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 Matter and Forme of a simple com∣mon Syllogisme.

WHat things are said to bee the Matter of a Syllo∣gisme?

The Matter whereof a Syllogisme is made, are three terms, and three Propositions, which we called before Materiall principles, and the Forme consisteth of figure and moode, whereof we shall speak in the next Chapter.

Define what these three Termes be?

The one is called the Maior terme, or Maior extremitie, which is the Predicate of the question that is to be prooued, the other is called the Minor terme, or minor extremity, which is the subiect of the question, and these two Termes are knit together in the Conclusion, and made to agree by helpe of a third Terme, called the Meane terme or proofe.

What is the Meane terme?

It is the proofe of the question which is twice repeated be∣fore the Conclusion, and not once mentioned in the same.

How is such proofe to be found out?

Foure manner of wayes, (that is to say) by experience, by quicknesse of witte, by erudition, and by searching the com∣mon places.

Giue examples of all these foure wayes.

1 By experience, as when we affirme that intemperance is to be fled, because we know by experience, that it consumeth both body and goods in vain pleasures. 2 By wit, as to proue that the couetousnesse of wicked men is infinite: because wit and reason teacheth vs, that if couetous men did either care for the Law of God, or for reason, they would not exceed so farre the bounds thereof. 3 By erudition, as to prooue that riches are not to be desired ouer-greedily, but to serue necessitie: be∣cause

it appeareth by the doctrine of S. Paul, that such as gree∣dily seeke to be rich, doe fall into temptation, and into the snares of the Deuill. 4 By searching the common places: as when the proofe of any question is fetched from any of the common places before taught, as from the generall kinde, from the speciall kinde, from the difference, or property, and such like, whereof you haue had examples before.

Which be the three Propositions whereof a Syllogisme doth con∣sist?

These three: The Maior, the Minor, and the Conclusion.

Which call you the Maior?

That which consisteth of the Predicate of the question, o∣therwise called the Maior terme, and of the Meane, or Proofe, being both ioyned together in one selfe Proposition; which Proposition is the whole strength of the Syllogisme, for it is the cause and proofe of the Conclusion.

Which call you the Minor?

That which consisteth of the Subiect of the question called the Minor terme, and of the Meane or proofe ioined together, which two Propositions are called by one generall name, pre∣misses, because they goe before the Conclusion.

What is the Conclusion?

It is that which consisteth of the Predicate, and of the Sub∣iect, and is the question it selfe concluded.

Giue example.

For example, let this bee your question: whether man be a substance or not, here you haue two extremes or termes, wher∣of substance being the Predicate, is the Maior terme, and man being here the subiect, is the minor terme: now to prooue that this word Substance, is properly and naturally spoken of man, as of his Subiect, and that you may truely knit these two ex∣tremes, or termes together, you must seeke out some cause or proofe, otherwise called the Meane terme, which being once found out, the Syllogisme is soone made: let the Meane terme therefore bee this word, Sensible body, for euery sensi∣ble body is a Substance, which proofe is fetched from the ge∣nerall kinde, then forme your Syllogisme thus: euery sen∣sible

bodie is a substance: but man is a sensible bodie: Ergo, man is a substance. Here you see that the Meane terme or proofe is twice repeated before the Conclusion: (that is to say) in the Maior Proposition, together with the Predicate of the question, called the Maior terme; and also in the Minor Proposition together with the subiect of the question called the Minor terme, and not once mentioned in the Conclusion. Thus much touching the Matter whereof a Syllogisme con∣sisteth: now of the Forme thereof.