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.

CHAP. IIII.

Of the equiualencie of simple propositions.

WHat is equiualencie?

It is the reconciling or agreeing of two pro∣positions, hauing one selfe subiect, and one selfe predicate, in such sort, that though they be di∣uers in words, yet they are made to bee all one in signification.

How is such reconciliation made?

By the helpe of signes, either vniuersall or particular, that are of like value, and equall one to another, and thereby make the speeches equall.

Giue example.

As thus: Who knoweth not this to be true? Euery man know∣eth this to be true: There is none but that knoweth this to bee true. All these are of like value, and doe signifie one selfe thing. Againe, Some men are wise, Few men are wise, All men are not wise, Not many are wise, are also equiualent speeches. The Schoolemen doe giue diuers rules touching the equiualencie of speeches; but such as, in mine opinion, are neither necessarie, no•…•… profitable, for that they cause many times barbarous, vnusu∣all, and intricate speeches. And therefore I thinke good hereto passe them ouer with silence, wishing all men to iudge the equi∣ualencie of speeches, rather by the eare, and by custome of spea∣king,

and by vsuall manner of taking the same in euery seuerall tongue or language, then by any rules, which perhaps will serue in one tongue, but not in another.