Dr Martin Roberts

@robertsmartino

Medieval & Early Modern Historian (PhD Nottingham 2020). Writes about C16 Church Courts. Postdoctoral Researcher @ University of Lincoln. Once a lawyer. Still overweight. Increasingly bald. Never keen on Fascists. Philogynist.

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Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· 19d

It's Friday and the end of a week when I've been unwell. As a result, my brain is feeble. This says 'tum (or cum) uera ipsi', but what are the superscript letters in between the first two words on the line, please?

'Tum [?] uera ipsi ut omnes parochiani prenominati asseruerunt ...'

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· 23d

I had Sir Robert Strangwishe. Not seen either before!

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· 27d

This otherwise excellent book seems not to mention ecclesiastical lawyers. Can anyone point to a similarly themed work that considers access civil lawyers in England had to printed legal material for their specialism pre- and post-Reformation (both for church courts and chancery work)? #Skystorians

Book cover of David Harvey's, The Law Emprynted and Englysshed: The printing press as an agent of change in law and legal culture 1475-1642.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· 27d

Posted without further comment:

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Jul 9

Want to say that directly to the families of these children and their teacher, Mr Lowe?

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Jun 22

Help with this word much appreciated. #PalaeographyChallenge TIA. 'lecto [?] domum patris'

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Jun 16

Possibly the weirdest entry I have come across. Can anyone confirm what this word might be & what the whole passage might be about, please? Alt text contains translation so far. Does this word start with 'rum' or 'ram' or with a 'yogh'? I'm confused! #PalaeographyChallenge #Skystorians TIA.🙂

LAO/Cj.3/fol.24v: John Smyth, of Adyngton, and Roger Salford, of the same, say that Thomas Parker of Copmanford reported and expressly stated that the rector of Adyngton raised two children by his servant's wife, that is to say his cook, and that the said woman was recently the wife of a certain Byrde, who was hanged at Lincoln, and that the said woman was placed in chains at Fiskerton and sat there for two hours in sight of the rector. And it is said that the said rector was accustomed to wearing both day and night a certain iron collar hanging through his [?] under his cloak, which cloak he often uses and not as a priestly garment, contrary to priestly honesty. CHALLENGING WORD IS SHOWN BY [?].

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Jun 12

To put me in a far more cheerful mood than yesterday's utter despair, I now have a copy of the book in which I have written a chapter! Yay!

Me holding a copy of Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Studies Series 4, vol.2 eds. Graham Barrett and Louise Wilkinson (Arc Humanities Press, 2026

The relevant contents page showing my chapter starting at p.211.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Jun 5

@drdavidrundle.bsky.social Sorry to bother. Do you know of a site that calcs the pontifical calendar into modern dates? I'm having trouble with the word over the top of the manicule cursor in this photo. If I can work that out, the rest might become clearer too!! Text so far in alt space. TIA.

'dispensatio incepit Iulius episcopus etc et datur fflorentie anno h[?] anno millesimo quingentesimo quinto decimo tertio kalens ffebruarii pontificatus [?unum] initio. LAO/Cj.3/fol19v.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· May 29

Any help with this challenging surname would be much appreciated:

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· May 27

#PalaeographyChallenge Any ideas for these two words please? 'excommunicationis quam promissorum [?] [?] absoluit et ipsum sacra[?torum] ecclesie est [LOST THROUGH DAMAGE]

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· May 26

PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT! Very pleased to inform everyone my latest work is now available via @archumanities.bsky.social!

Book cover with image of manuscript. Title of book: Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Sources, Series 4, vol.2, 2026, eds Graham Barrett and Louise J. Wilkinson.

Contents page showing my chapter begins at p.211.

Title & part first page of my chapter: Meeting the Challenges Head On- Confronting Obstacles to Effective Administration of Justice in an Early Sixteenth-century Diocese.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· May 23

Thank you for your appreciation. I am very pleased to say I'm enjoying a week's break from stuff like this:

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Apr 16

Any clues on the interlined word would be much appreciated. TIA. 'Simon Kent [?[sis]] habet procuratorium summer secum'. #PalaeographyChallenge

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Apr 10

Some help with these two words would be much appreciated. TIA #PalaeographyChallenge Text in the Alt text.

'... et dicti sui compurgatores iuraverunt de credilitate ([?] [?]) dominus ipsum purgatum declaravit '. LAO/Cj.4/fol21r.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Apr 1

And this for you.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Apr 1

Could someone help me with this English word, please? #PalaeographyChallenge

'Richard and Elisabeth did [?] of matrimony'. LAO/Cj.4/fol.63r

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 31

#PalaeographyChallenge 'dicit quod dicta Elisabeth Thompson est consanguinea huius deponentis viz filia amite sue sed nec est seruens neque tenens [?]. Help on this last word be much appreciated. TIA.

'She says that the said Elisabeth Thompson is a blood relative, that is to say the daughter of her aunt, but she is neither a servant nor a [?] tenant' : LAO/Cj.4/fol61v.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 23

Can anyone help me identify this place in Lincoln Diocese? TIA.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 19

#PalaeographyChallenge Today's troublesome word is immediately above the manicule cursor. The full phrase is "et postea [?] tunc ipse Oliverus accepit in manum suam unum 'lez halber' et eodem uoluit percussisse dictum Robertum si non fuisset impeditus". Yes, it's violence on a process server! TIA

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 18

Lived in Boston for almost 34 years. Can't believe I've never spotted this before.

Blue plaque marking the birthplace of John Foxe (of Foxe's Martyrs fame). It's not the same building, just the marking the spot.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 17

It sometimes appears in words like 'aliquamdiu'. See pic... but I'm still stuck.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 17

3/3: This still has me stumped this morning. Help much appreciated! "ad scrutinium huiusmodi et circa illud [?] / et requisite fuerunt" Thank you!!

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 17

2/3: "laicum eiusdem et dioc' Canto' quod pro[?uinciam] partem ream et querelatam ... ' Possibly?

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 17

1/3: "apud Lidington dicto Lincoln' dioc' et alius ubicumque infra pro[?] Canto". Possibly "provinciam"?

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 16

Hi @adamchapman.bsky.social! Just wondering if you might be able to decipher the full name of this London church for me, please? The word I am stuck on is just above the manicule cursor. TIA. Figured you might be the best person to ask.

LAO/Cj.4/fol.48r. 'ad ecclesiastical beate marie de [?] London ...

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 11

Why does he need a library? From what I can tell, he can barely read.* Yes, I do know ex-presidents have libraries in the main. Nevertheless, the point remains: what on earth would this one be for?

Wash Post: Democrats ask what happened to millions earmarked for Trump's library.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 10

#PalaeographyPuzzle Today's word is this one (highlighted by the manicule). It seems to describe a licence 'ad dimittendum ecclesiarum illam ad [?] pro triennio'. Thanks in advance. Help much appreciated.

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 3

Anyone out there dealing with C16 punishments of pregnant women? I have a record that says that the court ordered the child to be provided for by speech ('prolem facu nutriri'). Any idea what this means in practice? There are a couple of crossings out, but I'm sure 'facu' is the word written. TIA

Dr Martin Roberts@robertsmartino· Mar 3

Today's #PalaeographyPuzzle: Any help on the word above the manicure cursor would be much appreciated. If it's of help, it's from a presentation to a benefice. TIA.