TO proue that the arte of Reasoning may be taught in englishe , I reason thus : First , we Englishmen haue wits , as wel as men of other nations haue : Wherby we conceyue what standeth with reason , and is well doone , and what séemeth to be so , and is not . Wée haue also framed vnto our selues a language , wherby we do expresse by voyce or writing , all deuises that wée conceyue in our mynde : and do by this means let men looke into our heartes , and sée what wée thinke . Then , as Englishe men can compasse this Arte by wit : so can they also declare and sette it foorth by speache . Nowe whereas a number of men doe suppose , that our language hath no words litte to expresse the rules of this Arte : and where as some men do argue , that it must néedes be so , bycause they that speake or write thereof at large , vse termes and wordes , that no mere English man can vnderstande : It is playn , that neyther their supposition is true : nor yet their reason good . For as time doth inuent a newe forme of building , a straunge fashion of apparell , and a newe kinde of artillerie , and munitions : so doe men by consent of speache , frame and deuise new names , fit to make knowen their strange deuises . As for straunge and inckhorne termes , ( vsed of many without cause ) they argue a misuse to be in the speaker : but they proue not directly , that there is anye lacke in oure language : no more then the rudenes of Lawyers latine , proueth that there is a want of good wordes in the Latine tonnge . I sée and confesse , that there be Plura rerum , quàm verborum genera , ( that is , moe things , then there are words to expresse things by ) and do know withall , that Aristotle founde that want in the Gréeke tongue , whiche for finenesse of speache , and store of woordes , farre excelleth all other languages . Yet is there this helpe in speache , that we ofte vse manye wormes to expresse one thing : yea & sometimes one word is vsed to signifie sundry matters . Moreouer , one language boroweth of another , and where there is want , men sometimes deuise newe names and compounded termes . So that after a man hath conceyued anye newe deuise in hys heade , and is desirous to haue the same published , and made common to manye , he findeth euer some shifte , by one meane or other , to make the same knowen . And bycause there is none so good a waye to do it by , as speache , man maketh that hys chiefe meane . Thus ye may sée the originall groundworke , & beginning of artes , Man firste doth conceyue trim deuises in his heade , and then ( as the Poetes doe feigne of Iupiter ) is pained as a woman in trauaile , till he haue vttered and published them , to be sene , & commended of others . So that when as artes are begon at the first by one , and after laboured by many , they grow by continuance of time to perfection , as well in the vtteraunce of the speache , as in the deuise of the minde . As for deuising of newe termes , and compo●…ding of wordes , our tongue hath a speciall grace , wherein it excelleth many other , & is comparable with the best . The cause is , for that the moste parte of Englyshe woordes are shorte , and stande on one si●…lable a péece . So that two or thrée of them are ofte times fitly ioyned in one .

Of these kinde of wordes , I haue deuysed many , and am now to giue a reason of my dooing . But first I desire thée ( gentle Reader ) not to scoffe at them afore thou knowe what they meane : or that thou hast founde out thy selfe , or learned of others , more apte and fit termes then they are . And if any man do cast out a reason , and say , Loquendum vt vulgus , that is to say , he that speaketh , must vse such termes as the common people is in vre withall : and therfore that we may not deuise newe names , but reteyne and vse the olde . I answer , this common saying taketh place , where there are words alredy extant , and in vse , fit to make the minde of the speaker , knowne to his audience : but the matter standes not so with vs . Therefore consider the case as it is : An arte is to be taughte in that toung , in which●… it was neuer written afore . Nowe the question lyeth , whether it were better to borrowe termes of some other toung , in whiche this sayde Arte hath bene written : and by a litle chaunge of pronouncing , to séeke to make them Englishe wordes , whiche are none in déede : or else of simple vsual wordes , to make compounded termes , whose seuerall partes considered alone , are familiar and knowne to all english men ? For trial hereof , I wish you to aske of an english man , who vnderstandeth neither Gréek nor Latin , what he conceiueth in his mind , when he