Le Chemin Abregé. Or, A Compendious METHOD for the Attaining of Sciences in a Short Time.  
Together with the Statutes of the ACADEMY Founded by the Cardinal of RICHELIEU.  
Englished by R. G. Gent.  
LONDON Printed for Humphrey Moseley, at the Prince's Arms in Saint Paul's Churchyard. ●●●●.   

To the Worshipful JOHN SELDEN, Esquire.  
SIR,  
I Have often desired an Opportunity to testify both to yourself, and the World, how much I honour your transcendent Learning. This Piece coming to my hands to translate, I pit ched upon yourself to beg your patronage for it. Some perhaps may urge, it deserves not your Acceptance: the greater than will your Candour appear in descending at from the overhasty censure of rash Critics. It was a Speech made to the famous Cardinal Richelieu, who is acknowledged by all to have been the grand Politic State's man, either of his own, or precedent times. But neither this, nor the Cardinal's good Approbation of it, are the only causes of my Dedication.  
This, Sir, is an excellent Foundation for a beautiful Structure. It Contains an exact Method for the training up of youth in all manner of Sciences, and in so short a time as no former Age afforded the like: and I am confident this our Present cannot choose but approve of. But to take away all Scrupulous doubts, from the common Reader, whether our Author hath set down the right way to achieve this so laudable an Enterprise, I appeal to your Judicious Approbation. If You think my labour well bestowed, I shall think my  happy: if not, I must fry to your Courteous Clement assuring myself of your pardon for my bold Intrusion, which I hope you will look upon as only my Ambition to deerve the Title of  
Sir Your most humble Servant, Robert Gentilis.   

TO THE MOST NOBLE, and most Excellent Mr. PETER EISSINGH, Magistrate of the City of Groninghe, and Overseer of the Academy: Mr Osebrandt John Rengers, Commissarie for the managing of the affairs of Omland, and overseer of the Academy. Mr Jodocus Heinsius Syndicus, and Councillor of Omland, and Overseer of the Academy.  
SIRS,  
THis discourse which will seem Paradoxical both to the learned and unlearned, doth not promise itself to be so persuasive to the readers, as to draw them all to side with the Author in his opinion. Himself had no such pretence; which caused him, after he had once put it to the press, to call it in again. I had also suppressed it, had not some persons of worth desired to see it, which hath caused me to publish it. Yet the Reader may find herein, what were the thoughts and intentions; of one of the greatest Politicians of our age. Those who wonder, why Socrates, Platoe's, and Aristotle's Schools, yield no more Epaminonda's, Xenophons', nor Alexander's, shall here find satisfaction. These great men made Sciences, as it were, natural to them, and caused them to grow up with them, giving them the Principles thereof in their infancy, Whereas now, the flower of man's youth is employed in learning of the Precepts of obsolet Languages; and after he hath gotten this vocal knowledge, when he comes to any real, he meets with some unskilful and shuffling teachers, who either through ignorance, or out of mere malice, obscure Arts and Sciences, under rude and improper terms, clothing them, as I may say, with rags and tatters. Blame me not then, gentlemans, if I present you this treatise: there being none, or but very few extant upon such a Subject. Your affections to learning, and knowledge of it hath persuaded me, that such births as these aught to have approbation, or disacceptance from such as you are. I know there are many things in it, at which weak understandings may stumble. They will say, that the Author seeks with unexampled boldness, to undervalue ancient Languages, to gain more tye and authority to his own native tongue. But those who shall consider, that all Nations may apply that which is here particularly spoken of the French, aswell to their own mother tongue, will soon acquit him of that imputation. You must moreover observe that he doth not absolutely dissuade any from the study of those he calls Obsolet Languages, but only restrains it within the bounds of a public utility: He approves of learning of those Languages, so we do it as the Greeks did the Aegiptiack, & the Arabians the Greek, namely to appropriate to their own Language such Sciences as were first conceived and written in the other. It were absurd to say, that we cannot in our Languages do the like; For reason speaks all Languages, and through the necessity of expressing one's self, all Nations (were they never so barbarous) did, & do daily find out terms & words sufficient to express their thoughts. Is man's understanding become so confined, and barren, that it cannot more dress and trimm up Sciences after its own fashion? No indeed, it is as vigorous now as it was in former ages, but more servile. It is become like those degenerous and slothful painters, who dare not adventure to see forth any thing of their own invention; But will rather be styled poor coppiers of others draughts, then by some Masterpecce of their own, show that they understand the secret and order of designing. And are content to bestow the uttermost of their art, and spend their times in refreshing some old images, and renewing with some acquaint colours, the portraiture of a Judith and Holofernes. It is no wonder therefore, if our modern Languages be so poor, seeing we bestow all the care we should have of them, upon the beautifying and refining of the ancient ones, whose very Antiquity otherwise is a manifest proof of their defect and barrenness. For as those who spoke them, had seen fewer things than we, so they needed fewer words to express them: and living in the first ages of the world, they could not frame names for such things as have been discovered but of late days. So that we may there find the mistake of those Critics, who through a curious stupidity, will forsake Pistolets of weight for light Medals. As for those who imagine, that treating of Sciences in vulgar tongues, will derogate from their Majesty, I believe they have as little ground for it, as those who should conceive that the value of Gold is diminished by those who dig it out of the entrails of the earth, to refine it, and make it serve for commerce. Finally Gentlemen, those who shall know how to distinguish the Author's reasons, from the praises which he attributes to the person to whom he speaks; that is to say, can discern the matter from the accidents, the substance from the colours, and the words of truth from those of insinuation, shall find that it would be very advantageous for every country, to have such Sciences, as concern Policy, taught in their mother tongue. And let such as are of a contrary opinion, look upon this Treatise, as a trial of wit, and read it only to pass the time. My only desire is, to show you that my duty and affection caused me to dedicate it to you all jointly; desiring not to be known by any other name, then of  
Your most humble and obedient Servant.   

To the Reader.  
COurteous Reader, This speech was made in the presence of one of the ablest Politicians of our age. Wherefore wonder not at the sublime titles which our author gives him. I might have left them out, but I held it not fit to alter any thing, either in the matter or form of this Treatise. There is a second speech, which I shall also present you with, if I perceive you accept of this. I have in the mean time imitated the Ancient Priests, who were wont to burn a little of the hair of the beast, which they intended to offer, to make an essay by the smoke thereof, whether the offering would be accepted or no. Reade, and judge favourably. Vale.   

The First Speech made in the presence of The Late Cardinal of RICHELIEV.  
SIR,  
WHen the French Academy was first established by your Eminency for the reforming and refining of our Language, those who are versed in History, did presage the imminent glory of this Monarchy: having often read and observed, that Monarchies, and Commonwealths never flourished more than when the Native Language first was risen to its full perfection; as the corruption thereof was always a certain forerunner of the ruin of Nations, and decay of Empires.  
The regulating of words doth insensibly produce in all places a conformity of Language, which is the strongest bond that may be, to conjoin the various affections of people under one government, and keep them in a perfect correspondency, wherein consists the happiness and prosperity of all States▪ uniting them in a true understanding of each other, wherein consists the happiness and prosperity of States. Wherefore they who first founded Cities for humane society, and all the wise Politicians who succeeded them, took as much care for the beautifying and refining their Language, as for any other either Sacred or Civil business, namely Fundamental Laws, Mysteries of Religion, or the most holy Ceremonies.  
The greatest Divines affirm, that the first Language after the Creation was every way accomplished & complete, as well in its entire structure, as invention, and expression. Because our first father who had an infused knowledge of all things, gave them their names according to their specifical virtue and property. By this means did he communicate his knowledge to his posterity, making it easy for them to grow up to understanding, only by learning to speak; being without any other precepts instructed in all manner of knowledge. This language was of such efficacy, that every word was as a whole Science, which truly declared the Essence and Nature of every thing: whereby man, who naturally desires to know, found his desires fulfilled, and satisfied without any difficulty. He began to Philosophate, and learn how to live well, even from his birth and infancy. The intention of this first man, who was framed by the immediate hand of God, was to make this language invariable, and universal, and (for the benefit of his posterity) the character & lively spring of all those rare lights, which God of his goodness had infused in him. All succeeding languages have been most confused, barren, and imperfect; by reason that men being become incapable of communication, yea & even of society, through the confusion of languages, did almost lose the use of discourse, and lived for a time like savages and vagabonds. It was a horrible disorder amongst mankind, and a terrible curse upon the bvilders of Babel.  
But as soon as men began a little to associate, & reunite themselves, every one in his own family invented names for such common things as were most neceslarie for man's ordinary use, and then (as it is now adays in new discovered countries) there were as many Idioms as Commonalties. Atlength (through succession of tims) men beginning to rally and gather together, and lay the foundations of a civil life, all these particular Languages ceased, and they agreed upon one common Language for the mutual understanding of people.  
True it is, that there remains no monuments amongst us in these times of those Languages which were in those primitive Empires of the world, Assyrians, Egyptians, and Persians, unless it be upon some Pyramids and Medals, of which the worth and signification is not known in our days. But the Chaldean and Egyptian Priests and Magicians, who taught all manner of Sciences in their mother tongue, witness sufficiently, that they had carefully refined it: seeing that the first (after the confusion of Languages) invented sufficient terms, not only for ordinary discourse and commerce, but also for the sublimest speculative Sciences, Mysteries of Religion, and in a word for all manner of secret things, which came not to the knowledge of vulgar people.  
The ancient Gauls, though they were so much addicted to war, that because they would not be troubled with any other thing, they left the judging of Law suits, the governing of Politic business and all other peaceable affairs to be managed by their wives; And had a fundamental law amongst themselves to set forth every seventy years, two hundred thousand choice fight men in the field, and send them away out of their own Kingdom to conquer some other country. Yet so careful were they of maintaining and refining their native language, that the Bards and Semnotheans, who were their Poets, have been thought to exceed the Greek and Latin ones: And it is no small honour to this country, that we read even in Roman Histories, how that Statius Cecilius, a Gaul, was Schoolmaster to Ennius, the ancientest of their Poets, and that the said Cecilius together with Valerius Cato, another Gaul, were the first that brought Poetry to Rome. And in those days the ordinary employments of Noble men's children were to make verses, and learn all manner of sciences in their own mother tongue. And the Greeks' do not only confess they had their characters and letlers of their Alphabet from the Gauls; but even Aristotle himself (as Laertius reports) freely confesses that they borrowed their Philosophy of our Druids and Semnotheans; whereby we may know, that our forefathers were as skilful in Sciences, as they were practised in well speaking: and that they are not without reason esteemed to have been the Authors of Physical and Moral Philosophy, Geometry, and other learning, which had its original amongst them, and was from thence spread abroad into other countries. For although Philosophy be natural to all men, and hath successively flourished in many parts of the world; yet one may in some manner say, that ours is its native country, and that it is more proper and natural to this Nation then to any other; seeing that when it was utterly extinguished in Egypt, Greece, and Arabia, yet it remaieed still in this country, in despite of all the revolutions and changes of State, which usually alter and turn every thing upside down.  
As soon as the Grecians had attained to any domination, they used their best endeavours both to refine and perfect their Language, and also to make it extend to the neighbouring provinces: its original atfirst was in that little country, which was called helas; and afterwards it passed over into the Kingdoms of Epirus and Macedonia the Islands of the Aegean Sea, Candie, Corfu, Egypt, Rhodes, Anatolia, Pontus Euxinus, Trebizond, to the very mouth of Danubius, Thrace, Sicily, and all the southern coast of Italy, to the very confines of France, which extend from the Rhosne to Genoa; it being certain that Marseilles was once a Colony of the Phoceans. Their Annals testify that the Areopagus had the charge of refining the Language; & the Areopagites did oftentimes meet for the setting of the genuine meaning & true pronunciation of a letter, or anaccent: & to it must be attributed the glory of preserving this language the structure of which is so admirable in all its parts, that it hath served for a Model & Idea to the Latin, & other Languages that have been since. And when the Greeks' were divided into several States, that division occasioned as many several Dialects, as there were Commonwealths, whereof each one strove who should most polish & beautify its own manner of speaking: As if they would have noted the difference of their Soveraigneties by some diversity of Language: So that now reading those Authors whose works are yet extant amongst us, we can hardly judge which of them hath most refined his Dialect.  
The Roman Senate (the wisest, and most venerable assembly of the world) judging it to be no less advantageous for their Republic to amplify their Language, then to extend their frontiers, had resolved to make it as universal as their domination. For the effecting of which glorious design, they sent out Colonies into all parts, and gave the greatest cities of those countries which they had conquered the privilege of Roman freedom to oblige them to speak their language, without which they might not be capable of bearing any Office in the commonwealth. They also made decrees, that no foreign business, suits, and Embassies should be discussed in the Senate, but in Latin, their Provincial laws should be written in it, and their Prators and Governors of conquered Provinces should give judgement in no other Language. It was a policy religiously observed by the Roman Magistrates, never to give any Audience to any strange Language, denying that privildge even to the Greek, though it were famous and celebrated amongst them. They also set up public Grammar Schools, to instruct and bring up youth in the Latin tongue in all cities of their Dominions. These were the means by which these great Politicians spread their language throughout the world, and taught afric, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Valachia, England, and divers other Northern Regions to speak Latin, until the dissipation of that Empire. They had not (I must confess) the like success towards the East, because the Greek, which by reason of Sciences, was there in its lustre, did that way stay the course of the Latin tongue.  
No sooner did the Arabians begin to build their greatness upon the ruins of the Roman Empire, but they presently began likewise to refine, extend, and amplify their I anguage, and having subdued a great part of Asia, Africa and Europe, they brought it into divers Eastern, Southern, and western countries, and made it spread as far, or farther than any other, that we have yet known  
The Turks, though they be enemies of Sciences, having banished them out of Egypt, Greece, and Arabia, do notwithstanding intrude their Language into all the countries which they conquer, causing the people to make use of it in their military offaire;, and all public acts and instruments. And though the Arabic tongue be the beautifullest, and richest of any Nationall Language now extant, and be yet used in Egypt for an Interpreter of their Religion, and Alcoran: yet do they enslave the Inhabitants to the rigour of this law, to destroy it utterly by degrees, and bring in the Turkish Speech in stead of it.  
