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.

IX.

It is alledged, that in the Comparations or De∣scriptions of Letters, and in diverse places hencefoorth to the ende, it had bene more requisite to haue set downe a particular presentation or demonstration of all the Writ Letters themselues there, than to haue remitted them, by order of Printed Letters and Figures, to the Alpha∣bet, as is done there at length: because, (to the Igno∣rant) it appeareth both to bee more obscure to under∣stand, and tedious to practise that way, than the other way: &c. I answere, the Remission is no worse than the affectate presentation, for two causes: First, if the written Letters themselues had aye beene presented, and so often repeated, all those Rules would haue seemed, to anie of weake judgement, so much the more difficile, both to understand and put in practise, by how often the writ∣ten

Letters, appearing of diverse kindes, would haue beene pointed foorth in one Page, and in diverse com∣panies: wherefore, I haue placed, and registrated them all in one place, once together, for the better considera∣tion, and easier imitation thereof, by all imitators, but chiefelie these.

And secondlie, if they had compeared themselues, and no Attourneyes, or Procuratours in their names, re∣presenting them, I know not whether the buying of so manie severall Types as they bee in number, had beene more sumptuous, or the travell to make them more need∣lesse. And if they will haue them presented without reason, I may thus justlie refuse them with reason: yet I will not discourage them altogether thereanent, but for remooving of this their Objection, and pretended excuse, in some measure, I haue presented such a num∣ber thereof in the Abridgement, as may serue for com∣mon Writing.