AN
EPITOME
OF
STENOGRAPHIE;
OR,
An Abridgement and Contraction, of
the Art of short, twift, and secret Writing by Charters, both fair, lineall, and legible, as will appear hereafter, as well as in the PREFIX EXAMPLE

Being a brief, yet plain and full discovery of all the Grounds of the whole Art: In its several Examples, Rules, Wayes, Formes. Methods and Kindes of Abreviation, and Contraction of Words, Clauses, and Sentences: By which, (without the Help of any Tutor, Teacher or School-master) the weakest Capacities may with ease and speed, attain unto the Perfect Knowledge and Practice thereof, even in this its present twift, short, succinct, abridged and contracted Form.

A work of very great use and advantage also, for the Further Perfeding of all those who have already for many yeares together practised this Art, in the other several Forms of it.

Written by JOB EVERARDT.

Printed by M. S. for Lodowick Lloyd, and are to be sold at his Shop, next to the Castle-Tavern in Cornhill, 1658.

<table><tr><td>8</td><td>Perſian.</td><td>Rast Adem eis Fiker hod Migzeratt.</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Georgi-an.</td><td>Martallee Katſea tavis Seemartlitta Darchebis.</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Java'n: Moollay.</td><td>Orany Betool Deah-Pooniah Emaun Ollough Cabbool.</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Eaſt-Indian Surrat.</td><td>NeekZaut OOuskah Emaun coodawkah haut.</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Weſt In-dian: new England.</td><td>Sampivenſeanuta pish po-mantum Kiske Wunnamp-tamoonke.</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Hunga-rian.</td><td>Azigaz Ember pedig his altal el.</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>Transi-l-vanian.</td><td>Aſſigas emberpedik itt altell ell.</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>Molda-vian.</td><td>Wom Kudireptate Kulege alui Trayesti.</td></tr><tr><td>16</td><td>Tarrarian Coſſac-kian.</td><td>Ho Dikajos Athropos Metin Bisſte too Zee.</td></tr></table>

17

To the Right Worshipful, Sir John Davie Baronet, and to the Worshipful, Walter Young, John Willoughby, Arthur Copplesone, Thomas Beare, Richard Beavis Elquires, Nicholas Martin, William Davie Elqs; Counsellors at Law. Mr. George Cockain, Mr. John Row, M.A. Ministers of the Gospel, Doctor Will. Barksdale, Physician. M. Humphery Davie, M. Henry Polstead, M. Benjamin Coles, M. William Green, Captain Henry Foster, Merchants; and M. Rob: Haynes, Master in the Arts of Writing, & Shortwriting, &c.

Honoured Sirs,

Finding my selfe many wayes engaged for several Favours (of several natures) received from you all, I have long de-

The Epistle Dedicatory.

the Beauty and Fairneſs, for the Brevi-
ty and Shortneſs, and for the Celerity
and Swiftneſs of this kinde of writing,
then are now to be found in any, or in
all the Books yet extant, when put toge-
ther, then think with your ſelves, that
in entertaining of this Epitome, you
have loſt your labour: But certainly,
my ſcope in the epitomizing of this
compendious and expeditious way of
writing, was to ſave you labour: And
which of you Gentlemen or Students is
there, either in Law or Phyloſophy,
Phyſick or Divinity, or any other the
Studies and Employments of this life,
which ſhall not gather great utility
from hence, even by A ſwift-diſpatch
of your ſeveral Affaires this way: So
that (as the wise man ſayes) what ſoe-
ver your Hand findeth to do, you may do
it Quickly, And (as that Steward
ſpake, Luke 16.) what ever thing you
have in your Heart, to write, you may
ſit down QUICKLY and write: Be-
cause

The Epistle Dedicatory.

cause the time is Short, and our Dayes
are Swifter then a Poſte, Much in-
deed we have to do, and but a day to
work in; yea, but an Houre. Little
Children (Sayes John,) It is the laſt-
houre; but may not we ſay now, It is
the laſt minute of that Houre? Where-
fore (Friends) Redeem this laſt minute
of Time, in this way, by a Sudden and
Swift penning down of your most weigh-
ty, needful and neceſsary Memorandums
or Memento's of buſineſs every Day, your
Hearings, Readings, Meditations,
Dictates, Notions, Conceptions, Thoughts
Resolutions, Deſignes, and Transaſtions,
as you would orderly proceed with, and
prosecute them before they paſſe from
you,

For this Art helps both Words and
Thoughts to write.

