A manuscript sum-book in my possession is marked, "Sarah Keeler her Book, May ye 1st, A.D. 1773, Ridgbury." There are multiplication examples of fifteen figures multiplied by fifteen, and long division examples of a dividend of quintillions, chiefly in sevens and nines, divided by a mixed divisor of billions in eights and fives-a thing to make poor Sarah turn in her grave. There are Reductions Ascending and Reductions Descending and Reductions both Ascending and Descending at the same time, as complicated as the computations of the revolutions of the celestial spheres. There are miserable catch-examples about people's ages and others about collections of excises, with Proofs," and still others about I know not what, for there are within their borders mysterious abbreviations and signs, like some black magic. Sainted Sarah Keeler! a melancholy sympathy settles on me as I regard this book and all the extended sums you knew, and think of the paths of pleasantness of the present pupils of kindergartens; and wonder what kind of a mathematical song or game or allegory could be invented to disguise these very "plain figures."

Sometimes a zealous teacher would write out tables of measures and a few blind rules for his scholars. This amateur arithmetic would be copied

and

and recopied until it was punctuated with mistakes.

Many scholars never saw a printed arithmetic ;

Cocker's

ARITHMETICK:

BEING

A plain and familiar Method,fuitable to the meaneft Capacity, for the full underftanding of that incomparable Art, as it is now taught by the ableit School-Masters in City and Country.

COMPOSED

By Edward Cocker,late Practicioner in the Arts of Writing, Arithmetick, and Engraving. Being that fo long fince promifed to the World.

PERUSED and PUBLISHED

By John Hawkins, Writing-Mafter near St.
George's Church in Southwark, by the Au-
thor's correct Copy, and commended to the
World by many eminent Mathematicians
and Writing-Mafters in and near London.

This Impreffon is corrected and amended, with many
Additions throughout the whole.

Licensed, Sept. 3. 1677. Roger L'Estrange.

LONDON,

Printed by R. Holt, for T. Palfinger, and fold by John Back, at the black Boy on London-Bridge, 1688.

Title Page

and when the master had one for circulation it was scarcely more helpful than the sumbook. One of the most ancient arithmetics was written by the mathematician Record, who lived from the

year 1500 to He is 1558.

said to have invented the sign of equality=, but there is nothing in his book to indicate this fact. The terms "arsemetrick" and "augrime"

are

One and four together make.

7

Battledore,