SIR, my Address to you is, to desire your assistance, in Teaching me to Write.

I am ready to assist you, or any other person, who desires my Directions, to the utmost of my ability.

I shall think my self obliged in an infinite Gratitude, and will pay you to your content.

It very much rejoyces me to have the good fortune to meet with a Scholar that promises so well; and I doubt not, but that your love to the Art will appear in your dili­gence to acquire it. The truth is, for a Man to Write well, it is very necessary to be in good Humor; of a se­rene and chearful Spirit, and not overcast with clouds of Melancholy; Phansie being no less eclipsed with the un­quietness of mind, than Beauty with the indisposition of the body. What imployment are you intended for? I ask you, because I would make choice of such proper Hand, or Hands, as may be most requisite.

I am uncertain of that yet; therefore I desire to learn all useful Hands, that thereby I may be fitted for any business.

Now I know your design, I shall proceed with you in such a Method as will, doubtless, lead you to your de­sires. And that you may the better understand what you are to Learn, and I to Teach, you are to observe, That Writing is an Art consisting of two parts; Method, and Practice: and as Method without Practice avails nothing, so Practice without Method avails as little; therefore, I shall in the first place instruct your Hand with such pre­cepts as may give you the true knowledge of your desires: that thereby you may understand how to guide your Hand. And then, and not till then, I think it convenient to let you imitate, or Write by a Copy. For to begin to Write after a Copy before you know how to manage both your Hand and Pen, your success is like to be equal with that of the Pilot at Sea, who is furnished with Instruments fit for his Navigation, but is altogether ignorant as to their use; and you cannot but judge, but that a Voyage under the Conduct of such a Pilot is very hazzardous. Therefore, in the first place, learn how to Sit to Write, and Hold your Pen. [Page 3]Sit so high that you may with ease place your Elbow close to your Body, and your Hand straight from you, so that you may, without daubing, give every stroke naturally its perfect full and small: Then observe to sit upright, and not writheing your Body, but straight, bearing your Breast from your Desk, or Table whereon you Write. Then hold your Pen between your two Fore-fingers and Thumb; your Fingers being almost extended to their full length, and your Thumb-joint bent outward; your other two Fingers bent inward, and upon the end thereof rest, and move your Hand; your Pen also being rested upon the end of your Second Finger close to the Nail thereof. Your Pen and Hand being thus held, you may make any stroke of a reasonable length, without moving your Hand either upwards or downwards, only by the motion of your two Fore-Fingers and Thumb: for if your Thumb be bent out­ward in the joint, you may extend your Pen upwards and downwards, at least an inch, to the making of any stroke without moving your Hand. So that you need move your whole Hand no way but straight forward, towards the end of the Line. These Rules being observed, you will also soon learn to Write straight.

An Acquaintance of mine holds his Pen between his Fore-f [...]inger and Thumb only, and prefers that way before all others.

That way of holding the Pen was Used and Taught by Frisius, a French Master, who only wrote Italian Hands [...]o. And I judge this way of holding the Pen in Writing [...]hose Hands best, by reason that way of Writing is the [...]ightest, and with the least obstruction; but in the wri­ [...]ing of our English Hands it is not so; they requiring a heaier [...]oize of Hand, which is not so well performed by one Fin­ [...]er and Thumb.

I will submit unto your judgment, and will endeavour [...]losely to treasure up all your directions.

Let this also be for your Encouragement, that the Principles of this Art do not dernand an endless Labour; but are contain'd in a few easie Documents of meet Pro­portions, which will present unto you an open and ready Access unto the most inward Secrets of the Art.

These Words much encourage me; for I have much doubted the Attainment of the Art of Writing, upon the account of the great Number of Copy-Books extant by Mr. Coeker and Others.

Many lively Spirits have been over-whelmed in the misleading Labyrinth of the confused Examples of Mr. Cock­er, and other Modern Penmen; who have invented or al­tered a vast number of Hands, very useless and insignifi­cant; which will appear by the ensuing Discourse: And by their Rules, no Man can judge which is best of their Works, their Rules not reaching the Proof of any one Hand; they altogether neglecting the chiefest, and most excellent Principles, viz. Firmness, and Expedition; and having only a general Respect to Beauty.

I have heard much in the Commendation of Mr. Cocker's Works; and in One he writes himself, ENGLAND's PENMAN.

I have had as great an Esteem for the Works of Mr. Cocker, as for the Works of any Engraver: And I judge, that he might have, in his Time, as great Skill in the Art of Writing, as any other Person what-ever. But I also judge, that if his Rules had been more copious and certain, and his Examples fewer, he might have given a Greater Light than he did, into the Knowledge of Writing. You will, I imagine, be more discerning to judge of Mr. Cocker's Works, and Others, before You and I part, if you well weigh the following Discourse.

I am uncapable of Judging, as yet; what I may be, I know not: But this I know, that there is but one Best; and, if so, I may be sure, that there must be a [Page 5]great de [...] of Rubbish amongst so much Variety.

In this you err, saying, That there is but one Best Hand; for as there is variety of Business, some requiring a shorter, and others a longer Continuance; so it is absolutely necessary, that there be Hands also of a greater, and lesser Firmness. And likewise, it being judged convenient, that the several Courts, (viz.) the Courts of King's-Bench, Common-Pleas, and Chancery, should use distinct Characters for their Records: So that, from hence you cannot but conclude, as it is absolutely requisite to have several sorts of Hands for several Uses; so there may be a Best of each sort.

I am very well satisfied with what you have said: But pray then (Sir) inform me, how many Hands are requi­site for me to Learn, to quallifie me for the best Writing of [...]ny sort of Business?

There are but Five Best in use for a Man, and One for a Woman.

