Re: VMs: Shorthand vs cipher...

["R. Brzustowicz" <brz@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 18 Nov 2003, Nick Pelling wrote:

>
> All the same, remember that shorthand had an *extraordinarily* bad press
> circa 1350-1500. Secret writing (of all kinds) was thought to be diabolic -
> that is, the Thought Police of the day believed that if you were hiding
> some thoughts in text, they was probably blasphemous... so, on the balance
> of probability, better to burn you at the stake... just to be sure. :-o

I've never heard of this; I was rather under the impression that
short-hand was in raher wide use (for example, in legal contexts).
Could you provide me with references re the history of the hostility
toward shorthand between the 14th and 16th centuries?

Thanks.

Richard Brzustowicz
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