An apology for Christopher Syms gent. and his way and method of teaching the effect thereof, and his end therein, against many foule and false aspersions. VVherein and whereby is averred and maintained that all persons, who can see, heare and speake, may bee easily taught to read. And that all children, which can read may be easily taught to understand the Latine speech. Syms, Christofer. 1633 Approx. 31 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 9 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2011-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A13292 STC 23596 ESTC S113866 99849095 99849095 14228

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A13292) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 14228) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1467:06) An apology for Christopher Syms gent. and his way and method of teaching the effect thereof, and his end therein, against many foule and false aspersions. VVherein and whereby is averred and maintained that all persons, who can see, heare and speake, may bee easily taught to read. And that all children, which can read may be easily taught to understand the Latine speech. Syms, Christofer. [2], 14 p. Society of Stationers], [Dublin : Printed in Anno 1633. Place of publication and press from STC. Reproduction of the original in Cambridge University Library.

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AN APOLOGY FOR CHRISTOPHER SYMS Gent. and his way and Method of teaching, the effect thereof, and his end therein, againſt many foule and falſe Aſperſions.

VVherein and whereby is averred and maintained that all perſons, who can ſee, heare and speake, may bee eaſily taught to read.

And that all Children, which can read, may be eaſily taught to underſtand the Latine Speech.

Vide, Fide.
printer's or publisher's device

Printed in Anno 1633.

An Apology, for Chriſtopher Syms Gent. and his way and method of teaching, the effects thereof, and his end therein, &c. SCinditur incertum ſtudia in contraria vulgus:

So it was in the Poets time, ſo is now, and ſo it will be, when I am gone, and ſleepe with my Fathers. Yet while I am broad waking in this lyncean eye ſighted age, wherein every man is apt to bee peeping and ſpying, above, beneath, and round about another, eſpecially a ſtranger, (ſuch perſons for the moſt, part being the buſieſt, who have the narroweſt eyes both in apprehenſion and judgement) the peircing glaunces of ſome ſhallow, raſh, preiudicate, uncertaine and ſlanderous cenſures, darted at me, and my practiſe in teaching, either from ignorant, or malevolent aſpects, or both, enforce from me a reflection, and conſtraine me to ſay ſomewhat more certainely for both againſt them: wherein if I ſhould endeavour to avoide the various paſſions, and ungrounded cenſures of ſuch perſons, who are not endued with ability to iudge of the diſpoſitions of mindes, or the qualities and ends of workes and actions; I might as juſtly draw on my ſelfe the cenſure of weakenes, folly, and madnes, as mine honeſt artificiall endeavours have undeſervedly and unjuſtly pulled upon me the imputation of impoſtor, cheator conjurer, and crochetter to get money; and that I would get ſome money in my purſe and be gone; that when my ſlender skill had ſhewed ſome reall effect, it would not hold, that the children whom I have taught, can doe nothing, but whilſt I am preſent, and ſuch other fantaſticall cenſures, I know not what. Theſe giddy indiſcreet cenſures doubtles have proceeded from perſons ignorant of any cauſe; who like young & ill ſented hounds not knowing their game run on in the chace, and ſpend their mouths for company. Let them barke: Quibuſdam canibus ſic innanatum eſt latrare, ut non pro feritate, ſed pro conſuetudine latrent: as their good words cannot much benefit, ſo their evill words will doe little hurt. For, Quicquid faciunt, ex morbo faciunt, non ex judicio, they extoll and praiſe (for the moſt part) the unworthy, and cry downe and condemne the deſerving and innocent; faciunt quod ſolent, non quod mereor, male de me loquuntur homines, ſed mali & maniaci; they will be medling. But my drift and ſcope is, not to give ſatifaction to ſuch: it were a vaine, endles, and would be a fruitleſſe labour. Rumor vulgi attonitus; I leave them to their owne folly and madnes, and I am content to paſſe by, and ſlyde away as a ſtrange dog doth thorow a towne