Part 2

Explicit expositio Sancti _Jeronimi_ in sembolo Apostolorum ad papam Laurentium Impressi _Oxonie_ & finita Anno Domini M CCCC LX VIII. xvij die _Decembris_.

_Which is but three years later than that of_ Tullies Offices _at_ Mentz, _in_ 1465. _and was perhaps one of the first Books Printed on Paper_; (_that of_ Tully _being on Vellom_.) _And there the excercise of_ Printing _hath continued successively to this day._

_Soon after_ William Caxton (_the same I suppose who first brought it to_ Oxford) _promoted it to_ London _also, which_ Baker _in his Chronicle_ (_and some others_) _say to have been about the year_ 1471. _but we have scarce any Copies of Books there Printed remaining_ (_that I have seen_) _earlier than the year_ 1480. _And by that time, or soon after, it began to be received in_ Venice, Italy, Germany, _and other places, as appears by Books yet extant, Printed at divers places in those Times. Thus far Dr._ Wallis.

_But whoever were the Inventers of this Art, or_ (_as some Authors will have it_) _Science; nay, Science of Sciences_ (_say they_) _certain it is, that in all its Branches it can be deemed little less than a Science: And I hope I say not to much of_ Typographie: _For Dr._ Dee, _in his Mathematical Preface to_ Euclids Elements of Geometrie, _hath worthily taken pains to make_ Architecture _a Mathematical Science; and as a vertual Proof of his own Learned Plea, quotes two Authentique Authors,_ viz. Vitruvius _and_ Leo Baptista, _who both give their descriptions and applause of_ Architecture: _His Arguments are somewhat copious, and the Original easily procurable in the English Tongue; therefore instead of transcribing it, I shall refer my Reader to the Text it self._

_Upon the consideration of what he has said in behalf of_ Architecture, _I find that a_ Typographer _ought to be equally qualified with all the Sciences that becomes an_ Architect, _and then I think no doubt remains that_ Typographie _is not also a Mathematical Science_.

_For my own part, I weighed it well in my thoughts, and find all the accomplishments, and some more of an_ Architect _necessary in a_ Typographer: _and though my business be not Argumentation, yet my Reader, by perusing the following discourse, may perhaps satisfie himself, that a_ Typographer _ought to be a man of Sciences_.

_By a_ Typographer, _I do not mean a_ Printer, _as he is Vulgarly accounted, any more than Dr._ Dee _means a_ Carpenter _or_ Mason _to be an_ Architect: _But by a_ Typographer, _I mean such a one, who by his own Judgement, from solid reasoning with himself, can either perform, or direct others to perform from the beginning to the end, all the Handy-works and Physical Operations relating to_ Typographie.

_Such a_ Scientifick _man was doubtless he who was the first Inventer of_ Typographie; _but I think few have succeeded him in Science, though the number of_ Founders _and_ Printers _be grown very many: Insomuch that for the more easie managing of_ Typographie, _the Operators have found it necessary to devide it into several Trades, each of which (in the strictest sence) stand no nearer related to_ Typographie, _than_ Carpentry _or_ Masonry, _&c. are to_ Architecture. _The several devisions that are made, are_,

First _The_ Master-Printer, _who is as the Soul of_ Printing; _and all the Work-men as members of the Body governed by that Soul subserveient to him; for the_ Letter-Cutter _would Cut no Letters, the_ Founder _not sinck the_ Matrices, _or Cast and Dress the Letters, the_ Smith _and_ Joyner _not make the_ Press _and other Utensils for_ Printing, _the_ Compositer _not Compose the Letters, the_ Correcter _not read Proves, the_ Press-man _not work the Forms off at the_ Press, _or the_ Inck-maker _make_ Inck _to work them with, but by Orders from the_ Master-Printer.

_Secondly, The_ Letter-Cutter, } _Thirdly, The_ Letter-Caster, } Founders. _Fourthly, The_ Letter-Dresser. }

_But very few_ Founders _exercise, or indeed can perform all these several Trades; though each of these are indifferently called_ Letter-Founders.

_Fifthly, The_ Compositer, } _Sixthly, The_ Correcter, } Printers. _Seventhly, The_ Press-man, } _Eighthly, The_ Inck-maker. } _Besides several other Trades they take in to their Assistance; as the_ Smith, _the_ Joyner, _&c._

ADVERTISEMENT.

