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 a Modall Proposition.

WHat is a modall proposition?

It is that which affirmeth or denieth some∣thing, not absolutely, but in a certaine respect, sort, or mood, which mood is commonly the predicat in this kinde of proposition, and all the rest of the subiect called of the Logicians, Dictum.

What is a mood?

Mood is a word determining and limiting the signification of some other word whereunto it is ioined, as a wise man, a white horse: for here this word wise being added to man, doth limit and restraine the generall signification of the word man, which otherwise of it selfe comprehendeth both wise and foolish. And the like is to be said of any other generall word, whereunto any such addition is put: but of moods making modall propositions, there are but these foure, that is, Possible, Contingent, Impossi∣ble, and Necessarie.

How manifold is a modall proposition?

Twofold, that is, Coniunct and Disiunct.

When is it said to be Coniunct?

When the mood is placed either in the beginning or ending of a proposition; as, It is impossible that Iohn is sicke: or thus; That Iohn is sicke it is possible.

When is it said to be Disiunct?

When the mood is placed so, as it diuideth the one part of the subiect from the other; as, for Iohn it is possible to be sicke: and the Disiunct is said many times to be true, when the Coniunct is false, being both made of selfe termes: as for example, the Logi∣cians affirme this to be true, A white man it is possible to bee blacke: but this other, A white man to be blacke it is possible, they affirme to be false.

What maketh them so to doe, sith by construction these two speeches in sense doe seeme to be all one?

Because the mood is the Disiunct, which by parting and seue∣ring the Subiect, maketh the Proposition to seeme spoken in di∣uers respects, as man to be white in one respect, and blacke in another, and so the speech to be true.