or ſtreete, when every domeſtick curre hath a ſnap at him. Such like is humane curteſie: and more envious, inhumane, and barbarous are the Engliſh to their owne countrymen, then other nations: I am not glad, that I can ſpeake it. Moverer autem ſi Marcus Cato, ſi Laelius ſaepiens, ſi alter Cato, ſi duo Scipiones iſta loquerentur de me. Thoſe Laelij, thoſe Scipioes, thoſe Curij, thoſe Catoes, who attribute nothing to the vulgar idoles, opinion and fame, envy and detraction, which for the moſt part carries all now; who never entertaine a preiudicate opinion, either of perſons, or of things; who never vent a raſh cenſure without mature deliberation upon events and iſſues of workes, are the men whoſe good eſteeme and good report I affect and ſeeke, and that not for mine owne ſake meerely, but for the workes ſake cheifly, which I have in hand: the proofe whereof will maintaine it ſelfe, to be worth reſpect and embracement of a commonwealth; which ſhall with Gods helpe, if mine induſtry be accepted, benfit the world, when I am gone, if the envious, quaſi canis in praeſepi, hinder not: to prevent whoſe malice and oppoſition, it is very neceſſary by this way of Apology, to ſtop the wide mouthes of ignorant and envious detractors, beſides whom none will diſallow the fitnes, and in ſome caſes the neceſſity of apologies and defences; as in this ſubject of this mine apology, whereby I doubt not, but in ſome meaſure to make it evidently appeare, that my method and experiment of teaching is of greater and better conſequence, then to be ſlighted, deſpiſed, or rejected: And I hope no teacher, no ſcholler, no man diſparaged thereby, although it proceede from a meane and obſcure author, who never ſought employment by a ſi quis, nor glory out of other mens diſgraces. If the method were a tricke or toy, that could not be conveyed to others, but muſt vaniſh with my ſelfe, I would eaſily yeeld, it were of no value: but it is otherwiſe, it may be continued to all poſterity. It is aſwell the inſtruction of children in the Latine language, as alſo in reading the Engliſh with more alacrity, celerity, and facility, then formerly; the example whereof may be followed in other languages. I am verily perſwaded that few teachers have hitherto otherwiſe delighted in that function, then as carriers, ſaylers, bargemen, and the like doe in their painfull, hard, ſtormy and perillous journeyes and voyages, which they undergoe meerely for the ſuſtentation of life. For mine owne part, ſince I found the validity of the method, I never tooke delight in any earthly thing, but in teaching, and ſhould delight much more, if I might be recompenced. As for profit, I ſuppoſe, that every man, who knoweth nothing of my education, inclination, or meane qualification, can and will ſay for me, that other more advantageous courſes of life might have beene undertaken, if advancement or gaine had beene the object of mine undertaking: And thoſe, who doe truely know me (I doubt not) will ſoone deliver their opinion, it being required, that I am tam aulae, quam caulae mediocritèr adaptatus, and that I make not the profeſſion my ultimum refugium as being neceſſitous, and fit for nothing elſe, nor yet for that. Although it cannot be denied, but that many unexpert men doe ſo without controulment, in divers places, both in England and Ireland, whom the meaner ſort of people, and ſome who will not be ſo ranked, becauſe they accept ſlender and baſe hyre, employ and applaud, and let their children ſpin out time with them, untill they have gotten even as much ſkill as their teachers. Such a one could I point out in this citties ſuburbs, who underſtandeth not the difference betweene e and ae dipthong; as I can make appeare under his owne hand writing. It is an ordinary practiſe in England, for men who have themſelves no faculty in teaching, (to the end they may raiſe unto themſelves a liuelyhood,) to take into their houſes ſtipendary mercenaries, teachers of the Latine, and French, Muſitians, Dancers, &c. And one among the reſt there is who hath thereby gotten ſingular fame ſpread far and neere, who leaving an heroicall (abuſively ſo called) trade, more gainefull, not ſo lawfull, hath by the encomiaſtick narration of friends, drawne into his tuition the ſonnes of many worthy perſons: with what proficiency they have come off, let them boaſt who found the ſucceſſe. Of the danger that attends birds, who