For, In Ep. ad Reſt. & alibi. Cominius tels vs, that the beſt Grammarians haue from Age to Age ſucceſſiuely quoted the defects and errors of each other. Grammarians diſſenting. Donatus, Seruius, and Priſcianus, accuſed their predeceſſors; and were afterwards themſelues taxed by Beroaldus, Politianus, Philelphus, and Laurentius Valla: and theſe, by Baptiſta Pius, Georgius and Petrus Valla, Aldus Romanus, Perottus Sipuntinus, &c: and theſe, by Pylades Brixianus; and hee, and the former by Quintianus Stoa: and Stoa, by Phineus, Domitius and others: and to come to our owne times, Martinus Cruſius was inuay'd againſt by Friſchlinus; and our Engliſh Lilie by the Spaniſh Aluarus; Mr. Ralph Gittins. and, as I heare, by a gentleman of our owne Nation, who brings him on the ſtage for many errors.

Some of theſe call the reſt Grammatiſtae, Stoa in arte verſif. Suetonius. Zuing. l. 1. Th. ſeu literatores; Grammaticuli; Grammatociphones; and by other names of ignorance; as, incurioſi, and Scioli: yea, and ſome of them tell their companions, that their works, and precepts are tedious; and that they are not able to vtter their owne name in good latine; as Valla tels Priſcianus. 〈◊〉 c. 1. Com. in Ep. And this Valla tels others, that they vnteach the latine tongue. But, Pius Bononienſis honeſtly reprehends his own iudgement formerly deliuered vppon Plautus, and Sidonius Apolinaris; making (with others) the world a witneſſe of his retractations. So that I may, according to the Prouerb, conclude with Horace, "Grammatici certant, In arte poetica. et adhuc ſub Iudice lis est. Now, if theſe men may be credited, the Art of Grammar is vnperfect: if wee ſhould not credit them, wee are but fooles in my conceit to follow them. For, to learne what is vnperfect, breeds but imperfect knowledge: and I deſpaire of better; in that I am not able to conceiue how thoſe defects which could not in a thouſand eight hundred years paſt (from the time of Ennius, till this daie) be corrected, can at anie time heereafter by the ſame courſe that others haue hitherto followed, bee amended; V.S. Alb. Organo mag. Aph. 6. It beeing a follie and againſt all ſenſe to conceiue that thoſe things which were neuer heretofore brought-to-paſſe, can bee effected by other means then ſuch as no man yet attempted.

But leauing this vnattempted means to languages till a fitter opportunitie; let vs, Grammarians cenſured. while theſe Grammarians are at variance, giue eare to what the Standers-by and men of credit wil ſay of them.

Craſſus was of opinion, Cic. in. Or. l. 3 that they took a courſe to dull yong wits, & make them ſhameleſs, In learning that wch amōg mē of ſort was thought ridiculous.

Plinie tells vs, Com. in Ep. they corrupt the bookes of auncient writers, and make them more obſcure, by their vaine and ouerthwart corrections; and that their curioſities are Hiſt. nat. l. 35. c. 3. peruerſe ſubtilties: and that for telling theſe truthes hee alwaies In Prolog. Hiſt. Nat. expected ſomething from Grammarians, in oppoſition of thoſe bookes which he had written de Grammatica.

Quintilian cals their diligēce miſchieuous, l. 1. c. 10. or malicious; auouching, that he holds it l. 1. c. 14 fitting, that amongſt their other vertues, they ſhould inſert ſome kinde of ignorance. He alſo holds they are vnlearned: And Epig. l. 14 Martiall knew it as well as he; and therefore ſaid, Quamuis me Ligulam dicant equiteſ que patreſ que : Dicor ab indoctis Lingula Grammaticis. Though I be Ligula to th' wiſe and Noble man: Thou call'ſt me Lingula, vnlearn'd Grammarian.

Moreouer, Iab. 1. cap. 10. the ſame Quintilian tels them plainely, that they may well be able to teach their Scholars to write and ſpeake like Grammarians, but they ſhall neuer be able to doe either of them like the Latines: Ibid. for they are of ſundry conditions; Aliud eſt Grammaticè, aliud Latinè loqui.

And further he ſaith, lib. 1. cap. 14. that all their Cōmentaries are full of impediments, & ſuch as are for the moſt part vnknowne vnto themſelues the Commentators.

And this made Laur: Valla ſay, there is nothing more arrogant then their eye; or more inſolent in the correction, or rather corruption of Authors.

Whereupon Hermolaus Barbarus reporteth, In calce caſtigationum ſuarum. that ſome are now adaies growne ſo audacious, as to hold euery thing faultie, and to be corrected, that falls not within the reach of their capacitie: which kind of haſte (ſaith hee) or rather raſhneſſe, is the moſt peſtilent euill that can happen in the latine language.

And (knowing that Craſsus in the time of his Cenſorſhip had by edict put ſuch as theſe to ſilēce) he wiſheth, Cic. in Ordib. 3. that (now alſo) there were a law made, whereby ſuch bould and indiſcreet attempts might hereafter wholly be forbidden: Affirming that the vnlearned may ſometimes fall into this error; but the learned more often, and with greater daunger: for, as others are wont to rely much vpon their iudgement, ſo are they ſtill able to produce new falſe allurements to perſwade them.

And Maſter Tho. Haine (one of the moſt ſufficient School-maſters about this cittie of London) in Fol. 1 b. a latine Diſcourſe of his, written to the effect of this Appeale, Too too diligent. Lud. Viu. lib. 2. de cauſ. cor. Art. Say more then they ought, & and yet not all they ſhould. holds ſome Grammarians to haue been nimiùm diligentes; and that they fall within the compaſſe of Quintilian's complaint againſt ſuch as Plura quam par ſit dicunt, non tamen omnia: And that they haue inriched themſelues, with the ſpoiles of Lexicons, & other arts; and adorned their plumes with filched feathers: and that when they haue done what they can, they doe but breake young Scholars backes with the burthen of vnneceſſary precepts; Repetitions of the ſelfe ſame things with other words. and that ſetting their tender witts vpon the rack they pull and teare them with Tautologies.

