A compendious guide to the Low-Dutch language / Korte wegwyzer der Nederduytsche taal

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To the Reader.

SInce in the compiling of this GRAMMAR I have endeavoured to be short, were the matter could allow it; it must not be expected that I should prefix a large Preamble to this Treatise. All what I intend to say is, that having observed the great superfluity of matter in other Tracts of this kind, and how tedious, nay almost impossible, it is for beginners to learn such a multitude of Rules, as they have been clogg'd with in other Grammars; and considering also that hitherto never any thing of value hath been said concerning the Gender of Nouns, and the use of the Dutch Particles de and het, the chiefest stumbling-

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block for the English; I was thereby induced to try whether I could not procure a more easy method to them: and thô I found it to be a toilsom labour, yet the consideration of the benefit which I believed would thereby accrew to the Learner, encouraged me to attempt this Essay; which if it may prove to be no less perspicuous than short, and thereby contribute to a more speedy obtaining of the knowledge of the Dutch Language, I shall think my paines sufficiently rewarded.

W.S.