The Spaniards likewise, whose dominions are hard to be preserved, the parts thereof being so fare distant one from the other, had no sooner laid the foundations of their Universal monarchy, but they endeavoured to the uttermost of their power, to spread their Language, not only in those countries which they had gotten in afric & Europe, but have extended it even into America. So that Peru, which is also called the Golden Castille, though above fifteen hundred leagues distant from Spain, speaks now no longer it's own, but hath been constrained as well as the rest to embrace the conquerors language. Philip King of Spain forced the Moors of Granada to change their habit and speech, for no other reason, but only to keep so many different and several Nations in perfect union and concord, by a conformity in all things.  
Finally the French tongue only hath had the ill fortune to remain for a long season deformed, rough, and irregular, though the Nation hath always been potent and glorious; not through any barrenness or defect in the French Genius, for both the Greeks' and Romans have always given pregnant testimonies of their eloquence; but the beginning of this disorder began in julius Caesar's time, who having conquered the Gauls (the better to subject them to the Romish yoke) extirpated the ancient Gauls banished our Druids, who were the only depositories of our Laws, Religion, and Sciences, that he might find so much the less resistance to the introduction of Roman Customs. Afterwards the Northern nations, namely Franconians, Goths, Hunns, Vandals, and others, going in quest of a milder … mate, and more fruitful countries, made several inroads into this, came and inhabited part of it, whence proceeded the mixture, and confusion which we may this day observe in it. For on that side of France which is next to Germany and the Netherlands, it received many harsh words, of a difficult and hard pronunciation; towards Spain and Italy, it retained many Latin words. And afterwards being divided into several states, each people contained themselves within the bounds of their own precincts, which hindered the free commerce one with another: and this separation framed as many several Dialects ●mongst them, as there were Principalities.  
The hatred which the Romans bore the Gauls, by reason of their valout, and the frequent victories they had gotten of them, was so excessive and inveterate, that ransacking and pillaging the whole country, they suppressed all the books, writings, and records of the Semnotheans, Bards, and Druids. And the Emperor Tiberi●s, utterly to extingish the name of Gauls, interdicted the Priests to sacrifice, and under a false pretence of Magic, and enchantments, wherewith he accused them, he drove them all out of the country. Antoninus the Emperor was no less an enemy to them, though he took a far milder and more politic way to ruin them. For considering that the best way to make our forefathers forget what things had been done before, was to annihilate and abolish their native Language, he did not only command them to learn the Latin, and to plead therein, & to make those Hymns which they sung in their sacrifices, in that language; but forbade them likewise to treat of any matters with the Emperors by means of any interpreter; saying it was a thing misbeseeming Roman greatness, to be spoken to by a subjects Language. Yet neither these, nor the succeeding Emperors could utterly abolish the Gauls Language: And notwithstanding all these violent courses, some Colleges which the Bards had erected in divers cities, namely at Treves, Autun, Besanson, Tolous, Marseilles, and Lions, stood many years after. But as soon as they had shaken off the Roman yoke, and the French Monarchy was reestablished, they began again to take some care of their native Language, and Poetry began to be in repute amongst them, so fare that even Kings and Princes ordinarily addicted themselves thereunto. Chilperick the grand child of Clovis the Grand would add unto the French Alphabet some Greek letters, which he thought we should want in our Orthography, enjoining all Schoolmasters within his Kingdom to make use of them in writing of French. Charlemagne writ in verse the most memorable acts of his ancestors, and himself composed a French Grammar. Philip the renowned, and divers others of our Kings and Princes did also beautify our native Language. But the Latin had taken such deep root, that it always prevailed, and hindered our Language from coming to its full perfection.  
Lewis the Eleventh was the first that effectually employed his power and authority in the restauration and reestablishment of our native Language. For having reunited divers Provinces to the Crown, to make the Language also conformable, he caused divers dispatches, which until that time had been framed in corrupt Latin, to be afterwards written in French. And by this means this great King gave again some lustre and subsistence to our Language, so that to him we may attribute the glory of having him, in some sort, the Founder of it seeing that by this his ordinance it began by little and little to be regulated, and come again to some perfection, until the reign of Francis, who seconding his predecessors Royal intentions, commanded all plead to be in the Vulgar tongue, and judgements to be given therein, which had before been done in Latin. This great Prince also caused many ancient Authors to be translated into French, and granted several privileges and prerogative, to Historians, Poets, and Orators of his time.  
Our Language went on increasing under Henry the second, Charles the ninth, Henry the third, and Henry the Great. For in their days a risen many rare and sublime understandings who pricked forward by a noble emulation and desire of beautifying the French tongue, invented many new words, and writ several admirable works: the chief whereof were Amiet, Ronsard, Baif, Du Bellay, jodellus, and divers others, who having written all much about one time, might be said to have brought our Language to a most high point of perfection. But do what these great Princes could, they hardly freed it from its Parbarismes, it was so confused and intermingled with corrupt Latin, and divers other tongues. His Majesty hath found out the true, and hitherto concealed way, to regulate it in all its parts, and reduce it to a perfect accomplishment, by the good advice & known wisdom of your Eminency, in founding the French Academy, and filling it with men of eminent and refined learning, the choice wits of the Kingdom, who discreetly omit and cut off unprofitable and superfluous words, wisely adding whatsoever is wanting in our Language for the happy expressing of our thoughts, banishing all those Gothick terms which were crept in amongst us by the communion we had with those Northern nations, preserving and establishing in their room such as we had borrowed from politer and more civilised people; so that our speech is daily beautified, our Authors writ more without fault, our Lawyers grow more eloquent, expressing themselves in rhetorical and fluent phrases, our Provinces are purged of their several Dialects, which hindered their commerce, being hardly able to understand one another without interprerers.  
Give me leave to tell your Eminency that for the perfecting of this great work, nothing was so necessary as the settling of an Academy in this Kingdom, in which both the native and foreign gentry might learn Sciences in our mother tongue. This being an infallible means to reform the Language even in the remotest Provinces, and reduce the whole nation to an uniformity of speech and Dialect, to make our Language famous in strange countries, causing all the subjects of this Kingdom to observe the rules and precepts of the Academy. For Sir, we read in Histories that there be four principal ways, to bring languages to a full perfection, amplify, and immortalize them.  
The first is by Arms, when the conqueror binds the vanquished to speak his Language, either by planting colonies in it; or by causing all public acts and Dispatces to be set down and framed in that speech which they intent to bring in. The greatest mark of sovereignty is to force conquered nations to alter their Idiom: and the last King of the ancient Etrurians, yielded to all conditions which the victorious Romans would impose upon him, but only to that of admitting the Latin tongue within his dominions. This was the means by which the Romans made a great part of the world speak Latin, the Goths and Arabians introduced their language within the bounds of the Roman Empire, and whereby the Turks have so far extended their speech. And this way is reserved for your Eminency to advance, by making our armies victorious, and enlarging the bounds of our Monarchy.  
The second means is, translation of writers, whereby we change and transform into our own Language, the rare inventions, and rich conceits of other Nations; making them speak such an idiom as they never understood. For which cause Ptolemy King of Egypt filled up that famous Library with seven hundred thousand Manuscripts, the greatest part whereof were translated out of other Tongues into Greek, and bought at so high a rate the version of the Septuagint. By means of translation also did Aristotle write those exquisite Politics (whereof some fragments only remain to us) having the several sorts of Governments of all Nations of the World brought unto him in writing; Alexander having sent Ambassadors every where, on purpose to extract the best out of each Country's Laws, to have a perpect Polity framed thereby, which should be inviolably observed within all his Dominions.  
The Romans, following this great Monarch's example, sent some of the sufficientest men of their Commonwealth into Greece, to translate the best of the Grecian Laws, out of which extracts, they framed their Law of the twelve Tables, called Lex duodecim tabularum, which was afterward the spring and foundation of all the Roman Laws. And at their return from Athens, their ordinary employment was, to translate into Latin the most remarkable things which they found written in the Greek tongue. And amongst the rest Cicero (as zealous in the beautifying of his native language, as of the maintaining of his Country's liberty) invented such exquisite terms for Moral Philosophy, tha● all his works which are extant therein, are as so many of his Masterpeeces. Some, to● much affected to the Greek tongue, would have diverted him from his intentions; but he rejecting their counsel, went happily on in his design, &, had he not been prevented by a violent death, was resolved to translate the whole course of Philosophy out of Greek into Latin, as he promiseth in his second Book de Divinatione, and other several places. His death was one o● the greatest misfortunes that ever befell, not only the Commonwealth of Rome, but since that also, all the States of Christendom; For since that great man, neve● durst any undertake so great a work, and consequently the Latin tongue hath wanted the pure terms of arts and sciences For though Boetius, upon the decaying of the Latin tongue, did attempt to translate the course of Philosophy, it was neither followed, nor taught. And those translators as have undertaken any such thing since the first foundation of our Universities, finding no proper Philosophical terms in any Latin Authors, were constrained to frame new ones, so improper, barbarous, and remote from that primitive elegancy, that they would scarce have been understood by the ancient Romans.  
The Arabians used the same means, and there are even in these days extant divers Greek Authors, yea, even some books of Aristotle translated into the Arabic tongue, which are not to be had, neither in their own Original, nor yet in Latin; which books the Estates of the united Provinces, great lovers and promoters of learning, are now causing to be translated out of Arabic into Latin.  
And this means belongs properly to those who are of the French Academy; it is a commendable kind of work, which may be performed in a study at convenient hours. And seeing they are so perfectly skilled in foreign Languages, that they can prudently thereby regulate, and enrich ours; we do hope and expect from this honourable company, faithful translations of the best books antiquity hath left us; which they may perform as a recreation in their vacant hours, to solace themselves after their serious employments in producing and inventing new and elegant words and expressions.  
The third means is Grammar, by which we learn to decline and conjugate, read, and pronounce in all places, in one manner. And for this end, Aristotle, Plato, Aristophanes, Apollodorus, Aristarchus, Chrysippus, Cicero, Caesar, Varro, Quintilian, Donatus, Priscian, Charlemagne, and many other great persons of both Nations have written so carefully thereof. The Roman did for that end erect two and twenty public schools in Rome, and many more in their several Provinces, to instruct their children, and bring them up in an uniform pronunciation. Though they had not in those days any Colleges founded for Sciences, but Greek teachers only made use of in private houses, to teach them Sciences in the Greek language.  
And if Francis the first had well be thought himself, and first endeavoured to have an uniformity of language in all his Dominions, and had to that end founded French Grammer-sch ooles in several Cities of his Kingdom; he had saved much of that vast expense which he was a●… in erecting of so many Colleges for the Hebrew, Greek, Arabian, & Latin tongues and there had not been at this time so many several sorts of speeches, in this Kingdom, but all would have spoken after one manner.  
But the most certain, and powerful means to regulate Languages, and make them lasting and universal, is to make them interpreters of Sciences, which are no sooner brought into a Nationall Language, but they grace it with all necessary ornaments, and make it every way complete. By their means, the Egyptian, Greek, and Arabian tongues have obtained so much credit in the world; and learned Nations have made all the Earth speak their particular and Mother Languages. Their works have crossed the Seas, and when they have been banished out of their Native Country, they have found courteous entertainment amongst foreign Nations. The authority of Sciences hath given the Eastern Languages their pass to travel into our parts. Conqueror's can extend their Languages no further than the bounds of their Conquests, nor can they make them last there any longer than their own power. Translators and Grammarians have also in some manner their bounds. Sciences only enjoy the privilege and prerogative of making anguages immortal, and extending them beyond the bounds of those Kingdoms in which they had their origine: So that when they are dead in their own natural Country where they were first spoken, they survive amongst other Nations, or at least find an honourable tomb in the memory of the learned'st and wisest men.  
Want of this last means, hath been the cause that our French tongue hath remained barren and unpolisht, without rule and order within the Kingdom, restrained within it, and for a long time unknown to strangers. It wants not all dispositions required for the perfecting of it, if it were but well followed; for questionless all Languages are of themselves equally able to express their thoughts: and if any one hath a prerogative above the other, it must be attributed only to the labour and industry of the most excellent men of each Nation. When Homer and Demosthenes, Cicero, and Virgil, Boccace and Petrarch, Grenada and Lopezde Vega, Amiot and Ronsard, framed a design to write in their own Languages, they were then but in their infancy, and yet these famous Persons brought them almost to the height of their accomplishment. Whence we may infer, that those famous and stately Languages, which antiquity hath so much admired, were in their beginning weak and abject; they have in time been brought to perfection by the care and industry of wise and learned men, who have laboured to find out as many names, as there were things, wherein consists the essence and perfection of Languages; whereas hitherto we have servilely bestowed our times and studies to the refining and restoring of Foreign and obsolet Languages, unfortunately neglecting our own. Whence it proceeds, that we have not found needful and fitting words and terms to express ourselves; and, to our shame and ignominy, we can not name many things in French, for which we have names both in Greek and Latin; whereas other Nations, that have not known those foreign and obsolet Languages, or at least have made no use of them in discourse, have found out morals enough of their own, to express their thoughts and Knowledges.  
As soon as children become rational, and have attained to such an age that they can speak well and correct those childish utterances which they had gotten from nurses in stead of making them eloquent in their language, they teach them Greek and Latin▪ contemning the French; so that when they forsake the Colleges, wherein they have spent the prime of their youth, they seem to be strangers in their own country, and retain the ill tones, and unsavoury pronunciations of their several provinces, which afterwards they can never leave, so that after fifteen or twenty year's study, they speak like the vulgar and common sort of people, and never become eloquent in the French tongue, whatsoe ver profession they follow.  
The self same thing is the reason why it is impossible for us to become truly learned, because that to be right Philosophers we must of necessity do as they did in ancient times, namely, make use of a popular usual and national mother tongue. For though the names which we learn even from the breast, be not more significant than the other, yet because that long custom hath made them familiar unto us, and as it were natural, the Ideas or images of the names, and of the things insinuating themselves into us jointly at one time, the former through the ears, and the latter through the eyes, and are joined and inseparably united in our memory, and knit together by so perfect a sympathy and strict covenant, that it is impossible to think upon the one without remembering the other; and whilst the love of these two Ideas is reciprocal, and they are faithful to each other, they engender knowledge and polite speech in our minds; but if either of them violates the I awes of this sacred union, & suffers itself to be transported to illegal Objects; they produce nothing but barbarism & confusion. Now this misunderstanding happeneth chief two ways, either when the understanding abandoning the consideration of fair and solid truth, seeks only after frivolous & chimerical things; or when it addicts itself to strange languages which are but servants; & contemns his mother tongue which is his true spouse, and imitates Polygamy which is familiar to some Nations where Concubines are preferred before the Lawful Wife. Which cannot choose but be very prejudicial to discourse, because that on the one side, the images of those things which are not, can engender in our minds nothing but false & spuirous notions, such as blind men have of colours, of which they know only the name: & on the other side, the idea of one only thing coming to unite itself in the memory to the Ideas and images of so many strange & differing words, altars, & confounds not only the species of the mother tongue, but also breeds so great a confusion in the species of other languages, that in stead of stirring up the Image of a Spanish word, and uttering of it, oftentimes it stirs up and utters some Italian or French words: & thence it comes that those who have learned many languages, cannot choose sometimes but confound & mix them together.  
