Acknowledgements

This volume is based on a research project funded in 2012–16 by the University of Stavanger and the Norwegian Research Council, The language and geography of Middle English documentary texts (frihumsam 213016). The project produced a digital text corpus of transcriptions of local documents from the period 1399–1525, A Corpus of Middle English Local Documents (MELD), which is available as an open access resource. This volume provides an introduction to that material and brings together some of the main strands of research carried out during and after the project period, based on or relating to the MELD corpus.

It is our great pleasure to record several debts of thanks that have built up together with the corpus and the book. A sincere thank you must, first and foremost, go to the archive staff of the 88 record offices and libraries that the team visited to search for local documents. Virtually all were friendly and helpful, and many went far beyond the call of duty to help us find materials. We are also very grateful indeed to the University of Stavanger for continuous support and encouragement. In particular, Odd Magne Bakke, head of the Department of Cultural Studies and Languages during most of the period, was unfailingly supportive.

Two scholars provided the initial impetus for the project that led to this volume: Professors Michael Benskin and William A. Kretzschmar. From different viewpoints, but leading in the same direction (the study of real people and places), both urged us to turn to the study of documentary texts. We are extremely grateful to both for their inspiration and encouragement, while we of course take full responsibility for whatever odd turns our work has taken. Many other colleagues have given us help, advice and inspiration along the way: in particular, we would like to thank Joanna Kopaczyk, Katie Lowe, Matti Peikola, Irma Taavitsainen and Laura Wright.

Most importantly of all, we thank all those present and past members and co-workers of the Middle English research group at Stavanger who have contributed to the research on Middle English local documents, and whose work is reflected in this book, whether or not they appear as authors of chapters: Michał Adamczyk, Geir Bergstrøm, Aidan Conti, Anne Liv Vastveit Halvorsen, Vibeke Jensen, Anastasia Khanukaeva, Martti Mäkinen, Nedelina V. Naydenova, Delia Schipor, Jeremy J. Smith, Kenneth Solberg-Harestad and Jacob Thaisen.

Finally, we would like to thank the wonderful series editors, Terttu Nevalainen and Marijke van der Wal, for their great encouragement from the beginning of this book project.