As Swift as ſpoke or Thought, in black
and white.

But

The Direction for the learning of this Art.

Theorie, but also some Reasonable good Practise in this Art, without any other Tutor or Teacher, then these Rules and Directions here given.

Place here the Examples.

A. A.

ERRATA.

Reader, Correct (if not already done) the few faults escaped in a great part of the Impression.

P. 34. againft VGH, for Coug. r. Cough p. 36.
1. 18. for may r. made, p. 80. 1. 9. for 46. 51. r. 46. 53.
p. 81. 1. 9. for enfer, r. enfero, 1. 6. for ( ) r. ( )
1. 10. for( o ) r. ( • ) p. 88. 1. 24. for fo or f. r. for.

An Advertisement of Remarque.

Here is shortly to come out an English Greek Lexicon, containing the Derivations, Explanations, and various Significations of all the words in the New Testament: with a Compleat Index in Greek and English, annexed thereunto, also a Praxis, or an Explanation of the second of the Romans, and the Greek Dialects contained in the New Testament. A work exceeding useful for Scholars, and others (that have not the knowledge, neither of the Greek nor Latin Tongue,) who are desirous to understand the Original Text. Whereunto is added (as a speedy help to such) An English Greek Grammer, with plain and easie Rules, for theSpee-dy attaining of that tongue, by The Cockyn, late C. C. in Oxford: Sold by Lodo. Lloyd, at the Castle in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange.

STENOGRAPHY.

33

middle and end of words: But the little (t) is both for the beginning, middle and end; it is chiefly for the middle and end of words, but it is for the beginning, when words may be hand-fommer written if you begin them with little (r) then when you use the great (T,) which you will understand hereafter in the third Chapter. (4) Note, that for C and little S, I have made one and the same Character: When any word begins with C, (as call, creede, clime,) this Character (c) must be written to expreſſe it: So that still where you find it in the beginning of a word, it signifies C; But if C. come in the middle or end of a word, it hath always the found of K. or S. of K. in these words, Melancholy, Shadrech, Patriarch, Epicure, Emaculate, &c.) and therefore the Character of K. must be written for it, ( as Melancholy, Shadrek, Patriark, &c.) Sometimes of S. (as in these words, Grace, Race, Lace, Space, Eauſice &c.) and then'tis to be expreſt by this Character of little s, (c) (as Rase, Grase, Spase, &c.) So that when you see this Character (c) in the middle or end of a word, it is S: but when it is written in the beginning of a word, it signifies C. And for all words that begin with S. (as Saul, She, Soul, &c.) the other Character for S.

which

C 4

36

The Epitome of

CHAP. II.

Of Vowels and Consonants, double Con-
sonants, and the places of the
vowels.

The next thing to be learned, is the joynning
of your letters together, as (1) The joyn-
ing of the Vowels to the Consonants, as to write
Ad, joyn the little a ( α ) to D. ( δ ) thus,
( θ ) So Ed thus ( θ ) Id, thus ( θ )
od, thus ( θ ) ud thus ( θ ) (so the reft,
as P (1) C. C. Where note (1) That the second
letter is joyned where you end the former : Ex-
cept where the vowel O is joyned to the Conso-
nants, which is made laft (though it be to be read
firft,) to distinguish O, and the Consonants
joyned to it from the little a, and the Conso-
nants joyned to it, which else would be much a-
like, except only at (o v), where the o is may
firft. (2.) Note, that for (ab, ap, em, en, es, as,
of, or, & un, I have written certain Illiteral-Char-
acters, as P. 1. D. D. That is, Characters
which are not compounded of the letters joyned
together, as the reft are, but short marks made on
purpose

STENOGRAPHY.

