to the eare Of the generall diuision of the simple sounds of different quality They are of three generall kindes which for distinction sake I haue named by seuerall names one of which in respect of its office I call a vitall sound the others in respect of their seuerall natures some vowels and some consonants as they haue been anciently termed of which in order shall be spoken Of the nature place and office of the vitall sound The vitall sound is that which was spoken of before whereof all the sounds of different quantitie doe arise and it is framed in the passage of the throat and it is to be noted that this sound is onely vsed in composition with the others of different qualities to expresse them more liuely to the eares of the auditors for without the helpe of this vitall sound all the other parts of the voice would be but as a soft whispering and as this sound is so helpfull to the others of different quality so are they of different quality also no lesse excellent and helpfull to the sounds of different quantities which are so framed of that vitall sound bredde in the throat so that by the composition of both sorts together the one is made a liuely helper to the other whereby that part of the voyce appertaining to speech is made most apt for the same and the other appertaining to melody is made most pleasing and thereby it commeth to passe that the voice of man is worthily accompted more excellent then any artificiall musicke hitherto inuented Of vowels what they are and of their nature The vowells in respect of the restraint of the motion of the ayre are the least extreame of all the other sounds they hauing a more freer passage of the ayre then the rest so that in them the breath is most lightly hindred and their nature is such that they cannot be ioyned in a sillable with themselues but with consonants they may so that if two or mo vowells come together they of necessity are all different sillables except onely certaine sillables arising of them which are called dipthongs and are caused by a continuance of the breath from any of the former vntill it finish it motion in the place of the last long vowel and not otherwise Of the number of vowells They are in number ten and are euery one of different quality both in respect of their different manner of framing and of their diuers places wherein they are so framed Of their different manner of framing They are framed in two sorts which are distinguished by short and long vowels both in respect of the difference of the time wherein they are vttered as also because of the different organes through which they passe being in some shorter and in some longer Of the generall framing of the short vowells The short vowels haue their passage through certaine short organes framed by the placing of the tongue in sundry partes of the roofe of the mouth Of the generall framing of the long vowells They are framed by the breath passing through somewhat longer organes made also by the help of the tongue by placing of it in seuerall parts of the roofe of the mouth Of the number of places wherein the vowells are framed They are fiue the first taking its beginning in the innermost part of the roofe or pallat and so the rest continuing forward each one orderly in his degree to the last place being more neere to the outmost part of the roofe and in euery one of these fiue places are framed one short and one long vowell the particular order of framing of which vowells in their distinct places hereafter ensueth Of the framing of the first short vowell It is framed in the innermost part of the roofe of the mouth by the help of the tongue making of small organe for the passage of the ayre Of the framing of the first long vowell It is framed in the same place by the helpe of the tongue extending lengthning of the organe through which the breath passeth almost to the place of the next short vowell Of the framing of the second short vowell It is framed somewhat forwarder in the roofe by the help of the tongue making also a small organe for the passage of the ayre Of the second long vowell It is framed in the place of the short but passeth through a longer organe almost extended to the place of the next short vowell Of the third short vowell It is framed somewhat forwarder in the roofe by the helpe of a small organe framed by the tongue Of the third long vowell It is framed in the place of ' its short but by the helpe of a longer organe extended almost to the place of the next short vowell Of the fourth short vowell It is framed also somewhat forwarder and neerer to the outmost part of the roofe passing through a short or small organe framed by the tongue Of the fourth long vowell It is framed also in the place of 't is short but by the helpe oa longer organe framed by the tongue and extended almost to the place of the next short vowell Of the fift short vowell It is framed in a small organe made by the helpe of the tongue in a place also somewhat neerer to the outmost part of the roofe Of the fift long vowell It is framed in a longer organe made in the same place by the helpe of the tongue almost extended to the inward place of the consonants which are framed in the mouth Of Consonants What are Consonants The breath in them is more strictly hindered and they be such as may be ioyned two or more in one sillable either by themselues or with a vowell or dip-thong Of the number of Consonants They are in number fourteen and euery of them of different quality in respect of their different manner of framing and of their different places wherein they are so framed thirteene