The English schoole-master teaching all his schollers, of what age soever, the most easie, short, and perfect order of distinct reading, and true writing our English-tongue, that hath euer yet beene knowne or published by any. And further also, teacheth a direct course, hovv any vnskilfull person may easily both vnderstand any hard English words, ... Deuised for thy sake that wantest any part of this skill, by Edward Coote, Master of the Free-schoole in Bury St. Edmond.

The second Book of the English Schoole-MASTER. Wherein are taught plaine and easie Rules how to diuide truely and certainly any long and hard word of many Syllables, with Rules for the true writing of any word. (Book 2)

CHAP. I.

In this Chapter are set downe the words of Art vsed in this Trea∣tise, with other necessary rules and obseruations, especially for words of one Syllable, both for true writing and reading.

I diuide your syllables for you, vntill you haue rules of diuision, and then I leaue you to your rule.

Master.

DOe you thinke your selfe so suf-fi ci-ent-ly in-struc-ted to spell and read distinctly any word of one syl la-ble, that now we may procéed to trach Rules for the true and eas•••• di∣ui-si-on of any word of ma-ny syl-la-bles?

Scholler,

Sir: I doe not well vnderstand what you meant by a syl∣la-ble? * 1.1

Mast.

A syl-la-ble is a perfect sound made of so many let∣ters as we spell together: as, in di-ui-si-on, you sée are foure syl-la-bles.

Schol.

Now ma••ny let-ters may be in a syl-la-ble?

Ma.

A-ny num-ber v••-der ni••••; as, I do say that welsh knight, broug••t▪ strength.

Schol.

What let-ters make a syl-la-ble a-lone?

Ma.

Any of the vowels; a, e, i, o, u, as a-ny e-uill, I-doll, o uer-tur-neth, v-ni ty.

Schol.

But Sir, I sometime find two vowels to-ge-ther in one syl••able, what shall I doe with them.

Ma.

You must then call them a * 1.2Dipthong, which is no∣thing else but a sound made of two vowels.

Schol.

Will any two vowels make a Dipthong?

*Teach, that any two vo∣wels that will make a perfect sound, is called a Dipthong.

Ma.

No, no••e that are fully soun-ded, but these: oi, ei, oi, au, eu, ou, oo, ee; as in say, either, coin, taught, eu eu-nuch, * 1.3 ought, good, feed. Which when you finde, you must joyne to∣ge-ther, ex cept in some proper names, as in Beer-she ba, Na∣tha-ni-el, so in see▪eth, agree-ing, and such words, where a syllable begins with (e or i) is added to a per-fect word en∣ding in (e) as see, a-gree, de-gree. But aa, oo, and such like, make no dipthongs, and therefore may not be ioyned.

Schol.

Yet doe I finde ia, ie, io, iu, va, ve, vi, vo, ioyned to∣ge ther, as in Iames, Iesus, ioyne, Iudas, va-lew, ve-ri-ly, vi∣sir, vow: I pray you, are they then no dipthongs.

Mast.

No, for i and v. ioy-ned with a vo-well in the be∣gin-ning of a syl-la-ble, are tur-ned from vo-wels in-to con∣so-nants, as A▪hi-iah.

Schol.

What meane you by a Consonant? * 1.4

Mast.

I meane all the other let-ters ex-cept the vo-wels, which can spell nothing without one of the vo-wels: as take (e) out of strength, and strngth will spell nothing.

Schol.

Why Sir, (y) did euen now spell a word, yet is there in it none of the fiue vowels.

Ma.

Indéed (y) is often vsed for (i) when it is a vo-well; but when they be Con-so-nants, they differ: for (y) is also a Con-so-nant, when it is ioyned in the beginning of a syl-la∣ble with a vo-wel, as in yes, you: so iet dif-fe-reth from yet and such like.

Schol.

I pray you shew me the reason why in (like) which was the last word you vsed, and in many other before, you put e 1.5 in the end, which is not sounded.

Ma.

This letter e 1.6 in the end of a word not sounded, hath two principall vses. The first and chiefest is to draw the syl∣la-ble long: as he is made, mad.

A Mill dam. A ••••rewd dame.

My man hath cut my horse mane.

A great gap. gape wide.

Spare this Spar. Be ware of war.

*Feed vntill thou hast well fed.

*In this sound when (e) is long, it is commonly doubled and made a Dip∣thong.

Make your Schollers very perfect in these: and then you may try th••m in other like.

You feele not my paine. The waspe is fell.

He hid the Oxe hide.

At is a mile to the mill.

A little pin. My flesh doth pine.

A branch of fir: good for the fire.

A dor fitteth on the doore.

Tos the ball. Tose the wooll.

You haue a dot on the nose, and you dote.

Rud is not rude.

A tun of wine, the tune of a song:

Schol.

What is the second vse?

Mast.

It changeth the sound of some letters: but this vse, with the further de-cla-ra-ti-on of this let-ter, because it is har-der than you will at the first ea-si-ly conceiue, I will re∣ferre you vnto another place.

Schol.

Are no o-ther let-ters not all, or but lit-tle pro-noun∣ced.

M.

Yes, ve-ry ma-ny: as (a) is not pro-noun-ced in earth, goat; nor (e) in George; nor (i) in brief; nor (o) in * 1.7 people: neither is (u) pro-noun-ced in guide. All which words of all sorts I will set downe af-ter-ward; when I haue gi-uen you more ne-ces-sa-ry rules in these thrée first Chap∣ters, and you bet-ter a-ble to vse them.

CHAP. II.

By this Chapter, you shall easily and plainly know how many syllables are in euery word.

Mast.

IF you di-li-gent-ly ob-serue these things, you can∣not erre in any word of any one syllable: therfore I will pro-céed in the di-ui-si-on of syl-la-bles; which if you care-fully mark, you shall ne-uer faile in di-ui-ding the lon∣gest or hardest word that euer you shall reade.

Schol.

That will as-su-red-ly bring me great pro-fit and plea-sure: for when I méet with a long hard word, I stick so fast in the mite, that I can nei-ther goe forward nor back∣ward.

