A NEW, expanded edition of this essential guide - the most practical, straightforward and accessible introduction to a vital skill, now with additional examples and transcriptions.
This booklet is intended to help the beginner read the more commonly available documents written between the 16th and 18th centuries, when the majority of documents were written in Engligh. A most practical, straightforward and accessible introduction to this vital skill. Includes two different alphabets to introduce the reader to the variety of hands which can be found in English documents of the 16th and 17th centuries.
Contents:
Editor's Preface
The Front Cover
Introduction
An Alphabet of Secretary Hand
An Alphabet of Court Hand
The Alphabet Described
Ligatures and Contractions
Yogh and Thorn: Two Obsolete Letters
Punctuation and Capitalisation
Numerals and Dates
Rules and Conventions for Transcribing
Bibliography and Useful Books
The Examples:
1. Account of Ansty farm, Wiltshire, 1706
2. Deposition re theft at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire, 1671
3. Petition of inhabitants of East Harnham, Wiltshire, 1673
4. Inventory of Rowland Beaumont of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, 1640
5. Bishop's transcript of the parish register of Melksham, Wiltshire, 1635
6. Marriage allegation, Chitterne and Warminster, Wiltshire 3 June 1628
7. Glebe terrier of Dalham, Suffolk, 1613
8. Presentment of the Constables of Calne borough, 1612
9. Letter of Juell Longe to the official of the bishop of Salisbury, circa 1612
10. Will of Robert Keete of Ramsbury, Wiltshire, 1594
11. Account Book of Hengrave Park, Suffolk, 1587
12. Survey of the manor of Brinkworth, Wiltshire, 1578
13. Bishop's visitation, Avebury and Alton Priors, Wiltshire, 1553
14. Churchwardens; account book, Dinton, Wiltshire, 1550-1551
15. Survey of the manor of Lacock, Wiltshire, 1548
16. Letter sent from Hugh Parker to his father, circa 1509
