Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	great_a	know_v	time_n	2,755	5	3.2913	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
B00949	The pen's exellencie, or, The secretaries delight ... together with an insertion of sondrie peeces, or examples of all y[e] vsuall hands of England : as also an addition of certaine methodicall observations for writing, making of the pen, holding the pen, &c. / written by Martin Billingsley ... ; the Greeke & Hebrewe with other peeces never yet extant are hereunto by the authour exactlie added.	Billingsley, Martin, b. 1591.; Holle, H.	1618 (1618)	STC 3062.3; ESTC S123486	11,492	63

the_o pen_n excellency_n or_o the_o secretary_n delight_n wherein_o aswell_o the_o abuse_n which_o be_v offer_v unto_o the_o worthiness_n of_o the_o pen_n by_o unworthy_a pen_n man_n be_v true_o discover_v as_o the_o dignity_n of_o the_o art_n itself_o by_o the_o antiquity_n excellency_n &_o diversity_n thereof_o be_v brief_o demonstrate_v together_o wih_o a_o insertion_n of_o sundry_a piece_n or_o example_n of_o all_o the_o usual_a hand_n of_o england_n as_o also_o a_o addition_n of_o certain_a methodical_a observation_n for_o write_v make_v of_o the_o pen_n hold_v the_o pen_n etc._n etc._n write_a by_o martin_n billingsley_n mr_n in_o the_o art_n of_o write_v non_fw-la satis_fw-la est_fw-la benè_fw-la aliquid_fw-la facere_fw-la nisi_fw-la etiam_fw-la fiat_fw-la venustè_fw-fr the_o greek_a &_o hebrew_n with_o other_o piece_n never_o yet_o extant_a be_v hereunto_o by_o the_o author_n exact_o add_v be_v to_o be_v sell_v by_o io_n sudbury_n &_o george_n humble_a in_o popeshead_n 〈◊〉_d w._n holle_fw-ge sculp_v 2_o to_o the_o most_o excellent_a prince_n charles_n etc._n etc._n most_o gracious_a prince_n this_o humble_a work_n of_o my_o hand_n labour_v with_o my_o heart_n love_n first_o devote_a to_o your_o highness_n gracious_a regard_n and_o now_o with_o a_o addition_n for_o a_o publiq_n good_a with_o your_o favourable_a patronage_n put_v forth_o into_o the_o world_n humble_o present_a to_o your_o princely_a patience_n beseech_v the_o height_n of_o all_o perfection_n so_o to_o bless_v your_o highness_n in_o all_o perfection_n as_o may_v give_v just_a cause_n to_o the_o virtuous_a in_o all_o profession_n to_o admire_v your_o excellence_n with_o all_o love_n and_o service_n and_o make_v my_o happiness_n under_o heaven_n to_o be_v a_o servant_n to_o so_o gracious_a a_o master_n your_o highness_n in_o all_o humbleness_n martin_n billingsley_n the_o preface_n to_o the_o reader_n it_o be_v a_o opinion_n among_o some_o not_o so_o erroneous_a as_o ignorant_a that_o copy-book_n of_o this_o nature_n be_v of_o no_o validity_n what_o reason_n they_o can_v allege_v to_o strengthen_v so_o fond_a a_o conceit_n i_o know_v not_o sure_o it_o be_v some_o private_a one_o they_o be_v so_o loath_a to_o produce_v it_o for_o i_o own_o part_n i_o see_v no_o reason_n why_o these_o that_o be_v grave_v shall_v not_o be_v as_o profitable_a to_o a_o learner_n as_o those_o that_o be_v mere_o write_v so_o they_o be_v exact_o perform_v according_a to_o the_o natural_a strain_n of_o a_o true_a artist_n each_o letter_n be_v cut_v according_a to_o its_o true_a proportion_n and_o lose_v not_o the_o life_n deliver_v in_o the_o example_n certain_a i_o be_o there_o be_v no_o man_n live_a can_v write_v so_o exact_o but_o that_o even_o in_o the_o write_n of_o six_o line_n he_o himself_o shall_v be_v conscious_a to_o himself_o of_o some_o imperfection_n which_o by_o direction_n to_o the_o grave_a be_v a_o good_a workman_n and_o careful_a may_v be_v easy_o help_v and_o make_v perfect_a for_o imitation_n howbeit_o i_o deny_v