than either needfull or profitable being practised But it is more expedient than needful that either Stanchgrain or such others as these before mentioned bee used in all writs concerning all matters nor yet are they needful for every Writer for each Practisioner cannot nor needeth not be a perfect Artist neither is it requisite that each one that be perfect take such paines in doing of every common thing as at some extraordinarie and rare occasion when he intendeth either to honour his Countrey those who employ him or for some particular respects to demonstrate his owne cunning by the exquisitnesse and excellencie of faire Writ Concerning the squaring of Paper LEt the Paper haue dowble square that is two scores for euerie line of letters or writ the first 5. dayes when thou beginnest to learn whether thou bee to builde on an olde foundation or to cast downe the same and begin the Alphabet of new Which time being expired let the square evanish by litle and litle the space of 13. dayes or yet some moe or fewer as thou enrichest in knowledge and practise for this part of the rule cannot be strictlie observed by all alike but must of necessitie haue some larger bounds for some than for others because all be not of one age to conceiue and those that bee cannot conceiue all alike soone though they coulde they cannot with their heart practise that conception alike well If thou caÌ„st not draw the just meethe of writ lines abruptlie with the point of a Knife take helpe of Square and Compasse fill a sheet of Paper with pefect black scores all alike distant of such number as may easilie bee contained on the cleane paper whereupon thou art to write and each one of such length as thou wouldest haue the lines and of such bredth as thou wouldest haue the bodies of letters to bee to the intent that the writing paper being cleanlie and thinne and the squared paper layde under the same the scores may appeare therethorow and so make the lines both to goe directly foorth to the ende and bee of equall distance Or thou mayest eyther square the writing paper softlie with the two points of the Compasse both the scores with one travell so narrow or wide as the proportion of the letters requireth or with a knife being thicke edged at the point or else with a small piece of blacke lead as thou shalt thinke expedient As for a penne with a clift because it hath no such strength as the Compasse it cannot bee so meete for squaring for incontinent it will slitte further up in the selfe and so make the scores to bee further and further distant If thou makest choyse of the last of these meanes proponed and wouldest haue the scores that bee made therewith to evanish that both the writ may the more viuelie appeare and thine owne ignorance the lesse then rubbe them softlie with a piece of Wheate bread after that the writ is wel dried of its own accorde THE CONIVNCT MEANES TO THE WRITER Concerning the gesture or behaviour of the head and eyes in the act of wryting VVHile as thou writest let thine head bow downe as little as is possible and if thine eyes haue no infirmitie looke directlie to the penne as it is in the action lest if thou doe otherwayes thy lines or letters eyther resemble thine head by declining or thine eyes by wavering Concerning the position of the bodie SEt thy bodie somewhat straight up that it may leane the lesse to the Table except when eyther Sight or Light is deficient or yet the Table too low And the midst of thy bodie descearned by the Buttons standing endlonges or downe thy breast justlie forenent the border towardes the left hand of the page so long as it is in quarto But in greater volumes either of Paper or Parchment it will not bee amisse though thy bodie follow the lines so farre as the length of them requireth if thou usest not to drawe the booke nearer thee at the writing of each one How to holde the armes HOlde in thine armes so nigh thy bodie as that thine elbowes may remaine within an handbredth to thy two sides if the Table be not too high lest otherwise if thy right elbow â—y farther foorth thy lines ascend in the ending or if thy left elbow ly farther foorth they deâ—cend in the ending or if they both ly farther â—oorth they be either elevated and borne up or â—lse abandoned holden bowne in the midst â—rregularlie Holde not thy right arme any farther foorth â—ehinde than it may ly in over the Table beâ—ore by the length of a spanne and that by removing thereof and thy writ aye forwardes a â—ittle as lines doe multiplie on the volume to â—he effect thine hand may be the more steadfast both to write well and speedily How to holde the handes LEt thy right hand which leadeth the pen stand or depende on the ende of thy Ring â—nd little fingers rather than leane on the knockles thereof lest the penne lie aside in such sort that it neyther touch the paper with both sidâ— aye at ones as it ought nor yet haue sufficieâ— passage for the Inke And though there be littâ— congruence or correspoÌ„dence betwixt this ruâ— and these foure patternes of an hand holding penne at the fore-ende of the sayd Thomas Tripâ— his Booke and others yet who list to trie wâ— finde this no lesse woorthie of imitation aâ— observation than anie of them Let not the left hand follow the motion oâ— the right hand but remaine still on the marginâ— right forenenst whatsoever line thou writest and hold therin a Compasse made for that use of such leÌ„gth as the lines be to the intent it maâ— reach to whatsoever part of the line where thâ— penne goeth for keeping of the paper straigâ— downe that it molest thee not while as thoâ— writest And for that effect let the Compasâ— bee somewhat extended foorth the one poiâ— thereof set aboue that line which thou shal happen to bee writing and the other under thâ— same but in great Volumes where there belong lines the left hand must haue libertie â— follow the right because the whole bodie wilâ— bee eyther constrained so to doe or else aye â— the ending of one line to begin another Further let aye thine handes bee cleane leâ— not onelie they hinder the Inke to goe thorowâ— the penne but so pollute the paper that though with difficultie the same receiue writ it haue manifolde blemishes and defectes in steade of beautie and comlinesse How to holde the thombe and fingers LEt thy thombe and fingers which hold the penne and chiefelie the formost finger crooke as little inwardlie as possiblie thou mayest but rather bee stretched foorthwith upon or about the penne as it is in the motion because it is both the rightest and seemliest forme of holding THE GENERALL RVLES OF INFORMATION SECT II. Comprehending so manie Rules of Information as may be extended generallie how to