But Five! If this be so, surely Mr. Cocker, and O­ [...]hers, have taken great Pains to small Purpose, to publish so [...]any.

That you may be the better satisfied of this, I will [...]cquaint you with the Use of Writing in general; and then [...]ive you the Use of each particular Hand. Of the Frist:

Writing is the Recording in legible Characters, any Pro­ [...]eedings at Law, Evidences of Land, Book-Entries, and [...]pistles. All the Records of Courts, and Evidences of Land, [...]ight to be wrote in a Firm and Substantial Hand; so that [...]ey may remain Legible for ever: for what is of a perpetual [...]oncern, requires a perpetual Duration. Book-Entries, as [...]op-Books, and the like, being of less Duration, they [...]ight to be wrote in a Hand of a lesser Substance. And, [...] for Letters, they requiring no longer Duration almost [...]an their Reading, they cannot be written too small or faint, Legible.

And now I have given you the Use of Writing i [...] general; together, with the Reasons of Firmness, or Faintness of Hands, according to my promised Prosecution; it remains, that I give you the Use of each Hand in Particular: In or­der to which, I will inform you what Hands are used for the Ingrossing of all Records; which are Court, Chancery, Set, and Text. All the Proceedings both in the King's-Bench, and Common-Pleas, are, or ought to be, Recorded in Court-Hand, either Great or Small. And, as this Hand is of great Antiquity, without almost any Alteration; so it is most excellently design'd for its Use: For no Hand is graceful­ly wrote so close; therefore its the more fit for Writs, and such close Ingrossments: nor no Hand more Firm, and Sub­stantial. The whole Substance of each Character requi­ring the flat Application of the Pen, for the Performance; therefore the more durable; and so, consequently, the more Excellent for Records.

The next Hand that takes place, is Chancery; which is, I think, of no less Antiquity than the Former: And for its Firmness, for the same Reason alledged in the Court, is as Excellent. But it is not written gracefully, so close as the Court. This Hand is called Chancery, by reason tha [...] all Chancery Proceedings are, or ought to be, written in it; no Court, besides it, using the same Character.

Now the Set-Hand is thought fittest, and best for Ingros­sing all Evidences of Lands, as Bargains, and Sales, Feos­ments, Joyntures, Leases, Wills, and all other Deeds, where by any Lands are conveyed; it being also a very Substan­tial Hand; and being used so frequently, is thereby becom [...] Legible to all that can read any Manuscript.

Text-Hand is most properly used for Ornament, and fo [...] Marks; whereby any Part of a Deed may be discovered b [...] a sudden Inspection; and, if well written, answers its en [...] as for its Beauty, exceeding well; no Hand admitting [...] more Beautiful Proportions: And, for its other End, 'tis [...] ­ry [Page 7]Excellent, its Character being far larger than the rest of the Writing. It points out the Premises, Habendum, Tenen­dum, and each particular Covenant; so that, if you have a long Deed before you, you may look to any Part you desire, without reading any more than the Part looked for.

And now I have done with the Four Hands, used for Ingrossments: It remains yet to speak of Hands fittest, and best for Book-Entries.

Hands, said I? There you might oppose me, and answer, That there is but one Best: For two Superlatives, cannot ac­cord with several Operations to one Effect. And seeing there cannot be but one best for this Business, I will inform you, from Three undeniable Principles of this Art, what sort of Hand is Best.

That Hand is Best, that is as Firm as the Duration there­of requireth; and also is the most Expeditious, and Beau­tiful. These Three Principles are the only Touch-Stone, to try all Hands.

So that, if you be to judge of a Piece of Writing; first, Observe whether it be written so Firm, that it may endure so long as the Business therein written requireth. Then observe the Expeditiousness of the Hand: And then the Neatness, or Beauty thereof. And let your Judgment ever pass for that Hand, that cometh the nearest these Three Principles.

You have, I thank you, enlightned my Judgment very much, in these Three Principles, or Fundamentals. But it will be a very difficult, and tedious Search, to find out the best Hand for the Use last before-mentioned, if I were to search it out amongst the almost innumerable Engraven Hands extant: Therefore, pray be so kind, as to let me know the Name of the Hand?

If I should tell you Secretary, you would neverthe­less be very much puzzled to find out the Best for your Use; there being so great a number of differing Hands, [Page 8]called by the name of Secretary. But if you were so great a Critick, as to find amongst the Hands extant, whether it were Secretary, Mixt, or Italian, or any other the very Best of all amongst them, for your use: yet, let me tell you, That it will fall short of answering these Three Principles before-mentioned: For neither Mr. Cocker, nor any other Penman, either Antient or Modern, ever reduced Writing to any Certainty, either in respect of Firmness or Expediti­on, before my self, (I think, I may truly say.) Therefore, for your Satisfaction, I will shew you a Hand of my own ordering, according to the Three Principles afore-mention­ed, for Book-Entries, or any other Business, excepting In­grossments; and I would advise you to make use of That, till you meet with a Better. And now I have (I hope) sufficiently proved, That there are but Five Hands Best, for the Writing of all sorts of Business.

I am very well satisfied; and I desire I may Write these Five Best, and I care not who Writes the rest. But, Sir, seeing you have been so kind, as to inform me with the Fundamentals, or Principles, pray let me also know, wherein they consist?

I will insist upon them very plainly, and fully; for in them consisteth the whole Marrow of Writing; they being the Basis, upon which the whole Structure is built.

For the First, which is Firmness; I Answer, That Firm­ness consisteth in the Fulness of Strokes: So that, that Hand is most Firm and Durable, whose Characters are, in their several Differences, performed by the Full of the Pen. And how Firm each Hand ought to be, I have already proved.

