A new English grammar prescribing as certain rules as the languages will bear, for forreners to learn English : ther is also another grammar of the Spanish or Castilian toung, with some special remarks upon

The English Grammar.

GRammar is the Art of Letters, as the Greek word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (whence it is derived) imports: Of Letters are made Syllables, of Syllables Words, and by the coagmentation of letters, syllables, and words, is fram'd Sermocination or Speech, which is one of the eminentst Praeroga∣tives of Mankind above all other sublunary Cre∣tures; for though others (as som volatils) by Art, and hardship are brought to utter som broken words, yet they understand not what they speak, be∣cause they are destitut of the faculty of Reson, Mar. onely being the child of Reson.

Of the English letters, with their pronunciation, and som special remarks upon them.

Touching the Abcee (or Alphabet) of the English Toung, ther are fower and twenty letters in all which are written in Great and Small caracters; the Great are shap'd thus,

ABCDEFGHIKLMNOPQ RSTVWXYZ.

These great Caracters serve for proper names •• persons, places and ivers, &c. as Charles Carlos•• Katherine Catalina, London Londres, Lisbon Lu∣bona

bona, Severn Sabrina, Trent Trenta; som of them are of great account, for they are numerical, as I stands for One, V for Five, X for Ten, L for Fifty, C for a Hundred, D for Five hundred, M stands for a Thousand.

The lesser caracters of the Abcee are thus form'd, abcdefghiklmnopqrstvwxyz.

Now, what the fower Elements are to all corpo∣real cretures in point of Generation, the same are the letters to all Languages in point of Locution or speech: And as of the Elements, though so few in nomber, such infinit kinds of compounded and dif∣fering mixd cretures are produced, as from their simple and primitive principles; so from so small a nomber of Letters such a world of different words are compos'd, and such an infinity of Volumes penn'd and printed, which is a remark of wonder that hath faln but under the capacity of few.

We will now consider all the Letters severally by themselfs, which are the original ingredients that go to the composition of Speech.

These Letters divide themselfs into Vowels and Consonants, so call'd because they have no sound at all without a Vowel go before or after; as B hath e after it, F hath e before it to make it pronounce∣able: Of which Consonants fower are call'd Li∣quids, call'd so because they melt as it were in the mouth, and have a softer kind of pronunciation then the rest, which fower are l m n r.

The Vowels are 5. in number, viz. a e i o u, Ther

is a word in Spanish which no other Language hath, that comprehends all the five, which is oveja, a Sheep: 'Tis tru that the transcendent eternal name of Iehova hath them likewise together, but that h onely (which is but an aspiration) interposeth.

Now, the Vowels deserve to have the precedence of all the rest of the Letters, because no Consonant can be pronounced or is soundable without one of them before or after, (as 'twas said before) therfore are they call'd Consonants or co-sounding.

A.

The Vowel a is the first letter in all Languages, and it merits the priority of all other, because it is the first and most natural easie motion and ouver∣ture of the lips; it is also the letter of Absolution and comfort, as Cicero hath it. The French have a Proverb that makes much for the honor of A, viz. Il est marquè a l' A, He is mark'd with A; that is, he is right honest man: This may haply be the re∣son why A hath such a large Dominion among the English, for she is a praepositive article (with The) to most Substantifs and Adjectifs, as A man un hombre, A Knight un Cavallero, A sword una espa∣da, A learned man un hombre cientifico, A valiant Knight un Cavallero valiente, A bright sword una espada luziente.

A in the English Toung hath two differing sounds, the one open and full, as Abraham, Alaba∣stre alabastro; the other pressing, and as it were half mouth'd and mincingly, as Ale cerveza, Awake despierto, &c. Whereas in Spanish (and other Lan∣guages)

it bears the first open prolation, as Da Dios alas a la hormiga para que se pierda mas ayna God gives wings to the Ant that she may destroy herself the sooner; a Proverb alluding to prowd ambi∣tious men.

A, when it comes before lm somtimes drowneth the l and turneth to an u, as Calme is pronounced Caume, Psalme Psaume, Balme Baume, &c. but the a receives thereby a more open sound, and makes as it were one syllable of two.

E.

E the second Vowel is pronounced in English as in Spanish and other Languages; when it concludes a word it is pronounced carelesly and faintily, as Bare nudo, There allà, Fire, Fuego, &c. as the Spa∣niards also do in combate a Fight, combite a Feast, es∣cabeche Pickle, padre Father, madre Mother, &c. But in the monosyllable article The tis pronounced sharp. Where e comes after l having two Conso∣nants before it, it hath a strange transposition, for it leaps before l, and takes the half sound of i, as Epistle Epistel, epistola; Thistle Thistel, cardo; Little littel, poco; Prickle prickel, espina: e passeth also obscure∣ly, where it ends a word with a consonant, as spoken hablado, broken quebrado, Coffer cofre, brewes sopa, &c. When e also comes before d, to conclude a word, she loseth often her sound by an Apostrophe, as tyred tyr'd, cansado; restrained restrain'd, restreñ∣ido: and so in all Participles of the Preter-tense. When e cometh before a it drowns the a, but makes

the pronunciation longer, as beast bestia, disease en∣fermedad, feast combite, &c.

E and I have such a friendship in the English lan∣guage, that they supply one anothers place som∣times, and are us'd indifferently, as Enterchange or Interchange, trueque; her or hir, ella; endure or in∣dure, sufrir; endevor or indevor, diligencia, &c. And 'tis so likewise in Spanish, as mesmo or mismo, the same; pedir or pidir to pray: The Italian also doth it often as refiutare or rifiutare, reputare or riputare; but the Florentine more affects i.

I.