The continuation of my setting forth _Mechanick Exercises_ having been obstructed by the breaking out of the Plot, which took off the minds of my few Customers from buying them, as formerly; And being of late much importun’d by many worthy Persons to continue them; I have promised to go on again, upon Condition, That a competent number of them may be taken off my hand by Subscribers, soon after the publication of them in the _Gazet_, or posting up Titles, or by the _Mercurius Librarius_, &c.

Therefore such Gentlemen or others as are willing to promote the coming forth of these _Exercises_, are desired to Subscribe their Names and place of abode: That so such Persons as live about this City may have them sent so soon as they come forth: Quick Sale being the best encouragement.

Some Gentlemen (to whom they are very acceptable) tell me they will take them when all _Trades_ are finish’t, which cannot reasonably be expected from me (my Years considered) in my life-time; which implies they will be Customers when I’me dead, or perhaps by that time some of themselves.

The price of these Books will be 2_d._ for each Printed Sheet. And 2_d._ for every Print taken off of Copper Cuts.

There are three reasons why this price cannot be thought dear.

1. The Writing is all new matter, not Collected, or Translated from any other Authors: and the drafts of the Cuts all drawn from the Tools and Machines used in each respective Trade.

2. I Print but 500 on each Sheet, And those upon good Paper: which makes the charge of Printing dear, proportionable to great numbers.

3. Some Trades are particularly affected by some Customers, (who desire not the rest,) and consequently sooner sold off, which renders the remainder of the un-sold _Exercises_ unperfect, and therefore not acceptable to such as desire all: so that they will remain as waste-Paper on my hands.

_JOSEPH MOXON._

_MECHANICK EXERCISES:_ Or, the Doctrine of =Handy-works.= Applied to the Art of =Printing.=

§. 2. _Of the Office of a Master_-Printer.

I Shall begin with the Office of a _Master-Printer_, because (as aforesaid) he is the Directer of all the Work-men, he is the Base (as the _Dutchmen_ properly call him) on which the Workmen stand, both for providing Materials to Work withal, and successive variety of Directions how and in what manner and order to perform that Work.

His Office is therefore to provide a House, or Room or Rooms in which he is to set his _Printing-House_. This expression may seem strange, but it is _Printers_ Language: For a _Printing-House_ may admit of a twofold meaning; one the Vulgar acceptance, and is relative to the House or Place wherein _Printing_ is used; the other a more peculiar Phrase _Printers_ use among themselves, _viz._ only the _Printing_ Tools, which they frequently call a _Printing-House_: Thus they say, Such a One has set up a _Printing-House_, when as thereby they mean he has furnish’d a House with _Printing_ Tools. Or such a one has remov’d his _Printing-House_, when thereby they only mean he has remov’d the Tools us’d in his former House. These expressions have been used Time out of mind, and are continued by them to this day.

But to proceed, Having consider’d what number of _Presses_ and _Cases_ he shall use, he makes it his business to furnish himself with a Room or Rooms well-lighted, and of convenient capacity for his number of _Presses_ and _Cases_, allowing for each _Press_ about Seven Foot square upon the Floor, and for every _Frame_ of _Cases_ which holds Two pair of _Cases_, _viz._ one pair _Romain_ and one pair _Itallica_, Five Foot and an half in length (for so much they contain) and Four Foot and an half in breadth, though they contain but Two Foot and Nine Inches: But then room will be left to pass freely between two _Frames_.

We will suppose he resolves to have his _Presses_ and _Cases_ stand in the same Room (though in _England_ it is not very customary). He places the _Cases_ on that side the Room where they will most conveniently stand, so, as when the _Compositer_ is at work the Light may come in on his Left-hand; for else his Right-hand plying between the Window-light and his Eye might shadow the _Letter_ he would pick up: And the _Presses_ he places so, as the Light may fall from a Window right before the _Form_ and _Tinpan_: And if scituation will allow it, on the North-side the Room, that the _Press-men_, when at their hard labour in _Summer_ time, may be the less uncommoded with the heat of the _Sun_: And also that they may the better see by the constancy of that Light, to keep the whole _Heap_ of an equal Colour.

He is also to take care that his _Presses_ have a solid and firm Foundation, and an even Horizontal Floor to stand on, That when the _Presses_ are set up their Feet shall need no Underlays, which both damage a _Press_, are often apt to work out, and consequently subject it to an unstable and loose position, as shall further be shewn when we come to the Setting up of the _Press_.

And as the Foundation ought to be very firm, so ought also the Roof and Sides of the _Press Room_ to be, that the _Press_ may be fastned with Braces overhead and on its Sides, as well and steddy as under foot.