heareth this word a backset , and what he doth conceiue when he heareth this terme a Predicate . And doubtlesse he must confesse , if he consider the matter aright or haue any sharpnesse of wit at al , that by a backset , he conceiueth a thing that muste be set after , and by a predicate , that he doth vnderstande nothing at all . The like shall fall foorth when comparison is made , betwixt any of our new termes compounded of true english words , and the inkhorne termes deriued of straunge and forain languages : For he that is an englishman born , and vnderstandeth no toung but his owne , shal at the first , eyther conceiue the meaning of oure words by himself , or else soon learne them vpon an other mans instruction and teaching : but for these inkhorne termes , it is certaine , that he shall neither vnderstande them by himselfe : nor keepe them in remembraunce when he is taught theyr signification of others , bicause the worde can make him no helpe . We therfore , that deuise vnderstandable termes , compounded of true & auncient english woords , do rather maintain and continue the antiquitie of our mother tongue : then they , that with inckhorne termes doe chaunge and corrupt the same , making a mingle mangle of their natiue speache , and not obseruing the propertie thereof . They that will haue no newe woordes deuised where there is want , seme not well to consider howe speache groweth , or wherefore it was deuised by man : For names are not giuen vnto things afore the things themselues be inuented . Therfore olde names will not serue to make newe deuises knowen . It is a fondnesse ( I graunt ) to deuise newe names , where there are olde in vse , which agréeing to the propertie of the speach , may serue the turne well enoughe . For no man is of power to change or to make a language when he will : but when fit names are deuised and spoken , they force the hearers to like of them and to vse them : and so do they by consent of manye , growe to a speache . Therfore ( gentle reader ) if thou doubt , what is ment , by any of our strange and new deuised termes , consider their partes , as they are taken by themselues alone : and the consideration of the partes , shall leade thée to the knowledge of the whole . But if thys shall not serue thy turne , thou maist looke in the table placed in the end of our booke , and it shall shewe thée in order their meanyng , eyther by numbers referring thée to the places , where they are plainely taughte : or making some shorte exposition of them , if there be none in the booke afore . There shal be added also ( for some mens better contentation ) the Latine termes . And thus much , for proufe , that this arte maye be taught in oure mother tongue , and for defence of the termes that we haue deuised to teache and set foorth the same . Newe let vs aunswere them , which iudge it hurtfull , to haue thys arte written and setfoorth in englishe . They builde chiefely vppon two poyntes . Fyrst they suppose , that it shoulde bée a greate decaye and hynderaunce vnto learnyng . Secondlye , that it shoulde minister vnto many , matter of contention and strife . The first part of their supposition is proued to be false by plaine experience : for what man of experience and wit seeth not , that learning did neuer so flourishe in England in our forefathers dayes , as it doth now , and hathe done of late , euen since men haue begon to write of Artes in our englishe tongue ? And as for contention , which groweth betwixt partie and partie , when they argue and dispute of matters to and fro : that is no fault to be imputed or ascribed vnto arte : but an infirmitie and heate of choller , incident to the nature of sharpe wits , and commonly chancing ▪ when men leaue the cause , and bestowe their speache vpon by matters : which thing the arte of reason reproueth , terming it a shift , and a wranglers point . But let vs consider the profite that commeth of this arte , so shall wée best sée , that learning hath no enemies , but them that are ignoraunt , & those which know not what profite commeth of knowledge . This arte serueth to manye singular purposes . For she doth not onely teach an order to reason wittily of doubtfull matters , and to speake forceably of them either of or on , But she also yeldeth to them , that are cunning and experte in hir , a generall vnderstanding to iudge of all matters whatsoeuer , and to discerne what is saide or done according to reason , and what is not . And where euery particular science hath but one speciall matter to intreate of , as Arithmeticke to intreate of numbers , Geometrie of bignesse , Physicke of health , &c. This