The Vowel i hath a very peculiar sound in som English words, which differeth from other Nati∣ons; for the Spaniards with others pronounce it as ee in English, as mi tio my Uncle, mee teeo; pimienta Pepper, peemeeenta; cinco five, ceenco: But the English pronounce in most words i as if it were the Dipthong ei, as Pilot peilot, pilota; a pipe peipe, pi∣pa; a hide heide, cuero; licence leicence, licencia: which pronunciation is a pure Anglicisme.

I, may be call'd an amphibolous letter, for though she be naturally and by her birth a Vowel, yet she degenerats often into a Consonant, (which she never useth to do in the Hebrew and Greek) which Consonant hath an affinity with g, insomuch that she may claim (like v) two caracters, as having two such capacities, viz. of Vowel and Consonant, as James is pronounced Giames, Diego; Javelin Giavelin, javelina; joy geoy, alegria; Jeffrey Gief∣frey, Godefrido, &c.

O.

The Vowel O is pronounced with a rounde: mouth than any other, therfore she hath properly an orbicular figure, and is a letter in English of much change and incertainty; sometimes she is pro∣nounc'd sharp, as Coller collar, corn grano, crosse cruz, Crocodile Crocodilo, &c. somtimes o is pro∣nounc'd flat, as Colour colòr, Cosen primo, mother madre, taking thereby the half sound of u.

Upon the u, o soundeth smart, as Round redondo, sound sonido, bound atado, &c. But in the last syl∣lable before n she loseth her strength, as Devotion devocion, compassion compassion, person persona: Be∣fore w also at the end of words she loseth he•• strength, and becomes an u, as hollow hueco, hollu; Tallow tallu, cevo, &c.

When o ends a word she is pronounced strong & clear, as in these Monosyllables, Go and àd, so assi, no no, &c. Before v consonant o hath various pronunci∣ations, open and shut, as Dove paloma, glove guante, grove arboleda, Jove Iupiter, &c. Priscian saith, that som Cities in Italy had not o at all but u, and in other places they had no u at all, but o in the place of it, as in old Writers we read volgus for vulgus, pobli∣cum, polchrum, colpam, for publicum, pulchrum, cul∣pam; and let this suffice for this inconstant letter.

V.

The Vowel u as well as i hath the privilege to become Consonant very often, which make som call them the mongrel letters: V never endeth any

word in English for the nakednes of it, but cloaths her self with a Dipthong, and at other times hath•• to follow her, as New nuevo, knew conocia, blu: azùl, true verdadero, &c. The English pronounce oftentimes u like the French, in a whistling manner which sound is quite differing from the Spaniar•• and Italian, who prolate it in a manner like oo, as un one, oono; usanza use, oosanza, &c. But the Eng∣lish and French pronounce u as if it were the Dip∣thong ew, as Cocu a Cuckold is pronounced as if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were written Cokew; Cubit Kewbit, &c. The Ger∣man is subject often to turn b to u, as there is a fa∣cetious tale of a Duchman, who thinking to com∣plement with his French Hostesse said, Ma foy Ma∣dame vous avez veaux enfans, Truly Madame you have Calfs to your children; wheras insteed 〈◊〉〈◊〉 veaux calfs, he shold have said beaux fair.

W.

W is pronounced with a larger roundnes of the lips then the letter o, and with far more force if 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hath h next it, as Whale balena, Wheele rued•• Whirligigg peonça, &c. but where h doth not im∣mediatly follow 'tis pronounced soft, as Whirlwin•• remolino, where the first w is far more emphatic•• then the second.

The Saxons or high Dutch themselfs, whence th•• English derive their origen and language, cannot pronounce this w before h with that vigor, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lieu of What they say Wat, Where were, &c. which shews that the English have stronger lungs.

The Spaniard hath no w, nor the Italian an•• French.

Y.

Y, although it be pronounced like i, yet she is more constant to her self, scorning as it were to de∣generat from her first being, and from a vowel to turn consonant; therfore she may well deserve to be call'd the letter of Philosophy, or Phythagoras his letter.

In French she is of that weight that she makes somtimes a whole word of her self, as Voulez vous y aller, Will you go thither? and is an Adverb both of person and place: In Spanish she frequently makes a syllable of her self, as yxar the flank, yzar to lift up, &c.

Of Dipthongs.

Thus much of the Vowels, which may be call'd the ligaments or Arteries that knit the bones or Consonants together, and put life into them, els they were but so many dead trunks. We will now to the Dipthongs, which because they are meerly made of Vowels, 'tis fitting they shold precede the Con••onants.

Dipthongs are as it were the associating of som Vowels to make them issue forth a joynt sound, so that two sounds may be had in one syllable. The English Dipthongs may be reduced to ten, as ai o•• ay, as Maid moça, afraid amedrentado, May May, day dia: the second au or aw, as Austere austero, autentico autentico, law ley, awe obedience: the third ea, as East Levante, Earl Conde, seat sede, yea s••••

the fourth ei, as Weight peso, streight derecho: the 5. ew, as Dew rocio, few pocos: the 6. oi or oy, as Toil trabajo, soil terra, boy muchacho, joy alegria: the 7.00, as Food bastimento, good bueno: the 8. o•• or ow, as Stout animoso, Toung lengua, now a∣gora: the 9. ui or uy, as Juice çumo, the last uoy, as Buoy.

Ther are but three words wherin the Dipthong eo is found, viz. People, Jeopard, Yeoman. The Dipthong ae is not us'd neither in English or Spa∣nish.

Of the Consonants.

B.

B is the first Consonant and second letter of the Abcee; it is the first that brings our lips together after we are born, therfore tis calld the prime labi••l letter: In English tis pronouncd as in other lan∣guages, but not alwayes as it is in Spanish wher it is promiscuous with v in sundry words, as bisoño a young Soldier, or visoño; vimbrera an Ozier, o•• bimbrera; in Greek also 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is turned often to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which made the Duchman to say as wittily as waggishly, Si beta est veta, tunc bibere est vivere. But the highest commendation of B is, that it is the letter of Innocence, it being the bleating tone of the Sheep, which is the embleme of Innocence.