The Ideas of things, and of names, have been freely bestowed upon us at one time, the former by nature, and the latter by our nurses, to make us capable of discourse and communication; but be cause the Ideas of names commonly make not so deep an impression in us, as the Ideas of things; we ought to practise them carefully from our tender age, and strengthen them in such sort by frequent repetition; that the memory may not labour more in preserving and uttering them, than it doth in conceiving the Ideas of things; otherwise we shall never obtain in the faculty of well speaking, but shall still be troubled with conceiving, and not have power to bring forth; which is one of the greatest disasters and troubles that can befall our minds. And to make it appear, that we may longer and easier remember the species of things than the names of them, we find by experience, that every man is oftentimes troubled to remember some names which he hath almost daily uttered, and yet shall not easily forget the species of a thing which he hath once or twice attentively marked and observed. Finally experience teacheth us, that he tongue and the thought do always retain somewhat of the quality of the climate: Which is the cause that a Greek, or Italian thought, that hath always even from its infancy been brought up and nourished with its own Country language, as with a sister; hath more relation and conformity to, and with it, then with any other, and that a Science which consists all in word and thought, is never natural, nor can enter or take any deep root in the spirit, unless it be taught in the mother tongue. That is the reason, why when we speak French, our words come from us easily, and a polite phrase is uttered by us as suddenly as a well conceived thought; whereas in a Greek or Latin discourse, we must continually attend to the choice of terms, studying upon every word we utter, which turmoils our mind, and hinders it from employing itself with full liberty in the indagation of a truth; which is also the cause that we do not easily forget our Mother tongue; whereas strange languages are as soon blotted out of our memories, as we give over the use of them; and the professors thereof no sooner discontinue the practice, but they lose that habit which they had obtained with so much labour, and difficulty.  
Ever since the Creation of the World, until about the time of Charles the great, all the Nations of the Earth, Gauls, Egystians, Persians, and Grecians taught Sciences in Nationall and Mother tongues, and if they did borrow any help of foreign Languages, they were such as were still in use, and had their course among the learned, who were consulted with as so many Oracles; and besides, it was but only until such time that their own Language was brought to perfection, and they had invented terms enough for Sciences. But this great Bruce, being chosen King of the Romans, absolute in a great part of Europe, and considering that the Language was extremely corrupted in the Roman Empire, through the incursions of the Barbarians, and espcially in these Western parts; so that it was almost impossible to regulate it, and in it to teach Sciences (which he savoured as much as any Monarch in the World) he judged it more expedient at that time to re-establish the Latin tongue every where, and restore it to its pureness, then to refine and bring in use that Latin which was usual in his time. To this end he set up Universities, caused all Pleas, and acts to be pleaded and set down in Latin. Questionless nis intentions were commendable, and Noble; yet they had no prosperous success: For he suppressed a certain mixed Language, which was then popular, and might easily have been made perfect and complete; and yet did not revive the ancient Roman tongue which was quite dead and extinguished. Which occasioned a mighty disorder, because that out of the corruption of one Language, there were three framed, which in a small time grew so different one from another, that they could not be understood, but only by those who particularly professed them. For then the French, Spanish, and Italian Grammarians studied nothing but the pureness of the Roman Language, Philosophers the gross vulgar and new invented Latin, and the common people wanting rules and instructions touching the mixed Language, from those who could speak well in it, could not of themselves turn the barbarous foreign words into Latin, which of itself is difficult enough; and were forced to fly for relief to thy Substantive and auxiliarie Verbs. And by this means were framed in France, Italy, and Spain a kind of bastard Languages, which are nothing but a kind of corrupt Latin. Philosophy is very natural to man; and rarest wits have in all ages been curious in the search of truth; which we might more clearly have perceived by their works, had they not been lost by the corruption of Languages, deluges, firings, wars, and transmigrations of Nations. Philosophy is the worthiest Object of our admiration, and one of the rarest presents Heaven hath bestowed upon us; by its means we are raised, and elevated to the knowledge of divine things, we peretrate into the secrets of nature; we regulate our manner of living, and entertain humane society; and yet now it is made odious unto us, thorough the difficulty of those Languages which are instrumental to her, and the barbarism of new invented terms. The light of men's understandings seems to be darkened, and yet certainly reason doth not degenerate. All ages produce gallant men, and most acute wits, who ought to be more learned than those who lived in former times, having this advantage, to have the use of all their inventions, and time daily disclosing some new experiment. Is it not a great ease unto us in these days to have Euclide's Elements so carefully set forth, Aristotle's Philosophy so solidly established, Hypocrates his Maxims so judiciously ordered, & so many other rare and excellent works, which lost, could never have been made good again? How comes it then, that we are not as learned as they were in those daves, and have not in these latter Ages such men as Hypocrates, Aristotle, Euclid, Archimedes, Diophantus, Tully, Plutarch, and Seneca? What is the reason that Philosophy still degenerates, and that so many studious brains who watch continually, and burn of a desire to learn, can not so much as add one degree of perfection to Philosophy, nor yet tightly tread those paths in which they formerly walked? Questionless it is, because we do not as those discreet and well advised people did, who brought their Children directly to learn Sciences when they were but seven or eight years of age, and never put them to fruitless studies of unused and strange Languages. They reasoned fluently without any trouble; whereas now within these seven or eight hundred years, we employ the flower of our age, in which we might make most proficiency in our studies, towards obtaining of Sciences in a kind of apprentice-ship, in seeking to restore those obsolete Languages; setting more by a few Grammatical observations, and Etymologies of words, then Mathematical Demonstrations, or Maxims of Philosophy.  
Yet questionless we see this apprenticeship which we are tied to in atta ining of these abolished Languages, is bevond comparison more tedious and hard, than all moral and natural Sciences. How watchful, studious, and turmoiled must we be before we can attain, not only to the polite speaking, but even to a rough understanding of the Greek or Latin tongue? Our minds, and all the faculties of our souls, suffer a thousand torments in the compass of it; in so much that a free spirit, and a Noble Genius, can hardly captivate itself to so many rudiments of Grammar, so many particles and frivolous observations; it dashes and dulls itself, and in the end shakes off this cumbersome yoke, and by that means it happens oftentimes to the great damage of the public good, that the French Nobility, endowed with most rare natural faculties, being not able to subject itself to such an intricate study, conceives a mortal hatred against all manner of learning, which of itself is a thing so rare, and to which they have so great a natural inclination.  
This is the reason that Northern Nations, who have but a mean and dull spirit, do more willingly apply themselves to the learning of Languages, employ their whole time therein, and are not tired with this bondage and servitude; whereas the Southern, abhorring so fruitless a labour, unworthy of a high and lofty mind, addict themselves wholly to Sciences, and meditation.  
Trismegistus, who is accounted to have been the founder of Sciences, a great King, Priest, and Philosopher, made so little esteem of the Greek tongue, in respect of the Egyptian, that he was even afraid lest those rare works which he had compiled concerning all Divine and humane Sciences, should be translated into that Language. The Grecians, having learned from the Egyptians to cherish and refine their own Language, did so contemn all others, that they called them Barbarians. And thereupon Plutarch cared not for learning of the Latin tongue; though it was in his time most flourishing, and he lived in Traian's Court, where it was most purely spoken, and that he had undertaken the writing of the Roman History.  
Saint Augustine, the honour of afric, and of the Church, who easily could comprehend and penetrate into any thing; complains in divers places, and especially in his Confessions, of the difficulty he found in learning the Greek tongue by precepts; and averreth that it cannot be inculcated into the memory, without rough threaten, and severe correct on's, which dulls the courage of a child, and distracts his Senses. He saith that also he found more distaste than pleasure in the reading of Homer himself, though it was so full of varieties, and recreative and pleasant fictions: and that contrariwise he learned the Latin tongue in sporting among women and children, though it was no more natural to him then the Greek, because he was sent to learn it in a City of afric, which was a Roman Colony, and where they ordinarilse did speak Latin.  
We have in these days fare greater occasion to complain; they put us in prison, and torment us in Colleges for the space often or twelve years, to learn Preterits, Supines, Syntaxes, Heteroclite, and Anomala, which, one may in truth say, are but the excrements, and impurities of an irregular, and imperfect Language. For in Saint Augustine's days, there was yet some pretence and colour for the learning of Latin and Greek, which was national and popular in a great part of the East; but now why should we in vain trouble ourselves to revive obsolet Languages, which serve no longer for any commerce? The learnedst amongst the Grecians, in former times, were wont to blame the Grammarians, who bestowed so much time in teaching the Grammar, and the Mother tongue, to the prejudice of Sciences; But what would they say, I pray you, if they saw now the disorders of our school? would they not have fare greater occssion to complain of the length of the bondage we endure in learning of strange languages; which robs us of the best time we have to attain to learning? All Languages ought to be learned by practice, and not by precepts: and we find by experience, that the Dutch, and Swissers, which come to dwell in France amongst us, cause their Language to continue in their own private families, and their children are brought up in it without violence or precepts. Nations frame every day amongst themselves new speeches naturally; and as it were unawares: and yet these numberless Greek and Latin teachers cannot in seven or eight hundred years make these Languages familiar in any College, nor bring youth to speak them naturally: But yet we need not marvel, if Languages follow the order of Generations, of which we never see the beginning, nor ending; and as we can not raise them up again to their spring and origine, so it is impossible to hinder them from descending, and wearing away.  
The Egyptians reproved the Grecians, who came to study amongst them, saying, they remain in continual infancy all their life time, without Knowledge or discourse: because they did not profit by their instructions, and could not all under one, learn a foreign Language, though it were usual both in the Masters and the Scholar's mouths, and apprehend the Mysteries of their Doctrines. But as soon as the Grecians began to learn and teach Philosophy in their own proper and natural tongue, they soon went beyond the Egyptians, who were their masters, in all manner of learning: and afterward began to contemn all other Languages, holding the Romans, Spaniards, and Carthaginians for barbarous Nations, because they had not Sciences in their own proper Idioms. Whereas if they had still learned Philosophy in the Chaldean and Egyptian Languages, they had continued in their infancy for ever.  
By this means, all those Nations which studied Philosophy in their own mother tongue, became betimes solid in learning, and eloquent, and have left behind them solid and eloquent works. Galen studying in his own tongue, happily attained to perfection, and was both a Mathematician, a Philosopher, and a Physician in fifteen or sixteen years, as well as divers others of his time: and contrariwise those Nations which taught, and do teach in obsolet Languages, never taste the sweet of Sciences, the very entrance thereinto seeming to them craggy and inaccessible: and if at last they attainethereunto, it is with infinite labour; and although they be learned, yet are they barbarous in their manners, actions, and words. How many learned men are there amongst us that cannot speak French, and when they should come to the chair to read, or the bar to plead, they wonder they must again the second time learn their Grammar; which is almost impossible for them to do, because their memory faileth them, and they have gotten such a continual habit of their evil Provincial accent, and terms which are notusuall in Court, nor will pass in gentile companies. For the same was the reason, why, whilst they pleaded and preached in Latin here in France, the pulpits, and b●rres swarmed with gross, ignorant, and barbarous persons; But as soon as they began to speak French, we have had such rare Preachers and famous Advocates, that the French eloquence, which may yet be styled to be but in its infancy, may contest either with Greek or Latin.  
Advocate's indeed had more reason than any others, to retain, and preserve the use of the Latin tongue, because most of our Laws are derived from it; the Roman Law was compiled in it in exquisite terms, and it hath been so carefully polished and refined by the Roman Senate, both in civil and criminal matters, that one may say, it was the first and perfectest school of eloquence that ever was; and that the Greek, which hath so many other excellencies, is in this point inferior to it, and hath been forced in matters of Law to borrow many Latin words, and clothe them in a Greek habit. Yer they were the first, who thorough a generous desire to serve their Country, and honour their Nation, did cast off the Latin, our Language being indebted to them for its politeness and elegancy; and I admire that this their rare example, seconded with such a happy success, hath not obliged Philosophers, Mathematicians, and Physicians to forsake their barbarous terms, and remnants of Latin, to join with the Lawyers in the completing of their own mother tongue.  
Man is born for Sciences, whereof he hath the seed within himself; and to the end that he may discourse in his infancy, and lose no time, nature, as soon as he comes out of his cradle, gratifies him with means neceslary for him to become learned, causing him to suck and draw his own native tongue together with his nurse's milk, when he is not yet capable of any thing else, that he may enter into his Philosophy, as soon as he hath the very first degree of reason. And that our common mother Nature hath not destinated us to learn languages, we may perceive by this, that the older we grow, the more unfit we are for the attaining of them; and a man who is come to a perfect and mature age, shall labour more to attain one Language, than a child in learning three or four several ones. Besides, Sciences trouble not the mind as Languages do; and the more a man learne●h, the apt he is to learn; Sciences having such a relation to one another, and being so linked together, that they lend mutual assistance to one another; they are sisters which live in perfect unity, without any misunderstanding, finding a joint habitation in our mind, as it were in their father's house, which conceiving every where objects of the same kind, needs but one Image to comprehend all those things which are of the same nature. Whereas the Memory, by reason of the diversity of Languages, is sane to burden itself with an infinite number of specifical nominations, which trouble one another, and make a horrible confusion in that faculty. And furthermore we find by experience, that those who have many Languages, are never so fitting for sublime meditations, and deep discourses: and that to be a sound Philosopher, it is better to speak but one, and have the understanding at liberty, and free from the great intricacy of strange words.  
The Egyptian, Greek, and Arabian Philosophers, considering that Nature,  both with goodness, and wisdom, did bring up children all at once to the Knowledge both of names, and things, and that she did suggest unto u● words, according as she inspired us with thoughts; did also at the same time respect as well the one as the other, and were equally careful of instructing children in well speaking, and in doctrine; As soon as the light of reason began to appear, they sowed into the memory as in a fruitful soil, the seeds and principles of Knowledge, which served for a guide and conduct of their life; so that good and wholesome Maxims taking deep root in the understanding, did in process of time fructify, and increase there: whereby former ages brought forth such men as posterity admired, and whose very names were honoured and respected.  