run too earely from their neſts, as the Patridge and the Lapwing, I will ſay nothing. But little probability is there that any good foundation of the Latine can bee laide, when the inſtructers are often changed, as in ſuch a courſe without doubt they are: for every of them will ſtart for the better ſtipend, and oftentimes offences on the one ſide or the other cauſeth ſeparation. I my ſelfe knew one man in England, who ſet up the trade, and within two yeares changed the maſter of his ſhop ſeven times, qui ubi que eſt, nuſquàm eſt; non venit vulnus ad cicatricem, ubi crebra medicamenta tentantur. But I digreſſe: Painefull is the profeſſion, if it be exerciſed with diligence, as it ought: and yet thereof doth ariſe little gaine, love, thankes or curteſie, from many unthankefull perſons, who, if their children make good progreſſe and attaine the end, attribute nothing to the teacher, but all to the childes ingenuity, to time, and the booke, falſly imagining, that there is no Art in teaching, but onely following, as they terme it. And contrarywiſe if by reaſon of naturall defects, the teacher cannot infuſe ſo much into their children, as into others more acute, or if their children by reaſon of naturall deficiency of eyes or tongues be not able, when they are earneſtly haſtened, to utter what they conceive, nor the parents endued with ſkill and patience to extract it from their children, then the teacher muſt be blamed and rebuked, and peradventure goe unrewarded, the parents never conſidering natures imperfections, and the imbecillity of ſuch capacityes, nor the tender care that a wiſe teacher ought to take of ſuch, leaſt he doe more hurt then good. Many ſuch have I here met with, who beſides non-payment, after a good effect of mine Art and induſtry upon wooden and leaden ſubjects both yong and old, have rewarded me with obloquy, railing, and detraction, and ſome with violence: yea, where I did beſt and deſerved moſt, I reaped Billinſgate friendſhip and entertainment, and Pyecorner, and Picks-hatch farewell. In one place for forty ſhillings I got a Boxe, but no money to put in a boxe: in another the huſband invited me, and the wife gave me a farewell, not Ʋſquebach for dough a doris, not a cup, but a paile of hotewater on my head, when I was ſhutting the doore at my departure. Si quiſquam huius procellae cauſam ulteriùs inveſtigare cupiat, ab archimagiro in culina ſciſcitetur: exinde enim aqua calefacta: ſin minus, lararij or acula petas, quae nemo, niſi praecentor ejus, explicare poterit. To me it ſeemeth more a riddle, then this Latine ſentence can be to them, that know not the ſubject and members thereof, that a dignified Dame ſhould call me cheating knave, and that her Cavallier ſhould ſmite me, when I had given no offence, nor had gotten any money for a yeare and halfes labour; but was rather cheated of my Art and induſtry: and that with as much more loſſe of time, Art, and induſtry, her Goſſip ſhould ſcold at me, and ſcald me, no cauſe of quarrell being knowne or declared, albeit it were demanded. When I conſider the parties, I admire not their properties kind charitable creatures, who would rather, that I ſhould periſh, then they pay me the due reward of my labours. Well yet there is a fourth thing, which might as much diſcourage me from the proſecution of my profeſſion, as the other three, great paines, ſmall gaines, and baſe requitall, that is, the ſlender & mean eſtimation the world receiveth and holdeth of the profeſſors, when it ſpeaketh according to its weak judgment contemptuouſly, thus, he is but a Schoolemaſter a Pedagoge. If any be unworthy, mens unthankfulnes and want of judgment is the cauſe; for that they make not better choyce, nor will confer better ſalary upon thoſe, who are more worthy and more able. Surely they ought to be worthy: for upon thē it reſts, whether the ſons of the Nobles and Gentry get, and loue learning, for they have the ſeaſoning of them, and a work of weight it is, and muſt be done in their child-hood, or never: and without all doubt the common wealth is much endammaged, yea, and the Church ſuffereth, when the Nobles be agrammati, and on the contrary both flouriſh, when they be philomuſi, and philologi. By theſe precedent reaſons it may appeare to the judicious Reader, that I intend it to be my greater glory to defend the work, then the workman. For what have I, who am but a clod of clay, which