rare and doe sundrie charitable and common workes in the Countrey that all the Generations before them did not so much as once dreame of yea this same GeneratioÌ„ mocked them in the beginning but yet as they saw these Attempts accomplished and the successe proue contrarie unto their incredulous expectation they were faine to hold their peace because of the coÌ„trary sway theÌ„ of the multitude admire the working of these workes which of before they thought impossible to worke It hath seldome bene multitudes or communities sitting in their Gownes together that haue devised the maniest and rarest good works they might well after long solicitation of charitable minded men establish and up-holde them by authoritie and maintainance when they were proponed and found out to their hand but it hath beene private men for the moste parte of whome they haue often times esteemed least who haue beene inventors of all Policie and good workes in a Common-wealth It is true Men can doe no Miracles nor worke Impossibilities now a dayes yet thinges which are impossible with Men are possible with GOD for hee can worke his VVorkes by contraries as by making all things of nothing by bringing Light out of Darknesse Life out of Death and by afflicting his Sainctes that hee may glorifie them and even yet when hee worketh by Men bee chooseth commonlie the weakest Instruments for the greatest VVorkes that his Glorie may so much the more appeare yea further hee suffereth his best Workes oftentimes to haue maniest difficulties to the intent that when they are done and all impediments trodden under foote his glorie may yet bee so much the greater by how much they haue bene impeded Indeede it may bee that this Booke bee not altogether meete for young Schollers at Grammar Schooles yet I hope it will bee profitable for the elder sorte of them for al Students in Vniversities inrespect of their farther yeares knowledge and learning for if personall instruction consisteth in audible information and visible practise so instruction by Booke standeth in legeable information and imitable practise Reade the secundarie cause of the Argument and the first parte of the Narration againe VI. It is excepted against this Booke That it will bee a motiue to abstract a great number of the Youth from Writing or Vulgare Schooles and bee so greatlie prejudiciall to the estate of Vulgar Masters who must needes liue by their Calling that it will both procure hatred unto it selfe and the Author thereof and so foorth I answere It will serue for verie few of their number and so abstract them verie little for now in this Age where one remayneth in the Schooles untill hee bee fourteene yeares olde tenne leaue them before that time and although it were otherwayes they would learne so much sooner by this Booke in the companie and by the advise of a Skilfull Writer than by their owne private paines and so prejudge him nothing of his awonted Due if his Condition be To teach them for so much and not for such a space and few under that age can bee able to make much profite thereby except under the pedagogie of an Instructor Indeede I thinke it better that each one learne to write in some reasonable measure perfectlie before hee beginne eyther Grammar or Philosophie for helping him to effectate his purpose both the sooner and better than after the same but never in the midst except at some vacand houres by this Booke for the reasons contained in the fift secundarie cause of the Argument Likewise such Masters of Grammar Schooles or their under Teachers as doe professe to teach this Booke at certaine dyets to their Schollers may instruct any Childe of reasonable age or knowledge almost as soone by these meanes to bee both a Scholler and a Writer as when hee is put to a Vulgar Master only to learne to Write and therefore one transumpt heereof is not onlie requisite to bee bounde in Volum with the Latine Grammar for each one that learneth the same that hee may learne to spell English by the one as well as Latine by the other but likewise with anie English Booke for Lectors that thereby they may learne to reade both Print and Writ at once beside the knowledge how to Write Moreover this Booke will not onlie ease all cunning Masters of Writing verie much of their travels by making all their severall instructions conformable and agreeable how farre soever they be distant in place and so worke the more effect as is declared in the third secundarie cause of the Argument but I hope one Extract thereof will informe a whole Schoole how to follow their Exemplars and then farre more when each one at the least everie two or three haue one wherewith either to conferre together or to peruse day about and therefore the number of their Schollers will so much the more increase by how much more hereby their paines will be effectuall Consequentlie both this Worke and the worker thereof by the meanes will deserue loue in stead of hatred But if anie of them thinke otherwayes and would haue their hearts desire any wayes satisfied surelie they shall haue a verie sufficient mends providing they will bestow the expenses let them buy