Hand: OE Additions (158r–160v, 161v1–17), York Additional 1, fols. 10–161
- Name
- OE Additions (158r–160v, 161v1–17)
- Manuscript
- York Additional 1, fols. 10–161
- Script
- English Vernacular minuscule
- Scribe
- Unspecified
- Date
- Ca 1020
- Place
- York
Stokes, English Vernacular Script, ca 990–ca 1035, Vol. 2 (PhD Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2006)
These passages were written in a relatively fine pen, the aspect not unlike that described by Ker as ‘delicate’.See, for example, Ker, Catalogue, p. 90 (no. 49), referring to G.65-1. The script is of medium weight and with some shading. Ascenders are comparable to or slightly longer than minims and show long horizontal approach-strokes just below the tip, flat-topped triangles with the top extended left in a hairline, well-formed wedges, or little more than a slight tapering. Descenders are typically shorter and are straight, sometimes with small serifs. Minims are short and straight, with approach-strokes and small horizontal or no feet. A slightly rounded but essentially teardrop-shaped a was used throughout, the back thick and vertical. A similar form was used for æ but with the top of the a-component longer; the back of the e-component is quite curved and shows a bulging tall hook even when not in ligature. The tongue of æ is horizontal and sits just below cue-height. Round c was used throughout, the lower curve longer than the hook. The back of d is straight, angled at about 60–80°, of medium length, and has a prominent serif. The back of e is thick, upright, and usually horned; the hook is low, the lower curve often meets the tongue just past the hook, and the tongue is long and vertical-tipped when final. A large bulging hook like that of æ is sometimes found (gelæste, 159v18). The tongue of f is on the base-line, fairly thin, straight, and cuts slightly through the descender. The top of g is flat, and the hook hangs from the left, bulges left, then turns rightwards fairly sharply, reaching just under the following letter, and closes in a small loop. The vertical stroke of k stops at the base-line, the upper branch is hooked down and the lower one curved up. The shoulders of h, m, n, and r are generally fairly angular, beginning with a very thin rising stroke and turning straight down, although more rounded examples are also found. Tall s is normal, descending just below the base-line and with the hook usually small but sometimes curled in on itself. Low s is sometimes found in final position but not elsewhere. The conventional distinction was followed between þ and ð, the latter structured exactly like d except that the back is usually longer, slightly straighter, and slightly steeper; the through-stroke is low, fairly short, and hooked down on the right. Straight-limbed and round y are both found. The branches of straight-limbed y tend to be short and relatively steep, the right and sometimes the left is seriffed, and the tail is long, thin, and sometimes hooked up or down at the tip. The tail of round y is shorter and is deeply split, the right branch sometimes separating from the tail at its tip. The top of 7 is normally flat and fairly short, and the descender is essentially vertical. Latin text is distinguished by script.
OE Additions (158r–160v, 161v1–17)
Allographs List
a, Insular
A, Rustic
a, Square
æ, Insular
b
C, Rustic
c
d, Caroline
d, Insular
E, Rustic
E, Uncial
e
f, Insular
g, Insular
G, Rustic
h, Insular
I, Rustic
i
k
L, Rustic
l
M, Rustic
m
N, Rustic
n
O, Rustic
o
P, Rustic
p
r, Caroline
r, Insular
R, Rustic
s, Long
s, Low
S, Rustic
s, Tall
t
thorn
ETH, Rustic
eth
U, Rustic (U)
u
wynn
x
y, Round
y, Straight
7
., punctus
./, punctus elevatus
;, punctus versus
thæt
abbrev. stroke
accent
ligature