[Illustration: FIG. 171.--_Part of fig. 8, enlarged three times linear (see p. 305)._]
For practical purposes the "slanted-pen" letter is generally superior to the "straight-pen" letter. The "slanted-pen" letters have greater strength and legibility, due mainly to the presence of the _thick horizontals_--often equal in width to the verticals. Their use saves both space and time, as they are narrower, and more easily and freely written[78] than the straight-pen forms.
[Illustration: FIG. 172.--_Fig. 12, enlarged twice linear (see p. 305 & Plate VIII.). Note: top line is cut down._]
[Illustration: FIG. 173.--_Part of Plate IX. (Charter of CNUT), enlarged three times linear (see p. 416)._]
[Illustration: FIG. 174.--_Part of Plate X., enlarged three times linear_ (_see pp. 417-419_).]
The real importance to us of these early types [p310] lies, I think, in their relation to the Roman Small-Letter (pp. 418-19 & 429-83), and their great possibilities of development into modern formal hands approaching the "Roman" type.
Ex.: (Italian) Plates XIX., XX. (15th century); figs. 175, 176 (16th century): figs. 147, 148 (_modern MS._).
The _Roman Small-Letter_ is the universally recognised type in which the majority of books and papers are printed. Its form has been in use for over 400 years (without essential alteration) and as far as we are concerned it may be regarded as permanent.
And it is the object of the scribe or letter-maker gradually to attain a fine, personal formal hand, assimilating to the Roman Small-Letter; a hand against the familiar and present form of which no allegations of unreadableness can be raised, and a hand having a beauty and character now absent or _un_familiar. The related _Italic_ will be mastered for formal MS. work (p. 315), and the ordinary handwriting improved (p. 323). These three hands point the advance of the practical, modern scribe.
The Roman Small-Letter is essentially a pen form (and preferably a "slanted-pen" form; p. 305), and we would do well to follow its natural development _from the Roman Capital_--_through Round Letters and Slanted-Pen forms_--so that we may arrive at a truly developed and characteristic type, suitable for any formal manuscript work and full of suggestions for printers and letter-craftsmen generally.