all the Extracts of this Booke and either burne them all at once in a faire fire together or else pine them away one after another in kindling of their Tabacco and I shall never quarrell them for their violence VII It is farther excepted against this Booke that not onlie there bee diverse Rules and Sentences therein and chiefelie concerning the seldome uptaking of the Penne somewhat more prolixt and large than neede requireth and therefore the more tedious to reade but likewise some Sentences repeated some parts verie barren and haske too manie similitudes applyed and that the Preambles and Postscripts are litle lesse than all the rest of the Booke and so foorth I answere to the first parte that I doe so of purpose because it behooveth tâ— bee for these two reasons First although the aged may peruse it and profite thereby yet it is chiefelie directed unto the Youth as of weaker judgement at the least neyther so carefull in using of the meanes to conceiue nor yet in practising of anie good conception yea to manie who perhaps haue never beene in a Schooâ—e to learne And secondlie because it is the first Impression and therefore requireth to bee the more ample for if it please GOD to spare mee till this Essay bee censured abroad corrected and reformed I intende to haue the Rules thereof made shorter and published in Verse both for the better getting and keeping thereof in memorie and likewise the remnant in better Prose Language and Method for the which respect I haue now made choyse rather to adventure it foorth somewhat blockish that is with the Paringes thereon than to presume at mine owne hand to pare it too neare at the first for that which appeareth to bee good to one will perhaps seeme
Writing what could they haue left of all their endevours behinde them for was not Wisedome Honoures Learning Riches and such others in the Worlde before them Rare because by all appearance the secrecie and hidde knowledge of all the precepts thereof hath not beene clearelie revealed to the Youth in former Ages yea is scarcelie yet in anie Schoole whatsoever except where this Booke is diligentlie taught And surelie I marvell that so manie Volumes haue beene written on all Subjectes Sciences and Artes except this Subject and Arte in all Nations in all Ages and by all sortes of people shewing perfectlie howe to attaine to the right knowledge and practise thereof as also that even so manie sortes of Exemplare Bookes of fayre writ are printed and extant and yet none haue shewed anie perfect way how to followe them without a guide by writing the complete Arte of Writing it selfe It is true some Writers of some Nations haue written some preceptes howe to follow some of the most usuall formes of Writ amongst themselues but never anie SCOTTISH Man hath left anie preceptes behinde him how to write anie forme eyther usuall in his owne Countrey or else-where Auncient because certaine it is that Literature hath beene from the beginning and not onlie flowrished long before the Deludge or Inundation of Waters amongst the curious Inventors of Sciences and Artes as appeareth by the charitable regarde either of SETH or some other who for the benefite and weale of the posteritie caused write or graue the same on two pillars the one of Tyle to abide fire and the other of Stone against water but likewise not long after the Floode amongst the Aegyptians as is evident both by the Skill of MOSES who beeing trained up in Aegypt that read the Tables of the Law as soone as he sawe them and of the moste parte then of the Israelites who beeing participant of the same education that doubtlesse could haue done the like action And though sufficient warrand could not bee produced for approbation of these Assertions yet naturall Reason cannot bee prejudged nor frustrated of its owne place for what Librall Science or Arte can bee older than Writing since everie Librall Science and Arte behooved to bee written both for helping the memorie of the Author in inventing and of the Studentes in learning howbeit Socrates in his time was of the contrarie opinion so it hath pleased GOD by the meane of Writing not onelie to nourish and traine up all Sciences and Artes in their infancie and minoritie but principallie to defende them so in their full age and majoritie against all assaultes of the ignorant who ever haue beene and yet are professed enemies to Learning that aye when as they destroyed anie worthie worke in one Booke it was found againe in another and hereby also GOD bee praysed was Antiochus disappointed of his malicious and devilish attempt who commaunded to gather together all the Transsumpts of the Sacred BIBLE as he supposed and then caused burne them in a terrible fire And Noblie descended because no Arte hath an Author more noble nor excellent because the Author thereof is infinitelie aboue all Nobilitie and Excellencie for doubtlesse GOD Himselfe who is the Author of all Goodnesse first devised and ordained it as a thing good also of it selfe and that eyther immediatelie as hee marked Kaine with some hieroglyphicall or aenigmaticall letters one or moe by the Sententiall signification