The new invention, intituled, calligraphia: or, the arte of faire writing vvherein is comprehended the whole necessarie rules thereof; by which anie who is capable and carefull to learne, may without the helpe of any other teacher, under God, both bee informed concerning the right writing of the most usuall characters in the world; and perfectly instructed how to write one of the most frequent in Europe, called the secretarie. ... By His Majesties scribe, Master David Browne.

Concerning the Pennar and Inke-horne.

WHosoever thou be that art subject to write much and often, choose thy Pennar and Ink-horne of such quantitie, as that the one may containe plentie of pennes, and the other store of Inke: neither yet be ashamed to haue them of such a common and easie forme, as they may be alwayes sepera∣ted, and yet kept together with a durable string, wherewith they must bee hung alwayes at thy Girdle (either before or behind as thou pleasest) wheresoever thou resortest, and not hid in thy Pocket. But there be some so inclined to civilitie, (or rather to the loue of their own reputation) that although they haue purchased large meanes by the meane of writing, and daylie addeth there unto, beside the defraying of all charges otherwise; yet are ashamed in the verie middest of their profession to honour the Calling that farre, (which hath both honoured and preferred them so much) as to carrie those

necessaries in the most frequent manner, with∣out the which, or the like, they could not put it in practise, and so want all which thereby they obtaine: whereas manie others which per∣haps deserue more, and receiue lesse, may bee easilie knowne by these tokens of what profes∣sion they be; which is a thing verie seemly, yea, and agreeable to the custome observed as well by sundrie Artists, as Artificers of other Artes and vocations, who think it no disparagement. Againe, not onelie the Pennars, or Penne-cases of the sortes that bee carried in private manner, doe holde few pennes, and those verie short; but both the naturall heate of the body maketh the colour of the Inke, kept in these Ink-horns, soone to fade, after it is dispersed in writ; and suddenlie to exhaust, and bee dried up in the Inke-horne; or at least become so thicke, that it will stoppe its owne passage through the clift of the Penne. As also aye before thou begin to write, they require to bee taken sundrie, in so manie pieces, that it is harde either to keepe them so long as thou writest; or after thou hast written, to get them conveaned, and set toge∣ther againe.

Haue no Inke-horne, but that which may bee closeli•• stopped as thou carriest it; left the Inke over-flow, and pollute thine Apparell, whereof if the colour differ from the colour of the Inke, it will bee harde to finde remedie for

reparing of the fault, except the more timelie regard bee had thereunto, before the penetra∣tion and drinking in thereof in that wrong sub∣ject. That sort of Inke-horne, which (besides the stopper) is all of one piece, alike abroade, both aboue, to receiue the penne easilie, with∣out doing harme thereunto; and under to stand on, is the best to bee chosen: but none of those which are high or long, whether consisting of one piece or moe, because in taking Inke foorth thereof, the penne not onelie spilleth often times on their bottome, because the deepenesse thereof is uncertaine: but also even in the en∣trie, since it is too narrow. And that which is yet worse, a great part of the pipe thereof will bee so defiled with Inke, (by reason of the said deepnesse) that it will reedilie blotte thy fin∣gers, and so cause thy fingers to blotte the pa∣per. Last, while as thou perusest these neces∣saries, let them either hing still on thy Belt, if then thou hast not much to write, and that the Inke abound not: or else stand on the writing table, beside thine hand which writeth, because it is nearest and readiest there: lest otherwise, if either at the left hand, or yet directlie before thee, some of the Inke fall out of the penne by the way, in transporting thereof over thy writ, and so likewise disgrace it.