The art of rhetorick concisely and compleatly handled exemplified out of holy writ, and with a compendious and perspicuous comment, fitted to the capacities of such as have had a smatch of learning, or are otherwise ingenious. By J.B. master of the free-school of Kinfare in Staffordshire.

The Comment.

* 1.1a) First let me note, that in some examples it skills not, which you call the Subject, which the Adjunct: for instance, Let their table be a snare, that is, Let their meat be a snare. Table may be either the Subject or Adjunct. And let me note further from the first example set down,* 1.2 that some Tropes may be variously resolved, ac∣cording to mens severall judgements. As some may think Presbyterie, here being put for Pres∣byters, to be the Effect for the Cause; for what makes the Presbyterie, but the Presbyters? though I rather take it to be an Adjunct to Pres∣byters. b) Crosse, for sufferings. c) Dayes and

multitude of yeares, for the aged. Whence note,* 1.3 that the borrowed speech lieth sometimes in more then in one single word. For there is a single word, which Logicians call Vox incomplexa, as Peter, an horse, vertue, gentle, &c. And there is a double word called Vox complexa, as Peter the Apostle, an horse all white, despi∣sed vertue, gentle in behaviour. These you see runne into one, and do of divers single ones make up double ones; so that having said, A Trope is alwayes in one word, I mean not that it must al∣wayes be in one single word, but sometimes in a double word, which, upon the matter is but one word; as here the double word multitude of yeares, is in purpose no more then the single word Dayes. And as the words of the Trope are some∣times complexive; so also are the words of the Resolution, as in Proverbs, or otherwise. d) Note hence,* 1.4 that a choice word may best befit a Trope, where in the Resolution the same word cannot serve: as Sword is put for Authoritie, being a signe thereof; yet we cannot say, He bear∣eth not the Authoritie, but he hath not the Au∣thoritie in vain: so that in Resolutions sometimes there must be alterations in some joynt words of the clause, which yet agree well to the Trope. e) By signe is meant any token, or resemblance, as the ornament, habit, title, ceremonie, &c. f) See the tenth note. g) That is, the Fool.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Note 4.
• * 1.2

  Note 5.
• * 1.3

  Note 6.
• * 1.4

  Note 7.