C.

Ther are som critical Authors who bear no good will to C, calling it the mongrel androg y nous letter,

nor male nor female, but rather a spirit or mon∣ster; and that by her impostures she trencheth upon the right of s k q, assuming their sounds; that she might be spar'd in our English Abcee because of the identity or sameness of sound she hath often with them three: But surely they are deceived, for how could we pronounce Cheshire cheese, chisel, Chi∣valry, without her? In Italian she borrows also the sound of g, as castigo for gastigo: In Spanish (and French) when she sounds like s she is attended with a train, having a semicircle underneath ç, and then she is call'd C cedilla, as çaratan the Canker, çapato a shooe, çarça a bramble, &c. which are pronouncd saratan, sapato, sarsa.

D.

D is so dainty a letter in English, that she admits of no other Consonant to be her Gentleman-usher but r, as Dreams sueños, drink bevida, drop gota, dragon drago, drum atambor, &c. She is pronounc'd as in other languages, but in Spanish when she is be∣tween two Vowels, or before any Vowel in the midst or end of a word, she useth to melt into th, as we pronounce them in that or the in English, as Dádivas entran sin taladro, Gifts enter without a Wimble; which are pronounc'd as if they were written, Dathivas entran sin talathro: dd in the Bri∣tish or Welsh agree with the Spanish in this pro∣nunciation, as heb DDuw heb ddiiw, Nothing with∣out God.

F.

F hath the honor to make one of the highest notes in Music, and, which is more, to be the first letter of the highest spiritual vertu, Faith; she is pronounc'd as in other languages.

G.

G hath a diffring pronunciation in the English, one before a, o and u, as Gard guarda, gold oro, gulph golfe, &c. and another before e and i, as Gentleman, hidalgo, German Tudesco, Gibbet hor∣••a, Giant gigante, &c. Yet ther be som words when she comes before i, that are pronounc'd as if she came before a, o or u, as giddy vertiginoso, gift dadiva, girdle cinta, &c.

H.

H is the letter of breath or aspiration, and ther∣fore may be call'd the letter of life, for when the breath is gone, farewel life: Therfore I wonder why the Greeks came to give her no place in their Alphabet. Som call her a spirit, but whether letter aspirat or spirit, the Alphabet wold be breathless without her. Som call her the Queen of Consc∣nants.

In som words she is written but not sounded, as in Humor humòr, honor honra, humble humilde, host huesped, &c. which are pronounc'd, umor, o∣nor, umble, oft: The Spaniard also leaves her our in most words.

Th hath two sounds in English, the one strong▪ like the Greek •• theta, as Thunder trueno, Thursday Iueves, thousand mil, thirsty sediento, theef ladron, thought pensamiento, &c. but th in other words are pronounc'd gently, like d in Spanish, as in This esto, that aquello, thine tuyo, thither la, thence de la, then entonces, therfore por tanto, thou tu, &c.

H after w hath a stronger aspiration in the Eng∣lish then in any other language, as What que cosa, wheat trigo, wheel rueda, when quando, where a∣donde, whore puta, whale balena, &c.

Ph is pronounc'd alike in English as in Spanish (and other languages;) but indeed ther's no ph in Spanish or Italian, for they turn it into f, as Philo∣sopher Filosofo, Philip Felipe, phantasie fante∣sia, &c.

Ch is pronoun••d in English as in Spanish (and the Italian) as China, chamber cama, cheese queso, cherry ceresa, &c. In which words ch is pronounc'd as the Spaniard does in chico little, chichon a bile, chirlar to chirp: But the French differs very much herein, for he prolates ch as sh, as chambre shambre, China Shina, Cheshire cheese Sheshire sheese, Chiche∣ster Shishester, &c.

K.

K is so stately a letter, that she scorns to serve either the Spaniard or Italian, nor the Latin or French either, but in the word Kalendae; therfore they make c to be such a drudg to them in her place, but the English makes equal use of them

both; yet k goes in English before no Consonants but n, as Knight cavallero, knowledge ciencia, knave vellaco, knife cuchillo, knee rodilla, &c.

L.

L hath the honor to make the highest tone in Music, for she hath a kind of gentle melting pro∣nunciation, therfore she is call'd by som 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because she seems to sweeten the roof of the mouth.

The English pronounce l as the Spaniards do, but where ll is found in the beginning or middle of any word in Castilian, the last l turns to i, as lloro lamentation, calle a street, callar to hold ones peace, lleno full; the Spaniard pronounce them as lioro, calie, caliar, lieno.

The Britains or Welsh have also like the Spanish a particular sound of ll, which no other Nation can pronounce unless one be bred there very young; it is so difficult to the English that they are forced to turn it to fl, as Floyd for Lloyd, &c.

M.

M may be well call'd a labial letter as well as b, nay, tis a question which of them makes the lips meet first in an Infant. We read that the Phrygia•• child upon whom Ptolomey tryed his conclusion▪ Which language was the most natural, spoke Be•• first, which signifieth Bread in that language: But the ancient Britains hold that m is the first letter which makes the lips meet, because ther's no other

word for Mother in Welsh then Mam, which all In∣fants, be they born under any Climat whatsoever, use to pronounce articulatly as soon as they come into the world.

M is pronounc'd cleer in the beginning, meanly in the midst, and obscurely in the conclusion of a word in English; but tis alwayes prolated with a kind of humming, as Mamalukes Mamaluques, Marjerom Origano, Mamora Mamora, martyrdom martyrio, &c.

N.

N in English is pronounc'd as in Spanish, (and o∣ther languages;) but in the Spanish toung it hath this singularity, as to have a streight stroke on the top, as for example ñ, and then she must be pronounc'd as if i immediatly follow'd her, as Fue la Negra al baño, y tuvo que Contàr todo el año, The Negre went to the Bath, and she had news enough for the whole Twelmonth; in this Proverb baño and año must be pronounc'd as if they were written banio, anio. This letter n ringeth somwhat in the Nose, and hath three degrees of sounds, full in the begin∣ning, weak in the middle, and flat at the end of a word.

