1716 Latin Will
Hey guys, I’m one of those fools who never took Latin in school, but have found myself wanting to translate some Latin that is ~ heavily ~ abbreviated, in cursive, and from 1716.
This project is just for fun. I’ve deciphered all but one word of the English portion of this will, however, the Latin is difficult due to the minims and me not having the language knowledge for context.
I found a book of abbreviations which has enabled me to discern some of the words, but not too many. I’ve also found some documents from the time period with similar phrases, like the opening “Tenore pressentid nos,” but no translation was provided.
I have cropped the will to show just the Latin portion.
The author throughout the document does not regularly cross his ts unless there is an abbreviation or double t. There is use of the long s. Double fs are just capital f. Capital I and J are written the same.
What I’ve deciphered with some confidence so far:
Tenore pressentid Nos Johannes Cawley Ar__ Baccus. Off{ici}alis D__
Archini. {Archdiaconi} Archiatus Lincoln ____ constitutes notu facimus______
q{ui}d apud Lincoln 6 of July 1716 Coram nobis probatid fuit testum Hen. Holliday
de Bassingham defalta/defectum commissung fuit onus execution ejusdem _____
concessa fuit additio oiu{omnium} et singulor bonor jur et creditor
qual{ite}r ___ John Halliday extori ___ ___ prius
personal jurato (salvo jure ___ ____) ___ testinonium
sigillu ___ present ____
____ ____ suprascriptus
Thomas Howson
I’ve put missing/abbreviated letters in {brackets}. When I say some confidence, I only mean some.
What I am confident about is the date; location; and the names Hen{ry} Holliday, John Halliday and Thomas Howson. This is all confirmed in the English portion of the document.
For the full will, deciphering of the English portion, and a procreate document where I’ve traced each letter on a different layer and compiled my sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lX88ETVwKNO-tChIum51EUos8arvQkWjfDplqadF3cc/mobilebasic
I have done my darnedest, but if anyone wants to lend a hand, I’d appreciate it!