Three-quarter length seated behind a covered table; he holds a quill pen in his right hand and is resting it on an open book with the words 'Nativity of John Nokes' written across the page, his left hand holds another book and rests on his knee; in the background to the left is a herb cabinet, and to the right there is a black cat in a window; in the forground to the left is a globe; behind him are letters, one which bears the address 'Mr Dowland / Milk Yard / Shadwell'