SEMOGRAPHY: OR, Short and Swift Writing.
FIrst of all in the writing of this Art, it is to be observed that the Learner hereof must be a skilfull speller, having knowledge in all manner of words that can be named.
For the Briefnesse of this Art consisteth not onely in the easinesse of the Markes or Characters for the same; but in the shortning of words by casting out all such letters that are superfluous, and of little sound, and only to write as much as will bring in the sense of the word. And this he must be skilfull in before he can undertake to write after any, or to take any quantitie of a Sermon.
For the help of the Learner in this observe these things following.
First, that at the least one letter may be left out 1 in the shortest word that can be spoken.
Secondly, that sometime two Consonants or more 2 may be left out, and yet the word sufficiently pronounced.
- [Page 2]For might write mit.
- For fight write fit.
- For light write lit.
- For doubt write dot.
- For dough write do.
3 Thirdly, observe that sometimes a whole syllable may be left out; and yet the word understood plainly.
- For commandement write cōmament.
- For congregation write congation.
- For resolute write reslut.
- For communication write comucation.
- For hypocrite write hypcrite.
4 Fourthly, observe that the like two or three syllables may be left out.
- For incomprehensible write incom.
- For internall write ntern.
- For Mephibosheth write Mefb.
- For Holofernes write Holof.
- For uncreated write uncre.
- For redeemed write rd.
And the like.
It often happeneth that in the end of a long word two or three syllables may be spared.
[Page 3]Fifthly, one Consonant may be changed for another 5 of the like sound, when the other cannot conveniently be, as in this Art must be often used.
As commonly in the end of long words x may be writ for ch: as in Patriarch, x may expresse it thus Patriarx: And so in divers other.
As to write all such words as begin with c: k may be exprest standing in the place of c.
- For com write kom
- For call write kall
- For cold write kold
- For crime write krime
- For croud write kroud
Sixthly, some words may be shortned by the leaving 6 out of e: sometimes at the beginning, sometimes in the middle, and sometimes at the end. As followeth.
- For externall write xternall.
- For extent write xtent.
- For extend write xtend.
- For extreme write xtreme.
- For entrance write ntrance.
- For enternall write nternall.
- For entension write ntension.
And the like
- [Page 4]For escape write scape.
- For estate write state.
- For establish write stablish. And the like.
When it cometh before m also, it may be left out in the like manner.
7 When e cometh in the midst of a word, and the sound thereof be drown'd by the Consonant, that followes it may be spa [...]ed, as when it cometh before r.
- For internall write intrnall.
- For interrupt write intrupt.
- For interpretate write intrprate.
- For intercession write intrsetion. And the like.
8 And alway at the latter end of a word it may bee spared, because it is but of little sound.
- For come write com.
- For crie write cri.
- For believe write believ.
- For belike write belik.
- For betime write betim.
- For before write befor.
And thus e is cut off from most words by reason it hath but little sound, but especially in the precedent words.
Of Diphthongs.
A Diphthong is when two vowels meets together in a word, and one of them must of necessitie be sounded: And now because that one doth chiefly sound [Page 5] the word; therefore the other may bee omitted. As in these.
- For feare write fer.
- For heat write het.
- For meat write met.
- For feat write set.
- For great write gret.
- For feat write fet.
And the like.
Although two doe come together, yet the first doth principally sound the word; And must be writ as is said. So much for Diphthongs.
Observe that for a slow hand there is a help in this 10 Art, both in speedinesse and also in memory, by the reason that a whole sentence may be joyn'd together, as one marke; And also plainly be read, which I leave and referre to the learner when he comes to them.
Having spoken something of this Art in generall, we come to the first point thereof in particular.
- a
- /
- b
- [...]
- ch
- c
- d
- [...]
- e
- [...]
- f
- [...]
- g
- [...]
- h
- [...]
- i
- [...]
- k
- [...]
- l
- [...]
- m
- [...]
- n
- [...]
- o
- [...]
- p
- [...]
- q
- q
- r
- [...]
- s
- s
- t
- [...]
- v
- [...]
- w
- [...]
- x
- [...]
- y
- y
- z
- z
CHAP. I.
All which Letters except y must be made before the Pen be taken from the Paper, that is to say, at once.
Also observe that q stands for qu. because they alwayes come together.
Likewise all the Letters (save onely t and y: and y) are to be ended towards the right hand, that you may the better ioyne the next ensuing letter to it.
