A PETITION TO THE HIGH COURT OF PARLIAMENT, In the behalf of ancient and authentic Authors, For the universal and perpetual good of every man and his posterity:  
Presented by JOSEPH WEBBE, Dr. in Ph.  
Printed 1623.   

A PETITION TO THE HIGH COURT OF PARLIAMENT, In the behalf of ancient and authentic Authors, For the universal and perpetual good of every man and his posterity.  
ALiud est Grammaticè, aliud Latine loqui, is a distinction of a thousand five hundred and forty years standing; the Author is Quintilian; and his sense is thus:  
There are two sorts of Latin, whereof one is Grammar-Latine, and the other Latine-Latine.  
By Latine-Latine I mean such as the best approved Authors wrote, and left us in their books and monuments of use and custom.  
By Grammar-Latine I understand that Latin that we now make by Grammar rules: the first intention of which rules, and their collection out of that custom, and those Authors, was, to make us write and speak such Latin as that Custom and those Authors did; which was, Latine-Latine: but it succeeded not.  
Wherefore my Petition is to this high Court of Parliament, (not that Grammar should be questioned, in that it is our old acquaintance, and hath a long time been a ledger here amongst us, on the behalf of these Authors; but, considering it is not able to give us Authors Latin) that these Authors, whom we seem to have so much respected in our Schools and Universities, coming themselves as it were in person, and offering to dwell amongst us, may to their deserved honour and our desired benefit, be now received, privileged and admitted to tell their own tales, and teach us their own Latin.  
This admittance of theirs, have I these eighteen years contrived, and these five last years seriously solicited, and cannot as yet find any way to compass it, without manifest danger of ruining myself and mine assistants, unless by favour of this high and honourable Court I may be allowed father of mine own children, and Author of mine own works and inventions: that is, that no man else may print them or import them nor any man teach Languages by that method that I propose, but such as I think fitting; and that these privileges may continue for the space of 21 years after the publication of every book of this nature that shall be published within the term of years before specified; with prohibition that no man shall hereafter, during that time, attempt the same way in any other Author or Language, without my special allowance.  
Herein I have not only had the gracious ear of his Majesty, but Prince like encouragement of his Highness, the assent of many of the Nobility, and the favourable desires and wishes of some of the greatest Scholars of this kingdom; but especially of such whose ends and private respects led them not to a prejudicate opinion concerning it.  
But whilst this hopeful beginning engaged me with full sail to prosecute my first intention, I found in the very main of my business some secret Remora, suddenly to stop my helpless ship, although the winds of my devotion thereunto blew very strongly.  
Whereupon, not knowing who did hurt me, or what might help me, I began to listen partly to mine own surmises, partly to what my friends suspected, and partly to the mutterings of such as were incredulous: for all these brought sundry objections and demands; to which I made these following answers; most humbly submitting both myself and them unto the censure and definitive sentence of your Honourable Wisdoms, whether I shall stop here and sink, for attempting to bring a benefit to your posterity, or set forward to effect what I pretended.  
The first objection was, that it might be thought a great presumption and arrogancy in me, to attribute so much unto myself, as to set upon a newfound thing, that for so many ages and amongst so infinite a number of learned men, was never hitherto reflected on; and therefore much to be suspected and demurred upon.  
This objection I answered in mine Appeal to Truth, in the Controversy between Art and Use, published (Anno 1622. and extant at the brazen Serpent in Paul's Churchyard) to show the opinions of the gravest Authors to this purpose: and first, what Grammarians thought one of another; then, what others thought of Grammarians and their Art; and lastly, what way they approved of, to come to purity of language.  
This approved way go I, which in the generality is theirs, and none of mine; nor is it new, in that it hath been ever since speaking was, which was long before Grammar, and is where no Grammar ever came, and therefore may and will subsist subsist without her. From whence it may be gathered, that I am so far from being presumptuous or arrogant in putting on so public and so great a benefit, that I might rather have been held negligent or envious in concealing it; especially being a professor of letters, and as it were one of the Parliament in the Common wealth of learning.  
The second objection was, that though the general way by custom and authority might be intimated by these Authors, yet I could not excuse myself of presumption in the course I took unto it in particular.  
