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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Wayne N on Saturday 26 April 25 23:34 BST (UK)

Title: 1631 Latin Probate/Pronouncement for Michael Norwood
Post by: Wayne N on Saturday 26 April 25 23:34 BST (UK)

A Letter of Administration, if that's what it was called (in Latin) was written after the death of Michael Norwood of Thanet. It contained relatively few contractions and was quite legible. However, the probate/pronouncement (not sure of the correct term) had most of its words contracted, which is where I run into difficulties.

Would it be possible to review the following.
edit: Richard Birkhened, notary public in the letter of administration

Ita pronuntiavimus
Ric: Clerk, Surrogat(usque?)

7ᵒ Februarij 1631 in(stantis?) &c
Lect(a) et lat(a) fuit Em(ol)u(t)i(o) s(enio)r(is) per Scr(ipt)um: an(te)d(i)c(tum) in eccl(es)ia p(ar)o(ch)iali
D(omina): Margaret(æ) Cantuar(iensis) judicialit(e)r seden(te) ad petit(ionem) M(agistri): Birkhened
P(ro)c(u)r(a)t(o)ris &c p(ar)tibus p(rese)nt(ibus) in act(i)s testibus &c.

Title: Re: 1631 Latin Probate/Pronouncement for Michael Norwood
Post by: horselydown86 on Sunday 27 April 25 05:07 BST (UK)

A few issues:

Line 1:  pronuntiamus

The p has been crossed but in this case I don't think it is significant.

Line 2:  surrogat(us)

This is commonly called the 9 symbol.  See:

https://guides.loc.gov/manuscript-facsimiles/deciphering-scribal-abbreviations#s-lib-ctab-24229924-2

Line 3:  iux' (presumably iux(ta) - not sure what is meant in context.)

Line 4, fifth word:  This is surely an old friend of yours - h(uius)mo(d)i

Line 6, after the &c: 

The second word after is:  p(ro)ut

When a p is crossed by a line coming down from the top, it signifies p(ro).  The same brevigraph begins this line.

The first word may be p(rese)ntibus?

Title: Re: 1631 Latin Probate/Pronouncement for Michael Norwood
Post by: Wayne N on Sunday 27 April 25 09:29 BST (UK)

Thank you ever so much horselydown86 

Appreciated the corrections, explanations and references :)

Not sure why h(uius)mo(d)i was left out... I know it well

Took a guess on the first word of the last line as Birkhened was referred to as the procurator each time he was mentioned in the letter of administration.

Title: Re: 1631 Latin Probate/Pronouncement for Michael Norwood
Post by: Bookbox on Sunday 27 April 25 17:48 BST (UK)

line 4 - hu(ius)mo(d)i sen(tent)ia (= this Sentence)

line 5 - D(omine) … sedent(i) ...

Title: Re: 1631 Latin Probate/Pronouncement for Michael Norwood
Post by: Wayne N on Sunday 27 April 25 21:04 BST (UK)

Very much appreciated Bookbox :)