I have not received from the giver of every good and perfect gift? If then I have received a talent, I have together received a charge, that I ſhall not hide that talent: and what is it being not communicated? of the employment whereof my conſcience informeth me, that a ſtrict account will be exacted at that dreadfull day, when every ſteward muſt give a reckoning of his ſtewardſhip. If there were no more in it but morality, I would not for vertues ſake be telluris inutile pondus. The love of the publick likewiſe together with mine owne delight may and doth incite me: for other incouragement have I none, neither would I doe it; but becauſe non nobis nati ſumus; and to the end, that the practiſe thereof might win credit to the experiment for the contemplative demonſtration only without the proofe of practiſe might worthily be exploded. Peradventure ſome of that rabble, whom I mentioned before, whoſe deriſions I contemn, and whoſe objections are not worth the anſwering, will ſay, what fellow is this? And what great thing is this, that needeth this apology? And why was not this way of teaching (if there be ſuch a thing) found out in former ages, as well as now? And were not children taught to read, and to underſtand the Latine ſpeech, before this fellow was? True; But many failed even in reading, and in the Latine, there were alwayes as many, or more deficients then proficients. Then I ſay, for the firſt part of the work, the device and practice being wholly and meerely invented by my ſelfe, is a way, whereby any perſon yong or old, acute or obtuſe may be taught to read with facility and delight, both to teacher and learner, to which little memory is requiſite, but a full pronuntiation is very neceſſary. By this method a child of perfect ſpeech may be made able to ſpell engliſh truly and readily whatſoever be propoſed, ſillable after ſillable, the memory being not charged with two at once within one quarter of a yeare; yea it may, it hath beene effected within a moneth, and in leſſe time. And doth it not then neceſſarily follow, that that childe, who can give every letter howſoever tranſpoſed its true ſound muſt eaſily and ſpeedily read, and that long before he bee fit to learne the Latine tongue, beginning at five yeares of age? Will any ſenſible man deny it? It is a very plain and eaſie way and method, not far fetched, nor much ſtrained for, but therein a very little Art added to nature. For the ſecond, it is not meerely mine own, but partly Mr Lilies: for hee gave me the hint thereof: Wherein if any man concurre with me in ſcience practick for the common good, I repine not, but rather rejoyce; becauſe the experiment may be more authentick by a twofold or triple cord. Howſoever cum capitis periculo, I will maintain it to be ſuch a way and method, wherby the moſt indocile and obtuſe child, whoſoever he bee, if animi compos, may within one quarter of a yeare after he can read well, be made expert and perfect in the variation of the Verb, as of all other parts declinable; yea to give Engliſh for latine, and Latine for Engliſh readily and truly thorowout all Verbs whatſoever, the Verb and his ſignification being given, and the child being ſupplyed with the preterperfect tenſe of the Indicative mood, untill he have learned Mr Lilies Rules to find out the ſame: and ſo conſequently, foraſmuch as the difficulty and intricacy of the Latine conſiſteth in the infinitenes of the Verbs variety, which is above one thouſand in both voyces, the different ſignes of the Optative, Potentiall, and Subjunctive being compared, it will make every child, who is animi compos, (as I ſaid before) docile and capable of underſtanding the Latine, and that within three or foure yeares, and ſometimes in much leſſe time: As for writing copiouſly, and ſpeaking fluently, who knoweth not, that much reading muſt furniſh with words and phraſe, and frequent ſpeaking bring facility and readines of ſpeech. Both which wayes and methods are ſuch, as when they ſhal be layd open, every literate man will ſay, why did not I ſee this, as well as he? and thoſe men, who now envy, deride and ſcoffe, and ſuch others, who plot, combine, and load me with detraction, and ſtir wormaniſh and worſe faction, will alter their opinions, and embrace my poore invention and experiment: which in due time I will tender to reverend authority, teaching in the meane time, none but the lawfull Grammar.

