole body, and head goe altogether to

utter wreck, and destruction?

The other generall exception is ^*wanting.

The Speciall exception. Two Verbes, have, and am, require alwayes

a Participle past without any signe: as, I am pleased. Thou art hated. Save

when they import a necessitie, or conveniencie of doing any thing: In

which case they are very ^*eloquently joyned to the infinite, the signe

comming betweene: By the example of Herod, all Princes are to take heed

how they give eare to flatterers.

Lidgate, lib. I.

Truth, and falsnesse in what they have done,

May no while assemble in one person.

And herethose Times, which in Etymologie we remembred to be wan-

ting, are set forth by the Syntaxe of Verbes joyned together. The Syntaxe

of imperfect Times in this manner:

The Presents by the infinite, and the Verbe, may, or can, as for, Amem,

Amarem: I may love: I might love. And againe, I can love: I could love.

The futures are declared by the infinite, and the Verbe, shall, or will: as

Amabo: I shall, or will love.

Amavero addeth thereunto, have, taking the nature of two divers

Times; that is, of the future, and the Time past:

I shall have loved: or,
I will have loved.

The perfect Times are expressed by the Verbe, have: as,

Amavi. Amaveram.
I have loved. I had loved.

Amaverim, and Amavissem adde might unto the former Verbe: as,

I might have loved.

The infinite past, is also made by adding, have: as,

Amavisse, to have loved.

Verbes Paßive are made of the Participle past, and, am, the Verbe.

Amer, and Amabar, by the only putting to of the Verbe: as,

Amor, I

loved

Amabar, I was loved

Amer, and Amarer, have it governed of the Verbe may, or can: as,

Amer, I may be loved: or, I can be loved.
Amarer, I might be loved, or, I could be loved.
In Amabor, it is governed of shall, or, will: as,
I shall, or, will be loved.

CHAP. VII.
of the Syntaxe of Adverbes.

THis therefore is the Syntaxe of words, having number, there remain-

eth that of words without number, which standeth in Adverbs, or

Conjunctions. Adverbs are taken one for the other; that is to say, Adverbs

of likenesse, for Adverbs of Time. As he spake those words, he gave up the ghost.

Gower, lib.I.

Anone, as be was meeke, and tame.

He found towards his God the same.

The like is to be seene in Adverbs of Time, and Place, used in each others

stead, as among the Latines, and the Grecians.

Nort.in Arsan.

Let us not be ashamed to follow the counsell, and example of our ene-

mies, where it may doe us good.

Adverbs stand in stead of Relatives:

Lidgate, lib.I.

And little worth is fairenesse in certaine

In a person, where no vertue is seene.

Nort. to the Northerne Rebells.

Few women storme against the marriage of Priests, but such as have

beene Priests harlots, or faine would be.

Chaucer in his Ballad.

But great God disposeth,

And maketh casuall by his Providence

Such things as fraile man purposeth. For,those things, which.

Certaine Adverbs in the Syntaxe of a Substantive, and an Adjective

meeting together, cause, a, the Article to follow the Adjective.

Sir John Cheeke:

O! with what spite was sundred so noble a body, from so

godly a mind.

Jewell.

It is too light a labour to strive for names.

Chaucer.

Thou art at ease, and hold thee well therein.

As great a praise is to keepe well, as win.

Adjectives^* compared, when they are used Adverbially, may have

the Article the, going before.

Jewell.
The more inlarged is your libertie, the lesse cause have you to complaine.

Adverbs are wanting. Sir Tho.More. And how farre be they off that would

helpe, as God send grace, they hurt not; for, that they hurt not.

Often-times they are used without any necessitie, for greater vehe-

mencie sake; as, Then-afterward, Againe, once more.

Gower.

Hee saw also the bowes spread

Above all earth, in which were

The kinde of all birds there.

Prepositions are joyned with the ^*Accusative cases of Pronounes:

Sir Thomas More.

I exhort, and require you, for the love that you have

borne to me; and, for the love that I have borne to

you; and for the love, that our Lord beareth to us all.

Gower.lib.I.

For Lucifer, with them that fell,

Bare Pride with him into Hell.

