Emperors, Queens, Generals, and the like were much involved in the timeconsuming business of Conquering and Holding leaving them precious little time for Reading or Writing. Reading for pleasure seemed redundant, what with the proliferation of bards and minstrels who could tell a tall tale and set it to music while the audience gnawed on a haunch of mutton. Amid all the conquering, holding and gnawing, (not to mention begetting), the Powers That Were often did not learn to read or write very well. For that, one had one's scribe.