A battle-door for teachers & professors to learn singular & plural you to many, and thou to one, singular one, thou, plural many, you : wherein is shewed ... how several nations and people have made a distinction between singular and plural, and first, in the former part of this book, called The English battle-door, may be seen how several people have spoken singular and plural...: also in this book is set forth examples of the singular and plural about thou, and you, in several languages, divided into distinct Battle-Doors, or formes, or examples; English Latine, Italian, Greek, Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriack, Arabick ... and how emperors and others have used the singular word to one, and how the word you came first from the Pope, likewise some examples, in the Polonian, Lithuanian, Irish and East-Indian, together with ... Swedish, Turkish ... tongues : in the latter part of this book are contained severall bad unsavory words, gathered forth of certain school-books, which have been taught boyes in Enland ... / George Fox, John Stubs, Benjamin Farley.

A BATTLE-DOOR FOR TEACHERS and PROFESSORS TO LEARN Plural & Singular:

YOV to Many, and THOV to One; Singular one, Thou; Plural many, You.

THat now why the Teachers of the World, Schollars and School-masters, teach People and Children which will not have People, nor Children, speak Thou to one, and You to many, is not sense, nor good Latine, nor good English, nor good Greek, nor Hebrew: Therefore, to you that stumble at the word Thou to a particular, because we do not say You to a particular, is this

The Light which Christ hath en∣lightned you with∣all, believe in that, the anoynting within you, you may know to teach you.

Geo. Fox.

BATTLE-DOOR is for you to learn, that you may speak Thou to one, Singular, You to many, Plurall.

• Singular is to one,
  • Thou, is to a single man or woman, or to God, or Christ.
• Plural is to many, or more than one,
  • You, is to many, men or women.

In Latine, Tu is thou singular, and Vos is you plural.

In Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 attah, Thou man singular, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 attem, Ye, or You men plural.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 at, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or atti, thou woman singular, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 atten, ye, or you women plural.

In Greek, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Su is thou singular: and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hun••eis is you, or ye plural.

The Arabick is the same, Thou to one, You to many. The Syriack, Aethopick, Caldee, the Egyptian, the Samaritan, &c.

God spoke singular to one, God spoke plural to many.

Christ spoke singular to one, He spoke plural to many.

Ths Saints spoke singular to one, The Saints spoke plural to many.

Come Priests and Professors, Schollars and School-masters, you have the Original, as you call it; to you is this BATTLE-DOOR.

Is not your own Original, Thou to one singular, and You to many plural; and proper speech, not non-sence? Do not they speak false English, false Latine, false Greek, false Hebrew, false O••ldee, false Syriack, and Arabick, false Dutch, false French; and false to the other Tongues, that followes here in this Book, that doth not speak thou to one, what ever he be, Father, Mo∣ther, King, or Judge, is he not a Novice, and Unmannerly, and an Ideot, and a Fool, that speaks You to one, which is not to be spoken to a singular, but to many?

O Vulgar Professors, and Teachers, that speaks Plural when they should Singular, lapis a stone, lapides stones, that is, more than one.

Come you Priests and Professors, have you not learnt your Accidence.

Singulariter,

• Ama amato,love thou
• Amet amato,love he, or let him love

Say on,

• Amemus, love we, or let us love.
• Amate amatote, love ye
• Ament amanto, love they, or let them love.

And

Singular.

• Amo, I love
• Amas, thou lovest
• Amat, he loveth

Plural.

• Amamus, we love
• Amatis, ye love
• Amant, they love

Will not Boyes, and Children, shame Professors and Teachers, through Pride and Ambition, to be degenerated from their own Mother Tongue; to be Fools, and Novices, and Ideots, from that which they learned when they were Children.