P.

P may be call'd the third labial letter after b and m, for she also makes the lips meet: In the Italian she is often metamorphos'd to an u, as soprano soura∣no, coperta coverta.

Q.

Qhath much encroch'd upon the freehold that k had in former times among our Saxon Progeni∣tors, who scarce knew this bumm letter q, but be∣fore the Norman Conquest they writt kuill for quill, kuire for quire, &c. But the French-Normans brin∣ging in divers Latin words, as question, quantity, quintessence, and others, much trenched upon the Saxon k; yet this q is so beggerly a letter, that un∣less u follow she hath no being in English.

R.

R. Ther is a most mighty populous Nation next the Sun-rising call'd the Chineses, who read and write perpendicular not collateral, that have not the letter R at all, therfore they call their next neighbour the Tartar, Tata, leaving out both the R's: And it may be the reason is, because R is the Dogs letter, and seems to snarle in the sound, —sonat haec de nare canina litera, This letter sounds of a Dogs nostrill. The French women do often∣times out of wantonnes leave it unpronounc'd at the end of words. In English tis pronounc'd as in other languages.

S.

S, though it be call'd the Serpents letter because of her hissing sound, as also for her shape, yet she hisseth but gently against the gums; she varieth her powers much in our pronunciation, in the begin∣ning

she hath a quick sound, as Sables z ebeliu•• Sabbath Sabado, &c. but in the middle and end of words, unless she go doubled, she is pronounc'd meltingly as z, as Rose rosa, wise sabio, gems ••oyas, rimes rimas, &c. but if the s be doubled, it is pro∣nounc'd hard and sharp, as Distresse, oppresse, lesse, dresse, tresse, &c.

T.

T hath one constant prolation, except where it precedes i, towards the ends of words, as Genera∣tion, action, nation, faction, generacion, action, na∣cion, faction, &c. and then t turns to c, as those words use to be written in Spanish.

X.

X hath scarce the account of a letter in the Eng∣lish, because ther's never a word in the whole lan∣guage that begins with it; in the middle it comes often, as Sixty, vexe, perplexe, sexe, &c. And it ends many words, as Pox las buvas, flax estopa, Fox raposa, six seys; which sound as if they were written Pocks, flacks, Focks, sicks: For x hath the prero∣gative to be made up of three Consonants, (which no other letter hath) viz. k, c and s, which being so, the Anagram that was made of Uxor and Orcus was not unwitty,—Uxor & Orcus idem. But x is very frequent in the Spanish, both in the beginning middle, and end of words; which came from the Mores, who for 700. years did almost inhabit the greatest part of Spain, and by so long coalition infe∣cted them with a guttural tone.

Z.

Z is the last of all the letters, and tis properly so, being commonly the last sound that one makes in the mouth at his going out of the world, when he begins to throttle: Ther are but two or three words in all the English Toung (besides som Greek proper names) that begin with z, viz. Zeal, zealous, zealot, with som terms of Astronomy, as Zone, Zenith, Zodiac.

And so much of single letters.

Of Syllabes or Syllables.

Having done with the Elements or simples of Speech, we will now proceed to the compounds of letters, and first of syllables.

A Syllable is part of a word, which may of it self make a full articulat sound; it is sometimes (as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Spanish also) of one letter, as Amazd espantado, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quippage aparejo, imagination imaginacion, omino•••• desastroso, usurer logrero; where a, e, i, o and u is the beginning make a syllable of themselfs.

A syllable of more letters is made either of Di∣thongs or Vowels only, as Ayder ayudador, auditor audienciero, eating comiendo: Now though a Vo•• el hath the privilege to make a syllable of her sel•• yet no Consonant can do so, unlesse it shake han•• with a Vowel. Syllables with a Consonant are e••∣ther of two letters, as No no; or of three, as th•• which in the English useth often to be written sho∣th••

thus, y^e; or of more letters, as That, then, with, aquello, entonces, con; which are written short, y^t y^en w^th; of 5. letters, as There, which, alla, que; which are written short, y^ere w^ch.

Ther are som syllables that have two Consonants to one Vowel, as Cry grido; som three, as Dr•••• ramera; som 4. as Dregs heces; som 5. as Strin•• cuerda; som 6. as Strength fuerça; som syllabl•• have 7. Consonants to one Vowel, as Strengths ••••••erça; but thats the utmost nomber: And tis obser∣vable what a virtu a little Vowel hath, to give 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to so many Consonants. But the Pole hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Consonants attending one Vowel, in so much tha when he speaks he hurls his words at ones fa•• like stones.

Touching the position or quantity of syllabl•• ther is no language, I know of, hath exact rules, re∣straints, examples and cautions to that purpo•••• but the Greeks and Latins; ther is not so much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and trouble used in the English or Spanish (or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other Occidental Toung) because their metri•• Compositions, Verses and Rimes are meerly ••∣rived from an instinct of Nature, such as Arist•• speaks of, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, viz. Of a volu••∣tary and natural free composition, without 〈◊〉〈◊〉 enslavd so much to the quantity of syllables. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were the Greeks before Homer, nor the Roman b•••• fore Livius Andronicus, so curious in observing punctually the length and shortnesse of syllables.

It is consentaneous to order and reason, we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 now speak of the Accents of syllables, which 〈◊〉〈◊〉

it were the tuning or the toning of the voice, and the not observing of the Accent may make a word to be in danger of mis-tuning. For ther are multi∣tudes of words which are written alike, and have punctually the same letters, yet have they clea•• contrary pronunciations, as Désert a wildernes, de••sierto, and Desèrt mericimiento; tórment tormento tormènt atormentàr; óbject objecto, objèct obje∣ctàr; incense insenso; cónvert convertido, conv•••• convertìr: Now 'tis the Accents duty to make 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pronounce aright, and where we find the Accen•• we must give a force and Emphasis to that syllable.