not_o but_o that_o oftentimes_o the_o grave_a may_v wrong_v the_o writer_n if_o he_o be_v not_o very_o observant_a in_o every_o touch_n of_o a_o letter_n and_o the_o amends_n which_o he_o may_v make_v he_o in_o the_o well_o cut_v of_o some_o one_o or_o two_o hand_n will_v not_o countervail_v the_o credit_n which_o he_o shall_v lose_v by_o his_o ill_n grave_v and_o unnatural_a mishape_a of_o some_o few_o letter_n in_o one_o very_a example_n for_o this_o book_n ensue_v i_o know_v there_o be_v some_o through_o a_o envious_a curiosity_n rather_o than_o a_o true_a judgement_n which_o will_v herein_o find_v many_o infirmity_n yet_o let_v i_o tell_v they_o it_o be_v a_o easy_a matter_n to_o pry_v into_o the_o imperfection_n of_o another_o than_o it_o be_v to_o amend_v their_o own_o error_n and_o he_o that_o find_v the_o great_a fault_n common_o be_v the_o unabl_a to_o amend_v the_o least_o since_o art_n have_v no_o great_a enemy_n than_o ignorance_n this_o be_v my_o glory_n that_o i_o have_v not_o play_v the_o thief_n with_o any_o man_n though_o it_o be_v in_o my_o power_n to_o have_v do_v it_o but_o quicquid_fw-la scripsi_fw-la scripsi_fw-la whatsoever_o i_o have_v write_v i_o have_v do_v it_o myself_o for_o i_o will_v be_v much_o ashamed_a that_o any_o man_n shall_v think_v i_o have_v be_v bring_v up_o in_o a_o place_n of_o such_o scarcity_n and_o under_o so_o bad_a a_o master_n or_o that_o there_o be_v in_o i_o such_o a_o poverty_n that_o i_o must_v needs_o go_v a_o thieve_v for_o my_o skill_n i_o thank_v god_n there_o be_v nothing_o in_o it_o which_o i_o be_o not_o able_a upon_o a_o instant_n to_o better_a and_o therefore_o if_o any_o man_n listen_v to_o be_v contentious_a let_v he_o be_v contentious_a but_o let_v he_o not_o wrong_v he_o in_o his_o do_n who_o be_v able_a to_o do_v better_a than_o himself_o i_o speak_v of_o those_o that_o think_v themselves_o excellent_a and_o past_a compare_n who_o indeed_o be_v their_o name_n never_o so_o famous_a bear_v about_o they_o but_o the_o shadow_n of_o art_n and_o howsoever_o the_o spirit_n of_o such_o man_n be_v so_o elevate_v and_o raise_v even_o beyond_o themselves_o that_o they_o think_v base_o of_o every_o man_n do_n but_o their_o own_o though_o their_o conscience_n tell_v they_o they_o be_v but_o as_o empty_a vessel_n which_o always_o make_v the_o great_a sound_n it_o shall_v suffice_v i_o that_o ay_o know_v what_o they_o have_v in_o they_o and_o how_o far_o their_o skill_n extend_v and_o so_o rest_v myself_o content_v till_o time_n and_o truth_n the_o tryer_n of_o all_o man_n action_n shall_v distribute_v to_o every_o one_o according_a to_o his_o desert_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n as_o this_o little_a book_n have_v find_v gracious_a acceptation_n at_o the_o hand_n of_o he_o to_o who_o it_o be_v first_o private_o intend_v so_o i_o hope_v it_o will_v have_v the_o approbation_n of_o all_o such_o as_o be_v well_o dispose_v and_o bear_v affection_n to_o so_o excellent_a commendable_a and_o necessary_a a_o art_n assure_v they_o that_o have_v i_o have_v my_o right_n i_o shall_v have_v give_v they_o better_a content_n and_o great_a satisfaction_n of_o the_o penn_n perfection_n as_o for_o carper_n and_o ouer-curious-eyed_a man_n i_o pass_v not_o as_o know_v myself_o every_o way_n in_o the_o art_n i_o profess_v a_o workman_n that_o need_v not_o to_o be_v ashamed_a from_o my_o house_n in_o bush-lane_n near_o london-stone_n decemb._n 22._o 1618._o m._n b._n the_o pen_n excellency_n exordium_n the_o profession_n of_o the_o pen_n at_o this_o day_n be_v so_o universal_a and_o the_o professor_n themselves_o for_o the_o most_o part_n so_o