Cap. 1. Of Letters.

GRAMMAR is the Art of Writing, and Speaking well.

This consisteth in the insti­tution of Letters, Syllables, and Words.

There bee twentie-four Let­ters, which are written either with small characters; as, a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s s t u v w x y z; or with great, thus; A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z, which are called Capital letters.

These Capitals are used, 1. In the begining of any matter. 2. After a Period, or full point. [Page 2]3. In the begining of a vers. 4. In proper names of all sorts, whether they happen in the begining, middle, or end. 5. In names of Arts, Offices or any other word of special note in a sentence, though it bee not proper, but common. 6. In the personal Pronoun I. In other cases the small letters are to bee used.

The letters are divided into Vowels and Con­sonants.

A Vowel is a letter which maketh a full and perfect sound of it self.

Vowels.There bee five Vowels, a e i o u, besides the Greek Vowel y.

Of these coming together are made Diph­thongs.

Diphth.A Diphthong is one sound made of two vow­els.

Diphthongs are either proper or improper.

Prop.Proper, wherein both Vowels are fully soun­ded.

Of proper Diphthongs there bee eight, name­ly, ai ei oi, au eu ou, ee oo.

Ay ey oy are Diphthongs, and have the same sound with ai ei oi, saving that these are com­monly used in the beginning and middle of a word; those in the end, as in these examples, air, fair, either, heifer, oister, cloister; but say, may, whey, prey, joy, annoy.

Aw ew ow are Diphthougs also, and have the same sound with au eu ou, saving that ow is soun­ded slat and soft; ou sharp and shrill: and they [Page 3]are all used indifferently in the begining or middle of a word; but in the end aw ew ow one­ly; as, auger, awl, eunuch, ewer, out-gate, owner; so fraud, bawl, leud, jewel, cloud, knowledg; but law, saw, brew, chew, know, blow, &c. except thou, you, adieu, and the words to bee reformed, vid. Cap. 5.

Rule.When any of these two Vowels com together in a word, they make a Diphthong, and must bee sounded together; as in faith, neither, join, aul, eunuch, trout, seed, food.

Except. 1.Except in these words, laïtie, Mosaïck-work, deïtie, Atheïst, Stoïck, moïtie, doing, re-ënter, re­ëdifie, re-ëxtend, re-ïnform, re-ïterate, pre-ëminence. Dier.

Exc. 2.Except likewise, for the most part in proper names throughout the Bible; as,

• ai in Laïsh, Jaïr, Ephraïm, Sepharvaïm.
• ei in Beth-bireï, Ceïlan, Edreï, Hakkoreïm.
• oi in Chamoïs, Loïs, Toï, Zeboïm.
• au in Arehelaüs, Emmaüs, Nicholaüs.
• eu in Alpheüs, Bartimeüs, Peülthaï.
• ee in Azreël, Be [...]rsheba, Bezaleël.
• oo in Boöz, C [...]ös, add Boötes, &c.

Lim.Yet in these proper names following, som of these two Vowels are sounded together like Diphthongs; as in Cain, Cainan, Theudas, Reuben, Eustace, Zaleuchus, Beelzebub.

Diphth. Imp.Improper Diphthongs are such, wherein one of the Vowels is but little, or not at all sounded: of which sort there bee onely three, ea oa ie.

Examples of the two first, are these; earth, [Page 4]wealth, boat, woad. In both which Diphthongs a is not sounded; yet it serveth to draw the syl­lable long, which otherwise would bee short, as in beast, best; bread, bred; goad, god; coast, cost; goat, got.

And when either of these two Vowels com together in a word, they are not to bee parted, but sounded together.

Except in beätitude, creätor, creätion, reäl, the­ätre.

Except likewise generally all proper names of men, women, cities and countries; as, ea in Eleäza, Apameä, Cesareä, Gibeäh; oa in Abinoäm, Bagoäs, Boänerges, Gilboäh.

Examples of the Diphthong (ie) are these, wield, shield, field, chief, kerchief, brief, relief, grief, griev's, reliev's, cavalier, cashier, enterfier, siege, leige, shriev, Lievtenant, siev, at chiev, priest, friend, pierce, piece.

In which words (i) is not sounded, yet serveth to draw the syllable long: and this Diphthong (ie) is sounded like (ee) Diphthong as friend, like freend, and grief, as greef.

These vowels (ie) meeting together in other words whether proper or common, are usually parted as in Daniel. Ethiel, so in tied, espied, ex­cept they happen in the end of a word as, mer­rie, charitie, for then they are sounded toge­ther.

Ae oe are Latine, but no English Diphthongs, & therefore the English for them, do both write [Page 5]and sound the single e, as in equitie, Cesar, Egypt, female, Phenix, tragedie; of aequitas, Caesar, Ae­gyptus, foemina, Phoenix, tragoedia.

Note.This was general: but now borrowed words of rare use, especially proper names, begin to resume these Diphthongs, for marks of their original; as, Aeneas, Aetna, Euboea, oeconomie.

The French have two Triphthongs eau and ieu, as in beau and lieu, but wee make them Diph­thongs by changing u vowel into v consonant, either single or dubble, as, Lievtenant, liew, beawtie.

Conso­nant.A consonant is a letter which maketh a sound by the help of a vowel.

All letters besides the vowels are called con­sonants, som whereof are termed dubble, be­caus they have the force of two consonants, as, z and x y z of d and s: x of c and s.

To the consonants may bee added j v and y when they are set before themselvs or other vowels in the same syllable; as,

• J in James, Jericho, Jimnah, Joseph, Judas,
• V in Valentine, velome, viands, voluptuous, vulgar.
• Y in Yarmouth, yeerly, yoke.

Here note that j and v beeing consonants, have a different Character from the vowels, which in writing is diligently to bee observed, as in these Examples, injoin, jointure, injunction, so valor, venom, vulgar.

Likewise j and y beeing consonants, differ in sound; as in jet, yet, jew, yew, jeer, yeer.

Use of y Con. 1Beeing vowels they have the same sound, and y beeing a Greek vowel, is rightly used every where in words originally Greek, as Chrystal, Polypus, Apocrypha, Apocalyps. Use of y Con. 2 And common use hath allowed it in the end of other English words, insomuch that i and y are in that place used indifferently, as bountie or bounty.

