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.

THE PREFACE.

THE Causes wherefore I in∣sist not particularlie, in anie sort of Character, but the SE∣CRETARIE, bee three in number: First, because maniest like it best, both for the excel∣lencie and celeritie thereof: and

therefore is nowe used through out the moste part of EVROPE, but chiefelie in His Ma∣jesties Dominions. Secondlie, for the Naturall Affection I owe to His Highnesse, all His Sub∣jectes, (whereof I am one) and to all His Ma∣jesties Realmes, but chiefelie SCOTLAND, my natiue Countrey. And thirdlie, for short∣nesse cause: for doubtlesse if the whole sortes of Characters, which bee comprehended under the generall Name, WRITING, and whereof this SECRETARIE is one, were as largelie taught, by Rules of Arte, as it is, and all the par∣ticular differences thereof declared, I suspect that Worke would bee so tedious, and the Vo∣lume thereof so great, that the space of a Mans Dayes would bee over little to write it, and not too much to reade it.

Therfore I haue made choyse to giue speciall Rules for one sort of Character, and generall Rules for all the rest: howbeit manie of the Spe∣ciall Rules will agree also unto sundrie of the most usuall Characters: (although not to them all, nor yet strictlie to everie part of those, unto which they agree) and so, both Generall and Speciall, in effect, serving as Rules, and the di∣verse sortes of Writ comprehended under the Name, SECRETARIE, as Examples: because in anie Grammar all the Language is not expres∣sed: for then it would spender the whole dayes of the Aged, let bee of the Youth, to passe tho∣rowe:

but compendiouslie directed unto by Preceptes, and briefelie demonstrated by Ex∣amples: yea, often times one thing expressed, representing an 100. thinges understood. And as Grammars were made of certaine Observa∣tions, partlie heard by the Eare, and partlie col∣lected foorth of Auncient Authors of before: so is this Grammar made to aggree with the most easie and common Practique, observed by all skilfull and fayre Writers, which haue beene, and nowe are (as it pleaseth God.) And where∣as the Practise of fayre Writing doeth preceede the Preceptes thereof, so manie Latine Authors are anteriour to the Latine Grammar. And it is certaine, there hath beene as perfect Latine be∣fore there was a Grammar, as there was fayre Writing before this Booke, which is the Gram∣mar thereof. And if the Latine Grammar bee the Key of all Learning, this Grammar is the Key of that Grammar: because it can hardly bee learned without the use of Writing: Ergo, the Grammar of fayre Writing is the Key of all Learning: For, to haue a Key locked up, and want the Key of the Place where it lieth, is (as it were) to haue a fine Bow, but it is in the Ca∣stle. And insomuch as some doe alleadge, that the Latine Grammar may bee learned without the use of Writing, or the Grammar thereof: the Answere is, So may Learning bee as well had without the use of the Latine Grammar: I

meane, by exercising the Works of ancient Au∣thors for obtaining of the language, till they aspire thereby unto farther learning: but none of them so soone, nor yet so well, as by these ordinarie meanes. And albeit I had given the Title [GRAMMAR] unto this Booke, it had not bene amisse; because it would not haue bene repugnant to the nature thereof: for the origi∣nall worde, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, signifiing Litera, beeing generallie applyed, may be aswell, yea, (I may say) better, attributed unto letters, than unto languages. And as touching the common use of a Grammar, such as Declining, Comparing, Conjugating, Forming, and Constructing of Words; here the like of all these things is done of letters; howbeit in another forme, which is proper unto it selfe: for, as a diclinable Worde is declined through diverse Cases, from the straight Nominatiue; so is a variable Letter bo∣wed and chainged from the right Proportion thereof, through divers occasions of practise, & otherwise framed in one written Word, than in another; as likewise it is compared or made equall, with another of the owne kinde, conjugated or conjoyned, formed or fashioned, and constructed or set, at diverse occasions, in diverse written Words, as the proprieties there∣of doe require. But yet since the Title [GRAM∣MAR] is alreadie chosen, and become common to diverse languages, I will not insist to compare

with them, nor striue for it: both because I haue other as good Titles at command; and they are more to bee pitied nor envyed, which haue but one Title amongst them all: and what regarde, if it were not borrowed too?

And albeit strictlie, (that is, in everie jot) the Rules and Exemples of this Booke, doe not agree to all the most usuall sortes of Cha∣racters, but to the most part; yet largely th••y may all be both better considered, and followed thereby, than otherwayes: and any diligent Practiser that is experimented, by joyning both the Generall and Speciall parts in practise together, may easilie remoue anie little diffe∣rence betwixt whatsoever Rule thereof, and the like place of whatsoever other Character, which it shall happen them to choose rather than the Secretarie. It is true, I can hinder none to preferre any Character they please there∣unto; but so farre as I can perceiue, the extent of the Rules thereof reacheth as farre, as the boundes of anie other: and therefore, they may both easier bee conferred therewith, to knowe the difference, and applied thereunto, to learne the Skill and practise.

