EARLY WRITING

1. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

NO MATTER HOW MANY BOOKS YOU READ ON THIS SUBJECT NOTHING HELPS MORE THAN CONSTANTLY READING AND RE-READING AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS

2. Watch for the shortened forms of words and names.

3. Watch for non-standard or phonetic spellings.

4. Note that the odd Latin words might be included in texts that are otherwise in English. For example in Wills we see Imprimis or Impr which means Firstly.

5. Latin documents might need specialist advice.

6. Latin administrations of Wills usually just contain the names of who proved the Will and their relationship to the deceased (usually straightforward).

7. Obtain a copy of the document to be read and transcribe it word by word/letter by letter. Leave gaps for words or letters that you do not understand.

8. Obtain a folder from the Borthwick Institute for Archives in York (University of York Library Building) which includes transcripts of early writing.

9. Words which might seem odd to the 20th Century reader have probably just gone out of use. I suggest you use a good dictionary, perhaps a multi-volume work in the reference library.

Useful other works

L. C. Hector, The Handwriting of English Documents. Kohler and Coombes 1980.
Hilda E. P. Grieve, Examples of English Handwriting, 1150-1750, Essex Record Office, 1959.
C. T. Martin, The Record Interpreter, Charles Trice, Phillimore and Co Ltd 1982.
E. G. Emmison, How to Read Local Archives 1500-1700. Historical Association, 1967.
K. C. Newton, Medieval Local Records: A Reading Aid.
R. E. Latham, Revised Medieval Latin Word-List, OUP, 1965.