And I ne-uer yet heard that any such rules hath béen e-uer yet taught by a-ny. I pray you there-fo•••• tell me what is the first generall rule, or the chiefest ground in this work.

Ma.

Briefly it is this: Marke how ma-ny vo-wels you haue in a word, as in streng••h, ti-ed, e-spi ed, sub-mis-si-on, sa-lu-ta-ti on, re-ge-ne-ra-ti on, ex-tra-or-di-na-ri-ly; in which se-uen words, you haue as ma-ny syl-la-bles as vo∣wels: and aboue se-uen syl-la-bles, I remember no word.

Mast.

But I fi••d the con-tra ry euen in this rule: for in the words you, haue brief: are ••no vo-wels th••n syl-la-bles.

Ma.

It is well obserued, therefore you must know that you can hard-ly find a ge-ne-rall rule with-out some ex-cep-ti∣ous.

Schol.

How ma-ny ex cep-ti-ous hath it?

Mast.

Thrée. The first is, when there is (e) in the end of a word, or a-ny o-ther vo-well not at all, or but lit-tle pro∣noun-ced; as in chiefe, haue, twice: wherein we sound not (i) in chiefe, nor the last (e) in any of them.

Schol.

What is the se-cond ex-cep-ti-on?

Ma.

The second is, if there be a Dip-thong, as in may▪ your, then haue you two vowels in one syl-la-ble?

Schol.

Are there not thrée vowels in your?

Ma.

No: for, I told you before, that (y) before a vowell in the same syllable, is a consonant.

Schol.

What is the third ex-cep-ti-on?

Mast.

Words ending in (es) haue a-boue one vo-well; as Iames, pre-serues, al-waies, names, hides, bones. But of these more shall be said hereafter.

Schol.

Shall I neuer else find two vowels in one syllable?

Ma.

Yes; after (q) alwayes is (u) with another vowel, as in quasse, queen, quick. and sometime after (g) as in Gual∣ter, language; otherwise neuer, vnlesse we say, that in words ending in (uen) as Hea-uen, e-uen, are in on•• syllable, be∣cause we commonly prenounce them.

CHAP. IX.

This Chapter teacheth plaine rules, how to diuide truely the longest and hardest English word that you shall find.

Schol.

I Haue al ready with ease and cer-tain-ly, learned to know how ma-ny syl-la-bles are in a-ny word, so soone as I sée it: yet know I not how to diuide them truly.

Mast.

Mark then these rules fol-low-ing, and you shall * 1.8 neuer faile. The first is is, if you ••aue two vowels come to∣ge-ther, both fully pro-noun-ced, and no Dip-thong, you must put the for-mer of them in the for-mer s••l-la-ble, and the latter of them to the syl-la ble following, as in tri-al mu-tu-al, say-ing, try ump••, E phra-im. Likewise when the same con-so-nant is dou-bled, they must be di-ui-ded in like man∣ner, as ab bot, ac cord, ad-der, let-ter, dif-fer, com-mon, ne ces si••tie, &c. * 1.9 except when they are néed-les-ly dou-bled in words of the plu-rall number, as in plumme••, whipps, hills, cragges, for plums, hils, whips crags.

Schol.

What meane you by the plurall number?

Mast.

When na-••ing a thing, wée speake of mo than one, as one whip, we call the sin-gu-lar num-ber, because it spea∣keth but of one; and whips we call the plurall number, be∣cause it speaketh of mo than one. * 1.10

Schol.

But what shall I doe, when I find but one con-so∣nant be-twixt two vo-wels.

Mast.

a 1.11 You must put the consonant vnto the vo-well fol∣low-ing him, as in o-ver, enough, v-sed, be-cause, re-port, de-li uer, re-ioy▪ced, di li-gent, re-ge-ne-ra-ti-on, except in some compound word.

Schol.

What kind of words be they?

Mast.

When two seuerall words which wée call simple words are joyned together, as in saue-gard, two syllables, not sa-ue-gard, thrée syllables, b 1.12 because it is made or com∣pounded of two seuerall words, saue and gard; so where-of, there-in, here-out, vn-e-ven, lame nesse, wisely. Where you must note, that if the last part be an addition onely, and sig∣nifie nothing, c 1.13 as (nes) in lame-nes, we call that a deriua∣tiue word, and not a word compounded. Also (x) is put to the vowell before him, as in ox en, ex-er-cise, ex-or-eists, the reason is, because d 1.14 hath the sound of two con-so∣nants, (cands) and (cs) cannot begin a syllable.

Schol.

What i•• there come two diuers con-so-nants be∣twixt two vowels.

Mast.

Then if they be such as may, they must be joyned: for those that begin a word, must begin a syllable in any part of the word.

Schol.

How then shall I know which are Consonants may begin a word, and therefore must be joyned?

Mast.

If you turne backe to the third Chapter of the first book, they are set downe together: but because I would haue you very perfect in these letters, I will giue you of euery one an example; as blesse, crew, child, clap, cre••p, draw, dwell, fl••m, fret, glasse, grat, grace, know, play, praise, scab, shall, skip, flowe, smart, snuf, spend, squib, stand, sway, that, trap, twain, when, wrought.

Schol.

I pray you now giue examples, how these must be ioyned in words of mosyllables.

Ma.

Marke then diligently there: restore, not thus, res∣tore, because (st) may begin a syllable: it must not thus, rest-ore, because a Consonant (if there be any) must begin the syllable; so in re▪fraine, ex-e crable, and such like: but in god-ly, sel dome, trum-pet, lod god, mor-ning, &c. the middle Consonants must bée diuided, because none of these (dl, ld, mp, dg, rn) can begin a word, therefore can they not be∣gin a syllable. Againe, you may not spell thus: lodg-ed, be∣cause (g) may begin a word.

Schol.

Is then the same reason to bée obserued, if there * 1.15 come thrée or moe Consonants together in the middest of a word?

Ma.

Yea, altogether: For as many Consonants as can, must be joyned, and the rest diuided.

Schol.

How many Consonants may come in the beginning of a word?

