English Linguistics I500-I800 - A Collection of Facsimile Reprints - Selected and Edited by R.C. Alston - No.27

Sep 29, 2026

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A facsimile reprint collection titled English Linguistics 1500-1800, selected and edited by R.C. Alston, reproduces historical materials connected to John Milton and Latin grammar pedagogy. The note discusses Milton’s tract Of Education (1644) and the suggested need for improved Latin instruction, while explaining uncertain authorship timing and delayed publication until 1669. It also outlines the book’s structure, its reliance on Lily’s grammar, known first-edition issues, and references for comments and dating, including Wing M2088.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages96

Reading Time2 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Note

Background and dating

Pedagogical scope and contents

Known first-edition issues

References and shelf-mark

2E100ELR UNIVER SITY OF STIRLING # LIBRARY | | STIRLING UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
V0i COPY
B00K NUMBER | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | To be returned by:一 11 # ENGLISH LINGUISTICSI500—I800 (A Collection of Facsimile Reprints) Selected and Edited by R.C.ALSTON No.27I THE SCOLAR PRESS LIMITEDMENSTON,ENGLAND JOHN MILTONACCIDENCE I669 A Scolar Press Facsimile THE SCOLAR PRESS LIMITEDMENSTON,ENGLAND THE SCOLAR PRESS LIMITED20 Main Street,Menston,Yorkshire,England Printed in Great Britain byThe Scolar Press LimitedMenston,Yorkshire,England NOTE Reproduced (original size)by permission of the Curatorsof the Bodleian Library.Shelf-mark:80C89 Art. In Milton's tract Of Education(1644)he had suggestedthat in acquiring a knowledge of Latin grammar the studentwould be recommended to use either Lily's grammar "orany better”.Whether or not he intended the followingwork as a fulfilment of the need for a better system we donot know-nor indeed do we know when he wrote it.Ithas been argued that,in view of his remarks in 1644,itmust have been written sometime after Of Education butexactly when is still uncertain.There are reasons forsupposing that Milton's move to larger premises in 1645and his activities as a teacher lend support to the theorythat it was produced in 1645,but why it remained in manu-script until 1669 requires some explanation,and we do noteven know who prepared it for the press. As a text-book for the learning of Latin Milton'sgrammar is an extraordinary performance,combining in amere sixty-five pages the basic principles of etymology andsyntax.It is,in fact,a sort of“abridged Lily”with most ofthe quotations taken directly from Lily's grammar.Themore complex problems of Latin idiom Milton regarded asbetter treated in a dictionary or thesaurus and he studiouslyavoids confounding the student with exceptions.That itnever attracted much pedagogical attention is not perhapssurprising in view of the vast number of already availableschool-books,and it was never reprinted. Two issues of the first edition are known:in the firstissue the only bookseller's name to appear is that of SamuelSimmons,whereas in the second(here reproduced)theimprint reads "Printed for S.S.and are to be sold by JohnStarkey...” For comments on Milton's grammar see further theColumbia text and J.M.French's article in the Journal ofEnglish &Germanic Philology,LX,1961,641-50.On theprobable dating of the work see W.R.Parker,Milton,Oxford,1968,920-21. Reference:Wing M2088.

FAQs

What is the purpose of the reprinted work described in the note?

It presents Milton’s Latin grammar material as a facsimile reprint within the English Linguistics 1500–1800 series, along with editorial context explaining its educational basis and historical background.

Why is the exact writing date of Milton’s Latin grammar uncertain?

The note links it to Milton’s remarks in Of Education (1644) and suggests later support from his 1645 move and teaching activity, but concludes that the specific timing remains unclear.

What does the note say about the content and approach of Milton’s grammar?

It emphasizes that the work condenses core principles of etymology and syntax in about sixty-five pages, largely drawing quotations directly from Lily’s grammar while avoiding complex Latin idiom exceptions.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Putri