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.

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 there∣of: and so foorth. I answere: It will serue for ve∣rie few of their number, and so abstract them verie lit∣tle: 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 no∣thing of his awonted Due; if his Condition be, To teach them for so much, and not for such a space: and few un∣der 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 con∣tained 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 Gram∣mar, 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 ma∣king 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 Ex∣tract 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 ei∣ther 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, sure∣lie they shall haue a verie sufficient mends, providing they will bestow the expenses; let them buy all the Ex∣tracts 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.