He is also to take care that the Room have a clear, free and pretty lofty Light, not impeded with the shadow of other Houses, or with Trees; nor so low that the Sky-light will not reach into every part of the Room: But yet not too high, lest the violence of _Winter_ (_Printers_ using generally but Paper-windows) gain too great advantage of Freesing the Paper and Letter, and so both Work and Workman stand still. Therefore he ought to Philosophize with himself, for the making the height of his Lights to bear a rational proportion to the capacity of the Room.

Here being but two sides of the Room yet used, he places the _Correcting-stone_ against a good Light, and as near as he can towards the middle of the Room, that the _Compositers_ belonging to each end of the Room may enjoy an equal access to it. But sometimes there are several _Correcting-stones_ plac’d in several parts of the Room.

The _Lye-Trough_ and _Rincing-Trough_ he places towards some corner of the Room, yet so as they may have a good Light; and under these he causes a _Sink_ to be made to convey the Water out of the Room: But if he have other conveniencies for the placing these Troughs, he will rather set them out of the Room to avoid the slabbering they cause in.

About the middle of the Room he places the _Destributing-Frame_ (_viz._ the _Frame_ on which the _Forms_ are set that are to be _Destributed_) which may stand light enough, though it stand at some considerable distance from the Window.

In some other empty place of the Room (least frequented) he causes so many _Nest-Frames_ to be made as he thinks convenient to hold the _Cases_ that may lye out of present use; and the _Letter-boards_ with _Forms_ set by on them, that both the _Cases_ and the _Forms_ may be the better secured from running to _Pye_.

Having thus contrived the several Offices of the Room, He furnishes it with _Letters_, _Presses_, _Cases_, _Chases_, _Furniture_, &c. Of each of which in Order.

¶. 2. _Of_ Letter.

He provides a _Fount_ (properly a _Fund_) of _Letter_ of all Bodies; for most _Printing-Houses_ have all except the two first, _viz._ _Pearl_, _Nomparel_, _Brevier_, _Long-Primmer_, _Pica_, _English_, _Great-Primmer_, _Double-Pica_, _Two-Lin’d-English_, _Great-Cannon_.

These are the _Bodies_ most of use in _England_; But the _Dutch_ have several other _Bodies_: which because there is little and almost no perceivable difference from some of these mentioned, I think they are not worth naming. Yet we have one _Body_ more which is sometimes used in _England_; that is a _Small Pica_, but I account it no great discretion in a _Master-Printer_ to provide it; because it differs so little from the _Pica_, that unless the Workmen be carefuller than they sometimes are, it may be mingled with the _Pica_, and so the Beauty of both _Founts_ may be spoil’d.

These aforesaid _Bodies_ are commonly _Cast_ with a _Romain_, _Italica_, and sometimes an _English Face_. He also provides some _Bodies_ with the _Musick_, the _Greek_, the _Hebrew_, and the _Syriack Face_: But these, or some of these, as he reckons his oppertunities may be to use them.

And that the Reader may the better understand the sizes of these several _Bodies_, I shall give him this Table following; wherein is set down the number of each _Body_ that is contained in one Foot.

_Pearl_, 184 } _Nomparel_, 150 } _Brevier_, 112 } _Long-Primmer_, 92 } _Pica_, 75 } contained in one Foot. _English_, 66 } _Great-Primmer_, 50 } _Double-Pica_, 38 } _Two-Lin’d English_, 33 } _Great-Cannon_. 17½ }

His care in the choice of these _Letters_ are,

_First_, That the _Letter_ have a true shape: Which he may know, as by the §. of _Letter-Cutting_.

I confess this piece of Judgement, _viz._ knowing of true Shape, may admit of some controversy, because neither the Ancients whom we received the knowledge of these _Letters_ from, nor any other authentick Authority have delivered us Rules, either to make or know true shape by: And therefore it may be objected that every one that makes _Letters_ but tolerably like _Romain_, _Italick_, _&c._ may pretend his to be true shap’d.

To this I answer, that though we can plead no Ancient Authority for the shape of _Letters_, yet doubtless (if we judge rationally) we must conclude that the _Romain Letters_ were Originally invented and contrived to be made and consist of Circles, Arches of Circles, and straight Lines; and therefore those _Letters_ that have these Figures, either entire, or else properly mixt, so as the Course and Progress of the Pen may best admit, may deserve the name of true Shape, rather than those that have not.