Other ſome; though (ſaith he) they be ſuccinct, and methodicall in their precepts: yet bring they with them diſaduantage. For no man can run ſpeedily to the mark of languages, that is ſhackled and ingiu'd with grammar precepts. And hence it proceeds, that ſuch as onely depend on the rules of Grammar, wrote barbarouſly, as appeareth ex libris Tenebrionumſeu Dunſarum, et ex epiſtolis obſcurorum virorum. And ſuch as attribute much to precepts, and ſomething to authoritie, muſt needes be fearefull, and irreſolute. For, following authoritie, they many times run againſt rules; and obeying rules, they diſturb authoritie: without whoſe hand and feale, the beſt of rules is but irregulare.

And Cominius concludes, that they teach, Reſt. lib. 1. cap. 1. and command children, and ſuch as would learne the tongue, to follow things of a contrary nature. For, firſt they would haue them learn by Grammar, and then they ſend them to reade Authors: which things are contrary.

And Deſpauterius runs with him againſt himſelf: for he is conſtrained to ſay,

And in an other place.

Wherevnto Cicero alluding, Or. l. 1 ſaith, I omitt to ſpeak of Mathematicians, Grammarians, and Muſicians; with whoſe arts, this of Oratorie hath not ſo much as the leaſt coherence.

Howbeit we are not ignorant (ſaith Cominius) that Grammarians endeuoring to vphold their errours (either to pleaſe the people, Reſt. 1.5. or (rather) becauſe they had no better way to get, or teach by) haue wreſted all the ſentences & authorities of the Ancients, to the approbation of their Art of Grammar. For whereas Varro, Quintilian, and others diſputing about Grammar, are inforced to alledge the arguments that may be brought on both ſides; the Grammarians catch thoſe that make for themſelues, and produce them as the iudgement, and eſtabliſhed opinions of the ſame Authors on their behalf: but ſuch arguments as made againſt them, as alſo the concluſions, & abſolute determinations of thoſe Authors in the ſhutting vp of their diſputations, they ouerſlip without remembrance. And therefore, ſaith hee, (though ſomwhat roughly) they haue hitherto deceiued vs, and are themſelues full oft deceiued. Neither doth he exclude our new writers from this cenſure: Ep. Reſt. for he houlds that they haue nothing, but what they haue taken from others. And he wrote ſince Lilies Grammar was compoſed.

But, ſaith he, Reſt. l. 1.15 let theſe & many other Authors ſpeak their pleaſures, Grammarians wil not be reformed. Trew it is, that finding their collections taxed of being vaine, tedious, diſordered and ſuperfluous; they affect breuitie and better method: but, as they growe ſhorter, ſo are they more inſufficient, and leſs intelligible; euer intricated in the ſelf ſame Labyrinth, commending their reproued precepts, and perſwading all the world to follow them.

Thus far our Authors haue declared themſelues concerning Grammarians: Grammar cenſured. now let vs patiently heare them about their Art.

It is very likely (ſaith our alledged Author) that thoſe which in ſpeech proceed by Art, l. 1.10. Reſt. rules and reaſon, ought to ſpeake better, then thoſe that follow the people, and ſuch as are vnlearned. So is there a likely hood in muſick, that the diſtances of a third, a fift, a ſixt, and an eight, ſhould by reaſon of theſe numbers, make a concorde, or conſonant harmonie: but (ſaith hee) this dependeth meerely vpon the iudgement of the eare, becauſe God and nature would haue it ſo: And they were not found out by numbers, but by experience; for this obſeruation of nūbers therein came afterwards. We may alſo by likelyhood ſay, the Suns riſing is a cauſe of the Cocks crowing; & the ſetting therof of the Owles better ſeeing: But preſumption vpon likelyhood is often a wronger of blameleſſe truth, & an ouerthrowe of greateſt knowledges: and in many things there are ſeeming reaſons at the firſt incounter thought to be irrefragable, which experience at length aſſureth vs to be vaine, and friuolous. And this appeares in Grammar, in that there is a likelyhoode, that all Nounes, and Verbes ſhould followe by Analogie the grammaticall Declenſions, and Conjugations: Priſc. lib. 7. cap. de dat. & abl. plur. ſec. dec. yet looking into Cuſtome, and Authoritie wee finde daily ſome irregularities, which we cannot excuſe, or make good, but by newfound exceptions, and inlarging the doctrine of the Heteroclites. And all our actions that proceed frō nature are ſooner & better learned by vſe & exerciſe, then by Art, Inst. Or. or Precept. For Quintilian ſaith, there are many things that cānot be deliuerd by Art; as, ſucking, eating, drinking, ſtanding, running: to which we may add the actions of our outward ſenſes and the like; which are not onely giuē to men, but childrē, & vnreaſonable creatures. And as in theſe, ſo in ſpeech (which is the ſixt externall ſenſe according to Raymundus) we beginne not by Art, but by Art. Mag. Plato in Cratylo. Nature; and proceed by vſe, cuſtome, authoritie, and exerciſe, gouern'd by the eare; which is in this kind pleaſed, or diſpleaſed by an inbred, ſecret, & vnpenetrable harmony in nature. And let vs be cōtent to know thus much de facto: for, of the firſt cauſes we neuer yet had ſolider doctrin, thē thoſe likelihoods. Neither will Nature be compeld to dance within our circle; or haue a coat, or a cockſ-comb put vpon her, by her owne Apes; Though I muſt confeſſethat all theſe may be helped by Art, & alſo adorned: But this is not to be vnderſtood in childhood; but in men of iudgement, and of good diſcretion, that are capable of Art, and the reaſons thereof. And that made Quintilian ſay, they would doe it better, conducted by nature, then by Art; lib. 9. cap. 4. yet nature (ſaith hee) hath in it Art.

But though there be an Art of helping and adorning ſpeech, yet is it not Grammar; Com. lib. 1.10. except we take it in the firſt ſimplicitie. For, our fore-alledged Author Cominius would haue vs knowe, lib. 1. cap. 9. that Grammar hindreth the elegancie of ſpeech: becauſe Grammaticall conſtruction, and precepts, commande that words be otherwiſe placed then antient Authors placed them. And this, ſaith hee, is a great error amongſt vs, that we are now afraide to produce the ſame ſentences, and periods which were vſed by them, in the ſame words that they did, and in their manner of poſition: but by Art of Grammar wee inuent new words, and put them in an other order, then the beſt Writers placed them; Though Quintilian ſay, that if any man diſſolue a clauſe, lib. 9.4. ſentence or period that is in it ſelfe ſweet, ful, and wel ſpoken; he wil driue away all the force, pleaſure & ornamēt thereof; and altogither foile the compoſition. And he takes his authoritie from Cicero; In Or. who, diſſoluing periods of his owne, makes them harſh, & ill-ſounding: and by correcting the hard, and crabbed compoſitions of Gracchus, makes them ſweet, and pleaſing; the better to demonſtrate that, which otherwiſe might haue beene thought but meer imaginary.

