The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-18
SIGNATURES OF ENGLISH
How Those who Couldnst Write Made
Their Mark In the World.

The signature of Richard H.. who
reigned in the latter part of the four
teenth century, is the earliest auto
graph of an English king extant.
Most of the others simply made their
mark. Richard Ceur de Leon.
though he made verses could not set
them down in writing.
On the 18th of June. 1915. John
Plantaganet, successor to Richard
C9ur de Leon, being sorely beset by
his barons at place still called Rum
nymede. granted and executed the
document known as Magma Charta," "
which was the basis of English lber-
ties. This document, though profess
sing to have been given under the
.'hand and sear' OF King John. was
merely ''sealed and delivered by him
as the .'act and deed. The reason
why it was not signed is that King
John could not write his name. Magma
Charta has been preserved, and is to
be seen in the British Museum. Its
preservation was in this wise: An an
tiqusrian, who had business with a
tailor in London. went into his shop
at the moment when he was about cut
ting up large sheet of parchment in
to measures of his trade. Seeing that
the writing was antique, he gave
small sum for it. and on examination
found it one of the duplicates of Magma
Charta.
William the Csnqueror used a cross
as his mark, instead of a signature.
One OF his sons who could read and
write. had the title Beau Clerc, to de-
note what good clerk he was.
The signature of Richard IL, as also
the royal signatures down to that of
Henry VI. in the middle of the fif-
teenth century, are very rude.
Henry vi. wrote an exceedingly
clear, bold and good hand. The let
ters are upright and well formed,
partly in the Saxon, partly in what is
well known as the old English style.
Edward lV. merely signed "R E. :"
(the initial letters of Rex. Edvardus),
which are hieroglyphics not at all un-
derstood in the present day
Richard Ill, the felon hero of one
of Shakspeare's best-known plays, was
an educated man, an encourager of
letters and patron of the then new
art of printing, which William Caxton
had introduced into England. Rich
ards signature is well cut and very
legible.
Henry VII, the Richmond of
Shakspeare's play. merely signed the
initials III. R." which were both done
in dashing style, without taking the
pen of. At that time, some four GEN.
turies ago. very few could read or write.
Some of the mobiles gave large sums for
instruction in these accomplishments,
and professional scribes who could
give that instruction were much made
of. Many of them were churchmen or
monks, to whom. as scholars, the
greatest respect was paid, by royalty
itself
Each scribe had his own peculiar
and unique style of writing, which
the pupils were all taught to initiate,
so that no difference could be detected
on the manuscript that had taken two
or three hands to complete. Queen
Eizabeth's signature was embellished,
or garnished, by two great and COM
pick flourishes over the top and three
underneath. Catherine of Aragon,
Anne Boleyn (Elizabeth's mother),
Mary l., Mary of Scotland. Mary H.,
(wife of William Ill. }, and Anne wrote
very legibly. The signature of Vic
toria is graceful, even beautiful. Near
ly all of the royal family of England,
since the accession of George l., have
written very legIbly.