37

purpose for speed and brevity sake, and therefore they are to be learned perfectly as the letters were. (3) Note, that amongst these marks, sometimes one and the same mark signifies two beginnings, as there is the same mark for ab and ob, ap and op, em and im, en and in, es and is, x and ex, which is a great help to the learner, and no hinderance at all to the reading, because they are of so near found, if not also of like fence: as in this Example :

Abjection | Objection | encrease | increase
Appose | Oppose | Esayah | Ifayah
Emmanuel | Immanuel | Xmophon | F. xonophon.

(4) Note that for en and in, there are these two Characters (∠) the first being (n) only must be written for en or in, when either (e) or (i) may be omitted without Inconvenience, (which is when another Consonant followes (n) as in increase, endeavour, inferre, &c.) but when (e) or (i) may not be omitted, (as they may not, where another vowel followes (n) as in Ennoble, Enemy, Innate, &c.) Then this other Character (.) which likewise signifies (en) or (in) is to be written for them.

Secondly,

38

The Epitomy of

Secondly, for the joyning of your Consonants one to another, take this Rule: [That where you end the first, there you are to affix or joyn the rest that follow without taking off your penne from the paper:] As to write Bl. joyne L. (∠) at the foot of B. (1) thus (∠) to write Br. joyn R. (√) at the foot of B. (1) thus (1) to write Tr. joyn R at the foot of T. thus, (∠) to write Str. joyn S. (⊗) and Tr. (∠) thus, [⊗] So S. (⊗) and C. (c) thus (∈) S. (⊗) and N. (∄) thus (∞) So the rest: as Page (1) E. E. So for the double Consonants to end words: to write ct. joyn the little T (—) at the foot of C. (c) thus, (∁) to write RK. joyn K. where you end the letter R. thus (√) to write ft, and pt, joyn F (⊥) and T ( (∠) ) thus. (7) And P. (⊠) and T( (∠) ) thus (⊗) and so all the rest, as p. (1) FF. In which two Examples of the Consonants joyned together, to begin and end words, you have likewise some few Illiterate-Characters; as namely, for Ch. Sh. &c. as p. (1) G G. which being so few in Number, may therefore (as the former) be learned with facility, & as easily retained in memory; NOTE also, that these Illiterate Characters should be learned first, (before you learn to joyn the other letters) be-

40

The Epitomy of

But about a flat Character, ay is over the
place of I, and ou is under the place of I.

Which you must learn without Book, and be
able to rehearse without looking, before you
proceed to the writing of words. Thus you may
see the vowels placed about B, D, W, and T.
pag. (1.) H. H. And so they are to be placed
about all other letters or Characters, whether
they be Direct, as B, round as D, slope as W, or
flat as T.

## CHAP. III.

### Of Words of one Syllable.

First to write such words of one Syllable, as
beginwith a Vowel, Take this Rule.

[The Character of that Vowel that begins the
word, must be first written, then the letter or let-
ters that follow, must be affixed to it, without ra-
king off your Penne.] As to write (Ant) write
A thus (✓) then affix (nt) that follow there-
unto thus, (≈) To write (Ash) joyn sh(S)
unto

STENOGRAPHY.

41

unto A thus, ( ∥ ) To write (East) joyn
(St) (→) to E. thus, (→) &c. As p. 11.
Y. Y. (2) If a word begin with two vowels,
[write the Character of the first Vowel, and then
in the place of the second Vowel, set the following
Consonant, or Consonants,] As to write (Aime)
write the Character of A thus, ( a ) then in
the place of I, (the second Vowel) set M
thus, ( A~ ) To write (Oath) write O thus, (o)
then th ( / ) in the place of A, (the next vow-
ell) thus ( 6 ) and so the rest, as pa. 11. Z. Z.
where NOTE, that in the writing of words, your
first Character-letter, or letters, must be made
somewhat bigger, and those which follow the
vowel somewhat lefte, that so they may be pla-
ced the more conveniently about the former.
(3) If a Consonant begin and end the word,
[First write down the Consonant that begins it,
and then in the place of the vowel that comes be-
twixt, put the Consonant or Consonants that end
it] As to write (Badd) write B. thus, ( 1 )
then D that ends the word in the place of A,
that comes betwixt thus ( 3 ) To write (Tide)
write T thus ( f ) then D in the place of I,
(the Vowel that comes betwixt) thus, ( f2 )
To write Taxe, write little T thus, (—) [which
little T, being a flat Character, is best to be
written

STENOGRAPHY.