Wherfore, it appeareth, that in following Grammar, we abandon elegancie, and the pleaſure of the eare; and ſpeake and write Grammar-latine, Engliſhlatin, Dutch-latine, French-latine: and, in a word, euery nation, by this Art, writes it owne peculiar latine; and not the latine of the Latins, nor anie foraine language as it ſhould be. For, in euery tongue there are many things, which if wee ſhould vtter by any other order then as they are vulgarly ſpoken, they would not run well, and wee ſhould be thought to ſpeake improperly; as euery man may iudge by the clauſes, ſentences, and eſpecially Prouerbs, of his owne language: which, tranſpoſed, or made-vp with other words than common, would for the moſt part loſe their pleaſing grace, delightfull ſound, and (many times) their ſenſe, and meaning. Or. l. 3 Whereupon Cicero concludes, that theſe men ſeparate words from ſentences, in the ſame manner that the Soule is ſeparated from the bodie; which is not to be done (ſaith hee) without their manifeſt deſtructions. l. 1 of the bringing vp of youth.

By mine aduice, ſaith * Aſcham (who read to Queen Elizabeth) a Scholar ſhall not vſe the cōmon order in common ſchooles, for making of Latins: whereby the child commonly learneth firſt an euill choice of words (and right choiſe of words, Cic. de clar. Or. ſaith Caeſar, is the foundation of eloquence;) then, a wrōg placing of words; and laſtly, an euill framing of the ſentence; with a peruerſe iudgement both of words and ſentences. Theſe faults, taking once root in youth, be neuer, or hardly pluckt-away in age.

Moreouer, there is (ſaith hee) no one thing that hath either dulled the wits, or taken away the wills of children more from learning, then the care they haue to ſatisfy their Maſters in making Latins. For, the Scholar is commonly beaten for the making, when the Maſter were more worthie to be beaten for the mending, or rather marring of the ſame; the Maſter many times being as ignorant as the childe, what to ſay properly, and fitly to the matter And he produceth two Schoolemaſters, Horman and Whittington. which haue ſett foorth in print, either of them, a book of ſuch kinde of Latins, that (if we beleeue him) a childe ſhall learne of the better of them that which an other day (if he be wiſe and com to iudgement) he muſt be faine to vnlearne againe.

Further: our Cominius ſaith, Reſt. l. 1.9 This Grammar hinders vs in writing rightly, in reſpect of the diuerſirie of Grammaticall opinions about dipthonges, aſpirations, hiſſings, accents, and infinite other particularities, about which they are euer in controuerſie; as appeareth by Priſcianus, Tortellius, Lancilotus, Nicholaus Ferettus, Georgius Valla, Aldus Romanus, Neſtor, Stoa, Friſhlinus, and a thouſand others; in whom you ſhall finde almoſt nothing but contentions about letters, ſyllables, accents, quantities of ſyllables, & corrections of Authors, euery man after his owne humour and inuention: ſo that in ſo great a diuerſitie, you are not able to determine how you ſhould proceed either in ſpeaking, or in writing rightly.

Whereupon he further inferres, Ib. that Grammar hinders men from the vnderſtanding of Poets, and antient Authours, and makes them more obſcure, and difficult. So that, ſuch as are otherwiſe (for the language ſake) deſirous to reade them, drawe back, and are diſcomfited. And things are brought to that paſſe, that the very name of Latin is hatefull almoſt to euery man; excepting ſuch, as (hunting after gain, and commoditie by ſome ſcience, or profeſſion) are conſtrained to fall vpon the very froth, and dregges therof: and theſe for the moſt part deſpiſe elegancie, and ſcorn ſuch as endeauour to attaine vnto it; in that themſelues are brought-vp vnder the diſcipline of Grammar; which neither reſpecteth the names of things, nor the cuſtom of antient Authors, nor the iudgement of the ſenſe of hearing, wherein elegancy hath her maine foundation.

Beſides: Ib. he holdeth it an occaſion of the loſſe of much time, and (conſequently) of many of the beſt and chiefeſt Arts, and knowledges. For, if any man would be exquiſite therein, and ſpeake rightly according to the rules thereof, it is neceſſarie hee ſhould turne ouer the moſt part of Grammaticall Commentaries, that he may the better make election which of them were fitteſt to bee ſollowed; though he confeſſeth, Ibid. that it would be a perpetuall and an vnprofitable labour, to gather all rules, to examine all places of Authours, and out of all theſe to put all occurrent exceptions vnto rules; in that there is no man but had rather ſpeak after the example of Cicero, Liuius, Saluſtius, Virgilius, Ouidius, Plautus & Terentius, than vſe the precepts of Grammarians; Inſt. Or. Fabius houlding it a more excuſable errour, to fall in following of theſe great men, than in following of theſe great mens Followers. But (to turne to our election) our Grammarians will queſtionleſſe reject Priſcianus, as condemned by Valla; and Valla, as found tripping by Perottus. So (to be ſhort) by further inquiſition he will neglect our common Grammar, Mr Gittins. as taxed by him that hath collected centum errores Lilij: And, as wel it, as all other Grammars now in vſe; De cauſ. linguae latinae. as branded by Iulius Caeſar Scaliger, in aboue ſeuen hundred and fifty noted errours.

Thus hauing found all the former Grammars faulty; hee cannot warrant the laſt, infallible: yet muſt he be conſtrained to follow it, or make a new one of his owne; which will be liable with the reſt to all taxation. For, by reading antient Authours, he ſhall ſtill diſcouer ſomething that fals not vnder the collections of other Grammarians; and heerevpon will make an exception to ſome former rule; or make a new rule, and call the former Collecters, block-heads. Thus did our Fathers to our Grandfathers: thus will our children deal with vs.