Ma.

Thrée and no more: therefore, if in the midst there come foure, or mo, they must be diuided, although foure may end a syllable, as in words.

Schol.

How shall I be sure, which thrée may be joyned?

Ma.

They are all set downe in the beginning of the fift Chapter of the first book. But for more plainnesse sake, I will giue euery one of them an example, whereof wée haue an ordinary English word, as scraps, skrew, shrink, stroke, spilt, spring, thrall, twhi••e.

Schol.

Giue an example for diuiding of these words, wherein many consonants come together.

Mast.

One or two may serue, if you remember what hath béen taught. As for this word con-straine, you may not say co-nstraine, nor cons-traine, const-raine, nor constr-aine, but con-straine, because (ns) cannot begin a syllable (str) can, therefore it must begin it; so im-ploy, King-dome, destructi∣on, ac-know-ledge, trans-gresse, &c. And this rule must you carefully still-practice, that you may readily giue the reason in all such words, why euery consonant must goe to this syl∣lable rather than to that. But still looke, as before, that so••le compound words must be markt, as mis-take, dis-like, trans∣pose, with-out, through-our, &c. Which if they had béene simple words, we must haue spelled them thus, mi-stake, di∣slike, tran-spose, as yée haue learned, because in composition euery word must haue his owne letters, not mingled with o∣ther.

Schol.

But Sir, some men spell deriuatiue words thus: speak eth, strength en-ing otherwise than you haue taught.

Mast.

I know it well: yet because if such words should be so spelled, we must for them frame new rules, (which were to bring a néedlesse oppression on childrens memories:) and that the former rules can bring no inconuenience, in any word, therefore follow them without feare or doubt. And thus may you, by this that you haue learned, spel truly certainly, & with judgment, any English word, that can be laid before you.

Schol.

[Object.] Although all men will grant that these rules must of necessity bring a spéedy course of readi••g to as many as are of yéeres able to discerne, yet many will not easily beléeue that little children can conceiue them, and make vse of them; and then they will rather bring confusion than profit.

Mast.

[Answ.] But experience hath taught the contrary: for a child of an ordinary capacity, will, and hath easily conceiued these rules, being orderly taught. But discretion must be vsed, not to trouble them with any new rule, before they be perfect in the old. The words of art here vsed are not aboue eight, in all; the most of them I would haue the child learne, while he is learning to spell, in the first booke, as I haue giuen d••∣rection there in the beginning: which words there, and rules

héere being orderly taught, as is prescribed, neuer by (the blessing of God) doubt of a comfortlesse successe: therefore I wish that no man with a preindicate opinion, doe reiect them, before he hath made good tryall vpon some ordinary wits: but would haue all such as teach to reade, that they would make their Schollers as perfect in the rules of these thrée Chapters as may bée, being of the chiefest necessity and vse: the other that follow, because some of them be more hard, containing onely difference of sounds of our English letters and other obseruations for true writing, if your child be very young or dull, trouble him with vnderstanding no more of them than he is fit to containe and vse: yet let him learne to reade them all: for it were granted, that he could vnderstand none of them, no, nor some of the former; yet while he reades them, he learneth as much, and goeth on as fact, as by reading any other matter. For I demand what he vnderstands, when hée readeth a Chapter in the Bible? Yet will no man deny him profit by reading. And this hath made me longer by the one halfe for plainnesse sake, than otherwise I might, knowing that in practising to reade, he looseth not his labour.

Although these three Chapters be of greatest vse for Readers, yet let your Scholler dili∣gently reade the rest. For although he doe not vnder∣stand some of the rules fol∣lowing at the first reading, yet he may at the second.

CHAP. IIII.

This Chapter layeth forth a more full declaration of cer∣taine rules mentioned before, as of (e) in the end of a word of those letters which are not pronounced,* 1.16 and for writing any words of the plurall number.

Schol.

I Remember you told me, the (e) in the end of a word is not pronounced; beside that, it draweth the sylla∣ble long, it also changeth the sound of Letters: I pray which are they?

Ma.

It changeth the sound of these letters u, c, g. when a∣ny of these vowels go before, as au, eu, iu, ou, ac, ic, oc, uc, ag, ug, so iu ag, ig, as in * hau, haue, leu, leue▪ lou▪ loue, so caue, saue, * 1.17 salue, hiue, thriue: so (a) without (c) is sounded like (k) but ace with (e) like ase, as in accord: but place, race; so lic, lice, truc, truce: also ag, age, as stag, stage, so cag cage; so ••••g, huge, deluge, so hang, strange, string, fringe, so larg, large, in most of which (e) doth also draw the syllable long, a•• you saw in

ag, age, hug, huge. Where you must marke, that the sound which (g) hath in age, and huge, being long, in short syllables is made by putting d, before g, as in badg, trudg. So it is also when e, i, or o, come before g, as leg, ledge, rig, ridge, log, lodg; which vowels before g, are neuer long except in leig, sieg, which is the putting in i.

Schol.

But Sir, you haue vsed (e) in the end of many words not sounded, when neither it changeth, sound, nor maketh the syllable long: why is that?

Ma.

Wée sée it indéed often, but rather of custome, (as they say) for * 1.18 beautie than of necessitie, as after (i) but not after (y) as in bie, by; and after two consonants, or a conso∣nant doubled, as in article, angle, barre, chaffe, sonne, where∣as the learned languages neither double the consonant, nor vse such (e) as the Latines say, mel, as, ros, we mell, as, rosse, And sometime we vse not (e) when the word is long, as after (ll) as in all, fall, shall, yea, we vse (as) longer without (e) than asse; with it. Yet sometime we vse (e) after two consonants, to draw the syllable long for difference sake, principally if the end of them be (l) as in cradle, ladle; least they should be pro∣nounced * 1.19 short, like saddl, ladl; which some men would distin∣guish by doubling (dd) as saddle. But it is both vsuall and néedlesse to write bibbl, and chilld; to make them differ from bible, and child. And some pronounce these words, blind, find, behind, short: other blinde, finde, behinde, with (e) long. Which (e) if we should write after some words, it would vtterly ouerthrow the naturall sound, as if we should write hang with (e) thus hange, we must pronounce it like strange, and hence ariseth the difference of the last syllable in hanger, and stranger. So words sounding, as long, song; and ending in ing, as reading, writing, if they should haue (e) would sounded like fringe, hinge; as swing him in a rope, swinge him with a rod, which must not be written with (dg) frindg, as some thinke, as the former examples shew, and these words, fringed, hingell, where (d) is neuer written.