In Adverbs commonly the Accent is in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 syllable, as Mèrrily alegramente, hèavily tristemente. Dissyllable and trissyllable words have also mo•••• commonly the Accent in the first syllable, as Wìn∣ter Invierno, Sómmer Estio, Síngular singulàr, péssi∣lence pestilencia, pròvidence providencia. Words also terminating in able, be they of 3. or 4. sylla∣bles, have the Accent in the first, as Fàble fabul••, sènsible sensible, sòciable amiable: except Abomi∣nable abominable, detèstable detestable, &c. Words terminating in tion or sion, have commonly the Ac∣cent in the syllable next before, as Conténtion con∣tienda, confúsion confusion, abominátion abominaci∣on: But the Spaniard hath alwayes the Accent is the last syllable of such words.

All Dissylables ending in ish, ry, er, el, et, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have the Accent in the first syllable, as Slávish ••∣clavoso, màrry esposar, hòver meneàr, dàmsel do••∣zella, pácket paquete, gámmon pernil, bácon toci••

Words ending in nt have the Accent commonly in the last, as Lament lament, contènt contentamiento, extènt extension, &c.

We come now to the quality of words, to know whether they are Primitives or Derivatives. Most of the primitive words in the English Toung are Monosyllables; go unto a mans body from top to toe, the parts therof are all Monosyllables, as Head cabeça, heart coraçon, guts entrañas, knee rodilla, foot pie, &c. which clearly discovers her to be a daughter of the High-Duch. The Spanish clean contrary abound and delight in words of many syl∣lables; and where the English expresseth himself in one syllable, he doth in 5. or 6. as Thoughts pensa∣mientos, fray levantamiento, &c. which is held a part of wisdom, for while they speak they take time to consider of the matter.

Ther are also simple words and compounded words, as Love amòr, lovely amoroso; man varòn, manly varonìl; wise sabio, unwise necio: And here∣in, I mean in point of composition of words, the English Toung is as happy, and as hardy as any lan∣guage, except the Greek, (which goes beyond all other in that kind:) For the English doth often joyn and coagment two Substantifs together, as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cortadòr de bolsas, self-love amor de si mesmo, 〈…〉〈…〉 de molino; and somtimes ther's a 〈…〉〈…〉 Substantifs in one word, as Tap-house-kee••••••▪ bodegonero, a Foot-ball-player ju∣gadora pelota, &c.

Of the Parts of Speech in the English Toung.

Ther be Eight Parts of Speech in the English Toung, as in other Languages, viz. Noun, Pro∣noun, Verb, Participle, Adverb, Conjunction, Pre∣position, Interjection; whereunto we adde the prepositive articles The and A, which the Latin only lacks; wherof the first is definit and terminats the understanding, as The sword la espada, the book el libro, which denotes som particular book or sword; the other is indefinite, as A sword una e∣spada, a book un libro, which denote the general Idea of swords and books. Ther is also another difference twixt the articles The and A, viz. that the first may be applied to the plural nomber also, as The swords las espadas; but the article▪ A is ap∣plied to the singular nomber only. Proper names are incapable of these articles. Now of the parts seve∣rally by themselfs.

Of Nouns.

Nouns are either Substantifs, which can stand and be understood by themselfs, as Church Yglesia, sheet calle; or they are Adjectifs, which signifie no real thing, unless they be applied to som Sub∣stantif, as White blanco, fair lindo, &c. The Eng∣lish Toung hath this singularity above other lan∣guages, (but she is nothing the more commendable

for it) that he useth to put the Adjectif before the Substantif, as Brown bread baço pan, a wise man sabio hombre; wheras other Nations postpose the Adje∣ctif, and say Pan baço Bread brown, hombre sabio a man wise.

Noun Substantifs are either Common, as Bridg puente, River rio; or Proper, as Rialto Rialto (a particular bridg in Venice) Severn Sabrina; or Per∣sonal, as Charles Carlos, Katherine Catalina.

Ther are five Genders that belong to these Nouns, the Masculin, which comprehends all Males under a masculin Idea, as Bulls toros, men hombres, &c. The Feminin, which comprehends whatso∣ever is of a femal kind, as Woman hembra, Does ciervos. The Neuter gender, whose notion con∣ceives neither sex, under which are compriz'd all inanimat things, as Cities, Rivers and Ships; for though ther be names of other Genders, yet they are spoken of as she's; as Eboracum York, Rhenus the Rhine, the Charles Royal. The fourth is the Epicene or promiscuous gender, which understands both kinds, as dogs, horses, deer; under which words both sexes are intimated, as Hounds and Bit∣ches, Geldings and Mares, Bucks and Does. The fifth is the common or rather doubtful Gender, which hath a near affinity with the former, as frend, gossip, neighbour, cosin, &c. which comprehend ei∣ther sex: But in Spanish (and other languages) they are distinguish'd by their masculin and feminin ter∣minations, as Amigo amiga, vezino vezina, prim•• prima, &c. which is an advantage the English Toung hath of others.

Diminutifs are proper to all Languages; in Eng∣lish the Diminutifs of som Substantifs end in ell, as Cock cockrell, part parcell, &c. som in ing, as Goose gosling, duck duckling, &c. som in ock, as Bull bul∣lock, hill hillock: som in et, as Baron Baronet, &c. Ther are also Diminutifs of Adjectifs, as Cold cold∣ish, black blackish, green greenish, &c.

Ther are likewise divers Diminutifs of proper names in English, both of men and women, as Chri∣stopher Kitt, Gregory Grigg, Richard Dick, Mag∣dalen Maudlin, Katherine Kate, Elizabeth Besse, &c. but ther are som names which bear no Dimi∣nutifs, as Peter, Iames, Stephen, &c. but the Spa∣niard herein hath more Diminutifs and Sub-dimi∣nutifs then any other language, as Simòn, Simon∣cico, Simoncillo, Simoncilillo; Miguel, Miguelico, Miguelillo; Catalina, Catalinica, Catalali∣nilla, &c.

