This module provides an introduction to some of the post-medieval legal, financial and administrative vernacular documents which are most commonly encountered in encountered in local government, diocesan and specialist repositories. Classes combine discussions of the contexts of the creation of these documents with extensive practice in reading them, in order to enable students to identify, transcribe and interpret a wide range of material. The module also considers the role of palaeography and diplomatic in archival science, and the development of the main types of vernacular scripts (including court, book, secretary and italic hands).