So it was in the Poets time , so is now , and so it will be , when I am gone , and sleepe with my Fathers . Yet while I am broad waking in this lyncean eye sighted age , wherein every man is apt to bee peeping and spying , above , beneath , and round about another , especially a stranger , ( such persons for the most , part being the busiest , who have the narrowest eyes both in apprehension and judgement ) the peircing glaunces of some shallow , rash , preiudicate , uncertaine and slanderous censures , darted at me , and my practise in teaching , either from ignorant , or malevolent aspects , or both , enforce from me a reflection , and constraine me to say somewhat more certainely for both against them : wherein if I should endeavour to avoide the various passions , and ungrounded censures of such persons , who are not endued with ability to iudge of the dispositions of mindes , or the qualities and ends of workes and actions ; I might as justly draw on my selfe the censure of weakenes , folly , and madnes , as mine honest artificiall endeavours have undeservedly and unjustly pulled upon me the imputation of impostor , cheator conjurer , and crochetter to get money ; and that I would get some money in my purse and be gone ; that when my slender skill had shewed some reall effect , it would not hold , that the children whom I have taught , can doe nothing , but whilst I am present , and such other fantasticall censures , I know not what . These giddy indiscreet censures doubtles have proceeded from persons ignorant of any cause ; who like young & ill sented hounds not knowing their game run on in the chace , and spend their mouths for company . Let them barke : Quibusdam canibus sic innanatum est latrare , ut non pro feritate , sed pro consuetudine latrent : as their good words cannot much benefit , so their evill words will doe little hurt . For , Quicquid faciunt , ex morbo faciunt , non ex judicio , they extoll and praise ( for the most part ) the unworthy , and cry downe and condemne the deserving and innocent ; faciunt quod solent , non quod mereor , male de me loquuntur homines , sed mali & maniaci ; they will be medling . But my drift and scope is , not to give satifaction to such : it were a vaine , endles , and would be a fruitlesse labour . Rumor vulgi attonitus ; I leave them to their owne folly and madnes , and I am content to passe by , and slyde away as a strange dog doth thorow a towne or streete , when every domestick curre hath a snap at him . Such like is humane curtesie : and more envious , inhumane , and barbarous are the English to their owne countrymen , then other nations : I am not glad , that I can speake it . Moverer autem si Marcus Cato , si Laelius saepiens , si alter Cato , si duo Scipiones ista loquerentur de me . Those Laelij , those Scipioes , those Curij , those Catoes , who attribute nothing to the vulgar idoles , opinion and fame , envy and detraction , which for the most part carries all now ; who never entertaine a preiudicate opinion , either of persons , or of things ; who never vent a rash censure without mature deliberation upon events and issues of workes , are the men whose good esteeme and good report I affect and seeke , and that not for mine owne sake meerely , but for the workes sake cheifly , which I have in hand : the proofe whereof will maintaine it selfe , to be worth respect and embracement of a commonwealth ; which shall with Gods helpe , if mine industry be accepted , benfit the world , when I am gone , if the envious , quasi canis in praesepi , hinder not : to prevent whose malice and opposition , it is very necessary by this way of Apology , to stop the wide mouthes of ignorant and envious detractors , besides whom none will disallow the fitnes , and in some cases the necessity of apologies and defences ; as in this subject of this mine apology , whereby I doubt not , but in some measure to make it evidently appeare , that my method and experiment of teaching is of greater and better consequence , then to be slighted , despised , or rejected : And I hope no teacher , no scholler , no man disparaged thereby , although it proceede from a meane and obscure author , who never sought employment by a si quis , nor glory out of other mens disgraces . If the method were a tricke or toy , that could not be conveyed to others , but must vanish with my selfe , I would easily yeeld , it were of no value : but it is otherwise , it may be continued to all posterity . It is aswell the instruction of children in the Latine language , as also in reading the English with more alacrity , celerity , and facility , then formerly ; the example whereof may be followed in other languages . I am verily perswaded that few teachers have hitherto otherwise delighted in that function , then as carriers , saylers , bargemen , and the like doe in their painfull , hard , stormy and perillous journeyes and voyages , which they undergoe meerely for the sustentation of life . For mine owne part , since I found the validity of the method , I never tooke delight in any earthly thing , but in teaching , and should delight much more , if I might be recompenced . As for profit , I suppose , that every man , who knoweth nothing of my education , inclination , or meane qualification , can and will say for me , that other more advantageous courses of life might have beene undertaken , if advancement or gaine had beene the object of mine undertaking : And those , who doe truely know me ( I doubt not ) will soone deliver their opinion , it being required , that I am tam aulae , quam caulae mediocritèr adaptatus , and that I make not the profession my ultimum refugium as being necessitous , and fit for nothing