Featured Help needed with transcribing an English text

Discussion in 'Books' started by Ex Libris, Jun 24, 2020.

  1. Ex Libris

    Ex Libris Well-Known Member

    In one of my older books an English text is written that I find quite hard to decipher.
    The book itself is a copy of Cicero's Rhetoric, printed by Martin Bouillon in Lyon (France) in 1513. In the book is a bookplate (ex libris) added with the name William Constable Esquire. On another page is an English text scribbled in a very hard to read hand (even my doctor's writing is easier to read...). Maybe this writing is done by William Constable. I believe William Constable was owner of Burton Constable Hall in the 18th century.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burton_Constable_Hall

    The first line looks something like this:
    [e]ven answers met(?) nothing at any time according to my ?????

    DSCF0675-1.jpg

    A few more pictures of the book:

    The book has a 17th/18th century binding.

    DSCF0353.jpg

    A great frontispiece with a wood cut printer's mark.

    DSCF0365.jpg


    Colofon with year of printing (MCCCCCXIII - 1513)

    DSCF0352.jpg

    William Constable's book plate (18th century).

    https://www.myfamilysilver.com/mp/i...or-william-constable-of-burton-constable-hall

    DSCF0363.jpg
     
  2. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    I believe that is 17th-century handwriting (maybe even earlier?). This is just an impression, remembering that I've attempted to read handwriting from the mid 1600s, and it was quite difficult. This has that look to it. I'm generally pretty good at handwriting from the 1700s, and that's why I think this is earlier. But I've seen somebody here before who could decipher this type!
     
  3. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Last edited: Jun 24, 2020
  4. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

  5. Ex Libris

    Ex Libris Well-Known Member


    I have followed a course paleography last year, but that was so called Middle Dutch medieval writing. I guess my brain is just too small to digest a different language together with a different way of writing. But I will try :)
     
    Christmasjoy and Any Jewelry like this.
  6. Ex Libris

    Ex Libris Well-Known Member


    Yes that is surely possible, the binding is 18th century and parts of the text are cut off while rebinding it. So the writing must have been added while an older binding was in place.
     
  7. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    I was at Burton Constable Hall last week, my neice lives there, its only 12 miles away.
     
    komokwa, Any Jewelry and Ex Libris like this.
  8. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Not a small brain, too much in it.:)
     
    Figtree3, Ex Libris and Christmasjoy like this.
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