ABSTRACT
The chapter considers the growth of written English in the Middle English period. It notes that for writing, French and Latin remained the main languages in use, with French the language of parliament, law and commerce and Latin closely safeguarded by the Church. The chapter’s landmark figure is Henry V. He seems to have made a deliberate decision to write to members of his government in English, thus encouraging others to use the same language. The growth of Chancery English is described and the way in which, as a variety, it took much from Henry V’s version of the language.
