Chapter II: 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