"Others argued that they were probably invented by the Chaldeans or the Jews because they increased in value from right to left, an argument... [also made by] England’s earliest arithmetical textbook-maker, Robert Recorde (c. 1542): "In that thinge all men do agree, that the Chaldays, whiche fyrste inuented thys arte, did set these figures as thei set all their letters, for they wryte backwarde as you tearme it, and so doo they reade. And that may appeare in all Hebrewe, Chaldaye and Arabike bookes .. . where as the Greekes, Latines, and all nations of Europe, do wryte and reade from the lefte hand towarde the ryghte.""