But ſtay: If, before we can juſtly tax our Predeceſſors of ignorance, we muſt neceſſarily take pains in reading them; and to read both new and ould Grammarians, were worke enough for a Methuſhelah; what ſhall we be able to elect or judge of, that haue but a ſpan of life; and in it, before our toppes be ripe, our roots bee rotten? Certainly wee may commence the ſute: but we ſhal neuer liue to hear the Sentence. For, beſides the infinite number of them, the very thought of one onely Quint. l. 1.14 Ariſt. Rhet. 3. Zuing. l. 1. Th. Didymus, which wrote but three thouſand and fiue hundred volumes, makes me deſpair of doing well amongſt Grammarians; In moriae encomio. Inſomuch that Eraſmus concludeth well, that only Grammar is enough to make a man ſpend the circuit of his whole life in tortures.

And, Reſt. l. 1.9 ſaith Haloinus, we haue this experience, that many of the Maſter-grammarians (which loſt no time, either in writing of Grammar, or in teaching it) haue been ſo far from perfection in their owne profeſſion, that they were neither able to ſpeak Latine rightly, nor to write it with elegancy.

Further: wee may note a number of their ſcholars which haue taken infinite pains til twenty years of age, ſometimes till thirty, and yet are not able to write or ſpeake any thing worth the reading: nor haue they any knowledge in other arts or profeſſions; though they haue ſuffered many ſtripes, and are almoſt deaf with cries and exclamations.

Half our age, Eſſaies, l. 1. c. 25 ſaith Montaigne, is confumed that way: we are kept foure or fiue years in learning to vnderſtand bare words, and to join them into clauſes; then, as long in proportioning a great bodie extended into foure or fiue parts; and fiue yeares more at leaſt, ere we can ſuccinctly knowe how to mingle, joyn, and interlace them handſomely into a ſubtile faſhion, and into one coherent orb.

I remember, ſaith Aſcham, when I was young, l. 2. in the North they went to the Grammar-ſchoole little children, they came from thence great lubbers; alwaies learning, but little profiting; learning without book euery thing, vnderſtanding within booke very little: their whole knowledge, by learning without book, was tied onely to their tongue and lips, and neuer aſcended vp to the braines or head; and therefore was ſoon ſpet out again. They were as men alwaies going, but euer out of the way: and why? for, their whole labour (or rather great toile without order) was euen vaine idleneſſe without profit. Indeed, they took great paines about learning; but imployed ſmall labour in learning.

Now, if Grammar ſhould be the beſt Courſe to languages, and Kings may haue their choiſe of beſt Courſes; I wonder what choiſe of Grammars was made by Mithridates. And that, that makes mee wonder more: we, that haue no buſineſſe but a language, ſpend all our life, and are not perfect in one; and hee, that had a Kingdomes affairs to look vnto, had two and twenty compleat languages. Val. Max. l. 8. c. 7

I wonder alſo how the Romans came all to be expert in Oratory, Husbandry, Astrologie, Geometry, Arithmetick, Muſick, and many other ſciences, before they were admitted to martiall diſcipline, or other imployment: as by Livius, Valerius, Plutarch, Suetonius, Frontinus, Vegetius, and many others, is recorded. Aſſuredly, they knew no Grammar: or, knowing it, they did neglect it.

And no maruell: for, Alexander, Amigonus, Achilles, Themiſtocles, Epaminondas, Hanibal, Scipio, and a thouſand others, were inſtructed by Ariſtotle, Caliſthenes, Leonides, Perſeus, Phenix, Phreareus, Lyſias, Socilaus, Terentius, and the like. And all theſe former Potentates were knowne learned, almoſt in all ſciences, through the aſſiſtance of theſe and other Maſters. Of whom, ſome were Oratours; ſome, Poets; ſome, Philoſophers, and of other profeſſions: but, none of them were found to bee Grammarians.

Yet now adaies, lib. 1.9. ſaith Cominius, they are ſo frequent, that if a man would pen an eloquent Oration after the manner of the Antients, were it neuer ſo pleaſing and ſufficient; if hee obſerue not, euerie where, the Grammar-rules, hee dares not vtter it, for fear of being thought to ſpeak incongruouſly. And of this I was lately my ſelf a witnes; where a Gentleman, making a Verſe to his owne purpoſe, and imitating in all points Martiall, was by one, that thought himſelfe a great Proficient, reprehended for falſe Latine: But, the Gentleman producing his Authour, the Critick was half diſparaged.

Haloinus, l. 〈◊〉 1. Reſt. coming yet a little neerer the quick, tels vs (and it ſtands with reaſon) that no Grammar can bee made perfect, vnleſſe it were as often renewed as new words are coined, or ould ones newly receiued. Neither can it, ſaith he, be perfect, vnleſſe it teach vs the Dialects of Nations, or the diuerſities of language and pronounciation in ſundry Regions, Prouinces, and diſtant places; with the changes and alterations in the maner of ſpeaking, as well in Latine as in other languages.

And our experience giues vs to vnderſtand, that not onely thoſe of Flanders, Brabant, Holland, Zeland, and others in the lower-Germanie; and thoſe of Navar, Aragon, Catalonia, Galicia and Portugall, in Spain; and our owne Eaſtern, Weſtern, Northerne, Southern, and middle parts of England, doe much vary one and the ſelf-ſame language: but euery twenty-miles-diſtance from any place, yeelds a manifeſt differēce in the tongues of all, or any of theſe parts or Prouinces; as alſo euery twenty yeares alters euery one of the ſaid differences. Inſomuch that few of vs, if we conſider the antient Records and Authours of our Nation, can beleeue, that a Grammar made in the time of Chaucer, Robert of Gloſter, or of Aelſrick, can be vſefull now in ours; though doubtleſſe theſe men wrote in the choiſeſt Dialect the time afforded. And, certainely, all other Dialects are and will be changed in the ſame proportion.

Now, if Grammars bee compoſed according to the purity of ſpeech eſpecially; and the puritie of ſpeech in any nation is thought to be at the height, at that very inſtant that the Grammar was or is cō poſed; and that euery time and place, according to the alteration & inconſtancy of that inſtant, is likewiſe altered and inconſtant: I cannot ſee how anie Grammars of any languages, that are not daily (according to theſe alterations) altered, can be of any certainty or perfection; in that, as a Grammar is made to be vniuerſall, ſo ſhould it, according to the Authours intention, be perpetuall: which, for the reaſons alledged, is in both impoſſible.

