Chapter V: Preface (2)

Then he takes a Sheet of Paper off the _Heap_ for a _Tympan-sheet_, and Folds it exactly into four quarters, and lays the Creases of the Sheet exactly upon the middle of the _Short_ and _Long Crosses_, if the Volumn of the _Form_ allows them both to be in their respective middles of the _Chase_; if not, he lays the Creases exactly against the Notches in the _Chase_ that are made for them respectively: And if his _Frisket_ be Blackt with former Work, he lays a Sheet of Waste-Paper upon the Creast-sheet: Then lays the _Tympan_ down on the _Form_, and _Pulls_ on these two Sheets, and takes up his _Tympan_ again, and lays by the Waste-Sheet; but the Creast-Sheet he lays on the _Tympan_. But first presses the _Tympan_ downwards, from under the Shank of each _Point_ successively, puts the two opposite sides of the Sheet under the _Shancks_ of the _Points_, and the _Holes_ the _Points_ prickt with _Pulling_ exactly under the bottom Revits of the _Points_: Then taking a little Paste on the Ball of one of his fingers, a little besmears the under corners of that Sheet, and claps them down close on the _Tympan_, that the Sheet may stick: But the bottom corner of that side the Sheet that is next to him, he besmears within the Matter of the Sheet, _viz._ within the Impression the _Form_ made. For when he has fastned that corner down, he tears off the _Margin_, (by guess) in a straight line athwart the very corner, that it may not lye in his way to catch at as he _Takes off Sheets_, when he is in his train of Work.

This Sheet is called the _Tympan-sheet_; and is only as a standing mark to lay all the other Sheets exactly even upon, while he Works upon _White-paper_.

The _Press-man_ does now suppose he has _Made Ready_: Yet for assurance he will try his _Register_ once more, lest some of the _Quoins_ should have slipt. How he made _Register_ I shewed you before, wherefore if his _Register_ be not good, he mends it as I there shewed. But we will suppose it now good, wherefore he gently _Knocks_ up all the _Quoins_ in the corners, with an equal force to fasten them.

Though I have in Numerical order set down these Operations, Circumstances and Confederations in this ¶: yet does not the _Press-man_ oblige himself to observe them in this or any other orderly succession: Because it often happens that some of these Operations may more readily be performed out of this or any other prescribed Order.

¶ 8. _Of_ Drawing _the_ Tympans _and_ Frisket.

_Drawing_ the _Tympans_ or _Frisket_ is the Covering and Pasting on of Vellom, Forrels or Parchment upon the _Frames_. To each _Tympan_ and _Frisket_ is chose a Skin large enough to cover and lap about the Frames.

These Skins the _Press-man_ rumples up together, and puts them into a Pail of fair Water to soak; and if he thinks they do not soak fast enough, he takes them and rubs them between his Hands, as Women wash Cloaths, to supple them, that the Water may Soak the faster in. And being throughly Soakt he wrings the Water as well out as he can.

Then the Boy having provided a Brush and about a Pint of Paste, made of fine Wheaten Flower, well boiled in fair Water to the consistency of Hasty-pudding, he spreads the Skin flat upon a Table; and first Pastes the under Side of the _Tympan_; then lays it on the middle of the Skin, and rearing each side successively up, Pastes the Skin also from the insides the _Tympan_ to the outer edges of the Skin, and lays the _Tympan_ down flat again: Then he Pastes all the other sides of the _Tympan_, and wraps the Skin about the two long Sides first, Cutting the Sides of the Skin away so much, till he leaves only enough to reach almost quite through the under-sides of the _Tympan_ again: Then drawing and straining the Skin tighter, he drives in the points of two-penny or three-penny Nails about six Inches distant from one another, to keep the Skin from starting as it Dries.

Having thus Drawn the sides, he with the Point of a Pen-knife cuts square holes in the Skin, just where the _Iron-Joynts_ fall, for the Joynts to fall into, and Draws and Strains the ends of the _Tympan_ as he did the Sides; wrapping the ends of the Skin under the under-sides of the _Tympan_, and where Wood is, drives in the points of Nails, as before.

Then setting it by to dry; when it is dry, he draws the Nails.

As he Drew this _Tympan_, so he Draws the other: and the _Frisket_ also: only, because he cannot drive in Nails, (the _Frisket_ being all made of Iron) he doubles the Skin over the sides of the _Frisket_, and being well Pasted, as aforesaid; he Sews the sides that Lap over down upon the whole Skin, to keep it from starting while it drys: And he Pastes a Sheet or two Thick of Paper all over the inside of it; as well to strengthen as to thicken it.

¶ 9. _Of Wetting Paper._

Paper is commonly _Wet_ in a Tray full of fair Water. The _Press-man_ places the length of the Tray before him; his dry _Heap_ on the Left Hand the Tray, and a _Paper-Board_ with its Breadth before him on his Right Hand of the Tray: He lays first a Waste Sheet of Paper on the _Paper-board_, lest the Board might Soyl or foul the first Sheet of the _Heap_. Then he takes up the first _Token_, and lays it in such a position that the backs of the Quires lye towards his Right Hand, that he may the readier catch at the Back of each Quire with his Right Hand, when he is to _Wet_ it: And he lays that _Token_ athwart, or somewhat Crossing the rest of the _Heap_, that he may the easier know when he has _Wet_ that _Token_.

Then taking the first Quire of the _Heap_ with the back of it in his Right Hand, and edge of the Quire in his Left, he lays the Quire down upon the Waste Sheet, so, as that the back of the Quire lye upon the middle crease of the Waste Sheet, and consequently one half of the Quire already laid even down upon one half of the Waste Sheet. If the Paper be Strong, he opens about half the Quire, and turns it over dry upon the other half of the Waste Sheet: But if the Paper be Weak and Spungy, he opens the whole Quire, and lays that down Dry.