But now, in stead of bestowing our tender age in things which might edify youth, we cast it into the briers of Grammar, and such troublesome difficulties, as dull the acuteness of the understanding: they oppress the memory with the troublesome study of obsolet Languages, the Knowledge of which is many times fruitless, and to no purpose especially for such as do not make a profession of writing or speaking Greek and Latin. That time might be employed fare better in the refining of our own Language, and the search of truth: and questionless the French, who are endowed with singular and rare natural gifts, would quickly become, as they were in the Druids times, the most learned and eloquent in the World, and Philosophy would once again flourish amongst us. Is it not a shame, that through neglect of our own language, we should speak many things in Greek and Latin which we might as well express in our mother tongue? Is not this a making ourselves strangers in our own Country, and never behold learning but in borrowed robes?  
One might object, that children are not capable of Sciences, and that studying of them is too serious and important an employment for them. Yet experience teacheth us the contrary; & Aristotle himself in his Politics saith, that children are capable of learning Philosophy at seven or eight years of age, because they begin then to be capable of reason, their imagination is vivid, and hot, their Memory tender, and apt to receive any good impression: and it is far easier for them to apprehend Reasons, whereof they have the principles within themselves then the Rudiments of Grammar, which are fruitless blossoms, and to which they have no natural disposition.  
This error hath by little and little crept into the minds of men, because they have not considered that there are two sorts of Sciences, namely of Invention, and Discipline. As for the first, children indeed are not capable of them, and even amongst men none can attain thereunto, unless they be sublimed wits, and spirits fitted to invent new things: they are endeasours of an extraordinary Genius, or a continual study of 20. or 30. years, accompanied with long and profound meditations, and solitary reflections, which at last discover unto us some particular lights. And such wits deserve even to be admired; they are the honour of mankind, and raise it up to a kind of divinity. As for the Sciences of Discipline, or disposition, they are not of the same nature: all such as have any memory, even women and children are capable thereof; they are but reiterations of what hath been said before, which may be easily apprehended, when they are explained and expounded; yet are they seeds of the high Science of Invention, when they are sown in a fruitful, sublimed, and extraordinary understanding. Therefore even the Northern dull Nations are capable of knowing, and apprehending what hath been written and experimented by others, because they have good memories, which in some manner supply their default of Invention. And the Southern people being more Ingenious, having sought out the truth in Ancient writers, are fit through their acuteness to discover new inventions. Wherein we may admire divine providence, which having made all men rational, guides them several ways to one end, giving the one a more lively judgement, and the others a more happy memory. Why should then that time, which is ordained for sciences, be so ill employed in an apprenticeship to learn grammatical observations and precepts, far harder and more difficult than the language itself? why should we spend ten or twelve years in studying Greek and Latin, to make use of them afterwards but one year or two in the study of Philosophy? Is it not an unjust and insufferable thing, to consume the most precious time of our life, and most fitting to learn sciences, namely from seven or eight, to eighten or twenty years of age, in learning of the grammar & some books of humanity, with intolerable trouble and labour, then, when youths begin to incline to dissoluteness, and desbauches, gaming, hunting, and travelling, they are put to Logic, in which they must again begin to learn a new kind of Latin, so barbarous and obscure, that it seems to have been invented, only to make Sciences odious, and distasteful. And by this means, in stead of prolonging the Gentry's time of studying, they are forced abruply to cut it off; their employments calling them to state affairs, so that what they have not learned at fifteen or sixteen years of age, they must be ignorant of all the days of their lives, to the great damage and prejudice of the state.  
And thus through the difficulty & tediousness of learning Greek & Latin, our great ones are frustrate of their rudiments of Philosophy, which is one of the greatest mishaps that can befall a State. For there are but very few that can attain to the fight of the lustre of Sciences through so much mist and darkness: sublime & most subtle understandings only can comprehend all things, without any intricacy or confusion. And it is a miraculous thing how a perfect knowledge of languages, joined with deep learning (which ordinarily make a man pensive, solitary, and most fitting for a private life) can consist in your Eminency, together with such clearness of spirit, grave carriage, majestic and bewitching entertainment, which doth charm and captivate men's hearts unto you; and the knowledge of all these things, hath furnished and fittingly disposed you to become the most absolute Statesman that ever was in France. So that in you sir is verified that Maxim which Aristotle sets down, namely, that Policy is the mistress and Queen of all other Arts and Sciences; because she it is that regulates their functions, and applies them to the good of the public. And now France finds by experience, to its honour and glory, that Kingdoms never flourish and prosper better, then when prudent and learned men sit at the stern of public affairs. I must notwithstanding confess that many wise and understanding people, have studied in foreign Languages, some have traveled into Egypt, to Marseilles, Greece, and other country's famous for excellent and learned professors; which have lived and taught in them: but they were then naticnall Languages, and needful for the learning of Sciences, and useful in the chiefest ports in the world, into which one could not travail without them: And they were so fare from being difficult and hard to learn, that one could not almost avoid nor shun the learning of them through daily conversation with the men, women and children of that country. But why do we now adays without any necessity so much seek after I anguages, that lie buried in Libraries as in their Sepulchers? Let us stir up their ashes as long as we will, we shall never revive them: the fragments and relics which are left of them, are but so many shadows, and defaced monuments. And sometimes we turmoil ourselves about them all our life time, and yet cannot attain to the true Genius and pronunciation of them; in which, as the Greek orator saith, consists the spirit and soul of a language. Is not this I pray a kind of husbanding another man's land, letting our own lie fallow?  
The Greeks' did in former ages see the Egyptians Language and Philosophy fall to decay, and the Arabians, the Greeks'; and yet those politic nations never went about to support, or re-establish them: Yea contrariwise they sought all means, utterly to abolish and suppress them, to bring their own mother tongue into credit. Considering that it was no less disgrace for them to be governed by foreign tongues, then by foreign arms and powers.  
Some testy Critic, or absurd Politician will peradventure say, that it is not fitting to lay open the mysteries of a Science, nor make them common. And that a Science is the more majestic and venerable, when it is obscure and hidden from the common sort of people. And therefore Egyptians set down their Philosophy in Hieroglyphics; the first Greeks', and the ancient Gauls in obscure verses! But this was an error, which great Aristotle both opposed, and reform. For whereas Pythagoras reduced all Sciences to numbers, and treated of all things as an Arithmetician; Plato reasoned of all natural things as a Geometrician; Anaxagoras as an Astonomer, & every sect in some Enigmatical and extravagant manner: This divine Genius of Nature spoke of every thing without any mixture, and in its own purity, physical matters as a Physic, of Policy, as a Politician, of Logic as a Logician, of Metaphysics as a Divine, and so laid open the whole course of Philosophy, dispersing those shadows and Chimaeras made it obscure, and dark. And indeed we ought to take the shortest, and nearest way we can find, to conduct us to Sciences; for if we linger, or go astray never so little, we shall never come to an end of this brave journey, there are so many things to be known in this world. The volume which Nature gives us to read over is so large, shenath so many secrets hidden in her breast, that we are so fare from attaining to the knowledge of all things, that the rarest and most understanding men and wits have averred, that all that we know is nothing, in comparison of things which are unknown to us: and it may truly be said, that the terms of Sciences and Arts are so particular, and peculiar, and alien from an ordinary Language, that they cannot be understood in any kind of speech, but only by such as profess the said Arts, and Sciences. Finally, men are borne for knowledge, and it is a notable wrong done to them, to take away the means, and make the way thereunto hard and difficult. The Schools (as they were in former times in Egypt Greece, and Arabia) ought to be open to all the world. In those day's children had fininished their study of Mathematics, and Philosophy at fourteen or fifteen years, before they were of age to undertake that profession whereunto they were destinated for the residue of their life; which made them more capable and fitting for public employments. For all the parts of philosophy and Mathematics are appliable to the necessity of living, and welfare of Commonwealths. Logic clears and strengthens discourse, giving a method and rule unto it. Moral Philosophy governs and mitigates our passions, makes us good fathers of families, and good Citizens. Physic gives us the Principles, and disposeth us to be good Physicians: The Mathematics fit us for affairs belonging either to war or peace, either in Mechanic or Liberal Arts, which are the grounds, and maintainers of Societies: But after we have consumed all our youthful days in learning of Greek and Latin, all this labour and watchfulness stands us in no stead, but only to read some Greek and Latin Authors, which is but an unprofitable curiosity for the party, and casts us into a kind of dronishnesse, and disables us from doing any thing else; so that those who have so spent their time, are not capable of any profession, and are but unprofitable Citizens, which can contribute nothing to the good of a Commonwealth, nor ornament of a State.  
So that many men who are not apt to learn Languages, or have not time to employ themselves therein, are frustrate of the fruits of Sciences, who might otherwise become great persons; if the said Sciences were taught in the vulgar or mother tongue; Whereof we have notable and famous examples in Simon of Athens, Polemon, and Protagoras, who coming by chance into the Schools of Socrates, Aristhenes, and Xenocrates were so feelingly touched, and powerfully edified by their Doctrine, that they presently resolved to forsake those sordid trades in which they had spent the greatest part of their lives, and reforming their behaviours, addicted themselves wholly to Philosophy and virtue.  
If Philosophy had no other interpreter but the Latin tongue, we should indeed adhere, and apply ourselves to that, neither could we any way avoid the learning of it, seeing that without it we could not attain to philosophy. But all I anguages are fitting for it, and subservient to it: And though it be contrary to the common opinion, we may say and a verr, that the Latin is extremely defective in that particular; because it appears, that in its most flourishing time, the terms for Sciences were not known in Rome, and those which were invented since, savour not of the Genius of pure Latin, and could not outlive a life less Language.  
The Latin as well as other Languages hath been subject to mixture and corruption, and hath not long remained in one state, as divers learned Authors have written. We may observe in it five several Idioms, or kinds of Language. Namely, the first, and Ancient; the Latin, the Roman, the Mixed, and the Bastard. The Ancient, which the first and primitive people of Italy used, wherein some obsolet verses were extant in Varroes' time, though hardly understood, flourished under janus and Saturn. The Latin, which the Latins used, was spoken under the reigns of the Tuscan Kings, and in that Language were written the Decemvires tables, the holy and sacred laws, and the public Edicts. The Roman, which setes down the Roman Histories, and the Civil Law, began immediately after the Kings were expelled, and was refined by the Poets, Plautus, Nevius, Pacuvius, Ennius, Virgil, Ovid. and Horace; amongst Orators and Historiographers, by Cato, Hortensius, Cicero, Caesar, Sallust, and Livy. The Mixed began with the increase of the Empire, and was in Esteem under the Empercurs, who admitting divers nations to the right of being Roman Citizens, & to city honours, were thereby constrained to admit also of a mixture of feveral barbarous words; by which means the Roman virtue began to degenerate, and by little and little, with its liberty, lost the purity of its Language. Finally, the Bastard, and Spurious Latin which hath lasted from the dissipation of the Empire to this time, every day receding more and more from its primitive pureness, at last was divided into the Italian, Spanish, French, and several other tongues.  
As for the last, and the three first, those who are well read in Histories know they never had the terms of Sciences, the fourth only, namely the Mixed had that privilege towards its declining, and it was not long a national Language, nor had not age or time enough to be brought to the height of its perfections. And now Latin is made use of but only in some parts of Europe where it is so subject to the corrupt pronunciation of several Nations, that a French man can hardly understand a Germane Latin, nor an Italian an Irish man's, etc. And besides the Latin tongue is now so defective, that we can hardly express ourselves in it, the terms of all Arts and Sciences being so fare altered, hat they have no relation to the Language as was in former times. And lastly, the knowledge of several tongues is no way available to Philosophy, and if a man could speak all manner of Languages, he would be never the more rational for that, nor more fitting to learn Sciences, than he that hath no more but his own mother tongue.  
It were much to be wished for the satisfaction of men, the concord of Nations, & the communicating of thoughts, that there were but one language in the world; then were it easy to travail into far countries, there would be great facility in commerce, and the whole world would be as it were but one state. But since so much happiness is not to be hoped for, we are at least bound to refine our own language, and make it uniform throughout our whole Kingdom; Which if we do, and fit it so, that we may teach Sciences in it, it will grow in as great repute as other Languages were, and foreign Nations will come to us, as they formerly did into Greece and Egypt to learn Sciences.  
It may be objected that the Latin hath a kind of prerogative above other languages, which it holdeth by a public and universal right, that former ages did with such a religious reverence, worship and observe the use of it, and some modern writers, as Mirandula, Erasmus, Fernelius, Cardanus, Scaliger, Ramus, Alciat, Cuiacius, Molineus, & Crassot, have left us many accurates writing therein, of all which we should lose the benefit, and reading, if we had no other language but French. But if we consider on the other side, that by means of translation we may appropiate unto ourselves any Authors works, and that as soon as we have refined and polished our native tongue, we may translate any either ancient or modern; this objection will be of no great weight.  
There may again be objected, that the structure of the Greek & Latin tongues is more regular, and they may furnish us with larger means of expressing our thoughts. But though it be fare from us to lay any imputation or blame upon those noble Languages, yet we may lawfully say, that their excellency consists but in artificial beauties, and that their ornaments are more necessary for Poets and Orators, then for Philosophers, who will have the perfection of Languages to consist in having proper names for all known things; with which expressions our tongue is very well furnished, and if it be wanting in any thing, it hath been our Ancestors fault, who have contemned their mother tongue; which default we must now amend by our own care. And why are Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, Tully, and Senecaes' works in such great esteem, and credit? it is not for their elegancy, which is but an Axcessorie, but because they have been good Philosophers, and have had perfect knowledge of virtue and Sciences. It is therefore, that Libraries are filled with their works, & all solid spirits desire to read them; & not for their Eloquence, & rhetorical fluency.  
Languages indeed have divers kinds of perfections, some excel in abundancie of words to express their thoughts. And those Nations which have the greatest knowledge of Divine and Natural things, and of Arts and Sciences, have also a more rich and abounding Language. And therein the first and imposed Language was most excellent, it having a proper name for every mine ral, or mixed, that was in the world. Some again excel in the framing of parts of speech, when the Nouns, and Verbs are well composed, and the Tenses and Cases have their just terminations, which make the beauty and variety of phrases, and is a most rare ornament to a Language, and therein the Greek & Latin are much to be commended. And some again excel in sweetness of words, pleasantness & facility of pronunciation.  