For, l. 1.2 ſaith my Author, if words be changed, it is neceſſary that Conjugations, Declenſions, Numbers, Tenſes, Moods, and all other Grammaticall obſeruations (in what tongue ſoeuer) be alſo changed: which ſince it is impoſſible, the perfection alſo is impoſſible.

And Ludovicus Vives ſaith, Be corr. art. l. 2 that after Grammarforms or precepts were inuented out of a proportionable correſpondencie of Art; ſome haue attempted to draw the immeaſurable ſtream of vſe through them, as through fitting trenches or chanels: whereas Grammar, with Logick and Rhetorick, were obſerued and deriued from vſe; and not vſe, from them. Therefore they haue not onely weakned and broken ſpeech, by reducing it vnto the poore and penurious preſcript of Grammarrules; but haue alſo corrupted it with many errors, in that they haue ſpoken otherwiſe than they ought to doo: well, in reſpect of rules; but ill, in reſpect of cuſtome, which is the Lady and Miſtreſſe of ſpeaking. You may ſee full many moſt exact Maſters of th' Art in this manner pollute their ſpeech with foule enormities, whil'ſt they follow Art, which is not capable of vſe; becauſe vſe is various or changeable: neither doth it follow Grammar or Analogie; and therefore all things could not bee rightly gathered.

This beeing ſufficiently knowne vnto the Antients; though this Art, as suetonius reporteth, de claris Gram. began at the firſt to draw many (as is vſuall) through the nouelty thereof, and by a likelyhood of reaſon, and vain hopes that depended thereon: yet Cominius, In Ep. Reſt. ſubſcribing to the fore-alledged opinion of Martial, ſaith, If any man read with diligence, and examine antient Authors, hee ſhall finde, that the Roman Nobility, the men of authority, the Gentry, and the learnedeſt Citizens, neuer followed that Art, or euer approued it: neither was it at any time praiſed or receiued by Poets, Orators, Hiſtorians, or any other of perfection: but, true it is, ſaith he, they diſcommended, ſcorned and rejected, as well Grammar, as Grammarians.

Neither did Quintilian think, l. 1. c. 10 that this Art was ſent from heauen when men were firſt formed, to giue lawes of ſpeaking; but that it was found out after they ſpake, and had taken notice how euerie thing did ſound in vtterance: for many, ſaith Cominius, whoſe labours for the moſt part periſhed in the combuſtion of the Gothes, as Actius, Pacuvius, Plautus, Navius, Livius, Andronicus, Laberius, Lucretius, and manie others, wrote Latine before this Art of Grammar was inuented; and are cited by Nonius Marcellus, Aulus Gellius, Macrobius, Priſcianus, and other Writers. And no man doubteth, but the Inuenters of Grammar had the language before they had the Art; and muſt therefore conclude, that it may be learned without Art.

And the ſame Quintilian, lib. 1. Inſt. conſidering how much this Art had (by the beſt ſort of people) been reproued, ingenuouſly confeſſeth, that hee, in what he wrote of Grammar, did not vndertake to compoſe an Art thereof: but, it comming in the way of his diſcourſe, he would not omit to ſpeak of it, leſt exceptions might bee taken, that hee ſhould ſlight and vnder-value it.

Cicero, Or. l. 1. alluding heerunto, ſaith, I vnderſtand the power and force of all precepts to be thus; not that Orators had the name of being eloquent by following them; but that ſome obſerued and did thoſe things, which of their owne accord had made men eloquent: ſo that eloquence is not bred of Art; but Art, of eloquence. Yet I reject it not, ſaith he: for, though it bee not ſo neceſſary to teach a man to ſpeak well, yet the knowledge thereof is not illiberall. And in the ſame maner may we ſay, that ſpeech was not bred of Grammar; but it, of ſpeech: and, if the precepts of Orators are not ſo neceſſary in well-ſpeaking, what ſhall we gather of the precepts of Grammarians?

Let vs leaue them to thoſe whoſe profeſſion they are, Eſſaies, 1.25. ſaith Montaigne; and let vs that ſeeke, not to frame a Grammarian, but a compleat Gentleman, giue them leaue to miſ-ſpēd their time in precepts: wee haue elſe-where to doo, and ſomewhat elſe of more importance. There are that knowe neither Ablative, Conjunctive, Subſtantive, nor Grammar; no more doth their Lackey, nor any Oyſter-wife about the ſtreets: and yet (if you haue a minde thereto) they will entertain you your fill, and peraduenture ſtumble as little and as ſeldome againſt the rules of their Tongue, as the beſt Maſter of arts in France. And, ſaith he, Eſſaies, l. 1. c. 24. I hate ſuch as can brag of their rules of Grammar, and can neither write nor ſpeak a language; and ſo doo others: nay, ſaith he, I finde the choiſeſt men were they that moſt condemned them.

Thus it appeares, ſaith Cominius, l a. c. 10. Reſt. that this Grammar, which giues rules and lawes of ſpeaking, that now euery where is taught, is a deceitfull, vain and vnprofitable Art; drawing men on, onely by likelihoods. And it may wel be ſaid, to be a Labyrinth: for, ſuch as are brought vp, and are Proficients in it, can finde no way to winde them out againe. Some of them perceiue they are intangled, and intimate as much to all men in their works, though but obſcurely: yet for gains ſake they commend it, teach it, and profeſſe it. Wherefore, ſaith hee, l. 1. c. 15. I cannot but grieue and lament, that in ſo cloudy and ſo falſe an Art, ſo many men, and of ſo exquiſite an vnderſtanding, ſhould thus long be deceiued & ſtupefied. And that which makes me grieue the more, is, that by it all antient elegancy, the Art of Oratorie, Rhetorick, and many other Arts and knowledges, haue periſhed, been ſtifled, and abandoned.

And Scaliger did often wonder at the preſumption and ſtubbornneſſe of ſuch as were vpholders of other mens errours: De cauſ. linguae latinae. l. 3. c. 67 whereas if they which had cōmitted them were now aliue again, they would recant them. Neither is it ſo great an offence to erre: for, it is the beginning of wiſdome; if not to him that was deceiued; yet to others, that they may not deceiue. But to foſter errors, is either extremity of madnes and folly; or like the choiſe of thoſe, who being once or twice foiled, had rather be ſtain then reconciled.