They may also be coupled with the Posseßives: Myne, thyne, ours, yours,

his, hers, theirs. Nort. to the Rebells. Thinke you, her Majestie, and the wisest

of the Realme, have no care of their owne soules, that have charge both of their

owne, and yours?

These ^*Prepositions follow sometimes the Nounes they are coupled

with: God hath made Princes, their Subjects guides, to direct them in the way,

which they have to walke in.

But, ward, or wards; and, toward, or, towards, have the same Syntaxe,

that versus, and adversus, have with the Latines: that is, the latter comming

after the Noune, which it governeth, and the other contrarily:

Nort. in Paul Angells Oration to Scanderbech. For, his heart being uncleane to

God-ward, and spitefull towards men, doth alwayes imagine mischiefe.

Lidgate, lib.7.

And south-ward runneth to Caucasus,

And folke of Scythie, that bene laborious.

Now, as before in two Articles, a, and the, the whole construction of

the Latines, was contain'd: so their whole rection is by Prepositionsneere-

hand declared: where the Preposition of, hath the force of the Genitive;

to, of the Dative; from, of, in, by, and such like of the Ablative: as, the

praise of God. Bethank full to God. Take the cock of the hoope. I was saved

from you, by you, in your house.

Prepositions matched with the ^*Participle present, supply the place of

Gerundes: as, In loving, of loving, by loving with loving, from loving, &c.

Prepositions doe also governe ^*Adverbs.

Lidgate, lib.9.

Sent from above, as shee did understand.

Generall exceptions: Divers Prepositions are very often wanting,

whereof it shall be sufficient to give a taste in those, that above the rest,

are most worthy to be noted.

Of, in an Adjective of Partition:

Lidgate, lib.5.

His Lieges eche one being of one assent

To live, and dye with him in his intent.

The Preposition, touching, concerning, or some such like doth often

want, after the manner of the Hebrew Lamed:

Gower.

The privities of mans heart

They speaken, and sound in his eare,

As though they loude windes were.

Riches, and inheritance, they be given by Gods providence, to whom of his

wisdome hee thinketh good: For, touching, riches, and inheritance; or some

such like Preposition.

If, is somewhat strangely lacking: Nort.in Arsan. Unwise are they, that

end their matters with, Had I wist.

Lidgate, lib.I.

For, ne were not this prudent or dinance,

Some, to obey, and above to gye

Destroyed were all worldly Policie.

The superfluitie of Prepositions is more rare: Jewell. The whole Univer-

sitie, and City of Oxford.

Gower.

So that my Lord touchend of this

I have answered, how, that it is.

CHAP. VIII.
of the Syntaxe of Conjunctions.

THe Syntaxe of Conjunctions is in order only; Neither, and, either, are

placed in the beginning of words: Nor, and or, comming after: Sir

Thomas More: Hee can be no Sanctuary-man, that hath neither discretion to de-

sire it, nor malice to deserve it.

Sir John Cheeke.

Either by ambition you seeke Lordlinesse, much unfit for

you; or by covetousnesse, ye beunsatiable, athing likely enough in you: or else by

folly, ye be not content with your estate, a fancie to be pluckt out of you.

Lidgate, lib.2.

Wrong, clyming up of states, and degrees,

Either by murder, or by false treasons

Asketh a fall, for their finall guerdons.

Here, for nor in the latter member, ne is sometime used: Lambert.

But the Archbishop set himselfe against it, affirming plainly, that hee neither

could, ne would suffer it.

The like Syntaxe is also to be marked in so, and as, used comparatively:

for, when the comparison is in quantitie, then so goeth before, and asfol-

loweth, Ascham. He hateth himselfe, and hasteth his owne hurt, that is content

to hcare none so gladly, as either a foole, or a flatterer.

Gower, lib.I.

:Men wist in thilk time none

So faire a wight, as she was one.

Sometime for so, as commeth in.

Chaucer.lib.5.Troil.

And said, I am, albeit to you nojoy,

As gentle a man, as any wight in Troy.

But if the Comparison be in qualitie, then it is contrary: Gower;

For, as the fish, if it be dry

Mote in default of water dye:

Right so, without ayre, or live,

No man, nebeast, might thrive.

And, in the beginning of a sentence, serveth in stead of an Admirati-

: And, what a not able signe of patience was it in Job, not to murmure against

the Lord?