great Alphabet or else where shewing so manie as bee both conjoyned and framed together of one fashion though of diverse Names and beginne proceede and conclude nearest 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 and course of the Pen therein 121. Likewise two Verses or Lines of Writ conforme to the saide briefe Alphabet 113 with a Prologue 109 Epilogue 116. All of them for the use of all Learners but chiefelie of such as would fayne learne the common forme of Writ suddenlie leaving all others unto those who may spare longer time and take greater paynes Seaventhlie an Narration demonstrating â—owe manie strikes may suffice to cast each Single and Double Letter before the Penne be â—aken off the paper 136. And eightly many of the Rules of perfection in Fayre Writing each one whereof proved by â—n Exemple which treate of the right prâ—t ortioning measuring and situating of Singâ—e and inseparable Double Letters and conjoyning thereof within wordes 144. As for the three other Sections they are indivisible and doe containe the remnant Rules of perfection which againe doe comprehende the Constructions of Fayre Writing or the right contriving setting and ordering of Letters within Syllables 161. Wordes 167. and Sentences or Lines of Fayre Writ 170. and that even to the ende Further the Speciall part of this Booke contayneth a Generall preface unto all the foure Sections thereof and the fore-named Contentes of the same 45. And last the Conclusion treating somewhat of punctes and accentes as also Abreviations and of the Effayres and Writs wherein they bee most used and that in the ende 176. CAVSES THe causes of Writing as of other things be foure the Efficient Materiall Formall and Finall but more Metaphoricke than proper The Efficient causes are two-folde Principall and instrumentall or Immediate and Mediate the Principall Efficient is the Writer because he under GOD is the speciall agent or user of the meanes as well in applying each one to its owne use as by concurring and cooperating with them in doing of the action The Instrumentall Efficients are likewise two fold living and deade the living Instrumentes bee Members of the Writer his Bodie as the Hand Thombe and Fingers and the dead or rather not living because it may be alleadged that anie thing which never lived can be said to be dead is the pen onlie And whereas I omit and exeeme the Arme which hath the Hand and Fingers depending thereon c and Pen-Knife which is the Instrumentall Efficient of the Pen I doe neither of them wrong seeing it is but the nearest causes which â—ertaine most unto this purpose for it were â—oth needlesse and impertinent to extende the â—auses of Writing farther than neede requireth And while as the Hand Thombe and Fingers are not alwayes the Instrumentall Efficients seeing some will Write with their Feete and Toes yea with their Teeth also It is not anie such accidentall and extraordinarie practises that I promised to speake of because they are both tedious and needlesse for if those persons were not maimed oâ— else too curious they would not exerce them and whatsoever other Members they employ thereanent doe but supplie the place of the former which bee the proper Instrumentall Efficients of the action The Materiall cause of Writing or of Letters written materiallie that is without signification is the Inke for as the paper is the subject whereon so the Inke is the matter whereof and so whether it bee a common and cheape Liquor of whatsoever colour demonstrating the true lineaments and pathes of the pen as it proceedeth foorth thereof in framing of Letters or a rare and sumptuous Liquor as liquid Golde or Silver all doe consist alike of matter or substance though otherwayes they bee not equivalent but discrepant in valour for all become drie alike soone and none of them remaineth liquid more than another but indeede if thou wilt looke to the inhesion or penetration of Letters in the subject the same is rather accidentall than substantiall The formall cause of Writing is the externall shape of the Letter whether it be perfectly or imperfectly proportioned for albeit by the decent proportion of everie Letter appeareth the beautie of all the writ yet sometimes by the custome of right reading the Sense of Words may be understood though the Letters be imperfectlie written but wee should no more presume heereby to doe anie thing in a wrong manner that it may be right than to doe evill that good may proceede thereof And the finall cause of Writing is the former signifying of articulate voyce whereby the thoughts of the minde are interpreted and the demonstrating of the minde without the voyce for as Aristotle teacheth Writs or Letters are the Symboles of Voyces or Wordes howsoever it may bee thought that the Voyce beeing invisible cannot bee represented by anie externall Signe the Voyces Symboles of the Conceptions of the Minde and the Conceptions of the Minde Images of thinges which bee outwith the Minde and that both of Divine Writs and Humane Of Divine VVrits it pleased the ALMIGHTIE by the meane and ambassage of VVriting to manifest His blessed VVill to the VVorlde in all Ages but chiefelie and in greatest measure nowe in these last Ages concerning His owne Glorie and Mans Salvation which if thou wouldest knowe as thou oughtest indeede because they are the two chiefe endes wherefore it pleased Him to giue thee breath and bring thee unto this VVorlde for all other thine Errandes are but as so manie parentizes which will bee verie soone closed after thou thy selfe art closed in the Graue whereas these will accompanie thee and goe with thee to the Heavens thou must with assistance of his Holie Spirite search the Holie Scriptures and there the VVrits or Letters will bee as Signes leading thee to the gracious VVordes which did proceede foorth of His Sacred Mouth there anent to speake so and the wordes will leade thee to the conceptions and notions which were in His Blessed Minde and the conceptions as Symboles will viuelie represent unto thy minde those thinges which thou knewest not of before And of Humane VVrits that is betwixt man and man when one is astricted to performe anie point of duetie unto another by VVrit because wordes are no sooner uttered but they evanish in the Aire except eyther VVitnesses bee present or the partie all the more trustie the VVrits will signifie the words which hee spake the wordes will interprete the conceptions of his minde except dissimulation which nowe aboundeth hath made discrepance and the conceptions of his minde wordes of his mouth and subscription of his hand will tie and oblish him to performe those thinges which hee promised and under-tooke to accomplish and that eyther in whole or in parte according to his power otherwise if there were no Writing nowe I suspect there woulde bee little good order in anie common wealth or