Use of y Con. 3Also when two ii com together y hath com­monly the place of the former, as burying, saying, denying: and somtimes when e followeth, as marryeth, denyeth.

Somtimes j doth so com betwixt two vowels, that it may bee taken indifferently for a vowel or a consonant, as Benai-ah, or Bena-jah, Micai­ah, or Micajah, Jehoi-akim or Jeho-jakim, &c.

Note.Here is to bee noted that som consonants have not alwaies the same sound as c ch g p s t th. C strong C before a o oo u is sounded strong like k, as in cat, coat, coot, cut.

C weak. C before e i y and ee, is sounded weak like s, as in censer, cider, cypres, exceed.

Ch. Ch in all pure English words, hath a pe­culiar sound differing from other languages, both before the five vowels and after.

Before them as in chance, cheap, chine, choke. churl.

After them, as in ache, reach, rich, roch, such.

So the La­tins sound Ch as in Charites, Chelys, Chiragra, Chorus, Chus, Chi­tus.But generally in all words derived of the Hebrew or Greek, it hath the sound of k, in a­ny part of the word.

Examples hereof in the first syllable before the five vowels. [Page 7]

• Character, Chedorlaomer, Chios, Chorazin, Chushite

Examples hereof in the second syllable.

• Achan, Archelaüs, Lachish, Achor, Malchus.

Examples in the last syllable after the five vowels.

• Berodach, Melcbisedech, [...] Antioch, Baruch.

And in all other such like names or words conteined in the Bible or elswhere: except in these, Rachel, Cherubim, Tychicus, Arch-Bishop, Arch-Duke, Architect, Arch-enemie, Arch-pirate.

G G Somtimes hath it's own proper sound, somtimes the sound of j consonant.

G hard.Before a o oo and u it hath its proper sound, which is hard, as in gad, god, good, gug. And generally in English words before the other vowels e and i, as in get, target, bragget, geld, an­ger, hanger, conger, linger, ringer, finger, dagger, bragger, stagger, swagger, beggar, vineger, hunger, cager, meager, monger, anger, beggar, geer, gees.

So before i as in begin, biggin, giddie, gift, gig, giglet, gild, gimlet, Ginnie-hen, gird, girdle, girl, girth, Girton, giv, Gibbon. And in the Deri­vatives of both sorts; so in hangeth, hanging, longeth, longing, belongeth, belonging, stringeth, stringing, swingeth, swinging, of the Primitives ending in g strong, viz. hang, long, belong, string, swing. Except in these few, genet, gellie, gemow, gin, gibe gibbet. Except likewise in the dedu­ced wotds of Primitives ending in g weak, as in, [Page 8]

• ages of age
• stages of stage
• cages of cage
• barges of barge
• arges of large
• charger of charge
• twinged of twinge
• fringed of fringe
• verger of verge.
• forger of forge.
• urging of urge.
• purging of purge.
• ranger of range.
• granges of grange.
• swinged of swinge.
• plunged of plunge, &c.

G soft.But before e and i in words derived of the Latine, g is sounded soft like j consonant, as in Agent, George, gentle, gentilitie, gem, gentile, gene­rositie, generation, gender, genealogie, genitor, Gene­sis, Geometrie, gesture. So giant, ginger, clergie, imagin, gipsie, &c. And in the Derivatives of all these.

Phe. Ph is used onely in words derived of the Greek or Hebrew, and hath the sound of F, as in Pharisee, Philosophie, physick, triumph, Pharez, Epitaph.

S S hath two characters, one long s, to bee used in the begining and middle of words; another short s, which is commonly final, as in sisters, sessions. vid. Chap. 6. Rule 9.

S between two vowels is alwaies sounded as z, as in easie, bosom, &c. so in as, was, is, his, phrase, glase, grase, and many more words: also in these eight following, beeing Verbs s is sounded as z, viz. to abuse, excuse, use, muse, refuse, present, leas, greas; but beeing Nouns, it is sounded weak according to [Page 9]its propertie, as an abuse; &c.

Ti. Ti, before a vowel soundeth si, as in Egyptian, patience, nation, &c.

Exc. 1.Except where it followeth s or x, as in question, combustion, bestial, mixtion.

Exc. 2.Or in the deduced, of words in ti, such as are, crafty, lofty, hearty, haughty, naughty, mighty, weighty, dainty, scanty, pity, &c. as, craftier, lof­tier, weightiest, pittieth, daintier, daintiest, &c.

Th. Th, is commonly sounded with a brisk air like the Greek Theta, and somtime with a more heavie and flat sound.

This sound was antiently written with the Aspirat letter d.In these words following, it hath a flat sound, that, the, them, then, thence, their, there, these, this, thine, thou, though, thus, fatham, father, furthest, thither, worthy, brothel, and generally in words of more then one syllable ending in ther, thed, theth, thest, thing.

In all other words, it hath a brisk air like the sound of a Greek Theta, as in thank, theft, third, thong, thumb.

CHAP. 2. Of Syllables and the Rules to divide them.

OF Vowels and Consonants are made Syllables.

A syllable is the comprehension of one con­sonant or more with a vowel, pronounc'd with [Page 10]one breath, as, if, the, stif, black, French, Knights, strength.

Any of the five vowels make a perfect sound alone, and may bee reckoned as a syllable, as in a-bate, e-very, i-vie, o-pinion, u-surie.

So most of the Diphthongs as au-ger, Eu-stace, ow, ai-der, ei-ther, oi-ster, ea-ten, oa-ten-meal.

Note.This particle es in the end of a word, som­times is swallowed up in the sound of the pre­cedent syllable: somtimes it make's a syllable of it self, and such words so ending are com­monly either Nouns of the plural Number, or Verbs of the third person singular.

In these following es is swallowed up.

In these it maketh a Syllable.

So also in all proper names as Maccha-bes, Phares, Mo-ses, &c. except James, and in som com­mon as aloës; Jubiles, Epitomes.

Rules 5.There bee five rules for the dividing or spel­ling of any word, whereof the first is this:

Rule 1.1. If two Vowels com together in a word, both fully sounded, and no Diphthong, they must bee divided; as in qui-et, mu-tu-al, tri-umph, co-ëternal, co-ëqual.

