Maitland Club > Works of Sir Thomas Urquhart

318 LOGOPANDECTEISION.
thousands, doth but confuse the hearer's understanding, to remedy which I devised,
even by cyphering it self, a farre more exact manner of numeration, as in the treatise
of arithmetick which I have ready for the press is evidently apparent. This language
affordeth so concise words for numbering, that the number for setting down, whereof
would require in vulgar arithmetick more figures in a row then there might be grains
of sand containable from the center of the earth to the highest heavens, is in it ex-
pressed by two letters.
99. Nine and twentiethly, What rational logarithms doe by writing, this language
doth by heart, and by adding of letters, shall multiply numbers, which is a most
exquisite secret.
100. Thirtiethly, The digits are expressed by vowels, and the consonants stand for
all the results of the Cephalism, from ten to eighty-one inclusively, whereby many
pretty arithmetical tricks are performed.
101. One and thirtiethly, In the denomination of the fixed stars, it affordeth the
most significant way imaginary ; for by the single word alone which represents the
star, you shall know the magnitude, together with the longitude and latitude, both in
degrees and minutes of the star that is expressed by it.
102. Two and thirtiethly, By one word in this language we shall understand what
degree, or what minute of the degree of a sign in the zodiack, the sun, or moon, or
any other planet is in.
103. Three and thirtiethly, As for the year of God, the moneth of that yeer, week
of the moneth, day of that week, partition of the day, hour of that partition, quarter
and half quarter of the hour, a word of one or two syllables at most in this language
will express it all to the full.
104. Four and thirtiethly, In this language also, words expressive of herbs represent
unto us with what degree of cold, moisture, heat, or driness they are qualified, toge-
ther with some other property distinguishing them from other herbs.
105. Five and thirtiethly, In matter of colours, we shall learn by words in this
language the proportion of light, shadow, or darkness commixed in them.
106. Six and thirtiethly, In the composition of syllables by vowels and consonants,
it affordeth the aptest words that can be imagined for expressing how many vowels
and consonants any syllable is compounded of, and how placed in priority and situation
to one another. Which secret in this language is exceeding necessary for understand-
ing the vigour of derivatives in their variety of signification.
107. Seven and thirtiethly, For attaining to that dexterity which Mithridates, king
of Pontus, was said to have, in calling all his soldiers, of an army of threescore thou-
sand men, by their names and surnames, this language will be so convenient, that if a
general, according to the rules thereof, will give new names to his souldiers, whether
horse, foot, or dragoons, as the French use to do to their infantry by their noms de
guerre, he shall be able, at the first hearing of the word that represents the name of a