facultie that wée here speake of , is tyed to no speciall matter : but taketh in hand the debating of all things , so farre as wit and reason can extende . Hir preceptes are verye generall , and are vsed for groundes , and principles in all sciences . She trieth whether the rules of arte be true or false : she is a searching facultie , by reason whereof she teacheth a man the sooner to espy , what is right , what is wrong , what maketh for him , and what maketh against him . But to speake more particularly of hir worke , shée sorteth all wordes , and placeth euery kind by it selfe , eaching what they signifie , as they are considered , and taken alone : shée declareth what sense words do make , when they are coupled and knit together : shée painteth foorth the perfect forme of a reason by rule . And to conclude , shée doth minister matter to confirme , and laye foorth a troth : and teacheth a way , howe to disproue , and discouer an errour . He that is cunnyng in this facultye , shall seme ignoraunt in no learning : and who that is altogether vnséene in this , can be depely seene in none . Doubtlesse a wise man must néedes take great pleasure , and wonder , to see a fewe rules lead men to an infinite knowledge . These things I trowe may profite many , sure I am , they can harme none . A scholer or one that is but a beginner , maye not thinke that he should vnderstande at the first sight , if perchaunce he reade in thys booke at aduenture here or there : For the rules of this Arte are couched together like to billets in a pile of wood : so the things that are layd downe in order , must be orderlye taken vp : neither doe men draws out billettes at the breast of the pile : but they ascend to the toppe , and taking them in order as they rise , they quickly dispa●… mu●…e with ease : otherwyse they shall hardlye in long time , writh out one from amonges manye . And though these roles and termes sems harde at the 〈◊〉 all strange and vnacquainted thin●… 〈◊〉 ) yet vse shall make them easye . And 〈◊〉 vnderstanding of hard pointes , vse these helpes . First consider with yourselfe , what the authors purpose is in 〈◊〉 place , how that speciall point may agrée with the generall issue : then seke to know , what euery word in the sentence maye signifie by it selfe alone : & after weigh what sense they ●…ake as they are all knit , and coupled together : then trie if ought maye 〈◊〉 put to the sentence , or taken from it , to make it plainer or truer ▪ Last of all , seeke for diuers and 〈◊〉 examples ▪ &c. by these meanes ye shall at the length not onely vnderstande the meaning of that ye reade , but also discerne ▪ & iudge , whether the saying be true or false : plaine , or obscure . Now to let euerie writer haue his deserued praise , I confesse ( to them that desire to knowe whom I folow ) that in my thrée firste bookes , I ●…ely folow Aristotle : both for matter , & also for order : who is in my iudgement , an author , the farre passeth all prophane writers : not onely for that ●…he writeth more true , and profitable things then others do : but also , for that his manner , and trade of writing , is more perfect and playner , then any others is that I haue red . As for Ciceronians & suger tongued fellowes , which labour more for fi●…nes of speach , then for knowledge of good matter , they oft speake much to small purpose , and shaking foorth a number of choise words , and picked sentences , they hinder good learning , wyth their fond ●…hatte . But in my fourth booke , which intreateth of the places , & sheweth a way how to prouide store of arguments : I haue thought good neither fully to folow Aristotle : nor yet anye other that I haue séene . For Aristotles inuention serueth best , for vniuersitie men , when a question is broughte to some generall issue , as to proue that the backset is , or is not , the saywhat , the kinde , the propertie , or the Inbeer of the foreset . Howbeit , men vse in disputing or writing , to argue to and fro , neuer bringing the matter that lyeth in question , to anye of these foure generall issues . Nowe thoughe the latter writers , thinke they finde iust fault with Aristotle in this behalfe : yet in mine opinion , they themselues neither deuise so many places as may be deuised for store of matter : nor yet name them , or handle them so aptly or handsomly as is méete . If it be my happe , dissenting from all men in this pointe , to finde out a playner and more easye waye , then hath bene found out heretofore , thou oughtest ( gentle reader ) neither to blame their lacke of skill : nor much to praise my mending . For Artes are like to Okes , which by litle and