These Letters being so perfectly obtained by heart, that you can make all of them without looking on the Copie, you may proceed to the next.
An observation of the Letters ch and i.
If it be demanded how all such words shall be exprest as are written with c because that ch will sound the word too soft.
I answer that in such words as c must begin and principally sound the word, then sometimes we in this Art doe change another for the like sound; therefore k may serve to expresse c thus:
- For com write kom
- For call write kall
- For cold write kold
- For cast write kast
- For can write kan And the like.
This may thus be wrought, and yet no prejudice at all in the reading, but rather a help, after a little use.
Likewise we have an i Vowell, and not an j Consonant, and it being impossible to observe five places about a common period, therefore we change i for g being of the like sound.
- [Page 7]For iohn write gon
- For ioyn write goyn
- For iack write gack
- For ieames write geames
- For iust write gust
When the learner hath all these observations by [...]art concerning the letters, he may proceed to the next, which is double Consonants.
CHAP. II. The Double Consonants.
To begin | and end. | |||
bl | [...] | Words | ld | [...] |
br | [...] | lk | [...] | |
fl | [...] | lm | [...] | |
fr | [...] | ln | [...] | |
dr | [...] | lt | [...] | |
dw | [...] | lp | [...] | |
gl | [...] | ls | [...] | |
gr | [...] | lst | [...] | |
kn | [...] | mp | [...] | |
pl | [...] | nk | [...] | |
pr | [...] | ns | [...] | |
sh | [...] | nt | [...] | |
sk | [...] | rm | [...] | |
sm | [...] | rn | [...] | |
sn | [...] | rs | [...] | |
st | [...] | th | [...] | |
sp | [...] | ch | [...] | |
str | [...] | wh | [...] | |
tr | [...] | |||
tw | [...] |
[Page 8]All which letters or double Consonants, unless [...] be the three last, are the very letters of the Alphabet joyned together; and therefore they are to be observed:
As to write (bl) your (b) alone is thus ( [...]): and (l) thus ( [...]) ; when you ioyne them toge [...] draw (l) from the foot of (b) thus ( [...]).
As also for to write (ld) your (l) thus ( [...]); and (d) thus ( [...]), when you ioyne them together draw (d) from the foot of (l) thus ( [...]).
And the like of all the rest as you shall see them in the copie of the double Consonants and Terminations.
The single vowels are in number five: as a. e. i. o. u. most sort of writers observe five places about the Consonants for the same: but I seeing some ill convenience in the same by the reason that the places of a and e be so neere the one to the other; that if the writer be not perfect in his writing he may mistake and place a for e, and e for a, which breeds confusion in the reading as by daily experience doth appeare.
Therefore for the learners more exactnesse in this Method, I have omitted one of the vowels, and reserved but foure to be placed about the Consonants▪ and therefore these are to be observed.
The Vowell that is omitted is ( e) which we write in his own proper Character, and ioyn it to the Consonant when it doth end a word thus:
- ded
- [...]
- set
- [...]
- me
- [...]
- we
- [...]
- fe
- [...]
- ye
- [...]
[Page 9]As also when it doth come in the middle of a word it is expressed thus:
- bet
- [...]
- set
- [...]
- let
- [...]
- net
- [...]
- get
- [...]
- het
- [...]
- fet
- [...]
And such like.
CHAP. 3. The places of the Vowels.
[...] | [...] | [...] | [...] | [...] |
b | ch | d | f | g |
The place of (a) is over the head.
The place of (i) lower then the head.
The place of (o) almost at the bottome.
The place of (u) underneath thus; and so are all the Vowels placed.
By the places of these foure Vowels the learner may observe to write any manner of word that containeth one or two syllables; as for Example:
- bat
- [...]
- bet
- [...]
- bit
- [...]
- bot
- [...]
- but
- [...]
- dat
- [...]
- det
- [...]
- dit
- [...]
- dot
- [...]
- dut
- [...]
- fat
- [...]
- fet
- [...]
- fit
- [...]
- fot
- [...]
- fut
- [...]
- gat
- [...]
- get
- [...]
- git
- [...]
- got
- [...]
- gut
- [...]
- lat
- [...]
- let
- [...]
- lit
- [...]
- lot
- [...]
- lut
- [...]
- mat
- [...]
- met
- [...]
- mit
- [...]
- mot
- [...]
- mut
- [...]
- sat
- [...]
- set
- [...]