whereof hee was perfectlie and notoriouslie knowne to bee a Murtherer or mediatelie by enduing others with the rare gift of Invention as he did manie Artificers eyther at the building of the Arke in the dayes of NOAH or at the building of the Tabernacle in the dayes of MOSES and AARON or else at that incomparable building of the Temple of HIERVSALEM in the dayes of King SALOMON VVhereby it evidentlie appeareth that this Arte hath beene invented by Divine inspiration for doubtlesse as the Heavenlie Scriptures are concluded with this caveat Let no man presume eyther to adde unto them nor diminish from them because they are so absolute complete and perfect that they containe all thinges necessarie unto salvation so it lay never in anie mans power in anie Age eyther to adde or diminish a jote to or from the number of those Letters which it pleased GOD to ordaine as so manie strong Holdes Castles and Yron Coffers wherein to preserue these our happie Evidences and heavenlie Rightes from the violence of all Tyrants and enemies of the Trueth whatsoever and for as few in number as these Letters bee they not onelie over-flowe all the Bookes in the Worlde and containe the Languages of all Nations although indeede fewer of them doe containe some Languages than others but thereby anie that are nowe living may know the minde and disposition of a man who died a thousand yeares agoe so in some sorte haue conference wirh him which is no small Miracle were not custome thereof as of manie other thinges breedeth contempt and misregarde So if all these Reasons bee rightlie weighed and considered who can justlie denie but the ARTE OF FAIRE WRITING ought to bee as well ESTEEMED because it is as HONOVRABLE as well MAINTAINED because it is as NEEDFVLL as well EMBRACED because it is as PROFITABLE as great IN REQVEST because it is as RARE as high IN PLACE because it is as AVNCIENT and as well REGARDED because it is as NOBLIE descended as anie other Arte And thus much concerning the Renowne Necessitie Vtilitie Raritie Antiquitie Authoritie or to reduce all in one the EXCELLENCIE of the ARTE OF FAIRE WRITING For the which principall Causes then as well in the Epistle as here and diverse secundarie which doe follow I haue made choyse to publish this Arte. FIrst because of the measure of Skill I haue from the ALMIGHTIE and considering that I might justlie bee called an unjust Steward of such a Talent if I should choose rather to haue it buried with mee in the Graue after I haue served mine owne use therewith than to publish and distribute the same to the weale of others both in mine owne time and after which I hope in GOD will doe more good â—a anie carefull Scholler in one daye nor possiblie anie Master Writer in three without the helpe of this Booke because a viewe of the whole Arte may bee better seene yea resumed and considered in one day by private and particular reading than understoode in manie dayes by his common and ordinarie instructing and though both were alike possible yet it remayneth impossible to anie Instructor howbeit never so cunning eyther to doe the same in such short space or although hee could to endure with so great paines Whereby it cannot bee valued GOD bee praysed nor enough considered what great good the pluralitie universalitie and conformitie of Bookes multiplied conforme to this Booke will doe abroade hencefoorth if it please Him to make way therunto and that in manie places at one time and after one manner
Money costlie Apparell daintie Cheare and wholesome Medicine yet if thou applie them not unto thy selfe to serue thee in thy necessities each one for its owne use to wit for paying of thy Debtes covering of thy Nakednesle quenching of thine Hunger and curing of thy Disease what can all these avayle thee But albeit I feare the worst yet I hope the best and upon which hope to wit that thou wilt endevour for thine owne weale to peruse this Worke I intende to convoy at the least direct thee thorow all the secret Cabinets thereof and deliver to thee the Key of the Entrie thereunto whereby if thou wilt consider the forme and remember the secret passages and turninges of the Locke thou mayest not onelie open them all and get entresse for thy selfe aye when thou pleasest but cast up the Yate so wide to the Walles that even Children may easilie follow thee in thereat and walke peaceablie in a patent Way leading to the farthest or highest part of the Arte without attending paying or praying anie Ianitour to receiue thee or Guide to conduct thee Which Chiefe or Great Key is the reading of this Booke whereby if thou bee anie wayes capable diligent and attentiue thou mayest know in short space how to write fayre and perfectlie even as well as anie who hath some reasonable beginning of learning may discover and open up anie Arte whatsoever with the Key of Reading perceiue what hidden Furniture is within that misterie by diligent viewing conceiue the secrecie thereof by due consideration and then put all to its owne right use by practising thereof both for the particular weale of himselfe and the common weale of others Thus thou both having