I acknowledge, it is now time that wee come to the particular forme how to write: but first thou must know what to write, and I must propone unto thee some things to be considered, for thy better enterprising of the action: for if thou runnest rashlie thereunto, without some far∣ther

consultation, it can no wayes bee rightlie accom∣plished.

Thou must consider, that all usuall writing doeth consist in the right composing of the afore saide Symboles, or Signes of the Voyce, which bee Letters, Syllables, Wordes, and Sen∣tences, or Lines; because in expressing of them, all kinde of Articulate Voyce, may bee under∣stoode; and consequentlie, all Thoughtes of the M••nde uttered: for Syllables doe consist of Let∣ters, Wordes of Syllables, and Sentences, or Lines, of VVordes.

They are justlie called Symboles, or Signes of the Voyce, as well for the sound which they signifie, beeing written, and is expressed, while as their Names are uttered, being read; as either for the matter of their composition, or manner of their proportion: as I shall doe good will pre∣sentlie to make plaine in particular.

In a Letter are foure thinges to bee conside∣red: to wit, the Forme, the Knowledge, the Name, and the Sound: each one of these pro∣ceeding of another, being ranked according to their Age, or time of being, (to allude so) which Age doeth proceede from the Forme: because a Letter can haue no age, till first it bee formed: and so the age beginneth immediatelie after the forming thereof. In like manner, the Know∣ledge commeth from the Forme, (I meane only by his knowledge who readeth) the Name

from the Knowledge, and the Sound from the Name: and therefore, all these are internall, or rather significatiue, except the Forme, which is onelie externall, or demonstratiue: because it pointeth foorth, or signifieth, all the rest. But if thou ranke them conforme to their value, thou must turne them up-side-downe, making the Sound of a Letter to haue the first place, the Name the second, the Knowledge the third, (I meane onelie the knowledge of a Letter) and the Forme the fourth. For if the sound of a word uttered could alwayes continue, and not weare out, nor evanish in the Aire, assoon as it is spokē, there would bee little or no use for Writing: And therefore a Letter (I meane simplie a Let∣ter) is called a Letter, (that is, a Blotte) rather because it is a Signe which representeth some small part of the Voyce, being written, (for it becommeth the same much it selfe when it is read) than eyther for the externall forme there∣of, or matter whereof it is formed: because the sound which doeth proceede from the name, is the superiour qualitie, or use of the Letter: but the forme or frame of the Letter, whereby the name is knowne, is but a Signe, or Figure, repre∣senting that sound. And although the sound bee Symbolicke, yet it is to bee understood, as if it were reall, (to speake so.) And as no musicall or sounding Instrument can giue perfect sound, till the hand or mouth stirre up the same: so

these Signes or Symboles cannot sound of their owne accorde, but remaine and ly dead (as it were) til the voyce of the tongue reviue them, sounde them, waken them up. A written sil∣lable, is rather called a sillable; because it signi∣fieth a great part of the voyce, (I meane, chief∣ly when it consisteth of diverse letters) than for anie respect eyther to the matter or forme of the letters themselues whereof it is composed. A written Worde, is rather called a Worde, be∣cause it representeth a greater part of the voyce, which beeing uttered, beateth the Aire; than for anie regard eyther to the matter or forme of the syllables, or letters, which bee included therein. And a written sentence, is named a sen∣tence, rather because it signifieth the greatest or longest sound, or part of the voyce, (that is, the perfect meaning, and value of the wordes, one, or moe, which it doeth comprehende) than for the matter, or composition of the words them∣selues, as they bee written. And whereas in the singular number, a simple letter, (that is, not an Hieroglyphik letter, signifying a syllable, word, or sentence) bee a darke and unperfect symbole of the voyce; because it signifieth the least part thereof: yet letters in the plurall number, are bright, and perfect enough: because thereof doe consist all the other three: the first whereof is viue, the second viver, and the thirde moste viue of all. And so the Cogitations of the Mind,

Speaches of the Tongue, and Writing with the Hand; or rather the person gifted with these three, may bee compared unto a Clocke, which striketh Houres, or measureth Time: For the secret turninges, motions, and passages thereof, (and chiefelie the restlesse Watch,) sig∣nifieth the Cogitations: the Bell that uttereth the particulars of time, (or becommeth Attour∣ney in discharging the will of the Clocke) sig∣nifieth the speaches: and the Dyall that de∣clareth both what is meant & spoken, signifieth writing. And whereas speaking and writing doe often times proue contrarywise, it procee∣deth of inconstancie, and dissimulation; even as false striking, and demonstrating of wrong houres, doe proceede of an ill tempered Clock.