else , nor yet for that . Although it cannot be denied , but that many unexpert men doe so without controulment , in divers places , both in England and Ireland , whom the meaner sort of people , and some who will not be so ranked , because they accept slender and base hyre , employ and applaud , and let their children spin out time with them , untill they have gotten even as much skill as their teachers . Such a one could I point out in this citties suburbs , who understandeth not the difference betweene e and ae dipthong ; as I can make appeare under his owne hand writing . It is an ordinary practise in England , for men who have themselves no faculty in teaching , ( to the end they may raise unto themselves a liuelyhood , ) to take into their houses stipendary mercenaries , teachers of the Latine , and French , Musitians , Dancers , &c. And one among the rest there is who hath thereby gotten singular fame spread far and neere , who leaving an heroicall ( abusively so called ) trade , more gainefull , not so lawfull , hath by the encomiastick narration of friends , drawne into his tuition the sonnes of many worthy persons : with what proficiency they have come off , let them boast who found the successe . Of the danger that attends birds , who run too earely from their nests , as the Patridge and the Lapwing , I will say nothing . But little probability is there that any good foundation of the Latine can bee laide , when the instructers are often changed , as in such a course without doubt they are : for every of them will start for the better stipend , and oftentimes offences on the one side or the other causeth separation . I my selfe knew one man in England , who set up the trade , and within two yeares changed the master of his shop seven times , qui ubique est , nusquàm est ; non venit vulnus ad cicatricem , ubi crebra medicamenta tentantur . But I digresse : Painefull is the profession , if it be exercised with diligence , as it ought : and yet thereof doth arise little gaine , love , thankes or curtesie , from many unthankefull persons , who , if their children make good progresse and attaine the end , attribute nothing to the teacher , but all to the childes ingenuity , to time , and the booke , falsly imagining , that there is no Art in teaching , but onely following , as they terme it . And contrarywise if by reason of naturall defects , the teacher cannot infuse so much into their children , as into others more acute , or if their children by reason of naturall deficiency of eyes or tongues be not able , when they are earnestly hastened , to utter what they conceive , nor the parents endued with skill and patience to extract it from their children , then the teacher must be blamed and rebuked , and peradventure goe unrewarded , the parents never considering natures imperfections , and the imbecillity of such capacityes , nor the tender care that a wise teacher ought to take of such , least he doe more hurt then good . Many such have I here met with , who besides non-payment , after a good effect of mine Art and industry upon wooden and leaden subjects both yong and old , have rewarded me with obloquy , railing , and detraction , and some with violence : yea , where I did best and deserved most , I reaped Billinsgate friendship and entertainment , and Pye-corner , and Picks-hatch farewell . In one place for forty shillings I got a Boxe , but no money to put in a boxe : in another the husband invited me , and the wife gave me a farewell , not Vsquebach for dough a doris , not a cup , but a paile of hotewater on my head , when I was shutting the doore at my departure . Si quisquam huius procellae causam ulteriùs investigare cupiat , ab archimagiro in culina sciscitetur : exinde enim aqua calefacta : sin minus , lararij or acula petas , quae nemo , nisi praecentor ejus , explicare poterit . To me it seemeth more a riddle , then this Latine sentence can be to them , that know not the subject and members thereof , that a dignified Dame should call me cheating knave , and that her Cavallier should smite me , when I had given no offence , nor had gotten any money for a yeare and halfes labour ; but was rather cheated of my Art and industry : and that with as much more losse of time , Art , and industry , her Gossip should scold at me , and scald me , no cause of quarrell being knowne or declared , albeit it were demanded . When I consider the parties , I admire not their properties kind charitable creatures , who would rather , that I should perish , then they pay me the due reward of my labours . Well yet there is a fourth thing , which might as much discourage me from the prosecution of my profession , as the other three , great paines , small gaines , and base requitall , that is , the slender & mean estimation the world receiveth and holdeth of the professors , when it speaketh according to its weak judgment contemptuously , thus , he is but a Schoolemaster a Pedagoge . If any be unworthy , mens unthankfulnes and want of judgment is the cause ; for that they make not better choyce , nor will confer better salary upon those , who are more worthy and more able . Surely they ought to be worthy : for upon them it rests , whether the sons of the Nobles and Gentry get , and loue learning , for they have the seasoning of them , and a work of weight it is , and must be done in their child-hood , or never : and without all doubt the common wealth is much endammaged , yea , and the Church suffereth , when the Nobles be agrammati , and on the contrary both flourish , when they be philomusi , and philologi . By these precedent reasons it may appeare to the judicious Reader , that I intend it to be my greater glory to