ignorant_a and_o insufficient_a to_o undertake_v so_o worthy_a a_o function_n together_o with_o the_o desire_n i_o have_v according_a to_o my_o small_a talon_n to_o benefit_v such_o as_o be_v or_o will_v be_v practitioner_n in_o that_o commendable_a art_n of_o fair_a write_n be_v the_o only_a motive_n that_o induce_v i_o to_o manifest_v unto_o the_o view_n of_o the_o world_n these_o few_o line_n hereafter_o ensue_v wherein_o before_o i_o enter_v into_o discourse_n concern_v the_o art_n itself_o give_v i_o leave_v cursory_o to_o demonstrate_v the_o manifold_a abuse_n which_o be_v offer_v unto_o the_o pen_n by_o a_o number_n of_o lame_a penman_n who_o as_o they_o do_v intrude_v themselves_o into_o the_o society_n of_o artist_n and_o usurp_v the_o name_n of_o penman_n seek_v detinere_fw-la artem_fw-la in_o ignorantia_fw-la so_o by_o their_o audacious_a brag_n and_o lie_a promise_n they_o do_v shadow_n and_o obscure_v both_o the_o excellency_n of_o the_o pen_n and_o the_o dignity_n of_o those_o that_o be_v indeed_o true_a professor_n thereof_o but_o i_o purpose_v not_o to_o heap_v up_o all_o the_o abuse_n which_o they_o may_v be_v conceive_v to_o offer_v unto_o the_o pen_n for_o that_o be_v to_o lose_v myself_o in_o a_o endless_a discourse_n i_o will_v only_o point_v at_o a_o few_o which_o i_o hold_v to_o be_v the_o chief_a and_o do_v belong_v principal_o to_o matter_n of_o teach_v and_o those_o i_o find_v to_o be_v four_o first_o you_o shall_v observe_v that_o these_o butcher_n for_o they_o deserve_v no_o better_o abuse_v 1_o title_n be_v for_o the_o great_a part_n of_o they_o of_o no_o stand_n nor_o ever_o have_v have_v any_o ground_n in_o the_o art_n only_o have_v a_o certain_a confuse_a kind_n of_o writing_n void_a either_o of_o life_n dexterity_n or_o be_v itself_o and_o yet_o notwithstanding_o they_o profess_v and_o in_o their_o bill_n clap_v upon_o every_o post_n promise_v to_o perform_v as_o much_o as_o any_o whosoever_o for_o let_v any_o man_n observe_v their_o lybill_n for_o so_o i_o may_v very_o well_o term_v they_o and_o he_o shall_v see_v how_o liberal_a they_o be_v in_o their_o promise_n this_o way_n

foul_a business_n be_v contract_v and_o thereby_o much_o hurt_v effect_v be_v this_o to_o be_v lay_v upon_o the_o art_n itself_o or_o be_v not_o rather_o the_o ill_a disposition_n of_o those_o to_o be_v charge_v herewith_o who_o make_v it_o the_o instrument_n whereby_o they_o bring_v to_o pass_v evil_a action_n for_o not_o the_o use_n but_o the_o abuse_n of_o a_o thing_n be_v it_o which_o make_v it_o odious_a if_o it_o be_v otherwise_o why_o then_o foul_a imputation_n may_v be_v lay_v upon_o the_o best_a virtue_n which_o of_o themselves_o be_v immaculate_a to_o be_v brief_a the_o art_n of_o write_v be_v so_o excellent_a and_o of_o such_o necessary_a use_n that_o none_o ought_v to_o be_v without_o some_o knowledge_n therein_o since_o the_o excellency_n of_o no_o art_n without_o it_o can_v be_v make_v know_v or_o manifest_v and_o if_o any_o art_n be_v commendable_a in_o a_o woman_n i_o speak_v not_o of_o their_o ordinary_a work_n wrought_v with_o the_o needle_n wherein_o they_o excel_v it_o be_v this_o of_o write_v whereby_o they_o common_o have_v not_o the_o best_a memory_n especial_o concern_v matter_n of_o moment_n may_v commit_v many_o worthy_a and_o excellent_a thing_n to_o write_v which_o may_v occasional_o minister_v unto_o they_o matter_n of_o much_o solace_n hereby_o also_o the_o secret_n that_o be_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v between_o man_n and_o wife_n friend_n and_o friend_n etc._n etc._n in_o either_o of_o their_o absence_n may_v be_v confine_v to_o their_o own_o