Whereunto I answered, the any man might take the groundwork of this particular way from Cicero, who was the first that taught me to divide the man, or body of speech into the parts thereof & knit. I mean not those eight sorts of parts, whereof 4 are declined, 4 undeclined, after the vulgar Grammar; but after Cicero's Grammar, into one sort of parts, that is, into clauses, which are undeclined. Now if Cicero's Grammar, that consists of one part of speech, and that undeclined, were not much easier than that of eight parts, and 4 declined; and should not thereby rid us of much labour, and to better purpose, I should not be so ready to embrace it. But, as for that which is built upon this ground work, for the peculiar use of every man, and the bringing of that into act, which these grave men have given us hitherto but to contemplate: that (without presumption) I call mine; as the pipe of lead calls the water which it conveys to many cisterns; always acknowledging the waters of all true understanding to proceed only from the eternal fountain of all wisdom my Creator.  
But seeming still to doubt of the possibility thereof, they would often ask me: Are you sure you know what you promise? Is it possible to learn Latin without a Grammar?  
Hereupon I shown them Quintilians' fore-alleaged distinction; and then, I replied thus: It is not possible to learn Grammar-Latin without Grammar; but it is possible to learn Latin-Latin (that is, the Latin that was in use amongst the ancient Latins) without Grammar. And moreover, I told them, that I thought, the way to write and speak this last Latin, was the true way rectè scribendi atque loquendi; else Cicero and his equals wrote not rightly. And I inferred, that if this be true, we must either pull out rectè, or put in Grammaticè, or vulgar Grammar would have but an imperfect definition. For rectè scribendi atque loquendi ars, must run along with the custom and use of speaking that was observed by those ancient-Authors: which, I must confess, the vulgar Grammar aimeth at, or else it should want all colour and authority: but Quintilian, & that that's more than ten Quintilians, the very practice tells us, it hitteth not the mark of writing rightly. God is my record. I speak not this to deprive Grammar of her scholars, (for she hath her own worth, and according unto it should be respected) but my humble Petition is, that the old authentic Authors and chief Lords of Language, our best and syncerest friends, may not be thrust out of their own patrimony, by those whose chiefest grace it is to be thought their followers.  
They replied: Suppose that we will grant you, that Authors-Latine is better than Grammar-Latine, what proofs bring you that it is possible for you to help us to a way to learn this better Latin; that we may be assured that you can be as good as your promise?  
Whereunto I again made answer: If I lay my grounds in that wherein all the Languages of the world agree, and out of which no Languages have perfect correspondence, and upon these grounds and foundations can erect a solid and complete edifice, doubtless it will be possible for me to help you to that way, whereby I may perform what I have promised. And proceeding yet further, I told them, that the grounds of speech are laid in things, in the meanings of which things all tongues meet. Therefore as they are all the meanings of things, so they are all the meanings of one another. But if we will search unto the depth for the roots and elements of all these meanings, we shall find that farthest off they consist all in a point; a little nearer in a point, and in a right & crooked line; yet nearer in literal characters produced of these point and lines; and nearer yet, in syllables produced of these letters: and yet somewhat nearer, in words produced of these syllables. And upon this ground of words, all ordinary ways insist.  