of which consonants are framed in the mouth and one onely in the breast And first of those in the mouth Of the seuerall orders of framing of the consonants in the mouth They are framed in fiue sorts which I haue named by seuerall names as mutes seminutes greater obstricts lesser obstricts and a peculiar Of the particular number of each sort Of mutes there are three of seminutes three of the greater obstricts three of the lesser obstricts three and one only peculiar Of the number of places wherein these thirteen consonants in the mouth are framed They are framed in three places or regions which may be called the outward middle and inward regions and in euery of these places are seuerally framed one mute one semmiute one greater obstrict and one lesser obstrict and in the middle region the peculiar also is partly framed Of the first place The first or outmost region is the outmost part of the mouth namely the lips wherein are framed fower consonants to wit one mute one semimute one greater obstrict and
one altogether ignorant vnacquainted with such language as aptly and truly to pronounce it as any one to whom the same is naturally the speech wherein he hath been alwayes trained and instructed from the very time of his infancy this only excepted that the vnaccustomed mixture of the sounds of the voice may at first cause a more slow vtterance And for that cause hauing gathered together diuers letters and characters of sundry sorts and formes I found none so meet in respect of the accents which are necessarily to be placed ouer them as those which were shortest and of an equall length and so hauing my selfe framed some few I took the rest to make vp my number and as the best for my purpose out of the Roman and Secretary letters but haue not so vsed and placed them in the same sence and order as they were formerly in their owne Alphabets but haue diuersly disposed of them accordingly as seemed fittest for my vse and the order of the worke did best require And touching such places wherein I haue bin compelled in respect of the order of the worke to speak of matters incident to musick for that they are not much pertinent to this art of pronuntiation I haue therefore but lightly and briefly touched them referring such matters to the teachers and professors of that science And thus hauing shewed the occasion order and intent of this my treatise being the fruit of wearied times between other labors I coÌ„mit it to the view practise of those that shall think it meet for their vse or experience leauing these few verses to plead my excuse if any errors haue hapned by reason of my great want of learning ROBERT ROBINSON Candide des veniam placiduÌ„ nec contraâ—e frontem Inficiat chartas si qua litura meas Nec mihi sollucem nec praebuit aura caloreÌ„ Me tenebris cinctum frigida zona premit Sin redeat mihi fausta dies si denique Phoebus Lumine percutiat lumina nostra suo Tum nitar meliora sequi tuÌ„ menda vicissim Tot mihi lux a biget quot mihi lux aperit Vox Audienda Or THE ELEMENTS OF MANS Voice What the Voice is THE Voice is a composition of diuers simple sounds intermixed together What a simple sound is A simple sound is the least part or member of the voice framed in one only place and by one only manner proper to it selfe What a sound is and of the efficient thereof A sound is an accident effected by the opposition of these two contraries namely motion and restraint motion of the ayre out of the inward parts of the body and restraint of it in its motion Of the efficient causes of this motion and restraint The causes of this motion and restraint are primary and secondary the primary is spirituall the secondary is instrumentall the spiritual cause is alike to both the instrumentall causes are different some proper to motion and others proper to restraint Of the primary and spirituall cause of this motion and restraint The spirituall cause is the minde which God hauing made it most like to his glorious image hath placed in this Microcosmos of mans body as a principall ruler thereof vnder him giuing it such power ouer all the parts of the body that as God himselfe is the first mouer of the whole vniuersall world who only by his infinit power appointeth both an orderly course and limitation in the motion of all his workes so himselfe hath granted and ordained that the minde of man should bee the first moouer of this little world of the body wherein it is inclosed and of euery member and particle of it made fit for motion and hath giuen it a liberty to be accompted for to order restraine and limit those motions as it selfe listeth Of the instrumentall causes of this motion They are the lungs and hollow parts of the body wherein the ayre is contained which being drawne together by the motion or rather the will of the mind doe thereby expell the ayre and cause it to be mooued through diuers passages as the throat mouth and nostrils Of the instrumentall causes of the restraint of this motion They are the breast throat pallat gums tongue lips and nostrils stopping or hindering the free passage of the ayre in it's motion How the diuersity of sounds vsed in mans voice happen They happen vpon these three occasions First by the diuersity of the instruments of restraint Secondly by reason of the diuers places of restraint And thirdly in respect of the different manner of restraint both by the seuerall instruments and in the seuerall places Of the generall parts of the sounds in mans voice so occasioned There are two generall partes some different only in quantity and are most pertineÌ„t to Musique others only