HOW TO DECIPHER AND STUDY OLD DOCUMENTS. [Illustration] _THE KEY TO THE FAMILY DEED CHEST_ HOW TO DECIPHER AND STUDY OLD DOCUMENTS _BEING A GUIDE TO THE READING OF ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS_ BY E. E. THOYTS (MRS. JOHN HAUTENVILLE COPE) _WITH AN INTRODUCTION_ BY C. TRICE MARTIN ASSISTANT KEEPER OF H.M. RECORDS SECOND EDITION LONDON ELLIOT STOCK, 62, PATERNOSTER ROW 1903 [Illustration] PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. Just ten years ago this little volume made its first appearance. Although many books on similar subjects have been written in that time, none have exactly given the same information, and this second edition has been decided upon. Additions and corrections to bring the book up to date have been made, but much still remains, and must remain, imperfect in so small a work on so large a subject, and the present pages only profess to help beginners over some of the initial difficulties they will meet with. It has been urged that handwriting and its characteristics have nothing to do with old deeds, but careful study of every line and letter is useful, especially with regard to private letters, or when any question arises as to whether the manuscripts are genuine or forgeries. That is why the second chapter, on handwriting and descriptions of old ink, paper, and paper marks and seals, was written, for all such items _are_ of great importance. A recent celebrated trial (the Shipway case, in which an old register was altered) shows that careful attention to minute details is necessary. Parish registers have not, and are not, at the present moment protected against frauds of this kind, which are far less common than might be supposed. Old deeds are now bought and sold; it is a trade quite as much as that in old books. Some years ago, in Edinburgh, a number of clever forgeries were sold as genuine, which if they had been so would have cleared up a historical question of great importance. Many friends who helped me when I first wrote the book are, alas! dead; only their letters remain, and from these I have used extracts in revising this edition. Mr. Trice Martin has most kindly read it through and criticised it, as he did ten years ago, and if mistakes still remain, I trust my readers will be lenient. It must, however, be remembered that I am writing only about the class of deeds which are usually met with in old houses, and not attempting to describe every description of charter or deed.