write the most usuall Characters To follow an Exemplare ENdevour to resemble a moste perfect Patterne of fayre Writ carefullie and attentiuely till thou write eyther as well or sufficientlie if neyther thou canst surmatch it nor that it cannot bee surmatched The puritie and exactnesse requisite in fayre Writ LEt not letters of one sort of Character be mixed within words of another but each sort serue it selfe with the Capitall Single and Dowble Letters belonging to its owne Alphabet Yet there be some who intermingle Secretarie letters in words of Romane writ Romane letters in words of Secretarie writ they may mixe their Dishes together as they please but I will holde mine severall How to place Capitall letters in fayre Writ BEstow such a faire rowme at the beginning of the first line of thy writ aboue under within the squares of the same upon beginning Capitall letters as is expedient for the quantities thereof as also the whole rowme betwixt any line which thou shalt happen to write and the line aboue the same upon midle Capitals as they occur and require to bee written But beware thou neither permit them to touch the written line aboue I meane bodies or midle partes of letters therein nor yet come under the low score of whatsoever line thou shalt bappen to write except those of them that haue tayles An admonition FOr thy better observing both of the former rule and of all that follow thou must consider that every line hath two draughts either expressed or understoode leading it from the beginning to the end one therof high and another low which sometimes I call Squares and sometimes Scores but I name them never Lines nor Rules both because two of them serue only one line and that I haue other matter to speake of Lines and Rules which therefore I distinguish by severall names for shunning all ambiguitie and vncertaintie How to write evenlie without Square WHatsoever Proportion Quantitie and Situation of Letters great or small and by consequent of Sillables Wordes Sentences or Lines I meane not as they are spoken but written thou learnest by Dowble Square whether it bee by practise alone practise grounded upon skill or by consideration had by this booke of both let the same Analogie be ay kept in all Set Writ and best sorts of Common Writ aswell by imagination without the helpe of Square as by imitation with it and that not from the beginning to the ending of one line absolutelie but evē constant lie continewing from the beginning of the first Line of thy writ to the ending of the last And here followeth a perfect way whereby thou mayest both rightly and easilie obserue the same VVHen one or moe letters having heads or tailes or both or the like doe occur in words measure not the letters wāting heads or tails or both that shal happen to ensue by their heades or tailes but by their bodies at the least by so much as each one hath of a body whether whole or halfe and fayling of all by the last letters of that sort that preceeded whether in the same worde or in the worde preceeding the same meaning those letters which want heads or tailes or both as they doe that by making a meethe or marke with the pen knowne only to thy selfe aiming lineallie and justlie endlongs the scores from the one to the other which thou mayest doe both on the high square and low though no square bee expressed so long as thy skill is weake howbeit 3. or 4. letters having heads or tails should interveane With what expedition to write SInce perfect and commendable writing can neither bee learned by strength haste nor speede but by slight patience and diligence wherfore if ever thou wouldst aspire thereunto reject those wrong meanes accept the right that is write aye attentiuelie sparingly and carefully till thou either hit or shoote very neare the marke thou aimest at for 3. lines are better thus written than 30. otherwayes And how much lesse paper thou spendest by this restraint thou wilt learne in so much the greater haste so this is a rule of expedition alwayes though not in speede of doing to doe much yet in speede of learning to doe rightly But indeede afterward thou mayest endevour by degrees to such speede as not the lesse thy writ may be yet correct And further let thy skill so appeare even in the celeritie of things quickly done that there yet remaineth much more in thee the doer if greater matters should occur and more fit occasions offer to essey Such Exemplares as bee best and meetest to resemble IF thou wouldest reape any fruit by the seede of the travels which thou sowest in this arable fielde let thy Exemplars bee alwayes so exactlie and authenticklie written by an expert Writer or Notar in thine owne sight thou giving attendance at his left side while as hee writeth them that every Letter Worde and Phrase therein may obserue the whole Rules thereof in so farre as it can extend thereunto And while as thou resemblest the same if thou carefully perceiue the true progresse of the pen in casting of letters and then follow the true pathes and lineaments thereof as it departeth out of one letter and entereth into another but not with the words thereof gotten in memorie by oft writing thou wilt learne soonest with fewest Copies but if otherwise with maniest or rather with few wherein the sentences bee written backwardes because they will bee so much harder both to get keepe in minde thou so much the more moved cōstrained at the casting and conjoining of every letter to behold the Patterne for the remēbrance of the sense and forgetfulnesse of the letter bee two chiefe causes often times not only of the long time spent and litle profite obtained by many that would seeme to bee very instant and diligent in learning to write but of the great discredit infamie it breedeth to their instructors who bee innocent of their negligence for there be manie Parents who wil not haue their Children chastised but lovinglie admonished although it should availe never so litle The distance requisite in Faire Writing IN Set writ and best sorts of Common writ let all Single and Dowble Letters as also all Sillables Words Sentences or Lines bee of equal distance each one of its owne kinde from another that is to say letter from letter within sillable when it containeth diverse letters sillable from sillable within worde when it containeth diverse sillables word from word within line when it containeth divers wordes and line from line within page when it containeth diverse lines except in a Poeticall and sometimes in a Prose Abreviation within a sillable when a period occurreth within a line betwixt wordes letters in the first and words in the last require to be farther distant than otherwise In like manner not onlie when the whole first line of thy writ is great the second requireth to bee somewhat farther