privacy_n which_o among_o other_o thing_n be_v not_o the_o mean_a dignity_n last_o the_o practice_n of_o this_o art_n be_v so_o necessary_a for_o woman_n and_o consequent_o so_o excellent_a that_o no_o woman_n suruive_v her_o husband_n and_o who_o have_v a_o estate_n leave_v she_o aught_o to_o be_v without_o the_o use_n thereof_o at_o least_o in_o some_o reasonable_a manner_n for_o thereby_o she_o come_v to_o a_o certainty_n of_o her_o estate_n without_o trust_v to_o the_o report_n of_o such_o as_o be_v usual_o employ_v to_o look_v into_o the_o same_o whereas_o otherwise_o for_o want_v of_o it_o she_o be_v subject_a to_o the_o manifold_a deceit_n now_o use_v in_o the_o world_n and_o by_o that_o mean_n plunge_v herself_o into_o a_o multitude_n of_o inconvenience_n wherefore_o their_o opinion_n who_o will_v bar_v woman_n from_o the_o use_n of_o this_o excellent_a faculty_n of_o write_v be_v utter_o lame_a and_o can_v by_o force_v of_o argument_n be_v maintain_v and_o although_o the_o excellency_n of_o this_o art_n to_o speak_v of_o the_o curiosity_n thereof_o be_v somewhat_o shadow_v by_o the_o dulness_n of_o some_o mechanical_a spirit_n who_o seldom_o have_v skill_n in_o any_o thing_n out_o of_o their_o own_o element_n that_o think_v write_v to_o be_v only_o a_o hand-labour_n and_o so_o they_o can_v write_v to_o keep_v a_o dirty_a shop-book_n they_o care_v for_o no_o more_o never_o esteem_v the_o commendable_a manner_n of_o fair_a and_o orderly_o write_v which_o ought_v in_o all_o business_n to_o be_v observe_v as_o well_o in_o keep_v of_o book_n for_o merchant_n and_o other_o as_o in_o all_o kind_n of_o engrosment_n appertain_v to_o the_o law_n &c_n &c_n yet_o notwithstanding_o the_o splendour_n &_o grace_n of_o writing_n shine_v most_o excellent_o in_o the_o scrol_v of_o skilful_a artist_n as_o in_o the_o write_n of_o some_o may_v appear_v to_o they_o that_o have_v insight_n and_o what_o shall_v i_o say_v of_o the_o excellency_n of_o this_o art_n be_v it_o not_o one_o of_o the_o hand_n by_o which_o not_o only_o this_o but_o all_o other_o commonwealth_n be_v uphold_v the_o key_n which_o open_v a_o passage_n to_o the_o descry_v and_o find_v out_o of_o innumerable_a treasure_n the_o handmaid_n to_o memory_n the_o register_n and_o recorder_n of_o all_o art_n and_o the_o very_a mouth_n whereby_o a_o man_n familiar_o confer_v with_o his_o friend_n though_o the_o distance_n of_o thousand_o of_o mile_n be_v betwixt_o they_o infinite_a other_o thing_n may_v be_v speak_v concern_v the_o excellency_n of_o this_o art_n of_o write_v and_o where_o i_o fail_v in_o the_o set_n forth_o thereof_o assist_v i_o with_o your_o manifold_a imagination_n the_o three_o and_o last_o thing_n to_o be_v discuss_v of_o in_o commendation_n of_o this_o art_n part._n 3_o be_v the_o diversity_n thereof_o i_o mean_v the_o diverse_a kind_n of_o hand_n which_o be_v now_o use_v among_o us._n for_o although_o they_o all_o go_v under_o the_o name_n of_o writing_n yet_o they_o be_v to_o be_v distinguish_v according_a to_o the_o diversity_n of_o they_o howbeit_o my_o purpose_n be_v not_o to_o clog_v my_o discourse_n with_o a_o enumeration_n of_o every_o idle_a hand_n that_o may_v be_v write_v for_o that_o be_v absurd_a and_o out_o of_o the_o element_n of_o a_o penman_n i_o will_v only_o entreat_v of_o those_o which_o be_v the_o principal_a and_o wherein_o the_o most_o art_n the_o great_a curiosity_n and_o the_o rare_a dexterity_n of_o the_o artist_n be_v to_o be_v manifest_v and_o they_o be_v these_o which_o follow_v viz._n 1_o secretary_n 2_o bastard-secretary_n or_o text._n 3_o roman_n 4_o italian_a 5_o court_n 6_o chancery_n of_o each_o of_o