43

(2) Such as end upon a Vowel, as Abba, &c. p.12. D D. Where note, that at the word (I-O.) I have written the vowel I, and O also: because both are to be founded by themselves, therefore their Characters are both written, but when they are founded both together in one fillable, as (IO) in English, they are thus written, ( 1. ) as before was taught. (3) Such words as begin with a Vowel, and end with a Consonant, as Abate, &c. p.12. E.E. (4) Such as begin with a Consonant, and end with a Vowel, as Sheba, &c. p 12. F.F. (5) Such as begin and end with a Consonant, as changing, &c. p. 12. G. G. (6) Such as have two vowels come together, (1) In the beginning, as Aer, &c. p.12. H. H. (2) In the middle, as Jael, &c. p.12. J. J. where the Rule is, to make a title for the first vowel, and in the place of the second, to put the Consonant or Consonants that end the word. ] As to write foel, write fo. thus ( 1. ) then L. in the place of E, the second vowel thus ( 1. ) so the rest, as in the Example af. refaid. Or else (if you may like it better) there is another way and Rule for the writing of such words as these, Namely, [To write the Character of the last Vowel and Consonant disjyned, in the place of the former Vowel: ] as to write foab, write I thus ( 1 ) and (ab) the last D

46

The Epitome of

gether, and written according to the former Rules, Or if they would (being so written) in conveniently go up and down through those lines which are written above and under them, then the Rule here is: [To divide or funder such words into Colatterals, or several parts, writing them one part by the side of the other, as if they were two words, but somewhat closer together: ] as Bond slave, &c. p. 13. X. X.

So likewise for the more Handsome, Short, or Speedy expressing of some words, a Vowel or Consonant, (one or more) may be altered to another of neer or like found: As you may write for Acclamation Acclemation, &c. as p. 13. Y. Y. Lastly, In words of more then one Sillable, that have their Vowels fevered by the Consonants comming betwixt them, Note, [If the first vowel that comes betwixt, be A, and the next V, or the first V, and the next A. Then your first disjunct, (whether it be to be put in the place of A or V,) must be made a little inclining towards your Right Hand, that so there may be Room for the second Disjunct, over or under the first. ] As in these, Vallued, Tubal, &c. p. 13. Y. Y. Y.

CHAP.

50

The Epitome of

Now, which of these words the Characters fig-
nifie, is known by the fence of the matter, so that
if we have written (The Signe of the Spread-
Eagle) we would not read it (The Sinne of the
Spread-Eagle;) for that were non-fence, so were
it to read Bake for Backe, Cooke for Cocke, Stoole
for Stole, or the like: Therefore obſerving but
the Subject-matter which we are Reading, We
Shall easily discern any Word, and not mistake one
for another.

CHAP. VII.

Of Prepositions and Terminations, and
the Rules observable in the use of
them.

Though any Word in any Language, may be
written by the former Rules, [according to
the Inſtance already given in 33. Languages, in-
ferted next after the ſecond Title Page,] yet
notwithstanding, for more ſpeede, and for
further Abreviation, there are certain Marks
to begin and end long Words, to be next
learned, which are of great use in writing, each
of

STENOGRAPHY.

51

of them standing for a Sillable, and some for 2,
3, or 4. Sillables, Those markes to begin words,
are termed Prepositions, which are these; As
Com, &c. p. 3. I. I. Those to end words, are
called Terminations, which are these, able, ation,
&c. p. 3. K. K.