The English Adjectifs have their degrees of Comparison, as well as those of other languages; nay, to som words they have two Comparatifs and Superlatifs, which other languages have not; they expresse the one either by the word more, or adding er to the end of the Positif, as Wise more wise or wi∣ser, stout more stout or stouter, &c. so the Superlatif is expressed either by the word most, or adding est to the end of the Positif, as Wise most wise or wisest, stout most stout or stoutest. But from this general rule few are excepted, as goood better best, bad worse worst, little lesser least. Adjectifs which end in ous admit of Comparatifs and Superlatifs onely by the

Words m••ore or most, as Glorious, more glorious, most glorious; so Specious, famous, victorious, &c.

The English Adjectifs commonly have no Plu∣ral nomber, but the singular serves for both, which is a great ease to the language, as Stout man stout men, wise man wise men: But the Substantifs have their Plurals, som terminating in s, as King Kings, stagg staggs, park parks, wood woods, &c. Others terminat in n, as Man men, Woman women, Oxe Oxen, hose hosen: As in all other languages so ther are some irregular words, (though they be few) that swerve from the former terminations; as the plural of Mouce is mice, of Louce lice, of Tooth teeth, of Foot feet, &c.

Ther are som Substantifs that admit of no plural nomber at all, (and they are weighty ones) as Gold, silver, Brass, Copper, Tinn, and all Minerals; (no more have they in the Spanish, as Oro, plata, bronza, cobre, estaño) with divers other, as rest, bread, &c. these Substantifs have the plural only, as goods, riches, necessaries, &c. where it is observable that necessa∣ries the Substantif, is begot of the Adjective neces∣sary.

We com now to the Pronouns, so called because they stand somtimes for Nouns; we will take them in their degrees, and begin with the Persons, I, tho••, he, we, ye, they: which are declined thus:

The first Person.

Plural.	Singular.
Nom. I Yo	Wee Nosotros
Gen. of mee	of us
Dat. to mee	to us
Accus. mee	us
Voc. o mee	o wee
Abl. with or from mee.	with or from us.

The second Person.

Singular.	Plural.
Nom. Thou Tu	Yee Vosotros
Gen. of thee	of you
Dat. to thee	to you
Accus. thee	you
Voc. thou	o you
Abl. from or with thee.	from or with you.

The third Person.

Singular.	Plural.
Nom. Hee el ò aquel	They ellos
Gen. of him	of them
Dat. to him	to them
Accus. him	them
Voc. o he	o they
Abl. with or from him.	with or from them.

There are in English fower Pronouns possessives, My or mine, mi ò mio; my comes alwayes before a word beginning with a Consonant, as My cloak mi capa, my hat mi sombrero, &c. Mine comes al∣wayes before a Substantif beginning with a Vowel or h, as Mine Aunt mi Tia, mine heritage mi her••n∣cia, &c. but mine stands oftner by it self for a pos∣sessif, specially in answer to a question, as Whose sword is this? mine; whose Glove is that? mine, The Plural of my and mine is our ours, which also are possessifs.

The second Possessif is Thy thine, as Thy house tu casa, thine arme tu braço, thine hand tu mano; and thine as mine come before a word beginning with a Vowel. Thine also stands for a Possessif of it self to a question, as Whose land is that? Thine; cuya a tierra es aquella? la tuya. The Plural of thy thine is you yours, which are also Possessifs.

The third Possessif is Her hers, with their Plurals their theirs; as Her Distaf su rueca, her Maiden head su Virginidàd; whose ring is this? hers. But the Spanish (nor the Italian and French) hath not this distinguishing feminin Possessif, but useth su and suyo for both.

Which, who and that are Relatif Pronouns, de∣pending on the words before, but which and why properly relate to living things, and that to inani∣mat; as The man which preach'd yesterday, the Lady who passed this way, the stones that went to build Pauls, &c. What and Whose are Interrogative

Pronoun, and so are the foresaid which and wh•• somtimes.

Ther are som compounded Pronouns, as my self, our selfs, thy self, your self, him self, her self, it self, the self same, &c.

Of a Verb.

VErb is one of the most principal and necessary parts of Speech: nay, it may be call'd the Geni∣us and Soul of Speech, for pack all the words of the world together, no Sentence, whether Interroga∣tive or other, can be made without it; for what Vowels are to Words, the same Verbs are to Speech, they animat both; which makes it have such a latitude in the Latin toung, that the word Verbum extends to all parts of Speech.

A Verb in English as in Spanish (and all other languages) hath 3. Tenses or distinctions of times the Present-tence, as I pray or do pray; the time past, as I prayed or did pray; the Future or time to come, as I shall or will pray. The Terminations 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Verbs in English is the same both in the singular and plural nomber, (except the second and third perso•• in the singular) as I live, we, ye, they live, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not so in Spanish, as yo vivo nos vivimos, &c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in other languages, which is a mighty advantage and ease for the learning of the English language.

Ther are in English Verbs Aclifs, Passifs and Neuters, as in other Toungs, as I love yo quiero, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Actif: I am lov'd yo soy querido, is Passif by addi∣tion

of the Auxiliary Verb Am, soy: the Neuter verb is where am cannot be added, as I live vivo, I weep lloro, &c.

Ther are in English, as in other languages, fower cadences and Conjugations of Verbs: Verbs of the first Conjugation som end in all, as to Call llamar, to fall cayer, to install, to inthrall, &c. whose Par∣ticiples are made by addition of ing and d at the end, as calling call'd, installing install'd, &c. Som end in are, as to dare, to pare, to share, &c. whose Participles also end alike, as par'd paring, &c. Som end in ace, as to chace, to face, to grace, to lace, to trace, to imbrace, &c. whose Participles also are made like the former.

