Quality rather than quantity should be the antiquary’s motto in his choice of a library, but antiquarianism and archæology require many books of reference, and it is well to know those books most likely to be of permanent use instead of wasting room upon volumes not required after the first reading. Upon Manor Rolls there is a very clever work lately issued by the Selden Society (volume ii.). It gives much new information on Manorial Customs. All the volumes issued by this society are very interesting. They are edited by F. W. Maitland. Upon Monastic History there are many very interesting books, mostly published by Burns and Oates, London.
A list of useful books might be extended indefinitely, especially if brought up to date. Archæology is a cumulative science gleaned from varied sources. The antiquary usually is possessed of more brains than money, but if he is fortunate enough to possess both, a large library will be to him a never-ending source of amusement.
CHAPTER XI.
OLD LETTERS.
There were always two divisions of handwriting: the formal hand, employed for clerk’s work, and a freer, less mechanical, less careful style, used for private correspondence. Writing was a profession, and, as late as the sixteenth century, when it was necessary to communicate with persons at a distance, a professional scribe was employed to write the letter. Even now in slums may be seen the notice of ‘Letters written here,’ though this chiefly refers to it being a shop address to which letters may be directed. But letter-writing was rare, and did not become general till after the sixteenth century; even then it was restricted to the upper classes of society. I have in Chapter IV. given a brief account of the paper used in England. Letter or post paper was made of a square uniform sheet, folded; it was known as ‘Pot paper,’ from its water-mark. This varied slightly, the jug or water-pot being much more elaborate in some examples. It came principally from abroad, either the Low Countries or Germany; each separate factory very likely adopted a distinct shape; the makers’ initials are to be found upon the band across the pot, but are difficult to read, nor so far as I know is anything known about the manufacturers or their names.
(1561) (1563) (1623)
The three above marks are taken from some old letters, and are good types of their kind; a more careful study of water-marks would show the dates of undated papers, and be a safeguard against forgery.
The writing of old letters I have placed after the chapter on registers, because the latter forms a link between the clerical and personal handwritings. The letters have changed entirely from the old black-letter style to a similar style, like that still in use in Germany, and assuming a distinct character.
