A brief account of the GRAMMAR-LECTURE, in Kings-Head Court near the Theatre Royal, Drury-Lane; Where Children are with great ease and speed perfectly taught the Latin Tongue, without being slavishly put to needless torture, or endless trouble; and nothing is demanded for their Teaching, or for Books, till the business is Performed.  
WHereas divers Gentlemen, Citizens, and others, call frequently upon us, and either find us not within, or at least so busy, as that we have not time to satisfy them about our Method etc. Concerning which they inquire: We have caused this rude and unpolisht Sheet to be Printed, to which we refer them, and all others, at present, for satisfaction; which shall be given them as briefly, as plainly, and as fully, as the good old Axiom, Artis est celare Artem, will permit; for a secret which hath cost us almost 30. Years Study, and the perusal of all Authors whatsoever that have writ on this subject, is not to be too far discovered to every body.  
They may be pleased therefore to understand, that we are not over eagerly desirous of too many Scholars at once, Paucis contenti auditoribus, taking but few at a time, and with our good will receiving none who are deeply engaged in other Schools; our design being to do good to Mankind in general, and at the same time to do no harm to any particular Individual, by taking away his Scholars, or reflecting upon his way of Teaching, or the like.  
Next, as for the children's coming but once or twice a Week, which some (who are great admirers of, and servants to blind custom) will not bear with; they may please to take notice, that if need be, they may come oftener; thrice, four times, five times, six times a Week; but their coming will be only a needless trouble to themselves and us; for we can with the same labour give them enough to ruminate upon for half a Week, as for half a Day: In short, if Parents send their Children any whether to learn, let them send them thither where they shall be well taught, whether they stay a long time, or not (that's all one;) but if they send them only to be kept out of harms way so long, there are enough old Women, or ordinary mean Pedants, who will do their business for two pence a Week.  
As for the Price, that is reasonable, only altering as the capacity of the Learner is quicker or slower; there being more or less pains to be taken with him accordingly.  
Then as for the Method, they may please to know, that this business (so much wondered at, and thought impossible to be done, yet) is really performed by these means,  
First, By bringing the Grammer-Rules and Authors to the capacity of the Learners, and not screwing and forcing their capacity to them.  
Secondly, By teaching every particular Youth singly by himself (for certainties sake) all the Rules and Intrigues of the Language.  
Thirdly, By giving them full liberty, as to the time and place of studying; they hear the Lecture in few words, and then ruminate upon it when they will, and where they will, in the morning or afternoon, at home, or in the fields; but stay not to hinder one another by noise, childish fooleries, or the like.  
Fourthly, By using them with all possible gentleness and lenity; there are no Rodds marching up and down the room, to fright them, and keep them in fear and bondage, all the while they are present; Such fear and dread necessarily hindering their effectual tending of their business, the removal thereof, on the other side, must much further their proficiency.  
As to the First, 'Twere easy to prove most of the Rules, which are commonly taught Children, to be as hard to understand, as any Logic, or Metaphysic Lecture at Oxford, and the Authors put into their hands at first dash, to be as difficult as any they ever meet with afterwards; now how senseless and irrational this is, let any man judge: Those who have gone about to make new Grammars, they have only affronted the Canon, and rendered things hard and difficult before, more hard and more difficult: And why Irregular words must needs be picked out to be the Examples of the Declensions and Conjugations; and why the Grammar Rules, and Memorial Verses, should be in Latin, which Language the Youth or Child is supposed not yet to understand, Wise persons cannot yet discover the reason: Give Children easy Rules, and easy Books, and then something will be done; but if we must for ever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and because Youth have all along been taught in a dull blundering way, therefore they must be taught so still; Knowing men will doubt, which is most to be pitied, the folly of the Teacher, or the misfortune of the Learner.  
As for the Second, Children when entered into any School, are commonly put into some Class with others, and there take the same Part that others do, and the same Lesson that others do; and if they understand it, so; if not, there is no provision made for their help; Some things they learn over half a score times, other things they learn not at all, or not so perfectly as to understand them; whereas (alas!) every Learner should be taught the Fundamentals by himself, and not take them by chance; for at that rate it may so happen, as that he may not attain them all his life; Give him the whole Scheme in his head, and then he will be able to go on vigorously, comfortably and effectually, to make himself by degrees Master of the Language.  
As to the Third, Children are children, and will be playing childish tricks, and hinder one another while together, not only by noise, but also by waggish gestures and actions; to avoid which, they are to be together as little while as is possible, while they learn any thing; Indeed when they exercise themselves in talking and discoursing Latin, that is anoher case, and we have our times to let them come, and also stay together long enough for that purpose.  
