17th century sign language

I read that Charles-Michel de l'Epee (1712-1789) devoted his life to developing the world's first sign alphabet for the deaf.

Hate to break the bad news to you Chucky boy, but you were late to the party. 

Direct from the pages of  A Rich Treasure, The Knowledge whereof is Useful, Profitable, Pleasant and Delightful, by Thomas Tryon (1634-1703) and printed around 1695, we find the following:

Silent Language, or to speak by Signs.

A for Arm, stretch it forth.
B for Brow, Eye-brow, touching it with the fore-Finger of your right Hand.
C for Chin, touching it with your fore-Finger.
D for Dimple, thrusting your fore-Finger against your Cheek.
E for Ear, touching it with the fore-Finger.
F for Forehead, touching it with the fore-Finger.
G for Gullet or Throat, touching it with the fore-Finger.
H for Hair.
I for your Eye.
K for Knockle.
L for Lip.
M for Mouth.
N for Nose.
O make a Circle or O with the fore-Finger of the right Hand, on the Palm of the left Hand.
P for Pap or Dug
Q for quivering or shaking your fore-Finger of the right Hand.
R for Rib.
S for Shoulder.
T for Tongue, putting it out of the Mouth.
U for Vein, pointing the Finger where you let Blood, in the middle of the Arm.Page 57
W for Wrist, grasping the left Wrist with your right Hand.
X Cross your fore-Fingers.
Y two Fingers of the right Hand, cross the first of your left Hand.
Z three Fingers of the right Hand, cross the first of your left Hand.

The Use. Would you signify to your Friend privately, such a man is a Sot, you point or touch with your fore Finger, the top of your right Shoulder, that is S, then make an O, or round Circle on the Palm of your left Hand, with the fore Finger of your right Hand, then put forth your Tongue which is T; and thus you may discover your Mind to any Friend by the help of the Alphabet: This must be understood by you both, which may be learnt in half an hour or less, and all other By-standers ignorant of what you do.

Intro to a new blog

I made a cool discovery the other day, and want to share it in a place that is more public than Facebook. 
Neither my modern foodblog, nor my medieval foodblog would be appropriate places to post it, so here I am, revamping an old blog into a new one. 

I decided to create this space for me, and anyone else who wants to join me, to post up cool little discoveries in the medieval and renaissance history space.  I am not so much talking about stumbling across some cool resource (although maybe a page of links will grow from this) so much as those moments when we open a manuscript and see something that blows us away. 

Something that isn't already published (or if it has we haven't seen it) or just something that shakes things up and breaks up some of the assumptions that those of us playing in this space might have.

Think of this as your medieval confessional - the place where you could share that tidbit of knowledge you have been holding on to. That incredible item that you haven't told anyone about because someone might actually want to make it. Go on... tell me... you know you want to.  

NO posts without documentation/evidence!