Here Observe, (1) That sometimes one and
the same Character, stands both for a Prepositi-
on and a Termination, as there is the same for cl.
and cle, or call, and for cont, and et, and for en-
ter, and ng, &c. as p. 15. L. L. When any of
these is written to begin a word, it signifies the
Preposition here specified, when the same again
is written in the end of a word, it signifies the
Termination here mentioned: As this Character
(<) being made in the beginning of a word,
is (enter) but being made in the middle or end
of a word, is (ng) and so of the rest. (2) These
Characters here, whether Prepositions or Termi-
nations, which are of themselves whole or intire
words, are to signify those words, so often as they
are written alone; or by themselves: as As, Able,
Call, Com, &c. p. 8. N. N. (3) These Charac-
ters also are each of them to be made at once
without removing your penne from the paper,
or the making of any of them. These few fo-
lowing only excepted, viz.: [count: under: gether:
ietic:

52 The Epitome of

ietie: itute: leffe: tion: dition: tion: tine: ten: tence:
tend: tifie: tribute: vent.] (2) Observe the Right
way of making them, such wherein there might
be any doubt or scruple herein, I shall mention,
(1) These are to be began Above, viz. [Swp.
Deft. eth. ternal. tent.] (as was also on, p. 1.
C. C. where the vowels and consonants were
joyned) (2) These are to be began Below, viz,
[Trans, ish, itude, gether, plication, stance, sure
tine,] (as was also little u, where u and the con-
sonants were joyned, p. 1. C. C. and mb, where
the double consonants were made, p. 1.
F. F.) (3) These are to be began, either above
or below, as will best fit with the fore-going let-
ters, viz. [ing, ten, tence, tend, tifie, tribute.]

Secondly, For the Rules observable in the use
of those Markes for long words, (1) (if a Con-
sonant or Consonants follow the Marke which
you have to begin a word, joyn such Consonant
or Consonants to that Marke,) as to write Con-
demne, joyn D to Con ( C ) thus ( S ) then
put M (disjoyn'd to D) in the place of E, thus,
( C S ) and to the rest, as p. 15. M.M. (2) (If
two Markes make up a word, and no vowel
come betwixt, joyn them together,) as to write
Cir-

STENOGRAPHY.

53

Circumference, joyn Circum (⊥) andference
(=) together thus (⊤) and so the reft, as p.
15. NN. (3) (If there come a vowel betwixt
put the Termination (disjoyn'd) in the vowels
place:) as to write (competent) put tent (∫)
in the place of E, to Comp(§)thus (§§)&c.
as p. 15. 00. (4) (If the two Markes which
make up a word cannot conveniently be joyn'd,
write them one after another, as two words, yet
somewhat closer) as in (Observe able) write Ob:
thus (⊥) joyn serve (R) thus (Q) then
write able (¬) after, (which cannot conve-
niently be joyn'd, therefore put it disjoyn'd)
thus (L') so the reft, p. 15. P P. (5) (If you
finde a Marke to end a word, and none to be-
gin it, you must begin it with the letters of the
Alphabet.) as to write Phystian, write F for
ph thus (¬) and in the place of I, put your
Termination (Sitian) thus (¬P) so for Ap-
proach, joyn A, and pro, and ck: thus (≥) so
the reft, p. 15. QQ (6) (If you have a Mark
to begin a word, and none to end it, you must
end it with the letters of the Alphabet.) as to
write Canaan, write your Marke Can, thus
(C) then N in the place of A, thus (∈) so
the reft, p. 15. R. R. (7) (The Markes for
beginnings of words may be used for endings,
and