Schol.

If this be custome without reason, what certainty shall I hold?

Ma.

Although it were good and easie both for our owne Country learners, and for strangers, that certaine rules were

knowne and practised, (which thing might easily be done) yet because it lyeth not in vs to reforme, I wish you rather to obserue the best, and follow that which we haue, than to la∣bour for innouation, which wée cannot effect. And let this admonition serue for all customes in the rest.

Schol.

I remember you promised mée to set downe those * 1.20 words which haue other letters besides (c) either not at all, or but little pronounced.

Mast.

I will either set you them downe, or else giue you rules to know them. Marke them therefore as they follow: a 1.21 is not pronounced, when (ea or oa) come together, as in earth, wealth, beautie, abroad, toat, boat. Where (a) doth draw the syllable long, like (e) in the end, as appeareth by these words, Beast, best, bread, bed, goad, god, coast, cost; as if you wrote brede, gode, &c. And hereupon this word yeare, yeere, yere, is diuersly written: yet we say, be-atitude, cre∣ate, cre-a-tor. &c. but creature; and in forreigne proper names, wée commonly pronounce both, as in Ichoshable-ath, Gile-ad▪ Teco-a, Bo-az.

(e) Not pronounced in George, trueth. * 1.22

(i) In shield, field, priest, chief, brief, shrieue, grieue, siege, * 1.23 Maister, their, view, mischiefe, fierce, friese, atchieue, mar∣ueil, reliefe, griefe, biere, adiew, interfier, kirchiefe, lieute∣nant, fruit suit, bruise, bruit.

(o) In people, floud, bloud, yeoman, ieopardy. * 1.24

(u) In guest, guife, buy, guide, prologue, build, tongue, guile, * 1.25 guilty, conduit, league, dialogue, plague, epilogue, sinagogue.

(b) In lamb, comb, thumb, debt, doubt, bdelium. * 1.26

(c) In backe, packe, decke, pecke, licke, sticke, rocke, * 1.27 knocke, hucke, lucke. And all alike: for we vse no short words ending in (e) without (k) so in these that end in ackle, eckle, ickle, ockle, uckle.

Schol.

Why may we not say that (k) is not pronounced in these aswell as (c)?

Mast.

It differeth not much which: for although that (k) doth end our English words when they be long: as in bake, cake, seeke, speake, like, looke, duke: yet these that we make short, the Latines make the same sound in (c) as lac, nec, dic, sic, hoc, duc, when we say, lacke, necke, dick, sick, hock, duck.

(g) In signe, resigne, ensigne, flegme, raigne, soueraigne, Gascoigne. * 1.28

(h) In Christ, mirth, Ghost, Iohn, whole, scholler, eunuch, chronicle, authority, anchor, choler, chrystall, Rhene, rhe∣nish, * 1.29 rhetoricke, abhominable, melancholy. So in forreigne proper names, as Thomas, Achaia, Cheaanath, Zacharias, Zichri, Chios, Aristarchus. So those that end in arch, as Monarch: but in the beginning seldome, as Archangell; therefore commonly writ Arkangell.

(gh) Comming together except in Ghost, are of most men but little sounded, as might, fight, pronounced as mite, fite; * 1.30 but in the end of a word some Countries sound them fully, o∣thers not at all: as some say, plough, slough, bough: other, plou, slou, bou, Thereupon some write burrough, some bor∣row; but the truest is both to write and pronounce them.

(n) In solemne, hymne. * 1.31

(p) In Psalme, receipt, accompt. * 1.32

(s) In Isle. * 1.33

(t) Is alwaies written, but little sounded before (ch) when * 1.34 the syllable is short, not hauing another consonant next, be∣fore, as in catch, stretch, ditch, botch, smatch, except in rich, which, much; in which, custome hath preuailed against rule: But if the syllable be long, or hath another consonant with (ch) then (t) is not written, as in attach, reproch, couch, b••lch, bench, &c.

Here againe obserue, that custome hath preuailed against reason, else why should (a) be written in boar, boat, rather than in dore, dote, or (i) in fruite, rather than brute? But to know whan to write them, and when not, you shall find all that may bréed doubt, set downe in the table at the end of the book, where you may aske councell, as your doubts shall arise, and not for those sorts onely, but for any other hard or doubt∣full word not mentioned before in this booke.

In such rules of writing, you must not onely vnder∣stand the first originall word but all deriua∣tions rising from them. Note that •• long sounde••, as in Se not as Sea, is al∣wayes written wi••h ea. Words of the plural number

Schol.

You told me, you would obserue something more in words ending in es; I pray you what is it?

Mast.

Well remembred it is this: words ending in (es) are most of the plurall number, and are made of the singular by adding (s) for where it is not néedfull to vse (e) in the end of the singular number, it shall not be néedfull to vse es in the

plurall, as in iewels, ingines: except the singular end in a vo∣wel, or in (w) put for (••) as in flies pies, toes, crowes. Ther∣fore shall you find hands, things, words, more vsuall in the ex∣actest writers, than handes, thinges, wordes, w^t (e) although both wayes be common: and this maketh the difference be∣twixt mils and miles, tuns and tunes, curs and cures: and not by writing them being short, with the consonant doubled, as milles, tunnes, curres, which is néedlesse though vsuall, vn∣lesse it be sometime for difference of words, as to make Sonnes differ from the sound of the latine word sons.

Schol.

Are there then neuer more syllables in the plurall number, than in the singular.

Mast.