But you Teachers, Professors, Schollars and Magistrates, who rages at them that speaks Singular to Sing. and Plural to Plural, who pre∣tend that you know Accidence and Grammar, Logick, Rhetorick, and Divinity; yet in practice you must have your BATTLE-DOOR again, but is this Schollar-ship true English, Latine, or sence to say of us, instead of, of me, to us for to me; towards us for towards me, and to put off you, for off thee? and is not this non-sence, and false English, and false Latine, to put Nos, vos, illi; we, ye, you, and they instead of Ego, tu ille, I, thou, and he. Read on:

Singular

• I
• of me
• to me
• towards me
• from me

Plural

• we
• of us
• to us
• towards us
• from us

Singular

• Thou
• of thee
• to thee
• towards thee
• O thou
• from thee

Plural

• Ye
• of you
• to you
• towards you
• O you
• from you

Singular	He	of him	to him	by him	with him
she	of her	to her	by her	with her
it	of it	to it	by it	with it

Plural

• They
• of them
• to them
• by them
• with them

Singular

• My
• thy

Plural

• our
• your

Singular

• his, her

Plurall

• their, theirs

Singular

• My selfe
• I my self
• my own selfe

Plural

• Our selves
• we our selves
• our own selves

Singular

• Thy selfe
• thou thy selfe
• thine one selfe

Plural

• Your selves
• you your selves
• your own selves

Singular

• him selfe
• her selfe
• it selfe

Plural

• themselves

Singular

• he himselfe
• she herselfe

Plural

• they
• themselves

Singular

• his own selfe
• her own selfe
• its own selfe

Plural

• their own selves

To put us for me, and they for he, and you for thou, and we for I; and to put every one of these words aforesaid out of its proper place, would it not be confusion, and like unto the con∣fused Priests and Teachers speech in the world?

Come Professors, Teachers and Magistrates, would you not be offended to say Author for Authors, and to say in Authors for in an Author; or to the Authors, for to the Author? is not this non-sence, and such as knows not Singular and Plural? or at least doth not practice it: and to say learned Authors, for a learned Author, will this please you? Plural for Singular? or to say Books for a Book, or the Books for a Booke, or in Books for in a Book, is it not contrary to Plural, and Singular, and sence, and your own Schoole-directions, and contrary to English and Latine?

Is not Singular, a Book, an Author, and old Author; and is not Plural, Books, Authors, and old Authors? do not rage at them that do not speak Plural to Singular.

But read the BATTLE-DOOR, that you may come to the Accidence, Grammer, and Bible; you who pretend you have the Histories.

Who was the first that brought up this evil custome, to put you for thou, or to say we when you should say I; and they, when you should say he; our, when you should say mine, us, when you should say me; your, when you should say thy?

Answer ye learned men; who hath brought this evill custome to put Plural for Singular? Come ye Doctors and School-masters, and Teachers, and Professors, and Magistrates: Come ye pee∣vish Professors, and Teachers, answer me, and so read again you three Persons (so called) Singular, and Plural, in this BATTLE-DOOR.

Singular

• I
• thou
• he

Plural

• We
• ye or you
• they

• Ego
• tu
• ille

that is

• I
• thou
• he

Singular

• nos
• vos
• illi

that is

• We
• ye or you
• they

Plural

Now it is not nos I, nor ego wee, but ego I, and nos wee; it is not tu you, nor vos thou, but tu thou, and vos ye or you; it is not ille they, and illi he, but ille he, and illi they.

Some Examples in English alone, about the three Persons in both Numbers, (so called) Singular and Plural.

Singular

• I have been
• thou hast been
• he hath been

Plural

• We have been
• ye, or you have been
• they have been

Now to say, you hast been, they hath been, thou have been, he have been, is not this non-sence, ye Teachers and Professors? is not this to put the Plural for the Singular, and not to put the Singular in his place? and is not that the non-sence to one, and

false English, and false Latine, and ragg'd when the Plural is put to the Singular.