I cannot thinke, VSE APPROVED theſe antient Authours would in this manner ſlight either Grammar or Grammarians; had they thought the Tongues of Nations might haue been ſufficiently learn'd by their grammaticall rules or precepts: for, none made more account of ſpeech then they did; or were more diligēt in adorning it; or more deſir'd to make themſelues and poſterity, Oratours and eloquent: but they knew full well, that there were other courſes to come ſooner, and with greater eaſe in all perfection, vnto languages: whereof though ſomething haue been ſaid already; yet, becauſe wee haue had the judgements of graue men to diſſwade from Art and precepts, let vs alſo vſe them to direct vs to that way of greater benefit.

If we ask Quintilian what this way is; Inſt. Or. l. 1. c. 10 he will tell vs plainely, that Cuſtome is the beſt approoued School-miſtreſs for languages; and that all the Latines were taught by vſe and cuſtome, from the mouthes of nurſes and other women which had the keeping of them, from their cradle; and not by Grammar or Grammarians, as was erroneouſly thought by Leonardus Aretinus, and his Followers. And he boldly affirmeth, that ſpeech depends not on reaſon, but example: neither will he hear of any other law therein, but obſeruation; or that the Art it ſelf had any ground or foundation, but in cuſtome.

Experience alſo confirms, that if wee ſpeak not according to cuſtom, few or none will giue vs hearing: and, amongſt thoſe that will, the moſt part of them will deride vs, becauſe they cannot vnderſtand our meaning. Whereupon, 1 Cor. 14.11 the Apoſtle ſaith, If I know not the meaning of the voice, I ſhall be vnto him that ſpeaketh a Barbarian; and hee that ſpeaketh ſhall be a Barbarian vnto me.

Yet was this cuſtome limited by the iudgement of hearing: and therefore Cominius ſaith, Cuſtom, Reſt. l. 1. c. 11 concurring with the pleaſure of hearing, is the ſureſt rule and foundation of the latine language.

By Cuſtome, antient Authours vnderſtand the common form of ſpeaking vſed by the people; and eſpecially, as Quintilian ſaith, Inſt. Or. l. 1. c. 12 by conſent of that part of them that are learned. But, ſaith Cominius, Reſt. l. 1. c. 11 theſe learned muſt be ſuch as are leaſt tainted with grammaticall inſtructions, or corrupted with extern cuſtome: for, ſaith hee, Quintilian vnderſtood not the conſent of Grammarians; but of men, that by much knowledge and experience came by learning and vnderſtanding; as being exerciſed by frequent cuſtome of ſpeaking, both in priuate and in publique places; and of ſuch as reſorted daily to Princes Palaces; as, Cicero, Caeſar, Livius, Saluſtius, and the like, who as well in warre as peace were Courtiers; and joyned to their owne learning much other ſtudie and diligence in reading, and experiēce of all other matters that might inrich their Tongue in ſpeaking.

And if any man read Cicero's works de perfecto Oratore, and de claris Oratoribus, he ſhall alſo finde many ſentences of the judgement, pleaſure, meaſure, and ſweetnes of the ear: whereunto he concludes, all Tongues and euery ſpeech of man is tied, and muſt be ſubject; as well in proſe, as in verſe or poeſie: Ord. 3 for heerunto, ſaith hee, and not vnto Art, the Tongue and cuſtom of the antient Latines was ſubmitted.

In a verſe, we look, ſaith hee, as well to the beginning and middle, as the end thereof; and wee ſpoil all, if wee faile in any part: but in proſe, few mark the beginnings, but moſt mē mark the ending Cadences; which becauſe they appear and are taken notice of, they are to be varied, leſt they be rejected by the judicious, and through ſatiety growe odious.

But, ſaith he, leſt any man ſhould admire, how the very weakeſt ſort of thoſe that are vnlearned ſhould take notice of theſe ſounds & endings, wch the wiſeſt and moſt vnderſtanding hearers doe diſtinguiſh; let him knowe, that nature hath, as well in euery other thing as in this, a kind of ſtroke more then ordinary. For, euery man by a ſecret feeling diſcerneth thoſe things without Art, which are right or wrong in Art and reaſon; which, ſince they doe in pictures, ſtatua's, and in other workemanſhip, to whoſe vnderſtanding their inſtrument ſo well ſerues them not; they ſhew, they are much better able to judge of words, of numbers, and of voices. For, theſe are things that run with cōmon ſenſe: neither would Nature haue any man to be wholly without the knowledge of them. For, ſeeing art is produced out of nature; except ſhe moue nature and delight her, ſhee ſeemeth not indeed to haue done any thing. For, there is nothing that hath ſo neer an alliance with our ſoules, as numbers and voices: for, by them wee are provoked, inflamed, appeaſed, and growe timorous, & are brought to mirth and melancholie.

But, ſaith our Authour, as in verſe the Vulgar finde what is amiſſe: ſo in our proſe, if there be any haulting, they perceiue it. And they pardon not the Poet, though they wink at vs: yet inwardly they knowe, that what we alſo ſaid was neither apt nor perfect. Whereby, Cicero giues vs to vnderſtand, that all ſpeech, whether proſe or verſe, dependeth vpon the judgement of our hearing; and that it muſt by Orators, as well as Poets, be regarded, that euery man in hearing may be pleaſed.

And this is not only commanded by our antient Authours, but acknowledged and preſcribed by Grammarians: for, Diomedes is by Deſpauterius cited, ſaying thus; Wee muſt alwaies bee carefull of Good ſound, or pleaſant vtterance of words. l. 12. aut. 13. Noct. Attic. c. 19 Euphonia: for, Euphonia in words is ſometimes of more worth in ſpeech, then is Analogie or Grammar-precepts.

And Aulus Gellius (or, as late Criticks call him, Agellius) ſaith, Amongſt the eleganteſt Writers, there was more account made of the ſweet ſound of words and voices, called Euphonia by the Grecians; than of the rule or diſcipline which was obſerued by the Grammarians.

But let Gellius, Macrobius, or others, ſay what they pleaſe; they almoſt all proceed by Art, and not by hearing, Reſt. 1.12 ſaith Cominius. And whatſoeuer they acknowledge in this kinde, they ſtill return to Grammar, Ib. 13 and leaue the vſe and cuſtome of ſpeech, that hath been ſo much celebrated by our Anceſtours.