Yes sometime, as when the singular number endeth in ce, ch, gd, dg, s, or sh, As in graces, places, churches, cages, hedges, noses, fishes. And this maketh the difference betwixt gags for the mouth, and gages for a Uessell. Note also, that if the singular number end in (f) it is turned in the plurall into (u) as wife, knife, calfe, whose plurals are wiues, kniues, calues.

Schol.

Doe all words of the plurall number end in es?

Ma.

No, for we may say lice, mice, men, b••••thren, oxen, teeth, feet, kine: and many other. And sometime the singular and plurall are both one; as one sheepe, ten sheepe, one mile, twenty mile, or miles.

CHAP. V.

This Chapter teacheth all obseruations that are necessary for the perfecting of a Scholler.

VVHat is the first thing next to be learned?

You shall f••nde some word witten with (e) and (o) single, when they should be written with the dipthongs, ee, * 1.35 oo, as he, be, me, she, do, mother, for hee, bee, mee, doe, &c. but * 1.36 thee when we speake vnto one, and the otherwise, and so must their pronunciation differ, as I will tell thee the mat∣ter. Secondly, that ph, is as much as (f) and is vsed onely in words borrowed from the Gréeke tongue, as in Physicke, Prophet, Philip, Phenice: for the rest looke the Table.

Thirdly some letters beside those before mentioned, haue not alwayes one and the same soound: as th is commonly

sounded: as in these words, thanke, theefe, third, throt, * 1.37 thump: except in these words following, that, fatham, the, them, then, there, their, these, brothel, furthest, thine, this, thi∣ther, worthy, thou, through, thus: and in words of moe than one syllable, ending in ther, thed, theth, thest, thing; as fa∣ther, breathed, breathest, bathest, seething.

Also (g) when (e) or (i) follow, brings great hardnesse to * 1.38 our learners and strangers, being diuersly sounded: (ge) most often soundeth as (ie) as in * agent, gorget, gentle, gentile, * 1.39 except in these words, together, get, bragger, target, burgen, gesse, gled, gow, gnawes, viniger, anger, finger, hanger, hun∣ger, eag••r, suger. And (g) as (ij) as in grant, ginger, clergy, imagin, &c. except in begin, biggin, giddy, gift, gig, giglet, gild, gilty, gimlet, ginni-hen, gird, girdle, girle, girth, gittron, giue, giues, Gibbon: and deriuatiues ending in ger, gec, geth, ge••••, ging; which follow the sound of the words whereof they be made, as in hanger, hanged, hangeth, hang••st, hanging. Some men thinke that these words might be thus different∣ly written: a childes gig, a Scottish jig, the gill of a fish, and a jill of wine. But our English tongue will hardly beare (ij) in one syllable: Therefore to be sure when to write (g) and when (i) know that the sound (gi) is alwayes written with (g) and write (ie) alway with (i) sauing in those words that you shall finde written with (g) in the Table. But our English proper names are written as it pleaseth the Pain∣ter, or as men haue receiued them by tradition; otherwise, why should Iermine be written otherwise than the first sylla∣ble in Germane; or lesse, rather than Gesse? and this I take to be the reason, why Gifford is diuersly pronounced and made two different names, which is most like to be at the first but one; yea, I haue knowne two naturall Brethren, both learned to write their owne names differently.

Moreouer (ti) before (on) is pronounced as (fi) as in re∣demption: except s or x goe before i, as question, adustion, mixtion; and commonly before other vowels, as in patience, Egyptian; except when a syllable beginning with a vowell, is added to a perfect word ending in (ti) as if (ing) be added to pitty, or est to lofty, it is pittying, loftiest.

But the hardest thing in our English tongue, for true

writing, is to discerne when to write (ce or se, ci or si) or both * 1.40 as science: therefore many words that are méerely English, are almost left indifferent: as some write fausset some fau∣set, other faucet: so pincers, or pinsers: bullace, or bullasse, so ••e bulleis: so Si••••ers, or cisers, but exactly it is scissers. But because the most are written with ••, as seat, serue, side, sicke, &c. therefore you may write (s) before (e and i) except with those words that are written with (c) in the Table, or any o∣ther made of them by * 1.41 deriuation or composition; as if you know how to write Cite, you must so write incite, citation, incitation, and so in other. Note, that ance, ence, ince, once, ounce, ancy, ency, are vsually written with (c) so it is after (a) in the end, as temperance, prudence, excellence, grace, &c. except in case, base, chase, or when (s) is sounded like (z) *as amase: words beginning with trans, be alwayes written * 1.42 with (s) and circum, with (c) as transferre, circumstance. For other exceptions, sée the Table.

But to know when to write ci, si, ti, xi, before (on) marke that ci, and xi, are seldome, as suspicion, complexion, si more * 1.43 often, as in those that end in casion, cession, cision, cursion, fession, susion, gression, hension, lusion, misaion, passion, pression, pulsion, tision, session, swasion, version, vision, as redemption, &c. but for particulars if you doubt, view the Table.

Schol.

What else is there to be obserued?

Diuerse wri∣ting of the same sound.

Ma.

That diuers other words of the same pronunciation, by changing their signification, change also their writing, as the reigne of a Prince, the reine of a bridle, & the raine falleth.

Two men came to me. Their minds are there.

Wait on me, and sell it by weight.

Nay, not so, the horse doth neigh.

The Sunne shineth, my Sonne cryeth.

Stand still here, that you may heare.

A true Prophet, bringeth much profit.

I heard that which was hard. * 1.44

This Mill-wright cannot write.

Some men haue a great summe of money.

Sometime we pronounce (o) before (m) or (n) as (u) •••• in come, nomber, custome, * 1.45 some, sonne, &c.

The same wri∣ting of a diuers sound.

Sometimes the same writing is diuersly sounded, as (s) sounded like (z) as we vse this vse. And when that (i) doth so come betwixt two vowels, as that it may be taken for a dip∣thong or consonant, as Iehoi-dah, or Ieho-jadah.