If you be not like a company of mad men, School-masters, Professors, Teachers, Magistrates, Ministers, surely you will see and own, and come to read,

Singular

• I am
• thou art
• he is

Plural

• We are
• ye are
• they are

Singular

• I shall, or will be
• thou shalt, or wilt be
• he shall, or will be

Plural

• We shall, or will be
• ye shall, or will be
• they shall, or will be

Cannot you understand this we, ye they, from I, thou, he? surely you should not be so Mad and Crabbed, and Peevish, and Snuffe at the Innocent, proper and Singular Language, and not say thou's, thou me; I will be you'd, I will have Plural, I love non-sence, I love false English, I love false Latine, I will be as a Beast, I will have neither Manners, nor Learning, yet I will be esteemed of, as though I had all; I will have you, instead of thou; but is it manners or learning, to speake we, when they should speake I, or to speake you, when they should thou, and to speake they, when they should he?

Answer me you School-masters, Schoolars, Professors, and Teachers, and Magistrates, who cannot abide the Innocent.

Whether it be proper to speak Plural, when we should Singu∣lar ? whether or no such are not to be accounted to be without Learning, and Ill-bred, and Savages, and the Barbarous people?

Several Instances, to shew, how several Nations used the Singular and Plural Language.

Persian Language.

THe Langua ge in Persia was Plural and Singular, As King Artexerxes; the King spoke you to many, in the seventh of Ezra, and thee to one.

Hebrew Language.

ANd the Iewes Language was Plural and Singular to the King, as Neh. ••. they, and thou.

Syriack Language, and others.

ANd the Language of Rheum, the Chancellor, and Shimshat the Scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathihites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Arche∣vites , the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites, &c.

And this Letter was Plural and Singular, as you may see in the fourth chapter of Ezra, 11, 13, 15, 16, verses, and the Kings Answer was Singular and Plural to them; thou to one, and you to many.

And Haman spoke Plural and Singular, thy, and their, to King Ahasuerus, who reigned from Iudia, even unto Ethyopia, over an hundred and twenty seven Provinces; see Ester the 1 chap 1, 3, and 8, verses, &c. And the Language of Hamans wife was Plural and Singular, chap. 5. And the King thou'd Haman, Ester the 8. and the 2, 3. verses, and Ester thou'd the King, and the King thou'd her, whose Language was Plural and Sin∣gular; thou to one, and you to many.

Iob.

Job, the greatest man in all the East, in the land of Vz, (a Judge) Job 2. he thou'd his wife, and his wife thou'd him.

Temanits Language, Job 1.

ANd Eliphaz the Temanite, thou'd Job, and told him he had taught many, and spoke Plural and Singular.

Naomitich Language, Job 11.

ZOphar the Naomite, his Language, was Plural and Singu∣lar; he thou'd Job, and ye'd many in the 19. verse.

Shuits Language, Job 18.

BIldad the Shuite, he thee'd Job, and these their Language, was Plural and Singular.

Greeke

THe Gentiles speech was Plural and Singular, Cornelius was thee'd and thou'd by Peter, and we are all here: So the Gentiles speech was Singular and Plural, Acts the 10.

The Athenians, learned wise Phylosophers, Epicureans, and Staicks, they spoke the Language, Plural and Singular to the Apostles, and said thou brings strange things to our ears, that we may know what these things means: And they all spoke Plural and Singular, and we never read that any was offended

at Plural and Singular, (but the Christians) and the Bible just∣tifies the same; and such as worshipped stocks and stones, had Plural and Singular Language amongst them, Acts 17. 25, 26, ver.

Festus thou'd Agrippa, and said he should hear Paul; and he spoke Plural, and said I have brought before you, and especially before thee Agrippa; this was their Language, Plural and Singular.

Greek Language,

AGrippa thou'd Paul, and said, tho•• art permitted to speak for thy self; and Paul thou'd him again, and it was not of∣fensive; and he spoke Singular and Plural to them, Acts 26. Here you may see the Heathens may judge the Christians.