- sit
- [...]
- sot
- [...]
- sut
- [...]
- hat
- [...]
- het
- [...]
- hit
- [...]
- hot
- [...]
- hut
- [...]
[Page 10]By the former Examples of the foure Vowels places, and the observation of the Vowell (e) the learner may expresse any manner of word, as by these Examples may appeare.
When two Vowels come together in a word, a [...] one of them will sound the word; the other may omitted, as for Example:
- feat
- [...]
- heat
- [...]
- meat
- [...]
- great
- [...]
- seat
- [...]
Where you see that although two Vowels come together, the first doth sound the word principally, and therefore the other may be spared as we have said before, in the former observation concerning Diphthongs.
If two Vowels meet together in a word and they both must be expressed, the former Vowell is expressed by a tittle, and the latter Vowell by placing the last consonant in the place thereof.
- diall
- [...]
- roit
- [...]
- poet
- [...]
- lion
- [...]
For words of two syllables we observe to separate the syllables in setting the first by it selfe, and expressing the other, like unto a word of one syllable; As for Example:
- de file
- [...]
- de fame
- [...]
- de face
- [...]
- de forme
- [...]
- be like
- [...]
- be time
- [...]
- be seech
- [...]
- be leeve
- [...]
- be come
- [...]
[Page 11]Thus the learner may observe, by these directions may learne to write any manner of word that can be named, but for the learners brevitie in this Art in writing of long words we have marks to observe for the beginning and ending of the same as followeth:
CHAP. 4. Prepositions and Terminations for long words.
- Com
- [...]
- con
- [...]
- under
- [...]
- pra
- [...]
- pre
- [...]
- pri
- [...]
- pro
- [...]
- pru
- [...]
- sus
- [...]
- suf
- [...]
- re
- [...]
- ack
- [...]
- mount
- [...]
- ment
- [...]
- tempt
- [...]
- core
- [...]
- cashion
- [...]
- nation
- [...]
- ration
- [...]
- ation
- [...]
- lation
- [...]
- tation
- [...]
- sion
- [...]
- union
- [...]
- count
- [...]
- sent
- [...]
- tent
- [...]
- sever
- [...]
- ture
- [...]
- ternall
- [...]
- trance
- [...]
- ever
- [...]
[Page 12]By these Prepositions and Terminations the learner may observe to expresse all manner of words, they being a sufficient ground for the same.
- communication
- [...]
- congratulate
- [...]
- commandement
- [...]
- commission
- [...]
- contrition
- [...]
- action
- [...]
- correspondent
- [...]
- containe
- [...]
- conforme
- [...]
- understand
- [...]
- prayer
- [...]
- preferre
- [...]
- prudent
- [...]
- pride
- [...]
- proscribe
- [...]
- consolation
- [...]
- sustaine
- [...]
- confirmation
- [...]
- condition
- [...]
- assault
- [...]
- misinformation
- [...]
- consent
- [...]
- content
- [...]
- confusion
- [...]
- misbeleeve
- [...]
- containing
- [...]
- servitude
- [...]
- conclude
- [...]
First of all the learner may observe that if he hath a Preposition to begin a word, and never a Termination to end it, he must end it with one of the letters of the Alphabet.
Secondly, if he hath a Termination to end the word (named) and never a Preposition to begin, he must also begin it with a single letter.
Lastly, if there happen both a Preposition and a Termination in the word to begin and end the same, he must first write the Preposition and set the Termination in the place of the Vowell that sounds the word, as may be seen by the word (communication) above-written.
[Page 13]Before we proceed to the Table we may observe certain of the letters expressing words of themselves, and these words being the most common and coming in every sentence, therefore it is thus ordered, that the letters should alone expresse them.
after | [...] | Double consonants expresse these words. | remnant | [...] |
be | [...] | small | [...] | |
church | [...] | the | [...] | |
children | [...] | you | [...] | |
eminent | [...] | wherefore | [...] | |
or he | [...] | example | [...] | |
of | [...] | is | [...] | |
God | [...] | his | [...] | |
hospitality | [...] | &c. | [...] | |
I | [...] | |||
King | [...] | |||
Lord | [...] | blessed | [...] | |
man | [...] | glory | [...] | |
in | [...] | grace | [...] | |
order | [...] | knowledge | [...] | |
principality | [...] | shalt | [...] | |
question | [...] | impediment | [...] |
For a slow hand there is a helpe in this Art both to speedinesse and also memory by the reason that many words may be left out as superfluous, and the chiefest words of a sentence writ and the other omitted; the ground whereof followeth:
- abound
- [...]