For the number of terms, it is true that there are some wanting in the French, for want of refining and polishing of it, and because in stead of inventing names in our own mother tongue, for such things as we are newly come to the knowledge of, we have improperly taken them out of the Greek and Latin, whereby they are not popular, nor intelligible. But if Sciences were once brought in and taught amongst us in our own mother tongue, that defect would soon be supplied and amended; seeing our Alphabet well known and regulated, is questionless more large, and enriched with nine or ten letters, and fifteen or sixteen diphthonges more than the Greek, Latin, Italian, or many more, as we shall make it largely appear in our Grammar; wherein we will propose the means of shortening our French Orthography, and make it wholly conformable to the pronunciation which will make the reading thereof much more easy, as well for strangers as our own Countrymen.  
As for the structure and frame of it, we must confess that it hath this defect common with other Languages, which decline their Nouns by Articles, and conjugate their Verbs with the help and assistance of the Substantive and Auxiliarie Verb, namely to speak in meeter often, and want variety of terminations: and this is the point wherein we must chief labour in the reformation of our language, it being impossible for it otherwise to be perfect, & in all points complete: which those great Poets who lived in Charles the ninth, and Henry the thirds time held to be absolutely necessary. And though it be not so curiously regulated, yet it doth not so much disquiet and trouble the mind by the transposing of words, as artificial languages do but contrariwise in imitation of natural ones, it expresseth things in the same orders as they come into the mind, and is more proper & easy for Philosophy; neither hath it so many Heteroclites, & irregular words, as the Greek and ●atine have.  
As for the sweetness and facility of it, strangers themselves will confess, and certain it is, that it goeth beyond any other language therein: and that for two reasons. The first is because it makes an excellent conjunction of betters, and composition of words, terminating them alternatively in Vowels, Consonants, and sometimes Diphthonges whereas the Italian words end for the most part in Vowe●ls, as the Dutch do in Consonants; which makes a kind of unpleasing sound through a too frequent reiteration. The second reason is, because the Tones thereof are more uniform, and do not fall and rise excessively, as they do in some other Languages, men seeming to sing when they speak them, and having such different accents, that it forceth one to writh his mouth and face in pronouncing them. There are also proud and boasting languages, as the Spanish, which boasts itself to be the Language of the Gods; Soft and effeminate, as the Italian, which is termed to be women's language; Rough and fierce, as the Northern, therefore by some termed the language of Devils. But the French hath none of these faults, it is more upright and uniform in its pronunciation, & therefore is called the language of men, as being most proper for discourse, being calm and without agitation.  
And yet further to take notice of the excellency and worth of our Language, we may note that there are divers sorts of utterances in the world. Some Nations seem to draw their speech out of the very bottom of their breasts and throats, as the Hebrew, Dutch and Tuscan, Italian: Others out of the palate, and the nose, as the Italian, and Spaniard. Others speak between the teeth, as the English, Irish, Danes and others. The French only speak through the lips, as the most proper organ, and instrument: Which is the cause they speak quicker, and express their thoughts more diligently: and this great volubility proceeds from the faculty of applying the tongue to the lips, and joining it with a pleasing kind of harmony, and so the words follow the thoughts and Imaginations so close, that strangers take occasion thereupon to accuse the French of lightness; whereas it is a great advantage, and as it were a peculiar gift of our nation, a property of our climate, which makes our entertainment more pleasing, our mind more ready at hand, and our discourse more clear. And if our speech seem harsh to some strangers, it is by reason of the writing, which is not agreeable to the pronunciation. But the reformation of that is daily endeavoured by regulating our Alphabet, and by giving unto every letter its true and particular character. But it may be said unto me, what art thou, that after so many ages, wouldst restore the Egyptian, Greek, and Arabian method, which hath been so long banished out of the world, or rather buried in the tomb of oblivion? who giveth thee now leave to control a custom approved of by the common consent of all Nations, for so many ages? thinkest thou to be only quicksighted, and that all those learned men, who were enlightened by the light of Sciences, were stricken with a spirit of blindness, and did not know which way to teach them? Couldst thou not consider that Sciences being immutable, required a language no way subject to changes, and that national tongues which change almost every age are not so proportinable to their solidity as those ancient Languages, which being no more popular, are not subject to any alteration? If thou hast lived thus long, and never didst reflect nor look upon the inconstancy of popular and national languages, behold I will show thee some authentical, and evident proofs thereof.  
Egypt in the time of its Kings, which were called Pharaohs, had a certain peculiar & particular language, as may appear by some manuscripts extant even in our days, which are no way to be understood: now the Arabic hath succeeded in its place, yet we have not retained one word of that ancient Idiom which is reported to have been very large and copious, and more proper than the Greek itself, to treat both of divine and humane Sciences. In Palestine and jerusalem in former times they spoke Syriack, and now the Arabic is there national. Greece so renowned for her Language, is now constrained to speak Turkish. The coast of Barbary, which in former times spoke the Phaenician tongue, speaks now the Moors language. Gaul which had a dominion vast and powerful enough to maintain itself against its enemies, being thorough its own divisions at last conquered by the Romans, hath changed its language three or four times, in less than sixteen or seventeen hundred years, and that which we have at this day, is composed of the Celtic, Roman, Franconian and Gothick tongues, and is quite different from the ancient; which Pliny who was a Gaul borne, and spoke the Language most perfectly, did extol to the skies. Finally, the Polonians, Vandals, Bulgarians, Croatians, Dalmatians, Russians, Bohemians, Lituanians, Moscovites, and Scionians, who in former times knew no other but the Teutonick or Germane tongue, now together with divers other Nations, speak nothing but the Sclavonian. And the Germans confess that the Language which themselves now speak, is quite different from that which they spoke formerly. We might easily name divers other Nations; and were it possible to have a register of all the Languages, we should therein find how they art subject to a perpetual revolution; and that those words which compose them, dying in one country, and reviving in another, differ in nothing but in the exchange of the meaning, and that there are not in nature generations and corruptions more worthy of admiration, and less admired.  
To answer all these objections distinctly, they seeming to be somewhat hard to resolve, I will first say, that there can be no valuable instance made against the example of Trismegistus, Aristotle, Tully, Avicen, and the general custom of those learned men of former times, who had more understanding than we, who never made use but only of national languages, in which, though they be subject to change, the truth of moral and national things remains perpetually. Of what colour soever they painted Diana which was in Chio, made of white marble, the next day they would find her again in her natural whiteness, which painting could not cover, nor art corrupt. And if this prescription seems an inviolable law to these protectors of Languages, and a ground sufficient to make us forsake the method which was read in ancient times; I would feign know of them whether any prescription can run against the love which we are bound to bear to truth, our country, and our mother tongue? and we might also conclude from thence, that old errors because they have been allowed of for a long time, are no errors, which in understanding men's judgement are notwithstanding the most pernicious. Custom then can not be a sufficient defence against these great and learned men: neither must the proceed of these last ages, prevail against the Method used in ancient times. They are but Waves beating against Rocks; truth will always prevail: and though we be grown old and inveterate in errors and disorders, yet are we not to be excused therefore, if we persist therein. Let us rather confess we have foolishly gone astray, and acknowledge that the only means to bring us again into the right way of wisdom, is, to imitate those who in Ancient times preferred Popular, and Nationall Languages before any obsolet and strange tongues.  
Secondly, we do not deny but Nationall, and Mother tongues are subject to mixture and corruption: many learned men have observed it, and there are too many examples to prove it. But we deny that an obsolet Language can better preserve the Doctrine and Learning of our forefathers then a National. For the Languages do not cause Sciences to live, they are but the shadows and figures thereof; but it is the Science which makes the Language to live; and though it have equal dominion over them all she hath it fare more absolute over the Nation, then over them which are out of date. For proof whereof, if our Ancestors, who have written so many treaties concerning the firmness of Sciences, and inconstancy of Languages, had thought it fitting to study in obsolet Languages, they might have done it as well as we, seeing the Egyptian tongue was in the time of the Grecians, and the Greek under the Arabians was not mentioned, nor found but only in Books. But these great men knew too well that they could not bring in so pernicious, and ridiculous a custom, without encompassing Sciences with thousands of difficulties, and frustrating many men, who could not learn strange Languages, of the hope of attaining to the Knowledge of them Wherefore rejecting all other Languages, as unprofitable ways, and extravagant means, they most judiciously brought th●ir youth directly to the Knowledge of Sciences by the abbreviate way of their mother tongue.  
But fully to satisfy the objection of those who say, that popular and natural Languages are too variable to deserve the honour of being interpreters of Sciences, and expositors of men's best thoughts; We affirm that they are more constant, and less subject to change then the obsolet. For though they seem be to exempted and free from alteration, and incapable of increase or diminution, because they are not subject to the mutable will of men, but are continually taught by the same rules; yet ought we not to attribute unto them a perpetual lastingness; seeing that the power of a Conqueror, that hates learning, may on a sudden annihilate those languages, as the Turk hath done in all his Dominions. And all things rightly considered, no Monarch can exempt those remainders of ancient Languages which we have from the jurisdiction of time, nor protect them against some inevitable chances, the least of which may absolutely destroy them.  
The first Language which had so many prerogatives above others, gives us a fair example of this truch; the first inhabiters of the World had imprinted it, not upon paper, as we do now, but upon most solid and hard columns, that they might make it live for ever, and transmit the memory thereof to posterity: Yet for all that, it vanished away by little and little, and that fair monument hath been so little regarded, that there remains not now any sign thereof. We may likewise allege to this purpose, that the Jewish Language was wholly extinguished during the Captivity. It was the Organ whereby the will of God was set down, and the ancient Law was written in it: Esdras, and the Doctors had preserved the understanding of it: yet at last they let it perish, judging it more convenient to translate the sacred History in the mother tongue, then to bind the people to the re-establishment, and the learned to the preservation of a Language newly lost. Finally the Roman Annals make faith that the ancient Roman Language, of which the Priests only had preserved the knowledge, hath been subject to the like overthrow: the Libraries were full of it, the Sibylles verses, the Hymns and Canticles were written in it, the Roman Senate had professed and declared itself to be the preserver of it, and yet all this could not keep it from a total ruin.  
Moreover, although the national languages be subject to the innovation of some words; yet experience showeth us, that those which have had any extent, or merit, either by being polished by politic Nations, who knew how to bring them to perfection, at home by the means of Sciences, and abroad by way of arms in defending themselves, have not been so subject to perish; and will outlast many ages before they be quite abolished. Witness the Greek, which remained entire for above two thousand years, and would have lasted longer, if the Turkish domination had not cut off the course of so many years, which it might yet have lived. It is certain that the Romans strove with all their might to abolish the language of the Gauls, whom they had subdued; yet their design could not fully come to pass, and we have to this day some of it in this Kingdom, which hath no communion nor part with the Latin, which evidently shows that it was never there: nor the vulgar and mother tongue never suppressed.  
Whereby we may infer that popular Languages, which are so hardly suppressed, may be continued fare better and easilier than those forgotten ones which can not be preserved without much difficulty; and that they are more proper to serve for instruments to Sciences. Nationall Languages likewise decay by degrees, and are abolished by succession oftimes. But those obsolete ones, which have no more being but only in Libraries, and subsist only by art, may perish and comesist nought in an instant. And if the Romans, who were so careful in universalising their language, had found none to oppose them but only Obsolet tongues, and books; they would have abolished the memory of them in an instant, and would not have found so much opposition in bringing in the Latin tongue into all the Provinces which were subject to their Empire.  
Moreover have we not great cause to to doubt, whether the Latin tongue which hath been extinguished these six or seven hundred years, and hath lasted to our times only by the means of Colleges and universities, will last so long as the Greek, the Gaul, and many other. Those who come in after ages, will know the Success thereof better than we. As for the present, to come to understand why popular, and national Languages are more lasting, and fitting to teach Sciences in then the obsolet, we ought to observe that in every Language there are two sorts of words. Some are familiar and vulgar, which serve for common discourse the other proper, peculiar and effectual only for Tra●es and arts. The first depend upon the people, which hath power to alter the names of such things as it hath use of to entertain society, the latter are within the Philosopher's jurisdiction, who have power to give names to all things, especially to Arts and Sciences. The first are subject to change, and do not last always; partly because they signify nothing but singular, contingent, and casual objects; partly because they are subject to the fancies of a light, and inconstant multitude: but that alteration that is, so small, that there wilscarce be a hundred of those common words altered in a hundred years. It is not so in those words which belong to Arts and trades, it is in a manner impossible to alter them; and after they are once in use, the common people have no power over them, they are kept in by a mysterious way, they are of so good a temper, and such solid matter, that they stand firm and , whilst other names are tossed and turned upside down, by the giddyheaded Rabble.  
The reason why they are so firm and constant is because they are applied to signify firm and constant things, such as the matter als & instruments of Arts are; it is not cast to change them and put others in stead of them. And if artists, who are the disposers of them, and to communicate & teach them to their apprentices with the same fidelity as they received them of their master, should assume so much liberty to themselves as to innovate and alterthem, and bring in new according to their own fancies, naming one and the same thing which belongs to their trade, in one country by one name, and in another otherwise, they would not within a short time understand one another, nor maintain that correspondency and brotherhood which is amongst them.  
Therefore they are much misinformed concerning the nature of things, who would have Sciences taught in obsolet and forgotten Languages, to give them as it were innumerable terms. They do not consider that the terms of Arts and Sciences may easily be perpetuated in all Languages, so they be polished and refined: Wherefore we are both of one opinion in this; that we ought to teach Sciences in firm and durable tongues, but we affirm that Nationall Languages are more durable than the obsolet ones; and that for divers reasons.  
First, because the terms of Arts and Sciences are no sooner invented, and approved of in a speech, but they of themselves do preserve themselves therein, even as the terms of a trade without any trouble or labour: and if there should be any pains required therein, they might without comparison befarre more eafilier learned & preserved in a Nationall & popular Language, then in an obsolet one.  
The second reason is, because suppose the Language of the Country were subject to some change, one may hinder them from changing with it, by forbidding any new ones to be brought in, and so they remaining as they were, may be still applied to the various changes of other popular words. By which means all scholastical terms have remained in their first being, for these five or six last ages, though the rest of the Latin tongue have varied much since that time, as we may see by those authors that have written in those ages.  