The occaſion of my ſtudy and exquiſition to find out a more familiar and eaſie way of teaching àprimordijs, then had formerly beene received, was the conſideration of the tedious time of ſeven, eight, nine, yea ten years, (may I ſay, no more) which was and is ſpent in teaching the Latine ſpeech, and foure, five, and ſix in the way of reading, with much auſterity and bitternes to the great diſcouragement of children, before it can be brought to perfection; nay yet after much toyle on the teachers part, and torture of the children, many aſwell the ſons of the Nobility and Gentry, as of meaner perſons faile, and never attain what they goe about, unleſſe ſome more acute then the reſt: and many ſo imperctly taught to read, that when they come to learn the Latine, both themſelves and their teachers thorough their unreadines in reading, unleſſe it be firſt rectified, are much vexed; which produceth no ſmall obſtacle to their progreſſe. And ſo by that meanes many good wits beaten out of heart, and brought into hatred both of books and learning, yea and teacher too & not few, when grown up to good ſtature thorough the ſharpenes of ſome teachers driven into deſperate courſes. I can truly ſay that of divers children brought to me, ſome whereof were eight yeares old, ſome nine, ſome ten, ſome eleven, ſome twelve, one fourteen, not all the Sons of common perſons, nor ſuch as had been neglected, but had been formerly taught with care and coſt, none could read ſo much as meanly well, which my way would have made them do by that time they had accompliſhed ſeven years of age, had they begun at five. And moreover ſome of them, and ſome yonger ſo affrighted and diſcouraged, that untill I had altered their temper with lenity and familiarity, they would quake and ſhake and ſweat, when they came to the buſineſſe. How ſome of their parents and friends have requited me, who craved not, nor expected my wages, till my work was done, I will not now complain; let me only ſay, that many withdrew their children from me ſurreptitiouſly to ſave their moneyes, and permitted me not to make appear what was done, leſt I ſhould have challenged what was due: And to diſgrace me yet further, when I had almoſt perfected the work for many of them, for the matter of reading; they ſet up a fly upon the wheele, that preſently cryed, what a duſt have I ſtirred? when as the horſe heels had ſtirred the duſt, before the fly ſettled on the coach-whell. Let them go on with their giddines, avarice, and baſeneſſe, and let their own experience find, that planta, quae ſaepius tranſfertur, non convaleſcit; that time will not be called again, that there is Art in teaching, which may and can ſharpen and quicken hebetude, and help imperfect ſpeech very much in infancy, before long cuſtome have confirmed it. What effect in the Latine my labours have produced anſwereable to the efficacie, which I attribute to my Method, if any man require an account, I appeale in the firſt place to the teſtimonie of Maſter William Langford Captaine of his Majeſties Poſt Barke, and Maſter William Scot his Majeſties Seaacher of his Port of Dublin, who within one moneth after I had undertaken a childe of Maſter Scots, who was my firſt Scholler but no acute one, (as the iſſue will manifeſt now he is off from my method) heard the ſame child being then halfe a year ſhort of nine yeares of age, give Latine for Engliſh, and Engliſh for Latine thoroughout a Verb choſen by one of them, and it was expergiſcor. Now becauſe it little availed to tell of ſuch beginnings, unleſſe it may appeare, that they were ſeconded with like proceedings, and becauſe he was taken from me above halfe a year ſince, at the earneſt ſuit of the mother, quaſi invito patre, when I had ſpent two years and a quarter upon him, or little more, and for that I am not aſſured, that that man, to whoſe inſtruction hee was next committed, will either give mee or him our dues, and becauſe I am well aſſured that he will not proceede with the like profit being out of his firſt Method by reaſon of his hebetude and yong yeares being but eleven