Good Evening All - Just received this extract from John Overholt - overholt@tiscali.co.uk which may be of some interest to some? John happened upon the tomes which were at a PRO sale and says that he would be happy to receive any queries regarding this extract or maybe the tomes themselves? QUOTE: "The late 18thC massive and immensely scholarly work known as Rymer's Foedera gives as the earliest known official/legal document written in English (actually early English) one dated at London on Oct.18, 1258. It is a charter of the King's (Henry III) on the reformation of the state of the realm. Of interest to many might be the 22 documents from 1069 - 1290 concerning Jews. One particularly odious one with strong overtones of Nazi Germany, is dated at Oxford March 30, 1218 whereby the King orders that all the Jews shall wear two white tablets upon their breasts, to distinguish them from Christians. I think "tablet" is an obsolete word derived from the Me.Latin tabula meaning a flat ornament worn about the person (OED) The final one dated at Westminster July 27, 1290 is the well-known safe conduct for the Jews commanded by the King (Edward I) to leave the realm with their wives, children and property. Prior to that there had been selective expulsions from various areas but this was the total expulsion". Rymer's Foedera 17 vols ( q JX 639) Compiled in the 18th century, this is a collection of State Papers, manuscripts and documents dating from the Norman Conquest to the 18th century. It was intended to focus on English foreign relations, but ended up being much broader and more eclectic in its final version. Syllabus (in English) of the documents contained in ... 'Rymer's Foedera' 3 vols ( DA 25.F1) Details the content of Rymer's Foedera. Kind Regards June & Roy (SANHS Member No 1066) http://www.btinternet.com/~roy.cox/index.htm