Besides, Since the late made _Dutch-Letters_ are so generally, and indeed most deservedly accounted the best, as for their Shape, consisting so exactly of Mathematical Regular Figures as aforesaid, And for the commodious Fatness they have beyond other _Letters_, which easing the Eyes in Reading, renders them more Legible; As also the true placing their Fats and their Leans, with the sweet driving them into one another, and indeed all the accomplishments that can render _Letter_ regular and beautiful, do more visibly appear in them than in any _Letters_ Cut by any other People: And therefore I think we may account the Rules they were made by, to be the Rules of true shap’d _Letters_.

For my own part, I liked their _Letters_ so well, especially those that were Cut by _Christophel Van Dijck_ of _Amsterdam_, that I set my self to examine the Proportions of all and every the parts and Members of every _Letter_, and was so well pleased with the Harmony and Decorum of their Symetrie, and found so much Regularity in every part, and so good reason for his Order and Method, that I examined the biggest of his _Letters_ with Glasses, which so magnified the whole _Letter_, that I could easily distinguish, and with small Deviders measure off the size, scituation and form of every part, and the proportion every part bore to the whole; and for my own future satisfaction collected my Observations into a Book, which I have inserted in my _Exercises_ on _Letter-Cutting_. For therein I have exhibited to the World the true Shape of _Christophel Van Dijcks_ aforesaid _Letters_, largely Engraven in Copper Plates.

Whence I conclude, That since common consent of Book-men assign the Garland to the _Dutch-Letters_ as of late _Cut_, and that now those _Letters_ are reduced unto a Rule, I think the Objection is Answered; And our _Master-Printers_ care in the choice of good and true shap’d _Letters_ is no difficult Task: For if it be a large Bodied _Letter_, as _English_, _Great-Primmer_ and upwards, it will shew it self; and if it be small, as _Pearl_, _Nomparel_, &c. though it may be difficult to judge the exact Symetry with the naked Eye, yet by the help of a _Magnifying-Glass_ or two if occasion be, even those small _Letters_ will appear as large as the biggest Bodied _Letters_ shall to the naked Eye: And then it will be no difficult Task to judge of the Order and Decorum even of the smallest Bodied _Letters_. For indeed, to my wonder and astonishment, I have observ’d _V. Dijcks Pearl Dutch Letters_ in Glasses that have Magnified them to great _Letters_, and found the whole Shape bear such true proportion to his great _Letters_, both for the _Thickness_, _Shape_, _Fats_ and _Leans_, as if with Compasses he could have measur’d and set off in that small compass every particular Member, and the true breadth of every _Fat_ and _Lean Stroak_ in each _Letter_, not to exceed or want (when magnified) of _Letter Cut_ to the _Body_ it was Magnified to.

His second care in the choice of _Letters_ is, That they be deep _Cut_; for then they will _Print_ clear the longer, and be less subject to entertain _Picks_.

His third care, That they be deep sunck in the _Matrices_ least the bottom line of a _Page_ Beard. Yet though they be deep sunk, His care ought to be to see the Beard also well cut off by the _Founder_.

And a Fourth Care in the choice of _Letter_ is, That his _Letter_ be Cast upon good Mettal, that it may last the longer.

Of each Body he provides a _Fount_ suitable to such sorts of Work as he designs to do; But he provides not an equal weight of every _Fount_; Because all these Bodies are not in equal use: For the _Long-Primmer_, _Pica_ and _English_ are the Bodies that are generally most used; And therefore he provides very large _Founts_ of these, _viz._ of the _Long-Primmer_ in a small _Printing-House_, Five hundred Pounds weight _Romain_ and _Italica_, whereof One hundred and fifty Pounds may be _Italica_. Of the _Pica_ and _English_, _Roman_ and _Italica_, Eight, Nine hundred, or a Thousand Pounds weight: when as of other _Founts_ Three or Four hundred Pounds weight is accounted a good _Fount_: And of the _Cannon_ and _Great-Cannon_, One hundred Pounds or somewhat less may serve his turn; Because the common use of them is to set Titles with.

Besides _Letters_ he Provides Characters of Astronomical Signs, _Planets_, _Aspects_, _Algebraical_ Characters, Physical and Chimical Characters, _&c._ And these of several of the most used Bodies.