54

The Epitomy of

and the endings for beginnings,) [when they
be shorter then the letters of the Alphabet,
without inconvenience, excepting only three
Terminations, which signify one thing in the
beginning, and another thing in the end of
words, which are these, Den, or Ding, Son and
Ward: these three only excepted, the rest may
be so interchangeably used: Only for Con in the
middle, or end of a word, write (Kon) thus
(ノ) and for enter in the end of a word (as in
Re-enter, make your marke bigg to distinguish
it from (ng) which is small:] As in this Exam-
ple, Assume, Messias, &c. p. 16. S S. where
you may observe, how the marke which begins
the former word, is the ending of the next.
(8) [If it be a word that goes forward in the
line, place the vowels about the last letter, and
not about the former:] As in Conservator, put
ter, in the place of A, over Serve, thus (C)  
not over Con, thus (Z) to the rest, as p. 16.
T. T. (9) Note the use of these tenne Termi-
nations, (Lesse, ment, Selfe, jelf, tie, or, itie, ietie,
ation, ution, etion, soever:) which you finde a-
mongst the rest, p. 3. K. K. (1) Lesse may be
made several ways, as thus( // ) or thus( // )
or thus ( = ) &c. according to the Letter or
Character going before it, As Blameles, &c. p.
16.

STENOGRAPHY.

55

16. V. V. (2) For ment, in the end of a word write the Character of (m) as Abatement, &c. p. 16. W. W. (But if the Sillable before ment, end upon an (m) then use the other Character for ment, ( 1 ) as Lamment, &c.) p. 16. XX. (3) For Selfe or Selves, make the mark for it, either after or before the other word, (as you have occasion) as our selves, &c. p. 16. Y. Y. (4) For ject, in the end of a word, we write the Character of I, which is of no other use in the end of a word, As in Object, &c. p. 16. Z. Z. (5) The same Character not made half so long, we use for (tie), or (itie,) as unity, &c. p. 16. A. A. (6) For (iety) this Termination (..) as Anxiety, &c. p. 16. B. B. (7) For ation, or af-fion, this tittle (. ) made over in the place of A, as Agitation, &c. p. 17. C. C. (8) For ation, oruffion, the same tittle made under in the place of u, as Alusion, &c. p. 17. D. D. (9) The same tittle in the compasse of a Letter or Cha-tter, is for Sion, as, ction, dition, ntion, version, &c. as in the Example for this: See the words, Action, &c. p. 17. E. E. (10) For soever, the mark for it, must be used, As in whatsoever, &c. p. 17. FF.

CHAP.

56

The Epitomy of

CHAP. VIII.

Of Significants, and the Directions
and Observations touching them.

The next thing to be learned, is *Significants* for ordinary Words which are most frequent in use, such as if you read a Chapter or Verſe, in any English Book, above half, yea a bove three quarters of the ſaid Chapter or Verſe, will conſiſt of ſome of them. These are either *Litteral* or *Symbolical* (except here and there one a-mongſt them, which is *Illitteral*) *Litteral*, that is conſiſting of ſome of the letters, when the Significant words are expreſt By their first Letter, or by two or three, or more of their first Letters: as to write G, for God, L for Lord, AR, for Argument, Ben for Benefit, Cuſt for Custom, &c. Or by their last Letter, or Letters : As d, for Child, t for it, ſt for taſt, ch for ſuch, verſity for Adverſity, umble for Humble; or by their first and last letter: as AO for Also, K P for Keepe, Lr for Letter, Ln for Learn, Mt for Might,

STENOGRAPHY.

57

Might, which if well observed, they will be the
sooner learned, and the more easily retained.
Now these Litteral Significants are, viz.
Admonish according, &c. p. 4. L.L If a
ny think the number too many, they may prac
tice as few as they please, and write the rest by
Spelling-Character : But indeed, one of never
so slender a Judgement, needes not in the least,
doubt of the learning of them, seeing it is most
apparent to all mens observations, (who know
any thing of these matters) That those of the
weakest Capacities in our times, (both in City
and Country) do daily with much ease and fa
cility, learn and practise many more Significants
then these are: And do finde also (in their use
of them) that they cannot write words so fast
as the Idea of their proper Character comes to
Memory: Likewise, the Characters used in o-
ther Arts and Sciences, as in Physick, Musick,
Magick, Alchymie, Geometry, Astronomy, [the
Plannets, Signes, Aspects, Triplicities, 120.
Conjunctions, several Constellations, Olympicall-
Letters, and Olympicall Spirits, (as they terme
them:) They are farre more in number, then
those which are used in this Art of Stenography:
Though in this Art also, some there be, who
have learned above a Thousand Significants for
the