In his efforts to read the ensuing specimens of Renaissance script, the
student is advised (1) not to look at the transcripts until he has made a con-
scientious attempt to decipher any given specimen or word; (2) to employ
a magnifying glass, preferably one having a magnifying power of three or
four diameters, whenever he strikes a snag; and (3) to go over any difficult
word with the point of a dry pen, so as to get the feel of the letters as they
were written.

The transcripts are as nearly exact transcripts of the originals as ordinary
type permits. Abbreviations, symbols, and brevigraphs, except w^t (with),
y^e (the), y^t (that) and a few others, are, however, extended, the supplied
letters and symbol equivalents being printed in parentheses. Words within
square brackets represent deletions; letters and words preceded by a left
bracket replace omissions resulting from the shearing of a plate.

The original of Plate VII is in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin;
the original of Plate X is the property of Mr. Albert S. Osborn, of New
York; the other documents belong to the British Government and are in
the British Museum.

It is to be regretted that in Plate II, owing to the process employed in
making the facsimile, some of the very fine strokes, especially the tails of
some y's have not been reproduced.

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