Not just mediaeval text; "&c." for "etc." (= "et cetera") was common
right through the 19th century if not later.
The combination _&c_ is still used. Search for "&c" in http://www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations/environment/tacnh-00.asp for example.
But in mentioning medieval use I was thinking of use of the ampersand as a replacement for _et_ in words where _et_ is not the Latin word _et_.
An article I read some years back discussed a medieval listing and explanation of the Icelandic alphabet which included the _&_ as a letter.
The author of the article explained this by noting that _&_ was used occasionally in manuscripts to spell _et_ in Icelandic words.
Jim Allan
