A Posing-Book FOR SCHOLARS IN Short Questions and Answers.  
Containing A mixture of several things not commonly known among the meaner sort; and yet of great usefulness for all to understand that are willing to be Scholars.  
Being Only a rude Essay, by a Lover of Learning, who intends (God permitting, and the Inhabitants of England accepting) not only to make this more complete, but also to prepare by degrees such helps for Learning so far as concerns English, that none shall have cause more to complain for want of it: but the Slothful, and wilfully Ignorant.  
With Allowance.  
LONDON, Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns, in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chappel. 1688.   

How to use this Book.  
LEt all the Scholars, or those that have got one of those Books to use, stand in a row, then let the lowermost stand forth, and ask the next above him the first question in this Book; and let the other give the answer in his own Book; then let the same person ask the same question of the next above, and let him answer without Book, if he can answer, let the first person ask the next question in the Book, and let the answer be given in the Book, and then let the third above answer without Book. If the third cannot answer, ask the next above till some body can; and so do till three questions are asked and answered, both within Book and without, and where the last question is answered, let the person ask take his place just below, in the like manner, or some other, let the next lowermost; and so all oppose each other for their places once a day, more or less, as the teacher thinks meet.   

A POSING-BOOK For Scholars, etc.  
Q. WHat is most commendable for young persons to spend their time about?  
A. Learning of such things which may make them Scholars.  
Q. How many sorts of Learning are there to be learned by Books?  
A. There are seven which are called the seven Liberal Sciences.  
Q. What is meant by Liberal Science?  
A. Book-Knowledge.  
Q. What are those Sciences called?  
A. 

1. Grammar.  
2. Arithmetic. 
Instead of such Figures teach them to read first, secondly, thirdly, and the like: These 7 are but one answer, yet whe●● the first part is answered and the rest forgotten, he that doth ask may say thirdly or sixthly, that it may bring to mind what the rest of the answer is,   
3. Geometry.  
4. Music.  
5. Astronomy.  
6. Rhetoric.  
7. Logic.    
Q. Is there no other Book-learning but these seven sorts?  
A. Yes a great deal, but there is no sort of Book-knowledge but some or all of these hath a part in it.  
Q. What is Grammar?  
A. Grammar is the Art of Speaking, Reading, and Writing.  
Q. What is the Grammar Art, who can me tell?  
A. The Art of Speaking, Reading, Writing well.  
Q. Of what use is Grammar?  
A. It is an Art which doth to all men teach To understand right order in their speech.  
Q. What doth Grammar signify?  
A. It is a Letter Art, or Skill in Letters, An Art to which all other Arts are Debtors.  
Q. What is Arithmetic.?  
A. Arithmetic is the Art of numbering.  
Q. What is Arithmetic, who can me tell?  
A. 'Tis in plain words, the Art of numbering well.  
Q. What is Arithmetic commonly called?  
A. Casting of Account or Cyphering.  
Q. What is number?  
A. Number is that by which we do express The quantity of things tho' more or less.  
Q. What is Geometry?  
A. The Art of measuring the Earth.  
Q. What doth the word Geometry signify?  
A. Geo-metria is the same in Greek, as if in English we should say, to meet out, or measure the Earth.  
Q. What do people mean when they say that things hang in Geometry?  
A. That they hang in the Air on nothing, or they know not how.  
Q. Is it proper thus to speak?  
A. No, it is Nonsense.  
Q. What is Music?  
A. Music is the Art of singing or making melody with the voice or Instrument.  
Q. What is Astronomy?  
A. Astronomy is an Art that teacheth to know the order and course of the Sun, Moon and Stars.  
Q. What is Rhetoric?  
A. Rhetoric is the art of Eloquent and delightful speaking.  
Q. What is Logic?  
A. Logic is the Art of right Reasoning or an art that teacheth to dispute well.  
Q. What do all those Arts teach?  
A. 

