The Grammar School, Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
How to answere any needefull question of Grammar or Rhetoricke.
Spoud.
WEll good Sir, you see how bolde I am, to require your iudgment in eueryevery mater, wherin I find difficulty: now to return to the brief again of those things which you affirmed might be done for learning;
This I remember was another point, which cannot but greatly commend a schollar: to bee able to answere any difficult question of Grammar, euen beside those which are in the rules, which are commonly learned; and also how to oppose or dispute schollar-like in Latine, of any good Grammar question; as both what may be obiected against Lillies rules, and how to defend them: I pray you let mee heare of you how this may be done, and what is the most speedy way which you know hereunto.
Phil.
The plainest,How to answer any difficult question of Grammar. shortest, and surest way, I finde to be this:
1 See that they be very ready in all the vsuall and ordinary questions of Grammar,1 To be perfect in all ordinary questions of Accedence. by daily examining at Parts.
2 For most of the rest fit for young schollars,2 In those set together in the end of the Accedence questions. I hauehave gathered them for the vse of mine owne schollars, and set them together after the end of the Accedence Questions; yet so▪ as I hauehave sorted and referred eueryevery Question to the right place whither it appertaines: as to the Noune, Pronoune, Participle, and so the seuerall heads thereof.
When as young schollars waxe perfect in all the former, which are in the Accedence; then a little paines in teaching them these, making them plain vntounto them, and examining them some halfe side at time (in stead of the time spent before in examining the former) will very soone make them as ready in these also.
3 After these,3 In the Latine questions dispersed through the Grammar, not learned vsually. you may (if you please) goe through the questions of Grammatica, and make them plaine; examining them in Latin: and so through all the necessary questions which are scattered here and there, through the whole Grammar: directing them to marke out the questions, or the speciall wordes wherein the questions are, and how to be propounded; that they themselues may oppose one another, or one to oppose all as neede is.
But this as you shall thinke necessary;Caueat. and so as it do not hinder better studies.
4 You may runne through the questions in M. Stockwoods disputations of Grammar,☞ as they are commonly noted in the Margents,4 Stockwoods questions. but onelyonly propounding the question in few words, both English and Latine, as need requires, and teaching them to answere in a word or two.
By going through these, they may be able to answere all,☜ or most of those which are set together in the end of his disputations;Most of the difficulties of the auncient Classicall Authors collected into one by M. Stockwoods last Edition, printed Anno. 1607. wherein he hath with marueilous paines, and diligent obseruation, collected a very great part of the difficulties of all Classicall Authours, and in the last Edition noted the words in the Margents, in which the difficulty in each sentence is. What other are wanting in these, may be answered by them, being of like nature.
5 To giuegive a further light, and that nothing may bee wanting for my children,5 Certaine generall Figures to answere many difficulties by. I hauehave adioyned vntounto the later end of all the Accedence questions which I spake of, certain generall figures: vntounto some of which, many of the difficulties of all auncient Authours (both those in Stockewood and others) may be referred, or else vntounto those figures set downe in the Grammar and Rhetoricke.
For answering the questions of Rhetoricke,In Talaeus Rhetoricke to giuegive definitions, diuisions and one short example. you may if you please, make them perfect in Talaeus Rhetorick, which I take to be most vsed in the best Schooles; onelyonly to giuegive each definition and distribution, and some one example or two at most in each Chapter; and those of the shortest sentences out of the Poets: so that they can giuegive the word or words, wherein the force of the rule is. And so to proportion all other questions accordingly.
To this end, the wordes wherein the force of the examples consist,Talaeus examples would be noted as Grammar. would bee marked as in the Grammar; and that not onelyonly in some one or two examples in eueryevery Chapter, which they are to hauehave perfect without booke, but also in eueryevery example through the booke, to be able to apply any.
Claudius Minos Commentary may bee a good helpe to make Talaeus Rhetoricke most plaine,Minos Commentary to helpe for vnderstanding Talaeus. both for precepts and examples.
If your Schollar after he hath read these,☜ doe but vse to bee carefull to keepe a short Catalogue in his minde, of the names of the Tropes, and also Figures (and those both of Grammar and Rhetoricke) hee shall with practice of examination and obseruation be able to tell any of them, but repeating the heads in his minde.
Or in stead of Talaeus,Butlars Rhetoricke, a notable abbridgement of Talaeus, and farre more easie and profitable. you may vse Master Butlars Rhetoricke, of Magdalens in Oxford, printed in Oxford; which I mentioned before: being a notable abbridgement of Talaeus, making it most plaine, and farre more easie to be learned of Schollars, and also supplying very many things wanting in Talaeus. Both it and the Commentary together, are almost as small as Talaeus alone, and not a much greater price, though the worth be double. It is a booke, which (as I take it) is yet very little knowne in Schooles, thought it hauehave beene forth sundry yeares, set forth for the vse of Schooles; and the vse and benefit will be found to be farre aboue all that euer hath beene written of the same.
Finally,Brasbridges questions on Tullies offices. for answering the questions of Tullies Offices, M. Brasbridge his questions therof, are as short and perspicuous as any of the former.
Spoud.
Sir, I hauehave not (in truth) so much as euer heard of eyther of those bookes: as neyther of any almost of those singular helps which you mentioned for Poetry; by which apt Schollars cannot choose but become excellent Poets.
Phil.
Thereby may appeare what a generall want here is amongst vsus;Generall want in the ignorance of the best helpes. when God hath giuen so many worthy helpes, whereby we and our Schollars may attaine so readily the excellency of all learning meet for vsus, and make all our courses so full of al pleasant and alluring contentment, and yet we shall neglect to enquire after them.