For the Second, which is Expedition; I say, That the lesser Compass the Pen doth move in performing any Letter, that it's the more Expeditious. And that the taking off the Pen, in the making of any Letter, or in the joyning of Letters; and in the making of Letters that require an extraordinary [Page 9]Poize of Hand; and also, the turning of the Pen from any Part of a Circle, to a straight Line or Angle, or from a straight Line or Angle, to a Circle; makes the Hand more slow: And the Reason of this last will plainly appear, if you do but consider the great Contrariety that is between a straight Line, and a Circle; or the great Opposition that every thing meets with, that is upon a swift Circular Moti­on, in turning to a straight Line or Angle.

For the Third, which is Beauty; I Answer, That it's impos­sible to prescribe satisfactory Rules for this Excellency, the Opinions and Phancies of Men being so various, that there are scarce Two of one Judgment concerning it; one deem­ing that Beauty, which another condemns for Deformity. Notwithstanding, I will give you my Judgment herein, which will extend to every Part of Writing, wherein Beau­ty may be considered.

Then First, I conclude, That every Letter ought to have its Natural Full and Small; (I mean by Natural, such Strokes as are made at one Motion.)

Secondly, That every Letter in a Hand, stand alike.

Thirdly, That all the Letters without Stemms be of one heighth and depth, and that all the Letters with Stemms be of one heighth and depth, provided the Form of the Letters will admit of it.

Fourthly, That every Full bear one proportion of Fulness; and that every small Stroke be as fine as is possible.

Fifthly, That all Letters, or Parts of Letters of one kind or name, do, in all their Dimensions, remain the same.

Sixthly, That all the Letters, or parts of Letters within the Ground, and upper-lines of those Hands that depend up­on the Circle, and Perpendicular Line, be of the same Breadth with their Heighth; and then all their Whites will be alike: Which will much add to the Lustre of an Hand.

Seventhly, That the White of the [o] be observed be­tween Letter and Letter, and the double thereof between [Page 10]Word and Word. These Three Principles being thus con­sidered, they give you a certain Method for the making of every Character.

Now (Sir) I thank you. I understand what it is that makes an Hand Firm, Expeditious, and Beautiful. But, methinks, Firmness and Expedition are inconsistent with each other: For you say, That the larger the Hand is, it's the more slow. Therefore, Firmness and Expedition can­not accord.

I shall very easily Answer this Objection, if you will but consider, first, the Use of the Hand; and if it be for Perpetuity, then the Character must (as I have said before) be so Firm, that it may continue Legible for ever: So that, in such like Hands, (viz. Hands of Ingrossments) Firmness is the chiefest Excellency. But notwithstanding, that Hand is Best, that is most Expeditious, and Beautiful; and yet answers the end of Firmness. But my Rule for Expedition, is; The lesser Compass the Pen doth move, in performing any Letter, it's the more Expeditious: But from thence you gather a false Notion. For though you say true, in saying, The larger the Hand in Compass, the more slow: Yet it doth not follow, that Expedition doth oppose Firmness. For the Firmness of an Hand doth not consist in the large Com­pass of the Hand; but in Firmness of Stroke, as is before alledged.

I confess, I was under a Mistake; for which I crave your Pardon: and I have received a great deal of Satis­faction from your Three Principles, together with their Existences; and, I hope, I have a right Understanding of them. But (Sir) Has the Scribe Liberty, by these Prin­ciples, to change or invent Characters for Hands, as he pleases?

No: But he may alter any useful Hand, to make it accord with the said Principles; provided his Alteration do not render the Hand more illegible. I will now proceed to [Page 11]give you the Knowledge of the best way of Writing, and according to the fore-recited Principles, in each particular Hand: And I think it most convenient to begin with the English-Ingrossing-Hand, commonly called Set-Secretary. And that I may not do and undo, I will (First) set down the General Branches considerable in each Hand: Which spring­ing from the said Three Principles of this Art, and being followed perfectly, will reduce Hands to their highest Ex­cellencies.

The Rules founded upon these Three Principles, have Re­spect either to the Proportion, or Forms of Letters. As for the Proportion of the several Characters of this Hand, I have already proved, That they must be so Firm, as that they may endure Legible for ever. But how Firm this Hand ought to be, that it may thus endure, it remains yet to be considered: And that I may not give you the Proportion too small, which would prejudice the End of its Use; nor too full, which would render it the more slow; I have considered this, That Hand which has endu­red Firm and Legible for several Centuries, will endure Le­gible for ever. Now, how Large and Firm those Hands are that have thus continued, may be seen both by Printed Au­thors, and Antient Writings.

Sir, There are several sorts of Prints, and those of se­veral Proportions.

The Smallest of any sort will endure for ever, if it be well Printed; which doth not only appear by the du­ration of Books extant in the smallest Prints, published both for the Instruction of the present and future Ages: but we may also see these Books thus Printed, an hundred Years or more after their Publication, to remain Firm and Legible as they were the First Day of their Printing.

There is a great Difference between that which is Printed, and that which is Written.

As to the Manner there is; but as far as it concerns that which I here argue for, there is no Difference; a Stroke of the Pen being altogether as durable, as a Stroke from the Press; they bearing both one Fulness.

But that which is Printed seems more firm than that which is Written.

The Print is the blacker, because it admits of no Hair-strokes; but this is Nihil ad rem, if you consider, First, That the Difference of Letters in this Hand depends upon a full Stroke: Secondly, That their several Forms by which they may be known, depends also upon a Full.

I observe from hence, That as all Letters are known by some Difference; so that Difference must be made by the Full of the Pen, that the Difference may remain.

It's well observed. Now, if the smallest Print be judged of a sufficient Firmness for perpetual Duration, sure an Hand as full again cannot be thought too small. Now, that I may give you the right Proportion of every Letter in this Hand, and of every thing that has relation thereunto; First, I will set down in what particulars Proportion is to be considered in this Hand.