1. To speak, read and write.  
2. To Number and Reckon.  
3. To Measure the Earth.  
4. To Delight the Mind.  
5. To Measure the Heaven.  
6. To Speak Delightfully.  
7. To Understand and Speak Reason.    
Q. Of what use is all this?  
A. To Glorify God and Benefit Men.  
Q. Are all those arts needful to be Learned?  
A. Yes, some part of all is needful for every one that would answer the end of their being placed in this world.  
Q. Why is Grammar needful?  
A. Because without skill in words none can read the Holy Bible, the word of God, and the best book in the World.  
Q. Why is Arithmetic needful?  
A. Because without knowing numbers none can find any chapter or verse in the Holy Bible, nor yet be able to reckon any thing in their business.  
Q. Why is Geometry needful?  
A. Because without understanding measure none can know how far any place is distant from another, nor how much to demand for their labour at harvest.  
Q. Why is Music needful?  
A. Because those that are merry are to sing Psalms, and singing is a part of Music.  
Q. Why is Astronomy needful?  
A. Because the Stars are the work of God's Fingers, and it teacheth to admire God's Works.  
Q. Why is Rhetoric needful?  
A. Because every body strive to use it in common discourse, and the word of God is full of it.  
Q. Why is Logic needful?  
A. Because those that understand not right reason are void of reason, and to live with such, there is no reason a wise man should.  
Q. Is there a necessity to learn the whole of these seven Arts?  
A. No, But only so much as each person can attain to.  
Q. What may be said of such as are against this sort of Learning?  
A. 

1. They that are against Grammar, must not speak, read or write.  
2. They that are against Arithmetic, must not number their Fingers or Toes.  
3. They that are against Geometry, must not talk of Miles nor Acres.    
These answers may be accounted as one or as seven at the teacher's discretion.  

4. They that are against Music must not sing or whistle.  
5. They that are against Astronomy, must not regard either the rising or setting of Sun, Moon and Stars.  
6. They that are against Rhetoric must leave off saying [the Pot boiles over.] when 'tis the liquor in the Pot they mean.  
7. They that are against Logic must lay aside their reason, and so to do will be very unreasonable.   
Q. Why are some People so much against Logic?  
A. 

1. Because they understand it not.  
2. Because the word ends with [gick] which makes them mistake it for, or take it to be as bad as [Magic]    
Q. Why do some so much despise all Learning?  
A. Because they are like the Fox, that said grapes were not good: But the reason was because he could not reach them.  
Q. What is Grammar?  
A. An Art which reacheth the right and due order of speech.  
Q. How many parts hath Grammar?  
A. The parts of Grammar are four. 

1. Letters. 
Some Ignorantly imagine that Grammar belongs only to the Latin Tongue, but that's a mistake.   
2. syllables.  
3. Words.  
4. Sentences.    
Q. What is a letter?  
A. A letter is the least part of a word or the mark of a single sound.  
Q. How many letters are used in the English Speech?  
A. Twenty four.  
Q. What belongs to each letter?  
A. To each letter belongs three things. 

1. The Name.  
2. The Shape.  
3. The Sound.    
Q. What are the nawes of the twenty four letters?  
A. 

A, Bee, Cee, Dee,  
E, of, Gee, ache  
I, Ka, eL, 'em, eN,  
O, Pea, Cue, oer, eS, Tee,  
U, W, eX, why, Zad.    
Q. What are the shapes of the twenty four letters?  
A. Some are great letters, and some are small.  
Q. How many sorts of letters, both great and small are there?  
A. There are three sorts used in printing.  
1. English Letters.  
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U W X Y Z.  
a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s s t u v w x y z &.  
2. Roman Letters.  
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.  
a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s s t u v w x y z.  
3. Italian Letters.  
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T V V W X Y Z.  
a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s s t u v w x y z.  
Q. Which are the English Letters?  
A. Those which are black, such which old great Bibles are printed in, and Acts of Parliament.  
Q. Which are the Roman Letters?  
A. Those in which new Bibles are printed, a round full print.  
Q. Which are the Italian Letters?  
A. Italian Letters are more long than Roman and more black nearer like writing.  
Q. Where are Italian Letters used?  
A. In the Contents of the Chapters in the Bible.  
Q. Why are those Letters called English, Roman, and Italian?  
A. Because one belongs to England, the other to Rome, and the other to Italy.  
Q. what are the sounds of the twenty four Letters?  
A. The sounds are of two sorts. 