Ethiopick Language,

THe Black-moores Language, was Plural and Singular, to King Zedechia, King of Judah, Jer. 38. The Black-moore, spoke Plural and Singular, and the King thou'd the Black-moore again, and there was no Jangling about the word; and Jeremiah thou'd and thee'd the King, and the King thee'd him again, and spoke Singular and Plural.

The Stumblers objection is, Job 18. Bildad the Shuite, When will you make an end of your words? Eliphaz the Temanite had been speaking, and Job, therefore he said, When will you make an end of your words? now sayes the stumblers, he you'd and ye'd Job; but when he speaks to Job, he thou'd him, and said, thou art he that teers the Soul.

Elihu, the Son of Barachel the Buzite, spoke the Language Plural and Singular, to Job, Job 32, 33. chap. Elihu waited, and saw there was no answer in the mouths of the three men; but when he speaks to Job, he speaks Singularly.

Egyptian Language,

ANd Pharaoh, King of Egypt, was thee'd and thou'd, and you was used; so Plural and Singular, the Egyptians Lan∣guage, which the Spiritual Egyptians, which is grown into a Monster, cannot a bide it; Pharaoh thou'd Jacob, and said how old art thou? Pharaoh, the'd Joseph, Gen 48. and Pharaoh thou'd and thee'd Joseph, and you'd the people; go to Joseph, and he will shew you, what he says to you, Gen. 42.

Hebrew Language,

JOseph spoke Plural and Singular, you to his Brethren, and thee to his Father, Gen. 42.

Moahitish Language.

BAlack, the Son of Siphro, King of Moab, spoke Singular and Plural; he thou'd and thee'd Balaam, and Balaam, thou'd and thee'd him, Num. 23. and 24. chap.

Hivites Language.

ANd the Hivites said thee to Joshua, Joshua 9. 8.

Edomites Language.

ANd the Language of Edom was Singular and Plural, the Jewes to him was we; for Edom t••ou'd Moses Messenger, Numbers 20. 18.

Philistins Language.

THe Philistins Language was Plural and Singular, they thou'd Sampson, and thee'd his wife, Iudg. 15. 16. and said we.

Amalekites, and Moabites Language.

BOoz, of the family of the Amalekites, and Ruth a Moabite, their Language was Singular and Plural, as you may read in Ruth. And Ioseph thou'd and thee'd his mistris, and shee was not offended, Gen. 39.

Sodoms Language.

THe Language of Sodom was Plural and Singular, as they spoke to Lott, Gen. 19. 5.

Gen. 20. Abimeleck the King thou'd Abraham, and his Lan∣guage was Plural and Singular.

Hittites Language.

THe Language of Heth, and Ephron the Hittite, was to Abra∣ham Singular and Plural, Gen. 23.

Egyptians Language.

ANd pharoahs Language to Abraham was thou, Gen. 12. And Melchisedecks Language was Singular to Abraham, Gen. 14.

Midian Language.

JEthro the priest of Midian, Moses Father-in-law, his Language was plural and singular; and he thee'd and thou'd Moses, and said you when he spoke of more than one, Exodus 17.

Philistins Language.

ANd Goliah the philistin, spoke plural and singular; that was their speech, and thee'd and thou'd David, and David thee'd and thou'd the philistin, 1 Sam. 17.

Hebrew Language.

ANd Ionathan thee'd Saul his Father the King, 1. Sam. 19. Abigail thee'd David the King, and Abigails servant thee'd her, 1 Sam. 25.

And the man of God, that came out of Iudah, thou'd and thee'd Jeroboam the King, and Jeroboam thou'd and thee'd him, 1 Kings 13.

Nathan thou'd David, 1 Kings 1.

Egyptian Language.

ANd Pharoah thou'd Haddad, 1 Kings 11.

Hebrew Language.

JEhu thou'd Baash, 1 Kings 16.

