Lily, improved, corrected, and explained with the etymological part of the common accidence. By W. T. Master of a boarding-school at Fulham, near London, for above two and twenty years.

Instructions to Tyrocinians for the Com∣posing of a Theme.

THemes, or the Wise Savings of Learned Men, which are used to be given to School boys, for the exercising of their Faculties, are two fold: 1. Chreiae, wherein the bare knowledge of a thing, without either injunction or perswasion to it, (yet useful) is proposed; as, Death is common to all. Life is short, but A••t long, if we make use of our Time. 2. Gno∣mae, wherein are enjoyned things either to be per∣formed, or omitted and avoided; as, Do all thi••gs with deliberation. Go not too far in any thing; or too much of one thing is good for nothing. Meddle not with Edge-tools. Halt before a Cripple. Cut your Cloak ac∣cording to your Cloth, &c. In these two parts, (to wit) Chreiae and Gnomae, four things especially are to be ob∣served: 1. The Propositio, which plainly contains in clear words the sum of that we are about to speak of. 2. The Ratio, or state of the matter in hand, where∣by we prove the Proposition to be true by some Ar∣gument. 3. The Confirmatio, whereby we further back that Reason with sufficient Arguments. In these two parts, we use these or the like Forms of Speech: Nam, Enim, Erenim, Quippe, Nimirum, quid enim? &c. In the Consirmatio we make use of Similies, Exam∣ples, and Testimonies. 4. The Epil••gus or Conclu∣sion, that consists of two parts: 1. An Anacephalaeo∣sis, or brief Repetition of what was spo••en. 2. A pathetick Conclusion, urging the Truth and Necessity of what we affirmed, with the praise of the Author of the Saying.

The Forms of Speech used in the conclusion are, 〈…〉〈…〉, Quare, Quamobrem, Quae cum ita

sint, &c. To these four parts some add an Exordium, or Preface, before the Preposition; also a Confuta∣tion, or Answering of Objections after the Confirma∣tion and Amplification before the Conclusion: But a due observation of the pre-mentioned will prove a Task hard enough to a School-boy, the rest are need∣less Niceties.