Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/64

. Till the time of King Henry the Eighth, there was scarce any Man regarded it, but Chaucer; and nothing was written in it, which one would be willing to read twice, but some of his Poetry. But then it began to raise itself a little, and to sound tolerably well. From that Age, down to the beginning of our late Civil Wars, it was still fashioning, and beautifying itself. In the Wars themselves, which is a time wherein all Languages use, if ever, to increase by extraordinary degrees, (for in such busie and active times, there arise more new Thoughts of Men, which must be signified, and varied by new Expressions) then, I say, it receiv'd many fantastical Terms, which were introduc'd by our Religious Sects; and many outlandish Phrases, which several Writers, and Translators, in that great Hurry, brought in, and made free as they pleas'd, and withal it was inlarg'd by many sound and necessary Forms and Idioms, which it before wanted. And now, when Men's Minds are somewhat settled, their Passions allay'd, and the peace of our Country gives us the Opportunity of such Diversions; if some sober and judicious Men would take the whole Mass of our Language into their Hands, as they find it, and would let a Mark on the ill Words, correct those which are to be retain'd, admit and establish the good, and make some Emendations in the Accent and Grammar: I dare pronounce, that our Speech would quickly arrive at as much Plenty, as it is capable to receive; and at the greatest Smoothness, which its Derivation from the rough German will allow it.

Nor would I have this new English Academy confin'd only to the weighing Words and Letters; but there may be also greater Works found out for it. By Rh