I. It has respect unto the Length and Breadth of every part of a Letter, both Great and Small.

II. In the joyning of these Letters, viz. In the distances between Letters and Words.

III. In the Ruling, viz. The distance of Lines.

For the First, (viz.) The Proportion of Letters; You are to observe, That some Letters are made with Stemms, and some without: Those without Stemms, are those Letters that are wholly made within the Ground, and upper-line. And I chose the rather to give you, first, the Proportion of these Letters within these Lines, because those with Stemms take their Proportions from thence.

First then, Observe to make these said Letters One Fourth of the Third of an Inch (or One Fourth of a Grain, which i [...] [Page 13]all one) in Heighth; and the Breadth (viz. The White and two-side Lines of each of these Letters) must be equal to their Heighth: All the Letters of this Hand depending upon a Circle, and Perpendicular Line.

Secondly, Observe, that the Length of each Stemm must be longer by one half, than the other Letters within the Lines; excepting [q], whose Stemm must be equal in Length to the Minnum Strokes; and [p], which must be but One Half of the Minnum Strokes: and the Compass of each of these Stemms must be equal in Compass with the other Letters within the Line; except [h] and [k], which must be as wide again.

Thirdly, Observe, that the Fulness of each Stroke be equal to One Fourth of the Wideness.

Fourthly, Observe, the White of the small Letters for your Distance, between Letter and Letter, and the double thereof between Word and Word; except Two Circular Letters come together in a Word; and then those Letters must be joyn'd closer by One Half.

Fifthly, Observe, that your Lines be ruled distant from each other, the space of One Third of an Inch; which will prevent your Stemms from falling into each other.

Sixthly, Observe, that you set all your Letters upright; this being the best way for all English Hands. And by rea­son this Last thwarts the Opinion of Mr. Cocker, I will in­form you what were the Reasons, that induced me thus to contradict him.

I have observed, That the Hand naturally and freely will tend only that way, that it's most accustomed to; and that is the cause, that when any accustom themselves to write Court, which ignorantly, of late, has been lean'd towards the Left-hand, they lean all the other Hands alike; which is no small Prejudice to them: And therefore, upon good Reason, it is my Opinion, That all our English Hands are [...]est, when set upright; which will not, in the least, be [Page 14]to their Prejudice, but very much to their Advantage.

Pray, (Sir) How do you judge the Sett-Hand was wrote before Mr. Cocker's Time?

Before Mr. Cocker, our English Hands were all set upright, as it appears by the Manuscripts of Mr. Davy's, writ­ten Anno Dom. 1590.

It's strange, Men should be thus forward to vary, unless their Alterations were for the bettering the Hand al­tered.

I judge, that the Alterations of Hands was intended for the bettering of them; though, in many things, their Design miscarried: And it was impossible, it should be o­therwise; for they never prescribed to themselves any cer­tain Principles of Writing, (which would have reduced their Writings to a Certainty, as Standards to examine their Wri­ting by) but invented and altered every Hand, according to their own roving Phancies. And what was newest a­mong them, was deemed Best; as appears by the Words of Mr. Cocker, in his ARTS GLORY.

And I wonder what Hand-Writing would have been re­duced to, if others, who were as capable of making Al­terations as Mr. Cocker, had burdened this Kingdom with as many Copy-Books as he has done? It is to be feared, we should then have been confounded in our Artificial Tongues, as the Babel Builders were in their Natural. Mr. Cocker's Alterations of Hands, I cannot compare to any thing more pat, than School-Boy's turning of Verses, who only respect Variety.

I hope, it is now Time for me to begin to proceed to an Imitation of this Hand, seeing you have been pleased to give me a full Understanding thereof.

You are too short in that, yet; for an Hand is a cer­tain Number of Letters, sufficient for the proper expressing of any Words or Sentences: Now, no Sentence can proper­ly be wrote without one or more Great Letters; therefore, [Page 15]the Capital Letters are absolutely necessary to make a com­pleat and proper Hand. So that a Piece of Writing cannot be said properly to be a Hand; unless it contain the Twen­ty Four Chracters, Great and Small. But, notwithstanding, we may say, That a Piece of Writing is wrote in such and such an Hand; although the Piece of Writing be not a com­pleat Hand; the Part being put for the Whole.

Therefore, in the next place, I will inform you of the Capitals used in this Hand: Which being called Capital, it appears from thence, that these Letters must exceed the o­ther in Magnitude; but this Magnitude must not exceed the distance of Lines in Heighth; nor in Depth, the longest Stemms, except it be in the Beginning of a Piece of Writing. Great Letters are only useful for the Beginning of every Sen­tence, Proper Names, and Remarkable Appellatives; and therefore, I need not give you any other Rules for their Proportions, than what I have already laid down in my Three General Principles; that Form of Capitals being best, that is most Firm, Expeditious and Beautiful: Which I shall give you a Copy of, when I see it convenient for you.

Your Discourse of the Proportions of Letters, puts me in remembrance of a Line I once read in a Book of Mr. Cocker's; Proportion is the Quintescense of Art: And I am as careful to remember these Words of Yours; The Art of Writing is contained in the Documents of meet Propor­tions.

Truly, Mr. Cocker said well; and he might have done well too, if that he had set down the right Propor­tions of each Hand: But he was so far from doing this, that he never did, in any of his Publick Pieces, give the Proportion of one Letter, unless in his Examples; and those were so various, that he never Engraved Two Pieces of One Hand alike: And therefore, How was it ever possible to gather any true Proportion from him? So that, he which [Page 16]Writes in imitation of Mr. Cocker, is like a Carpenter work­ing without his Rule.