the Keyes in thine owne custodie and the way made so patent straight and direct to the airth and place where thou wouldest bee that if thou haue anie solide judgement in-sight of naturall knowledge or gift of learning thou needest not to goe wrong for thou wilt not onelie see everie chiefe meethe and token in its owne place as was fore-tolde thee in the beginning of this thy Iourney but likewise such particular refreshmentes or varietie of new sightes in thy progresse as thou goest from one degree or perfection to another that if thou irke or growe wearie in anie part of the way it will bee as much in thine owne default as mine THE TRANSITION OR THROVGH-GOING Which leadeth to Perfection in the Arte of Fayre Writing made patent Declaring the Gradation how Meanes whereby and Space howe soone it may bee attaineâ— unto PERFECTION IN FAIRE-WRITING is neither so common nor easie as each one esteemeth it to be but so high a thing as few can climbe unto without many steppes and degrees the way thereunto is so obscure that as few knoweth it well because of the rarenesse of right Guiders indeed some may well enter on the most pathed partes thereof sometimes by guesse thorow often resorting But now I shall doe good will so farre as it shal please GOD to assist me to strike out a faire entrie in the midedst and make it so patent and easie that anie may goe thorow at the nearest and walke in all the pathes thereof who haue any errande whether they haue companie or not First I as it pleaseth GOD insteade of a more skilfull foundator haue founded this worke on such two strong Pillars bounde together with a Pende in the middest as I hope shall stand firmlie and constantlie up against all windie and stormie tempest of disputation whatsoever and these be Knowledge and Practise joyned together with forcibile Reason which bee the whole scope and meaning of the premisses the first whereof is strong the second stonger and the third both strongest and best of its owne nature though not for the use for the first and second would be soone overthrowen and demolished were not the third holdeth stronglie out against the dint of the blast and guardeth them mightily with each kinde of defence against everie sort of assault that is by rendering a relevant reason wherefore everie letter sillable word line or â—â—â—icle of faire and perfect writing is written that way rather as the contrary way But manie yea even instructors doe content themselâ—es with practise alone which is but the naked mids because it wanteth the clothing of understanding and reason on both the sides for it will endure little storme when the Winter of tryall shal come and so each one of those is not unliketo a man beside himselfe who walketh naked and is like to die of-colde because hee is destitute of knowledge and reason to use meanes for clothing and defending of his body to the which two therefore as well as the third I will haue a speciall regarde let others Practise by-guesse or misregarde Knowledge and Reason as they please And albeit this Arte be not altogether Theroricall or contemplatiue â—â—oâ—eâ—lie or of necessitie yet Theorie or contemplation is verie expedient for the easier following or better practising thereof as by exemple though Faire Writing and Ornaâ—e Latine may be both taught and learned the one without the speculatiue Knowledge and Practise of this Booke and the other without the contemplatiue Knowledge and use of a Grammar yet it cannot bee denyed but the usage of both these meanes is verie requiâ—ite for both these endes Also though a man may goe a faire lourney by land on foote yet wee will all confesse that an Horse is verie expedient to refresh him both when hee fainteth in the way and to bring â—im â—he sooner to his Iourneyes ende And next there bee two chiefe Steppes or Deprees though verie wyde to climbe up to Perfection with this Booke and without it with it there bee diverse inferiour Degrees and narrow Steppes which may all bee comprized in two the one by reading it to get the former knowledge and the other by practizing it and sometimes Exemplares written conforme to geâ— the former Practise and so consequentlie of both will proceede the former Reason as a most naturall and kindlie Birth Which may be all accomplished by anie betwixt the age of 40 and 14 who bee desirous and circumspect and that in a moneth space they using diligence the most part of each day yet I seclude none of whatsoever age or giftes with longer space for aye the longer the better and they so much the perfecter except they bee sloathfull in the midst And thereafter without this Booke two wayes with a Copie of unlegeable Writ and without it with it to extract rightlie anie matter whatsoever or howsoever written by another but keeping preciselie thine own shape of Letter which thou learnest heereby that is not to followe another anie further than it agreeth with thine owne though it should seeme never so pleasant if so bee that thine agree with thine owne Exemplare And without a Copie to write anie needfull thing thou pleasest from off thine owne minde neyther matter nor letter beeing before thee and so foorth studying
