Cap. 8.
1. In our tongue we have some particles q_uhi_lk can not be symbolized
with roman symboles, nor rightlie pronunced but be our awn, for we in
manye places soe absorb l and n behynd a consonant, quher they can not
move without a voual intervening, that the ear can hardlie judge
quhither their intervenes a voual or noe.
2. In this case sum, to avoid the pronu_n_ciation of the voual befoer
the l and n, wrytes it behind; as litle, mikle, muttne, eatne. Quhilk
houbeit it incurres in an other inconvenience of pronu_n_cing the voual
behind the l or n, yet I dar not presume to reprove, because it passeth
my wit how to avoid both inconveniences, and therfoer this I leave to
the wil of the wryter.
3. Sum of our men hes taken up sum unusual formes of symbolizing,
q_uhi_lk I wald wish to be reformed, yet if I bring not reason, let no
man change for my phantasie.
4. First, for peple they wryte people, I trow because it cumes from
populus; but if that be a reason, I wald understand a reason quhy they
speak not soe alsoe. Or gif they speak not soe, I wald understand quhy
they wryte not as they speak. I knawe they have the exemple of France to
speak ane way and wryte an other; but that exemple is as gud to absorb
the s in the end of everie word. Al exemples are not imitable.
5. They use alsoe to wryte logicque, musicque, rhetoricque, and other of
that sorte, with cque. If this be doon to make the c in logica, _et_c.,
subsist, quhy wer it not better to supply a k in the place of it, then
to hedge it in with a whol idle syllab; it wer both more orthographical
and easier for the learner, for c and k are sa sib, _tha_t the ane is a
greek and the other a latin symbol of one sound. In this art it is alyke
absurd to wryte that thou reades not, as to read that thou wrytes not.
6. We use alsoe, almost at the end of everie word, to wryte an idle e.
This sum defend not to be idle, because it affectes the voual before the
consonant, the sound quherof many tymes alteres the signification; as,
hop is altero tantu_m_ pede saltare, hope is sperare; fir, abies, fyre,
ignis; a fin, pinna, fine, probatus; bid, jubere, bide, manere; with
many moe. It is true that the sound of the voual befoer the consonant
many tymes doth change the signification; but it is as untrue that the
voual e behind the consonant doth change the sound of the voual before
it. A voual devyded from a voual be a consonant can be noe possible
means return thorough the consonant into the former voual. Consonantes
betuene vouales are lyke partition walles betuen roomes. Nothing can
change the sound of a voual but an other voual coalescing with it into
one sound, of q_uhi_lk we have spoaken sufficientlie, cap. 3, to
illustrat this be the same exemples, saltare is to hop; sperare to hoep;
abies is fir; ignis, fyr, or, if you wil, fier; jubere is bid; manere,
byd or bied.
7. Yet in sum case we are forced to tolerat this idle e; 1. in wordes
ending in c, to break the sound of it; as peace, face, lace, justice,
_et_c.; 2. behind s, in wordes wryten with this s; as false, ise, case,
muse, use, _et_c.; 3. behind a broaken g; as knawlege, savage, suage,
ald age. Ther may be moe, and these I yeld because I ken noe other waye
to help this necessitie, rather then that I can think anye idle symbol
tolerable in just orthographie.