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 the precepts to be obserued in Diuision.

HOw many precepts are to be obserued in making a true diuision?

Three: First, that the generall kinde be diui∣ded into his next speciall kindes, by such speciall differences as are meerely repugnant one to ano∣ther, and doe comprehend the whole nature of the thing diuided: as thus; Of sensible bodies, some be reasona∣ble, and some be vnreasonable: for it were no good diuision, to say▪ of sensible bodies, one is reasonable, & another is two-footed.

What is the second precept?

That the parts, being ioined together, may bee equall to the whole, and may comprehend neither more nor lesse then the thing which is diuided, as reasonable soule, and carnall bodie, being the chiefe parts of man, doe comprehend neither more nor lesse then whole man.

What is the third precept?

That no part or speciall kinde be vsed as a generall kinde, nor the generall kinde as a part or speciall kinde: as in this diuision which Cicero reproueth, I will shew that through the concupi∣scence, boldnesse, and couetousnesse of our aduer•…•…aries, all mis∣chiefes haue chanced to the Common-wealth: here couetous∣nesse is mingled with concupiscence, whereof it is a part: for con∣cupiscence is the generall kinde of all lusts or desires. But this precept seemeth rather to appertaine to a Rhetoricall partition, then a Dialecticall diuision.

To what end serueth Diuision?

To diuers good ends. First, as Cicero saith, it helpeth great•…•…y to teach plainly to define, and to make things that be compound, intricate, or confused, to appeare simple, plaine, and certaine: Secondly, by diuiding things orderly into their parts, it greatly helpeth memorie: and thirdly, it helpeth to amplifie any kinde of speech, and to make it more copious.