Verbs of the second Conjugation som end in eare, as to beare, to sheare, to teare, to weare, &c. whose Participles end in ing and orne, as borne, shorne, torne, bearing, shearing, tearing. Som Verbs end in ease, as to ease, to please, to displease, &c. Som end in ead, as to lead, to knead, to read, to spread, to tread, &c. Som in ind, as to bind, to find, to wind, to grind, &c. Som in end, as to bend, to send, to lend, &c.

Verbs of the third Conjugation som end in ite, as to bite, to write, to endite, &c. Som end in ight, as to fight, to fright, to light, to plight, to right, &c. Som end in ell, as to quell, to tell, to sell, &c. Som in ink, as to d••ink, to sink, to sink, to think, to shrin••, &c.

Verbs of the last Conjugation som terminat in), as to cry, to dy, to fly, to ly, to try, &c. Som in ire, as

to hire, to desire, to inquire, &c. Some end in ine, as to shine, to dine, to fine, to decline, to uncline, to con∣fine, &c. Among which Verbs it is to be noted, that the Monosyllable Verbs come from the Dutch, the other from the French. Note also that all Parti∣ciples of the Present-tence end in ing, of the Pre∣ter-••ence in d, most commonly in all English Verbs, except som Irregulars, which is left to observation.

Of the two Auxiliary Verbs, I have yo he ò tengo, and I am yo soy.

These Verbs I have and I am are call'd the Auxi∣liaries, and are most subservient to all other Verbs; for without the second ther could be no Verb Pas∣sif, and without the first ther would be no Parti∣ciples of the Preter-tense: Therfore being so useful 'tis requisit they shold be here declin'd at large; and first of I have, because it is also auxiliary to I am.

The Conjugation of the Verb I have.

The Indicative or declaring Mood.

Present tense.

I have, thou hast, he hath: we have, ye have, they have.

Preterimperfect tense.

I had, thou hadst, he had: we had, ye had, they had.

Preterperfect tense.

I have had, thou hast had, he hath had: we have had, ye have had, they have had.

Future tense.

I shall or will have, thou shalt or wilt have, he shall or will have: we shall or will have, ye shall or will have, they shall or will have.

The Imperatif or commanding Mood.

Have thou, let him have: let us have, have ye, let them have.

The Optatif or wishing Mood. Present tense.

Oh that I had, oh that thou hadst, oh that he had: oh that we had, oh that he had, oh that they had.

Preterperfect tense.

I shold have, thou sholdst have, he shold have: we shold have, ye shold have, they shold have.

The Subjunctif Mood. Present tense.

If or in case that I have, if or in case thou hast, if or in case he had: if or in case we have, if or in case ye have, if or in case they have.

Infinitif Mood.

To have, aver, Having aviendo.

The Auxiliary Verb I am. The Indicative or declaratory Mood. Present tense.

I am, thou art, he is: we be or are, ye be or are, they be or are.

Preterimperfect tense.

I was, thou wast, he was: we were, ye were, they were.

Preterperfect tense.

I have bin, thou hast bin, he hath bin: we have bin, ye have bin, they have bin.

Future tense.

I shall be, thou shalt be, he shall be: we shall be, ye shall be, they shall be.

The Imperative or commanding Mood.

Be thou, let him be: let us be, be ye, let them be.

The Optatif or wishing Mood. Present tense.

God grant I be, God grant thou be, God grant he be: God grant we be, God grant ye be, God grant they be.

Preterperfect tense.

Wold God I were, wold God thou werst, wold God he were: wold God we were, wold God ye were, wold God they were.

The Conjunctive Mood. Present tense.

Seeing that I am, seeing that thou art, seeing that he is: seeing that we be, seeing that ye be, seeing that they be.

Preterperfect tense.

Although I be, although thou be, although he be: although we be, although ye be, although they be.

The Infinitif Mood.

To be, to have bin, being.

Note, that Verbs of all Conjugations in English have their Passifs generally ending in d, as I love yo amo, I am lov'd yo soy amado; I fear yo temo, I am fear'd yo soy temido; I fire yo quemo, I am fir'd yo soy quemado, &c. Except Verbs ending in ell, who commonly have their Passifs ending in old, as I tell I am told, I sell vendo, I am sold soy vendido, &c. As also Verbs ending in ind, who commonly have their Passifs in ound, as I bind ato, I am bound soy atado; I find hallo, I am found soy hallado; I grind molo, I am ground soy molido, &c. As also divers Verbs whose Actifs end in ear, have their Passifs in orn, I swear juro, I am sworn soy jurado; I tear lacero, I am torn soy lacerado, &c. But in Spanish estoy serves to make a Paffif as often as soy, as shall be noted in the Spanish Grammar. Now the diffe∣rence

'twixt ser and estàr is, that ser signifies the essence of a thing, as ser bueno to be good; estàr signifieth the local condition of a thing, as estàr ••n Londres, To be in London, &c.

An Instance for the declining of a Verb both Actif and Passif in English, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may serve for all other.

The Indicatif or declaratory Mood.

The Present t••nse.

Actif.	Passif.
I desire	I am desir'd
thou desirest	thou art desir'd
he desireth:	he is desir'd:
we desire	we are desir'd
ye desire	ye are desir'd
they desire.	they are desir'd.

The Preterimperfect tense.

I did desire	I was desir'd
thou didst desire	thou wast desir'd
he did desire:	he was desir'd:
we did desire	we were desir'd
ye did desire	ye were desir'd
they did desire.	they were desir'd.

The Aorist or Preterperfect tense.

I desired	I was desired, as before.
thou desiredst
he desired:
we desired
ye desired
they desired.

The Preterpluperfect tense. Here the Verb, I am, turns to the auxiliary Verb, I have.