The reason why he lays the first Laying-down Dry, is, because it lying under the rest of the _Heap_ will sufficiently imbibe the moisture that Soaks from it: And the reason why he leaves but half a Quire Dry for strong Paper, and an whole for Spungy, is, Because Spungy Paper Soaks in moisture faster than Strong.

Having laid down his Dry Laying, he takes another Quire off the Dry _Heap_, with the back of the Quire in his Right Hand, and the edge of the Quire in his Left, (as before,) and closing his Hand a little, that the Quire may bow a little downwards between his Hands, he Dips the back of the Quire into his Left Hand side of the Tray of Water: And discharging his Left Hand of the Quire, Draws the Quire through the Water with his Right; but as the Quire comes out at the Right Hand side of the Tray, he nimbly catches the edge of the Quire again in his Left Hand, and brings it to the _Heap_, but by lifting up his Left Hand bears the under side of the Quire off the Dry Paper, laid down before, lest the Dry Sheet should stick to the Wet, before he have plac’d the Quire in an even position, and so perhaps wrinkles a Sheet or two, or else put a Dry Sheet or two out of their even position, on the sides or ends.

But this Drawing the Quire through the Water he performs either nimbly or slowly: If the Paper be Weak and Spungy, he performs it quickly; if Strong and Stubborn, slowly.

To place this Quire in an even position, he lays the back of the Quire exactly upon the opening crease of the former Quire, and then lets the side of the Quire in his Left Hand fall flat down upon the _Heap_; and discharging his Right Hand, brings it to the edge of the Quire; and with the assistance of his Left Hand Thumb (still in its first position) opens or divides either a third or half of the whole Quire, according to the quality of the Paper, (as was said before,) and spreading the Fingers of his Right Hand as much as he can through the length of the Quire, turns over his opened division of the Quire upon his Right Hand side of the _Heap_.

The reason why he spreads the Fingers of his Right Hand as much as he can through the Length of the Quire; is, because the outside Half Sheet is Wet, and consequently quickly Limber, so that if the Paper be Weak, it would fall Down before the rest of his Opening, and double into wrinkles, which thus spreading his Fingers prevents.

In the same manner he Wets all the Quires of his Dry _Heap_. _See Plate 29._

But having Wet his first _Token_, he doubles down a great corner of the upper Sheet of it on his Right Hand, so as the farther corner may lye a little towards the Left Hand of the crease in the middle of the _Heap_, and so as the hither corner may Hang out on the hither side of the _Heap_ about an Inch and an half: This Sheet is called the _Token-Sheet_, as being a mark for the _Press-man_ when he is at Work to know how many _Tokens_ of that _Heap_ is _Wrought-off_, and consequently to know how many is to Work.

When he has Wet the first _Token_, he removes the next uppermost Dry _Token_ askew on the Dry _Heap_, and successively all the rest, as I shewed in the beginning of this ¶.

Having Wet the whole _Heap_, he lays a Waste Sheet of Paper upon it, that the _Paper-Board_ to be laid on, Soyl not the last Sheet of the _Heap_: Then three or four times takes up as much Water as he can in the hollow of his Hand, and throws and sprinkles it all over the Waste-sheet that it may moisten and Soak downwards into the un-wet upper part of the last Division of the Quire.

The Paper being thus Wet, he takes up the whole _Heap_ upon the _Paper-board_, and sets it by in a convenient place of the Room, and lays another _Paper-board_ upon it: And upon the middle of the _Paper-board_, sets about Half an Hundred Weight, and lets it stand by to press, commonly till next Morning: For _Press-men_ generally Wet their Paper after they have left Work at Night.

The manner how Paper is _Set out_, shall be shewed when I come to the Office of the _Warehouse-keeper_.

¶ 10. _Of_ Knocking up _the_ Balls.

_Ball Leathers_ (as I said before in § 11. ¶ 21.) are either _Pelts_ or _Sheep-skins_: If _Pelts_, they are chosen such as have a strong Grain, and the Grease well Wrought out of them: They are either Wet or Dry before they come to the _Press-mans_ use: If Wet, he having before-hand provided a round Board, of about Nine inches and an half Diameter: Supposing the _Ball-stocks_ to be six Inches diameter, lays the Round Board upon the whole _Pelt_, and cuts by the out-side of the Board so many round pieces as he can out of the _Pelt_, reserving two for his present Use.

And hanging the rest up (commonly upon the _Braces_ of the _Press_) to dry, that they may not Stink or Mould before he have occasion to use them.

But if his _Pelts_ are Dry, he lays them to Soak (by choice in Chamber-ly) but I never heard, or by my experience could find why it is preferred before Fair Water: For the purpose of Soaking them is only to supple them.

If he Work with Leather, It is chosen with a Strong and close grain: Wherefore by experience it is found that the Neck-piece, and indeed all along the back of the Skin is best; but it is commonly subject to be greasie, which gives the _Press-man_ sometimes a great deal of trouble, to make his _Balls Take_. He also lays the _Ball Leathers_ in _Soak_ to supple them.

When they (either _Pelts_ or _Leathers_) are well _Soaked_, he Rubs them well with both his Hands, and then twists and wrings them (as Women do Cloaths) to get the Water out again.

When they are well wrung, he Sits down upon a Seat about fourteen or fifteen Inches high, commonly a _Heap_ of _White Paper_, if it stand conveniently for him; but not upon a _Printed Heap_, least his Weight pressing it cause the un-dryed _Inck_ to _Set-off_: He sits down, I say, and lays the _Ball-stock_ upon his a little opened Thighs near his Knees, that with closing his Thighs he may hold it in a Steddy position, and with the Handle of the _Ball-stock_ towards his Belly. Then taking the _Ball-Leather_, he laps or Folds about three quarters of an Inch of one part of it over so much of it towards his Left Hand into a Plaight, and laying the edges of that Plaight towards him, an Inch above the edge of the _Ball-stock_, he with the Head of the _Sheeps-foot_ drives a _Ball-nail_ into the middle of the Plaight, a little more than half an Inch above the the edge of the _Ball-stock_: But he Drives the _Ball-nail_ not quite up to the Head, but leaves about almost a quarter of an Inch of the Nail out; that with the _Claw_ of the _Sheeps-foot_ he may Draw the Nail again when occasion serves.