The third is, that all language's being preserved by the industry of men, it will be fare easier to keep a small portion of a National language from perishing, then to revive a whole language which is quite out of date and forgotten. For youth may easily and in a small time be instructed in the terms of that profession, which it means to follow; they being but few in number, and not the hundreth part of the words of a full and complete Language: so that they may be learned with small pains, and as it were insensibly, before one think of it; And learning their own Country Language naturally, they shall be exempted from the tediousness and difficulty of learning the Latin tongue, wherein they spend ten or twelve years of their best time, to make them capable of understanding three or four hundred barbarous words, which have been framed in the Universities within six or seven hundred years, by ignerant persons who never knew the Latin tongue in its purity. Yet they have been so industrious and fortunate in their proceed, that they have brought these words into so much credit and estimation, that it hath been commonly thought they could not be expressed in any other language, and that they had a particular energy and virtue to signify those things. But, in truth there is no such matter; for if you come to examine them necrly, you will find they signify nothing at all, they are not polite, and cannot be translated, nor yet understood in any language, if the phrase and Syntaxis of them be not mended; it being most certain that the ●atin Philosopher's speech is not less ridiculous and barbarous in their own Language, than it is in ours. And if any esteem them politer and more significant than ours, it is because they have been so long accustomed to them, that they cannot easily find the defaults and disorderliness of them.  
But such as are well versed in the Genius of Languages, know, that the version of a perfect discourse, hath a great deal of grace, and Elegancy in all Countries; and contrariwise a thing il penned in one Language, is nonsense, and absurd in all other. Whereby we may infer, that the difficulty in translating of these terms proceeds not from any particular merit in them, or from the imperfection of other Languages, but from their own defect and evil construction. For proof and trial whereof, if you translate them into the Greek or Arabic, which admit of none, but proper and usual terms in their Philosophy; you shall find presently that your translation will be no more intelligible, or better composed, then if it had been in Spanish, Italian, or any other vulgar and Nationall Language. And this is the reason why those who have studied Philosophy in Latin, understand it not in their own Language, and dare not speak of it before men of their own Nation, for fear of making themselves ridiculous; whereas those who have learned it in an Elegant and refined Nationall Language of their own, can easily express themselves in any other Language which they can understand and speak.  
This is the chief argument which the protectors of these obsolet Lauguages make use of against us, and which they ignorantly borrow from the lastingness of them, never regarding the facility and easiness, which is the only absolutely necessary condition required for the perfection of a Language which is made instrumental for the attaining of Scienences. And as the mother tongue is most easy; so questionless it is the best fitted and proportioned to men's spirits, and most conformable to the intentions of nature, which destining us to some end, furnisheth us with most easy and pleasing means to attain thereunto, according as itself is most Noble, and excellent. I would wilingly ask our Antagonists, whither they would not hold it a most ridiculous thing in Artists, if they should introduce a custom amongst themselves to speak of their Art only in a strange and unknown Language, putting their Apprentices to the task of bestowing ten or twelve year's study in learning of a hard and troublesome tongue, only to make them capable of Understanding one hundred or two strange terms of their calling and Vocation.  
And if they answer, that the terms of Sciences, Arts, and Trades, will take up half the words of a Language, and that therefore they are not so easy to be learned. We reply again, that no man aught, or need, to learn them all, but that every one is only bound to possess himself of those which necessarily belong to his own profession. And again, suppose that even these terms should alter and be subject to changes as well as the rest of a Language, yet that argues not that we should teach Sciences in any other but the Mother Tongue. Seeing translation may easily, and faithfully make an ancient Language Modern: And that it is beyond comparison more easy, to translate our forefather's Language into our own, then in those forlorn and foreign ones.  
As for the translation of foreign Languages, all learned Nations, Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Arabians, have used it. And though it be somewhat hard to turn so many Ancient works into our mother tongue, yet we may truly say, that it is nothing in comparison of the trouble and care which so many thousands of brave spirits have undergone in the tedious compassing of those forgotten Languages. And we have already naturalised, and taught to speak French, the most excellent and rarest Authors that writ in former ages, so that if we continue labouring in translations with the same fervency as we have be●un since the French Academy was erected; within these thirty years we shall not have any thing left to translate, but shall in our own Mother tongue possess the Riches of all other Languages.  
Finally it would not be very difficult to invent a more general, more constant, and more easy instrument, then that of forlorn tongues, which should represent things by Characters, which youth might learn with a great deal more ease than the words of an abolished Language, neither would they any way hinder the Mother tongue: and those who had learned those Characters, seeing some certain marks, would withal conceive the minds of others, and might presently by other Characters disclose their own. So that those who should be well versed in this secret, would understand one another without being understood; and without speaking, would converse with one another, every one in his own Language; which would questionless be a most pleasant kind of recreation. As for example, if a Frenchman writes in the presence of an Italian, or a Germane, 1640 the other presently reads and understands, and can express in his own Language what those Characters signify. This would indeed be a rare art, and so much the more to be admired, because it would in many places represent the same thing, neither would the Characters change, though the Languages did. There might also use be made of these Characters only, for the terms of Arts and Sciences, to the end the memory might not be overburthened with the excessive number, and in all other things make use of the Nationall speech. But neither is this invention as proper as the mother tongue, and though it have been formerly used by learned men, yet is it not worth the reviving, because it would be accompanied with many difficulties, which ought as much as may be to be avoided for the good and ease of learners. I question not but that Sciences are very attractive, & every one naturally desires to attain them; but yet they will be sought after but by very few, if the way unto them be not made easy and pleasant. We are inventing every day new Methods, to shorten and level the way which guides us thereunto, and yet it is every day more and more encumbered, and difficulties increase continually. We shall never have any famous men spring up amongst us, what art soever we use, unless we teach in our own Nationall Language.  
Finally it is certain, that Sciences can not be preserved by any immutable thing, but only by the Species, which always possessing the Understanding in the same manner, oblige it to conceive all things in the same fashion. Nature uses no other Language to speak to all men, and to instruct them in the Knowledge of the truth. Thence it comes that they apprehend an Elephant, an Eagle, a Dolphin, all after the same manner, and they every where produce the same imaginations and Phantasmaes'; in the use, and perfect connexion whereof consists all manner of discourse. The Species, and the word, have this common to them, that they both represent the truth, but this is the difference between them, that the Species being a natural, and immutable sign, must of necessity be the same in all places: and the word being an arbitrary and transitory mark, must be different every where; so that we may truly say, that the species or notion which represents all things to the mind of man, is the only Language which did never change, and will always be common to all men; because the Objects which present them to our senses, are not changeable, and make themselves to be known every where after the same manner: whereas Characters, Gestures, and words depending merely upon our will, are every where different. We apprehend the objects, not because they are Greek, Latin, Dutch, etc. but because they have a relation to our notion, and signify that which is in our minds. Which is the reason that though the Languages of Nations be various, yet they cause no diversity in the notions of the mind: That which the French calls Pierre, the Germane Steen, the Latin Lapis, the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and the English Stone, is but one mere notion, although these names be different; seeing they represent but one and the self same thing to the understandings of all these Nations.  
Therefore all things well considered, there is no readier way can be made to Sciences, then by the natural and mother tongue; and if ours finds itself wanting of some trains to explain the subtleties of Sciences, we may easily supply that want by inventing names therefore by the help of the Professors of the French Academy, and other learned men; to the end that they may pass through their approbation, and that nothing may be innovated without good advice. And our French tongue hath herein this advantage, that in reference to Sciences, it is not yet engaged in any evil or barbarous terms, introduced by any long custom, which it would be more difficult to abolish, then to invent new. Aristotle himself, though he disallowed of many Greek terms belonging to Philosophy, durst not undertake to reform them, fearing to seem an Innovator of antiquity, and to make himself odious to those of his own times: So that Philosophy hath always been mixed with improper and ambiguous terms. But we having now free liberty, and learned men good store amongst us, may very well Naturalise Sciences in our own Country, inventing proper terms for them, and laying aside all such as might make Philosophy ambiguous, barbarous, and unpleasant.  
And to this end we shall cut off all Polyonymies and Equivocalls which confound the mind, and entangle and trouble Arts and Sciences. For Philosophy will ●ever be plain, so long as one thought may have divers names, and whilst we strive to speak Equivocally in Philosophy: it were much more to the purpose, to find out some one that would strike out all those Equivocal words out of the Grammar.  
When an opinion is introduced, authorized and rooted through prescription of time, it hath a marvellous power over our minds: which makes us so preoccupated and prepossessed with the excellency of ancient Languages; Those who have not attained to them, admire them because they do not understand them, and because there is so much difficulty in the learning of them: and those who have Knowledge in them, being interested in the preservation of them, set forth their praises, but will by no means discover the defects of them; and wilfully maintain that they are more effectual, and significant than the modern, the very Gates that open the way to Sciences, and the only means to attain them; notwithstanding if we may speak the truth freely, we may easily make it appear, that they are all of equal value, and have no prerogative one above the other.  
For all words that can be imagined are of like nature, having the same final, and the same efficient cause, the same matter, and the same form. They have the same final cause, namely to express our thoughts; The same, efficient cause, proceeding from the power of the man which produceth them: The same, matter, namely Letters and Dipthonges: And finally they have the same form, being made different only in termination, and the last letter, which is as it were the seal and character, which hath the power of making up their essence, as the last unit makes up that of numbers. All the virtue & energy, they have from the authority of men, which can give no advantage to the one more than to the other; For it is but a mere Being of Reason, proceeding out of an absolute hazard and occurrencie. For indeed there is, nor can be but one way of speaking in the whole world, the difference is but only in characters, and gestures, and we attribute to several impositions the name of difference of Languages.  
Languages proceed not from without, as some are of opinion, who imagine that either they were divinely inspired, or came to us by tradition: but we have the original or root of them in ourselves; and if we be ignorant of the causes of he production of them, it is because they are too common, and are every day subject to our senses. Common and continual custom deceives us, and are the cause that we perceive not the mouth to be the only Matrix and Alphabet, and as it were a large case out of which all words do issue, and into which are put, and as it were distributed by the Author of Nature, all the several letters, as into a little box, from whence every man like to a Printer takes them out when he pleases, composes them and maketh up languages. And God having endowed him with manifold perfections above all other creatures, hath given him nothing which is more advantageous to him then speech, seeing thereby he is made capable of knowing and loving him his maker, lives in Society, and attains Wisdom: Wherefore he would have those parts wherein the voice of man is framed, filled up with so many wonders, to make us the better apprehended the worth of them, and withal bind us to an acknowledgement of so rare a benefit.  
But it is not sufficient to know that these parts do with such celerity mix the letters, and frame words out of them, which we make use of in familiar communication; but we must also note that each part hath its particular functions, and proper motions, yet differing amongst themselves: and every man pronouncing a letter, may know and mark the Organ which frameth it, and gives it its being, and what part concurres most to the production of it, whether it be the lips, the palate, or the tongue, that hath most operation in it. And that which is most of all to be admitted is, that all these organs are so well regulated, and observe so r … an order amongst themselves, that they can not encroach nor usurp upon the rights of one another, their power being so well limited, that they can justly to frame so many letters and no more, than a man can make several and different motions and doublings in his mouth. Which shows sufficiently all Languages to be of equal worth, and that if there be any difference between them, it proceeds not from the words, which are all of the same matter in all Languages, but rather from the Pronunciation, which depending upon the Climates, is more mild and pleasant in those Countries, where the people's Organs are most clear and best composed; and contrariwise is more harsh and dissonant in those where they are more grossly and rudely framed. And this talon is the more considerable, being as it were destined to some Nations, and doth not vary though the ranguages alter, and change by succession of time. The faculty we have of framing words in infinitum is the richest treasure belongs to man, it is a continually flowing and running fountain, which can never be dried up. Wherefore it is a folly to complain of the barrenness of a I anguage, it is our faults if we do not enrich it, if we will but apply our endeavours to it. And an ingenious Arithmetician in coupling of letters and joining of syllables, might give an admirable structure to all the parts of speech, and frame a rarer, and more regular Language then yet there is. For the combination of letters is a well that can never be drawn dry, out of which one may frame, as out of materia prima, words enough, for an infinite number of Languages, all different amongst themselves; so that in so great a number of speeches as are spoken in the whole World, men do not hit upon the imposition of the same names.  
Whence it appears that the diversity of Languages proceeds from the plurality of words, and the liberty of Framing them; and not from the difference of Climates. Because we being all indifferent, and having no more aptitude the one than the other to express the signification of things, the will would always remain in suspense, and would never resolve upon any Election; if the inclination which it hath to declare its thoughts, did not oblige it to take names by chance, and impose them at adventure. Which thing would evidently appear, if a company of little Children were kept up in several houses in one Plain, who would questionless make as many several Languages as several companies which were shut together. For as concerning that which is spoken of an infant, which was bred up in solitude, and apart, and could pronounce but this word Bec, it was a most gross ignorance in those who imagined to have a certain proof and evident testimony thereby, of which was the most ancient and natural Language; seeing the child was brought up solitary and alone, in which case fools and madmen only will lie talking and discoursing with themselves: Outward speech being a thing necessary only to impart our thoughts to others, and not to speak to ourselves, who understand our own thoughts without expressing them outwardly. They should therefore to find out the effect of so rare a curiosity, have put a great number of children, rather than one, or two, together. Whereupon we must observe, that if Nature seem to have done man great prejudice, and much hindered the communication of Nations, by giving them absolute power to make so many Languages: She hath also given him power and means to obviate that inconvenience, making him politic, where by he might find, that to make up most perfect Societies and Commonwealths happy, he should carefully suppress all particular Languages, to bring in general and common speeches amongst all Nations.  
Now this great variety proceeds from two Original causes, Namely the indifferency and infiniteness of words; They are indifferent, because Naturally they signify nothing, and are equally proper to signify any thing. They are almost infinite, because there results an infinite number, not only of words, but also of Languages out of the conjunction and copulation of letters and syllables; whereof one alone may signify all things one after another, even as well as one only thing may receive all manner of names successively according as men shall be willing to apply them unto it.  