distant therefrom than anie one of the rest from another but when thou shalt happen to write anie matter in Precept or Article manner it is requisite that eyther thou leaue a line in the beginning or midst not out-red and begin another as nigh as anie of the rest as occasion offereth or as the cause requireth and that for distinguishing of the severall heads of the subject or els if the precept or article conclude equallie with the line thou must purposelie leaue the boundes of a line voyde betwixt the ending of the one and beginning of the other for that same effect And in all those thinges both commanded and excepted as thou carefullie strivest to obserue the more decencie and seemlinesse thereby of thy writ wil conquest thee the greater commendation The good Order or Neighbourhood requisite in fayre writing IN the selfe same writs let neyther the head nor tayle of anie letter of one line doe harme to the bodie head nor tayle of anie letter of another line nor yet within the boundes where they stand in what soever line but let each one bee conveyed some other way from another and kept so farre as is possible within its owne marches and boundes which bee knowne by the high sort of heads being measured enlongs aboue the high square and low sort of tayles alonges under the low square which bee the indifferent sort of both as God willing shall be declared particulardlie hereafter in the owne place The nearest remedie how to bring irregulare Lines in order againe IF thou chance either through ignorance or negligence to write out of lineall order which thou wilt readily doe and much more if thou bee inclined to anie of the two that is to make lines up or downe at the beginnings endings or midst take here the next remedie for each one of those faults being 6. in number which if thou wilt use as thou mayest easilie the overthrow of that thy labour will be intercepted through timous care and that in the line immediatelie ensuing anie wrong line lest by delay thou not only anger thy selfe and others lose time and travell but likewise bring thy selfe in so evill a custome of irregulare writing that thou wilt wearie to write anie at all if thou bee such a one as hast others at command to supplie thy place First if thy fault bee in making any line too high in the beginning then begin the next line so much the lower and proceede therein the more carefullie both to the ende and in the ende Secundarilie if thy fault bee in making anie line over low in the beginning then begin the ensuing line so much the higher and proceede therein the more attentiuelie Thirdlie if thy fault be in making anie line to mount over high in the ending then let the line next following thereafter bee begunne so much the lower the amendement of the one and enormitie of the other beginning and proceeding by equall proportions and so foorth by contraries using the like remedies for the remnant of the former absurdities and that not of lines onelie but of written wordes syllables and letters also Moreover if diverse lines shall happen to goe wrong before thou perceiue thine owne errour therein then presume not to amende the same altogether in one line lest thereby the blanke bee so great that it bee more unseemelie than the fault it selfe and so the last errour bee worse than the first But if thou wouldest extricate unwind thy self out of that snare that is haue thy fault obscured at least not so readilie perceived then amende the same by little and little in such measure and number of lines following after as the errour contained which went before In what boundes to comprehende fayre Writ LEt thy writ bee seldome dispersed but rather compact which will better consist in joyning closelie together of letters or syllables within wordes than eyther of wordes with wordes or lines with lines Except at sometimes when thou art driven to anie extreamitie through straitnesse or lacke of rowme it will be tollerable to use the last compendious meanes as well as the first and that by studying seriouslie to containe thy matter in such little boundes as thou hast avoyding onelie confusion than eyther to hazard the valour thereof or haue thy labour lost yea or anie wayes disgraced Encouragement against wearinesse in writing IF thou canst not followe the Patterne so neare nor bee pleased with thy writ at all times as thou wouldest notwithstanding thou haue both convenient occasions when and necessaries wherewith yet because even fayre Writers are not able to write alwayes alike well bee not utterlie discouraged nor desist therefrom altogether although at that time thou rest somewhat male-conted for perchance thou hast some other meditation in thy minde but endevour with resolute courage to redeeme the same at other occasions when both thy minde and hand are more bent to concurre in that exercise For daylie experience teacheth that manie thinges will bee refused at one time and yet granted at another How to extract anie matter attentiuelie VVHen thou extractest anie thing of great length or valour having long lines whether on Parchment or yet Paper lay a cleanlie square of correspondent length aye so justlie upon the lines immediatelie under that line out of the which thou art copying as that neyther syllable nor letter thereof appeare or be licentiate to shew it selfe until the former line be fullie extracted and thereafter flit the square downe nearer thee a piece and cover the line therewith that followeth to the effect the line that was first covered may kythe it selfe and the matter thereof likewise bee abstracted and so foorth of everie line thoughout all the Volume before thee from the second to the penult But before thou write by any line of the matter before thee remember to make a small secret tick or mark on the margin therof just forenent the beginning of the last extracted line so do in each line of the same to the end for helping of thine owne memorie because such as be not daylie acquainted with the matter as well as the letter perceiving lightlie anie word insert in two lines together may eyther perhaps take the word written in the last line in steade of the like worde in the first or else the word written in the first line in place of the like worde in the last and so thereby anie of those lines being eyther omitted or repeated will out of all question make thy whole travell of little force or effect NOTA. Although the observation of this former Rule may seeme suâ—eâ—â—â—â—ous because the forme of extracting therein contained is not so speedie as abrupt writing yet it may bee answered that that writer may haue farre sooner done who spendeth a little more time in performing of anie thing well than he that writeth rashlie or unadvisedlie eyther by omitting or adding some things which bee ought not and so when all is done is
