Page:A Dictionary of the English language- Volume I.djvu/14



After him another mode of writing was offered by Dr. Gill, the celebrated master of St. Paul's school in London; which I cannot represent exactly for want of types, but will approach as nearly as I can by means of characters now in use as to make it understood, exhibiting two stanzas of Spenser in the reformed orthography.

Dr. Gill was followed by Charles Butler, a man who did not want an understanding which might have qualified him for better employment. He seems to have been more sanguine than his predecessors, for he printed his book according to his own scheme; which the following specimen will make easily understood.

But whensoever you have occasion to trouble their patience, or to come among them being troubled, it is better to stand upon your guard, than to trust to their gentleness. For the safeguard of your face, which they have most mind unto, provide a pursehood, made of course boultering, to be drawn and knit about your collar, which for more safety is to be lined against the eminent parts with woollen cloth. First cut a piece about an inch and a half broad, and half a yard long, to reach round by the temples and forehead, from one ear to the other; which being sowed in his place, join unto it two short pieces of the same breadth under the eye, for the balls of the cheeks, and then set an other piece about the breadth of a shilling against the top of the nose. At other times, when they are not angered, a little piece half a quarter broad, to cover the eyes and parts about them, may serve though it be in the heat of the day.

Bet ƿensoëver you hav' occasion to trubble ðeir patienc', or to coom among ðem beeing trubled, it is better to stand upon your gard, ðan to trust to ðeir gentlenes. For ðe saf'gard of your fac', ƿiƆ ðey hav' most mind' unto, provid' a pursehood, mad' of coorse boultering, to bee drawn and knit about your collar, ƿiƆ for mor' saf'ty is to bee lined gainst ð' eminent parts wiτ woollen cloτ. First cut a peec' about an inƆ and a half broad, and half a yard long, to reaƆ round by ðe temples and for'head, from one ear to ðe oðer; ƿiƆ beeing sowed in his plac', join unto it two ɽort peeces of the sam breadτ under ðe eys, for the bals of ðe cheeks, and then set an oðer peec' about ðe breadτ of a ɽilling against the top of ðe nose. At oðer tim's, ƿen ðey ar' not angered, a little piec' half a quarter broad, to cover ðe eys and parts about them, may serve ðowʒ it be in the heat of ðe day. Butler on the Nature and Properties of Bees, 1634.

In the time of Charles I. there was a very prevalent inclination to change the orthography; as appears, among other books, in such editions of the works of Milton as were published by himself. Of these reformers every man had his own scheme; but they agreed in one general design of com-