But they are not yet come to that which they pretend; for no two languages in the world do perpetually and infallibly meet in words: wherefore we must go yet a step further, till we come at our foundation, which is laid in sense or meaning; which consisteth not always of simple words, but now of simple, now composed. For, as letters that are knit together, make one character of this or that word: so words knit together, make one character of this or that sense. These characters of sense are the nearest elements of speech, understandingly acknowledged by Cicero under the names of joints and members; and are delivered unto us in their native forms and substances by Custom and Authority. But Art amazed at the not well apprehended, or ill distinguished magnitude of this substance, matter or body of speech, presuming of her own ability of bringing us a nearer way to Languages, hath taken both matter and forms thereof, & torn them all in pieces: of the forms she hath made a Grammar; of the matter a Dictionary: and hath dispersed them amongst all nations for their several uses in foreign languages. And now, every nation desirous of a foreign tongue, runs presently to Art to borrow these pieces, and thinks by her instruction to compose a perfect and well shaped body of speech in some desired foreign language. But they are deceived: for first, though Art know what similar parts (as we term them) as, what nerves, films, flesh, bones, etc. every instrumental member consisteth of; yet, she being universal for all nations, and all nations naturally varying the situation and position of these pieces or particles of members, according to their own native Idiom; they must (as not taught by Art any other variation) lay all these pieces of foreign speech, according to the situation of these pieces in their own language. Whereupon, not to run into France or Italy for an example, a Welshman, not yet well grounded in our tongue, (speaking Welch-English) bids us here in England, give him bread white, and meat fat, after the native position of these pieces of speech in his language, and is laughed at for his labour. In like manner an English man in Wales speaks English-Welch, and bids give him gwin barra and brasekige, that is, white bread and fat meat, after his position of these pieces, and is as much laughed at there, as they here, and as worthily. And this is not only found in the English and Welsh, but in all other languages, to be most ridiculous: and yet no Grammar provideth for this mischief, nor indeed can it provide, unless every nation should make so many several Grammars of one and the same tongue, as there are several sorts of nations to communicate with it: which were a very great and a voluminous inconvenience.  
Again, in such members, wherein two several tongues may place these pieces of speech alike, so that every piece of the one be answerable to every piece of the other, both in place and signification: the whole member put together in the one and the other tongue, shall be good & perfect sense in the one, and no way understood in the other language. For though the words thereof be all, by both tongues acknowledged; yet being put together, the one of these nations receives, the other disclaims the member: which is manifest between the English and the Italian. For, though un be an; cavallo, horse; di, of; buon, good; metallo, metal: and [An horse of good metal] put together be good English; yet the Italian understands not vn cavallo di buon metallo to be Italian, but disclaims it. Neither doth any Grammar remedy this particular, nor indeed can remedy it, unless it draw all the proprieties of every language of the world, and apply them to itself in and for every different language; which would prove a greater inconvenience than the former. If therefore we would not (with Art) fall upon these deformities of mispeccing and mismembring languages, we must rely wholly upon Authority, from whence, even Art herself was drawn, though insufficient; and to which, when Art can say no more, she oft refers us. Now if this Authority be so reduced by Analysis to practise, that we neither tear in pieces, or break the members of speech, nor hurt the joints or wheels on which it runneth: and then be made up a new composition or method of writing after mine intention; it shall not only demonstrate the possibility of a way to learn this better Latin, (and thereby assure you that I can be as good as my promise) but it shall also (as I have said in mine Appeal) give any man a real power of writing rightly the first day he sets upon it. But, understand me, this power is in my books, and not in his brains that writeth, till he by daily practice have reduced this power of my books to an habit in himself. And no doubt but an habit may this way in half the time be gotten, that is spent in Grammar. And then, our habit is made in Latine-Latine, the other in Grammar-Latine; the differences whereof have formerly been debated. Neither shall we in this Latine-Latine stand in need of rules of construction (which Grammars for the most part give) or position and propriety (which they give not;) for these fall all in sense and meaning, wherein all the members and clauses of all Languages have their meetings.  
But they continue to object, that Authority cannot afford members for all senses.  
To this I answer, that senses, clauses or members, consist as well in form as in matter. In form, they are all in Authority; otherwise Art had not found them, being only produced from Authority; and therefore they occur in my method out of Authors. In matter they are also the most part there, excepting some few names of things that fell not within the discourses of mine Authors; or have since their times been invented; and these shall be afforded by supplement, which is also drawn out of authority. And therefore I crave leave to print these Authors with this supplement, which some have thought that I had never dreamt of, but upon their objections made within these twelve months: whereas I have good testimony of the thing begun and almost half done above these six years. Moreover, every sense may in one and the same tongue be many ways altered in the words or clauses, and yet produce always the self same meaning. Now, as every tongue hath this variety; so any, or every one of these varieties is not only a due expression of that sense in one and the same tongue, but also of all and every particular variation of that sense in every other language. Otherwise the Poet should not be able to express himself Poetically both in other numbers and other frames & forms of speech than are usual amongst Orators: nor could Orators give us their meanings now in an humble, now in a lofty, now in a middle, or other kinds or styles of writing. And yet every one of these can produce, after his own manner, every thing that may be spoken; witness the Poets Quicquid conabor dicere versus erit. And considering that all these ways of expression fall within the limits of mine instrument, either by authority or supplement, I cannot so much as dream of an impossibility of producing any thing that may be spoken.  