Having driven the first Nail, he turns about the _Ball-stock_, till the opposite side, and as near as he can guess, point of the edge of the _Ball-stock_ lyes directly upwards between his Thighs, (as before,) and then taking as near as he can guess the opposite edge of the _Ball-leather_ between his Fore-fingers and Thumb of his Left Hand, he holds the edge of the _Ball-leather_ upright, and having his Wooll or Hair _Teized_, lying by him on his right Hand on the Floor, he grasps at once as near as he can guess, so much as may just serve to fill his _Ball-leather_ and the hollow of the _Ball stock_; which bringing to the hollow of the _Ball-stock_, he draws the _Ball-leather_ over it; and lapping the edges of the _Ball-leather_ over, as before, makes another Plaight, and Drives another Nail, as before: So that here is now the two opposite Sides of the Leather Nailed on. Then he takes up the _Ball_ by the Handle in his Left Hand, and observes whether the Wooll tend more to one than the other open half: If it do, he thrusts it with the ends of his Fingers of his Right Hand into the middle, or else over to the other Half, till the Wooll lyes equally on both the Halfs.

If he have put too much or too little Wooll into the _Ball_, he either takes some out, or adds more to, as the respective Half may require. Then lays it down again between his Thighs, as before, and lays another Plaight in the middle of the _Ball-leather_ on one of the open Halves, and as near as he can guess, between the middle of the two opposite Nails; and Nails that Plaight down to the _Ball-stock_, as before.

In the like manner he Nails down the other open sides, (now Quarters,) and then again takes a View how the Wooll is disposed into the middle of the _Ball_; and where he finds it tend most to any of the open Quarters, he Drives the Wooll with the ends of his fingers, as before, or sometimes when the _Balls_ have been Wrought with, and blackt with _Inck_, with the _Head_ of the _Sheeps-foot_ into the middle, and then Nails down as before all the open Quarters as near as he can guess; between the middle of his former driven Nails, and then again, takes another View as before, to see how the whole _Ball_ pleases him.

If he finds any of the Plaights laid too near one another, he draws that Nail, and alters that Plaight, to lay it as near as he can by guess, in the middle between the next two Plaights.

Then he considers if his _Ball_ be round: If it be not, he thrusts the Wooll from the bunching-out side, towards the wanting side, either with the ends of his Fingers, or the Balls of one of his Hands; while the Wooll is yet loose in the _Ball-stock_: For when the _Ball_ has been Wrought withal, it will grow so hard, that the Wooll will not move out of its place.

Having _Knockt up_ one _Ball_ well, he _Knocks up_ the other, as the first.

The _Balls_ are well _Knockt up_, when the Wooll is equally dispersed about all the Sides, and the middle smoothly covered with the _Leather_, viz. not rising in Hillocks, or falling into Dales, not having too much Wooll in them, for that will subject them to soon hardning, and quickly be uneasie for the _Press-man_ to Work with; or too little, for that will make the _Leathers_, as the Wooll settles with Working soon flap, and wrap over it self into Wrinkles. So that he cannot so well destribute his _Balls_: But the _Balls_ ought to be indifferently plump, to feel like an Hard stuft Bed-pillow, or a strong Spunge a little moistned with Water.

Having Knockt up the _Balls_, and Rub’d out the _Inck_, as shall be shewed in the next ¶, he trys if his _Balls_ will _Take_, that is, he Dabs the top of one of them three or four times lightly upon the hither part of the _Inck-block_; If he finds the _Inck_ sticks to it equally all about, and that so much as has toucht the _Inck-block_ is Black, it _Takes_: But if scarce any of the _Leather_ is Black, or that it be Black and White in Splotches, then the _Balls_ does not _Take_: Wherefore he considers whether his _Ball_ be too Wet, or else Greasie, for each of these inconveniences will hinder the _Taking_ of the _Ball_.

If it be too Wet, he burns half a Sheet or an whole Sheet of Waste Paper, and waves his _Ball_ to and fro over the flame of it; but so quick and cautiously that he neither shrinks the _Leather_ or Dryes it too much: In Winter time when a fire is at Hand, he dryes it gently by the fire.

If it be Greasie, he with the edge of the _Ball-knife_ scrapes off the thick Oyl, that Works down out of the _Nut_ and _Spindle_ of the _Press_, or else with the point of his Knife takes a convenient quaintity of Oyl out of the _Plattin-pan_, or for want of either takes fresh Sallad Oyl and smears and spreads it well all over the whole _Ball-leather_; and then holding the _Ball-knife_ in his Right Hand, with its edge a little sloping downwards that it cut not the _Ball-leather_, and the handle of the _Ball-Stock_ in his Left Hand, he joyns the bottom of the _Ball-leather_, viz. as near the outer edge of the _Leather_ as he can, for the _Ball Nails_ to the edge of the _Ball-knife_, and turning the _Ball_ about by its Handle, presses it hard against the sloapt edge of the _Ball-knife_, and at once drives the laid on Oyl and Grease too before the sloapt edge of the _Ball-knife_; but he keeps the Handle of the _Ball-Stock_, and consequently the whole _Ball_ too, constantly turning, that the whole circumference of the _Ball_ may be _Scraped_: And as the _Ball_ has performed a Revolution against the sloapt edge of the _Ball-knife_, he draws gradually his Left Hand a little backish, that the sloapt edge of the _Ball-knife_ may by several Spiral revolutions of the _Ball_, scrape up to the very top of the _Ball_, and carries before it the Oyl and Grease thither: Which having there, he gathers up upon the _Blade_ of his _Ball-knife_ and disposes of it, as of so much Dirt and Filth.