Rule 2.2. If the same Consonant bee dubbled in the middle of a word, they must bee divided; as in Abba, accord, adder, affect, aggravate, &c.

Except such Consonants as are needlessly dubbled in words of the plural number; as in crabbes, roddes, cliffes, nagges, crummes, gunnes, croppes, curres; for crabs, rods, cliffs, nags, crums, guns, crops, curs, cuts, and in all such like words; which needless dubbling of the Consonant, either in the plural or singular number, is in our writing altogether to bee omitted: for it is in vain to write a word with many letters, when it may bee written with few.

Lim. 1.But s is somtimes necessarily dubbled; name­ly, when the Vowel preceding fitteth hard up­on it; otherwise not; as in these examples doth appear.

Lim. 2.So l is commonly dubbled after a single Vowel in the end of a word, as in wall, well, still, roll, full; but not after a Diphthong, as in mail, foil, &c.

Lim. 3.Likewise I finde in som very good Autors r doubled in the end of a word, where the sound resteth long upon it, as in abhorr, deterr, averr.

Lim. 4.Lastly the Consonant is dubbled in these words folllowing; Anne, a canne, Inn, adde, pill'd, pinn'd, demurr'd, enterre, to make a diffe­rence from words of the like sound; as, an, can in, ad, pil'd, pin'd, immur'd, enter. But in all o­ther words, a single Consonant is sufficient in the end.

Rule 3.One Consonant between two Vowels, is joined to the later; as in a-vail, ba-boun, a-ma-zed, animaie, de-li-ver.

Exc. 4.There bee four Exceptions from this rule.

• 1. Of certain words ending in es.
• 2. Of compounded words,
• 3. Of derivative words.
• 4. Of words wherein x is conteined.

Exc. 1.There bee certain words of the plural num­ber ending in es, which termination is swal­lowed up in the sound of the precedent syllable, as before was shewed, which follow not this rule; as, hides, drakes, biles, names, bones, ropes, wires, brutes: so in all other Nouns and Verbs of like sort and ending.

Exc. 2.A Compounded word is made of two simple words signifying somthing, wherein every simple word must retein its own letters, and the consonant go with its part; as,

• trades-man not tra-des-man.
• save-gard not sa-ve-gard.
• where-fore not whe-re-fore.
• hence-forth not hence-forth.

• an-other not a-no-ther.
• un-arm'd not u-narm'd.
• un-even not u-neven.
• dis-appoint not di-sappoint.

Exc. 3.A Derivative word is when the last part of a word is an addition onely to the Primitive, and signifie's nothing of it self, wherein the Primitive must bee sounded by it self, and the Addition by it self; as, hope-less, lame-ness, friend-ly, entice-ment.

Other Derivatives, whose Addition begin­neth with a Vowel, commonly follow the ge­neral rule aforegoing, touching Primitives; And if the Primitive also end in e, then e is synco­pated; as in, [Page 14]

• en-ti-cing of en-tice.
• en-di-ting of en-dite.
• re-pi-neth of re-pine.
• re-qui-reth of re-quire.
• en-qui-reth of en-quire.
• a-ba-teth of a-bate.

Exc. 4. X in any word must bee joined to the Vow­el going before it, contrarie to the general rule; as in Ox-en, ex-ercise: the reason is, be­caus x hath the sound of two Consonants, c s, which cannot begin a syllable.

Rule 4.Two Consonants, which may bee joined in the begining of a word, are not to bee separa­ted in the middle; as, a-gree, be-stow, re-frain, re-store.

The two Consonants that may begin a word are thirtie.

• Bl as in blame
• Br as in bread
• Ch as in chaf
• Cl as in cloud
• Cr as in creep
• Dr as in draw
• Dw as in dwell
• Fl as in flame
• Fr as in fret
• Gl as in glass
• Gn as in gnat
• Gr as in grace
• Kn as in know
• Pl as in play
• Pr as in prais
• Sc as in scant
• Sh as in shall
• Sk as in skin
• Sp as in speed
• St as in stand
• Sl as in stow
• Sm as in smart
• Sn as in Snuf
• Sq as in squib
• Sw as in sway
• Th as in that
• Tr as in trap
• Tw as in twain
• Wh as in when
• Wr as in wroth

Other Consonants are divided, as in god-ly, wis-dom, wil-der-ness.

Rule 5.Three Consonants that may bee joined in the beginning of a word, may not bee separa­ted in the middle; as in con-strain, en-thral, de­struction.

The three Consonants that may begin a word are nine.

• Sch as in school
• Scr as in scraps
• Shr as in shrink
• Skr as in skrew
• Spl as in split
• Spr as in spring
• Str as in stroke
• Thr as in thrall
• Thw as in thwart

Other Consonants are divided, as in im-ploy, king-dom.

Exc.From these two last rules there is this Excep­tion. In compounded words each simple word must retein its own letters, as in these examples,

• mis-take not mi-stake
• mis-like not mi-slike
• mis-lead not mi-slead
• dis-lodg not di-slodg
• dis-close not di-sclose
• dis-miss not di-smiss

So trans-pose, not tra-nspose, nor tran-spose; cramp-ring, not cra-mpring, nor cram-pring.

If these rules, for the dividing and spelling of words, seem too many, and too intricate; take this one general rule in stead of them all.

☜Syllables are so to bee divided in spelling, as they are in speaking: and so consequently in writing at the line's end; as in all the fore-cited examples may appear.

Cap. 3. Of e final, and the uses thereof.

Rule E Single, in the end of a word, is never soun­ded.

Exc. 1.Except, first in these Monosyllables, the me be he ye we.

Exc. 2. Secondly in som outlandish word; as Fesse, Zan­che, Conge, and the like.

Exc. 3. Thirdly in words derived of the Hebrew and Greek, as Jesse, jubile, Mamre, Ninive, Abilene, Candace, Cloe, Daphne, Gethsemane, Penelope, Epi­tome, and all words of the like sort, except Eu­siace, Bernice.

In other words wherein e final is not soun­ded,E silent. there bee divers reasons and uses thereof.

