Peter Bales facts for kids

Peter Bales (1547–1610?) was a very skilled English calligrapher. A calligrapher is someone who writes beautifully. He also helped create shorthand writing, which is a fast way to write using symbols. Peter Bales was born in London in 1547. People at the time were amazed by his writing abilities. He even studied at a place called Gloucester Hall in Oxford, where his hobby of writing turned into a successful job.

Who Was Peter Bales?

Peter Bales was a famous writer from England. He lived during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He was known for his amazing handwriting. He could write very tiny and very neatly.

Amazing Writing Skills

Peter Bales was famous for his incredible writing. He could write a lot of words in a very small space. One story tells how he wrote many important texts. These included the Lord's Prayer and the Ten Commandments.

Tiny Writing Wonders

In 1575, Peter Bales showed off his skills. He wrote all these texts, plus his name and the date. He fit everything inside the circle of a single penny! This tiny writing was put into a gold ring. It was covered with a crystal so people could read it. He gave this amazing gift to Queen Elizabeth I at Hampton Court. The Queen, her advisors, and visitors were all very impressed.

Secret Agent Work

Peter Bales was also very good at copying handwriting. Because of this special skill, he helped the government. Between 1576 and 1590, he worked for Secretary Walsingham. He helped with important tasks for the country. This shows how trusted and talented he was.

The Golden Pen Contest

In 1590, Peter Bales opened a writing school. It was located near the Old Bailey in London. That same year, he published a book. It was called Writing Schoolemaster, in three Parts. This book included one of the first systems for shorthand writing.

In 1595, Peter Bales had a big writing competition. He competed against another writer named Daniel Johnson. The prize was a special golden pen worth £20. Peter Bales won the contest! People said he was so good that he was given the "arms of calligraphy." This was a special symbol: a blue shield with a gold pen. Peter Bales passed away around the year 1610.