During the period under discussion, the day on which the New Year
began (i.e. when the numbering of the year changed) was not the same throughout
Europe. Depending on the calendar, the place and the chronicler, it could start
on 25th December, 1st March,25th March (Lady Day) or Easter Day; the day-date
was also 10 days behind Europe in England before1700, and 11 days behind after.
It was not until 1752 that a consensus was reached across Western Europe,
including England, of beginning the New Year on 1st January and adopting the
Gregorian calendar that allowed for the extra quarter-day in the earth's
rotation each year. All citations of years have therefore been standardized to
new style, but the day-date will remain the same as in the original document.In
cases where specific contemporary references are cited, the original date is
given with the new-style date following it in square brackets.
Pitch:
References to pitch names are shown using the Helmholtz system,
in which middle-c is expressed c': CC BB C B c b c' b' c" b" c'"
Illustrations:
Unless reproductions of original sources are at actual size, the
percentage of reduction or enlargement from the original is stated.
Transcription of original text:
All text reproduced from original sources is
given in italic type. Spelling, punctuation and capitalization are reproduced
exactly as in the original, even where obvious errors have been made by the
original scribe. The original order of the words is strictly followed at all
times. As ascriptions in most of the manuscripts are placed in the margins,
line-ends are not shown as is the usual practice with an oblique stroke. Use of
this sign is reserved for text appearing on a different part of the page, e.g.
at the beginning and end of a piece of music. Text deleted in the original
source is shown enclosed by <>. Obsolete letter forms such as the yogh,
thorn or es are expanded to their modern equivalents and italicized.Standard
contractions are realized within square brackets and italicized. All editorial
additions to transcribed text such as letters assumed to be intended but not
indicated by a standard contraction words that have been removed by cropping
are placed in square brackets and are in Roman type.
Ascriptions:
The exact complete ascription given in a source is reproduced
wherever possible, with the exception of the word 'finis', which is considered
to be an adjunct to the final double-bar, rather than part of the ascription
itself. Where the text associated with the music is very lengthy (e.g. in the
case of verses of songs following or underlying the music), only the incipit is
given, followed by an ellipsis.
Folio/page numbers:
Any folio number is assumed to be recto unless followed by
lower-case 'v', in which case the verso face is indicated. A folio or page
number followed immediately by an oblique stroke is used when more than one
piece of music appears on the relevant face. Thus 27v/3-28 = the third piece
on the verso of folio 27, which continues to the recto of folio 28.
Exceptions
to the above practices are explained at the point where a new policy
is employed, and are only relevant at that point.