i6 ACCOUNT OF THE CLASSES 



second and third terms, students continue the practice 

 in deciphering Latin MSS., and special lectures are 

 devoted to an explanation of the archaisms of the 

 Old French vocabulary and accidence. They have 

 been already instructed in the forms of the Old 

 English letters, and a continuous view of the develop- 

 ment of the vernacular writing is given to the end of 

 the 17th Century, including the chief peculiarities of 

 the State Papers. Special attention is paid to the 

 difficult writing of the period 1450-173 2, associated 

 with the artificial scripts known as " Court-hand," 

 " Chancery," and " Secretary." 



Students are encouraged to show up exercises in 

 the transcription and extension of facsimiles which 

 can be procured on loan from the Library for this 

 purpose, and which are duly marked and registered. 

 There is a Sessional Examination in Palaeography and 

 Diplomatic at the end of the Summer Term. 



When a class is formed for the study of Advanced 

 Palaeography, greater attention is paid to the theoreti- 

 cal development of the national writings, and to the 

 bibliography of the subject. The following headings 

 may be regarded as indicating the scope of the lectures 

 given in both courses ; — 



Palceography (Elementary and Advanced), 

 (i) The Evolution of the National Writings. 



(2) Mediaeval Writing in Latin. 



(3) Mediaeval Writing in French. 



(4) Vernacular Writing, 8th-i8th Centuries. 



(5) Later Official Writings (artificial). "Court- 

 hand,'' " Chancery," " Secretary," " Littera 

 Sancti Petri," etc. 



(6) The Mediaeval Scriptorium (Monastic and 

 Royal). 



(7) Palaeographical Terms and Texts. 



(8) Contractions (History and Systems of). 



(9) Extensions (Rules for). 



(10) Bibliography of Palaeography. 