Now (Sir) you having given me the Quintescence of the Hand, (as Mr. Cocker calls it) pray, What remains now?

These due Proportions be rightly ranged into Order, that is, into Twenty Four known distinct Characters, both Capital and Small, they make up a Compleat Hand, fit for its intended Use. And, as the distinction of Things must be known by some Difference; so it is also absolute­ly necessary, that the Twenty Four Characters have all their several Forms, that thereby they may be distinctly known.

Therefore, this leads me, in the next Place, to treat of their Forms; which cannot be so well express'd by the Tongue, as discern'd by the Eye, whose proper Objects they are: Therefore, I here present you with a Copy for your Imitation. You must be sure to give your Letters their true Fulls and Smalls, according to your Copy: And for your more facile Performance thereof, observe, That when your Hand and Pen is held according to your Di­rections, all the Fulls and Smalls will naturally be perform­ed without any Artificial dawbing; the Pen's Edge tending naturally to an ascending, or cross-Line; and also the flat to a down-right descending Stroke.

Note, That the Pen naturally falls but once to a right Flat in any Circle or Oval: So that, when you see in an Oval or Circle, a Full answering a Full, you may conclude, That one of those Fulls is Artificial; and that is ever Ar­tificial, that is perform'd last. All double Strokes, as in the Top of a small [o], are naturally Full.

Now, I have given you the Knowledge of Writing in General; and also, in this one particular Hand; I shall breathe awhile: Only this I say, Be careful that your Head and Heart attend your Hand.

Sir, Pray, how do you approve of This?

I fear, you have Written too fast, to do well.

I hop'd, that you would have commended me for do­ing so much; for in your Directions, you commend Expe­ditious Writing.

In my Directions I commend an Expeditious man­ner of Hand; which must first be obtain'd by Writing ve­ry slow: and when you have attain'd to the Writing of it well, then it will be made Swift by Practice. But ob­serve these Directions, and you need not fear Writing too fast: That is;

First, When you begin your Copy, endeavour to get the perfect Knowledge of each Character, before you begin to imitate them: And when you have thus Written your First Line, then before you begin your Second, observe the Faults of each Letter, by comparing them with your Copy; and then do your utmost Endeavour to mend what you observe to be amiss: And prosecute this Course through­out every Copy, and you need not fear, but that you will learn to Write both Well and Fast.

Sir, This is an hard Lesson.

I wonder why? Is there any thing enjoyn'd you, which a Child of Six Years old cannot do?

I have heard some say, That a Child is not capable of learning to Write, until he arrive to Twelve Years of Age.

That's a great Mistake; for I have taught some of Nine, Eight, Seven, yea, Six Years of Age frequently; and to Write Well, in a small time.

Now, go your ways, and do as I have told you.

Sir, Pray, how like you This? I doubt not, but that I have Wrote slow enough now; for I have not Writ­ten above Four Lines in an Hour.

Now, you have quit your self well: And, I doubt not, but that by my prescribed Method of examining each [Page 18]Line by your Copy, you have much improved your Judg­ment. In the next place therefore, for the Exercise there­of, Write me these Lines out of this Book without a Co­py; and thereby I shall also discover how far you understand my Directions.

I was very much pleased with your Commendation of my last, and I should be no less now; which I am sure it must, if your Praise be equal to my Endeavour.

I like your Writing well: But, I perceive, you are very ignorant in the Rules of Orthography.

My Master was very negligent of me, as to this Par­ticular; for he never Exercised me in this Subject: But if you will be pleased also to instruct me in This, I shall think my self very much obliged.

I will do my endeavour, in assisting you herein: But, doubtless, you might have been better instructed in your Grammar-School in Orthography; which is one of the Essential Parts of Grammar, and fittest to be taught there. Orthography, the First Part of Grammar, teaching the Art of Writing, is to be considered,

I. In the invention, and devising of Letters.

II. In the right ordering, or placing of these Letters in­vented.

The First Part of Orthography, viz. The Forms of Let­ters, are to be considered in every Hand; which I have al­ready treated on at large, and shall farther handle as I shall see occasion for it, in each particular Hand.

The Second has these Two Parts, viz. Spelling and Point­ing.

For the First, Observe the difference in the Sound of each Letter, that thereby you may know what Letters are to be wrote, to make up a distinct Sound in any one Syl­lable: For in every Syllable that is pronounced as its wrote, every Letter is sounded in that Syllable in which it ought to be wrote. And when you can spell a Word of one Syl­lable, [Page 19]it will be no difficult Matter to spell Words of ma­ny, if you know how to divide them: Which that you may do, observe, That every Syllable in a Word has a dif­ferent Sound; as this word [fol-low-ing], which cannot be spoken without giving it Three several Sounds, and every Sound makes a Syllable: The First is [fol], which Sound or Syllable cannot be wrote with any other Letters, than [fol]: and so of the Second and Third.

In the next Place, observe, That no Syllable can be sound­ed, or wrote without a Vowel, [a, e, i, o, u, or y]: [u] is sometimes a Vowel, and sometimes a Consonant. It's ever a Consonant, when it comes before a Vowel in the same Syllable. Sometimes Two Vowels are sounded in one Syl­lable; and then they are called Dipthongs; which are Five in number [ae, oe, au, ei, eu]: The two former are both pro­nounced like [e].

Observe to pronounce every Word rightly; for there is nothing a greater Enemy to Spelling, than false Pronouncia­tion, being settled by Discourse. There are many Syllables of one Sound, that must be diversly wrote; which are to be known by the Radix of the Words, or Supines of their Verbs. There are also some Words, that are not pronoun­ced as they are wrote; and some that are pronounced alike, but wrote diversly: And therefore, it's best for you to make an Observation of these Words, when you meet with them.