maketh it to mount aboue Nature as Water by Conduites or other Engines is sometimes forced to ascende upwardes contrarie its nature And sinallie didst thou ever see anie Man who neglected Learning when as hee might haue had it but rued the same when bee could not get it And though such a one haue innumerable penitent Condisciples laureated with him in Classe yet both his and their repentance in that point prooveth often times too late because when the Time is too farre expired it no wayes can bee redeemed O then if Childhood bee a pleasant Spring and Youth-hood a braue Sommer and yet manie thinke Learning then as heavie a Crosse as occurreth unto them eyther in the Harvest of their ripe Age or in the Winter of their olde Age. If thou were to liue another life besides this which is wearing to an ende and die another death besides that which thou must needes suffer heere questionlesse thou wouldest bee verie wise and warie the second time and both doe manie thinges which thou leftest undone and leaue manie thinges undone which thou diddest the first time But because thou hast but one life to spende heere and all thinges depending on thy diligence and behaviour in time of the spending thereof thou shouldest take holde on the short time which thou hast now while as thy Glasse runneth and that by striving to learne rather by seeing than by esseying I meane by exemple like a wise Man rather than by Experience like a Foole For Experience is tearmed the Schoole-Master of Fooles And last if thou bee anie wayes capable and diligent it hath pleased GOD by the Mouth and Witinges of one who was a learned Man to giue thee this generall comfort in all Learning whatsoever Nil tam difficile est quod non solertia vincat That is There is nothing so difficile but diligence may over-come the same Yea though it were to transforme Ignorance into Science or banish Ignorance foorth and bring Science in Endevour therefore to bee diligent and despare not of thy giftes though they bee never so meane for although the whole Cornes in a Countrey cannot bee gotten shorne with Kempers yet each one according to his habilitie getteth his owne parte well enough cutted downe I returne now to the chiefe degree of Perfection because it is moste necessarie and pertinent and doe remit the rest to thine owne capacitie and diligence as thou ascendest unto them which beeing then in perusing of this Booke after the two severall wayes afore specified is thus prescribed Before thou beginne to practise thou must for thine own weale though perhaps thou apprehende it not at the first even take some delight to reade and consider the same twise over or eyther more or lesse as thou findest thine Engine apt and prompt to receiue the Instructions therein without doubting because that is the onelie way howe to atâ—aine to the right understanding of the Arte For Exercise maketh the Minde better to conceiue the same by reading and then Practise maketh the Hand readier to performe that conception by Writing But if thou preferre or giue Practise the first place that is suffer it to goe before Knowledge it will be so much labour in vaine I meane chiefelie in perusing of this Booke seeing no right Practise can bee without good Knowledge no good Knowledge without right Instruction no right Instruction but eyther from Aboue or of such as GOD hath gifted to informe and instruct Belowe for it is hard for anie Man to teach another rightlie to doe anie rare worke which hee himselfe cannot perfectlie doe first or to tell the right Tokens of an obscure Way wherein hee never walked and so right Instruction maketh good Knowledge good Knowledge maketh right Practise and good Knowledge and right Practise together including Reason goeth nearest to Perfection of anie thing and the last of these cannot bee rightlie done without the helpe of the first no more than the Hand can rightlie prosequute anie other Action without the ayde of the Minde for as the Minde first imagineth anie thing before the Hand execute the same so the Hand cannot rightlie doe except the Mâ—nde first direct The Eyes beeing set as Spectators obeying the one and helping the other And when thou art thus prepared for Practise and art to beginne the same striue to followe the severall Directions contayned in these eight diets following I. When eyther thou enterest to learne or having somewhat learned before let the whole Single and Double Letters bee casten with double square both in Alphabet by the space of three dayes and in lines of writ two dayes which must needes bee justlie drawne after this Patterne of the like distance or eyther farther or nearer as shall bee requisite for the quantitie of their proportion II. Two dayes to want the halfe of the high square after this manner but endevouring to doe as if thou hadst it III. Two dayes to want al the high square except a little entresse thereof at the beginning and that for imprinting in thy memorie which of two thou wantest as thus IV. Three dayes to want the high score altogether and to write on the low score but still be mindfull that it is the high square which