- exceeding
- [...]
- large
- [...]
- long
- [...]
- measurable
- [...]
- unspeakable
- [...]
- transcendent
- [...]
- triumph
- [...]
- wide
- [...]
- little
- [...]
- short
- [...]
- small
- [...]
- increase
- [...]
- abound in grace
- [...]
- increase
- [...]
- in knowledge
- [...]
- excell in vertue. and in the knowledge of Christ.
- [...]
- the exceeding love of God.
- [...]
- the large love of God to sinfull man.
- [...]
- the exceeding love of God to give Christ.
- [...]
- the unspeakable love of Christ.
- [...]
- his transcendét riches of grace not to be measured.
- [...]
- his grace triumphing over death.
- [...]
- the exceeding long suffrings of Christ.
- [...]
- the love of God.
- [...]
- the power of God.
- [...]
- the Joyes of heaven.
- [...]
- the torments of hell.
- [...]
- the troubles of the Saints.
- [...]
- the gate of life.
- [...]
- the way of Salvation.
- [...]
- the ark of Covenant.
- [...]
- and mercy seate
- [...]
- as if he should say
- [...]
- as well as
- [...]
- as good as
- [...]
- as long as
- [...]
- as much as &c.
- [...]
- when thou art cō verted strengthen thy brethren,
- [...]
- both high & low, rich and poore, from him that sitteth on the throne to the hewer of wood and the drawer of water.
- [...]
[Page 15]As for those whose judgements are that the joyning of a sentence breeds an ill convenience in the reading, by the reason that it is spoke divers waies, are not of my mind; for although some common sentence is spoken many wayes, yet for the sentences that are taken out of the Scripture they can be read but the way that they are found, whatsoever the demonstration thereof may be, therefore I proceed a little further in expressing some of them that are most usefull.
- Wash ye, make you cleane, put away the evill of your doings from before mine eyes, cease to doe evill,
- [...]
- Learne to doe well, relieve the fatherlesse and the widow.
- [...]
- Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sinnes be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson they shall be as wooll.
- [...]
- O that my people would have heard the words that I spake, and to have known my way! I would have fed them with a crop of the finest wheat, and made the rock to drop with honey, and turne my hand against all their adversaries.
- [...]
- They say, when will the Sabbath be over that we may sell our Corn, and wine, and oyle?
- [...]
- Neither height, nor depth, nor principalities, nor powers shall be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ.
- [...]
[Page]Note that there is another way whereby dive [...] short sentences may be writ:
- First of all [...] thus written.
- Last of all [...] thus written.
- First of all, the Martyrs of God. [...]
- Last of all, the Mercies of God. [...]
- Last of all, the judgements of God. [...]
Citie ( [...]) thus, over-run the Citie ( [...]) thus come against the citie ( [...]) thus, to undermine the citie ( [...]) thus, to war against the citie ( [...]) thus, ou [...] of the citie ( [...]) thus, within the citie ( [...]) thus.
THE TABLE.
- Advance
- [...]
- admit
- [...]
- affliction
- [...]
- adultery
- [...]
- anger
- [...]
- angel
- [...]
- against
- [...]
- arguments
- [...]
- among.
- [...]
- Behold
- [...]
- Baptisme
- [...]
- blesse
- [...]
- because
- [...]
- begin
- [...]
- beleeve
- [...]
- behind
- [...]
- betweene
- [...]
- brethren
- [...]
- Cause
- [...]
- children
- [...]
- come
- [...]
- Christ
- [...]
- Church
- [...]
- congregation
- [...]
- conscience
- [...]
- conversation
- [...]
- comfortable
- [...]
- corrupt
- [...]
- Doe
- [...]
- diligence
- [...]
- destroy
- [...]
- deliver
- [...]
- [Page]dwell
- [...]
- darknesse
- [...]
- discover
- [...]
- Elect
- [...]
- Example
- [...]
- enter
- [...]
- evill
- [...]
- even
- [...]
- expect
- [...]
- earth.
- [...]
- Follow
- [...]
- faith
- [...]
- from
- [...]
- foundation
- [...]
- forbeare
- [...]
- flesh
- [...]
- feast
- [...]
- fast.
- [...]
- Give
- [...]
- God
- [...]
- great
- [...]