Write the First Letter in a Sentence, all Proper Names, as the Names of Heathenish Gods and Goddesses, Men, Women, Rivers, Months, Winds, Cities, Countries, and Islands, remarkable Appellatives, and I per se, with great Letters.

Words pronounced long, must have an [e] in the end: But [e] must not follow [g] in the end of a Word, un­less [g] be sounded like [j] Consonant: [s] is never written after [x]. So much of Spelling.

Secondly, In Pointing you are to observe, That there are Fifteen distinct and proper Points.

The First, A Comma [,] used at the End of every Sen­tence.

The Second, A Semi-Colon [;] used properly betwixt the Comma and Colon, as the Sense admits; it being a Mean between them.

The Third, A Colon [:] used properly betwixt the Comma and Colon, as the Sense admits; it being a Mea [...] between them.

The Fourth, A Period [.] used at the end of a Perfect Sentence.

The Fifth, A Parenthesis [()] used when one Sentence is put within another; which yet may be left out, and the Sense not destroyed.

The Sixth, A Note of Interrogation [?] used when a [...] Question is asked.

The Seventh, A Note of Exclamation [!] used when we express any thing with Wonder.

The Eighth, A Subunio [=] used, 1. When Two whole Words are united. 2. When one part of the Word is wrote at the End of the Line, and the other at the Beginning of the next.

The Ninth, A Dialysis [..] used when a Dipthong is part­ed into Two Syllables.

The Tenth, An Induction [^] used to bring in a Word interlined.

The Eleventh, An Apostrophe ['] us'd when a Letter is cast out.

The Twelfth, A Note of Quotation ["] used in the Mar­gent, when we quote a Sentence out of an Author.

The Thirteenth, An Acute-tone ['] used to distinguish doubtful Quantities.

The Fourteenth, A Grave-tone ['] used to distinguish Ad­verbs from other Words.

The Fifteenth, A Circumflex-tone [̄] used over, 1. Abla­ives Cases of the First; 2. Genitive Cases of the Fourth Declension. 3. Words syncopated, and contracted.

Now, prepare your self for the Writing of the most Firm, Expeditious, and Beautiful Hand of all yet invented for Cur­ [...]ry Business.

I suppose, this is the Hand mentioned amongst your Five Best, being best for Book-Entries and Epistles.

This is the same; and it deserves to wear the Lau­el, before all Hands of the same Use, whether they be French, or Italian: And for the Reasons following, this I am the more consident to assert. Our English Hands having re­ceiv'd a publick Assault by A-la-mode-Secretary to the French Formulae, I thought it might be no dishonourable Adven­ture, to maintain the Honour of our English Hands: And [...]hereupon, knowing our Secretary Hands to be Counter-Buff, [...] undertook there-with to engage A-la-mode; drawing my Secretary-Band upon Three Hills, Firm, Expeditious, and Beautiful: And having thus ordered them, I sent to A-la­node, to prepare for Battle. Whereupon, in some space of Time, I receiv'd his utmost Force: Which being Answer­ed with a greater Strength than he was able to resist, in the next place, he sounds an unwilling Retreat.

I understand, you contended only for the Honour of our English Secretary-Hand.

I took the Advantage, with Sertorius, who by the Hairs of his Horse-Tail, hath proved to be very impor­tant; that beginning with a Part, it is no matter of dif­ficulty to overcome the Whole. And I doubt not, but if all our English Hands were Written according to the Rules herein delivered, they would excel all Foreign Hands what­ever.

I wonder how Foreign Hands have got such Esteem a­mongst us of England?

They have been esteem'd amongst them that have valued Writing only for Variety: But they never took a­mongst the Judicious; as appears by our Records, which are Written in no Hands but our English.

Are the Records wrote in no Hands, but some of those Five aforementioned? Then surely, it must needs be very prejudicial both to Law and Justice, to alter them.

Records would become illegible, if their Characters were not maintain'd by Practice: And if so, you cannot but conclude those to be Wise Writing-Masters, who will tell you, That the Secretary-Hand will be unknown in a few Years.

Wise Masters! If they understand no better the Wri­ting of Hands, than they do of their Use.

I shall now, in the next place, proceed to give you the Proportions of this Hand; which being intended only for a Cursory Hand, or for Business of the least Duration, it cannot, without difficulty, be wrote too small; the se­veral Forms of Letters, in this Hand, receiving their seve­ral Differences by the Flat of the Pen. And there is also a great Conveniency in this Hand, it bearing the same Form of Letters with the Ingrossing-Hand: So that, he who can write the One, may quickly write the Other. And besides this, the Running-Hand begets a great freeness and readi­ness in those Letters, in which it is composed: Therefore the Ingrossing-Hand must needs be better'd by the Conformi­ty it holds with this Hand.

In giving you the Proportions of this Hand, I shall pro­secute my former Method:

First, Observe, That the Heighth and Breadth of the Letters of this Hand, are best when they are made One Eighth of a Grain.

Secondly, That the Length of each Stemm be longer by One Half, than the Letters within the Lines.

Thirdly, That the Wideness of each Stemm be equal in Wideness to the Letters within the Lines; except [h] and [k], whose Stemms are best when they are double to the Wideness of the other Stemms: And that the Stemms be­low the Line, be double in Length to the Minnums.

Fourthly, That each Stroke be equal in Fulness, to One Fourth of the Wideness of each Letter.

Fifthly, Observe the White of the small Letters, for your distance between Letter and Letter; and the double there­of, between Word and Word; except as is before excepted.

Sixthly, Observe, to rule your Lines distant from each other, One Sixth of an Inch: And this is sufficient, I having already proved what Capitals are best, in my Discourse of the Last.

You have been short in your Directions, methinks, for your last Hand.

