[1051] Such was also the opinion of J. Minsheu, author of the Ductor in Linguas (1617): "I have always found that the true knowledge and sure holding of them in our memories, consisted in the knowing of them by their causes, originalls and etymologies, that is by their reasons and derivations."
[1052] His work suffered in having to strive against Cotgrave's long settled reputation.
[1053] The third edition appeared, like the first, at London, 1690.
[1054] Arber, Term Catalogues, i. 477.
[1055] 8vo: pp. 168, 142. Printed for Th. Bassett....
[1056] For instance, that for the gender of nouns, in 1678, states that those ending in "e" or "x" are masculine, and the rest feminine; in 1687, those ending in "e" and "ion" are feminine and the rest masculine; in both cases long lists of exceptions are given.
[1057] "To follow the old road I should now decline a noun or two with these articles, and six cases to be sure, to wit, the nominative, accusative, dative, vocative, and ablative, whether our language can afford them or not. But why should I perplex the learned with so improper and needless a thing? For the distinction of cases is come from the variable termination of one and the same noun. A thing incident (I confess) to the Latine tongue, but not to our vulgar speech."
[1058] A second edition of Miège's English Grammar appeared in 1691.
[1059] Arber, Term Catalogues, iii. 67, 487.
[1060] But if they have been grounded in the principles before travelling, they make quicker progress, and do not lose their knowledge.