in quality which are most necessary for speech Of the number of sounds of different quantity They are in number vncertaine to wit in some men more and in some men lesse Of two seuerall orders wherein these sounds are different in quantity The sounds of different quantity are two-fold first in respect of their different height of sound secondly by reason of their different measure of time wherein they are sounded Of the place of framing of the sounds different in quantity and the cause of their different heights They are caused by the instrument of the throat which according to the greater or lesser restraining of the ayre passing through in one and the same place doth cause sometimes a more shrill and lowd noise somtimes a more base and deep sound but neuer differeth the quality more or lesse Of the reason of their different measure of time It is because they are sounded by a different continuance of the motion of the breath sometimes beeing finished in a shorter time and sometimes continued to a longer Of the number of sounds of different quality whereof the speech is framed They are in number certaine to wit fiue and twenty and by their seuerall instruments and places are diuersly framed in such sort as afterwards shall be spoken of Of the framing of the speeche by the said sounds of different quality Of the simple sounds aforesaid of different quality are framed sillables of sillables words and of words the whole order of speech What a syllable is A sillable is the pronouncing of one of the simple sounds of different quality by it selfe alone or of two or more of them orderly framed and knit together without any intermission of time put between them What a word is A word is either one sillable alone or els two or mo sillables hauing a very small intermission of time and stay of the breath between euery of them by which any one thing conceiued in the minde or perceiued through the sences is distinctly named and knowne from others What the speech is The speech is an orderly knitting together of diuers words whereby any thing forethought of in the mind is sensibly expressed
one lesser obstrict Of the second place The second or middle region is the vpper gummes or outmost part of the roofe of the mouth enclosed by the helpe of the tippe and edges of the tongue wherein are framed fiue consonants namely one mute one semimute one greater obstrict one lesser obstrict and the peculiar Of the third place The third or inward region is a more inward part of the mouth inclosed with the flat of the tongue very neer vnto the last place of vowels wherein are likewise framed fower consonants that is one mute one seminute one greater obstrict and one lesser obstrict What are mutes of the order of their framing and of their property The mutes in respect of the restraint of the motion of the ayre are the greatest extreame of all the other sounds the ayre in them being more strictly hindered then in the rest and they are framed by the quite stopping and cutting off of the breath from ' its motion which causeth a kind of dumbe sound to be vttered and they are made three differents in respect of the three different places wherein they are stopped And these dumbe sounds cannot well bee vttered vnles they be ioyned with some other sounds to expresse themselues by Of the semimutes The semimutes are caused by the quite stopping of the breath from the passage of it through the mouth so that in their owne proper places of restraint they giue no sound at all but by a contrary course hauing a restrictiue passage through the nostrils they thereby admit of a sound And they are made three differents also by the three places of their stopping Of the greater obstricts They are framed by the stopping of the breath not with a full restraint but leauing some small passage for it whereby it may bee breathed out at the mouth And they being not so much restrained as the mutes nor hauing so free a passage as the lesser obstricts are as a meane to those two extreames and they are also three differents by reason of their three seuerall places of construction Of the lesser obstricts They are framed after the same manner as the greater onely differ in this that somewhat greater and freer passage is admitted to them yet they haue not so free a passage as the vowells but are as a meane betweene the vowells and greater obstricts and they are also three differents in respect of their three seuerall places of construction Of the peculiar It is framed by a speciall manner onely proper to it selfe by the stopping of the breath with the tip of the tongue in the outermost part of the roofe or middle region of consonāts yet leauing it two seuerall passages between the edges of the inward gums and both the edges and sides of the tongue through which the breath passing and beating against the cheekes from thence issueth out at the mouth Of the manner of framing and of the nature of the consonant in the breast This sound in respect of the order of framing of it differeth not from a mute but to distinguish it from the other mutes framed in the mouth I haue named it as heretofore it hath been called an aspirate and it is caused by a restraint and suddain stay of the motion of the breath in the breast before it comes to the passage of the throat which giueth so small a noise as it can scarce sensibly be discerned And it being vsed before or after any of the other consonants scarce sheweth foorth it selfe but causeth those with whom it is ioyned to seeme different sounds from their true quality yet with some kind of resemblance thereunto Finis de