The arte of logick Plainely taught in the English tongue, according to the best approued authors. Very necessary for all students in any profession, how to defend any argument against all subtill sophisters, and cauelling schismatikes, and how to confute their false syllogismes, and captious arguments. By M. Blundevile.

Of Predication, and of the diuers kindes thereof.

WHat is predication?

Predication is a certaine kinde or phrase of speech, whereby one word is spoken of another, and aptly applied to another, as when we say, Iohn is a man; for this word man is a generall word, and is spoken of Iohn, Thomas, Richard, and euery other singular man.

How many kindes of predications be there?

Two, that is, essentiall and accidentall.

What is essentiall predication?

It is a naturall and vsuall kinde of speech, whereby one thing is naturally, and properly spoken of another, or as the Logicians say, when words superiour are spoken of their inseriours being of one selfe affinitie, as when the generall kinde is spoken of any his speciall kindes, or the speciall kinde of any his Indiuiduums, or when the difference or propertie is spoken of their speciall kindes, or of any of the Indiuiduums comprehended vnder the said speciall kindes; as when we say, Man is a sensible body, or that Iohn is a man, or, Iohn is reasonable, or, Iohn is apt to speake, or such like: for such speeches are both naturall, and of necessitie, because the predicate is aptly applied to his subiect. To this

kinde of predication some men doe also referre two other kindes of speeches.

Which be they?

Predication, Identicall and vnusuall.

What is Identicall predication?

It is a kinde of speech, whereby one selfe thing is spoken of it selfe, as when we say, Iohn is Iohn, which though it be essentiall, yet because nothing is expounded thereby, it is not allowed of the Logicians.

What is vnusuall predication?

It is a kinde of speech seldome vsed, as when wee reade in the holy Scriptures, God is man, The word was made flesh; for these be most essentiall and necessarie speeches, though not vsuall in any other science then in Diuinitie.

What is predication accidentall?

Predication accidentall is when an accident is spoken of his subiect, as, Wine is sweet, or, Wine is sowre, Socrates walketh; for this is a casuall kinde of speech, imploying no necessitie, as doe the other essentiall or naturall speeches before recited. To this also may be referred predications by way of similitude, as when we say, One man is a God or Deuill to another, A Tyrant is a Wolfe or Fox, that is to say, like a Wolfe or Fox, which are otherwise called figuratiue or metaphorical speeches. But whilest we talke here of accidentall predications, it shall not be amisse to shew you that the Schoolemen, the more distinctly to expresse the nature of accidents, doe vse two termes, Abstractum and Concretum. Abstractum is the bare shape of any subiect separa∣ted by imagination from the same, as the whitenesse or black∣nesse of a wall, or any other thing that is either white or blacke, which abstract cannot be properly spoken of his subiect; for it were no proper speech, to say, that this wall is whitenesse: where∣fore wee must vse the adiectiue called Concretum, signifying the shape, together with the subiect, as when wee say, This wall is white.