They are the better in being brief, if they be com­pleat and full. And that you may be satisfied, that there is not any thing wanting to prove each Letter in this Hand; observe, That Form and Proportion are all that may be con­sidered in an Hand. For the Forms of Letters, you may call to mind the Rules delivered in General for all Hands: And there you may plainly prove, what Forms of Letters is best. And for the Proportion of any Letter, you have here a most plain Theorem.

Now, I shall proceed to give you the Proportions of our English Text. But, first, consider the Use of the Hand, which I have already proved in the Precedent Discourse; and then you will be more capable of judging of the following Pro­portions.

First then, observe, That the Heighth and Breadth of the Letters, within the Lines, be One Half of a Grain.

Secondly, That the Length of each Stemm be equal to the Letters within the Lines.

Thirdly, That the Compass, or Breadth of each Stemm, be equal to its Length.

Fourthly, That the Fulness of each Stroke be equal to One Fourth of the Breadth of each Letter.

Fifthly, Observe the White of the small Letters within the Line, for your distance between each Letter; except Two Circular Strokes come together, which must be joyn'd close; and the double thereof, between Word and Word.

Now I shall proceed to the Court-Hand; which will ad­mit of Two several, yet most useful Proportions.

How, Sir? Two several Proportions of One Hand, and both in the Superlative Degree? According to your for­mer Rules, this cannot be.

Scholar, You are mistaken: Therefore, call to mind what I have said. I imagine, you ground this your confi­dent Assertion, upon these Words; Two Superlatives cannot accord with several Operations in one and the same Effect. But better consider of the Words, and then tell me, Whether or no Two several Proportions of One Hand, for Two several Uses, may not all be best in their single Use?

Pray (Sir) pardon my Confidence, and inform me with the several Uses of this Hand.

Court-Hand is used in the Exemplifying of Fines: And also, as Text is used in our English-Ingrossing-Hand; so is the Exemplifying-Court used in the Small. The Small Court is either used for the Ingrossing of Records, or as a Cursory Hand, for the Entring of Precedents, for Writs, De­clarations, Pleas, &c. or any Cursory Business of the Courts wherein it is used.

If the Small Court be firm and large enough for In­grossments, what need is there of the Exemplifying Hand?

First, (as I have said before) It's convenient in supplying the Use of the Text-Hand: Secondly, Deeds that are wholly Exemplified, are generally very short, and of great and weighty Concerns; and the Clerk's Fees also great: [Page 25]Therefore, that they may appear the larger, and more grace­ful, they are Exemplified. If a Fine were wrote in a small Court-Hand, it would look more like a Writ, than a Deed.

Now, prepare your self for the best Proportions of the Ex­emplifying Court-Hand.

First, Observe, That the Letters within the Lines are best, when Written One Fourth of an Inch in Length.

Secondly, That the Whites of each of these Letters, be equal in Breadth to the Minnum Strokes, or One Sixth of a Fourth of an Inch; except [c] and [t], and those Parts of Letters, that bear the Form of [c] and [t]; which are best when they are Two Thirds of the Fourth of an Inch in Wideness; and the [e] Seven Eighths of the Fourth of an Inch.

Thirdly, That the Length of the tallest Stemms, viz. of [b, h, k, l, and w] be One Fourth of an Inch; and the Stemms of [d, f, and the long s,] Three Fourths of the Fourth of an Inch: And the Stemms of [a, c, s, and t] One Half of the Fourth of an Inch. Notes of Abbreviation, and [i] in the end of a Word, equal in Heighth to the tallest Stemms, or One Fourth of an Inch.

Fourthly, That all the Stemms below the Line, be equal in Length to the tallest Stemms above Line, or One Fourth of an Inch; except the Stemm of [h], which is best Three Fourths of the Fourth of an Inch.

Fifthly, That the Wideness of all the Stemms, both above and below the Lines, be Three Fourths of the Fourth of an Inch; except the Stemms of [d, f, g, and s,] which are best One Half of the Fourth of an Inch.

Sixthly, Observe the White of the Minnums, for your di­stance between Letter and Letter; except they follow [a, b, c, h, k, w, x, y], or come before, or follow [e, y, o, s]; and then they must be joyned close: And the Space, or [Page 26]Wideness of the [n], for your distance between Word and Word.

Seventhly, Observe for your distance of Lines, Three Fourths of an Inch.

And now I have given you the Proportions of the Exem­plifying-Hand: I will, in the next place, give you the Pro­portions of the Small Court; fittest, and best for Records; which, in its several Proportions, is the same with the Ex­emplifying-Hand: Only, this must be wrote by a Lesser Scale.

And, if wrote true, they will answer each other, as Face answers Face in Two Glasses of different Magnitudes: Therefore, I shall only give you the Heighth of the Letters within the Lines; which are best One Sixth of the Third of an Inch; and leave you to proportion each Letter, up­on this Basis: Only observe, That whereas in the Exem­plifying Court-Hand, the Breadth of the Minnum Strokes are but One Sixth part of their Heighth; but in This they must be One Fourth. And thus much for Court-Hand.

You spake of a Cursory Court-Hand a little before.

Well remembred. To make a Quick, Expeditious, or Cursory Hand, Two things are absolutely necessary:

1. A right Form of Letters, viz. A Form agreeing to the Rules of Expedition, so far as the Characters both in Shape and Use will admit.

2. A frequent Use, or Custom in the Writing of the same.

Court-Hand may be made far more Expeditious, than it's commonly wrote, (and yet vary but a very small matter from the Original; and not, in the least, the more illegible or infirm) by avoiding some Cutts prejudicial to the ma­king of Letters: And also, these Cutts being many, and the most difficult Parts of Letters, they must retard the Motion of the Hand. This will plainly appear, when you have Written a few Lines by this Copy of the Twenty Four [Page 27]Letters; wherein the Pen must not be taken off, in the per­forming any Letter, except in the making of an [x].