voce audienda Vox Videnda Which is writing or the Characters of Mans voice What is writing VVRiting is an artificiall framing of certaine markes and Characters different in forme and shape for euery seuerall sound in mans voice whereby each simple sound hauing a proper mark appointed to it selfe may by the same be as apparantly seene to the eye as the sound it selfe is sensibly discerned by the eares Of the generall distinction and naming of the Characters of the voyce They are generally distinct and named by cliffes notes and letters The cliffes and notes for the sounds of different quantity pertinent to musique that is the cliffes to expresse their seuerall heights the notes to expresse their different measures of time and the letters for the expressing of the sounds of different quality pertinent to speech Of the particular naming and distinction of cliffes They are particularly named accordingly as is set downe in the scale of musique as gamut are and the rest Of the particular naming and distinction of notes They are called of musitions by seuerall names as crotchets quauers minoms semi-briefes and such like according to the different measure of time wherein their sounds are continued Of the particular naming and distinction of letters All Letters are in some sort distinctly named by their owne simple sounds except onely those appointed for the aspirate mutes which cannot wel be vttered vnles they be ioyned in a composed sillable with some other soūd yet for the better expressing of them in respect that the short vowells by reason of their slender and vnsteady organe giue but a wauering and vncertaine sound and of the consonants the aspirate and mutes of themselues by reason of the quite stopping of the breath in them giue scarce any sound at all and the rest by reason of the streight passage of the breath but a dull muttering kind of sound It will therefore bee requisite in the naming of them to ioyne the short Vowells in a sillable ending with some setled consonant and the consonants in a sillable beginning or ending with some of the vowells hauing a more clerer passage that by the cōtrarieties of each sort being ioyned and placed together both may bee made the more perspicuous and sensible to the eare euen as contrary colours layd together seeme more apparant and are better discerned to the eye that therefore euery letter might haue a certaine and perfect name I haue disposed and ordered them as followeth The short vowells to expresse the names of their seuerall letters to be seuerally ioyned with the aspirate and to enioy the first part of the sillable the long vowells being very perfect sounds to be themselues the names of their owne letters Of consonants the aspirat to be set before and ioyned to the first long vowell The mutes to bee ioyned in this order that in the inward region to the second long vowell that in the middle region to the third long vowell and that in the outward region to the fourth long vowell In which composed sillables the mutes to be first pronounced and according to this order both the greater lesser obstricts to be also ioyned to the same three last mentioned long vowells But the semimutes to be put after and ioyned to certaine short vowells that in the inward region to the
in writing So that though by a common vse and beaten practice euery particular nation can explaine themselues and pronounce their owne proper speech by their owne manner of writing yet it is so intricate to a stranger of another country that he can neither pronounce their speech by their writing nor write their speech according to their manner by hearing of it spoken whereby no perfect Dictionary or Grammer hath hitherto been made that the true order of pronunciation might be taught either to such as are desirous of the skill of languages or to children or such as are altogether ignorant in reading and writing of their owne mother tongue Besides a great inconuenience which by some I haue vnderstood and doubtlesse it is likely to haue happened in the ancient learned tongues Hebrew Greeke and Latine which though they are written and imprinted in all parts wherein they are in vse by one and the same order of letters yet in vtterance of them in speech they are so diuersly pronounced that men of different nations though therein very learned cannot one suddenly vnderstand the other in any argument or conference had betweene them in any of those languages euery one of them inclining to the manner of pronunciation of their owne country speech Hence also it hath come to passe that notwithstanding all nations of the earth came from one root our first father Adam and that God had giuen them all the same forme of body the like sences and for their voyce all instruments alike howsoeuer he had dispersed them into seuer all parts and habitations yet the people of one kingdom in their learning of the language of any other nation haue not in many yeers yea some in the whole course of their life haue not attained to such exact and perfect pronuntiation therein nor so framed their mouthes in speaking but that they might easily be discerned and discouered to be strangers of another Country Now therefore seeing in other sciences lesse vsefull the professors of them haue set them downe in exact propositions I cannot see especially considering how necessary a thing true pronuntiation is both for the grace of the speech as for the commodity and aduantage it may beget to the common-wealth as well at home as in commerce and traffique had in forraine parts with other nations by conferring with them in their