which_o i_o will_v brief_o speak_v somewhat_o only_o by_o way_n of_o distinction_n in_o regard_n i_o will_v not_o willing_o weary_v the_o reader_n with_o superfluous_a circumstance_n or_o detain_v he_o long_o from_o that_o which_o follow_v 1_o secretary_n for_o the_o first_o viz_o the_o secretary_n which_o be_v so_o term_v as_o i_o conceive_v partly_o because_o it_o be_v the_o secretary_n common_a hand_n and_o partly_o also_o because_o it_o be_v the_o only_a usual_a hand_n of_o england_n for_o dispatch_v of_o all_o manner_n of_o bunes●es_n for_o the_o most_o part_n whatsoever_o i_o may_v add_v hereunto_o the_o super-excellency_n of_o this_o hand_n in_o respect_n of_o any_o other_o hand_n for_o that_o the_o very_a denomination_n thereof_o import_v some_o thing_n in_o it_o that_o be_v not_o easy_o to_o be_v find_v out_o and_o true_a it_o be_v that_o whosoever_o do_v practice_v it_o according_a to_o the_o true_a nature_n of_o it_o shall_v perceive_v secretis_fw-la secretarius_fw-la à_fw-la secretis_fw-la therein_o many_o secret_a and_o subtle_a passage_n of_o the_o hand_n which_o few_o but_o those_o that_o have_v be_v well_o ground_v therein_o by_o a_o true_a artist_n be_v able_a to_o comprehend_v but_o i_o affect_v brevity_n to_o speak_v of_o the_o kind_n of_o secretary_n be_v in_o these_o day_n no_o easy_a matter_n for_o some_o have_v devise_v many_o and_o those_o so_o strange_a and_o disguise_v that_o there_o be_v hardly_o any_o true_a strain_n of_o a_o right_a secretary_n in_o they_o for_o i_o own_o part_n i_o make_v distinction_n betwixt_o the_o sett_n facile_a and_o fast_a hand_n of_o which_z three_z i_o shall_v god_n will_v by_o and_o by_o propose_v some_o few_o example_n 2_o bastard_z secretary_z the_o next_o be_v bastard-secretary_n and_o so_o name_v by_o the_o best_a because_o it_o be_v get_v of_o the_o secretary_n as_o those_o that_o have_v any_o skill_n may_v perceive_v this_o be_v a_o hand_n not_o so_o usual_a as_o the_o former_a yet_o of_o great_a validity_n and_o for_o diverse_a purpose_n exceed_o graceful_a as_o for_o engrossement_n epitaph_n for_o tomb_n title_n of_o book_n and_o many_o other_o use_n which_o will_v be_v too_o tedious_a for_o i_o here_o to_o recite_v 3_o roman_n the_o three_o be_v roman_a which_o have_v his_o denomination_n from_o the_o place_n where_o it_o seem_v it_o be_v first_o write_v viz_o rome_n a_o hand_n of_o great_a account_n and_o of_o much_o use_n in_o this_o realm_n especial_o in_o the_o university_n and_o it_o be_v conceive_v to_o be_v the_o easy_a hand_n that_o be_v write_v with_o pen_n and_o to_o be_v teach_v in_o the_o short_a time_n therefore_o it_o be_v usual_o teach_v to_o woman_n for_o as_o much_o as_o they_o have_v not_o the_o patience_n to_o take_v any_o great_a pain_n beside_o fantastical_a and_o humoursome_a must_v be_v teach_v that_o which_o they_o may_v instant_o learn_v otherwise_o they_o be_v uncertain_a of_o their_o proceed_n because_o their_o mind_n be_v upon_o light_a occasion_n easy_o draw_v from_o the_o first_o resolution_n 4_o italian_a the_o four_o be_v italian_n a_o hand_n in_o nature_n not_o much_o different_a from_o roman_a but_o in_o manner_n and_o form_n of_o much_o incongruity_n thereunto_o this_o be_v a_o hand_n which_o of_o late_o be_v grow_v very_o usual_a and_o be_v much_o affect_v by_o diverse_a for_o indeed_o it_o be_v a_o most_o excellent_a and_o curious_a hand_n and_o to_o be_v write_v with_o singular_a command_n of_o hand_n else_o it_o will_v appear_v but_o very_o ragged_a and_o vile_a and_o if_o the_o pen_n be_v take_v off_o in_o conjunction_n of_o the_o letter_n it_o be_v neither_o approvable_a nor_o pen_n manlike_o but_o