Caxton's own account in the Recuyell of the Histories of Troye of how he came to start is that for as moche as in the wrytyng of the same my penne is worn, myn hande wery and not stedfast, myn eyen dimmed with ouer-moche lokyng on the whit paper ...
"Fine Books"
Alfred W. Pollard
Having crossed the stream Huveaune and traversed several tunnels and the Durance and Marseilles canal, the slow trains halt at the villages of St. Marcel, with the chapel of N. D. de Nazareth, and St. Menet, and La penne, all situated at the foot of Mont Carpiagne.
"The South of France--East Half"
Charles Bertram Black
And so no doubt may this deuise of ours be, by others that shall take the penne in hand after vs.
"The Arte of English Poesie"
George Puttenham