1. Some are complete or perfect.  
2. Some have not complete or perfect sounds.    
Q. Which Letters have perfect sounds?  
A. these five A. E. I. O. U.  
Q. What are these five Letters called?  
A. Vowels.  
Q. What is a Vowel?  
A. A Vowel is a complete or perfect sound.  
Q. Why are these five Letters AEIOU called Vowels?  
A. Because these letters have a perfect sound of their own.  
Q. Which Letters have not perfect sounds?  
A. All the rest nineteen besides the Vowels.  
Q. Name them?  
A. B C D F G H K L M N P Q R S T W X Y Z.  
Q. What are these nineteen Letters called?  
A. Consonants.  
Q. What doth Consonants signify?  
A. Fit or agreeable, or proper.  
Q. Why are those Letters not Vowels called Consonants?  
A. Because they are fit to join with Vowels to make complete sounds.  
Q. How many sorts of Consonants are there?  
A. Of Consonants some may be called complete or perfect Consonants, and some are not so.  
Q. How many Consonants are complete?  
A. These twelve B D F K L M N P R S T X.  
Q. Why are those Letters called complete Consonants?  
A. Because the name of those Letters, and the sound do agree.  
Q. Which Consonants are not perfect?  
A. These seven C G H Q W Y Z.  
Q. Why are these Consonants said to be not perfect?  
A. Because 

1. The name and sound of some doth not agree as H W Y Z.  
2. The sound of some doth change as C G.  
3. The Q takes always U after it.  
4. Some are used sometimes for Vowels, as W Y.    
Q. How many sorts of Vowels are there?  
A. There are of Vowels two sorts, some fixed, and others changeable.  
Q. Which Vowels are fixed?  
A. The A E O are always Vowels.  
Q. Which Vowels are changeable?  
A. The I and U are sometimes Vowels, and sometimes Consonants.  
Q. In what words is I a Vowel?  
A. In, is, it, if, mine, thine, and the like.  
Q. In what words is I a Consonant?  
A. In James, Jesus, Jig, John, Just, Project, and the like; but the second I in Jig is a Vowel.  
Q. In what words is V a Vowel?  
A. In but, us, put, thus, and the like.  
Q. In what words is V a Consonant?  
A. In vain, very, vine, voice, vulgar, provoke, and the like; but the second U in vulgar is a Vowel.  
Q. In what words is W a Consonant?  
A. In was, wet, wine, word, and the like.  
Q. In what words is W a Vowel?  
A. In saw, sew, sow, now, and the like.  
Q. In what words is Y a Consonant?  
A. In Yarn, yet, York, and the like.  
Q. In what words is Y a Vowel?  
A. In by, cry, die, and the like.  
Q. How doth I sound when a Consonant?  
A. Almost like G.  
Q. How doth V sound when a Consonant?  
A. Almost like F.  
Q. How doth W sound when a Vowel?  
A. Like the Vowel U.  
Q. How doth Y sound when a Vowel?  
A. Like the Vowel I  
Q. How doth C sound?  
A. Before A O U like K, as in cap, come, curse; and before E or I, or Y, like S, as in Cedar, City, fancy.  
Q. How doth G sound?  
A. Before A O U, as in gave, Gold, Guts; and before E I or Y, as in Genesis, Giant, Gipsy.  
Q. Is this rule always true?  
A. No, some words are sounded contrary, as get, and give.  
Q. How is H sounded?  
A. As in hath, he, him, hold, hurt.  
Q. What are those Letters which are called United Consonants?  
A. Such are ch, should, th', wh, ph, gh.  
Q. Why are these called United Consonants?  
A. Because the sound of both Letters is made into one.  
Q. How is ch sounded?  
A. In most English words, as it is in Chapter, Cherry, Child, chose, churlish. But in words borrowed of the Greek or Hebrew like K, as in Enoch, Nicholas, and the like.  
Q. How shall those Hebrew or Greek words be known?  
A. Most names of Persons or Things in the Holy Bible are such.  
Q. Is this rule always true?  
A. No, we must read Cherubin and Rachel, not Kerubim and Rakel.  
Q. How is gh sounded?  
A. Most times like H, as in taught, sigh, sought, though.  
Q. How is gh sounded else?  
A. Sometimes like F, as in laugh.  
Q. Should not taught, sought, though, be spoken as taste, soft, thof?  
A. No, it is a wrong way of speaking  
Q. How is ph sounded?  
A. Like F, as in Prophet, Physic.  
Q. What is a Syllable?  
A. A Syllable is a Vowel and a Consonant, or more, joined together to make a complete sound.  
Q. How many sorts of Syllables are there?  
A. Two, some proper, and some improper.  
Q. What are improper Syllables?  
A. When only one Vowel is put by itself, as in the word Any, E-noch, I-vy, O-ver, U-nion.  
Q. Why are these Syllables improper?  
A. Because the word Syllable signifies a compound, mixed, or double sound, made by joining Vowels and Consonants together.  
Q. Of how many Letters may a Syllable be made?  
A. A Syllable ariseth from one Letter to eight, as I, do, say, that, brave, Knight, brought, strength.  
Q. What is a word?  
A. Either one Syllable or more used together to express the name of a thing or action, is called a word.  
Q. How many sorts of words are there spoken?  
A. Eight sorts. 