defend the work , then the workman . For what have I , who am but a clod of clay , which I have not received from the giver of every good and perfect gift ? If then I have received a talent , I have together received a charge , that I shall not hide that talent : and what is it being not communicated ? of the employment whereof my conscience informeth me , that a strict account will be exacted at that dreadfull day , when every steward must give a reckoning of his stewardship . If there were no more in it but morality , I would not for vertues sake be telluris inutile pondus . The love of the publick likewise together with mine owne delight may and doth incite me : for other incouragement have I none , neither would I doe it ; but because non nobis nati sumus ; and to the end , that the practise thereof might win credit to the experiment for the contemplative demonstration only without the proofe of practise might worthily be exploded . Peradventure some of that rabble , whom I mentioned before , whose derisions I contemn , and whose objections are not worth the answering , will say , what fellow is this ? And what great thing is this , that needeth this apology ? And why was not this way of teaching ( if there be such a thing ) found out in former ages , as well as now ? And were not children taught to read , and to understand the Latine speech , before this fellow was ? True ; But many failed even in reading , and in the Latine , there were alwayes as many , or more deficients then proficients . Then I say , for the first part of the work , the device and practice being wholly and meerely invented by my selfe , is a way , whereby any person yong or old , acute or obtuse may be taught to read with facility and delight , both to teacher and learner , to which little memory is requisite , but a full pronuntiation is very necessary . By this method a child of perfect speech may be made able to spell english truly and readily whatsoever be proposed , sillable after sillable , the memory being not charged with two at once within one quarter of a yeare ; yea it may , it hath beene effected within a moneth , and in lesse time . And doth it not then necessarily follow , that that childe , who can give every letter howsoever transposed its true sound must easily and speedily read , and that long before he bee fit to learne the Latine tongue , beginning at five yeares of age ? Will any sensible man deny it ? It is a very plain and easie way and method , not far fetched , nor much strained for , but therein a very little Art added to nature . For the second , it is not meerely mine own , but partly Mr Lilies : for hee gave me the hint thereof : Wherein if any man concurre with me in science practick for the common good , I repine not , but rather rejoyce ; because the experiment may be more authentick by a twofold or triple cord . Howsoever cum capitis periculo , I will maintain it to be such a way and method , wherby the most indocile and obtuse child , whosoever he bee , if animi compos , may within one quarter of a yeare after he can read well , be made expert and perfect in the variation of the Verb , as of all other parts declinable ; yea to give English for latine , and Latine for English readily and truly thorowout all Verbs whatsoever , the Verb and his signification being given , and the child being supplyed with the preterperfect tense of the Indicative mood , untill he have learned Mr Lilies Rules to find out the same : and so consequently , forasmuch as the difficulty and intricacy of the Latine consisteth in the infinitenes of the Verbs variety , which is above one thousand in both voyces , the different signes of the Optative , Potentiall , and Subjunctive being compared , it will make every child , who is animi compos , ( as I said before ) docile and capable of understanding the Latine , and that within three or foure yeares , and sometimes in much lesse time : As for writing copiously , and speaking fluently , who knoweth not , that much reading must furnish with words and phrase , and frequent speaking bring facility and readines of speech . Both which wayes and methods are such , as when they shal be layd open , every literate man will say , why did not I see this , as well as he ? and those men , who now envy , deride and scoffe , and such others , who plot , combine , and load me with detraction , and stir wormanish and worse faction , will alter their opinions , and embrace my poore invention and experiment : which in due time I will tender to reverend authority , teaching in the meane time , none but the lawfull Grammar .

The occasion of my study and exquisition to find out a more familiar and easie way of teaching àprimordijs , then had formerly beene received , was the consideration of the tedious time of seven , eight , nine , yea ten years , ( may I say , no more ) which was and is spent in teaching the Latine speech , and foure , five , and six in the way of reading , with much austerity and bitternes to the great discouragement of children , before it can be brought to perfection ; nay yet after much toyle on the teachers part , and torture of the children , many aswell the sons of the Nobility and Gentry , as of meaner persons faile , and never attain what they goe about , unlesse some more acute then the rest : and many so imperctly taught to read , that when they come to learn the Latine , both themselves and their teachers thorough their unreadines in reading , unlesse it be first rectified , are much vexed ; which produceth no small obstacle to their progresse . And so by that meanes many good wits beaten out of heart , and brought into hatred both of books and learning , yea and teacher too ▪ & not few , when grown up to good stature thorough the sharpenes of some teachers driven into desperate courses . I can truly say that of divers children brought to me , some whereof were eight yeares old , some nine , some ten , some eleven , some twelve , one fourteen , not all the Sons of common persons , nor such as had been neglected , but had been formerly taught with care and cost , none could read so much as meanly well , which my way would have made them do by that time they had accomplished seven years of age , had they begun at five . And moreover some of them , and some yonger so affrighted and discouraged , that untill I had altered their temper with lenity and familiarity , they would quake and shake and sweat , when they came to the businesse . How some of their parents and friends have requited me , who craved not , nor expected my wages , till my work was done , I will not now complain ; let me only say , that many withdrew their children from me surreptitiously to save their moneyes , and permitted me not to make appear what was done , lest I should have challenged what was due : And to disgrace me yet further , when I had almost perfected the work for many of them , for the matter of reading ; they set up a fly upon the wheele , that presently cryed , what a dust have I stirred ? when as the horse heels had stirred the dust , before the fly settled on the coach-whell . Let them go on with their giddines , avarice , and basenesse , and let their own experience find , that planta , quae saepius transfertur , non convalescit ; that time will not be called again , that there is Art in teaching , which may and can sharpen and quicken hebetude , and help imperfect speech very much in infancy , before long custome have confirmed it . What effect in the Latine my labours have produced answereable to the efficacie , which I attribute to my Method , if any man require an account , I appeale in the first place to the testimonie of Master William Langford Captaine of his Majesties Post Barke , and Master William Scot his Majesties Seaacher of his Port of Dublin , who within one moneth after I had undertaken a childe of Master Scots , who was my first Scholler but no acute one , ( as the issue will manifest now he is off from my method ) heard the same child being then halfe a year short of nine yeares of age , give Latine for English , and English for Latine thoroughout a Verb chosen by one of them , and it was expergiscor . Now because it little availed to tell of such beginnings , unlesse it may appeare , that they were seconded with like proceedings , and because he was taken from me above halfe a year since , at the earnest suit of the mother , quasi invito patre , when I had spent two years and a quarter upon him , or little more , and for that I am not assured , that that man , to whose instruction hee was next committed , will either give mee or him our dues , and because I am well assured that he will not proceede with the like profit being out of his first Method by reason of his hebetude and yong yeares being but eleven compleate , momorie and judgement being not confirmed , and because much womanish clamour hath beene throated out against mee touching him , those of the faction falsly surmizing him to bee my Master-Peece , and that if hee were taken off , I were utterly supplanted , & quod salvus superest Artifex , It is therefore expedient , that I shew to what ripenesse the Childe was growne in our two yeares , which was such , as he was able to read Tullyes Offices into English at first sight , and then necessarily able to translate it , and when hee had translated it , to read it againe into true Latine , having never committed any one clause of the booke to memory ; he did often in the presence of divers persons , the Booke being opened at adventure , read the Latine Testament into English ; hee could likewise for short sentences , such like as Corderius hath at an instant , for English give true Latine : for proofe hereof I could produce the testimony of diverse Gentlemen , not all of the lowest rancke , some whereof tooke a view of the Childes ability accidentally , others at my request ; because I foresaw the cloud of future clamor and disgrace , wherewith I was like to bee sprinkled ; it was long in rising , all the forraine and domestick windes met in their chappell and consistory to blow it abroad . In the second place , that a child of Mr George Badlyes in Damaske street , did within sixe weekes after hee had entered upon the Introduction to Grammar , being then under the age of seven years , vary the Verbe exactly after the forme aforesaid , I appeale to the testimonie of Master Roger Puttocke Minister of Gods word , and Master Badely himselfe , who heard the Childe doe it in the presence of the Reverend Father in God William Lord Bishop of Kilmore . Diverse other Children , and some superannited , and despaired of , have attained the same ability within my time limitted a quarter of a yeare . Whether I report truth , it may easily be examined . And I hope it may be beleived that Mr Scots child had attained the ability afore-mentioned , if it appeare that Mr Badelyes child who is little more then nine yeares old , have attained ( and not he alone , but some others ) the same ability , within lesse time . I am almost affraid to relate it , lest it should not be beleived , but should beget more censures . Let him therfore that desireth to be best informed ; come and satisfie his own eares , or let him bring me a subject to work upon , and he shall well see , that whatsoever I have affirmed , if my head lay at stake , shall by Gods assistance mangre the spite of envy and detraction be performed , and should have beene proved upon any one , whom I undertooke within my time limitted , that is , two yeares for reading , and foure for the Latine , and upon acute ones in much lesse time , might I be admitted to time and tryall : In performance whereof my cheifest care hath been , is , and ever shal be , that by facility and encouragement I beget alacrity and delight in all , but especially in the most way ward and obtuse , that at no time they be daunted with pressure and austerity . If I should give answer to every censure , I should swell into a volume . I will therefore omit all but one , and let my life and labours cleer me living , and my papers , when I am dead ; and that one is , it will not hold : I believe verily that young children will not go on with the same facility , unlesse memory and judgment were confirmed , which cannot be expected at nine or ten yeares of age : or unlesse the same method might be prosecuted : yet I say had Mr Scots child continued in the way but one yeare more , he had beene fullie confirmed . A comparison may be drawn from a horse , his owner , and a rider to help me with moderat men , no cavillers . The owner or master committeth his horse ( being a naturall trotter ) to a certain rider , or an Artist , that can teach him to amble ; he agrees at a price to have it done ; the rider undertaketh , goeth on , bringeth the horse , so long as himselfe rideth him , to a good stroke , the horse over-reacheth a good space ; the owner observeth it , and before the rider have setled and confirmed the horse in his new pace , taketh the horse out of his hands , whether out of avarice to save his money , or curiosity and over-much hastines , being overjoyed with his horses pace , it matters not ; but he dismisseth his rider , and rideth the horse himself , falsly supposing that then he can hold the horse to his pace , aswell as the rider : After a while the horse , by reason that the master hath not the same slight of hand for his carriage , is brought to a fluttering and shuffling pace , and hath lost all good pace . Can the rider be justly blamed ? or shall he be condemned to be no Artist ? Such like is our case , untill the method be generally knowne . For those , that be so overly and proud , of and in their own wits and judgments , who will not believe , that there can be such an invention for the improvement of Art , either because it came not , nor yet is come into their notion , or because it transcendeth their capacityes , or because former ages had it not , nor will admit that any mans method can hold equivalency with theirs , as if no mans conceit or invention could mount so high a pitch as theirs , I refer such men to the study of Almanacks , out of which they may learn to be such good Chronologists , as to prescribe time to two of the rarest inventions , which the earth containeth : the one is the Art of Printing , the other , the terrible Engyne of the Gun and Cannon , and the violent devouring matter thereto belonging , the Powder , which neither the first , nor the second age of the world brought forth , nor the head of this , but even the very taile . For it is not two hundred years since the invention of the one , and not three since the invention of the other . Much might be said touching the severall methods , and the fruits and effects of them , as also touching the necessity and dignity of teachers and schoolemasters , if they bee such , as they ought to be . But lest in saying more of either , I might seem to arrogate that to my selfe , which will not be given or granted , I will only say of these , that they ought to be men endued with Art , method , and discretion : art , to understand what they teach ; method and order , to teach it the right way , and to bring it to the capacity of children , with as much facility as may be ; discretion to deale with children according to their constitutions and capacities . As concerning the methods , and the fruits and effects thereof , let the most intelligent caviller , give me answer to two questions . First , what is the way and ground of reading ? Is it any other , then to know the true sound of every letter , how variously soever transposed in monosillable or polysillable , and to divide polysillables rightly ? and that skill being attained , is not the ground and way of reading ? What can be done or required more , but dayly practise ? Secondly , what is the first and cheife ground of Grammar ? Is it not the true variation of the declinable parts , whereof the Verb is the most perplexed ? and that skill being attained , is not the cheife ground of grammar attained ? can true connexion be made without true variation ? What literate man knoweth not , that the Verb in all languages is the basis of all , and that all the other pa●ts be but dependants on it , for that no full sentence or ●●nce can be spoken or written without a Verbe expressed or understood . As I have said before , so I say againe , the true ground of either may be layd upon a competent subject within a quarter of a yeare , and sometimes within lesse time : and then what workman may not finish the work ? I herefore I conclude thus , Dimidium facti , qui benè coepit , habet . And so I commit my slender invention and practise , to the censure of the noble , generous and judicious , that they seeing the fruit thereof may commend it to posterity . Then howsoever my paines hath not gotten payment of some people , my conscience shall get consolation , and I shall confidently say at my dissolution , I have endeavoured to keep a cleere conscience , I have fought a good fight , I have finished my course , I have kept the faith henceforth is layde up for mee . &c.