Chaucer 3. booke of Fame.

What, quoth shee, and be ye wood!

And, wene ye for to doc good,

And, for to have of that no fame?

Conjunctions of divers sorts are taken one for another: as, But, a seve-

ring Conjunction, for a conditioning: Chaucer in the man of lawes tale.

But it were with the ilk eyen of his minde,

With which men seen' after they ben blinde.

Sir Thomas More.Which, neither can they have, but you give it: neither

can you give it, if ye agree not.

The selfe-same Syntaxe as in And, the coupling Conjunction; The Lord

Berners in the Preface to his translation of Froisart: What knowledge should

we have of ancient things past, and historie were not.

Sir John Cheeke. Yee have waxed greedie now upon Cities, and have attemp-

ted mightie spoiles to glut up, and you could your wasting hunger.

On the other side, for, a cause-renderer, hath sometime the force of a

severing one.

Lidgate, lib.3.

But it may fall a Drewry in his right,

To outrage a Giant for all his great might.

Here the two generall exceptions are termed, Asyndeton, and Polysyde-

ton, Asyndeton, when the Conjunction wanteth: The Universities of Christen-

dome are the eyes, the lights, the leaven, the salt, the seasoning of the world

Gower.

To whom her heart cannot heale,

Turne it to woe, turne it to weale.

Here the sundring Conjunction, or, is lacking; and in the former exam-

pleand, the coupler.

Polysyndeton is in doubling the Conjunction more then it need to be:

Gower, lib.4.

So, whether that he frieze, or sweat,

Or' tte be in, or 'tte be out,

Hee will be idle all about.

CHAPTER IX.
of the Distinction of Sentences.

ALL the parts of Syntaxe have already beene declared. There resteth

one generall Affection of the whole, dispersed thorow every

member there of, as the bloud is thorow the body; and consisteth in the

breathing, when we pronounce any Sentence; For, whereas our breath is

by nature so short, that we cannot continue without a stay to speake long

together; it was thought necessarie, as well for the speakers ease, as for

the plainer deliverance of the things spoken, to invent this meanes,

whereby men pausing a pretty while, the whole speech might never the

worse be understood.

These Distinctions are, either of a perfect, or imperfect Sentence. The

distinctions of an imperfect Sentence are two, a sub-distinction, and a

Comma.

A Sub-distinction is a meane breathing, when the word serveth indiffe-

rently, both to the parts of the Sentence going before, and following af-

ter, and is marked thus (;)

A Comma is a distinction of an imperfect Sentence, wherein with some-

what a longer breath, the Sentence following; and is noted with this

shorter semicircle (,).

Hither pertaineth a ^*Parenthesis, wherein two Comma's include a Sen-

tence:

Jewell. Certaine falshoods (by meane of good utterance) have sometime

more likely-hood of truth, then truth it selfe.

Gower, lib.I.

Division. (the Gospel saith)

One house upon another laith.

Chaucer 3. booke of Fame.

For time, ylost (this know ye)

By no way may recovered be.

These imperfect distinctions in the Syntaxe of a Substantive, and an

Adjective give the former place to the Substantive: Ascham. Thus the

poore Gentleman suffered griefe; great for the paine; but greater for the spite.

Gower. lib.2. Speaking of the envious person:

Though he a man seevertuous,

And full of good condition,

Thereof maketh he no mention.

The Distinction of a perfect Sentence hath a more full stay, and doth

rest the spirit, which is a Pause, or a Period.

A Pause is a Distinction of a Sentence, though perfect in it selfe, yet

joyned to another, being marked with two pricks. (:)

A Period is the Distinction of a Sentence, in all respects perfect, and is

marked with one full prick, over against the lower part of the last letter,

thus (.)

If a Sentence be with an Interrogation, we use this note(?)

Sir John Cheeke.

Who can perswade, where treason is above reason; and

might ruleth right; and it is had for lawfull, whatsoever is lustfull; and Com-

motioners are better then Commißioners; and common woe is named Common-

wealth?

Chaucer, 2. booke of Fame.

Loe, is it not a great mischance,

To let a foole have governance,

Of things, that he cannot demayne?

Lidgate, lib.I.

For, if wives be found variable,

Where shall husbands find other stable?

If it be pronounced with an Admiration, then thus (!) Sir Tho.More.

