farfel_n07_039_486

From the bastard hand of the late 14th C there
developed in England 2 distinct varieties of Gothic
script 1) a small Court Hand - came into being
early in the 15th C + gave rise a century later to
English Secretary (Old English) 2) Several large
Special Hands - emerged late in the 15th C + were
restricted to use for certain sections of public +
private business (Legal, Chancery etc.) These
special hands, all Court hands are peculiar to
England.

-As the use of Latin for legal transactions almost entirely
How to Read Old Documents superseded the Normal-French language after the reign
of Edward III (1327-1377) very few old deeds are met
with in the latter language.
- Late 17th C. or early 18th C - often written in English.
- About the end of the 15th C, English began to be used for
law business transactions more + more. Latin, like
Norman-French had had its day + was dying out.
Finally by George III's Act of Parliament the native
language was ordered to be used for law work.