© Duane A. Cline 1999
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Pilgrim Penmanship Exercise On the whole, the penmanship of the Pilgrims differed very little from our modern handwriting. Some writers used printed
style letters as William Bradford did in writing his text of The History of Plymouth Plantation. Other writers used a form of
cursive writing which is more difficult for the modern reader to interpret due to some idiosyncrasies. In order to better prepare the pupils for the reading of the Mayflower Compact, it is suggested that the teacher give them a
lesson or two in the unusual letter styles they may find in the sample texts. As an aid in teaching the pupils, a special worksheet has been included in this packet of materials. On it you will find the
alphabet in columns for both modern and old English forms. On the worksheet you will find some special notes concerning
"s", "i", "j", "u", and "v". It would be a good idea to teach the pupils that when they see the use of "ye" it is to be read as "the". Few people know
that during the early seventeenth century the old Saxon letter "y" (called "thorn") was still in use. The "thorn" was
pronounced "th". Therefore, whenever a writer of the time wrote "ye" it was the accepted method of writing "the". In
other writings from the period, "yere" is sometimes used for "there", "yose" for "those", "yem" for "them", etc. In some
instances "yet" is sometimes used for "that". "Ye" would never have been pronounced as we see it incorrectly used in the
names of some gift shops today. The letter "Y" was also used by many writers as an alternate for "i". This will be noted in the word "Leiden", as it was
written by Bradford in the enclosed sample from his manuscript. Point out the Old English symbols for "and" and "etc". You might also draw their attention to the manner in which numerals are set apart with dots, as in the 11 . There are several unusual spellings to be found in the text of the Compact. It can be noted that in those times spelling was
not as important to writers as it is today. Bradford constantly uses "shuch" for "such" in his History. It was not unusual to find a word spelled two or three different ways within the body of one text. [This was also noted on
the Compass Rose.] As a preparatory exercise, you might ask the pupils to write a few sample words, a paragraph, or a short document, using
the Old English style of writing. Perhaps they might write their samples with a quill pen. Included in this packet is a short passage from Bradford's original manuscript of the History of Plymouth Plantation, which
may be used as a preliminary exercise in reading Old English texts.
Use the short passage from Bradford's original manuscript of the History of Plymouth Plantation as a preliminary exercise in reading Old English texts. Click here.
Compare it to this modern day version of Bradford's writing:
At length after much travel, and these debates; all things were got ready, and provided; a small ship was bought, and fitted in Holland, which was intended as to serve to help transport them; so to stay in the country, and attend upon fishing and such affairs as might be for the good, and benefit of the colony when they came there. Another was hired at London, of burden about 9 score, and all things got in readiness.
So being ready to depart, they had a day of solemn humiliation, their pastor taking his text from Ezra 8:21. And there at the river proclaimed a fast, that we might humble ourselves before God, and seek of Him a right way for us, and for our children, and for all our substance. They were accompanied with most of their Brethren out of Delftshaven where the ship lay ready to receive them. So they left that goodly and pleasant city, which had been their resting place for near 12 years.
Last modified October 7, 1999
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