I had desir'd	I had bin desir'd
thou hadst desir'd	thou hadst bin desir'd
he had desir'd:	he had bin desir'd:
we had desir'd	we had bin desir'd
ye had desir'd	ye had bin desir'd
they had desir'd	they had bin desir'd

The Future tense.

I shall or will desire	I shall or will be desir'd
thou shalt or wilt desire	thou shalt or wilt be de∣sir'd
he shall or will desire:	he shal or wil be desir'd:
we shall or will desire	we shal or wil be desir'd
ye shall or will desire	ye shal or wil be desir'd
they shall or will desire.	they shall or will be de∣sir'd.

The Imperatif or Mood of command.

Desire thou	Be thou desir'd
let him desire:	let him be desir'd:
let us desire	let us be desir'd
desire ye	be ye desir'd
let them desire.	let them be desir'd.

The Optatif or wishing Mood.

The Present tense.

God grant I desire	God grant I be desir'd
god grant thou desire	god grant thou be desird
god grant he desire:	god grant he be desir'd:
god grant we desire	god grant we be desir'd
god grant ye desire	god grant ye be desir'd
god grant they desire.	god grant they be desird

The Preterperfect tense.

Wold I desir'd	Wold I were desir'd
wold thou desir'st	wold thou werst desir'd
wold he desir'd:	wold he were desir'd:
wold we desir'd	wold we were desir'd
wold ye desir'd	wold ye were desir'd
wold they desir'd.	wold they were desir'd.

The Conjunctif Mood.

Present tense.

Seeing that I desire	Seeing that I am desir'd
seeing that thou desirest	seeing that thou art de∣sir'd
seeing that he desireth:	seeing that he is desir'd:
seeing that we desire	seeing that we be desir'd
seeing that ye desire	seeing that ye be desir'd
seeing that they desire.	seeing that they be de∣sir'd.

Preterimperfect tense.

Although I desire	Although I be desir'd
although thou desirest	although thou be desir'd
although he desires:	although he be desir'd:
although we desire	although we be desir'd
although ye desire	although ye be desir'd
although they desire.	although they be desird.

The Infinitif Mood.

To desire	To be desir'd
to have desir'd	to have bin desir'd
desiring.	being desir'd.

According to this Example other Verbs Actif (unlesse they be Irregulars) and Passif may be form'd.

There are also in English as in Spanish (and all o∣ther languages) Impersonal Verbs which are not distinguish'd by Persons, as it grives me, it irketh me me pesa, it behoveth me me importa, it concerns me me toca, &c.

We have hitherto treted of the principal parts of Speech, we will now proceed to the rest, and first of

Adverbs.

An Adverb is a word without nomber that is joyn'd to another, and it comes either before or after a word, as well-bred bien criado, better-bred meior criado, ill-bred mal criado, &c. But most Ad∣verbs com after, with this syllable ly, as couragiously animosamente, devoutly devotamente, &c. And as in English most Adverbs end in y, so in spanish and Ita∣lian) they end in ente, as the former examples shew.

Adverbs are either of quantity as much much••, too much demasiado, enough bastant-emente, toge∣ther juntamente, &c. Or they are Adverbs of qua∣lity, and first of nomber as once, twice, thrice, una vez, dos vezes, tres veces; The second are of Time, as yesterday ayer, then entonces, when quan∣do, presently luego, ever siempre, &c. The third are of Place, as here aquì, there allà where adonde, yon∣der acullà, &c. The fourth are of Affirmation or

Negation, I, yea, yes, si; no, not, nay no; The fift are of Calling, as ho, hola, or exhorting or ap∣proving, as so, so, well, well; Or of Wishing o, if: The sixt are of Similitude, as likewise, so, even so, assi, tambien, &c.

Interjections.

Interjections are either of mirth, as ha ha ha; or of grief, as Ah, alas, woe is me, hay ay de mignay de mi; or of rejection, as fie, fy-fy, ba; or of scorn, as tu••h, &c. st is an Interjection of silence; rr 〈◊〉〈◊〉 set dogs together by the eares.

Prepositions.

Prepositions are separable as before delante, be∣hind atras, according segun, among entre, without sin, afore antes, under or below debaxo, against con∣tra, opuesto, enfrente; over sobre, neer cerca, &c.

Inseparable Prepositions are they which express nothing unlesse they be annexed to a word, as un∣capable incapaz, undon deshecho, relief alivio, re∣press reprimir, resolution resoluciòn, &c.

Conjunctions.

Conjunctions are call'd so because 〈…〉〈…〉 words together, as and y, my father and mother 〈◊〉〈◊〉 padre y mi madre, and this is call'd the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 conjunction. Som are severing as but 〈…〉〈…〉

although, though aunque, som are dis junctif as nor, neither, ni, nor I nor you, ni yo ni vos; som are of reasoning, as for porque, because para que; som are of Illation as therefore, wherefore, so that por∣tanto, &c.

Of the points of Words and Sentences.

The English language as the Spanish (and others) hath her points or Notes of Sub-distinction, of Mid∣dle-distinction, and of a Full-distinction; which are call'd comma, colon, and period: A Sub-distincti∣on or comma is a Note of a short breathing or pau∣sing and is figur'd thus, The Middle-distinction hath a longer time of breathing, and is a perfect part of the period which is figur'd thus: The period is the entire whole sentence, and is Note•• with a plain single point thus.

Ther is also a Parenthesis which is two hal•• Moons, and is figur'd thus () which though it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an included sentence, yet albeit it be omitted the speech remaines perfect.

Ther is also a Note of Interrogation, and is fi∣gur'd thus?

Ther is likewise a Circumflect which is us'd whe•• a word is contracted, which goes thus figur'd▪

Ther is besides a Note of Admiration which thus!

And lastly, ther is an Apostrophe when a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is cut off and is figur'd thus▪ but the Span•••••• Toung to her greter commendation hath none this.