He Provides also _Flowers_ to set over the Head of a _Page_ at the beginning of a Book: But they are now accounted old-fashion, and therefore much out of use. Yet _Wooden-Borders_, if well Drawn, and neatly Cut, may be _Printed_ in a Creditable Book, As also, _Wooden-Letters_ well Drawn and neatly Cut may be used at the beginning of a _Dedication_, _Preface_, _Section_, _&c._ Yet instead of _Wooden Letters_, _Capitals_ Cast in Mettal generally now serves; because but few or good _Cutters_ in _Wood_ appear.

He also provides _Brass-Rules_ of about Sixteen Inches long, that the _Compositer_ may cut them into such Lengths as his Work requires.

In the choice of his _Brass-Rules_, he examines that they be exactly _Letter high_; for if they be much too high, they may cut through _Paper_, _Tinpan_ and _Blankets_ too; And if they be but a little too high, not only the Sholder, or Beard, on either side them will _Print_ black; but they will bear the _Plattin_ off the _Letters_ that stand near them, so that those _Letters_ will not _Print_ at all: And if they be too low, then the _Rules_ themselves will not _Print_.

It sometimes happens through the unskilfulness of the _Joyner_, (for they commonly, but unproperly, imploy _Joyners_ to make them) that a Length shall be hollow in the middle both on the Face and Foot, and shall run driving higher and higher towards both ends: Hence it comes to pass, that when the _Compositer_ cuts a piece of _Rule_ to his intended Length, the _Rule_ shall _Print_ hard at one end, and the other shall not _Print_ at all; So that he shall be forced to knock up the foot of the low end, as shall be shewn in its proper place.

But the careful _Master-Printer_ having found that his _Brass-Rules_ is _Letter_ high all the whole Length, will also examine whether it be straight all the whole Length, which he does by applying both the Face and Foot to the surface of the _Correcting-stone_; And if the Face and Foot comply so closely with the _Correcting-stone_, that light cannot be seen between them, he concludes the _Brass-Rule_ is straight.

Then he examines the Face or Edge of the _Rule_, whether it have an Edge of an equal breadth all the whole Length, and that the Edge be neither too thick nor too fine for his porpose.

He should also take care that the _Brass_, before it be cut out, be well and skilfully Planish’t, nor would that charge be ill bestowd; for it would be saved out of the thickness of the _Brass_ that is commonly used: For the _Joyners_ being unskilful in Planishing, buy Neal’d thick _Brass_ that the _Rule_ may be strong enough, and so cut it into slips without Hammering, which makes the _Rule_ easily bow any way and stand so, and will never come to so good and smooth an Edge as Planish’t _Brass_ will. Besides, _Brass_ well Planish’t will be stiffer and stronger at half the thickness than unplanish’t _Brass_ will at the whole: As I shall further shew when I come to Exercise upon _Mathematical Instrument-making_.

§. 3. _Of_ Cases.

Next he provides _Cases_. A Pair of _Cases_ is an _Upper-Case_ and a _Lower-Case_.

The _Upper-Case_ and the _Lower-Case_ are of an equal length, breadth and depth, _viz._ Two Foot nine Inches long, One Foot four Inches and an half broad, and about an Inch and a quarter deep, besides the bottom Board; But for small Bodied _Letters_ they are made somewhat shallower, and for great Bodies deeper.

_Long-Primmer_ and downwards are accounted small Bodies; _English_ and upwards are accounted great Bodies.

The conveniencies of a shallow _Case_ is, that the _Letters_ in each Box lye more visible to the last, as being less shadowed by the sides of the _Boxes_.

The conveniencies of a deep _Case_ is, that it will hold a great many _Letters_, so that a _Compositer_ needs not so often _Destribute_. 2dly. It is not so soon _Low_, (as _Compositers_ say when the _Case_ grows towards empty) and a _Low Case_ is unconvenient for a _Compositer_ to work at, partly because the _Case_ standing shelving downwards towards them, the _Letters_ that are in the _Case_ tend towards the hither-side of the _Case_, and are shadowed by the hither side of that _Box_ they lye in, so that they are not so easily seen by the Eye, or so ready to come at with the Fingers, as if they lay in the middle of the _Box_.

These _Cases_ are encompassed about with a _Frame_ about Three quarters of an Inch broad, that the ends of the several partitions may be let into the substance of the _Frame_: But the hithermost side of the _Frame_ is about half an Inch higher than the other sides, that when either the _Galley_ or another pair of _Cases_ are set upon them, the bottom edge of the _Galley_, or of those _Cases_ may stop against that higher _Frame_, and not slide off.