compleate, momorie and judgement being not confirmed, and becauſe much womaniſh clamour hath beene throated out againſt mee touching him, thoſe of the faction falſly ſurmizing him to bee my Maſter-Peece, and that if hee were taken off, I were utterly ſupplanted, & quod ſalvus ſupereſt Artifex, It is therefore expedient, that I ſhew to what ripeneſſe the Childe was growne in our two yeares, which was ſuch, as he was able to read Tullyes Offices into Engliſh at firſt ſight, and then neceſſarily able to tranſlate it, and when hee had tranſlated it, to read it againe into true Latine, having never committed any one clauſe of the booke to memory; he did often in the preſence of divers perſons, the Booke being opened at adventure, read the Latine Teſtament into Engliſh; hee could likewiſe for ſhort ſentences, ſuch like as Corderius hath at an inſtant, for Engliſh give true Latine: for proofe hereof I could produce the teſtimony of diverſe Gentlemen, not all of the loweſt rancke, ſome whereof tooke a view of the Childes ability accidentally, others at my requeſt; becauſe I foreſaw the cloud of future clamor and diſgrace, wherewith I was like to bee ſprinkled; it was long in riſing, all the forraine and domeſtick windes met in their chappell and conſiſtory to blow it abroad. In the ſecond place, that a child of Mr George Badlyes in Damaske ſtreet, did within ſixe weekes after hee had entered upon the Introduction to Grammar, being then under the age of ſeven years, vary the Verbe exactly after the forme aforeſaid, I appeale to the teſtimonie of Maſter Roger Puttocke Miniſter of Gods word, and Maſter Badely himſelfe, who heard the Childe doe it in the preſence of the Reverend Father in God William Lord Biſhop of Kilmore. Diverſe other Children, and ſome ſuperannited, and deſpaired of, have attained the ſame ability within my time limitted a quarter of a yeare. Whether I report truth, it may eaſily be examined. And I hope it may be beleived that Mr Scots child had attained the ability afore-mentioned, if it appeare that Mr Badelyes child who is little more then nine yeares old, have attained (and not he alone, but ſome others) the ſame ability, within leſſe time. I am almoſt affraid to relate it, leſt it ſhould not be beleived, but ſhould beget more cenſures. Let him therfore that deſireth to be beſt informed; come and ſatiſfie his own eares, or let him bring me a ſubject to work upon, and he ſhall well ſee, that whatſoever I have affirmed, if my head lay at ſtake, ſhall by Gods aſſiſtance mangre the ſpite of envy and detraction be performed, and ſhould have beene proved upon any one, whom I undertooke within my time limitted, that is, two yeares for reading, and foure for the Latine, and upon acute ones in much leſſe time, might I be admitted to time and tryall: In performance whereof my cheifeſt care hath been, is, and ever ſhal be, that by facility and encouragement I beget alacrity and delight in all, but eſpecially in the moſt way ward and obtuſe, that at no time they be daunted with preſſure and auſterity. If I ſhould give anſwer to every cenſure, I ſhould ſwell into a volume. I will therefore omit all but one, and let my life and labours cleer me living, and my papers, when I am dead; and that one is, it will not hold: I believe verily that young children will not go on with the ſame facility, unleſſe memory and judgment were confirmed, which cannot be expected at nine or ten yeares of age: or unleſſe the ſame method might be proſecuted: yet I ſay had Mr Scots child continued in the way but one yeare more, he had beene fullie confirmed. A compariſon may be drawn from a horſe, his owner, and a rider to help me with moderat men, no cavillers. The owner or maſter committeth his horſe (being a naturall trotter) to a certain rider, or an Artiſt, that can teach him to amble; he agrees at a price to have it done; the rider undertaketh, goeth on, bringeth the horſe, ſo long as himſelfe rideth him, to a good ſtroke, the horſe over-reacheth a good ſpace; the owner obſerveth it, and before the rider have ſetled and confirmed the horſe in his new