The woman that Elisha healed her childe, said thee and thou to him, 1 Kings 17. which the worlds Ministers stumbles at now; and Elisha thou'd Ahab, 1 Kings 18.

Iohn, who was to prophecy to Nations, wee do not read, but he spoke you to many, and thou to one.

Jesabel could speak the Language plural and singular, 1 Kings 21.

And Ahaziah, his captaines over fifty men, thou'd Elijah the Prophet, 2 Kings 1.

Sirian Language.

ANd Elisha thou'd the King of Israel, and he thou'd Naaman, 2 Kings 5. when he bid him go wash in Jordan: so here you may see the Sirian Tongue was thee and thou singular and plural, 2 Kings 5.

And the Assirian King thee'd and thou'd the King of Israel in his letter, 2 Kings 5.

Sirian Language.

ANd the King of Assiria, his messengers spoke the Language Singular and plural, to the King of Israels Messengers, 2 K. 5.

Syriack Language.

ANd the Caldeeans spoke to the King in the Syrian tongue, and thee'd him; and he you'd them, Daniel 2 chap. wee will bring

the Sun upon the Beasts of the field, that the hea••e shall make them to gad, the first-born of death hath long spoken, that Condemnes about the plural and singular, Language.

Syriack Language.

LAban and Bethuel, and Rebeccah, and her mother, their Language was singular and plural in the Syrian Tongue unto Abrahams servant, and his was the same to them, Gen. 24. 25.

Hebrew Language.

ANd Jacob thou'd Laban his Father in-law, and his Language was Plural and Singular to Iocob, whom Rachael stole his Gods from, Gen. 31.

Sodoms Language.

ANd the King of Sodom thee'd Abraham, and Abraham theed and thou'd him again, Gen. 24.

Ethiopian Language.

ANd the Queen of the South which came from the uttermost parts of the earth, to Solomon, her language was thee to him, and was Plural and Singular to him, 1 Kings 10.

Syriack Language.

THe King of Assyriahs servant thou'd him, the King; and his servant spoke Singular and Plural 2 Kings 6.

Caldee Language.

THe Caldeeans Language was Plural and Singular to Nebuc∣cadnezzar the King, and thee'd and thou'd him; and the fourth of Daniel, Nebuccadnezzar, King unto all people, Nations and Languages that dwelt in all the ••arth. And the Iewes Lan∣guage to him was Singular and Plural, thee and thou, and wee, and us, and was not offended at it, and did not persecute about it, as Christians do now.

Babylonian Language.

THe Kings of Babylon, Nebuccadnezzar and Beltashazzers Lan∣guage was Plural and Singular, Gen. 4. 5, chapters, and Beltashazzar thee'd and thou'd Daniel.

Medians Language.

THe Language of the Princes of Babylon to Darius the Median, was Plural and Singular, for they thee'd and thou'd the King; and King Darius the Son of Ahasuerus of the seed of the Meeds, Daniel 9. his Language was thee and thou to Daniel; and Plural and Singular, Daniel 6. 5.

Such as was in the ship with Ionah, they thou'd Jonah, and spoke the Plural language, and the Singular: the Heathen, Jonah 1.

Edomitish and Israels Language.

ESau, his Language was thou to his Father Isaack, Gen. 27. and Esau thou'd Iacob, and Iacob thou'd him again, Gen. 33. and their language was Singular and Plural.

The Samaritan Language.

THe woman of Samaria, her Language was plural and singu∣lar to Christ, and she thou'd and thee'd him, and Jesus thee'd her again, and spoke singular and plural; and he was not offen∣ded at the womans language, John 4.

Roman Language.

ANd Paul said he was a Roman, in his Examination, and spoke singular and plural, thee and thou to one, and you to many, whose language doth continue plural and singular, Acts 22.

Gentiles Language.

ANd Pilate the Gentile, the Heathen, he spoke the language plural and singular to the Iewes, and to Christ, and Christ spoke plural and singular to him, Luke 23.