1. Names of things, (as Heaven, Earth, etc.) which are called Nouns.  
2. Actions, (as to love, to hate) these are called Verbs.  
3. Words used for names, (as I, thou, he,) these are called Pronouns.  
4. Words which are partly names and partly actions (as loving) these are called Participles.  
5. Words added to show how a thing was done, or when these are called Adverbs.  
6. Words set before others, (as displease, the meaning is not to please) these are called Prepositions.  
7. Words used to join other words together in a Speech, (as and) these are called Conjunctions.  
8. Words to show some sudden passion of the mind, (as oh! alas!) these are called Interjections.    
Q. What is a Sentence?  
A. So many words used together as make a complete sense is called a Sentence.  
Q. What is a Speech?  
A. Many sentences put together in a discourse is called a Speech.  
Q. What is the Sum of all?  
A. Letters make Syllables, Syllables make Words, Words make Sentences, Sentences make a Speech.  
Q. What are stops and pauses?  
A. Those marks put in books, to show where to stop in reading.  
Q. How many stops are there?  
A. Six, which are called Comma, Semicolon, Colon, Period, Interogation, Admiration.  
Q. Which stop is a Comma?  
A. The crooked stop thus (,)  
Q. How must a Comma be used?  
A. Just to stop and take breath while one may tell one.  
Q. Which is a Semicolon?  
A. A crooked stroke and a tittle over thus (;)  
Q. How must a Semicolon be used?  
A. A little longer stop than a Colon, while one may tell two.  
Q. Which stop is a Colon?  
A. Two tittles thus (:)  
Q. How must a Colon be used?  
A. Twice the pause of a Semicolon, or while one may tell four.  
Q. Which is a Period?  
A. One tittle (thus.)  
Q. How is a Period used?  
A. A Period is an ending stop, at which the stop should be made full as if all was done so long as one might be telling eight.  
Q. Which stop is an Interrogation?  
A. A crooked stroke above and a tittle under (thus?)  
Q. Of what use is an Interrogation.  
A. It shows when a question is asked. At this stop learn so to speak out, As if a question were about.  
Q. Which is an Admiration?  
A. A long dash and a tittle under (thus!)  
Q. Of what use is an admiration?  
A. Its shows when any thing is spoken with admiring, sighing or crying out. This stop the Reader doth require To speak as if he did admire.  
Q. What is Arithmetic?  
A. The Art of Numbering.  
Q. How many parts hath Arithmetic?  
A. Five which are, 

1. Numeration.  
2. Addition.  
3. Substraction.  
4. Multiplication.  
5. Division.    
Q. What is Numeration?  
A. To express, read, or reckon numbers rightly in Numeration.  
Q. What is Addition?  
A. To add or put several numbers together into one is Addition.  
Q. What is Substraction?  
A. To take one Number from another is Substraction.  
Q. What is Multiplication?  
A. To multiply one number by another is Multiplication.  
Q. What is Division?  
A. To divide a Number into equal parts is Division.  
Q. By what are numbers expressed?  
A. Numbers are expressed by Letters and Figures.  
Q. What Letters are used for Numbers?  
A. These seven, I V X. L. C. D. M.  
Q. What Numbers do these Letters stand for?  
A. I one, V five, X ten, L fifty, C a hundred, D five hundred, M a thousand.  
Q. Where are those Letters used?  
A. To Number the Chapters and Psalms in the Holy Bible.  
Q. How many figures are used for Numbers?  
A. Only these nine and a cipher, 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9  
Q. Where are these figures used?  
A. To number the verses in the Holy Bible.  

For the examples look  
In that most holy book.   

This sheet is filled with mixed art,  
Learn this and have a second part.   
FINIS.