Hand: Hand 4 (p. 229), Bodleian Junius 11 (5123)

Stokes, English Vernacular Script, ca 990–ca 1035, Vol. 2 (PhD Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2006)

Ascenders and descenders can be long and very straight or closer to minim-length, and the bodies of letters are quite rounded. Ascenders have terminals varying from good to prominent wedges to forks. Descenders are often short and slightly turned to left. Minims are slightly forward-leaning and have thick, wedge-like approach-strokes and rising ticks for feet. A rotund form of a is found throughout, the back of which can descend below the bowl and the top of which is formed by the same curved stroke as the back. The same structure was often used in æ, with the loop of the e-component sitting high on the shoulder of the a-component, but the a-component can also be horned or Caroline. Round c only was used throughout. The back of d is usually short, straight, and angled at about 45°, although it can be more rounded; one example of the vertical-tipped, can be found, as can one with a horizontal back level with cue-height. Horned e was used consistently, sometimes forward-leaning, with a straight back and a sharp turn into the foot at the base-line; the eye is squinting and usually slightly above cue-height, and the tongue is more-or-less on cue-height but is slightly angled as well. The tongue of f is relatively short and slightly above base-line, branching from the descender at about the same point as the hook which results in a very small head. The tail of g is open and angular and usually hangs from the far right of the top-stroke; the tip varies from horizontal to downward-sloping, and so the letter is 3-shaped. The shoulder of h curves back in like Caroline, but usually has a foot like the Insular form, although this is occasionally omitted. The shoulders of m, n, and r are round and bulging, with clear feet on the last stroke of each letter but not necessarily on the previous ones. Low s only was used, except for an insertion on page 229 which is quite possibly in different hand; the head of low s can rise slightly above cue-height and even reach over the following letter, even forming a low ligature with a following t in one case (p. 229/4, ‘astah’). Vertical-tipped ð is found, the through-stroke of which has an upward tick on the left and a downward one on the right; the conventional distinction between þ and ð was observed except for a slightly enlarged ð after punctus, and the use of Ð throughout. Straight-limbed, dotted y is found. The top of 7 is flat at cue-height, and the descender is straight.