Thanks for your reply -- I was wondering something of the sort myself. If John Bedford was dictating his will, the clerk could have written down what he heard with the result that "ruff" became "rough". Best wishes & thanks again for your help, Kristina In a message dated 11/11/2006 18:48:03 GMT Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Ruff Man? At 17:24 11/11/2006, [email protected] wrote: > >1639 Jan. 3. John Bedford of Doncaster "Rough man". ... Proved April >1640. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

At that time, spelling was immaterial. On the whole it was do as you please as long as it sounds OK. Spelling wasn't standardised until after Dr. Johnson's dictionary which was even later disseminated through the schools set up as a result of the 1870 Education Act. For the 17th century it is a good rule of thumb to look at all sound-alikes. Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2006 6:58 PM Subject: Re: [OEL] A "Rough Man" in Doncaster in 1639 > > Thanks for your reply -- I was wondering something of the sort myself. If > John Bedford was dictating his will, the clerk could have written down > what he > heard with the result that "ruff" became "rough". Best wishes & thanks > again > for your help, Kristina > > In a message dated 11/11/2006 18:48:03 GMT Standard Time, > [email protected] writes: > > Ruff Man? > > > At 17:24 11/11/2006, [email protected] wrote: > >> >>1639 Jan. 3. John Bedford of Doncaster "Rough man". ... Proved >>April >>1640. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and > the body of the message > > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.14.2/528 - Release Date: 10/11/2006 > >