Use 1.The first and chiefest is to draw the syllable long, which otherwise without it, must bee sounded short, as in these examples following may bee seen.

• To curs and ban, is children's bane.
• Hee lanced my bile with the point of his bil.
• Good boy let mee bite of thine apple one bit.
• At Spring, Ile bathe my self in a bath.
• If I list I can break your pate with my cane.
• A scolding dame duck't in a Mill-dam.
• Meat that's faught far is Ladies fare.
• A branch of fir good for the fire.
• [Page 17]The Jailour will giv nothing but a cold give.
• To have one hop I am out of hope.
• With apples this lad I'le presently lade.
• Hee saith hee will liv as long as hee can see one alive.
• Som say a Cat liv's full out nine lives.
• Bad usage hath made many a man mad.
• Command your man to cut my hors mane.
• It's full two mile to the next mill.
• Of debt, I will quit, and discharge you quite.
• That the waie wee may rid, apace let us ride.
• The poor will scrape up every scrap.
• Som men will stare all night on a Star.
• I got a tun of wine for the tune of a song.
• Oft-times one twin about th' other doth twine.
• A pint of good wine you doo not win.
• A scratch with a whin, will make a boy whine.
• To him I will write about sending a writ.

As in the examples afore, e after one con­sonant, draw's the syllable long: so after two divers consonants, it somtime effecteth the same, as in finde, minde, winde, rinde, binde, waste, paste, taste, writhe, tithe, childe; which otherwise should bee pronounced short.

But these words following have a privilege and custom to bee pronounced long without e in the end, as bold, cold, told, scold, bolt, colt, dolt, [Page 18]most, ghost, both, Ruth: but it were better for learner and teacher, if e were written after them.

Use 2.The second use of e final not sounded, is to change the sound of these two letters, e, g, First it softneth the sound of c, as in ace, place, lice, truce, justice; whereas otherwise it soun­deth strong like k, as in ac-cept ac-count; and not onely alone, but joined with another con­sonant, as in chance, scarce, &c.

Further, it softneth the sound of g, which otherwise would bee strong, as ag, age, stag, stage, cag, cage, hug, huge, &c. also in range, grange, strange, twinge, swinge, fringe, plunge; whereas the like words without e, have a hard sound, as rang, swang, twang, long, string, swing.

Note.Note, that if g bee hard with a long vowel, ue is added, as plague, rogue, Prague, the Hague, catalogue, decalogue, prologue, epilogue, dialogue, Synagogue, collogue, league, prorogue, tongue.

But if it bee soft with a short vowel, it hath d prefixed, as badg, ledg, bridg, lodg, judg.

Use 3.The third use of e final, is for beautie (as they say) rather then necessitie after i, o, and u; as in charitie, mercie, virtue, argue, toe, foe, &c.

But here it altereth not the sound at all, ex­cept that after i, it maketh it to sound more gently like the diphthong ee as charitie, like charitee.

If e sinal bee used in any word, without any of the foresaid reasons, it is superfluous and might better bee omitted.

CHAP. 4. Of divers other Letters not sounded, and the reason thereof.

a A is not sounded in Jaacob, Isaac, Caiaphas, Canaanite, Sabbaoth, Pharaob, beeing ori­ginally Hebrew.

e e, In George, deduced of Georgius.

i i, In adieu, juice, pursuit, bruit, fruit, suit, bruis, beeing originally French: yet in the five last it draw's the syllable long.

o o, Is not sounded in people, Yeoman, jeopardie, Feoffee.

u u, Is ever put after q, with another vowel, as in, quaf, queen, quick, quilt, &c. which is here judged superfluous and fit to bee omitted, for that q, hath the sound of cu.

u, Is also somtime added after g, with an­other vowel, yet never sounded, as in guide, guest, guile, &c. to strengthen it that it may sound hard, so in plague, &c. vid. pag. 18.

u, Is not sounded in buy, build, conduit, cir­cuit.

b b, In lamb, climbe, kemb, comb, tomb, womb, thumb, debt, debtor, doubt, bdellium; which is su­perfluous, except in the four last.

k k, Is not sounded in back, deck, sick, rock, suck, &c. and the Latines make the same sound with c alone, as lac, nec, dic, hoc, duc. And ma­ny [Page 20]of our best Autors begin to write words de­duced of the Latin, with c alone, as, public, catholic, rhetoric..

g g, Is not sounded in sign, resign, assign, de­sign; reign, arraign, sovereign, disdeign, flegm.

h h, In Christ, Christopher, Thomas, Chrystal, Chrysostom, Chronicle, Chronographie, chronologie, ghost, John, scholar, autoritie, Rhene, Rhenish, Rhe­torick, schedule, schism.

n n Is not pronounc'd in solemn, hymn, autumn, column, condemn, yet it shew's from whence they are deduced.

s s is not sounded in Isle.

o o is not sounded in righteous, glorious, frivolous, victorious, nor in any English word of the like writing.

o u likewise is not sounded in labour, favour, honour, nor in any words of the like ending, beeing all derived of Latine words ending in or and now are so writen by the best Autors.

☞Two reasons there bee (besides what was said before) of this writing som letters not sounded.

Reas. 1.One is to shew the Idiom of our English tongue, as when wee write virtuous and pro­nounce virtuus.

Reas. 2.Another is to shew the derivation of a word, as b in debt, doubt, g in sign, reign. s in Isle, p. in psalm; becaus they com of debitum, dubium, signum, regnum, insula, psalmus; and where there is no reason for writing a letter [Page 21]not sounded, it is superfluous and to bee omitted.

Cap. 5. Of words sounded otherwise then they are writen.

Sort. 1.1. WEe write first, third, bird, dear, ear, hear, heard. Which vulgarly are sounded furst, thurd, burd, deer, eer, heer, hard. Here this sound must bee reformed, and made agreeable to the writing.

Sort. 2.2. Wee write he, be, me, ye, we, even, evill, de­vill, with e single: but sound them as writen with ee Diphthong thus, hee, bee, mee, yee, wee, eeven, eevill, deevil: so alwaies in the preposi­tive particle be as in begin, behold, beseech, it is writen with e single, but sounded like ee Diphthong.