- glory
- [...]
- Gospel
- [...]
- good
- [...]
- generation
- [...]
- generall
- [...]
- He
- [...]
- hath
- [...]
- humble
- [...]
- heart
- [...]
- heaven
- [...]
- hypocrite
- [...]
- hereticke
- [...]
- heare
- [...]
- house.
- [...]
- Instruments
- [...]
- instruct
- [...]
- increase
- [...]
- inward
- [...]
- Jesus Christ
- [...]
- iudge
- [...]
- King
- [...]
- kingdome
- [...]
- know
- [...]
- keepe.
- [...]
- Let
- [...]
- love
- [...]
- Law
- [...]
- Lord
- [...]
- life
- [...]
- like
- [...]
- long
- [...]
- Mistake
- [...]
- mortall
- [...]
- Magistrates
- [...]
- ministers
- [...]
- multitude
- [...]
- Neverthelesse
- [...]
- neighbours
- [...]
- neglect
- [...]
- necessitie
- [...]
- notwithstanding
- [...]
- name
- [...]
- nothing
- [...]
- now.
- [...]
- order
- [...]
- of
- [...]
- observable
- [...]
- over
- [...]
- others.
- [...]
- People
- [...]
- principall
- [...]
- particular
- [...]
- publike
- [...]
- protection
- [...]
- patience
- [...]
- pacifie
- [...]
- Qualitie
- [...]
- question
- [...]
- quarter
- [...]
- quantitie
- [...]
- Remember
- [...]
- righteousnesse
- [...]
- regard
- [...]
- Religion
- [...]
- reioyce
- [...]
- repentance.
- [...]
- Stand
- [...]
- Salvation
- [...]
- Spirit
- [...]
- selfe-love.
- [...]
- small.
- [...]
- Thinke
- [...]
- Trinitie
- [...]
- themselves
- [...]
- torment
- [...]
- thus
- [...]
- these
- [...]
- those
- [...]
- there
- [...]
- taste
- [...]
- thy
- [...]
- trouble.
- [...]
- Vp
- [...]
- vppermost
- [...]
- voyce
- [...]
- we
- [...]
- were
- [...]
- wise
- [...]
- with
- [...]
- wickednesse
- [...]
- world
- [...]
- walke
- [...]
- [Page]whether
- [...]
- wild
- [...]
- worship
- [...]
- yet
- [...]
- you
- [...]
- your
- [...]
- yeeld
- [...]
- Zeale
- [...]
- Kingdome
- [...]
- The people of the kingdome
- [...]
- the K. of the Kingdome.
- [...]
- the Lords of the Kingdome.
- [...]
- From East to
- [...]
- West, from
- [...]
- North to South.
- [...]
- The people of the East.
- [...]
- the King of the East.
- [...]
- the men of the West.
- [...]
- the king of West.
- [...]
- the country of
- [...]
- the North.
- [...]
- the men of the North.
- [...]
- the cold of the North.
- [...]
And after this manner or from this ground you may write thousands of others.
Note yet further that here is another rule of abbreviation very necessary.
As people: servants: Saints: men: women and children:
For all these you must observe six places about your word or marke for your word, when you shall have occasion to write them, as you write God ( [...]) thus, then observe six places ( [...]) thus, now the lowest prickes on the backside of God, signifies the people [Page] of God ( [...]) thus, the next to that the servants of God ( [...]) thus, the next the Saints of God ( [...]) thus, the next the men of God on top of the right side of your mark ( [...]) thus, the next the women of God ( [...]) thus the last the children of God ( [...]) thus: and so about the word Israel or Judah, with many other words which the Artist may find out of himselfe, it would be too much to relate.
- The people of God.
- [...]
- The people of the Jewes
- [...]
- The Servants of God
- [...]
- The Servants of Satan
- [...]
- The Saints of God
- [...]
- The Saints and Servants of God.
- [...]
- The men of God
- [...]
- The men of Judah
- [...]
- The men of Jerusalem
- [...]
- The men of Sodome.
- [...]
- The women of Samariah
- [...]
- Let women be watchfull
- [...]
- Let women love their husbands.
- [...]
- The children of God
- [...]
- The children of the world
- [...]
- Let not the children of God fall to sin and wickednesse.
- [...]
Many thousands more might here be added, and by this ground expressed, but the diligent learner may find them out of himselfe when he doth heare the sentence named.
And upon the benefit hereof let me have thy Prayers.