VMs: Re: More shorthand trivia

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi GC,

> There is a collection of 16th century shorthand contained in the
> Carlton Collection, at the London University Library, and I wonder
> if anyone has had occasion to view this.

Unless anyone gets there first, I'll try to get access to the Carlton 
Shorthand Collection over the next few days (I've already emailed the 
Historic Collection librarian). I've long suspected an alphabetic 
connection with tachygraphy, so this would be extremely interesting to 
check out. :-)

        http://www.ull.ac.uk/library/historic.pdf


But honestly, GC, give the truly vast amounts of Baconia in the ULL 
Historic Collections, how come you haven't moved to London to immerse 
yourself in it? :-)))

The Harry Price Collection looks quite interesting too. :-)

> At this point it's
> fairly important to discover whether or not these symbols were
> used in any other shorthand samples outside of England as well.
> If not, English authorship is a very good possibility.

When I was researching early shorthand before, I was a little disappointed 
at the paucity of references. Perhaps I ought to go back to the British 
Library and Just Try Harder. :-)

> My guess is that the symbols for the script were selected as a
> cover, so prying eyes would pass over it as a shorthand document
> on herbs.

Lots of interesting ideas and theories here!

If that symbol does represent "feare (of) god", and/or the other symbol for 
"eternal life", then surely it should be a fairly straightforward matter to 
shortlist Biblical quotations containing them both? This may give a crib 
for the intervening symbols...

...though I'm sure you're already checking this out. :-)

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....