After a due process of either of these Operations respectively, his _Ball_ will _Take_, and he again dabs gently the top of his _Ball_ three or four times on the _Inck-block_ (as before) and finding it _Take_, he takes the Handle of it into the clutched Fingers of his Left Hand, holding the _Ball-stock_ just a little above the circle of his Fore-finger and Thumb, and grasps the Handle of the other _Ball-stock_ into his Right Hand, with the circle of his Finger and Thumb upwards, and the now bottom of his Right Hand downwards, but not resting upon the _Ball-stock_; and trys if that _Ball_ will _Take_, by dabbing the Leather of it three or four times upon the other _Ball_; If it do not _Take_ with dabbing, he twists the _Balls_ in either Hand close and hard, contrary to one another, to besmear the upper with the under _Ball_. If after this, the upper _Ball_ do not _Take_, he considers the cause, and remedies it, as he did the first _Ball_.

¶ 11. _Of_ Rubbing out Inck.

Before the _Press-man_ goes to Work, he Rubs out his _Inck_.

If the _Inck_ have lain long on the _Inck-block_ since it was _Rubbed out_, the Superficies of it generally is dryed and hardened into a Film or Skin, wherefore the _Press-man_ carefully takes this Film quite off with the _Slice_ before he disturb the Body of the _Inck_: For should any, though never so little of it, mingle into the _Inck_, when the _Ball_ happens to take up that little particle of Filin, and delivers it again upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, it will be a _Pick_, and Print black, and deface the Work: And if it get between the _Face_ of two or more _Letters_, or the _Hollows_ of them, it will obliterate all it covers. And if it be _Pull’d_ upon, and the _Press-man_ not careful to over-look his Work, it may run through the whole _Heap_.

Wherefore having carefully skinned off the Film with the edge of the _Slice_, he scrapes his _Slice_ clean with the _Ball-knife_, lest some small parts of the Film should yet stick to, or remain on the _Slice_: And then with the _Slice_ brings the body of _Inck_ into the middle of the Plain of the _Inck-block_, and searches the sides of the _Inck-block_, by thrusting the edge of the _Slice_ forwards along them and all the angles of the _Inck-block_, and so scrapes off all the _Inck_ as clean as he can, and gathers it to the whole mass of _Inck_: Then with the _Slice_ he turns the whole mass about half a score times over and over to mingle it well together, lest some part of it should be more consolidated than the rest: And to mingle it yet better, he then falls to _Rubbing_ it with the _Brayer_, grasping the Handle of it in his Right Hand, he begins to _Rub_ with all his strength at the hithermost side-boundings of the Body of _Inck_, and keeping _Rubbing_ through the almost whole length of the _Inck-block_, he gradually proceeds to the farther side of the Body of _Inck_. In this manner of _Rubbing_ he bears hardest upon the farther edge of the _Brayer_, because the hither sides of the _Inck-block_ are not fenced in with Rails about them; and should he _Rub_ with the bottom of the _Brayer_ flat upon the _Inck-block_, he might draw too great a body of _Inck_ to the unfenced sides; so that the _Inck_ would be subject to run off: This _Rubbing_ is only to spread the _Inck_ pretty equally over the superfices of the _Inck-block_: Wherefore he now begins a circular _Rubbing_, observing in the circulation of the _Brayer_ that he always a little mounts the part of the edge of the bottom, which in its progress is ready to approach a prominent body of _Inck_, that it may somewhat slide over it, that the _Inck_ be not lickt up high on the sides of the _Brayer_.

Then with the Handle of the _Slice_ in his Left Hand and the Handle of the _Brayer_ in his Right, he joyns the bottom edge of the _Slice_ to the side of the _Brayer_, holding the flat of the _Slice_ Horizontal, and the bottom of the _Brayer_ perpendicular both over the _Inck-block_, and keeping his _Brayer_ and _Slice_ in this position, by turning the _Handle_ of the _Brayer_ in his Right Hand, held pretty stiff against the edge of the _Slice_, he scrapes off all the _Inck_ that the side of the _Brayer_ has lickt up: And setting down his _Brayer_, he takes the _Slice_ in his Right Hand and lays what _Inck_ he scrapes off the side of the _Brayer_ again upon the _Inck-Block_, and _Slices_ the whole mass of _Inck_ into the farthermost corner of the _Inck-block_.

This _Rubbing_ of the _Inck_ may serve when the _Inck-block_ had _Inck_ on it before.

But if no _Inck_ were on the _Inck-block_ before, then he lays new _Inck_ on the _Inck-block_: Wherefore he considers what Work he Works on: whether it be small or great _Letter_: If it be small _Letter_, or curious Work, the _Inck_ must be _Strong_ he Works with: But if it be great _Letter_ or sleight Work, he makes _Soft Inck_ serve, or at least mingles but a little _Hard Inck_ with it.

If the _Inck_ be too _Hard_, as sometimes in very frosty Weather it will be, then, though his Work be curious, yet he must _Rub_ in a little _Soft Inck_ to soften it; because it will not else _Destribute_ well upon the _Balls_; especially if the _Leathers_ be a little too Wet, or a little Greasie: Besides, it may and many times does pull and tear the Grain off the Skin; which not only spoils the Skin, but fills the _Form_ full of _Picks_.

Sometimes when he finds the _Inck_ too pale, he _Rubs_ in _Blacking_, but he first joults the bottom of the _Blacking Tub_ three or four times against the ground, that if by chance any dirt or filth have gotten into it, it may sink to the bottom of the _Tub_.