the 4 c 1 3 4 f 1 m 1 2 p 5 ss 4 t and the 1 x which bee likewise set downe in manner and for the cause immediatelie before exprimed but with two wantes because each one of them all hath three severall strikes except these two which haue foure to wit the 4 cc and ff Fourthlie let these 14 Letters the 2 d 2 3 g 3 4 h 5 n 9 10 r 4 u and the 2 3 4 5 y bee written indifferentlie in respect of their variablenesse and inconstancie to wit with one stroake of the penne as they occurre in anie of the two sortes of Current Writ as heere thou mayest perceiue howe they beginne And with two strikes in anie of the two sortes of Common Writ as heere their severall strikes may bee seene And last these two the 5 m and 4 pp the one with one stroake of the penne in Current Writ and three in Common Writ and the other casten with two strikes in Current and foure in Common Thus farre tende the Rules of Information concerning Single and Double Letters as for Capitals which would seeme more difficile and therefore more needfull to haue beene thus severed by partes for knowing thereby of their severall stroakes it is true if they behooved to bee first learned thou wouldest finde them harder to followe than these but since thou art thus trayned up with the knowledge and exercise of Single and Double Letters beeing the easiest sorte first and not the lesse moste needfull because all Writing standeth moste by them as sayde is I thinke it not requisite to be so tedious as to explaine the Capitals for by the sight of them in the great Alphabet and by the Rules of their Limitation thou mayest both easilie consider their number of stroakes and suddenlie resemble them And although they might bee as easilie declared in that manner as the Single and Double Letters yet because they keepe not such a constant fashion beeing so often altered eyther by adding some more worke unto them or by substracting some stroakes from them at the option of the Writer as hee findeth oportunitie they cannot well bee directed by Preceptes to keepe anie constant number of strikes Therefore I must needes applie mine Instruction in this behalfe somewhat to the ordinarie forme of Masters to their Disciples who in teaching of anie Science teach much indeede but remitte farre more to their owne private Studie and besides both they must even conceiue manie thinges which are understoode by one thing expressed a fayre Face absent by the Picture thereof present but heere the most parte is expressed and declared and the least understood and remitted THE RVLES OF PERFECTION IN Faire Writing Concerning the right Proportioning Measuring and situating of Single and Inseparable Double Letters as also the conjoyning thereof within wordes as they occurre which chiefelie consisteth in seldome lifting of the Penne while as they be written SInce thou hast beene taught that al single and dowble letters in the Alphabet haue either bodies heads or tailes and some of them al three let the like equalitie of bodies heads and tailes of letters be kept in lines of writ as they haue on double square in Alphabet whether thou haue double square indeede or but imagine thou hast it that is to say the bodies of all such letters as haue them must fill the rowme betwixt the two squares the heades goe aboue the high square the tailes come under the low square and as it is true by Doctrine of Precept so is it true by Exemple of Practise beholde the whole single and double letters in the great Alphabet if they bee not so framed measured and bounded except only the fift o which requireth sometime to be written almost aboue the high square for speedes cause when it occurreth in Current Writ after the 5 t as is probable by that same letter standing in these wordes Let so farre of the down-comming strike requiring to bee great of all single and double letters as shall happen to fall in betwixt the scores or fill up the bredth of the line bee made straight and neither ly asquint to the right hand nor to the left as these two the 2 b and 2 f excepting first these 9 the 4 a 3 4 c 3 4 que and the 1 2 3 4 s which require to decline to the right hand where the lines ende And next the bodies of all letters in the Alphabet which haue any forme of compassing or roundnesse within And if thou bee inclined to cause the most part of thy letters decline or leane to the right hand as all men commonlie are the only remedie is that thou striue against that thy inclination till thou subdue that wrong forme of declination and that by causing them leane to the left hand or margine where all lines begin saue the lines of the Hebrew Character and some others and by so doing thou mayest the more easilie command thine hand to keepe an indifferent meane betwixt both that is to make all the letters of this Character to stand straight up and downe except these before excepted Let the heades of all single and double letters which haue them be of a like hight aboue the high square whether they bee compassed heades crooked or slented but the last sort not to bee altogether so high as the other two compassed two manner of wayes close and open close compassed heades ascending small and descending great as these two the 2 b and 5 f and open compassed also ascending small and descending great as the 2 f and 2 s crooked heades going up small and concluding great as the 5 s or comming down great to the right hand as the 5 w or small to the left hand as the 5 t and slented heads ascending small and descending great as the 8 single v or concluding great as the 2 d or concluding small as the 7 f or yet beginning small up and growing great downe as the 1 or 2 t. But the heads of these two the 3 f and s require not onelie to be higher or elevated and exalted beyonde other Letters aboue the high Score but likewise wider compassed than anie of those which fall under the Rule and the heads of these fiue the 1 d 6 t 3 4 and 6 w to bee shorter or not so high as anie of these which come within the compasse thereof Let the tayles of all the Single and Double Letters bee alike lowe under the lowe Square whether they bee casten straight downe remayning still straight downe returning up or compassed about yet the sharpe pointes of the first sorte maketh the tayles thereof to come somewhat lower than the other two which therefore shall not bee counted in their length so long as the libertie thereof is not abused that is by making them so long out of measure that they doe harme unto diverse Letters in the Lines following after the Lines wherein they stand as the French sortes of these