Sort. 3.3. Wee write o single in these words follow­ing; but after the French manner sound it as oo Diphthong or u,

• afford is pronounc'd affoord
• monday is pronounc'd moonday
• force is pronounc'd foerce
• wort is pronounc'd woort
• wort bie is pronounc'd woorthie
• mother is pronounc'd moother
• brother is pronounc'd broother
• smother is pronounc'd smoother
• som is pronounc'd soom
• com is pronounc'd coom
• dom is pronounc'd doom
• don is pronounc'd doon
• [Page 22]doe is pronounced doo
• doest is pronounced dooest
• doth is pronounced dooth
• womb is pronounced woomb
• woman is pronounced wooman
• wonder is pronounced woonder
• wont is pronounced woont
• son is pronounced soon
• month is pronounced moonth
• honie is pronounced hoonie
• monie is pronounced moonie
• moved is pronounced mooved
• to is pronounced too
• two is pronounced twoo
• word is pronounced woord
• sword is pronounced swoord
• hord is pronounced hoord
• worm is pronounced woorm
• form is pronounced foorm
• work is pronounced woork
• love is pronounced loove
• glove is pronounced gloove
• move is pronounced moove
• wors is pronounced woors

Sort 4.4. Wee write ou diphthong in these words following, but after the French manner sound it as oo diphthong, or u; as for floud, courage, flourish, would, could, should, wee pronounce, blood, flood, coorage, floorish, woold, coold, shoold. So scourge, nourish, young, youth, double, trouble, wee pronounce, scurge, nurrish, yung, yuth, dubble, trubble.

In all which, whether our Writing should bee reformed, and made agreeable to the sound, I leav to the judgment of the Learned.

Sort 5.5 Wee write a single before l, but pro­nounce it as au diphthong in all these words following; as, [Page 23]

• all wee pronounce aul
• ball wee pronounce baul
• call wee pronounce caul
• fall wee pronounce faul
• gall wee pronounce gaul
• hall wee pronounce haul
• stall wee pronounce staul
• tall wee pronounce taul
• wall wee pronounce waul
• shall wee pronounce shaul
• admiral wee pronounce admiraul
• several wee pronounce severaul
• also wee pronounce aulso
• palsie wee pronounce paulsie
• fals wee pronounce fauls
• altar wee pronounce aultar
• alter wee pronounce aulter
• halter wee pronounce haulter
• salt wee pronounce sault
• malt wee pronounce mault
• bald wee pronounce bauld
• scald wee pronounce scauld

• calf wee pronounce cauf
• half wee pronounce hauf
• stalk wee pronounce stauk
• salv wee pronounce sauv
• calvs wee pronounce cauvs
• halvs wee pronounce hauvs
• walk wee pronounce waulk
• talk wee pronounce tauk
• balk wee pronounce bauk
• chalk wee pronounce chauk
• calkin wee pronounce caukin
• falcon wee pronounce faucon
• falchon wee pronounce fauchon
• folk wee pronounce fouk
• alms wee pronounce aums
• almond wee pronounce aumond
• balm wee pronounce baum
• calm wee pronounce caum
• palm wee pronounce paum
• psalm wee pronounce psaum
• shalm wee pronounce shaum
• malmsey wee pronounce maumsey
• qualm wee pronounce quaum

Note.In the two last columns of which words, l is swallowed up.

And this sound remaineth in the Com­pounds and derivatives of these words; as in Almightie, recall, downfal, almsdeeds, walking, talking, calmest, palmestrie, talness, falleth, &c.

Here our Writing need not bee altered, be­caus a before l beeing generally so sounded, it may pass for an Idiom of the English-tongue.

Exc.Except that in these few words following it hath a single sound; as in Ale, gale, gallant, scale, scal'd, shale, wale, wallet, mallet, fallow, hal­low.

Sort 6. gh is writen in many words, but little sounded; in these following it is sounded like f; and the diphthong in them looseth one of the vowels: as for laugh, cough, tough, enough, wee commonly say, laf, cof, tuf, enuf: but in these, howsoëver they bee pronounced, yet the wri­ting is true, and to bee continued.

Sort 7.Wee write these words following with ow, but sound them sharp, as ou in thou; name­ly, mow, now, cow, sow, how, bow, vowel, flower, power, fowl, crown: again, on the other side wee write som with ou, and sound them flat; as ow in know; viz. four, soul, ought, drought, trough, &c. But for writing ou and ow this is the rule, if reason may take place of corrupt custom.

Whensoëver the sound is soft and flat, in the begining, middle, or end of a word, ow is to bee used: but where it is sharp and shrill, ou; as,

• My father's bow I want strength to bou.
• The mowers will mow to fill the great mou.
• Som peas I'le sow to sat the sou.
• Hou can I pare the ground without a how.

Here by this means the words are distinguish­ed, which before, under one and the same man­ner of writing, had a dubble sound.

Chap. 6. Of certain Rules for the better reading and writing of som words.

Cap. 7. Hitherto of Letters, Syllables, and Words, as touching their Sound, and manner of Wri­ting; now I shall speak of Words as they are parts of the English Speech.

IN the English tongue (like as in the Latine) there bee eight parts: Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Participle; Adverb, Conjunction, Preposition, In­terjection.

Derivat. Chap. 8. Of Derivation.

IN respect of Derivation a word is said to bee Primitive, or Derivative.

A Primitive word is that, which floweth from no other; as, man.

A Derivative is that, which floweth from its Primitive; as, manly.

Subst. of Subst.Of Primitive Substantives are formed other Substantives three manner of ways.

Of certain Substantives signifying the mat­ter, by adding one of these particles er, yer, or ster, are formed other Substantives, denoting the Agent imployed about that matter; as, of

• Hat Hatter,
• Glove Glover,
• Garden Gardener,
• Gun Gunner,
• Forrest Forrester,
• Law Lawyer,
• Bow Bowyer,
• Game Gamester,
• Tap Tapster,
• Seam Seamster, &c.

Rule 2.Of certain Substantives signifying the per­son, by adding this particle ship are formed other Substantives, which hath the force of dignitie, or state, set before the Primitive; as, Apostle, Apostleship. i. the dignitie of an Apostle; Appren­tice, Apprenticeship, i. the state of an Apprentice: So Admiral, Captain, Lievtenant, Baylie, Stew­ard, Chancellor, Proctor, Doctor, Master, Fellow, Scholar, Tutor, Lord, Knight, Bur­gess, Elector, Constable, Friend, Suretie &c.