But when he either mingles _Strong_ and _Weak Inck_ together, or else puts in _Blacking_, he applies himself again first to _Rubbing_ with the _Brayer_, the length-way of the _Inck-block_, as before, and then to a circular _Rubbing_, as before; and to cleansing his _Brayer_, as before; and this long-ways _Rubbing_, circular _Rubbing_, and cleansing his _Brayer_, he reiterates so oft, till he judge the whole mass of Inck sufficiently _Rubbed_ and mingled, and the _Blacking_ perfectly imbibed by the _Inck_: And then he _Slices_ the whole mass of _Inck_ to the farthermost corner of the _Inck-block_, as before.

¶ 12. _Of_ Destributing _the_ Balls.

I shewed you in ¶ 10 of this § how he dabb’d the _Ball_ on the _Inck-block_, to try if it would _Take_: And I shewed you in what Posture he handled the _Balls_ when he tryed if the other _Ball_ would _Take_: Therefore for _Taking Inck_ and Handling the _Balls_ I (to avoid tautology) refer you to that ¶.

Having now _Taken Inck_, and gotten the _Balls_ in his Hands, in that posture, he Works them side-ways upon one another to and from him, and with a craft (acquired by use) in the Handling of the _Balls_, all the while keeps the Handles, and consequently the whole _Ball-stocks_ (both) turning round in his Hands and in a motion contrary to each other, _viz._ His under _Ball_ moving from the Left Hand to the Right, and his upper _Ball_ moving from his Right Hand to to the Left; and by and by in a second motion contrary to the first, _viz._ his under _Ball_ moving from the Right Hand to the Left, and his upper _Ball_ moving from the Left Hand to the Right.

And these motions and Operations he continues so long till he judges, and in part perceives the _Inck_ is equally _Destributed_ all over the whole _Ball-Leathers_.

The first way of turning the _Ball Handles_, while the _Balls_ are moved to and from him, is made by pressing the ends or Balls of the fingers of both his Hands upon the _Ball-handles_ from-wards his Hands: And the second way of turning them contrary to the first, is made by gathering in the ends or Balls of of his fingers while they are in their circular to and fro motion. But because in gathering in his fingers, he does somewhat dis-ingage his grasp of the _Ball-Handles_, therefore he lightly and almost insensibly, tosses the _Ball-stocks_ a little up, that when they are dis-ingaged from a close grasp, his fingers ends may the easier draw the _Handles_ towards him. This is a Hand-craft, which by continued use and practice, becomes familiar to his Hands.

¶ 13. _Of_ Beating.

The _Press-man_ imagines, or by his eye judges the length of his _Form_ (be it what Volumne it will) devided into four equal parts or Rows, which four Rows for distinction sake, I shall number from the Left Hand to the right, with first Row, second Row, third Row, fourth Row, just as an _Octavo Form_ is exactly devided by four Rows of _Pages_.

He places his Left Hand _Ball_ at the hither end of the first Row, so that though the _Ball_ be round, yet the square encompassed within that round shall sufficiently cover so much of the square of the hither end of that Row as it is well capable to cover; and his Right Hand _Ball_ he sets upon the hither end of the third Row: He sets his _Balls_ close upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, with the _Handles_ of the _Ball-stocks_ a little bending towards him: But as he presses them upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, he mounts them perpendicular; and lifting at once both the _Balls_ lightly just clear off the _Face_ of the _Letter_, he removes them about the fifth part of the breadth of the _Form_ upwards, _viz._ towards the farther side of the _Form_, and again sets them close down upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, with the Handles of the _Ball-stocks_ again bending a little towards him, as before: and as he presses them upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, mounts them perpendicular, as before: Thus in about four or five or six such motions, or rather removes of the _Balls_, according to the breadth of the _Form_, he _Beats_ over the first and third Rows. Thus _Beating_ from the hither towards the farther side, is in _Press-mens_ phrase called _Going up the Form_.

The reason why he bends the _Handles_ of the _Ball-stocks_ a little towards him, is, that the _Ball-leathers_ drag not upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_; for then the edges of the hollows between the _Lines_ or _Words_, or the edges of the cavities below the _Face_ would scrape _Inck_ off the _Balls_ to stop up or choak the _Form_. And the reason why (before he removes them) he mounts the _Handles_ of the _Ball-stocks_ a little perpendicular, is, that the _Balls_ may touch in their greatest capacity upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_.

To _Come down the Form_, he skips his _Balls_ both at once from the first and third Row to the second and fourth Row, and brings them down as he carried them up; only, as before, he bended the _Handles_ of the _Ball-stocks_ a little towards him, so now he bends them a little from him: That the _Ball-leathers_ (now _Coming down_) drag not, as aforesaid. Then in like manner he again skips the _Balls_ from the second and fourth Row to the first and third Row, and again _Goes up the Form_ with the _Balls_, as he did before. And then again skips, as before, and _Comes down the Form_ again with the _Balls_.

Having thus gone twice upwards and twice downwards with the _Balls_, the _Form_ is sufficiently _Beaten_ in a train of Work, when the _Face_ of the _Letter Takes_ well.

But if he _Beats_ the first Sheet of a fresh _Form_, or after a _Form_ is _Washed_, or he makes a _Proof_, he _Goes_ three four or five times _Upwards_ and _Downwards_: Least the _Face_ of the _Letter_ should happen to be Wet or moist, and consequently un-apt to take _Inck_, without reiterated _Beatings_.

¶ 15. _Of_ Pulling.

We will suppose now two _Press-men_ going in the Morning to their train of Work: The one they distinguish by the name of _First_, the other his _Second_, these call one another _Companions_: The _First_ is he that has wrought longest at that _Press_, except an Apprentice, for he must allow any Journey-man though new-come that stile: Generally the Master Printer reposes the greatest trust upon his care and curiosity for good Work; although both are equally liable to perform it.