following within a worde howbeit they bee moste proper in the ende thereof whether it require a stroake or not to beginne the same as in these wordes And the fourth and last sorte bee these eight Letters the 2 5 6 c 3 h 2 o 2 p 9 r and 3 w are excepted these three also the 5 m n and u when each one of them is written with diverse strikes and these two the 2 and 3 g when each one of them is written with one strike because the Penne must bee also lifted after the casting of each one of them to the casting of anie Letter following whether it requireth a strike or not And albeeit neyther these 13 Letters in the whole before mentioned nor these nine the 3 4 5 o 8 9 single v 4 5 6 and 7 w nor yet the 3 p when it is written with two stroakes hath anie passage to other Letters which can anie wise belong unto them by the right of shape as may bee seene to enlacke in each one of these sortes as they stand heere alone and that because each one of them endeth with a closed conclusion except the three Minum letters yet as they occurre in wordes they finde out and haue some passage wherein the Penne resorteth amongst themselues as they meete againe in words though it bee somewhat lifted after the casting of the foresaid 8 but most after the h t and sorts of g and also it goeth from any of them to whatsoever others which haue anâ—e entres and that either upon or a little under the high square and no wise to bee lifted after the casting of any of the remnant heere expressed but to arise either from off the same square or goe endlongs thereon either to any of themselues as they obviat others againe or to whatsoever others which require such a beginning whether having heads or wanting them for although all Letters joyne not together on both the sides yet usuallie either the formost side of everie one of them is joyned to the hindermost side of the letter precceding the same if it bee not the first of a worde or else the last side thereof to the letter following if it be not the last of a word Or to be short each letter must be joined unto another either before after or both and if any be exeemed or excepted from this Rule Exception for in this point it is both it must be chiefelie the said 2 3 and 6 s before reserved the 5 and 6 e in the Alphabet and the 2 o heere expressed and for thy better consideration of the particulars of this exception thou hast these Exemples which doe containe some of the letters heere specified wherein the way of the penne may bee easilie perceived THE CONSTRVCTIONS Of Faire VVriting Or right contriving setting and ordering of Letters in Fayre Writ Beginning first heere at the placing of Letters rightlie in Syllables and then proceeding from Syllables to Wordes and last from Wordes to Sentences SECT II. CONCERNING SYLLABLES A Sillable is the pronouncing of one or moe Letters joyned with one breath Seeing Sillables are composed of Single or Double letters the matter heere to bee treated is the right making up of Sillables with Letters or right placing of Letters in Sillables A Sillable may admitte anie one or moe of the Single and inseparable Double Leters or any one of the 5 separable double which follow to be spoken off to wit the 5 6 8 9 e being Diphthongs and the 5 n as the nature thereof requireth sometimes though two letters belong to a sillable one is expressed onlie another understoode and a little rowme left voyde for the same with a crooked dash made like a Comma set over it which is used in Poesies for the Verse cause as in the last Sillables of these words And so if thou canst spell or syllabe well and place the Letters rightlie which follow hereafter that is as they are directed to bee thou needst neither to make up Sillables of wrong Letters by nature or sound nor place Letters wrong in Sillables by a disagreeable proportion Let no Sillable accept of a Single v in place of a Double w as in these wordes nor a Double w in place of a Single as in these wordes but place each one in its owne rowme both conforme to the nature of the worde wherein it standeth and to the sound of the Sillable whereof it is a part which Sillable sometimes requireth a whole or full voyce as in the first Sillable of each one of the first wordes when they are rightlie set as thus and sometimes a halfe or at least not altogether so full as in the first Sillable of each one of the last words being also rightlie Sillabed Let anie beginning and middle Sillable of whatsoever English word wherein there is diverse Sillables receiue a vowell u in the midst as also in the ending except sometimes when anie of these 3 other vowels a e or o doeth preceede then there requireth a Double w and anie ending Sillable in the midst only that is anie part within the border Letters thereof and not aye the precise middle letter of the same but neither any ending Sillable of a worde in the beginning nor ending nor yet anie beginning nor middle Sillable in the beginning except some consonant either immediatlie follow or that there be no moe letters in that Sillable and so the beginning midst ensding thereof consisting all in one the proofe of sundry wherof may be perceived in some Sillables of these words A Sillable must neither receiue a Single Consonant v in the midst nor ending but alwayes in the beginning as in the latter Sillables of these words Let anie Sillable in the ending which concludeth with anie of these two Letters m and n haue them rather written short than long that is rather abreviated leaving some letters to the consideration of the Reader than at length by expressing of them all but chiefelie when that Sillable consisteth of Minum Letters because in this Character these Letters will be so much the more legeable in anie word wherein they stand as in these two But indeede two breviations are neither seemelie nor legeable in Sillables of one word and although I haue set a Double mm in the Alphabet yet it ought rather to bee written in Great and second sort of Set Writ where abreviations bee seldome used than in Small and Current Writ where they oftentimes occur Let no beginning nor middle Sillable within a worde where there is diverse Sillables rereiue a whole separable Double Letter but bee severed in twaine for two Sillables together that is one Double making two Single in sillabication the one whereof to be the last of the first Sillable and the other to be the first of the last Sillable and seldome anie manner of way either before or after a conscnant as may bee easilie noted by such letters in any of these words the right practise of