The number of letters which are daily used, is not yet well known, nor regulated. Men seem to have been very careless in not ordering a matter of such importance; for if they had well examined the nature of the Alphabet, they might have had it a great deal more full and copious. But howsoever as it is, we have twenty, or two and twenty letters which are now in use. And is it not a thing worthy to be admired, to see so many Languages built upon so small a foundation? and by the copulation and transposition of so few letters, so great a number of words made, to which men unawares accustoming themselves, have framed so many particular Languages: From whence we must necessarily conclude, that all of them proceeding from one beginning, they are essentially equal, and cannot any way differ, but only in the quantity of terms whereof they are composed. Wherefore all men have equal Power and Right to give names to such things, as yet have none: especially Philosophers, to whom it belongs to invent names, to represent things rightly, and set them in a due course: they have full power to set down terms for Sciences, and Arts, to make themselves intell gible, and communicate their learning to others.  
We may likewise in imitation of the Greeks' and Romans, borrow of our neighbour Languages some terms which may be wanting in our own; for although for a time they pass for strangers, yet after some few years, they are naturalised, and conform themselves so well to the tone of the Nation, that there is no difference to be found in them. The Romans did not always strive to translate into ●atin all Greek words, as Rhetoric, Music, Arithmetic, Geometry, Astrology, Philosophy, chirurgery, and most of the names of Sciences, and Arts of Figures, of Herbs, of Diseases, and many other things: They have been content to adopt them, and admit them into their community; Knowing that all words, both Greek and other, are of common right, and belong to all Nations equally who desire to make use of them; and that all language's lend & borrow words, to, and from each other continually. For though it be not manifestly known that the Greeks' borrowed the terms of Sciences from other Nations, yet it is credible that they brought them with them out of Egypt, where they went to study: and that the Egyptians likewise borrowed them from some other more ancient Nation, which might invent them when they first invented Philosophy. And if this dependency be odious, to free ourselves from it, we need but alter the Etymology, imitating learned Varro therein, who being ashamed that so many Latin words should descend from the Greek, for the honour of his Nation, derived them from other several Languages of Italy. When one doth not indeed understand the signification of a strange word, he may have recourse to the Original; but when it is once come into custom, it is no more needful, the meanest artist knowing the signification thereof as well as the greatest Doctor. As for example, the common people do not know that the words chirurgery, Apoplexy, and Prophecy are Greek words; and yet they understand as well what they mean, as he that hath studied the Greek Grammar twenty years.  
Finally Pilots have found out terms enough for Sea affairs, Architects, for Architecture, and so have all other Artists for their several Arts. And is it not a shame, that Philosophers have not in so many ages found a way in France to invent necessary words for our French Philosophy?  
It is certain that when Guns, Printing, and other new Arts were first invented, the Authors thereof had no proper terms for them, and yet now we have abundance. And when King Francis the first commanded all to plead in the Mother tongue, the people which belonged to the Courts of Justice were at first astonished at it; and some did even despair of going forward in their profession: Yet we see how in a short time they have found out as many terms as ever the Greek or Roman law had; and would to God they had not invented so many.  
Likewise about a hundred years since, all Poetry lay as it were dead in French, and especially Comic Poems were so barren and dull, that none did scarce dare to show themselves upon the Stage. Yet by little and little they have been so adorned and beautified, especially now of late days they have, thorough your Eminencies beneficence, so increased in Elegancy and politeness, that the theatres Echo with acclamations and applauses.  
If our Language were now as barren and imperfect as heretofore it hath been, I must confess our enterprise would at first be somewhat hard and difficult. But it is now enriched, and hath abundancie of words to explain our thoughts. They now can read public Lectures of Philosophy and Mathematics in the mother tongue, and Divines can unfold the deep mysteries of Divinity therein, and make them intelligible even to the plainest and dullest understandings.  
But against all these reasons they will peradventure allege, that those who study Philosophy in French, never came to be absolute Philosophers. But that is not through the defect of the Language, or of Philosophy itself but rather through want of method. Those who learn it in Latin privately, profit not a whit more: The reason is because that those masters which teach privately in chambers, endeavour nothing but only to please and content their auditors; reading lectures full of cavils, and ostentation, no way tending to solid instruction. This schooling is but a kind of pastime; even as in Comedies, where the Actor seeks only to tickle the itching ears of the hearers to draw on more company, and so increase his gain. A Science requires Method and Discipline; it is not enough to be a hearer, he must also excrcise himself in what he hears, and reduce the precepts into practice, by disputat on's, repititions, and conferences. Thus are the Spirits heated, and chafed, whereby doctrine is the deeplier imprinted in our memories. Sciences are like Arts; to become a good Artist, it is not sufficient to frequent the Shops of the most expert artists, unless we set our hands to work likewise. How many men do we see daily, who have assiduously and with good attention heard fâmous preachers for the space of twenty or thirty years, and yet are not so well versed in Divinity as a Scholar of the Sorbonne, who hath heard lectures there but a year, by reason that the Professors in that reverend Society, are Methodical persons, who after their rare expositions, carefully exercise their auditors in disputation, both in the Schools privately, and also in other public Acts. And now that his Majesty hath by his establishment as it were naturalised Philosophy, and made it in a manner popular & methodical, we must hope that within a short time, youth will besolidely learned, through the care of a regular discipline. For it is true both in School and State business, that it is not sufficient to propound good Maxims, unless they be well maintained and punctually observed, through the rules of a good government.  
Now Sir, as for these two last means (which are of most moment) namely to teach the Grammar and Discipline, the Professors of the Academy cannot employ themselves about it; they have higher matters to look after, and have not leisure to instruct youth. In those works which proceed from them, the rules of Polite writing are indeed very punctually observed, but those works come not to every one's hands, some few students, and refined court Spirits only make use of them and profit thereby. How many Gentlemen are there in the country, who never hear of them and if they should, yet are not capable of such high reflections? They never came out of their father's houses, but only to practise their exercises, or to go to the wars, at their return from whence it is too late for them to be instructed. They are not well prepared for the reading of such books with any profit; which makes them all their life time to use the British, Norman, or Gascoigne Dialect: Which many times keeps them from coming to the Court, retired at their homes in idleness, where they bestow their times in nothing but hunting and husbandry. Whereas their parents might in time send them to the City of Richelieu, where for a small charge, and in a little time they might be taught Sciences, Languages and Exercises altogether, whilst they are yet young enough, and may easily forget the ill accent of their own country Language, and without Labour accustom themselves to a better Pronunciation, to choice and pureness of expressions. So that returning afterwards into their own country, though the Language be there extremely corrupt, they will speak good French all their life time. Their companions and Tenants will follow their example, men always naturally inclining to novelties, especially when they are according to reason, and judiciously invented.  
So shall we make way throughout the whole Kingdom for those Maxims which the Professors of the Academy shall set down; and your Eminency shall have the glory of being the restorer both of your Native Country, and Language. The Chancellor of the Hospital, judging that design, which now your Eminency hath approved of, would be very profitable, and useful to this Nation, had an intent to erect certain French Colleges in Paris, where Sciences should be taught in our mother Tongue, which he judged to be fitting therefore, even in those days. This famous man perceiving the abuse and error of former ages, could not endure to see the French Nation, which had founded so many brave Schools, and maintained so many professers to teach the Hebrew, Arabic, Greek & Latin tongues, neglect to build one for their own. Since his time the Cardinal du Perron, inflamed with the like zeal did again attempt that glorious design, and sought all means possible to bring it to pass. And last of all Monsieur de Fresne Canage, willing by his example to animate us to teach Sciences in French, writ an Organon in our Language to that purpose, fraught with so much learning & eloquence, that we may boldly say he hath not only equalled, but even exceeded the most excellentest Greek and Latin Authors. But the completing of this great work was reserved for your Eminency to accomplish; and seems to have been deferred hitherto, only that you might have the full glory of establishing a business of so great importance.  
This Sir will be the first fruit which the institution of your Academy in the City of Richelieu, will bring forth, namely the regulating and refining the Language in all the Povinces of this Kingdom, which will be very advantageous for the glory of it. And your Eminency will be pleased to let me tell you, that there will other solid benefits accruew thereby. Gentlemen will no more spend their youthful time in unprofitable toys, they will directly learn such things as are necessary to direct & guide them through the whole course of their life, the mutual duties of Society, their Prince's service, the love of their Native Country, and their due acknowledgement to your Eminency.  
It is a great abuse to mix Nobility with persons of base extraction, and to bring them up after the same manner▪ for besides that it takes sordid and base inclinations, unworthy its birth, and such employments as it may one day hope for, it also receaveth such instructions as are not fitting for it, and overburthens its mind uselessely all the remainder of their lives.  
True it is, that if parents did predestinate their children to be Churchmen, Lawyers, Physicians, or to live continually within the precinct of a Library, than it is fitting to have them to know the secrets of the Greek and Latin tongue, the Origine and Etymology of words, and make them famous Critics; because the Fathers of the Church, the Civil Law, and the Authors of Physic are written in those Languages, and are not yet translated into French. But in a gentleman that means to wear a sword by his side, these things are needless; and the knowledge of these Languages, would make him never the fit for his country's service.  
Why do Parents neglect to send their children to colleges, and let them lie at home till they be of age to learn Exercises, in the mean time their youth is spent in idleness, their memory and understanding grows weak through want of employment, & become as it were languishing faculties? Others will not send them to the Academies, as well by reason of the excessive charge, as also because they are not there instructed in learning. They learn indeed to ride, dance, and fence, which makes their bodies active, and their joints supple: but though these qualities add some grace to the body, yet can they not make a complete Gentleman; contrariwise they make him rash and bold, if they be not accompanied with perfections of the mind. But if they were taught in the vulgar, and mother tongue, Virtue, the duties of an honest man, and all those things which belong both to peace and war together with their exercises, they would profitably employ each moment of their youth, become at once active and learned, and be fit for counsel, execution, and all manner of employment whatsoever.  
This is the order which your Eminency observes in his house, you cause your Pages to be equally bred up in arts and Exercises, according to their age and capacity; making choice of the best masters and tutors that can be had in every profession. Your house being thus ordered is a Seminary of honour and virtue, and there come more complete gentlemen out of your service, than out of all the Colleges & Academies of this Kingdom. These are young plants which grow up for your Glory, you engrave your benefits upon the bark of hose tender plants, and the character which you imprint thereon increase with time, to your honour, and the good of the state: and France acknowledges, amongst many other benefits, that you daily store it with most virtuous and complete Nobility.  
Your Eminency (who knoweth better than any one, that he education of youth is the ground and foundation both of a public and private life, upon which depends the happiness of families, and the greatness of Empires) erects public Academies, and pays several great pensions in colleges for children, who having rare natural parts, want means to give them education, charitably easing the Parent's poverty, and the Orphan's misery, bestowing means upon them, whereby they may become capable of serving the State, every one according to his Genius and profession. Thus Sr. your Eminency doth daily free the French Nobility from the yoke of poverty and ignorance, the two greatest wants that are incident to man: but though your liberality this way be very profitable, yet it is in a manner particular, extending but to a certain number of gentlemen. Now by this establishment it will become universal, all the youth of the Kingdom may partake of it; and those who live not in the age wherein they may profit by your example, will be instructed through your care and bounty. The Nobility for a certain honours you, and frequents your court, more through duty, and inclination, then for any particular interest. And Sir give me leave to tell you, that by this foundation you will most powerfully win all their hearts to your service. The Parents, whose greatest care is for the good bringing up of their children, will bless your design, and you shall be an occasion of joy in all families, which were often wont to their great grief to see those who should be their glory and chief stay, prove ignorant, rude, and gross, (I will not say brutish) all their life time. We may both in Court and Country find Dancers, Fencers, and the like enough; But men capable of negotiations, managing of affairs of moment, knowing the humours of nations and how to take the best advantages thereupon of such men, I say there is but a very small number to be had any where: which causeth your Eminency to be so much oppressed with business, being yourself forced to have a vigilant eye, and assisting hand every where, both within and without the Kingdom and to bear the burden of the whole state, having none to ease or assist you.  
Strangers have long expected this establishment, especially the Northern nations, who are so desirous to learn the French tongue, that they have set up schools for the attaining to it, in their own countries; yet with very small profit, because that those which teach it, are not perfect masters of it themselves; and besides, to to learn a language completely, it is absolutely required to abide for a time in that country where it is naturally spoken by men, women, and children. Many therefore come over into France, where they receive again but little satisfaction; for having private and particular masters, they spend peradventure some part of the day in studying of French, and the rest of their time they are amongst their country men, in whose company they speak nothing but their own country language: whereas if they did daily meet in assemblies of French Gentlemen, keeping company with them, and continually hearing the Professors of Sciences, and Masters of Exercises, they would easily attain the true country accent and pronunciation, and return home well contented and satisfied. Have not they just cause of complaint against us, if we neglect a thing of such great moment, and which would be so profitable to us?  
As soon as the news of this establishment shall be divulged, we shall suddenly have a mighty concourse of all the Northern Nobility: and the great men of those Countries will be glad to have such an occasion to bring up their Children in the company of the flower of the French Youth, to gain amongst them that activeness, and civility which is in a manner natural to them, learning withal Sciences, Languages, and Exercises. And on the other side the French without any travail, by thus frequenting with strangers, shall learn the manners, customs and dispositions of other Nations. By this means shall strangers taste the mildness of our Climate, and see the stateliness of our Government, our Language shall flourish in all the Northern parts, where it is already in so much credit, that it is ordinarily spoken in the Emperors, the Kings of Poland, Sweden, and Denmark's Courts, in the Swissers Country, and in Holland; so that it is a kind of ignominy to a Courtier, to have no Knowledge of the French tongue. And so will the Echo of your praises sound every where, and your City grow famous thorough out the Universe.  
Your City of Richelieu Sir stands in a most wholesome air, fruitful and pleasant Country and a most delightful situation. As for the wholesomeness of the air, there are (besides experience) several pregnant reasons for it. First the soil being dry, and sandy, the subterraneal vapours cannot lurk nor lie hidden there to corrupt themselves, & exhaling easily, finding free passage thorough the pores of the Earth, they can not degenerate into malignant exhalations, as might infect the lower region of the air. Secondly, the City stands open and exposed to the most wholesome winds, namely the North wind, which hath its free passage by the plain of Champigny; and on the East side likewise, there being no let to hinder it from receiving the benign influences of the Sun. And contrariwise it is close sheltered from those winds and airs which ordinarily bring contagious diseases and mortalities amongst us; being defended from the Southern wind by a thick and high wood, and from the air of the Sea by a great hill which is Westward.  