Sometime we shall haue a word diuersly written in y^• same sence, as (w) is written for (u) as in browne, broune; but e∣specially in the end of a word. Yet do now, how, differ in sound from know, blow. And therefore I sée no reason why now and how, might not be written as thou and you, thus; nou, hou, that so to make a difference betwéene these words, to bow a bow, or sow for the sow, we might write to bou a bou, to sou for the sou, and so out and ought, and such like.

The same wri∣ting in a di∣uerse sense.

Sometime we vse the same writing and sound in words, differing in signification, as the * 1.46hart of the Hart panteth.

As fowle can fly ouer a foule way.

Thou art skilfull in the Art of Grammer.

The right eare: Eare thy Land for an eare of corne.

My brother May, may liue till May.

Sometimes a word is diuersly written and sounded in * 1.47 the same sence, as many beginning with (in) intent informe, or entenc, enforme, so bottell, bottle; yerke, or ierke, jaile, or Gaole. To words ending in (i) as monie, iournie, tansie. or money, iourney, tansey. So words ending in (or)* 1.48 short may ••e indifferently written with (or) and (our) as honor, fauor, or honour, fauour, except for, nor, dor, abhor.

Further you must mark, that words of moe than one sylla∣ble, ending in this sound (u) are written with (ous) as glo∣rious, * 1.49 friuolous. But words of one syllable, thus, us, trusse.

But to know when a word endeth in (like) as publike, when in (que) as oblique, being both of one sound, is hard, without the Latine tongue, from whence most of them bée borrowed. The best helpe is deriuation; for we write pub∣ike, because we say publication: for (c) and (k) here be both ••ne, so (Rhetoricke, because we say Rhetorician.

The last thing I would haue you to marke; touching this ••art of true writing, is to know when to write (y) for (i) the ••owell, wherein almost so many men, so many minds; some ••ill haue it before certaine letters, other when it commeth •••• a dipthong, but more reason they haue which write it * 1.50

when another (i) followeth, as in say-ing, or in the end of a word found sharpe, as in deny. But I thinke naturally and truly it ought not to be written, but in words borrowed of the Gréeke, as hypocrite, myrth, mysticall, all which words you shall finde in the Table, where you shall finde no other written with (y) for difference sake, although other-where I haue written (y) for (i) without regard, following the vsuall custome.

Schol.

But Sir, I read a litle before Psalme, and you did not teach me that Ps. might begin a word.

Ma.

Well remembred: such diligent marking what you read, will soone make you a scholler: The answer is this, that word is borrowed from the Grecians, and they ioyne conso∣nants that our English tongue doth not, M••••son, Ptol••meus, Rhodus, ctenes, signifying the foure fore-teeth, pnuma a spirit or breath, ••nieus, bastard saffron. But these are very rare; so we haue many terminations in proper names: and latine words that are not vsuall in English, as fons, ar••ns, falx, arx; in proper names, alz, anz, ai••, &c. Thus alb, is of the latines? we vse also in Latine Stlata, not vsed in English: we vse al∣so contract words in English, as hangd for hanged.

Sch.

Haue I now no more to obserue for distinct reading?

Ma.

That which the Grammarians call accent, which is, * 1.51 the lifting vp of the voice in one syllable higher than in ano∣ther, which sometime differeth in a word written with the same letters, as an incense to incense; where (in) in the for∣mer word, as cense in the latter is lifted vp more.

You must obserue also, those which we doe call points or stayes in writing, as this marke , like to a small halfe Moon, noteth a small stay; two prickes thus : makes a longer stay, and one pricke thus . is put for a full stay as if we had ended. When a question is asked, we marke it thus ?

*The points are thus called , a Comma, : a Colon, . a Period, ? an Interro∣gation.

When some words may be left out, and yet the sentence perfect, it is noted thus ( ) a Parenthe∣sis. as teach me (I pray you) to reade. But for the true framing of your voice in all these, you must craue helpe of your Master.

You must also know the short kind of writing* 1.52 vsed in some words: as a strike ouer any vowell for m, or n, as mā for man, cō for con, y^e for the, y^e for that, y^u for you, w^t for with

&c. for and so forth. In written hand there ys many other, and so a word ending in a vowell, doth lose it sometime when the next word begins with a vowell,* 1.53 as thintent for the in∣tent, which exactly should be written thus, * th'intent.

* 1.54Lastly, you must write the first letter of euery proper name, and of the first word of euery sentence and verse, with those that we call Great and Capitall letters, as Robert, Anne, England, Cambridge: As also when we put a letter for a number, as V. for fiue, X. for ten, L. for fifty, C. for a hun∣dred, D for fiue hundred, M. for a thousand. Lastly, when we put a letter for a word, as L. for Lord, LL. for Lords. B. for Byshop, BB. for Byshops.

Schol.

Now I am sure that I shall neuer misse in spelling, or reading, nor (as I thinke) in writing.

Mast.

I know not what can easily deceiue you in writing, * 1.55 vnlesse it be by imitating the barbarous spéech of your Coun∣try people, whereof I will giue you a tast, thereby to giue you an occasion to take héed, not of these only, but of any like. Some people speake thus: The mell standeth on the hell, for the mill standeth on the hill: so knet for knit, bredg for bridg, knaw for gnaw, knat for gnat, belk for belch, yerb for herb, griffe for graffe, yelk for yolk, ••eam for realme, afeard for afraid, durt for dirt, gurt for girth, stomp for stamp, ship for sheepe, hafe for halfe, sample for example, parfit for perfect, dauter for daughter, certen for certaine, cercher for cerchiefe, leash for lease, hur for her, sur and suster, for sir and sister, to spat for to spit, &c.

So doe they commonly put (f) for (u) as feale for veale.

We vse to put (n) to the words (a my or thy when the next word beginneth with a vowell to auoyd a ga∣ping sound.

And a nox, a nasse, my naunt, thy nunckle, for an oxe, asse, mine aunt, thine vnckle, &c.

Take héed also you put not (e) for (i) in the end of a word as vnitee for vnitie, nor (id) for (ed) as vnitid for vnited, which is Scottish: And some ignorantly write a cup a Wine. for a cup of wine▪ and other like absurdities.

Schol.

How shall I auoide these dangers.