And albeit Reading bee often times used without uttering of the Voyce, and therefore may bee thought to enervate, and cut away, the Pipes of the Sound, signified by these Symbols, or, at the least, attributed unto them: yet it is other wayes: for such kinde of Reading procee∣deth rather of some contracted habite, or cu∣stome of the sound of Letters, learned of before through oft reading; than of the speculation, or inspection, of their Forme, which then is seene. Otherwise, wee could no more reade without uttering of the written wordes which wee see, than expresse them without a viue sight there∣of; I meane such as wee haue not recent in our

memorie. And so albeit the right fashioning of Letters belongeth to this Arte, yet the meaning and sounding thereof pertaineth to reading, (except onelie in verball instructing of the Youth to write, they must needes both bee na∣med and sounded, as well as fashioned and knowne) but indeede the knowledge belon∣geth equallie to both: for as the Skilfull Writer knoweth, at the least imagineth, the right fa∣shion of Letters in his minde, before his hand write them: even so the perfect Reader, when eyther hee seeth, or findeth them written, im∣mediatelie knoweth their Names, by their Fa∣shion: and while as hee readeth, eyther by ex∣pressing, or suppressing of the wordes, the one must be by sounding of their Names, (although not fullie, or at length, of everie name particu∣larlie) and the other, by usuall remembrance of that sound: which is ingraffed in memorie, tho∣row the often seeing of their frame, that signi∣fieth the same.

And, if it shall happen to bee demanded, wherfore I medle with anie thing here in Wri∣ting, which belongeth unto Reading: it may bee answered, Even because Writing and Rea∣ding are not onelie Brethren, (to allude so, ex∣cluding all diversitie of Gener) but unseparable Companions: in nature, though not in use: and the younger of these dependeth on the elder: and it is certaine, that anie thing which depen∣deth,

of necessitie must fall, if it want the Sub∣ject whereunto it leaneth. For as Writing is the Subject of Reading, so it is the Object also to the person that readeth. Againe, doeth not Naturall Reason proue, that Writing is older than Reading, how little soever it bee? For no Writ can be read, before it be written: (I meane not by the internall consideration thereof, but by the externall action) and it were needlesse, to write anie thing, but that which may bee read, by some, eyther in private, or publicke. Moreover, right Writing surmatcheth perfect Reading, as farre as Doing surmatcheth Saying: (I meane in Civile attemptes, and equalitie of goodnesse) for it is farre easier to speake a VVord, than to doe an Action: or to expone what a thing meaneth, beeing latelie past, than to propone the overture thereof before it was imagined. And so, though they bee not diffe∣rent in nature, yet there is no comparison be∣twixt them in excellencie. For if it bee re∣plied, that the VVorde of GOD may bee read, and furnish comfort unto the reader there∣of; it may bee answered, that it could not bee read, were not (praysed bee GOD) it is so graciouslie writte••.

It resteth onelie in this place, that I should define the a••ore-named Symboles of the Voyce, before I proceede: but I thinke it more conve∣nient, as each one is set downe severallie in its

owne place. It is true, they are defined alreadie in the Latine Grammar: yet because I am (with Gods grace) to insist in them particularlie, I cannot, without reprehension, speake largelie of anie thing, except first I declare what it is: for perhaps manie will peruse this Booke, who ne∣ver learned Latine, nor knewe the use of the Grammar thereof: and so because it were a foo∣lish illusion, to sende such to seeke an un∣knowne errand in an unknowne part, (I meane unto them) the definitions of the former signes cannot bee pretermitted, nor passed by. And therefore, I begin, and proceede, hencefoorth, as they giue occasion of matter: but it behoveth mee to speake most largelie of Letters, beeing the chiefest sort; because all the other three de∣pende thereon: and then so much of the rest as maketh for mee, in the illustration and manife∣station of the deepnesse and secrecie of the mat∣ter. And whereas the Section of Letters, is not onelie farre greater than all the other three, but almost filleth up as much of this Volume, as all the remnant Contentes therein; it is not done without cause: for this whole Arte consi∣steth of Letters, because the Subject it selfe is Letters: and what is written beside Letters, proceedeth of Letters: at least, by occasion thereof, even as the three ••ast parte•• of the La∣tine Grammar, proceede of the first: and there∣fore is it not as large alone, as al the other three?