A TREATISE Concerning TONGUES Appertaining to LEARNING: viz. The 

Hebrew,  
greek,  
latin,  
Chaldean,  
Syrian, and  
Arabian.   showing profit of skill in them, and in how short time a Student may receive such Instructions and Directions in any one of them, as whereby he may afterward proceed in the understanding of the Language, without the help of a lively voice, using the Books requisite thereunto. Also that towards attaining the knowledge of the latin, there are set forth certain books, introducting into the grammatical skill thereof, in so easy a manner, as that they are as it were a Tutor for ones private help in the said Study.  {αβγδ} 
Imprinted, and are to be sold at the sign of the Princes arms, over against Pauls greater North door.   

A Treatise concerning Tongues pertaining unto Learning.  

Of the Hebrew Tongue.  
SUch as have delight in reading of the holy Scriptures, if they understand the Hebrew Text, they may observe in many places something considerable, which in a Translation is not altogether so apparent. And whereas among Translations there is much difference, it is therefore profitable to have the skill of this Tongue, for to be able to know which interpretation is according to the literal signification of the said original, and also how many ways the same may be taken Grammatically. And seeing that many are addicted to the study of sundry Languages, why should they not also unto this called the Mother of all ancient Speeches, and being in some respects the very glory of all Tongues?   

Of the greek.  
IS it not in like manner profitable to know the Text of the gospel in the original thereof? But the skill of greek is useful in most Learnings. The common grammar of latin cannot in every point be understood, without some knowledge in the greek. Also a very great part of words now used as latin, are greek originally.   

Of the latin.  
WHoso hath not some knowledge in the latin, cannot understand much English which is spoken and written. But he that understandeth the said Tongue, is able to red even universal Learning. And to the end that men may proceed in understanding thereof by their own private study, I have set forth such Books, as are as it were a Tutor; that when they perceive the use of them, they may without the voice of a Teacher increase easily in the skill of the Language, and in short time may make a good progress in the same. He that indifferently understandeth but the Accidence, may make the use of the said books without any teaching, onely observing the direction which is delivered in the first of them.   

Of the Chaldean.  
THere are sundry Chapters of Daniel and Ezra, whose original is not Hebrew but Chaldee. There are also in this Tongue certain Paraphrases on Hebrew holy Scripture, said to be have been set forth near the Apostles time, and observed to be useful in many respects. Ancient learned Jews have given this council,( as Buxtorfius hath related it afore his Syro-Chaldean Lexicon, viz. {αβγδ} Ne sit lingua Syriaca( vel Chaldaica) vilis in oculis tuis, quia in Lege, in Prophetis, in Hagiographis invenimus, quòd Deus sanctus& benedictus impertiatur ei honorem: in Lege, &c.   

Of the Syrian.  
BUxtorfius in the Epistle afore his Chaldee grammar saith, Hac lingua extat Translatio novi Testamenti, meritò pretiosi Thesauri loco aestimanda, qua Christiani in Syria,& usi sunt,& utuntur. Whereas the Syriack Edition of the New Testament, is accounted the most ancient Translation thereof, is it not profitable to have skill in it, as it is profitable to have skill in the most ancient Translation of the Old Testament? Necessaria est Doctoribus cognitio linguarum, inprimis Latinae, Graecae, Hebraicae, Chaldaicae, Syriacae Amandus, Polanus Syntag. Theol. lib. 7. cap. 11.   

Of the Arabian.  
THe arabic is a Tongue of great use in many parts of the world; and the knowledge of it is necessary, for to be able to judge of the Translations of Authors therein; and likewise to understand the etymology of many words thereof used in physic, Astronomy, &c. Erpenius in the Epistle afore his arabic grammar of the first Edition, saith, Res certa est,& quae probatione non indiget, linguae Arabicae, quae longè& antiquissima,& elegantissima est, cognitionem summèutilem& necessarariam esse, tum ad illustrandam linguam Hebraeam& reliquas orientales; tum ad intelligenda infinita, eaque eximia in omni generescientiarum volumina, ab Arabibus conscripta, &c.   

What the help is, which is signified to be had in the Tongues aforesaid?  
THe help is introduction into the knowledge of the generality of the grammatical Property of the said Languages, and how to make use of the books requisite, also how to go on in studying Authors, and to need no more any lively voice for help in the said study.   

How much time is needful to be spent unto the receiving of such a knowledge in any one of the said Tongues.  
IT is now almost forty yeers ago, since in this City I began the study of Introducting into the Tongues; and much experience hath taught an easier way of Initiating, than at first was apprehended. So that such as are capable and industrious, may attain to the aforesaid measure of understanding, in any one of the mentioned Languages, by being taught seven or eight times in several daies, and spending at each time two houres, and between each time copying out certain writings, and meditating on them.  
There have been some which have comprehended it, by being instructed but an hour at each time, and transcribing &c. as is aforesaid.  
Once there was a Student( otherwise well learned) which desired that there might be spent with him seven or eight houres in one day, for his introduction into Hebrew. And at the end of the said time he acknowledged, that he needed no more teaching by any lively voice, but having my notes for to Copy out, he could by them and such Books as were commended to him, well enough proceed in studying the Tongue. And this need not seem unpossible, whereas there have been, which by help of Books only, have attained to much skill in the said Language, and never had therein the help of any lively voice at all. Also Clenard in his grammar doth in a manner signify the same to be possible concerning the very Greek, the difficultest of all, where he saith, Meditationes Graecanicae in artem Grammaticam in eorum gratiam, qui viva praeceptoris voice destituuntur,& litter as Graecas suo ipsi ductu discere coguntur.   

How such are to be prepared, which desire to receive in one day so much knowledge as they can in any one of the said Tongues.  
THe consonants and vowels of the Hebrew, Syrian, or Arabian, are to be known, and their names to be learned by heart, in such order as they stand in the Alphabet. Of the Greek the whole declining of the Verb {αβγδ} is to be had in memory. And of the latin there is in some measure to be understood, from the beginning of the Accidence unto the end of the declining of the four examples of Verbs.   

Of the best Order to be observed in studying the said eastern Tongues  
AS Chaldee is learned after Hebrew, so is Syrian easiest apprehended after the Chaldean. Also he that understandeth the generality of the Hebrew words will soonest comprehend the arabic: and means is now extant, whereby the greatest part of the Hebrew may in short time be understood.   

Of the rabbinical.  
BY the name rabbinical there is meant whatsoever Speech the Jews in their Writings have used as their own, which is not Hebrew nor Chaldee. And the said Tongue in Words, Phrases, peculiar Properties grammatical, and in other matters is very great. Such as are unseen herein may with few instructions understand how to study a rabbinical writing with help of the Translation. But afore one can well begin in a Text thereof, he is at least to be able for to construe and parse readily the Hebrew Psalter, and to have the knowledge of the Chaldean grammar.   

Concerning their learning of Hebrew, which understand not latin.  
WHereas an Hebrew grammar is set forth, whose Rules are in English, they which are endowed with capacity for such Learning, and will be duly laborious, may soon by help of the said Book, and other means which may be ministered unto them, understand how in some grammatical manner to examine any Hebrew Text of Holy Scripture; yea and in short time to make the Hebrew Bible in a good measure familiar unto them.  
Reward for instructing in any of the aforesaid Tongues is expected by the hour, that if after any time a Student conceiveth himself unable for progress, he need not be at any more expense. {αβγδ}.   
FINIS.