How to Use ReadMe! for English (Renaissance)

Each of the five palaeography classes in this module is supported by an online exercise. This consists of an extract from a document already studied in class along with a self-correction tool.

HOW TO USE THE ‘README!’ TOOL

Enter your transcription for each line in the equivalent numbered box beneath the extract. Once you are satisfied with your version, you can click the MarkMe! button to check your accuracy. Alternatively, you can click the ShowMe! button to see the correct transcription.

Before you start:

  • Read the headnotes to each document since these are provided to help you. These will point out particular features of the hand, such as the use of colour, underlining, layout etc., or specific issues of scribal practice such as unusual characters, letter forms, otiose (lazy or meaningless) strokes, or peculiarities of punctuation. Such elements would normally be discussed within the description of the hand in the introduction to an assignment

  • Occasionally footnotes in the ShowMe! text will explain particular points of interest

  • Use the inbuilt magnifying lens to enlarge any unclear letters

  • Replicate lines as they appear in the document

  • Replicate word-division as it is used in the document

  • Replicate spelling as it is used in the document, bearing in mind that it may seem odd and may vary

  • Reproduce capitalisation and punctuation as they are used in the document

  • Retain abbreviations without expansion only if they are still in common modern usage – e.g. Mr, St, &. All other abbreviations, contractions and suspensions should be expanded editorially with the omitted letters placed in [ ] e.g. Matie = Ma[jes]tie

  • Formatting such as coloured, enlarged, superscripted and underlined letters should be transcribed plainly

  • Transcribe letters whose usage is often interchangeable (e.g. i/j; u/v/w) as they appear in the document

  • Do not attempt to translate unfamiliar words

The method you use to tackle these exercises will introduce the principles needed to prepare your assignments.

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How to Use ReadMe! for English (Renaissance)