is absent because manie oftentimes mistake single square and that sometimes by making the bodies of letters halfe aboue halfe under the same it beeing in the middest and sometimes under the lowe square and so nothing aboue saue heads of letters as if it were the high square indeede and not that which it is V. Other three dayes with halfe single square VI. Three dayes yet with a piece single square both to show where lines should begin and how farre distant to make them VII Without squares altogether the space of sixe dayes And VIII Let thy writ grow to such a reasonable speede the space of other sixe dayes beeing a Moneth or thirtie dayes in the whole as thou mayest keepe everie letter thereof of such proportion quantitie and situation as thou hast learned the dayes preceeding Thus much of the Transition leading the nearest and directest way to Perfection THE ABRIDGEMENT OR BREVIARIE OF THE Arte of Fayre VVriting The Prologue IT is the precise and right Tearme now wherat I should performe my Promise in drawing of this Worke to a Brevitie and that by making an Abridgement therof Surelie it doeth neyther agree with my disposition nor intention to repeate anie thing yet if I applie not mine Instruction thorow out all the Booke and especiallie in this place as well to the capacitie of those who can write nothing at all as of others who esteeme themselues perfect enough alreadie they will comprize all the rest to little valour For intercepting of the which light esteemation I will heere through GODS Grace accomplish that which I promised to doe that thereby the one sort may be sufficiently informed instructed and the other confirmed and their Skill augmented For I am perswaded that whosoever readeth this
or anie other And a Precept to obserue I sayde for albeit it bee commonlie both in everie Studentes memorie and repeated by them yet because sundrie of them are slacke and carelesse in preparing of those Necessaries I â—ake occasion heere to reiterate the same for nothing can bee too often commanded that is not well obeyed AN ORATION BEFORE THE BRIEFE ALPHABET IF thou be one that wouldest soone learne it is for thy cause that this Alphabet of Current Letters following being 48 in number as they bee diverse in sortes are chosen and extracted foorth of the great Alphabet and casten by degrees in this manner following and that both for thy better consideration of them all in generall and imitation of each one in particular And if thou be any wayes tractable and carefull to learn thou mayst hereby vnderstand them aswell and follow them better than if thou haddest seene them written by any skilfull Master Writer after the ordinarie forme that is without more instruction than they commonlie use to giue and whereas thou mayest perhaps alledge he would both doe speake that is both write and tell how to write write Exemplars and declare how to to follow them my answere is thy alledgeance may well hold against a bare Exemplar Booke but not against this for such a booke may well shew thee the ende afarre off but it concealeth the way that leadeth thereunto and so will suffer thee to fall into an hundereth ditches if thou shouldest walke therein without a guide it sheweth thee a little indeede what to follow but neither the meanes whereby nor the manner how to follow and so is a most obscure teacher everie way yea and so senseles that it cannot doe so much as signe it s owne meaning why then is it any marvell that these bookes be for the most part to all learners un-imitable and few the better thereof that buy them It is not the beholding of a fayre complete Palace that can teach a young Mason newlie passed Apprentize to builde or bee Master of Worke to the like but hee must needes either bee present at the founding of such a one and still continue till it bee accomplished or else haue the knowledge of some secrete preceptes of that Arte or Craft either left unto him by some neare friende who hath bene a cunning Master Builder he then beeing ingenious and carefull to practise them that must first teach him But this Booke as it pleaseth GOD doeth all these things which it cannot doe it not only sheweth the ende the meanes and the way how to winne thereunto but how to shunne all dangers in the way and come safelie to the ende Aâ—d albeit it uttereth not by voyce yet it so expresseth its own meaning both by literall instruction and demonstration that any of common judgement who can reade may understand the same perfectlie without anie interpreter for by the private meanes of reading and ocular demonstration figuratiuelie of thinges read all carefull Students in humane Sciences learneth and profiteth asmuch yea I may say farre more than by publicke hearing And when all is done whether they learne by Worde or Writ by these bookes or this booke as I said of before in another place that as Practise availes litle without knowledge even so knowledge availeth as litle without practise Further if thou wouldest know the viue proportion quantitie and situation of the bodies heads and tailes of letters either beholde or single them out as they stand in the great Alphabet