 |
|
|
This
segment of text contains a number of Latinised Old
English words, beginning with Saca et Socna
et Tol et Theam et Infangenetheof in the third last line. These
represent various legal privileges being claimed by the abbey, still phrased
in the alliterative and rhythmic Anglo-Saxon vernacular
used to confirm them in memory before they were written down in charters.
This was common practice in Norman charters, but in this one they do seem
to have gone overboard with an extremely long list. Having decided to
write their own charter, I guess they didn't want to leave anything to
chance.
To investigate what these terms mean, you can try the ORB Guide to Medieval Terms. |
|
previous page |
|
| Forged charter of Battle Abbey, mid 12th century. (British Library, Egerton Charter 2211). All images by permission of the British Library. | |
|
| overview | text | alphabet | abbreviations | structure | exercises | | transcript | translation | |
|
| Click on each of the above to walk your way through the text. The transcript will appear in a separate window so that you can use it for reference at any time. These exercises are designed to guide you through the text, not test you, so you can cheat as much as you like. | |
 |
|
| Script sample from this example |
|
|
Index
of Exercises |
|
|
Index
of Scripts |
|
|
If you are looking at this page without frames, there is more information about medieval writing to be found by going to the home page (framed) or the site map (no frames). |
|
 |
|
