William Glasgow, mealmaker in Leith: testament dative, 1646

Look at the strokes

1. The capital W is compressed into steep joined strokes rather than a modern printed W.
2. A small raised m follows the larger initial and sits close to the right edge of the line.
3. The final hairline turns down and right, so the whole abbreviation needs more than the height of the central letter body.

Reading limits: The abbreviation is secure in this naming formula; it does not preserve the omitted letters of William.

Look at the strokes

1. The large opening G has an open upper loop and a lower stroke that returns beneath the baseline.
2. The middle las is tightly joined, with narrow vertical strokes that can look like an undivided zigzag at first sight.
3. The second g sends a long loop below the writing line.
4. The final ow is shallower and runs into a fine exit stroke toward Meilmaker.

Compare in this hand: The same surname is split as glas- and -gow in the sonship passage below, which helps confirm the g and final ow forms.

Reading limits: The surname reading is clear; the surrounding ink strokes from the adjacent line are not part of the word.

Look at the strokes

1. The capital M begins with a tall downstroke and broad turn before the smaller letters.
2. The eil sequence is compressed into short connected strokes; the dot above i separates it from an extra minim.
3. The k has a taller stem and angled arm near the middle of the word.
4. The final er is lighter and more tightly joined than the opening syllable.

Reading limits: Meilmaker is the visible Scots spelling; mealmaker is the modern occupational rendering, not a claim that the manuscript uses modern spelling.

Look at the strokes

1. The opening l rises well above the small e and i.
2. A dot is visible above the short i stroke.
3. The t is crossed within the joined middle of the word.
4. The final h has a tall looped ascender and a return stroke to the baseline.

Reading limits: The place-name is clear; capitalization is modernized in the expansion.

Look at the strokes

1. The opening capital is larger than the following compact rch group.
2. The b and final d rise above the main letter body with narrow looped ascenders.
3. The final d finishes just before the separately boxed surname fragment at the line edge.

Reading limits: The forename is clear in context, although several joined middle strokes are not shaped like modern print.

Look at the strokes

1. The fragment begins with the same loop-and-descender g used in the complete surname above.
2. The las letters are compact and connected along one baseline.
3. A short horizontal continuation mark follows s at the right edge, signalling that the word continues on the next line.

Compare in this hand: Compare the complete Glasgow in the identity step, especially its opening g and compact las sequence.

Reading limits: This is not a separate abbreviated surname; the hyphen and next-line -gow complete it.

Look at the strokes

1. The resumed g starts close to the left margin and drops below the body of o and w.
2. The o is a small closed loop attached directly to the g.
3. The final w is formed from two shallow joined humps before the pen lifts.

Compare in this hand: Joined to the preceding glas-, this matches the complete surname in the identity step.

Reading limits: The leading hyphen in the display label marks editorial continuation; it is not an extra manuscript letter.

Look at the strokes

1. The opening secretary s is a long rising stroke, easily mistaken for f when isolated.
2. The o is a small loop followed by the two close strokes of n.
3. The terminal e is a light open turn at the right of the word.

Reading limits: The Scots spelling sone is visible and supplies the kinship directly; the modern expansion drops the final e.

Look at the strokes

1. The initial l is a tall loop rising above the compact aw group.
2. The w is made from linked angular strokes rather than rounded modern humps.
3. The f has a long descending stroke, while the final ull compresses several vertical minims together.

Reading limits: The doubled l spelling is literal; lawful is the modernized form.

Look at the strokes

1. The opening f rises and also sends a long stroke below the baseline.
2. The a and t are small and tightly joined after that dominant first letter.
3. The h has a tall loop, while the final er closes in a lighter rightward turn.

Compare in this hand: This repeats the direction of the earlier sone lawfull statement from Archibald's viewpoint.

Reading limits: The word is clear; it is a second expression in the same testament, not a separate source.