and how each one is compared or described in the Comparations or Descriptions thereof preceeding this place and if thou wouldest know howe manie stroakes may serue to cast each one before the pen bee lifted either beholde them or else abstract them foorth of the Narration following hereafter by which meanes thou mayest haue sufficient information and instruction thereanent and that by thine owne diligence for I thinke thou art not so ignorant but thou knowest unto whom thou workest and whose errand thou goest This Summarie or Compende then is not onlie coherent with the Comparations and Transition going before but is so knit and linked with the Narration and Rules of Perfection following after that it cannot bee separated therefrom at the least would not bee much steadable if so it were And so if the Transition bee the way which leadeth unto perfection this Compende is the ende of the way and the verie Yate or Entrie unto Perfection it selfe A BRIEFE ALPHABET OF CVRRENT Single and Double Letters THE CONIVGATIONS AND FORMATIONS OF ALL THE Letters of this briefe Alphabet Set downe both for themselues and for all other Letters of this kinde whether in the great Alphabet or else where Shewing so manie as bee conjoyned and fra med together of one fashion though of divers names and beginneth proceedeth and concludeth after one manner First ranked conjunctlie or together and then severallie that is each one with the owne Rule by it selfe declaring the true progresse of the Penne therein 1 beginneth upon the high Square and commeth somewhat backe 2 descendeth to the low Square 3 slenteth up againe therefrom unto the place where it began 4 turneth downe againe unto the low Square and 5 concludeth with a sharpe dash by ascending a little within the last downe-comming So it is almost quadrant and contayneth 5 parts the 1 small the 2 great the 3 small the 4 great and the 5 small howbeit they bee all casten with one strike of the penne before it bee taken up beginneth and proceedeth betwixt the scores as the same sorte of a but when it slenteth up againe it must bee brought from under the lowest Square after that it hath come straight downe 1 beginneth and proceedeth betwixt the Squares as the former sortes 2 commeth straight downe under the low score as the same sorte of que but concludeth evenlie backe to the left hand and 3 commeth eyther backe againe within it selfe a little for making of the last parte great or goeth somewhat downewardes as thou pleasest 1 beginneth upon the high score 2 compasseth downe under the low square and 3 meeteth eyther preciselie where it began or verie neare that parte 1 commeth from aboue the high Square slenting thereunto or somewhat farther downe as thou pleasest 2 slenteth contrariwise to the low score and 3 concludeth with a stroke going endlonges the high score preciselie from betwixt the severall slentes 1 commeth likewise from aboue the high Square slenting both therunto and down under or over the same to the low Square 2 turneth sharpe by going a piece endlonges the saâ—e 3 slenteth up againe to the high Square 4 downe againe thereon that is covering the most parte of the up-going to the low Square yet and 5 concludeth by ascending a little within that downe-comming 1 beginneth and proceedeth betwixt the Scores as the last sorte of a but slenteth up againe from under the low Score after that it hath come straight downe and 2
but beeing utterlie demolished and then re-edified both better and in a better forme it will at length obtaine the first at the least bee most in use and in greatest request and so the best VVorke whether it bee the first or last will winne the greatest commendation howe manie soever bee to presume for the same as the farthest caster of the double Cannon hath more popular prayse in presence of manie Contenders and Spectators than of few for when one essayeth his Strength and Skill and neyther having an equall to match him nor a token set up before him demonstrating some farre cast or throw of another the moste hee can doe at that time is eyther to surmatch himselfe in striving to cause everie cast freethe another or to set up some signe farre or neare to essay at another time without purchasing of anie present applause Indeede there are some common Preceptes of this Arte both universall and oft written by divers VVriters which so farre as I haue seene found right I re-iterate and confirme heere as few olde buildinges bee altogether so ruinous but either some Stones or Timber thereof may serue to helpe the newe and on the contrarie such Preceptes as bee otherwayes or agree not with this Character as it is now practised I reject altogether as more unfit for anie use than the verie Redde or off-scouringes of olde Buildinges for the one cannot doe so much as helpe to defende the Arte whereof it would appeare to bee a parte but the other although it cannot bee steadable to the walles of newe worke yet it may suffice to fill up a parte of the Rampart thereof and so ayde the same with some kinde of Fence So eyther these Preceptes haue beene wrong from the beginning or else the use of them