Mast.

By diligent marking how you read them written.

Schol.

May I then neuer vse my proper Country termes in writing.

Mast.

Yes, if they be peculiar termes and not corrupting of words, as the Northren man writing to his priuate Neigh∣bour

may say, My Lathe standeth néere the kirke garth, for My barne standeth néere the Church-yard. But if hée should write publikely, it is fittest to vse the most knowne words.

Schol.

What can now hinder me, why I should not readi∣ly and distinctly read any English?

Ma.

Nothing at all, (if you be throughly perfect in this that I haue taught you) vnlesse it be want of more practice, which (although this you haue learned, will so sufficiently teach you, that you cannot faile in any word, though you haue neuer any other teacher, yet for your more chéerefull procéeding, I would wish you if (you can conueniently) not to forsake your Master, vntill you haue gone through these exercises follow∣ing, of which I haue made choice of all sorts, both of prose and verse that you may not be wanting in any thing.

Schol.

Sir, I will follow your aduice, thanks you for your paines, and craue the Lord his blessing. And now will I appose some of my fellowes, to sée how wée can remember some of these things taught.

CHAP. VIII.

Here is set downe an order how the Teacher shall direct his Schollers to appose one another.

When your Schollers first learne this Chapter, let one reade the questions, and another the answer. When your Schollers ap∣pose one the o∣ther, let the an∣swerer answer without book.

Iohn.

VVHo will aduenture his credit with me in ap∣posing for the victory?

Robert.

I will neuer refuse you nor any in our fourme, in any thing we haue learned, begin what you will.

John.

How spell you lo?

Robert.

l, o?

Iohn.

Spell of?

Robert.

o, f.

Iohn.

Spell from?

Robert.

f, r, o, m.

Iohn.

How write you people?

Robert.

I cannot write.

Iohn.

I meane not so, but when I say write. I mean•• spell; for in my meaning they are both one.

Robert.

Then I answer you, p, e, o, p▪ l, e.

John.

What vse hath (o) for you giue it no sound?

Robert.

True: yet we must write it, because it is one of the words we learned, wherein (o) is not pronounced.

John.

Are there any moe of them?

Robert.

Yea many: I will repeate them if you will.

Iohn.

No, that would be ouer-long. But tell me, why pronounce you not (e) in the end of people?

Robert.

It is not pronounced in the end, if there bée ano∣ther vowell in that syllable.

John.

To what end then serueth it?

Robert.

We haue learned two principall vses: one is, it draweth the syllable long, as h, a, t, spelleth hat, but h, a, t, e is hate.

Iohn.

How spell you Iesus?

Robert.

I, e, s, u, s.

John.

How know you that this is not written with g, e?

Rob.

Because it is not in the Table at the end of my book: for all that be written with g, e, be there, & our Master taught vs that all other of that sound must be written with I, e.

John.

How write you Circle?

Robert.

S, i, r, c, l, e.

Iohn

Nay, now you misse: for if you looke but in the Table, you shall find, it Circle▪ Therefore now you must appose me.

Robert.

I confesse mine error, therefore I will try if I can requite it What spelleth b, r, a, n, c, h.

Iohn.

Branch.

Robert.

Nay but you should put in (u.)

Iohn.

That skilleth not, for both wayes are vsuall.

Robert.

How spell you Might?

Iohn.

M, i, g, h, t.

Robert.

Why put you in (gh) for m, i, t, e, spelleth mite?

Iohn.

True, but with (gh) is the truer writing, and it should haue a little sound.

Robert.

If your syllable begin with (b) what consonants may follow?

Iohn.

Duely (l) or (r.)

Robert.

Where learne you that?

John.

In the third Chapter of the first Booke.

Robert.

And which will follow (g?)

John.

l, n, or r.

Robert.

How proue you it?

Iohn.

Because g, l, a, spels gla, g, n, a, gna, and g, t, a, spels gra.

Robert.

When thrée consonants begin a syllable, how shall I know which they be?

Iohn.

We haue them before twice set downe; besides, put a vowell vnto them, and sée whether they then will spell any thing, as str, put a, and it spelleth stra; but btra, will spell no∣thing: they cannot begin a syllable?

Robert.

Doth not str, spell stra?

Make your Scholler read ouer this Dia∣logue so often vntill he can do it a•• readily and pronounce it as naturally as if he spake without book.

John.

It spelleth nothing without a vowell.

Robert.

How many syllables are in this word rewarded?

John.

Thrée.

Robert.

How proue you that?

John.

Because it hath thrée vowels, without any of the thrée exceptions?

Robert.

How diuide you them?

John.

Re-war-ded.

Robert.

Why put you w to a?

John.

Because it is one consonant betwéene two vowels.

Robert.

And why diuide you r, and d?

Iohn.

Because they cannot begin a syllable.

Robert.

What is the best way to spell a long word, as this admonition?

Iohn.

I must marke how many syllables it hath, which I finde to be fiue, then take the first a, d, ad, then take the next, m, o, mo, then put them together, admo; so spell and put to the third, admoni, and so vntill you come to the end.

Robert.

What if a man should did you write this word?

John.

I must follow the same order, first write downe ad, then write vnto it mo,admo, then joyne vnto that ni,admoni, so the rest admoniti, admonition.

Robert.

What is the best way to make vs perfect inspelling hard syllabies.

Iohn.

My Master doth sometime practice vs in harsh coun∣terfeit syllables through all the fiue vowels, as in thraugh, threugh, thriugh, through, thruugh. Wrasht, wresht, wrisht, wrosht, wrusht. Yarmble, yermble, yirmble, yormble, yurmble. Waight, weight, &c. vaigh, veigh, &c. janch, jench, jinch, ionch, iunch.

Rob.

What if you cannot tell what vowell to spell your syl∣lable with, how will you doe to finde it? as if you should write from, and know not whether you shall write it with a or o.

Iohn.

I would try with all the vowels thus, fram, frem, frim, from: now I haue it.

Rob.

But Good man Taylor our Clarke, when I went to Schoole with him, taught me to sound these vowels otherwise than (me thinks) you doe.