own languages how in this it can be accounted vnnecessary to seeke a meanes whereby to remedy these manifold abuses and imperfections in speech and writing which are the grounds by which all other knowledges are taught and maintained That by some ruled arte the true pronuntiation of languages might be learned which hitherto is taught either by roat or written in such a confused manner as cannot but seeme vnreasonable to any mans vnderstanding howsoeuer allowed of and approued by continuance of custome But here perchance I may be charged with presumption both in respect of my selfe and in respect of my yeers in that I professe to be a teacher of a science to others hauing as it were but newly learned my letters my selfe Whereunto I answer that I learned not this my arte out of the books and workes of learned men neither would my small meanes afford me to be acquainted with their great volumes only out of a volume of Gods owne guift and making did I take this small Manuscript euen to all men hath he giuen one of the same impression whereby the truth hereof may be examined yet certainly the vnripenesse of my yeeres and want of other learning had wholly withheld me from the publishing thereof so that it might haue died with my selfe and haue benefited no man had I not cōsidered that euery one of what estate degree or condition soeuer is bound in ducty to reueale whatsoeuer may be beneficiall to his country assuring my-selfe that God doth not giue either knowledge or riches to any priuate person meerly for his owne particular vse but imploieth those on whom he bestoweth such guifts as Cisternes and conduits to conuey and impart them likewise to others Yet he therein so prouideth that themselues also be neuer empty This consideration therefore caused me to thinke it were far better though with boldnesse to set foorth that portion of knowledge which God had giuen me then with a distard-like feare for the causes afore remembred to conceale the benefit Hauing therefore laboured to finde out the true ground of the speech that the manifold errors therein might be made manifest and so auoided To the intent I might in such sort as God had enabled me doe some-what for the common good of my Country and adde something to my profession I haue framed this small treatise of pronuntiation and digested it into two parts In the first by certaine propositions applying my selfe to set foorth the elements and parts of the voice In the second part appointing for euery simple sound in mans voice sundry letters and characters that the voice being thereunto once committed may by any who shall know the vse of them without any other expositor or instructor be aptly and truly pronounced vpon view of the writing how strange soeuer the language be yet seeing my intent and purpose herein is not that I would any waies goe about or desire to alter the order of letters which of so long time hath been vsed and allowed of wherein so many worthy works haue been imprinted knowing that could not be brought to passe without much difficulty and greater preiudice then my simple iudgement can discerne I would not therefore that any man should so much looke into or respect the characters which I herein vse or the manner of the new placing disposing or naming of them as the mateer and scope whereto I intend them which is that I might with the easiest way and meetest order so paint out euery part of mans voice that euery one might be seuerally discerned from other and that the pronunciation of euery different language which hitherto is chiefly taught by word of mouth might in a more certain māner be dedeciphered with the pen wherby any that are desirous that way may not only the sooner learne the experience of any forraine language but may also with more ease and in a shorter time attaine to the true pronuntiation thereof For albeit any man in teaching of his owne country language doth by his owne speech giue the very true and absolute touch of pronuntiation yet by reason of the swiftnesse of the voice vnwonted composition of the parts thereof and dull apprehension of the eares the same is not easily and read ly perceiued to a stranger but the simple and distinct parts and members of the whole voice which are the grounds of all languages being once certainly knowne and cast into visible letters howsoeuer the order of an vnknown language doth diuersly disperse and mix them together the eye by it 's quicke and sharpe sight doth suddenly apprehend them and thereby teach the mouth of
second short vowell that in the middle region to the third short vowell and that in the outward region to the fourth short vowell And lastly the peculiar to be ioyned in the latter part of a sillable composed of it selfe and the third short vowell to expresse also the names of their seuerall letters which are heereafter formed Of the order and seuerall formes of the characters for the parts of mans voice For the sound in the throat seeing it is necessarily in continuall composition with the rest to vse any letter or marke for it would but make writing extraordinary tedious and worke little or no effect and for that cause I haue appointed it no character at all But for the sounds of different quantity arising of the same they haue excellently of long time been obserued of Musitians by placing higher or lower as the case doth require of sundry formed cliffes as ð„¢ ð„¡ ð„ž signifying thereby the faut C solfavt and G solrevt cliffes that are chiefly in vse vpon certaine parralell lynes drawne one aboue another to expres the height or depth of their sounds in such