Old English Writing

The conventional theory of the evolution of the national writings, including the English branch, does not immediately concern the position of our national Records prior to the close of the 11th century, for the simple reason that no such Records exist before that date. On the other hand, in default of official enrolments or rescripts of royal diplomata prior to a still later date, we must depend for our knowledge of the diplomatic formulas upon such originals as have survived from the 7th century to the 12th. Moreover it is desirable to notice the general conditions that prevailed in Western Europe in connexion with the evolution of a universal Minuscule writing, which not only superseded the insular hands before the end of the 11th century but also influenced the development of our national writing between the middle of the 15th century and the beginning of the 17th.

The conventional theory above referred to has been variously expressed during the last two hundred years both by native and foreign writers, and it is possible that the conclusions at which they have finally arrived may still be subject to further modifications. It would obviously be impossible to discuss these conclusions at large in the course of a slight essay on the characteristic features of the English official writing only, and a statement thereof in tabular form would certainly be inconclusive and might also seem invidious.