the writing of the which separable letters is chiefelie knowne at the end of a line where if they bee not separated to wit the one at the ending of one line and the other at the beginning of another line with some marke or touch of the pen left there whereby whosoever that readeth the same may know in reading of the same line that the rest of that worde followeth in the next line thine ignorance or carelesnesse will appeare by that thine owne labour but anie Latine Syllable requisite may receiue anie of these sixe the 5 6 8 9 e and the 5 ji as in these wordes Let anie Syllable seldome receiue anie of these foure Letters the 4 a 3 c 3 and 4 que when those which haue the high or higher sorte of heads immediatelie result but rather to preceede those which want heads or haue but the shorter sorte of them lest if they which haue heads bee not attentiuelie convoyed another way from the slenting strikes of the forenamed forbidden Letters the most part of all which bee aboue the high Square of the one sorte of Letter will bee stayned and defaced by the other and that because no Letters wanting heads doe interveane as may bee perceived by such Letters receiuing the like damnage in these wordes ANNOTATION The 3 or consonant j hath commomlie a tayle both when it occurreth in one Syllable alone and when it is conjoyned unto a vowell i that is made coâ—forme to the 5 ji in thee Alâ—babet or as it is insert in the foresaid word adjicio howbeit it was wont to bee contrariwayes to wit the longest j put in the last place for the more speedie writing or hastie arysing thereof from off the other it is certaine that the way now used thereof is the best way howsoever it be the long somest way it may bee that a neare by-rodde bee not ill if the passage theâ—eof bee anywayes good but I thinke the hie way is both surer and better suppoâ—e it bee somewhat about but when the aforesaid Double Letter occurreth in two Sillables together they require to bee short both alike and so become as the 4 ji in the Alphabet or as in the word â—s SECT III. Concerning Wordes A Worde is an absolute and perfect voyce wherby some thing is meant or signified A Worde is sometimes composed of diverse Sillables and sometimes of one Sillable onlie which oftentimes containeth sundrie Letters and sometimes but one And because the composing of Syllables in Wordes belongeth not to Calligraphie or Faire Writing but to Ortographie of right Sillabing I will not insist therein but holde foorthwards the purpose I haue in hand that is to declare how to place Letters in Wordes which I will endevour to doe in the selfe same manner observed in Syllables Let no Worde receiue anie of these 18 Letters the 3 a 4 d 4 10 e 6 7 f 6 h 3 l 3 n 4 8 10 r the 5 sorts of short â— and 3 t in the beginning nor midst but alwayes in the ending which therfore are called Finall Letters as in the ende of everie Word of this Sentence Let no Word admit any of these 5 sorts of one Letter the 1 2 3 5 and 6 long s in the ending as Finall Letters but alwayes in the beginning and midst as in these Wordes Let no Word receiue the 7 w in the midst but alwayes in the beginning and ending as in these because some of meane skill will readilie suppone that it be rather the 5 l and 2 b conveaned together than that which it is and so make the Word wherein it is written to bee oft mistaken except in so farre as the sense of the matter wil proue otherwise to them if they haue anie reasonable understanding as it may indeede in these wordes if the wordes which otherwayes they appeare to bee were any language And howsoever it may be alleadged that none of those two Current sortes of w the 4 and 6 can bee written with such speed as the other sorte of w immediatelie exprimed I answere the first of the two may bee as speedilie written indeede as it and although it were not yet that vvorde vvherein it shall happen to bee found I meane in the midst vvill bee easier read than if the other letter vvere in place thereof because it is so doubtfull as sayde is and as to the last I vvill not take upon mee to defende the sufficiencie of it but rather giue mine Advise to discharge it seeing it is more like unto thse two Letters the 2 l and 3 o in this manner io than that wherefore it is put and that because it hath no kinde of head to make anie discrepance from these Letters except onelie that the first of them hath a ticke set over the same which the w wanteth and is oftentimes neglected in writing aboue the Letter where it should bee set as also neyther is the single sorte of the sayde last w allowable because it is like the Current or 5 o nor yet the other w because it is so uncertaine No worde in the midst nor ending must receiue anie of these 14 Letters the 3 b 5 c 7 e 2 i 4 k 5 l 2 m n r and vowell u 4 consonant v 4 and 7 double w but alwayes in the beginning or else each of them must renounce so much of the sharpe stroake thereof as is under the lowe Square and likewise the 3 m when it hath the small compassed strike the proofe of this Rule doeth appeare by this Exemple Let anie Latine Worde requisite admitte a Vowell u as well in the ending as in the beginning and midst before a Consonant as in these SECT IV. Concerning Sentences or Lines A SENTENCE or LINE of WRIT is an Oration containing a generall pronunciation which eyther exhorteth disswadeth demonstrateth or declareth SENTENCES or LINES being the fourth or last of the Signes which signifie the Voyce doe consist in the composing of Wordes A Sentence is some times comprehended in diverâ—e Lines some times in one Line and some times in a Worde and which Worde beeing written in big Letters will some times exceede a line of great length And for as much aâ— the composing or constructing of vvords vvhereof Sentences doe consist belongeth unto the Latine Grammar I will not digresse but declare briefelie what letters should beginne Sentences and lines as well according to their nature as proportion and both how and where to beginne them and whereas they bee often times begunne otherwayes that is with other letters than bâ—e heere allowed to begiâ—ne them it is done ignorantly or negligently in the first and accidentlie or occasionallie in the last Beginne no Sentence but with a Capitall letter if it bee a beginning Sentence of a matter or page let it bee a Beginning Capitall if it bee a middle Sentence that is in the midst of a page or matter contained therein alreadie begunne let it bee a middle Capitall
