The Key to the Family Deed Chest: How to Decipher and Study Old Documents / Being a Guide to the Reading of Ancient Manuscripts

by Emma Elizabeth Thoyts

Sulhamstead,

May, 1893.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER		PAGE
	INTRODUCTION	[xi]
I.	HINTS TO THE BEGINNER	[1]
II.	CHARACTER BY HANDWRITING	[14]
III.	SAXON, NORMAN-FRENCH AND LAW LATIN	[28]
IV.	OLD DEEDS	[41]
V.	LAW TECHNICALITIES	[53]
VI.	MANOR AND COURT ROLLS	[70]
VII.	MONASTIC CHARTERS	[86]
VIII.	PARISH REGISTERS	[103]
IX.	PARISH OFFICERS AND THEIR ACCOUNT BOOKS	[112]
X.	BOOKS ON PALEOGRAPHY	[127]
XI.	OLD LETTERS	[135]
XII.	ABBREVIATIONS, ETC.	[142]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

	PAGE
SIGNATURE	[23]
EXTRACT FROM DOMESDAY	[29]
NORMAN-FRENCH DEED	[34]
FORM OF FINE	[56]
SHERIFF’S ROLL (NEVILLE MSS.)	[65]
COURT ROLL	[76]
ARABIC NUMERALS	[79]
READING ABBEY CHARTER	[92]
READING ABBEY CHARTULARY	[94]
PAPER-MAKERS’ INITIALS	[136]
SOME QUAINT LETTERS FROM OLD PARISH REGISTERS	[137]