O Lord God, the blindnesse of our mortall nature!

Chaucer, I.booke of Fame.

Alas! what harme doth apparence,

When it is false in existence!

These Distinctions (whereof the first is commonly neglected) as they

best agree with nature: so come they neerest to the ancient staies of Sen-

tences among the Romans, and the Grecians. An example of all foure to

make the matter plaine, let us take out of that excellent Oration of Sir

Iohn Cheeke; against the Rebells, whereof before we have made so often

mention: When common order of the law cantake no place in unruly, and diso-

bedient subjects: and all men will of wilfulnesse resist with rage, and thinke

their owne violence, to be the best justice: then be wise Magistrates compel-

led by neceßitie, to seeke an extremeremedy, where meane salves

helpe not, and bring in the Martiall Law, where none

other law serveth.

The End.

The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Ben Jonson

THEPREFACE.

CHAPTER I.Of Grammar, and the Parts.

CHAPTER II.(h)of Letters, and their powers.

CHAP. III.Of the Vowels.

(o)A,

(q)E,

(s)I,

O,

V,

W,

Y,

CHAP. IIII.of the Consonants.

B

C

D

F

G

K,

L

M

N

P

Q

R

S

T,

X,

Z,

H,

Ch

Gh

Ph. & Rh

Sh

Th

Wh

A,

(q) E,

(s) I.

O.

V,

W,

B

C

D.

F.

G.

K.

L.

M

(t) N

(u) P

Q

R

S.

T.

X.

Z.

(a) H,

Ch.

Gh.

Ph. & Rh.

Sh.

Th.

CHAP. V.of the Dipthongs.

CHAPTER. VI.of the Syllabes.

CHAPTER VII.Of the Accent

CHAPTER. VIII.The Notation of a Word

CHAP. IX.of the Parts of Speech.

CHAP. X.of the Noune.

CHAP. XIof the Diminution of Nounes.

CHAP. XII.of Comparisons.

CHAP. XIII.Of the First Declension.

CHAPTER XIIII.Of the second Declension.

CHAPTER. XV.Of Pronounes.

CHAP. XVI.Of a Verbe.

CHAP. XVII.of the first Conjugation.

CHAP. XVIII.Of the second Conjugation.

CHAP. XIX.Of the third Conjugation.

CHAP. XX.Of the fourth Conjugation.

THE
PREFACE.

CHAPTER I.
Of Grammar, and the Parts.

CHAPTER II.
^(h)of Letters, and their powers.

CHAP. III.
Of the Vowels.

^(o)A,

^(q)E,

^(s)I,

CHAP. IIII.
of the Consonants.

CHAP. V.
of the Dipthongs.

CHAPTER. VI.
of the Syllabes.

CHAPTER VII.
Of the Accent

CHAPTER. VIII.
The Notation of a Word

CHAP. IX.
of the Parts of Speech.

CHAP. X.
of the Noune.

CHAP. XI
of the Diminution of Nounes.

CHAP. XII.
of Comparisons.

CHAP. XIII.
Of the First Declension.

CHAPTER XIIII.
Of the second Declension.

CHAPTER. XV.
Of Pronounes.

CHAP. XVI.
Of a Verbe.

CHAP. XVII.
of the first Conjugation.

CHAP. XVIII.
Of the second Conjugation.

CHAP. XIX.
Of the third Conjugation.

CHAP. XX.
Of the fourth Conjugation.

CHAP. XXI.
Of Adverbes.

CHAP. XXII.
Of Conjunctions.

THE SECOND
BOOKE,
OF THE ENGLISH
GRAMMAR.
Of Syntaxe.

CHAP. I.
Of Apostrophus.

CHAP. II.
Of the Syntaxe of one Noune with another.

CHAP. III.
Of the Syntaxe of a Pronoune with a Noune.

CHAP. IIII.
of the Syntaxe of Adjectives.

CHAPTER. V.
Of the Syntaxe of a Verb with a Noune.

CHAP. VI.
of the Syntaxe of a Verbe, with a Verbe.

CHAP. VII.
of the Syntaxe of Adverbes.

CHAP. VIII.
of the Syntaxe of Conjunctions.

CHAPTER IX.
of the Distinction of Sentences.