I judge this last Form of Letters better for Use, than the Other.

It's better for common Business than the Other, be­cause it's far more Expeditious; but for Business of extra­ordinary Concern, the Sett-Court is best, it being the most Beautiful: Besides, it's very convenient, that the Sett-Court be very well understood, before an Imitation of the more Cur­sory Hand; for the more like the Cursory Hand is to the Sett, the better: For though the Letters may be altered to a Cursory Form; yet, notwithstanding, the Form of each Letter must be, in a great measure, like the Original; other­wise it cannot be Court.

Pray (Sir) then, What will you call That, that is one part Court, and the other Secretary?

What will you call that Person, that's both Man and Woman?

Those are called Hermaphrodites; and pass for Men or Women, as the Sex prevaileth.

So you may call these Miscellanies, Court or Secretary, as the Form prevaileth.

Now, I shall proceed to the Chancery-Hand, the last of the Five before-mentioned Best, for the Writing of any Clerk-like Business whatsoever; whose Proportions are as fol­loweth:

First, The Letters within Line must be One Fifth of the Third of an Inch in Heighth.

Secondly, The Wideness of these Letters must be equal to their Heighth.

Thirdly, The Stemms of the Letters must be equal in Length, to the Letters within the Line; except the Stemms of [a, s, and t], which must be lower by One Half than the other Stemms.

Fourthly, The Wideness of these Stemms must be equal to their Heighth.

Fifthly, The Fulness of each Stroke must be equal to One Third of the Heighth of the Letters within Line.

Sixthly, The White of the Letters, or One Third of their Breadth, must be your distance between Letter and Letter; and the double thereof, between Word and Word: Except Two compass Letters come together in one Word, then they must be joyned close.

Seventhly, The Distance of Lines must be Three Fifths of the Third of an Inch.

Your Desires of Writing Well, and my Endeavours to ful­fill the same, being now accomplished; there remains no­thing of my Profession, that may be any way serviceable.

I have receiv'd a Letter from my Father; wherein is signified his Infinite Thanks, for your more deserving Fa­vours: And I am thereby informed, That he has provided a Lawyer for my Master. And I doubt not, but that you will advise me, how to demean my self so, as that I may not only please my Master; but also, may most advantage my self in his Service.

I'll tell you what pleased my Master; and, I doubt not, but that will please Yours.

First then, Observe to write all Business in a good Chara­cter, clean and true.

Secondly Observe to dispatch your Business in due Time; and to have every thing in readiness, when he calls for it.

Truly (Sir) this is not long in wording: But many times, a short Demand requires a long Performance.

Many times, a long Payment is made by a good Fore­cast; which I advise you, to be ready at: In order to which, take these following Directions:

First, Be sure to Write always up to the Character you have learn'd; and then, move your Pen as quick as you can. [Page 29]This Course being observed, Practice will not only make you Write Quick, but Well also.

Secondly, Observe to keep your Study clean and neat; and let every thing therein be laid in its proper Place.

Thirdly, Be careful to Write true; avoiding thereby the razing out, and interlining of Words; which is very dis­graceful, and may be of ill Consequence, if it happen in any material Part of a Deed. But if it unluckily so happen, that, either by your Master's Amendment of what you are to Transcribe, or by your Negligence, you are forced to alter any Word after its written; if on Parchment, then, after it's perfectly dry, scratch out the Word with the Point of your Pen-knife; being careful therein to scratch away as little of the Parchment as you can, for fear of scratching through, or making it so thin, that it will not bear Ink: Then smooth it with your Pummis-Stone. And if you interline any Word, or Sentence, be careful to place rightly your Point of Induction. Write no material Word too nigh the Edge of your Paper, that being the soonest prejudiced either by fretting, or tear­ing. When you have any Business of your Master's, be care­ful to imploy every moment of your Time therein: And be sure to admit of no Recreation, till your Hands be freed of Business.

This Course being followed through the whole Progress of your Clerkship; I doubt not, but that you will please your Master, and bring Honour to your self.

Sir, I thank you; and I'll do my Endeavour, to pro­secute your Directions. Pray, Sir, be pleased also to give me some Directions, how to imploy my spare Minutes.

Procure you Two Precedent Books; the One a Folio, the Other a Quarto: Page them both, and Margent them with Red Ink. At the End of your Books, Rule Ten or Twelve Leaves down the Middle on both sides, with Red Ink, for your Table; which make Alphabetically: And in these Books, enter your Precedents: In the Folio, enter your [Page 30] Precedents for Conveyancing; and in the Other, your Prece­dents for Pleading. And be sure to let nothing that's new to you, pass your Hands without a Copy. And if it chance, that, through the haste of Business, you have not an Op­pertunity to take a Copy, unless you become Master of the Morning an Hour or two sooner than you were wont; let neither Drowsiness, nor Sloth, be any Impediment. And you will also do well, to spend a good part of your leasure Hours in reading some profitable Books of the Law: And when you Read, endeavour to apprehend the Reason of Things; otherwise you will never be able to apply what you Read to your Practice. Sit when you Write; but Stand when you Read.

I shall now take my Leave, in hopes of your diligent Practice of those Things I have been so free in disclosing; which will free you from the Disgrace, that most justly at­tends those that cast off all the Business they can possible; and what they are forced to do, is performed in an impa­patient and slovenly Hurry: And when their Five, or more (thus ill imployed) Years are expired, with the loss of, it may be, an Hundred Pound, they set up for themselves, with no more Knowledge, than what will just serve the turn to promote an Action: And all the rest of the Pro­ceeding, they leave to the secret Management of another; for which, it is to be feared, the Clyent pays very dear.