litle grow a long time , afore they come to their ful bignesse . That one man beginneth , another oft times furthereth and mendeth : and yet more praise to be giuen to the beginner , then to the furtherer or mender , if the first did finde moe good things , then the folower did adde . Experience teacheth , that eche thing which is inuented by man , hath a beginning , hath an increase , and hath also in time a full ripenesse . Nowe although eche worke is most commendable when it is brought to his full perfection : yet where the workme●… are many , there is oft times more prayse to be giuen to hym that begynneth a good worke , then to him that endeth it . For if ye consider the bookes that are now printed , and compare them with the bookes that were printed at the first ( Lord ) what a diuersity is there , and how much do the last exceede the first ? Yet if ye wil compare the first and the last Printer together , and seke whether deserueth more praise and commendation : ye shall finde that the first did farre excéede the last . For the last had helpe of manye , and the firste had helpe of none . So that the first lighteth the candle of knowledge ( as it were ) and the seconde doth but snuffe it . This I write , for that some adding but patches to other mens workes , and after publishing the whole in their owne name , conueigh to themselues ( as it were by stealth ) the fame & prayse that others doe deserue . As for those that marre the thing they take in hand to mend , do not only publishe to the world their own vnskilsulnesse , in finding out any profitable matter : but also doe bewray their vnhabilitie to iudge of things well found out to their handes . To such I say , it is farre easier for a meane craftes man , to make a worke of his owne deuise , then to finishe the work , that a cunning man hath begon . I write thus much , bicause some men by suche kinde of dealing , haue misused both my doings & my name . For the booke , named the Philosophers game , and printed about nine yeares ago , is entituled to bée set foorth by Kaphe Leuer , and to be augmented by one W. F. But I assure thee ( gentle reader ) that , the pamphlet or worke neuer passed from mée , with so many & so grosse ouersightes , as in the booke nowe printed are common to be sene . For triall wherof , I referre my self to the copy that this day is extant in sundry of my frendes handes . Surely I thinke my selfe muche discredited , and that great wrong is offred vnto me , for that the same is set forth , and suffred to passe vnder my name , without my knowledge , or assent . Reason would , that eche man should beare the blame of his owne deault . But I maruell most at him , which woulde correcte and augment the tables that I drew forth , for beginners to loke on , when they played at this game . For sure I am , that I comprised in them , both plainly and briefly , all the examples of taking and triumphing , which are possible to be founde , in that kind of exercise . Nowe hath this correcter or augmenter ( terme him as ye will ) altered , and changed mine examples , in an hundreth places , and moe : committing in eche place , a manifest errour : either leauing out them which are necessary : or interlacing them , which are altogether impertinent to this playe , or vtterly false , and not agréeing , to the rules and principles of Arithmeticke . It were therfore to be wished , that no mans work shuld be printed , nor no mans name put to any worke , excepte the partie firste knew therof , and were welwilling therevnto : and that they which take in hand to amend or augment another mans writing , should vse certaine markes , whreby eche mans doing might appeare by it selfe . So should eche person beare the report of hys owne desert , whether it were good or bad . There are two common markes , that thys arte shooteth at : the first is , to make a good reason : the second is , to shewe the faultes of an ill reason . Of the first , I haue written so much , as I thought conuenient and méete : of the second , I mind to write hereafter , if the Lorde God shall make mée able , and occasion me so to do . In the mean time , I haue yelded to the earnest request of my frendes : and haue published thys first part , without the seconde : not mynding for mine own ease to stay that , which is thoughte , will yelde present profite to many . Learne thou ( gentle reader ) by this which is alreadye written , to make true reasons , and to vse an vpright kind of dealyng : and then shall no coloured or deceiueable arguments driue thée from the trueth , or leade thée into errour . Farewell from Duresme , the. 24. of Nouember . 1572.