All the priviledge that the _First_ has above the _Second_ is, that the _First_ takes his choice to _Pull_ or _Beat_ the agreed stint first: And that the _Second Knocks up the Balls_, _Washes the Forms_, _Teizes Wooll_, and does the other more servile Work, while the _First_ is imploid about making _Register_, ordering the _Tympan_, _Frisket_, and _Points_, &c. or otherwise _Making Ready_ the _Form_, &c.

The _First_ now takes his spell at _Pulling_: For the _First_ and _Second_ take their spell of _Pulling_ and _Beating_ an agreed number of _Tokens_: Sometimes they agree to change every three _Tokens_, which is three Hours work, and sometimes every six _Tokens_; that they may both _Pull_ and _Beat_ a like number of _Tokens_ in one day.

Under the general notion of _Pulling_ and _Beating_ is comprised all the operations that is in a train of work performed by the _Puller_ and the _Beater_: For though the _Puller Lays on Sheets_, Lays down the _Frisket_, Lays down the _Tympans_ and _Frisket_, _Runs in_ the _Carriage_, _Runs out_ the _Carriage_, takes up the _Tympans_, Takes up the _Frisket_, _Picks_ the _Form_, Takes off the Sheet, and Lays it on the _Heap_, yet all these Operations are in the general mingled and lost in the name of _Pulling_. And as in _Pulling_, so in _Beating_; for though the _Beater Rubs_ out his _Inck_, _Slices_ it up, _Destribute_ the _Balls_, peruses the _Heap_, &c. yet all these Operations are lost in the general name of _Beating_. Thus they say the _First_ or the _Second_ is _Pulling_; or, the _First_ or the _Second_ is _Beating_; though they are performing the different Operations aforesaid: unless upon particular occasions the respective Operations are particularly nam’d.

As there are many Operations conjunct to _Pulling_, and _Beating_, so the _Press-man_ performs them with various Set and Formal Postures and Gestures of the Body. For,

To take a Sheet off the _Heap_, He places his Body almost straight before the hither side of the _Tympan_: I say almost straight, Because it is more straight before the side of the _Tympan_ than it is before the angle made by the _Paper-bench_ and the side of the _Tympan_: But he nimbly twists the upper part of his Body a little backwards towards the _Heap_, the better to see he takes but one Sheet off, which he loosens from the rest of the _Heap_ (as I have shewed before) by drawing the back-side of the Nail of his right Thumb on his Right Hand nimbly over almost the whole length of the _Heap_, and receiving the hither end of the Sheet with the inside of his Left Hand fingers and Thumb catches with his Right Hand about two inches within the farther edge of the Sheet near the upper corner, and about the length of his Thumb below the hither edge of the Sheet, and brings it nimbly to the _Tympan_: And at the same time twists his Body again straight before the _Tympan_, only a very little moving his right Foot from its first Station a little forwards under the _Carriage Plank_: And as the Sheet is coming to the _Tympan_ (we suppose now he Works upon _White Paper_) he nimbly disposes the fingers of his Right Hand under the farther edge of the Sheet near the upper corner; and having the Sheet thus in both his Hands, lays the farther side and two extream corners of the Sheet down even upon the farther side and extream farther corners of the _Tympan-sheet_, but he is careful the upper corner of the Sheet be first laid even, upon the upper corner of the _Tympan-sheet_; that he may the sooner disingage his Right Hand: And if by the nimble casting his eye, he perceive the sides of the Sheet lye un-even upon the _Tympan-sheet_, he with his Left Hand at the bottom corner of the Sheet, either draws it backwards, or pulls it forwards, as the Sheet may lye higher or lower on the hither corners of the _Tympan-sheet_, while his Right Hand being disingaged, as aforesaid, is removed to the backside the _Ear_ of the _Frisket_, and with it gives it a light touch to double it down upon the _Tympan_. And by this time his Left Hand is also disingaged, and slipt to the hither under corner of the _Frisket_, to receive it, that it fall neither too hard or too quick down upon the _Tympan_: For hard falling may shake the loose Sheet on the _Tympan_ out of its place; and so may the quick pressure of the Air between the _Tympan_ and _Frisket_, after the Sheet is well laid: and while his Left Hand receives the _Frisket_ his right is disingaged from the _Ear_ of the _Frisket_, and removed to the middle of the back-side the _Tympan_; which he grasps between the Balls of his Fingers and Thumb, to lift it off the _Gallows_, and double it and the _Frisket_ together on the _Form_. And while the _Tympan_ is coming, he slips his Left Hand Fingers from under the _Frisket_ to the hither outer corner of it, as well to keep the Sheet close to the _Tympan_ in its position, as to avoid the jobbing of the lower side of the _Frisket_ against any small square shoulder, either of the _Furniture_, _Quoins_, _Chase_, or the corners that may stand higher than their common Plain.

Then nimbly slipping his Left Hand, he with it grasps the _Rounce_, and with a moderate strength, nimbly gives its _Winch_ about one Turn round; I say about, because the first _Pull_ will generally fall out to be made about the middle of the _Carriage_; (as was shewed in § 11. ¶ 16.) but perhaps not just in the middle: yet to regulate his _Runing in_, he made a mark before on the farther Rail of the _Tympan_, (as I shewed in ¶ 3. of this §) to which mark he _Runs_ the _Carriage in_, till he bring the mark in a Range with the fore-edge of the _Plattin_; and as it is coming, skips his Hand to within an Inch or two of the end of the _Bar_, and then at once gently leans his Body back, that his Arm as he _Pulls_ the _Bar_ towards him may keep a straight posture; because in a _Pull_ it has then the greatest strength. And he also slips his right Foot upon the _Foot-step_, while his Left Hand holds fast by the _Rounce_; as well to rest on the _Foot-step_ and _Rounce_, as to enable his Body to make a stronger _Pull_; which will prove _Longer_ or _Shorter_, according to the strength put to it, and also the _Hard_ or _Soft Justifying_ of the _Head_, (as was shewed in ¶ 5. of this §.)

