IN obedience to your Commands , I here send you a short Account of Dr. Hicks's Book , now in the Press at Oxford ;

The Title of it is , Linguarum veterum Septentrionalium Thesaurus Grammatico-criticus & Archaeologicus . Accedit de Linguarum veterum Septentrionalium usu Dissertatio : Et Catalogus librorum veterum Septentrionalium , tam eorum qui excusi sunt , quam qui in membranis scripti nondum eduntur , quam fieri licuit , locupletissimus .

The Book is Printed in a large Folio , upon very good Paper , and according to its Title , it consists of three Parts , 1. the Grammaticals , which contain iv Grammars : One for the ancient Gothick Tongue , as it was spoken in Moesia , above MCCC Years ago . Another of the English-Saxon , which descended from that ancient Gothick Tongue . A third , of the ancient German , or Teutonick Tongue , as it was spoken 〈◊〉 DCCCC Years ago , and for which the Emperor Carolus Magnus , the greatest Scholar , as well as Soldier of his time , did not think it below his Imperial Majesty , to make a Grammar with his own Hand . The fourth , is a Grammar of the old Scandian , Cimbrick , or Islandick Language , spoken by our old Masters the Danes , who changed the English-Saxon into a Dialect , which the Author calls , the Dano-Saxonick , or Danish-Saxon Tongue . The two first Grammars are framed into one , because of the near alliance of those two Languages , which much illustrate each other . And this Grammar is in effect , an Account of the Original , and Progress of the English Tongue , from the ancient Gothick , to the English-Saxon , from thence to the Dano-Saxonick , from thence to the Norman-Saxon , or Anglo-Normanick Tongue : Of all these Dialects , the Author gives a clear Account , as also of the English-Saxon Poetry , and of its degenerating into Rime , occasion'd by the corruption of the more pure English-Saxon Tongue . In this Grammar also are very many Saxon Originals translated into Latin , which were never before Printed , with many chargeable Sculptures , of which some may be seen in a Copy of the Book , at Mr. Kebles the Bookseller , at the Turks-head in Fleetstreet . In the other two Grammars are many Curiosities , too numerous to be described here , and in the last of them many Leaves of costly Sculpture , whereof some are to be seen in the foresaid Copy of the Book . These Grammars are full of Observations , and Marginal Notes , which not only illustrate the Antiquities of our Saxon Ancesters , but shew the true Causes , and Originals of our own , and all the Languages of the North parts of Europe , as well as of a great part of the French , Italian , and Spanish Tongues .

In the second Part , concerning the use of the old Septentrional Languages , are many Discourses of the Saxon Antiquities , in which are many Acts , and Records of their Courts of Judicature , Wills and Testaments ; Contracts of Bargain and Sale ; Forms of Manumission of their Villanes , or Predial Slaves ; Original Charters , never before Printed , the greatest part of which are translated into Latin , with some Sculptures , and particular Disquisitions ; as of the Original of the Court of Chancery ; of the manner of making Wills , and the Probat of them among the Saxons ; of their Donations , and Conveyances ; and a Discourse of the Saxon , and Norman Charters , shewing the difference between them , and how true are to be distinguished from false Charters ; with Platforms of Discourses upon many other curious , and useful Subjects , not yet written upon ; of which the Author shews none can write well , but those , who are very well skill'd in the old Septentrional Languages . In this Part there will also be a Series of all the Saxon-Coyns in Sculpture , with Explications ; with a curious Saxon-Homilie , Preached by a Bishop on a Day of publick Fasting , and Penitence ; and an Account of the burial Places of the most famous Saxon Saints , translated into Latin , never before Printed ; and a fragment of History in the ancient Scandian Language , written in Runick Characters , but Printed in Runick and common Letters , with a Latin Translation .

The Catalogue of the old Septentrional MSS. which makes the third Part , is an Historical , and Comparative Catologue , in which is Printed the beginning , and ending of every MS. that the curious Reader may know whether MSS. which have the same Title , are the same , or different Books . Imperfect MSS. are also noted , as those likewise , whose Leaves are misplaced by the Binder ; and if imperfect MSS. of one Place , or Library may be supplied by more perfect Copies in another , that also is noted . Several Sheets of this Catalogue are already Printed in the above-mention'd Copy at Mr Kebles , to which I refer you , and your Friends , who are Lovers of Antiquity . As to your two Questions , How much of this Work is Printed ? and , Of how many Sheets it will consist ? I answer to the first , That there are almost CXL Sheets Printed off ; and the Author thinks it will be a Book of CC , or CCXX Sheets .