and the like sort as is set downe in the three first sections of the ensuing dyagram and by sundry notes thus figured 톼텮 톺텥 톹텥 ð†¹ with diuers others framed for the quauers Crotchets Mynoms Semibriefes and the like to expresse the length or shortnesse of the time wherein their sounds are to be continued which after the placing of any of the cliffes to guide the taking of their true heights they also set higher or lower and seuerally disperse vpon and between the same lines accordingly as the ayre of the musique doth require in such and other like manner as in the fourth and last section of the same diagram they are hereafter placed Of the formes of the letters wherewith I haue noted the vowels according to the order of their places In the first place The short vowell I haue figured thus The long vowell In the second place The short vowell The long vowell In the third place The short vowell The long vowell In the fourth place The short vowell The long vowell In the fift place The short vowell The long vowell For the more manifest demonstration of the construction of the vowells I haue here deuised and placed this ensuing figure The scale of vowells By the archlyne A B is represented the roofe of the mouth by the point C from whence the fiue seuerall lynes are drawne is supposed the roote of the tongue by euery of those lynes the tongue it selfe and by the seuerall angles of the same lynes vnder are supposed certaine eleuations bendings of the tongue which cause the fiue seuerall sounds called short vowells for which the same characters are framed and by the seuerall points vnder are supposed also seuerall eleuations of the tongue from any one of the said angles or places of the short vowells to the saide seuerall points whereby are made certaine longer organes in which are framed the fiue seuerall sounds called long vowells for which the said characters are appointed and by the circle in which O is inscribed is to be vnderstood the pipe or passage in the throat through which the breath passeth before it commeth to be fashioned by any of the organes of the tongue placed in the roofe of the mouth which in the said figure are afore described Of the formes of the letters which I haue obserued for the consonants in the mouth according to the order of their places In the first or outward region For the mute I haue put this character For the semimute this For the greater obstrict For the lesser obstrict In the middle region For the mute this For the semi-mute For the greater obstrict For the lesser obstrict For the peculiar In the inward region For the mute this For the semi-mute For the greater obstrict For the lesser obstrict Of the forme of the letter for the aspirate The aspirate I haue noted by this small oblique stroake The pronuntiation of these three letters in this order as they heere are placed xox by reason of the vicini ty of the places of construction is so speedily performed as that it seemes to be but one simple consonant sound nor indeed can it be discerned to be otherwise vnlesse by a very diligent obseruation and because the same is very frequent in speeche to write it so often at length would be troublesome Therefore for breuity sake in writing I haue contracted those three letters falling out in that order into one Character thus xx Of the distinguishing of sillables That euery sillable might be aptly and seuerally distinguished it is here meet to deuise some certaine accent or marke to bee placed ouer the first letter of the sillable to signifie where it takes beginning For that accent therefore I haue appointed onely a little point thus where there is no note of aspiration in any part of the sillable otherwise I haue expressed it with a small stroake parralell to the heads of the letters thus where the sillable hath an aspired note Of the manner of placing of the aspirate The aspirate note being for the least of all the simple sounds is as it were too small to bee accompted or placed amongst the other letters yet too big to be tearmed an accent Neuerthelesse for that it is of so frequent vse amongst the other letters to auoid tediousnes in writing and for ease of worke I haue appointed it as aforesaid this small Character to be fixed to either or both ends of the long accent as the case shall require in this order to wit if a sillable begin with an aspirat and end not with it which I call former aspired then to fix it at the hither end of the accent towards the left hand thus if a sillable begin without an aspirate and end aspired which I call latter aspired theÌ„ to fix at it the further end of the accent next vnto the right haÌ„d thus and if both beginning and ending of a sillable be aspired which I call double aspired then to fix it at both ends of the accent thus Of Tones There is yet one thing more very necessary to be known and carefully to be obserued in pronuntiation to wit the eleuation and depression of the voyce vsed in speech being in manner different from the rising and falling of the voyce in the sounds of different quantity spoken of before and this kind of lifting vp and depressing of the voyce is caused by a contraction of the lungs and hollow parts of the body wherein the ayre is inclosed sometimes being more speedy sending foorth the ayre through ' its passages with a swift motion whereby the sound of the speech is made more forceable to be heard and sometimes being more slow more weakly pressing forth the ayre wherby the sound of the speech is somewhat lessened and by this different motion and expulsion of the ayre three kinds of vtterances vsuall in the