Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The phrase I've been typing most often lately

(aside from basic opening and dating formulae):

in virtute sancte obediencie, et sub pena excommunis


I wish I could credibly put the same thing on my syllabi:

in virtue of holy obedience, and under penalty of excommunication, we order that you turn in your work on time and do not plagiarize, students!

4 comments:

Notorious Ph.D. said...

Upon plagiarists: Anathema! Anathema! Anathema!

Anonymous said...

He who should dare to infringe this instruction, let him be alien to the community of the faithful, let the Earth swallow him like Datan and Abiron, let him bear all the professor's sins and also make a five pound contribution to the tea kitty.

Unknown said...

Ha! I'm also currently in the archives, reading court records, and the phrase I'm typing most often is "sur le peine de cinq cens livres en son propre et prive nom" -- on pain of 500 livres in his correct personal name. Can I fit something like that on my syllabus?

Barb

clio's disciple said...

It is seriously in 90% or so of the letters I'm transcribing. The scribes abbreviate it heavily--the most abbreviated version I've seen is "in virt. snte obed. et sub pe. excois."