The fruitfulness and goodness of the soil appears by the woods the trees never growing up to that height in a bad ground, and likewise by the Corn and Vines which grow plentifully upon the Counter scarves of the ditches: Briefly in all Tueaine, which is esteemed to be the Garden of France, there are not rarer Gardens, nor producing better fruits. As for the superficies of the Earth, it is covered with a great quantity of Simples of surpassing virtue, and the inside is replenished with various Mines of Sulphur, Bitume, Vitriol, and Iron, and the very Castle and town ditches were full of Mineral Springs, which could not be preserved because they lay too low. Now these Minerals, and Simples can not choose but fill the air with wholesome vapours and spirits, which continually exhale from them, and purify and free it from corruption. The Situation is neither high nor low, in a plain Country, a most temperate Climate, watered by the Mable, a small River running by Richelieu, well woodded with lofty Trees, which are certain evidences of the antiquity of the house, tapistred with Meadows, with small hills rising amidst them, from which one may of all sides discover the horizon, by which our view is pleasantly bounded by an equal distance from the Town; there growing Vines upon the said hills that produce most excellent Wine. Now seeing the air of its own Nature is alike in all places, and that the goodness or malignity of it proceeds from the celestial influences, the soil, the Situation, and the winds, which fill it with good or ill vapouts; which we breathing amidst, are the chief cause of our good, or bad constitutions: Seeing I say all these circumstances concur so favourably, it would be absurd to say that the air is not mild and benign in that City and places adjoining, and it was questionless thorough the concurrences of so many rare qualities, that this Country brought forth the most powerful Genius, and sublimed Spirit, that ever was Known in France. And though your Eminency was constrained to give the water its course thorough certain channels; that was not by reason of its deadness or moorishnesse; there being no marshes or standing pools in that County, but it was to drain the water out of some ponds which formerly encompassed an old ruinated Castle.  
The City was indeed at first incommodated by certain wells, whose waters communicating of the quality and taste of some Mines, were not fitting for common use; But your Eminency considering that the goodness of waters was one of the chiefest things that belonged to a man's health, and therefore the Romans in their encamping would always make choice of such places as had wholesome waters in them: You Sir have caused spring waters to be brought from without by Pipes and Conduits, both into the Town and Castle, which preserve the Inhabitants in perfect health. We must confess that at the first, when they began to work there, the digging up of the ground did much incommodate the workmen, who lying many times upon the ground, attracted the moisture thereof: and the very buildings, when they were new, caused diseases amongst their first inhabitants. But such discommodities as these are likely in all places▪ And have we not in our days seen, when they first built upon the Church Marshes, they were hardly habitable, and many of those who dwelled there first died, and now there is not a braver place about Paris? it is the habitation of an infinite number of Ladies of quality, who are always exceeding careful of preserving their healths. And now likewise in Richelieu people of all ages, and sexes, live in such perfect health, that though the Town be full of people of all trades, yet no Physicians have as yet habited themselves there seeing no employment there for their profession.  
If any false reports have passed thereof in former times, we must impute it to the malice and omulation of the neighbourning towns, which envying this cities greatness and glory, have been the Authors and raisers of them: and false rumours have this common with rivers, that the further they run, the more they increase: so these calumnies have been spread far into remote countries, and to the Court itself, where it hath been reported, that the country was contagious, and in a manner inhabitable: and some officers of this city have also caused this suspicion to increase, who having land and businesses elsewhere, to have a pretence to absent themselves from home, where by their places they were bound to reside, have seconded those slanderous reports: which things have heretofore hindered many from coming to settle their abode amongst us, and have been no small hindrance to our affairs. But Sir, since your Academy hath been settled in this your city, the professors thereof have so stoutly opposed this error, upon several occasions, that people are now undeceived, and those false rumours being to cease, truth appearing daily to the contrary.  
Finally if the Situation of the city of Riche●ieu be advantageous the structure and sabrick thereof is also most admirable. Can there be a more stately and magnificent sight, than such a row of houses, or rather Palaces, as are all uniformly built in that long and spacious street which leads from the Royal place, (where our Academy stands) to the Cardinal place, where you have built that Stately Church, which is a magnificent and authentical monument of your piety? Can there be any statelier or completer building, than the Castle, with its Courts, Park, Channels, Gardens, and other Dependencies belonging to it? Were ever so many rare and excellent pieces of workmanship, all manner of Arts seen together, especially for Tapestry, Sculpture, and Painting? Your Gallery, wherein are drawn to the life the battles won, victories obtained, and cities conquered by his Majesty? So that Greece Italy, and all other places of the world, which are renowned for their industry and curiosity, seem to have been spolyed of their most precious ornaments to adorn the place of your birth. But I will not undertake particularly to describe all the rarities of this place; they would fill up a volume. I will therefore be content o say only thus much, that they come hither already from all parts, as they did in former times to the Oracles, to behold those rare Antiquities which were admired throughout the world.  
We may therefore truly say, that Richelieu is a most fitting and convenient place to settle your Academy in. First because the inhabitants themselves speak as pure French, as can be spoken in any part of France; which is a great advantage, seeing the design could hardly take esfect in a place where ill Language were spoken. Secondly, the Country round about it abounds with all manner of commodity, it is situated at equal disstance, from the Rivers of Loire, and Vienna, which are the best nurses France hath: and likewise from the havens of Brittanny, and Poitou, from whence may be had all manner of things conducing to man's life: it stands in a place of repose, retired from turmoil, and negotiations of traffic, selected as it were a purpose for men seriously and quietly to apply themselves wholly to Discipline and Exercises.  
Thirdly it stands almost in the middle and centre of all France, amidst those Provinces where the worst French is spoken; Low Brittanny, the lower Poitou, Perigord, Limosin, Auvergne, Gascoigne, and other Countries there about, from whence they may the more conveniently send their youths to amend and correct their defects, and learn the true accent and pronunciation of the French.  
Fourthly, it is near the River Loire, upon the banks whereof all stranger's delight to be, for the most part in Orleans, Bloys, Tours, Saumur, Angiers, Nantes, and all those Cities by which that fair River runs. And finally besides all these advantages of Situation, your Eminence when you please may endow it with such franchises and immunities as you shall think fit, & as other Princes and eminent men have done, who have founded Cites and Universities.  
But because this word Academy is now of late most improperly appropriated to the Gymnastick, and to the instructing of youth in the Art of riding, by such as know not the property of terms: whereby that Lustre of this foundation might be eclipsed, and strangers caused to imagine the Academies of Richelieu to be like other Academies, appointed only for the completing the carriage of the body, and adorning the outward behaviour: We have thought it fitting in this place to make known, that the art of riding is but one particular thing taught in our Academy which being set up by the name of a Royal College, is, to speak properly, a true University of Sciences, whereunto your Eminency hath thought good to add as accessary, and depending thereon, the Art of managing of horses, and other Exercises of the body; to leave unto posterity, in the place where you were born, a complete and perfect Model for education of Gentry and Nobility, and to reform the disorders which were crept into other Colleges and Academies of this Kingdom, where these two sorts of perfections are taught severally, against the Maxims of all the Politicians as have been in former ages: who were all of opinion, that the Mind, and Body, of man the two essential parts of our being, aught to be exercised, and instructed both at one time. Because that even as the Exercise of the Body, without that of the Mind, breeds a kind of Cruelty, and Insolency in us; even so the Exercise of the Mind, without that of the Body, causeth a kind of Niceness and stupidity. Wherefore your Eminency, who knows better than any, how much it concerns the state, to have its Nobles throughly possessed, and qualified with rare qualities both of body and mind; hath most prudently ordered, that of those eight Professors, whereof this Academy chief censists, six should be for Sciences, and the other two for Exercises. To this we may add, that Universities both in ancient and Modern times have always been, and still are called by the name of Academies; witness those of Alexandria, Athens, Paris, Alcala, and many other.  
Thus your Eminency in reuniting the Exercises of the body to those of the mind, procures this advantage to your Academy, that it being a Nursery for Sciences, which ordinarily attract a concourse of youth from all parts, there will never be any want of Scholars for the Exercises of the body, as Fencing, Dancing, Riding, and the like, whereby the teachers thereof being in continual employment, this Academy will not be subject to those failings, as others, which are not kept up by Sciences, and one day have store of Scholars, and the next day are without any.  
And finally I know that this City, by reason of its name, and eminent qualities of the founder, is already famous throughout all this Kingdom, and amongst foreign Nations also. So that if your Eminency continue your favour towards this design, your Academy will cause this to be one of the most populous and flourishing Cities of Europe; not less renowned than other Cities, which our Kings have honoured with the Professions of Divinity, Canon and Civil Law, Physic and Arts; and equal to either Marseilles, or Alexandria, or any other ancient Cities of Greece, with all theiry ceums and Porticoes.  
There are several ways to make Cities populous, and adorned, namely Commerce, Jurisdictions, Franchises and immunities, Trades, and Handicrafts. But the most noble way of amplifying and renouning of them, is by means of Sciences, which were the cause that Memphis in Egypt, Athens in Greece, Naples in Italy, and Paris in France, have grown up to such magnificence, that they have drawn all Nations of the world to come and behold them with admiration.  
FINIS.   

STATUTES AND ORDINANCES For the Government Of the Academy, or Royal College, founded by Order from the King, in the Gity of Richelieu: Under the protection of the Dukes of Richelieu.  
THE Royal Academy, established in the City of Richelieu, shall be governed by a Director, or Supervisor.  
The Supervisor shall take the Oath of Allegiance to the King, before the Duke of Richelieu.  
The Supervisor shall appoint men to supply the plaes as shall fall void, either by death or otherwise, who after they have been there a year or two, shall be presented to the King by the Supervisor, to receive their letters Patents, if the Professors find them worthy thereof. And during their said time of Regency or Probation, they shall enjoy the same Rights and Emoluments, as other Professors do.  
The Supervisor shall not depose or displace any Professor, without the general consent of all the rest.  
The Supervisor shall provide schoolmasters and Officers for the said Academy, who shall have reasonable and sufficient wages assigned them.  
The Supervisor shall have power to settle Schoolmasters and School mistresses: to whom he shall prescribe a Method, to teach the children of the city to read and write well.  
The supervisor shall have power to call and break off all assemblies, as shall be to deliberate upon affairs touching the commonalty, wherein all things shall be decided by Plurality of voices.  
The Dean, or Ancientest Professor, shall supply the supervisors place in his absence, and perform his office.  
The Academy shall be provided with moveables and utensiles, at the common charge of the Professors; and if any of them chance to die, or leave his place, the part and portion which he shall have in the common goods, shall be kept for him or his heirs, according to the estimation as shall be made thereof by the said Professors.  
The Incomes which shall be received of the Scholars, shall be laid in Common, and divided equally between the Supervisor, Professors, Horserider, and Master of Defence:  
The Supervisor having first deducted the twentieth part thereof for other Master's wages, officers, Servants, and other charges needful for the maintenance of the Academy.  
The Professors, as near as possible may be, shall of themselves supply all the classes one after another, and shall successively teach all the Sciences.  
The Professors, to perfect themselves every day more and more in the Sciences, shall daily confer one hour in the day concerning their studies; and what the one knoweth not, the other shall be obliged to teach him.  
The Professors of Sciences shall take their places in all assemblies after the Supervisor, according to the order and time of their reception, and after them the Equerry, or Horse rider, and Fence master.  
The Professors shall in their turns every sunday cause public disputations to be held.  
The Professors, according to the ancient custom of the University of Paris, shall not dictate any writings in the classis for Sciences: every one shall have his book printed, and by that means, the time which should be spent in writing, shall be more profitably employed in repetitions, and disputations.  
The Professors shall not use any books in teaching of Sciences and Languages, unless they have been first examined and approved of by the whole company.  
The Professors shall carefully teach their scholars, and cause them often to rehearse the Definitions, Divisions, Theorems, and Propositions of Sciences and Arts.  
The Professors shall finish their course of Philosophy in six years, teaching the Sciences, Arts, and Humanity in six dislinct Classes, as followeth.  
Namely In the sixth Glassis they shall teach Grammar, the Card in Plane, Chronologie, and Geneologie.  
In the fifth, History, Mythology, Poesy, and Rhetoric.  
In the fourth, Logic and Moral Philosophy, Namely Monastical, Economical, and Political.  
In the third, the Elements of Geometry, and Arithmetic, together with the practice of both of them, and Music.  
In the second, Natural Philosophy in general, and particular, with physiology, and pathology, and Metaphysics.  
In the first, the Mechanics, the Optics, etc. Astrology, Geography, and the gnomonics.  
The same Professors, who in the morning taught Sciences, shall in the afternoon teach Languages, in order as followeth.  
Namely, In the sixth Classis they shall teach the Rudiments, Colloquies, Cato & Onomasia, or Nomenclature, conformable to things as well natural as artificial.  
In the fifth, Grammar, writing of Epistles, the Curious Method, and Commenius.  
In the fourth, the Quantities, Terence, Horace, Quintus Curtius, and the Poets.  
In the third, the Figures, Tully's Offices, Virgil, Caesar's Commentaries, and Orators.  
In the second, the Principles of the Greek tongue, and the pre-eminence which it hath above other languages.  
In the first, the Origine and Genius of the Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish and French tongues, the conformity and difference that is between them.  
The Equerry, or Horse-master, Fence-mastor, and other inferior Masters shall teach their several Exercises every day at a certain hour, but the Scholars divided into several companies, shall come to learn but once in two days, according to such order as shall be appointed them.  
On Festivals and Holidays, the Equerry or horserider shall appoint running at the ring, and at the Quintune; and the Fence master shall cause his Scholars to Exercise on those days publicly, and sometimes fight at Barriers.  
The Scholars shall be bred up in the fear of God, and their due allegiance and obedience to their King. The Scholars shall jointly learn Sciences, Languages, and Exercises, at such hours as shall be set down by the Supervisor, who shall also have power to dispense with any of them upon lawful occasion.  
Every week there shall be one play day appointed for all the Scholars.  
The Classes shall always open the next day after Saint Luke's day, and the Vacations shall begin the first day of September.  
The last fifteen days of August, they shall publicly dispute upon general positions in all Sciences, according to the Orders of the six Classes. And every Professor shall in his turn be a Moderator in those disputations, concerning such things as he hath taught all the year; and all the other Masters shall cause their Scholars publicly to do Exercises in their several professions.  
And to encourage the Scholars to the studying of Sciences, and learning of Exercises, they shall have certain prizes, or rewards distributed amongst them, according to their merits, by the Professors.  
FINIS.