We have awaited with excitement this three-volume edition based on the medieval Register of Deeds of the ‘Mystery of Goldsmiths of the City of London’ and we are not disappointed. Dr Lisa Jefferson’s indexed transcription and translation of these remarkable documents reveal and explain much, unexpected mysteries emerge, and they provide a rich source for further research and study for those seeking to understand medieval London and the lives of those who lived and worked in it.

There are many to thank for their vision and foresight leading up to this publication, principally the four Wardens of the Company who during their term of office in 1417/18 realised that their original documents were in a sorry state through overuse and neglect. They thought that this could potentially result in legal challenges to title of their properties and estates, challenges to various charters enabling the Goldsmiths to act as a body corporate, and much besides. They set about putting these documents and sealed charters in boxes and making copies of the documents on 400 leaves of vellum much later bound together in two volumes. Sadly, the boxes and charters disappeared but the Register of Deeds survived, and it contains a wealth of information. What foresight to copy on to vellum, to this day the best long-term preservation material available.

More recently David Beasley, retired Goldsmiths’ Librarian, who held the post with distinction for some forty years, realised another looming challenge was that the texts were largely written in Latin and Anglo-Norman French, which few scholars, historians or goldsmiths today would understand, rendering this rich source of material inaccessible and untapped for want of linguistic familiarity. He sought the advice of Dr Jefferson to see if she would be interested to study the huge Register and consider a modern English translation.

It is our very good fortune that Lisa possesses an extraordinary combination of skills, linguistic knowledge and competencies, and editorial and research experience that have enabled this work to be compiled. One can only admire and pay tribute to her tremendous dedication of time and expertise to this major task. Impressive in scale, the book comprises three volumes containing respectively the texts in their original languages, the modern translation, and comprehensive subject, name and place indexes to guide researchers through the fascinating content.