So this particle hood beeing added to som Substantives hath like signification; as, of Father Fatherhood, i. the dignitie of a Father. Child Childhood, i. the state of a Child. So brotherhood, falshood, manhood, womanwood &c.

Rule 3.Of certain Substantives are formed Diminu­tives by adding one of these particles et, rel, lock, ling, kin, which have the force of little or pettie set before the Primitive; as, of

• cushen, cushenet, i. a little cushen.
• cabin, cabinet, i. a pettie cabin.

So cask casket, capon caponet, lanner lanneret, eagle eaglet, mall mallet, crown crownet, trump trumpet, pistol pistolet, oke oket, pack packet, poke poket, ham hamlet, boul bullet.

Of h [...]g, pike, cock, soar; hogrel, pikerel, cockrel, soarel.

Of hill bull: hillock bullock.

Of duck, goos, cat, pork, shield, stare: du [...]k­ling, gosling, kitling, porkling, shilling, siar­ling: Although commonly ling beeing com­pounded [Page 62]with a word importing som Adjunct signifieth the Subject thereof: as, dearling, wearling, fondling, hireling, shave­ling, stripling, worldling, changling, suckling, titling, knotling, yearling, youngling, grotling, shorling, fatling, starvling, under­ling, sapling &c. like as let joyned to a word importing a Subject, signifieth an Adjunct thereof: as, co [...]slet, chaplet, frontlet, brace­let, partlet, for attire or furniture of the body; of the head, the forehead, the arm, the neck (which is the parting of the head and body:) though somtime for better sounds sake l bee omitted; as, gorget not gorgelet.

Of lam, dwarf, in French a table­tloth. nappe: are formed lamkin, dwarfkin, napkin.

Adject. of Subst.Substantives are ten ways made Adjectives according to the rules following.

Rule 1.These Substantives following are made Ad­jectives by adding this particle full, which impor­teth plentie of that which the Substantive doth signisie; as, beautie beautiful, that is, full of beautie; so Bane, Behoof, Bountie, Deceit, Delight, Dis­dain, Distrust, Dutie, Dole, Dread, Health, Man, Minde, Mistrust, Pain, Plentie, Power, Shame, Skil, Sloth, Sorrow, Spite, Sport, Success, Watch, Will.

Rule 2.These are made Adjectives by adding less, which importeth want of what the Substantive doth signifie; as of Beard, beardless, that is, with­out a beard; so Blame, blood, boot, bottom, bound, [Page 63]brain, breath, caus, end, danger, father, fault, friend, God, ground, guilt, Heart, head, hap, match, money, name, number, pennie, Peer, prais, question, remedie, rest, Sens, shape, speech, spot, tooth, troth, weapon, wit.

Rule 3.These are made Adjectives both ways, by adding full and less, as of bliss, blissful, blissless: so Care, chear, faith, doubt, fear, fruit, grace, harm, heed, help, hope, hurt, joy, law, list, mercie, need, pitie, ruth, shame, use. So of comfort, wee say comfortless; but not comfortful, rather comfort­able.

Rule 4.These are made Adjectives by adding ous, eous or ious, which addition may bee explained by full; as of courage, couragious, that is, full of courage; so Adventure, clamor, cautel, court, danger, dolor, envie, fame, gorge, grace, grief, harmonie, humor, lecher, malice, marvel, mischief, monster, [...]utrage, plentie, poison, raven, right, rigor, riot, scandal, valor, venture, venome, virtue, vice, wonder, zeal: but adulterous of adulterie, also hainous, hi­deous of Substantives unknown, or unused in the English tongue.

Rule 5.These are made Adjectives by adding ly, which addition may bee explained by like; as of beast beastly; that is, like a beast: so of bodie, brother, cost, coward, day, earth, flesh, friend, spirit gast, God, heaven, home, king, life, love, niggard, order, Prince, priest, sloven, state, summer, time, traitor, yeer.

Rule 6.These are made Adjectives by adding y or i [Page 64]with e silent, which addition may bee explain­ed by having; as of blood bloody or bloodie, that is, having blood; so clay, cloud, craft, crag, durt, eas, filth, grass, greas, guilt, hair, band, hap, haste, head, heart, hunger, ice, loft, lous, luck, lust, mange, might, moss, mould, mud, naught, need, pith, purs, sand, sap, sauce, savor, slime, slipper, sore, stead, stone, storm, sweat, thrift, trust, weight, wind, wit, worth, leaf, fire, baud. But merrie of mirth.

Rule 7.These are made Adjectives by adding ish, which may bee explained by like as, of ague aguish, that is, like an ague. So Ape, Block, book, boy, brute, childe, chuil, cloun, colt, devil, doult, diegs, fool, heathen, hog, knave, licoris, lump, ram, salt, sot, water, where, woman. But this particle ish, beeing added to Adjectives, di­minisheth their signification; as before was taught in the comparison of Adjectives.

Rule 8.These are made Adjectives by adding som; as of burden burdensom; that is, having a burden: so cumber, game, hand, light, tooth, trouble, quarrel.

So buxom, fulsom, holesom, lonesom, lothsom, noisom, wearisom, of Substantives unused; but ransom a Subst. of it self.

Rule 9.These are made Adjectives by adding able, which may bee explained by fit for or worthy of, as of season seasonable, that is, fit for the season. blame blameable, that is, worthy of blame. So Answer, approach, change, cure, favor, marriage, match, measure, medicine, memorie, merchant, note, pardon, [Page 65]peace, profit, proportion, question, reason, sale, sail, search, service, sute, tune.

These are made Adjectives by adding to them all, call, or icall, which addition is explained by, belonging to; as, of Rhetoric rhetorical, that is, belonging to Rhetoric; so, of Accident, allegorie, angel, arithmetic, canon, geometrie, historie, logic, method, music, nature, person, prejudice, rustic, satyre, scismatic, venerie. But Grammar and Ty­rant, form grammatical, tyrannical.

Subst. of Adject.Thus are Adjectives derived of Substantives: Now I shall shew how Adjectives are again made Substantives two ways.