Then disingaging his Right Hand again from the _Handle_ of the _Bar_, he slips it to the _Bow_ of the _Bar_, before the Handle fly quite back to the _Cheek_ of the _Press_: For should the _Bar_ by its forcible Spring knock hard against the _Cheek_ of the _Press_, it might not only shake some of its Parts or circumstantial appurtenances out of order, but subject the whole Machine with oft reiteration to an unstable position. Besides, the farther the _Bar_ flyes back, the more he hinders quick riddance in recovering it again. But yet he must let the _Bar_ fly so far back as that the _Tympan_ may just rise clear off the _Plattin_; lest when he _Runs in_ his _Second Pull_, the _Face_ of the _Plattin_ rub upon the _Tympan_, and shoves the Sheet upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_, and sometimes _Slurs_, and sometimes _Doubles_ it upon the _Face_ of the _Letter_.

Having _Pull’d_ the _First Pull_, and having the _Rounce_ still in his Left Hand, He turns the _Rounce_ about again, till the _Carriage Runs in_ so far, as that the second mark on the Rail of the _Tympan_ comes into a Range with the hither edge of the _Plattin_, as before the first mark did; and then _Pulls_ his second _Pull_, as he did his first; and slips his Right Hand again off the _Handle_ of the _Bar_ to the _Bow_, (as before) and guides the _Bar_ up to its _Catch_ leisurely, that coming now near the _Cheek_ it knock not against it: and just as he has _Pulled_ his _Second Pull_, he gives a pretty quick and strong pressure upon the _Rounce_, to turn it back, and the _Carriage_ out again: And so soon as he has given that one pressure, (as aforesaid) he desingages his Left Hand from the _Rounce_, and claps the fingers of it under the middle of the _Tympan_, and on the _Ear_ of the _Frisket_: and while this is doing, removes his Right Hand to the now upper, but immediately it will be the under-side of the _Tympan Rail_, within four or five Inches of the upper end of it, to receive the _Tympan_, as it is lifted up off the _Form_ by his Left Hand. And having thus received it, lets it descend gently down on the _Gallows_. And as it is descending, slips his Left Hand fingers under the hither lower corner of the _Frisket_, and gives the _Frisket_ a toss up; while by this time his Right Hand being disingaged from the _Tympan_, is ready to catch the _Frisket_ by the _Ear_, and convey it quick and gently to its _Stay_: And while the _Frisket_ is going up; he slips the end of the middle finger of his Left Hand, or sometimes the ends of his two middle fingers with their Balls upwards, under the hither lower corner of the _Pulled off Sheet_, and at the instant he has got them under, he nimbly bows his Joynts upwards, to throw up the corner of the Sheet, to make it mount a little, for him to gather about two Inches hold of it between the Balls of his Thumb and fore-finger. And heaving the whole Sheet by this corner a little upwards, He at the same time lifts it off the _Points_, and draws it somewhat towards him; and as it comes, catches it near the upper corner of the same side of the Sheet, between the foremost Joynts of his fore-fingers and Ball of the Thumb of his Right Hand, and nimbly twisting about his Body towards the _Paper-bench_ carries the Sheet over the _Heap_ of _White-paper_ to a _Paper-board_, which before he placed beyond that _Heap_ on his Right Hand, (as aforesaid in ¶ 14.) and lays it down upon a Waste-sheet laid for that purpose on that _Paper-board_; but while it is coming over the _White-paper Heap_, though he have the Sheet between both his fore-fingers and Thumbs, yet he holds the Sheet so loosly that it may move between them as on two Centers, as his Body twists about (as aforesaid) from the side of the _Tympan_ towards the side of the _Paper-bench_.

Thus you see both the _Press-mans_ Hands at the same time alternatively ingaged in different Operations: For while his Right Hand is imployed in one Action his left is busie about another, and these exercises so suddenly varied, that they seem to slide into one another; one Posture beginning when the former is but half performed.

Having thus _Pulled_ one Sheet, and laid it down: He turns his Body towards the _Tympan_ again, and as he is turning gives the next Sheet on the _White-paper Heap_ a Touch with the backside of the Nail of his Right Thumb, as before, to draw it a little over the hither edge of the _Heap_, and lays it on the _Tympan_, &c. as he did the first; and so successively every Sheet till the whole _Heap_ of _White-paper_ be _Wrought off_.

As he comes to a _Token-sheet_, he un-doubles that, and smooths out the Crease with the back-side of the Nails of his Right Hand, that the _Face_ of the _Letter_ may Print upon smooth Paper. And being Printed off, he folds it again, as before, for a _Token-sheet_ when he works the _Reiteration_.

Having _Wrought off_ the _White-paper_, he turns the _Heap_ thus:

He takes the _Paper-board_ that his _White-paper_ lay on, and sets it down on the ground: Then removes the _Heap_ to his Left Hand; then takes up the _Paper-board_, and lays it on his Right Hand: And if it be _Twelves_, or any _Form Imposed_ like _Twelves_, as _Twenty fours_, &c. he turns it from one long side of the Paper to the other, that is, the long side of the Paper that stands on his Right Hand when the Printed side lies upwards, he turns over to his Left Hand, and lays the un-printed side upwards. In performing this, he grasps off of the _Wrought off Heap_ so much at once between both his Hands as he can well govern, without disordering the eveness of the sides of the _Heap_, viz. a _Token_, or more, and lays that upon the _Paper-board_; then takes another grasp in like manner, and lays that on the first grasp, and so successively, till he have turned the whole _Heap_, grasp by grasp. Then removes the _Heap_ near the _Tympan_, and lays the other _Paper-board_ beyond it, as the first _Paper-board_ stood before; always remembring to lay a Waste-sheet first on the _Paper-board_.