Hereupon they further demand, Where are these Authors reduced to your method? and where that supplement? unless you produce them (say they) you will neither be believed, nor get your licence.  
This were but hard measure (said I) considering so many precedents to the contrary. There was a Patent, and an Act of Parliament passed before the bringing of the New-river water from Ware to London; and the like for cutting the passage of a river from Tame to Oxford. Now, if men that pretended good but to some parts of private Cities, be thus favoured; it is not likely that I (that plead for every man's posterity, yea his, what ere he be, that's most against me; as also in the behalf of many nations and whole kingdoms, and for those Authors that they so much desire and reverence) should be driven to hazard both time, labour, and expenses, without some kind of assurance as well from his Majesty as the Parliament, that I shall not ruin both myself and others which have herein aided me. Epecially considering how apt men are now adays to snatch the bread out of other men's mouths, and to sell their labours to their own profits, and grow fat upon them, while those that sweat and groaned to produce them, perish with famine. Which oftenest happens to poor students, who are contented to be given to understand, that it is enough for them to have the honour of their books, in lieu of their labour, time and charges: and in the mean season are laughed at, as foolish Logicians that will lose the substance for so poor an accident. But admit yet farther, that after privilege granted, I should not be able to perform what I intended; there's no man's reputation, no man's time, labour and expenses lies at stake but mine. So that if I perform, it was well granted; in that every man shall reap the benefit: if I perform not, yet was it well granted; in that it turns to my just punishment: and therefore in my opinion I should not be urged to a greater inconvenience, (as to bestow yet other four or five hundred pounds) to produce that, which when it is produced, gives me no more assurance of a privilege, then at this present.  
Then was it objected, that his Majesty had already confirmed a Patent granted for the Grammar, and would admit of no other course of teaching.  
Whereupon I demanded, what hindrance the Goldsmith's privilege was to the Braziers. I desire not the suppression or hindrance of Grammar, but the purity of Latin. Again, this Grammar was privileged to forbid all other Grammars: but I seek not to introduce another Grammar, except we shall very improperly call it Cicero's Grammar. My desire is only, that such as are weary, and would not, or can no longer go by Grammar, or are not desirous of Grammar-Latine, might be admitted to an easy and profitable use of Authors, and to these Authors own way of teaching their own language without Grammar; as being two sundry courses, to two diverse ends. For Authors cannot bring a man to Grammar-Latine, nor Grammars unto Authors Latin, as is proved. Nay further, I find the Preface itself to this privileged Grammar, to be more favourable on my behalf then this opinion: for it says plainly, that it is not amiss, if one seeing by trial an easier and readier way than the common sort of teachers do, would say what he hath proved, and for the commodity allowed; that other not knowing the same, might by experience prove the like, and then by proof reasonably judge the like: not excluding [by this privileged Grammar] the better way when it is found out, but in the mean season forbidding the worse. Now, I having by trial proved this way by Authors, to be another, and an easier and readier way than that of Grammar, and allowing thereof for the infinite commodity that I find therein, humbly entreat that I may be privileged to produce my books, that may make others prove and judge as I do; according to the intent of the forealleged Preface.  
What proof, say they, or demonstration, can you bring us of this way of yours?  
I answered, a twofold proof: one, of a power that these books bring to any man, the first day to write rightly by them: And another, of this power, reduced by an exercise to an habit of writing rightly without them. Of the first kind (in that this method holdeth in all Languages as well as in Latin) take this Italian Letter, translated by a Gentlewoman that knows not two words of that language, and that, the first day that she applied herself unto it.  
Fratello mio carissimo.  