is changed thorow long continuance of time wherein everie thing changeth except the Blessed Creator of all thinges as the moste exquisite humane Invention of olde is mightilie both metamorphosed and augmented now by some cunning Translator not that the Author thereof hath beene inferiour to him in Skill as wee must charitablie judge for the Author thereof had no Patterne at all to followe and therefore so long as his foundation standeth hee is worthie to haue place at the least his VVorke if his Name bee supprest whereas the Translator and augmenter catcheth sometimes a three-folde advantage first by inspection of the foundation layde by the foundator next by inspection of newer Editions made thereof at the least of the practises of Generations or Times betwixt the Author and him and thirdlie by the practise of the translator and augmenters owne time and that perhapes in a farre later age But these precepts immediatelie before mentioned are so few unnecessarie difficill and confused that few can bee able to practise them aright without the belpe of an instructor and although each one easilie might they coulde attaine thereby to no perfection in Faire Writing without much farther instruction and so the most complete necessarie plaine methodicall and consequentlie the best Worke out of all question will bee thought the rarest Worke and at the highest rate what Worke or whose Worke so ever it be only if GOD be the principall efficient or true Author thereof IV. It is objected by some that this Arte being published will apparentlie make such a conformitie of Writ everie where that it will bee hard to discearne one Manu-script from another and so make the Subscriptions of Evidences doubtfull I answere that is a verie naked Assertion for two causes first although it could be possible that all the Writers hencefoorth who are to bee in the World might be taught in one Schoole by onâ— Instructor and with constant Rules alike yet such would be the naturall disparitie of each ones particulare forme of doing from another that as each one differeth in Phisiognomie or face which is not one of the least of GODS miraculous Workes so also in Chirographie or forme of Letter howsoever the contrarie would appeare at the first view as manie people not well acquainted haue mistaken others oftentimes at the first thorow appearance or similitude of gesture yet with narrower marking and viver attention haue so found it otherwayes that they haue excused themselues of that their errour Indeede there hath bene some evill inclined ones who haue studied to use or rather abuse their skill in affectating counter fetting of some particular mans forme of Writ and yet could not write well anie pleasant forme rather than to hold them with a generall solide Character but it is farre easier for a faire Scribener to follow one of the most curious universall formes that is nowe used than anie particular mans ragged forme though they were both alike lawfull wheâ—eby it is evident that the writing of diverse generall formes of writ is one thing and the following of particular mens writ is another and whosoever holdeth the contrarie opinion doeth greatlie erre I confesse how manie so ever that bee well mynded doe write one matter with one forme of Letter may all agree in the substance thereof though they differ in the manner of the doing even as a whole Classe of Theologues teaching one Text or six severall Authors writing one subject in farre distant places at one time may all agree in effect though they differ in Method and yet not know one of another And last it is not altogether the Subscription of Evidences that verifieth the trueth of the matter thereof but in like manner the Seale of the Subscriber and Testification of the Witnesses which were present at the Subscribing and so though it were granted that all mens Writ might bee conforme as is unpossible ever since the confusion of Languages at the desolation of the Tower of Babell there bee diverse Lawes established almost universallie Glorie bee to GOD not onelie to keepe everie man in his Right but likewise to punish condignlie those who doe wrong V. It is alleadged by sundrie That it is impossible that the Arte contained in this Booke can bee so good as personall or veâ—ball instruction foorth of the mouth of a Professor and therefore the single or bare use of the the same cannot bee verie profitable for the Youth and such like alleadgeances I answere If anie thing that is thought impossible to bee done ever come to passe it is both the more regarded and admired when it commeth so I hope contrarie to their hope that the like shall befall it for an ordinarie and commoâ— thing hath but a light and bare applause although the evenâ— even prooue good Who thinketh it anie cunning to draw Water out of a Fountaine where it aboundeth to worke anie common labour on drye land or beare weightie burthens after the ordinarie manner by manie and strong means But there bee some few private men who haue found out wayes to convoy Water to a drye Citie worke under the Sea transport great Stones and Timber by fewe and weake meanes but verie