Having now turned the _Heap_, and made _Register_ on the _Reteration Form_ (as was shewed in ¶ 7. of this §) he Works off the _Reteration_: But he somewhat varies his posture in the _Laying on his Sheets_: For as before, when he wrought _White Paper_, he catcht the Sheet by the upper farther corner with his Right Hand, he now having heaved up the Sheet (as aforesaid) catches it as near the farther side of the farther _Point-hole_ as he can, with the Ball of his Right Hand Thumb above the Sheet, and the Ball of his fore-finger under the Sheet, the readier to lay the _Point-hole_ over its respective _Point_: which having done, he slips his Body a little backwards, and both his Hands with it, his Right Hand towards the hither _Point-hole_, with the back-sides of the Nails of his fingers to draw or stroak it over the _Point_: and the fingers of his Left Hand, as they come from the farther corner, nimbly slipping along the bottom edge of the Sheet, till they come to the hither corner; and then with his fore-finger and Thumb, layes hold of it, to help guide the _Point-hole_ on that _Point_ also: Then _Pulls_ that Sheet, as before, as he did the _White Paper_, and so successively all the rest of the _Reteration_. Only, the _Token-sheets_, as he meets with them, he Folds not down again, as he did the _White Paper_.

If a _Press-man_ have no _Companion_, but works alone; he has a little oblong Square _Form_ or Bench made to stand so high as the _Face_ of the _Letter_ upon the _Press-stone_, and so long as to contain the _Balls_ when set upon the _Ball-leathers_.

This Form or Bench some Work-men will place on the hither side the hither _Cheek_, within about half an Inch of the foreside of the _Cheek_: And other Work-men will place it on the farther side of the _Carriage_; each sort of Work-men supposing that in the place he sets it, the _Balls_ stand most commodious for his quick taking up and setting down: I shall not plead the convenience of either, but in short speak to the inconveniences of both.

The inconvenience of placing it on the hither side the hither _Cheek_, is, that the _Press-man_ must twist his Body somewhat about to take up the _Balls_. And the inconvenience of placing it on the further side the _Carriage_, is, that the _Press-man_ must thrust his Body over the _Form_ to take up the _Balls_: both ways strain the Body, and hinder riddance.

Those that place it on the hither side the _Cheek_, begin and end their _Beating_ as has already been shewed, _viz._ on the hither side the _Form_: But those that place it on the farther side the _Carriage_, begin and end their _Beating_ on the Rows on the farther side the _Form_.

One _Press-man_ in his train of Work will _Beat_ so soon as he has laid the _Tympan_ on the _Gallows_ after _Pulling_: Another will not _Beat_ till he has laid his Sheet on the _Tympan_, and doubled the _Frisket_ down on it: both sorts fancying their own way most quick and commodious: For these conveniences are the purposes they both drive at.

¶ 16. _Of Printing_ Red, _or other Colours with_ Black.

When _Red_ and _Black_ are to be Printed upon the same Sheet, the _Press-man_ first _Makes Register_, as was shewed ¶ 7. and _Makes Ready_ his _Form_ as was shewed ¶ 14. of this §. Then having a new _Frisket Drawn_, as was shewed ¶ 8. He Prints upon his new _Frisket_ with _Black_. And having before a _Proof-sheet_ Printed _Black_, with the Words to be Printed _Red_ under-lined on that _Proof-sheet_; He takes off his _Frisket_, and lays it flat on a _Paper-board_, and with a sharp-pointed Pen-knife neatly cuts out those words on the _Frisket_, and about half a Scaboard _Margin_ round about the words, that he finds under-lined on the _Proof-sheet_: Then sets the _Frisket_ by till he has wrought off his _Heap_ with _Black_, and puts his common _Frisket_ on the _Joynts_ of the _Tympan_ again.

While the _Press-man_ is _Cutting_ the _Frisket_, the _Compositer_ takes those _Words_ out of the _Form_ that are _Under-lin’d_ on the _Proof-sheet_, and in their place puts _Quadrats_, m-_Quadrats_, _Spaces_, &c. to _Justifie_ the _Lines_ up again.

Then _Locking up_ the _Form_, the _Press-man_ Works off the _Heap_ Black, as was shewed in the last ¶.

Having wrought off his _Heap_ Black, he takes off the common _Frisket_, and puts on his new cut _Frisket_: Then taking a piece of thick Scaboard he cuts it into so many small slips as there are _Whites_ in the _Form_ to be Printed with _Red_; These small slips he cuts exactly to the length of the _Quadrats_, &c. the _Compositer_ put in, and to the breadth of the _Body_; but rather a small matter less than bigger, lest they bind at the bottom of the _Shank_ of the _Letter_: for when the _Compositer_ takes out the _Quadrats_, &c. he put in before the _Form_ was _Wrought off_ Black, these slips of Scaboards the _Press-man_ pricks on the Point of a _Bodkin_ and puts them into their respective holes: And being loosen’d off the Point of the _Bodkin_ with the blunt Point of another _Bodkin_, are laid down flat on the _Press-stone_; These slips are called _Underlays_, and are described in ¶ 14. of this §. Upon these _Underlays_ the _Compositer_ puts in again the _Words_ or _Letters_ he took out before the _Form_ was _Wrought off Black_: So that these _Words_ now stand higher than the other _Matter_ of the _Form_, and therefore will Print when the other _Matter_ will not. But yet for the more assurance that the other _Matter_ Print not, the _New-cut Frisket_ was prepar’d, which hinders any thing to Print but what Prints through the Holes cut in it; which Holes these _Underlaid Words_ fall exactly through.

Having mingled the Red, or any other intended Colour with _Varnish_, as shall be shew’d in the next ¶, he _Beats_ the _Form_ as with _Black_; and _Pulls_ it very lightly, lest these _Underlaid Words_ standing higher than the rest of the _Matter_, Print too _Hard_.

¶ 17. _Of mixing and Grinding Colours with_ Varnish.

_Varnish_ is the common _Menstruum_ for all Colours that are to be used in Printing.