Quantunque mi paia di poter esser piu che certo, i tutti gli uffici li quali ho fatto per te, ti sono stati gratissimi: & che questa fu la cagione, che tu mi hai renduto piu che non havevi ricewto: nondimeno. perch veggo nelle tue lettere, che tu hai qualch'ambra di me, son constretto a giustificarmi con teco: Perioche, il primo di Gennaio, ho voluto intier ament farti palese l'animo mio, & diogni cosa ti darei conto particolare, ma che il consiglio non mi pareva punto nocessario, potendosi torcere quello, che con sincera ment è stato scritto, a sentimento contrario. Laonde, se tu mi ami all'usato, basta quello ch'io scrissi. Io non posso esser piu vostro che mi sia. Ec mi vi raccomando.  
Di Londra a li 10. de Decembre. 1620. Di V. S. Fratello affmo. N.  
Of the same kind is this other in Latin, translated out of English, through power given in my books, to a capable young man, that had been six years at a Grammar School, and had discontinued eighteen months.  
Non qui parum habet, sed qui plus cupit, pauper est. Ad hoc enim multis illi rebus opus est; ad illud, tantum animo sano, & erecto, despiciente fortunam. Sed, quem mihi dabis, cui quantulumcunque superest, sat est? Si volueris attendere; ad manum est quod sat est: sed, nisi sapienti sua non placent. Adhuc, concipere animo non potes, quam sic se contentus, qui fictilibus sic utitur, quemaamodum argento: sed, oum puerilem animum deposueris, &, te in viros Philosophia transcripserit, Intelligas sapientem se ipso esse contentum, & hominem tam bene culmo quam auro tegi. Sed ut epistolae finem imponam; mihi crede, Non est beatus, esse se qui non putat. Haec, & huiusmodi versanda in animo sunt, ut tibi conting at vera libertas, & ut possis aequo animo vitam relinquere. Vale.  
But, because I was desirous to see how well he could translate it of himself, without the power given him by these books, I made him first make it in his own Latin, which (with some help of such as had done it before him) was as followeth: Iste non est pauper qui parum habet, sed qui plus appetit. Nam huic multa desunt; illi, animo solum integro, & erecto, fortunâ dispicientiâ. Sed, quisnam, qui contentus est rebus suis: Si enim in mentem tuam benè introspicias, satis adest; sed nulli preter sapientes placati aut contenti sunt eo quod habent. Adhuc enim in animo non sorbeas, quàm contentus est semitipso qui vasibus fictilibus utitur vice toreumatis; Sed cum animum puerilem deponas, & Philosophia in numeros hominum te referat, invenies quod hominem est aeque culmene tectum quam aurum. Sed ut literam concludam (crede mihi) hominem istum non esse beatum quem seipsum it a esse non cogitat. Hec & similia sepe sunt ad cogitanda ut veram libertatem paras & vitam tuam libenter linqueres.  
In verse also, these are of that first kind, made by men of great judgement, who were desirous to make some proof thereof.  Ignarus facti cecini sine lumine carmen. 
And this Distichon, made upon this following English: Without sense or reason a thing promised cannot be believed.  
Promissis adhibere fidem sine lumine sensus,  
Aut mentis, levit as creditur ingenij.  
By the second way, that is, by the power of those books, reduced by a months practise to the beginning of an habit, these exercises were made without those books.  
In the Latin of Seneca.  
Si aliquem amicum existimas (mi Philippe) qui nusquam est, quia ubique est; vehementer erras. Name, aegri animi ista iactatio est. Nihil aequè sanitatem impedit, quam remedior um crebra mutatio. Nec coalescit veraeamicitiae planta, quae saepè transfertur. Itaque, diu cogita, an tibi in amicitiam aliquis recipiendus sit. Ante amicitiam iudicandum, Sed, cum placuerit fieri, cum amico omnes curas omnes cogitationes tuas misce. Name, multi fallere docueruat dum timent falli. Vale.  
In Caesar's Latin.  