Had Cominius read the Preface to our Engliſh Grammar, he would doubtleſſe haue acknowledged, that our better ſort of School-maſters haue an honeſt deſire to follow the beſt, eaſieſt, and moſt ready way to languages: for, ſaith hee that wrote that Preface, It is not amiſſe if one, ſeeing by triall an eaſier and readier way than the common ſort of Teachers doo, would ſay what he hath proued, and for the commodity allowed; that other, not knowing the ſame, might by experience proue the like, and then by proof reaſonable judge the like: not heerby excluding the better way when it is found; but in the meane ſeaſon forbidding the worſe. Yet I muſt needs with Cominius confeſſe, They ſtill reflect vpon ſome Grammar: for, all this ſpeech hath relation to our common Grammar; and that, becauſe they know not how to bring that way of cuſtome into practice.

For, though ſome will grant, that in the vulgar languages of Nations, Vſe and Cuſtome may doo much: yet for ſuch Tongues as haue their maine foundation in the works of antient Writers, and are now in vſe onely amongſt Scholars, they cannot think of any courſe, but onely Grammar.

And yet I make no doubt, but theſe men wil grāt, that the beſt and moſt imitable part of Cuſtome, whether in languages extinct or flouriſhing, conſiſts in Authors; and that (as well in Greek & Latine, as any other vſuall Tongues) there is no want of worthy Authors. Now, we that deſire not to follow the droſſe of Cuſtom, but the purity; what ſhould keep vs from learning languages alſo by written Vſe and Cuſtome? which is common, not alone to thoſe that are in daily vſe; but alſo ſuch as are extinguiſhed.

They 'l ſay, In ſuch as are extinct we cannot hear or imitate the cuſtome of their natiue Tone, their accent and deliuery.

'Tis true: but, finding none aliue that may bee made our lawful Iudges heerin, let euery man hold that to bee the beſt that's judged beſt by his owne Nation.

They 'l tell me, that the ſame in euery School is at this Preſent put in practice.

I acknowledge, it is done as well as their Grammar-bounds will ſuffer it: but, this is but Grammaticè. I would haue it, as the Authours themſelues would haue it, to bee done Latinè, and without the Grammar.

But, this reducement of Cuſtome to practice, Obiections. 2 hath been thought firſt impoſſible; and then, ridiculous: impoſſible, becauſe it neither is nor hath been found out, nor heard of; ridiculous, in that, beeing to be done without the rules of Grammar, it would bee done without all reaſon, and ſuch as learn ſhould learn like Parrats.

Th' objection of impoſſibility makes mee ſmile, Sol. 1 that knowe and finde it feſible: and that inference [it cannot] drawn and wreſted from [it is, or hath not] breeds but a deceitfull argument.

About the being ridiculous, Sol. 2 becauſe thought to be without reaſon; is but a ridiculous reaſon: for, though I knowe the world to bee poſſeſt, that hee onely giues a reaſon that giues a Grammar-rule; yet, if I ſhould ask them what were the reaſon of that rule, it were impoſſible that they ſhould giue me any other reaſon then this written Cuſtome or Authority. Wherefore, theirs and ours is one and the ſame reaſon: different in nothing, but that they relie on the Dependent; wee, on the Principall: which I hould the better and the neerer reaſon, and the reaſon of their reaſon. And yet, if I be not deceiued, there is a greater difference: for, Grammarians, in th' expoſition of Authours, tell their ſcholars, that this or that conſtruction is by reaſon of this or that rule; but truth it ſelf will tell vs otherwiſe: for, out of thoſe Authours, this or that was made a rule, by reaſon of this or that conſtruction. And, in my poore opinion, it is a more allowable anſwer to ſay, Cicero ſaid ſo; than to ſay, Priſcianus ſaies that Cicero ſaid ſo.

Some, that are thus far conuinced and brought forward, fall vpon this block of opinion, that they are bound (as, of this, or that Vniuerſity) to defend Grammar: which is like that old and rotten poſition, Wee are bound rather to erre with the multitude, than to follow truth with two or three.

But theſe are ſuch as doe not perceiue, that in Grammatica there is a thing required beſides the name and ſhadow thereof. The thing is that, that they are tied vnto; which is, the Art of writing & of ſpeaking rightly (which, though it may bee vnderſtood of Grammar in the firſt ſimplicity; yet let vs now take it as they doe): this thing if it be not to be found in ordinary Grammars, they are bound to ſeek it elſewhere; and where they really do find it, there to honour and obſerue it; whether vnder name or title of Grammatica, Logonomia, or what elſe ſoeuer, ſo the thing be there: for, though it ſhould haue the propereſt name in opinion that might be; if the thing bee abſent, all's but deceit and vanity. And, for mine owne part, I haue as long ſuckt the milk of Vniuerſities, and acknowledge as much reſpect and obedience vnto them, as many others; and therfore haue ſome reaſon to knowe their motherly loue to be ſuch, that, what we receiue, they had rather ſhould turne to holeſome and effectuall nouriſhment, than a ſeeming and diſeaſing fulneſs. But, let deeds diſpute the reſt, and let vs returne to Cuſtome: in which, I had rather ſatisfie the world with other mens authority, than mine owne opinion.

And to this purpoſe Cominius ſaith, Reſt. 1.13. If wee would followe the example of auntient Authors, Orators, Hiſtorians, and Poets, either in Latine, or in Greeke; and ſhould be exerciſed in their cuſtome of ſpeaking, which wee finde within their writings; Ib. 1.11. there is no doubt but wee may arriue vnto their very height of elegancy.

But, there are fower eſpeciall reaſons, alledged by mine Author, why fewe, or none perceiue the cuſtome of the Auntients.

Firſt, they put whatſoeuer they would ſpeake, word for word, into an other language, in the ſame order wherin they ſpeake it in their owne. Now, though this may in ſome fall out well; yet there are manie ſpeaches, ſentences, prouerbs, ſayings and authorities, of two wordes onely, or of moe; which, tranſlated into three or foure languages, are to be ſet downe in euery one after a diuerſe order, and other wordes are to bee receiued. For, euery tongue hath proper and peculiar words, which are neither agreeable to other tongues, or lyable to trā ſlation; by which the eleganter ſayings, the grauer ſentences, and the more vſuall prouerbs are eſpecially cōpoſed. Wherfore they are deceyued, which ſpeake according to the order of other languages: which is knowne to be much vſed, & moſt amongſt the more vnlearned.

