were gilt in different fashions, and all of them lettered. "Io. Grotierii et amicorum.” This library was publicly sold at Paris in 1.670. Eneas Vicus was a very learned man, and wrote several works on coins, which are highly esteemed. He was one of the first, if not the first, who engraved the reverses of coins. The manner of his death was very singular and lamentable. He was shewing some coins to the Duke of Ferrara, and fell down and died in a moment. The other works of Æneas Vicus, are 1. Omnium Cæsarum verissimæ imagines, &c. Parma, 1552. Patinus, in his Introduction to the History of Coins, misnames this book, "Cæsarum rarissimæ "imagines." 2. Augustarum imagines, (the wives of The Cæsars) Venice, 1558. 3. Le Imagini con tutti i Reversi Trovati, e le Vite de gli Imperatori, &c. Parma, 1658. 4. Discorsi di M. Enea Vico Parmigiano sopra Medaglie, &c. Venice, 1555. All the above are in the Cracherode Collec tion, with a duplicate of the book specified at the head of the article. STENOGRAPHY. STENOGRAPHY. Character and Arte of shorte, swift and secrete, Writing by Character, invented by Timothe Bright, Doctor of Phisike. Imprinted at London by J. Windet, the Assigne of Tim Bright, 1558. Cum privilegio Regiæ Majestatis. Forbidding all others to print the same. THIS curious and scarce little book belongs to Mr. Douce, who has observed that it is the first treatise in our own, or perhaps in any other language, on the subject of short-hand writing, The author certainly claims the honour of the invention in his dedication, which is to Queen Elizabeth, and in the following terms: To the Most high and mightie Prince Elizabeth, by the Grace of God, of England, Fraunce, and Ireland, Queene, Defender of the Faith, &cc. Cicero did account it worthie his labor, and no less profitable to the Roman common weale (Most gratious Soueraigne) to inuent a speedie kinde of wryting by CHARACTER, as PLUTARCH reporteth in the life of CATO the yonger. This invention was increased afterwards by SENECA; that the number of characters grue to 7000. Whether through iniurie of time, or that men gaue it over for tediousness of learning, nothing remaineth 6 remaineth extant of Cicero's inuention at this day. Upon consideration of the great vse of such a kinde of writing, I haue inuented the like: of fewe Characters, short and easie, euery Character answering a word: My Inuention meere English, without precept, or imitation of any. The uses are diuers: Short, that a swifte hande may therewith write orations, or publike actions of speach, vttered as becometh the grauitie of such actions, VERBATIM. Secrete as no kinde of wryting like. And herein (besides other properties) excelling the wryting by letters and Alphabet, in that, Nations of strange languages, may hereby communicate their meaning together in writing, though of sundrie tonges. It is reported of the people of CHINA, that they haue no other kinde, and so traffike together many Prouinces of that kingdom, ignorant one of an others speach. Their Characters are very long & hard to make, that a dousen of mine, may be written as soone as one of theirs: Besides, they wanting an Alphabet, fal into an infinite number, which is a thing that greatlie chargeth memory, and may discourage the learner. This my inuention I am emboldened to dedicate unto your Majesty, in that among other your Princelie vertues, your Majesty is woont to approue of euery good and profitable inuention of learning and in duetie of thankefulnesse am I much more bounde thereunto, from whome, I have 1 haue received assurance of the fruite of my studies, by your Maiesties most gracious priviledge. And this my inuention being altogether of English yeeld, where your Maiestie is the Ladie of the soyle it appertaineth of right, to you onely. So, mooued by auctie, and incouraged by your Maiesties fauourable disposition to the vertuous and learned indeauours of your faithfull subiects, I haue présumed to publish my charactery under the protection of your Maiesties name. It is like a tender plant, yong & strange, and so it resteth. If it may be so happy as to injoye the influence of your Maiesties fauoure and good liking, I doubt not, but it will growe up, be embraced, and yeeld profitable fruit unto many, & I myself thereby shal have atteined for my particular respect, that which in a lower degree, many shal enjoy the vse of this my inuentiō, which I hope (be it said with modestie) wanteth little to equall it, with that olde denise of Ciceroes, but your Maiesties alowance, & Ciceroes name. The later as I can easily spare, so without the former my characterie dareth presume no farther, but liueth or dieth, according to your Maiesties account, whose blessed state, as it is to all your loyall subiectes an other life, besides the naturall, so to this new sprong ympe, and to me the parent thereof, nothing can be more comfortable then your Maiesties gratious accep in the possession of Mr. Douce, as well as from the engraved specimen in Meerman, Tab. 1x. In the Catalogue of the Valliere Library, No. 1856, it is said to have been printed by J. Guldenschoff, of Mayence, but who, according to Maittaire, was of Cologne. The volume consists of fourteen leaves, each page containing twenty-seven lines. The following is a specimen of the contents. I must, however, remind the reader that the original is in the Gothic character, with so many and complicated abbreviations, as to render it by no means easy of perusal. Nonnihil etiam ad hac re opis onomatopeia nobis affert idē agminio ubi e sono vocis ducta. Sic eminet taratantara dixit. Equi hynnitus mugitusque bou balatūq. gregē. Strix nocturna et vespertilio stridet, būbitus apium grus gruit crastinat corvus tu corvo voce notat barritus a barro ululat ulule pität accipitres et alia quæ plurima sunt usu et cōsuetudine vocis sonitu ymagines pbebunt. The engravings on wood are of very rude execution, representing a book, part of a town, an old man sitting in a chair, horses. The book was, beyond doubt, printed between 1460 and 1470. The author, Jacobus Publicius, was a Florentine, concerning whom, if the reader wishes for further particulars, he may consult Fusii Bibliotheca Gesneri, p. 382, and Fabricii Biblioth. Media Etatis, iv. 42. Maittaire |