Rule 1.Most of the Derivative Adjectives aforemen­tioned ending in ful, less, ous, ly, y, or je, ish, and som, are again made Substantives by adding to them ness:

• In ful; as of beautiful, beautifulness, &c.
• In less; as of retchless, retchlessness, &c.
• In ous; as of righteous, righteousness, &c.
• In lie; as of friendlie, friendliness, &c.
• In y or ie; as of craftie, craftiness, &c.
• In ish; as of childish, childishness, &c.
• In som; as of lightsom, lightsomness, &c.

In like manner all other Primitive Adjectives are made Substantives by adding to them ness; as of apt aptness, dul dulness, happie happiness, wretched wretchedness, &c.

Rule 2.These Adjectives following, beeing derived to us from the Latine by the French, are made Substantives by adding to them tie or itie after [Page 66]the French manner; as of casual casualtie, certain certaintie, chaste chastitie, cruel crueltie, scarce scarcitie.

All the Adjectives afore-mentioned, whether Primitive or Derivative, except som few, are made Adverbs, by adding this particle ly, as, carefull carefully, careless carelessly, glorious glori­ously, childish childishly, accidentall accidentally, wretched wretchedly, cruel cruelly, &c.

Except those Adjectives that end in ly, for they without any alteration will serv for Ad­verbs, as friendly.

Here follow certain Examples of all the De­rivations together:

• Dutie dutiful dutifulness dutifully.
• Heart heartless heartlessly.
• Care careful carefullness carefully.
• Care careless carelesness carelessly.
• Right righteous righteousness righteously.
• Love lovelie loveliness lovely.
• Thrift thrifty thriftiness thriftily.
• Fool foolish foolishness foolishly.
• Hand handsom handsonmess handsomly.
• Peace peaceable peaceably.
• Rhetorick rhetorical rhetorically.
• Apt aptness aptly.
• Dull dulness dully.
• Casual casualty casually.

Subst. of Verbs.From most Verbs there are two Substan­tives ordinarily derived one of the Agent or dooer: another of the Action or dooing be­sides [Page 67]the two participle-adjectives: as, of To

• Love, a lover, a loving, loving, loved.
• Teach, a teacher, a teaching, teaching, taught.
• Read, a reader, a reading, reading, read.
• Hear, a hearer, a hearing, hearing, heard.

Except. 1.Yet som Substantives of the Agent so de­rived end in or not er; as of To

• Abet, an abetttor, an abetting.
• Confess, a confessor, a confessing.
• Survey, a surveyor, a surveying.
• Govern, a governor, a governing. &c.

Except. 2.Again som Substantives of the Action or dooing so derived in stead of ing, add ment, or ance after the French manner; as of To

• Amend, an amender, an amendment.
• Nourish, a nourisher, a nourishment.
• Allow, allower, an allowance
• Accept, an accepter, an acceptance.

English Subst. of Lat.Of Latine Substantives are many English Substantives derived several ways.

1. English Substantives ending in ion are made of Latine ending in io; as, opinion, religion, question, solution; of opinio, religio, quaestio, solu­tio, &c.

2. English Substantives ending in our are made of Latine in or; as, labour, honour, favour, co­adjutour; of labor, honor, favor, coadjutor, &c. But now the best Autors write this kinde of words without u.

3. English Substantives in tie or ty, are made of Latine in tas; as, Charitie, liberalitie, nobilitie, [Page 68]puritie; of charitas, liberalitas, nobilitas, purlias, &c.

4. English Substantives in ance are made of Latine ending in antia; as, abundance, ignorance, temperance, observance; of abundantia, ignorantia, temperantia, observantia, &c.

Yet som of this ending derived of Verbs in ance, after the French manner, as before was de­clared, are not answered in Latine by antia, as acceptance, &c.

5. English Substantives in ence, are made of Latine in entia; as, Absence, patience, bene­volence, confidence; of absentia, patientia, bene­volentia, confidentia, &c.

6. English Substantives in ancie, are made of Latine in antia; as, Constancie, infancie, arrogancie; of constantia, infantia, arrogantia, &c.

7. English Substantives in encie, are made of Latine in entia; as, incontinencie, indifferencie, indigencie; of incontinentia, indifferentia, indi­gentia, &c.

8. English Substantives in tude are made of Latine in tudo; as, Multitude, gratitude, fortitude; of multitudo, gratitudo, fortitudo, &c.

9. English Substantives in ture are made of Latine in tura; as, Stature, conjecture, fraciure; of statura, conjectura, fractura, &c.

10. English Substantives in cian are made of Latine in cus; as, Musician, Logician, Arithmeti­cian; of Musicus, Logicus, Arithmeticus, &c.

11. English Substantives in ist are made of [Page 69]Latine in ista; as, Alchymist, Evangelist, Baptist; of Alchymista, Evangelista, Baptista, &c.

12. English Substantives in ment, are made of Latine by Elision of um; as, argument, instrument, monument; of argumentum, instrumentum, monu­mentum, &c.

Yet som in ment derived of Verbs after the French manner, as before was declared, do not follow this Rule, as nourishment, &c.

13. Many other English Substantives, which have no general termination are made of Latine by Elision. 1. of a, as planet, music, schism, histo­rie; of planeta, musica, schisma, historia. 2. of um, as abstract, Presbyterie; of abstractum, Presbyterium. 3. of us; as, angel, orphan; of angelus, orphanus, &c.

In like manner of Latine Adjectives are many English Adjectives derived several ways.

1. English Adjectives ending in ant or ent are made of Latine in ans or ens; as, Constant, fra­grant; of constant, fragrans: so absent, eloquent; of absens, eloquens.

2. English Adjectives in ous are made of La­tine in us or osus; as, prosperous, pious; of prospe­rus, pius: So curious, generous; of curiosus, gene­rosus, &c. except som few of this ending, derived of English Substantives, as before pag. 63. Rule 4.

3. English Adjectives in able or ible are made of Latine in abilis or ibilis: as, culpable, durable; of culpabilis, durabilis: so contemptible, docible; of contemptibilis, docibilis, &c.