For the Fourth, Something we shall add as to that Head likewise, though modesty will not permit us to speak what we could; Ingenuous Youths should not be punished in such a disingenuous manner as the custom is in most Schools, especially for no cause in the world, as commonly they are; Delerant reges, plectuntur Achivi, the fault is sometimes in the Teacher, sometimes in the way of teaching; but the poor children they are beaten for not understanding that, which 'twas impossible they should undrestand, having not been told it at all (it may be) or at least not in that manner as for them to comprehend it: 'Tis true, we know there are divers most excellent, ingenuous, discreet and learned persons, who do use their Scholars in a noble and ingenuous way; only for fear of a thing called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, they have not yet entered upon the Right Easie and Speedy way of teaching, which we much wonder at; (these men's persons we love and respect, nay we highly esteem and honour them; and should any line here written reflect upon, or endamage them in the least, we would recant all we have said, and give over this whole business:) Others there are also of a lower sphere, good, industrious, honest men, who bring up their Scholars in a kind and gentle way, and make no more use of their power of correction than just needs must; (these are to be commended and encouraged, and withal, shown the right way of instructing Youth:) But in too many places we are sure 'tis otherwise; Children being taken and beaten most barbarously, they know not why, or wherefore, nor never shall; We have often seen innocent, ingenuous, industrious Youths, when they have taken pains, as it had been for their lives, and studied all day and all night, till 2, or 3, a Clock in the morning, yet next day they have been scourged 10, 16, 20, lashes, when no reason could possibly be assigned, why they should be so inhumanely used; and therefore the reason indeed, was only and merely because the roguy lecherous Pedagogue had a mind to whip them: Now of all Cruelties, Lecherous cruelty is the worst, and woe to them who fall under it; But of this, as also of the Rogueries of some flustering Pedants, the World shall hear more at large ere long both in Prose and Verse; for, as some extravagant Persons have one way of satisfying their lusts, others other ways: So 
Some Schoolmasters on the Boy's breeches  
Curry their own heat and itches.  Hudibr.  
We are verily persuaded, and have good and firm grounds to believe, that many take up that Calling, and continue in it to their old age, for that power's sake which is most unjustly allowed them of correcting their Scholars, when and how they please; Now what a sad thing it is for the same Person that delights in the execution, to be both Judge and Executioner, we need not say; To tell you what we think however, and what wiser Men than we think likewise, 'twere far better that Learning perished out of the Earth, than such horrid cruelties should be permitted, as are daily exercised in divers places; it would make your hair stand an end, and your very heart bleed (how hardy soever you are) to be a Spectator of what is done in that way, we know where. The common Objection to all that hath been discoursed upon this head, is, That Children will not learn without being beaten, and that sound too sometimes; To which we return this Answer, That if it be meant Universally, it is a downright falsehood; there being many Children who really love ingenuity, love their Book, and will do whatsoever is set them to do with a words speaking; but if indeed it be meant of some particulars, it must be granted to be true; but then such of whom 'tis true, were better be set to some other employment, and not be put almost a third part of their lives to continual slavery; for, to be kept always poring upon Books, which they hate, and to groan every day under the Birch, is in our opinion little better; and he at the Oar or Mines, is far the happier of the two: Some Parents indeed will have their Children to School; they will subject them to the humour of the Teacher, to be lashed, Ad libitum plagosi Orbilij, just as those poor deluded Heathen of old, they would sacrifice their tender Infants to Moloch, and other Devils; we know not whether the Children have cause to thank them; nay, we know hundreds who do not thank them, but afterwards in their riper years make them wish with akeing hearts, they had followed the Poet's advice, Praeconem facias vel Architectum.  
This brief Account we desire all parties concerned, to accept of at present for their own ease and ours: And if any ignorant pragmatical Person find fault with any thing here writ, truly we value it not; If any serious understanding Gentlemen be offended at any passage, we presume upon their pardon, at long run, there being no just cause of offence given in the least; We having wronged no body at all, but only in a noble and generous way (with some pains and more cost) done our endeavour to have our English Youth no more abused, and the World no longer cheated.  
FINIS.   

London, Printed by T. M. for the Author, 1667.   

TOgether with this you will receive a Specimen of a most laborious and useful Undertaking recommended by the Testimony of many Eminent persons, as deserving encouragement from all such as are lovers of Religion and Learning. Had the Compiler's Estate been equal to his Industry, he had needed no help to have brought it forth into the World: But since the computed Charge so much exceeds his abilities, it is necessary to desire the moderate aids of others, that his Labours may be serviceable to the public. Knowing therefore your ability to judge and your inclinations to encourage matters of this nature, it hath been thought fit in a special manner to recommend the promotion of this Work to your care, and to entreat you to be active in the furtherance of it by procuring the Subscriptions of your neighbours and acquaintance, especially those of the Gentry and Ministry, upon the Conditions here proposed: For which, besides the satisfaction you will receive in doing so good a work, and the expression of your affections to Religion and Learning, you shall have the grateful acknowledgement of the Compiler, and of