'Gescreven tOesterwijc'. The town secretariat of Oisterwijk, ca. 1200 to 1550

Abstract

This thesis provides a case study in an attempt towards closing the gap of knowledge on literacy in the medieval countryside. Through a thorough paleographical and diplomatical analysis of the documents produced within the town of Oisterwijk (North-Brabant), I will reconstruct the local secretariat, its personnel and writing activities, since the foundation of the town around 1200 until halfway the sixteenth century. Furthermore I will analyse the factors that have led to this development, and focus on the background of the scribes and clerks involved, including their writing tasks outside the secretariat.