4. English Adjectives in cal are made of La­tine in cus; as, comical, typical, canonical; of co­micus, typicus, canonicus, &c.

5. English Adjectives in al are made of La­tine by Elision of is final; as, general, special, artificial; of generalis, specialis, artificialis, &c.

6. English Particip. Adjectives in ed are made of Latine in us; as, accepted, addicted, abu­sed, annexed; of acceptus, addictus, abusus, an­nexus: som few in shed of Verbs in ish, turn shed into us; as, admonished of admonish, &c.

7. English Adjectives in ive are made of La­tine ending in ivus; as, attentive, active; of at­tentivus, activus. &c.

8. Many other English Adjectives which have no general ending are made of Latine by Elision of us; as, just, honest, apt; of justus, honestus, aptus. &c.

All these Adjectives derived of the Latine are made Adverbs by adding this particle ly; as Constant, constantly &c. except those that end in able and ible, for they onely change e silent into y; as, honorable, honorably; contemptible contemptibly.

Moreover of Latine Verbs are many English Verbs derived.

1. English Verbs ending in ate are all made of Latine in o as, recreate, abrogate, accommodate; of recreo, abrogo, accommodo, &c.

2. Many other English Verbs which have no general termination are made of Latine by Eli­sion [Page 71]of o; as, affirm, adopt, acquire, adore, of affir­mo, adopto, acquiro, adoro, &c.

These few rules of Derivation (from which there are not many words excepted) will prompt to a Learner som thousands of Latine words upon the first sight of their English, though be­fore hee never saw or heard of them in Latine.

Chap. 9. Composition of words.

IN respect of Composition, a word is said to bee simple or compounded.

A Simple word is that, which is not com­pounded; as, grace.

A Compound word is that which is made of two simples; as, disgrace.

In Composition, our English tongue is above all other, very hardie, and happie, joining toge­ther after a most cloquent maner sundrie words of every kinde of Speech; as,

• Comp. 1.
  Two Substantives are compounded together; as, rain-how, ey-sore, hand-kerchief.
• Comp. 2.
  Somtime three Substantives; as, a tenis-court-keeper, a foot-ball-player, a clove-gilli-flower.
• Comp. 3.
  Somtime a Substantive and an Adjective; as, prais-worthy, blame-worthy.
• Comp. 4.
  Somtime two Substantives with an Adjective in the middle; as, rose-finger'd-morn, heart-eating-grief, ey-pleasing-flower, taste-pleasing-fruit.
• Comp. 5.
  Somtime an Adjective and Substantive; as, New-ton, handi-craft, twi-light.
• [Page 72]
  Comp. 6.
  Somtime two Adjectives onely; as, None­such.
• Comp. 7.
  Somtime a Pronoun, and a Substantive; as, self-love.
• Comp. 8.
  Somtime a Pronoun and a verb; as, self-do, self-have.
• Comp. 9.
  Somtime a Substantive and a Verb; as, wood-binde, back-bite.
• Comp. 10.
  Somtime a Verb and a Substantive; as, break-fast, draw-bridg, cut-purs.
• Comp. 11.
  Somtime an Adverb, and a Substantive; as, down-fall, up-rising, down-lying.

Besides all these ways, Prepositions are ordi­narily compounded with Nouns and Verbs, as before was in part declared in a Preposition.

But these Compositions following with con, counter, dis, en, enter, fore, over, pre, re, and sur, are most generall and most remarkable.

Chap. 10. Of Points to bee observed in reading and writing.

POints serving for the better distinguishing of Words are either Primarie, or Secun­darie.

Primarie Points which shew the rising or fal­ling, the straining or slacking and pauses of the voice are fix.

A Comma is a note of imperfect sens, where the voice must bee staied: but the tenor of it still kept up.

A Colon is a note of perfect sens: but not of [Page 85]perfect sencence, where the voice must bee staid som what longer, and the tenor of it let fall a little.

Som hereunto add a Semi-colon, which dif­fereth very little from a Colon; noted thus[;]

A Period is a note of perfect sence and perfect sentence, where the voice must bee staid longest, and the tenor of it at the last word fall low.

An Example of these points as, ‘4. Phil. v. 8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, what­soever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: If there bee any virtue, and if there bee any prais, think: on these things.’

Another example out of the 1 Cor. 13. v. 1.2.3.

Erotests is a note 1. of Asking: as, Mat. 18.21. How oft shall my brother sin against mee, and I forgive him? till seven times?

2. Of Urging or instance in reprehension; as, [Page 86]Mark. 9.19. O faithless generation! how long shall I bee with you? how long shall I suffer you?

3. Of earnest avouching the contrary; whe­ther the Interrogation bee affirmative or nega­tive; as, Luk. 6.39. Can the blinde lead the blinde? shall they not both fall into the ditch? that is they cannot, they shall.

Erotesis if it bee pure raiseth the common Tone or tenor of the voice in the last word.

But if it begin with a word Interrogative; as, who, what, how, where, when, why, &c, it falleth as a period, and raiseth the tone of the voice in the Interrogative; as, Luke 17.17. Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine.

This point in the two last uses thereof, strai­neth the sound of the voice throw-out the whole Interrogation.

Ecphonesis is a note of exclamation; when som great passion of the minde is pathetically uttered, whether it bee in Admiration, Lamen­tation, Commiseration; or the like.

Ecphonesis falleth as a period, and raiseth the tone in the particle of Exclamation [o, oh, ah, alas,] or for want of such, in som Emphatical word; and always requireth a louder sound; and when it maketh perfect sens, pauseth as a period; as, Rom. 11.33. O the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledg of God! how un­serchable are his judgments, and his waies past finding out!

So Rom. 7.24. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver mee from the body of this death.

And Numbers 24.23. Alas! who shall live when God doth this!

Parenthesis is two semicircles enclosing one or more words of perfect sens, in a sentence, for perfecting thereof: without which yet, the sens is perfect; as, Ephes. 6.1. Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right: Honor thy fa­ther, and thy mother: (which is the first commande­ment with promiss) that it may bee well with thee, and that thou mayst live long on the earth.

Parenthesis is wholy sounded with a lower voice, and always endeth as a Comma: unless the part precedent of the sentence bee noted with som other simple point: for then it endeth accor­ding to that point.