pace, taketh the horſe out of his hands, whether out of avarice to ſave his money, or curioſity and over-much haſtines, being overjoyed with his horſes pace, it matters not; but he diſmiſſeth his rider, and rideth the horſe himſelf, falſly ſuppoſing that then he can hold the horſe to his pace, aſwell as the rider: After a while the horſe, by reaſon that the maſter hath not the ſame ſlight of hand for his carriage, is brought to a fluttering and ſhuffling pace, and hath loſt all good pace. Can the rider be juſtly blamed? or ſhall he be condemned to be no Artiſt? Such like is our caſe, untill the method be generally knowne. For thoſe, that be ſo overly and proud, of and in their own wits and judgments, who will not believe, that there can be ſuch an invention for the improvement of Art, either becauſe it came not, nor yet is come into their notion, or becauſe it tranſcendeth their capacityes, or becauſe former ages had it not, nor will admit that any mans method can hold equivalency with theirs, as if no mans conceit or invention could mount ſo high a pitch as theirs, I refer ſuch men to the ſtudy of Almanacks, out of which they may learn to be ſuch good Chronologiſts, as to preſcribe time to two of the rareſt inventions, which the earth containeth: the one is the Art of Printing, the other, the terrible Engyne of the Gun and Cannon, and the violent devouring matter thereto belonging, the Powder, which neither the firſt, nor the ſecond age of the world brought forth, nor the head of this, but even the very taile. For it is not two hundred years ſince the invention of the one, and not three ſince the invention of the other. Much might be ſaid touching the ſeverall methods, and the fruits and effects of them, as alſo touching the neceſſity and dignity of teachers and ſchoolemaſters, if they bee ſuch, as they ought to be. But leſt in ſaying more of either, I might ſeem to arrogate that to my ſelfe, which will not be given or granted, I will only ſay of theſe, that they ought to be men endued with Art, method, and diſcretion: art, to underſtand what they teach; method and order, to teach it the right way, and to bring it to the capacity of children, with as much facility as may be; diſcretion to deale with children according to their conſtitutions and capacities. As concerning the methods, and the fruits and effects thereof, let the moſt intelligent caviller, give me anſwer to two queſtions. Firſt, what is the way and ground of reading? Is it any other, then to know the true ſound of every letter, how variouſly ſoever tranſpoſed in monoſillable or polyſillable, and to divide polyſillables rightly? and that skill being attained, is not the ground and way of reading? What can be done or required more, but dayly practiſe? Secondly, what is the firſt and cheife ground of Grammar? Is it not the true variation of the declinable parts, whereof the Verb is the moſt perplexed? and that skill being attained, is not the cheife ground of grammar attained? can true connexion be made without true variation? What literate man knoweth not, that the Verb in all languages is the baſis of all, and that all the other pa ts be but dependants on it, for that no full ſentence or •• nce can be ſpoken or written without a Verbe expreſſed or underſtood. As I have ſaid before, ſo I ſay againe, the true ground of either may be layd upon a competent ſubject within a quarter of a yeare, and ſometimes within leſſe time: and then what workman may not finiſh the work? I herefore I conclude thus, Dimidium facti, qui benè coepit, habet. And ſo I commit my ſlender invention and practiſe, to the cenſure of the noble, generous and judicious, that they ſeeing the fruit thereof may commend it to poſterity. Then howſoever my paines hath not gotten payment of ſome people, my conſcience ſhall get conſolation, and I ſhall confidently ſay at my diſſolution, I have endeavoured to keep a cleere conſcience, I have fought a good fight, I have finiſhed my courſe, I have kept the faith henceforth is layde up for mee. &c.

FINIS.
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