The Professors and Teachers Objection, is, That Christ spoke plural to Peter: which if they read that chapter throughout, they may see how that when he spoke you, he spoke to his disciples, and says, I have appoynted you a kingdom, that you may drink at my Table: he says unto Simon, Satan hath desired to have you, and sift you, but I have prayed for thee; and when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren: so here is singular, and here is plural spoken of by Christ: and mark what Trials Peter had afterwards, (that Christ said he prayed for) at the sufferings of Christ, who did the like as Peter did: and after, when Christ had spoken singular to Peter, he spoke plural again to the disci∣ples, saying, I sent you without a purse, and you wanted nothing. So if Professors and Teachers be not wilfully blind, and make

others as blind as themselves, by reading over this chapter, they may see Christ speaks singular to one, and plural to many, and not plural to Peter, Luke 22. 32, 33.

God spoke singular; he thou'd Adam; and Adam thou'd God, and God spake plural, and God said, I have given to you every herbe, Gen. 1. and 2. chapter.

And God thou'd Moses, but when he spoke to Moses and the Congregation, he said you, Leviticus 1. and in the 18. of Leviti∣cus, and the Lord spake unto Moses, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God, Lev. 18. Mark, your God, and thou Moses: and Exod. 24. and he said unto Moses thou: so here was the Lords speech, thou to one, and you to many.

Christs speech, the Son of God, was plural and singular, he thou'd Pilate, Luke 23. and he thee'd Peter, Matth. 16. 23. and he said you to the Pharisees, Matth. 23. and he said you to the disciples, Iohn 15. 16. I have chosen you: here was Christs speech plural and singular.

And the Prophets, the Apostles, and Saints, was thou to one, and you to many, plural and singular; For Iacob thou'd Esau, Gen. 33. 10. and thou'd God. And Iacob you'd his Sons, Gen. 42. and Ioseph you'd his Brethren, and they thou'd him, as you may see in that chapter.

Abrahams and Isaacks Language.

ANd this was the Language of Abraham and Isaack; you to more than one, and thou to one, Gen. 22.

Isaack thou'd Jacob; and you'd Jacob, and Esau, Gen. 28.

Moses thou'd God in the 32 of Exodus, and spoke plural to him, and bid him remember how he said he would multiply your seed; speaking of Abraham and Isaack.

Jeremy thou'd Zedechia, Jeremiah 39. and you'd the children of Israel, in the 40. chap. and 3. verse.

And Isaiah spoke singular and plural; singular, where he several times in the 25. of Isaiah says thee and thou to the Lord; saying, O Lord thou art my God, I will exalt the••. &c. and he speaks plural in the 9. verse, whom they have waited upon, who will save us.

The Prophet Ezekiel speech was plural and singular, You shepherds, You eate the fatt, and cloth with the wooll, Ezek. 33, 36. chapters, Thou Devourest up men. And the rest of the Prophets you may look throughout, and see the Language plural and singular.

The Apostles they spoke singular and plural, they thee'd Christ, and thou'd God, as Peter in the 16. of Matth. said thee to Christ,

when he told him he was to suffer, and said, Thou art the Son of God, Matth 16.

And Paul said, Who art thou Lord, when he was struck down? Acts the 9.

And Peter he you'd the Children of Israel, as in Acts the 3.

And the Apostle Paul you'd the Saints, Eph. 1. and you'd the Gentiles, Eph. 3. and thou'd God, and so used the Language singular and plural.

And the Apostles, and the Brethren thou'd Peter, Acts 11.

Isaacks servant thou'd his Master, Jacobs Sons thou'd their Fa∣ther, and Jephtha's Daughter thou'd her Father.

Ruth thou'd her Mother-in-law; and you may see Subjects, and Kings above mentioned, how they spoke the word plural and singular, thou and you, and was not offended.

The end of the ENGLISH BATTLE-DOOR.