Vbi per exploratores Henricus certior factus est, Gallis esse in animo, eum rapinis populationibusque prohibere; non expectandum sibi statuit. Qua de causa, maturat ab agro Bononiensium proficisci. Et quam maximis itineribus potest in Normandiam ulteriorem contendit, & ad Rothomagum per venit. Pontem iubet rescindi: A Sequana, ad montem Sanctae Katharinae, millia passuum novem, murum, in altitudinem pedum sexdecim, fossamque perduit. Galli iam per fines Picardorum suas copias traduxerant, & in Normannorum fines pervenerant. Henricus negat se posse iter ulli per Normandiam dare. Et, si vim facere conentur, prohibiturum ostendit. Postero die, castra ex eo loco movent, etc.  
In Cicero's Epistolatorie Latin.  
Amantissime amice,  
Nostris rationibus maximé conducere videtur, plurimos nostros amicos inveniri: quoniam videtur in suffragijs multum posse adversarius noster. A vunculus tuus observat Cancellarium maximè: sed, fuit & mihi & Edvardo fratri magno usui. Cum à judicijs forum refrixerit, scribam ad te: vides enim, quod adhuc coniectura provideri possit, in quo cursu sumus. Multum te amamus. Sed, abs te peto ut mihi hoc ignoscas. Vale.  
The like may be done in the Latin of other ancient or modern Authors, as of Livy, Pliny, Tacitus, or of Lipsius, or any other whatsoever: and that not only (as is said) in Latin, but in every other language also.  
But we understand, say they, that in this way of yours by Authors, you would have these clauses, which you speak of, to be rendered whole: which cannot sink into our heads to be good, by reason that you know not, by this means, what the words do signify: and therefore it were much better that every clause should be construed word for word. And beside, to take whole clauses out of Authors, were to steal.  
Whereunto I answered: First, you may by trial find, that this construing word for word, is altogether impossible in any language: Next, you may see the inconvenience thereof by the Frenchman's English: for while he follows the correspondence of words, he forgets their placing; and therefore saith, I you pray Sir, placing our English as his je vous prie Monsieur is placed, which is absurd and barbarous; and proceedeth only from his construing word for word; every man applying the words of a foreign language according as they are ranged in his own. Wherefore I had rather a scholar should remember the natural and received position of a clause by keeping the words always all together, than understand the particular correspondence of the words, and thereby lose their proper places. For discretion, and comparison of clause with clause, will at length bring the understanding of the words, whether we will or no; but nothing will bring the true position of these words again, by reason that our own tongue doth therein still misguide us, and makes us always to be distinguished for strangers, even in our very writing. And the mainest reason thereof is this, that clauses are almost of the same condition that words are. For, as out of words of 2.3.4. or 5. letters, there may be 2.6.24. or 120. various revolutions, and yet but one of those variations shall be allotted to signify this or that one thing in particular: So is it in clauses of 2.3.4. or 5. words, whose variations may be as many as was before said of the letters; yet use hath commonly made choice but of one of those revolutions of words to stand for this or that sense: which if you precisely take not, without adding, diminishing or transposing; you either alter the sense, manner of style, or dialect; or else you speak a kind of non sense. And that clause or sense, that use hath taken hold of in one language, shall not many times have the self same number of words in another; and therefore you must fail of your verbal translation: and in those that have the self same number, you seldom find the words that signify and express each other, to have in both tongues the same position. Wherefore, if you take not the whole clause together in the one and the other tongue, you must at some time speak barbarously of necessity. Now if this be that, which you call theft or stealing, there are none of us that fall not hourly within the compass of this kind of thievery. For, if you mark it well, all speech runs in this manner, and every man speaks each others clauses. True it is, that one and the same clause or sense, may (as I have said) be diverse ways delivered; but than you keep not the same words or number of them, but vary per Synonomiam, Enallagen, Antonomasiam, Periphrasin, Metaphoram, and other such like variations; which all must also keep their received clauses, or else we shall do wrong to languages.  
Other demands and objections less material, as not touching the thing itself, but some particular and by-respects, would cloy your ears with more than becomes a modest brevity: wherefore leaving them, till some farther occasion offered; and most humbly entreating you to cast a favourable eye on this Petition. I in all obedience dedicate myself, my labour, and the rest of my life, in the full extent of my whole talon, to the eternal glory of my God, to the loyal service I own unto my Sovereign and his Succession, and to the future good of you and your posterity.  
FINIS.