Secondly: though ſuch as follow Grammar, and are a middle ſort of Scholars, do not alwayes tranflate verbally; yet they ſpeak not by the order, and cuſtome of the Auntients; but, place their words after a grammaticall order, and conſtruction; rather obeying the rules, and precepts of Grammarians, than the cuſtome of the Auntients, and the iudgement of hearing: which is contrarie to the precepts of Cicero.

Thirdly: though the learned ſort, and ſuch as would be called Poets, and Orators, tranſlate not alwayes word for word; nor doe euery where obſerue a grammaticall conſtruction: yet they come not neere the Latine elegancie; as hauing beene brought vp from their child-hood by th' Art of Grammar, and Analogy. They take a pride to frame new words, without regard vnto the iudgement of the eare: which though they bee ſometymes placed according to the order of the Auntients, yet are they harſh, and without elegancie; becauſe they are not moderated, and meaſured by th' eare, as their Aunceſtors would haue them.

Fourthly: the greater part of men, and eſpecially of the learneder ſort, are aſhamed forſooth, to ſpeak in the ſame words, and in the ſame order placed, that the Auntients ſpake them; leſt it might be caſt in their teeth, that they knew not how to ſpeak of themſelues, without vſing the wayes, and words of others.

From theſe fore-alledged reaſons, there ariſe (ſaith hee) innumerable Soloeciſm's, and Barbariſms, not onely in the Latine, but all other languages: of which, ſaith he, Grammarians dream many things; but I dare ſay, that fewe of them know what either a Soloeciſm, or a Barbariſm meaneth; becauſe they make all to haue relation to their Grammar. And I ſo much the rather beleeue him, in that Our Thomaſius Dictionary tranſlates the word Soloeciſmus, Incongruitie; euen to th' eleuenth Edition. And, ſaith he, By how much the more they endeauour to flee theſe Solaeciſms, ſo much the more and oftner by their rules and precepts doo they fall into them. For, Inſt. Or. l. 1. c. 9 Quintilian ſaith, Soloeciſmus non eſt in ſenſu, ſed in complexu; is not in the ſenſe, but in the diſpoſition of the words, or foulding of them one with another: Ib. which in * another place he makes more manifeſt; ſaying, A Soloeciſme is an inconuenient placing of laſt and firſt together in a ſpeech of one ſentence; meaning, by inconvenient, that which is not in vſe among the antient Writers. For, whatſoeuer is in vſe, is neither inconuenient, nor a Soloeciſm.

Now, let Grammarians conſider the deceit of their Art: for, I will proue, ſaith hee, that they introduce many Soloeciſmus and Barbariſms in the latine language; and I will admit of no other teſtimonies heerin, then ſuch as are of their owne profeſſion. For Servius, which is called the Prince of Grammarians, writeth, that the Art of Grammar commandeth many precepts to be followed, againſt cuſtome, and the vſe of antient Authours. So ſaith Nonius Marcellus alſo: which being true, it neceſſarily followes, that they command and teach men many Soloeciſms. And that made Servius ſay, The authority of th' Antients confoundeth Art; and Quintilian, that there are ſome things that cannot be deliuered by Art: l. 9. c. 4. for, if the caſe wee beganne withall be harſh, it is to be changed: wherein hee ſheweth, that all grammaticall proceedings ſhould be altered, if th' ear be not well pleaſed. And that made Cicero ſay, In Or. Wee ought rather to offend in Art, than in the ſweetnes of the eare. Which, Nonius Marcellus ratifieth; ſhewing, that caſes, genders, tenſes, conjugations, declenſions, and all other grammaticall precepts, are often changed by antient Authours, againſt the rules and precepts of Grammarians; as well in proſe, by Cicero, Livius, l. 1.14. Reſt. Saluſtius, and the like; as in verſe, by Catullus, Virgilius, Ovidius, Lucanus, and other of the beſt & worthieſt Poets. And thus they wound themſelues, ſaith he, with their owne weapons.

Aſcham, citing the words of Salustius, l. 2. f. 66. Multis ſibi quiſ que imperium petentibus, ſaith; I beleeue, the beſt Grammarian in England can ſcarſe giue a good rule, why quiſque, the nominatiue caſe without any Verb, is ſo thruſt vp amongſt ſo many oblique caſes. I muſt confeſſe, he condemns him for it: but, by Mr. Aſchams leaue, if I could not better out of better Authors expreſſe my ſelf, I had rather truſt Saluſt in the Latine, than Mr. Aſcham.

It followes therefore, that they labour in vaine, that hope to write or ſpeak eloquent Latine, or other languages; and would make their way thereunto by learning or following Grammar. For (as it is ſaid) if the laſt did juſtly and deſeruedly reprehend the former, then could not the former teach vs to write or ſpeak rightly: but, if the laſt did vndeſeruedly reprehend the reſt, it is impoſſible that hee ſhould teach vs. Now, if nor firſt nor laſt can teach vs, then may we juſtly cōclude with our alledged Authors, that of Grāmarians there's none cā teach vs. Reſt. l. 1.15. Wherefore, Cominius aboue an hundred years ſince ſaid, It was neceſſary that we ſhould expect others: but, if any man would further knowe why or to what end we ſhould expect them, hee is lately moſt learnedly anſwered; Vic. S. Alb. Org. mag. vel Reſt. Mag. Vt res de integro tentetur melioribus praeſidijs.

And thoſe that are expected to new-mould the way to languages, muſt draw their courſe by Vſe and Cuſtome, till Babel be reformed by Zorobabel.

For, l. 1.15. R. ſaith Cominius, if wee exerciſe our ſelues in Vſe and Cuſtome, we ſhall ſooner, eaſier, and more ſecurely attain vnto the elegancy of the latine language; than by art, or all the rules thereof: for, by exerciſe of reading, writing, and ſpeaking after antient Cuſtome, wee ſhall conceiue three things which are of greateſt moment in any languages: firſt, the true and certain declining and conjugating of words, and all things belonging to Grammar, will without labour, and whether wee will or no, thruſt themſelues vpon vs.

Secondly, wee ſhall taſte of the manner of ſpeaking vſed by the Antients, together with the elegancy, grace, pleaſure, and delightfulneſſe of the Latine.

Thirdly, we ſhall get the judgement of the eare, and retaine the ſame for euer: which, Grammar cannot helpe vs to; in that it is imperfect, and beguileth vs.