likewise a middle Capitall must ever immediatelie follow a complete period at the concluding of the last Sentence preceeding the same and eyther beginne a proper name with it selfe or else make it to consist whollie of its owne associates The Exemple of this Canon may bee seene in this sentence at length When thou beginnest anie line saue the first eyther with letters wanting heads or having but the shorter sorte of them let them bee begunne so farre downe from the preceeding line as thou mayst haue sufficient rowme aboue the high Square of that line which thou shalt happen to beginne for these which haue the high and higher sorte of heards and for middle Capitals I speake of Square as if it were alwayes expressed for I am perswaded thou art not so ignorant now but thou knowest what is meaned by imaginarie Square except these foure the 4 a 3 c 3 and 4 q because they haue small slenting strikes aboue the high Score And when thou beginnest anie line with the letters themselues which haue high heads or with midle capitals let them be so hie up as thou hast rowme aboue the high Square without doing harme to anie Letters in the last written line But beware while thou so beginnest with anie letter of eyther sorte that thou take not thy measure by tayles of letters belonging to the line preceeding but by the lowest parte of their bodies on the low Square And for thy better attayning unto this Perfection it will not bee amisse though thou make 2 small tickes at the beginning of everie line to represent the 2 Squares to wit one for the high Square or high parte of the bodies of letters and another for the lowe Square or lowe parte of the bodies of them to the intent that thâ— bodies heads and tayles of letters may bee the righter and comlier situated thereupon in the bâ—ginning of the line and so proceeding justlie as on two Squares unto the ende of the line and so conseqâ—entlie to the ende of all which thou so writest lest one line bee too farre distant and another over neare and so make thy Writ both unlegeable and unseemelie The observation whereof may bee perceived in the Exemple or Exemplare of the last Rule Let the first line of Matter Page or Article haue these two letters the 3 f and s properlâ—e to belong unto it lest if their heads being made of such quantitie as in Alphabet in anie other line where there is no such voyde boâ—ndes aboue they molest some letters in the line going before as thou mayest perceiue in these Exemples of Caution but not of Imitation Let onelie beginninges of lines haue these foure letters properlie to belong unto them the 3 g 5 w 4 y and 3 z for if they bee insert in anie other partes of lines their heads and tayles will also hurt other letters and so make confusion of thy Writ the proofe of which Rule doeth appeare by these foure wordes set at the beginning of these foure lines following NOTA. There is great néede in the Pronouncing and Sâ—lâ—abing oâ— English of a sorte of a to bee pronounced like the Greeke Letter ν and oâ— an u to bee pronounced like v and if any Letter â—e superfluous in the English Alphabet it is likeliest to bee z not that it can bee well spared neyther but because it remayneth ydlest oâ— anie Letter As also these Syllables ca ce co cu neyther agree nor goe forwardes alike with the Letter c howbeit it bee a thing usuall nor t-â— for ci and sundrie other absurdities which might bee remedied if regarde were had thereunto but because they agree not well to my purpose I remit them to Writers of Ortographie THE CONCLVSION Somevvhat concerning Puncts and Accentes as also Abreviations and of the Effayres and Writs wherein they are most used NOw in ende it resteth only that I speake of Puncts Accents and Abreviations used in Writ albeit the writing of Puncts and Accents doeth belong unto this Arte yet the nature and use of them pertaineth to the Hebrew Latine and Greeke Grammars and other Authors where they be largely taught wherefore I thinke it neither needefull to declare how to write them because they are so plaine and easie nor yet to enter in discourse thereanent but remit thee unto these places where if thou bee learned thou art alreadie if not thou mayest bee sufficientlie informed of their definitions and observations and if thou bee not learned thou hast little use for Puncts and no use for Accents An Abreviation is the contracting or signifying of some Sillables or Letters and that either by one or moe Letters themselues or some other significatiue stroake or signe made with the pen knowne sometimes by Proportion sometimes by Situation and sometime by both When thou writest or extractest hastily any matter of little weight it is the right and convenient time to write the moste usuall Abreviations either of Wordes Sillables or Letters as occurreth in the matter and useth or requireth to bee abreviated or written short for manie things must be written even concerning weightie matters such as Engrosments Epistles Compts Scroles Minutes and others of that nature which neede seldome to bee written long that is with all the Letters at length or yet in the best sorts of writ And while as they be sometimes otherwise found it proceedeth rather of the will and disposition of the diligent Writer by whom they are written the Person to whome or both than being aniwayes requisite of their owne nature seeing they are neither heretable rights for long endurance perfect Patternes of learned Mens works for the Printing nor Testificats to other Nations but if it bee thy will to prolong time in so doing and declare thy cunning in writing of employments better than they use to be rather than in anie worse exercise I for my part shall both thinke thy travell well bestowed and condescend thereunto with litle solicitation Abreviations or contractions therefore being most frequent in such and the like businesse requireth to be written in Current Writ because there is little disparitie betwixt the nature of these two for as Current Writ is not chosen in such effaires for anie goodnesse in it selfe being the off-scourings and worst of all writ but onlie for the swiftnesse even so Abreviations are not used for anie goodnesse in themselues seeing they but figure Letters and Letters painte the Voyce or demonstrate the minde and so being a degree farther in place are a degree worse in nature which therefore must rather be considered Hierogly phicallie Mysticallie by signification of Sense than Sillabically by sound or sillabication of Sillable and that because the Letters themselues are not all expressed nor present whereby to make an harmonie but a great part thereof contracted and absent and so therefore are but understoode to bee or imagined as if they were Indeede some of the most legeable Abreviations may agree to the two sorts of Common hand