Iohn.

How was that?

Let the vnskil∣full Teachers take great heed of this fault, and let some good Schollers heare their children pro∣nounce these syllables.

Rob.

I remember he taught me these syllables thus: for bad, bed, bid, bod, bud, I learned to say▪ bad, bid, bide, bod, bude, sounding a bed to lye vpon, as to bid or command, and bid, as bide long, as in abide: bud of a trée as bude long like rude: for these thrée vowels e, i, u, are very corruptly and ignorantly taught by many vnskilfull Teachers, which is the cause of so great ignorance in true writing in these that want the Latine tongue.

Iohn.

You say true, for so did my Dame teach m•• to pro∣nounce, for sa, se, si, so, su, to sa, see, si, so, soo, as if shée had sent me to see her sow, when as (e) should be sounded like the (sea) and (su) as to (sue) one at the Law.

Robert.

But let mée returne to appose you: how were wée taught to find out the naturall sound of consonants.

Iohn.

By the sp••ch of a stutterer or stammerer, as to ob∣serue how he laboureth to * 1.56 sound the first syllable of a word: as if the stammerer would pronounce Lord, before hée can bring it forth, he expresseth the sound of (l) which is the first Letter, and so of all the other consonants?

Robert.

How many wayes may you expresse this sound si?

John.

Onely thrée: si, ci, and sci, or xi, which is (csi.)

Robert.

Now haue you erred as well as I; for (ti) before a vowell doth commonly sound (si) and now I will giue you ouer for this time: but I will challenge you againe to mor∣row, both in some few questions, in som•• part of that which we haue learned, and also after every lesson: and as you are insaying, I will marke where you misse, and therein will I deale with you.

Iohn.

Do your worst, I will prouide likewise for you, and neuer giue you ouer, vntill I haue gotten the victory, for I

take not so much pleasure in any thing else all day.

Robert.

I am of your mind: for I haue heard our Master say, that this apposing doth very much sharpen our wi••s, helpe our memory, and many other commodities. But now let vs looke vnto our Catechisme, for our Master will examine vs next in that.

Iohn

Nay by your leaue, we shall first read ouer againe all that we haue learned, with the Preface, Titles of the Chapters, and Notes in the Margents of our Books, which we omitted before, because they were too hard: for wée shall goe no further before we be perfect in this.

The end of the second Booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Looke not for any exact defi∣nitions, but for such descripti∣ons is are fit for children. I make (h) a let∣ter for plain∣nes; which ex∣actly is none, but a no••e of b••ea••hing.
• * 1.2

  Dipthong.
• * 1.3

  Fo•• when one is little sounded, I call them impro∣per Dipthongs Ae, Oe, in La∣tine words, make a Dip∣thong.
• * 1.4

  Consonant.
• e 1.5

  Not soun∣ded.
• e 1.6

  Not soun∣ded.
• * 1.7

  Letters not pronounced.
• * 1.8

  For the la•• to syllable must no•• be∣gin with a vo∣wel, except the former end in a vowell. Doubleconso∣nants.
• * 1.9

  The plurall number I will now leaue di∣uiding those syllables which I haue taught by rule, the better to bring Schollers to present prac∣tice.
• * 1.10

  One Conso∣nant.
• a 1.11

  Because the former syllable cannot end with a Conso∣nant, except the syllable following be∣gin with a con∣sonant.
• b 1.12

  We call that simple, that is not compoun∣ded.
• c 1.13

  The syllable will keepe the same letters, as when he was simple.
• d 1.14

  Therefore (x) is called a double con∣sonant. Two conso∣nants.
• * 1.15

  Three, or moe Consonants,
• * 1.16

  Of (e) in the end of a word.
• * 1.17

  Here u, with e, hath the sound of a consonāt. And (ee) as (se) and when short words ••nd in (c) we vse to adde (k)
• * 1.18

  Especially a••∣ter, and is as in esp••e, argue.
• * 1.19

  Whereas some would make such words as able, two sylla∣bles, and that e in the end, makes bl, to be as it were a syl∣lable, I can see no reason for it.
• * 1.20

  A letter not pronounced.
• a 1.21

  The joyning of these kind of vowels may be called im∣proper dip∣thongs, be∣cause one of them •••• little heard.
• * 1.22

  (e)
• * 1.23

  (i)
• * 1.24

  (o)
• * 1.25

  (u)
• * 1.26

  (b)
• * 1.27

  (c)
• * 1.28

  (g)
• * 1.29

  (h)
• * 1.30

  (gh)
• * 1.31

  (n)
• * 1.32

  (p)
• * 1.33

  (s)
• * 1.34

  (t)
• * 1.35

  (e and o)
• * 1.36

  Which Grā∣marians call the second person ph.
• * 1.37

  (th) Like (••) the Greeke▪ (th) which onely Schollers vn∣derstand.
• * 1.38

  (gi, and ge)
• * 1.39

  The first sort are sounded like the latine (g) the other like Greek (v)
• * 1.40

  Ce, se, ••••, s••▪
• * 1.41

  That is, by adding some∣thing to the beginning or end.
• * 1.42

  (s) Often like (z) as bra∣zier.
• * 1.43

  Ci, si, ••i, xi.
• * 1.44

  (o) Before (m) or (n)
• * 1.45

  The proper name is wrie∣ten, Some or Soame.
• * 1.46

  Which some write heart.
• * 1.47

  Diuers sound and writing in the same sense▪
• * 1.48

  (or)
• * 1.49

  (like que) Write sound that end in (cus in Latin, as publicus▪ with (k) pub∣like; and those that end in (quus) as ob∣liquus, with (que) oblique, but traffique, because it is French.
• * 1.50

  (y)
• * 1.51

  ••ccent vsually omitted in our English Prints.
• * 1.52

  Called breuia∣tions,
• * 1.53

  Called Apo∣strophe's.
• * 1.54

  Capitall let∣ters.
• * 1.55

  Corrupt pro∣nunciation & writing.
• * 1.56

  For letters were first deui∣sed according to sound.