Hand: Addition Hand 2 (163v1–14), BnF latin 943
- Name
- Addition Hand 2 (163v1–14)
- Manuscript
- BnF latin 943
- Script
- Unspecified
- Scribe
- Unspecified
- Date
- Saec. xi in.
- Place
- Sherborne
Stokes, English Vernacular Script, ca 990–ca 1035, Vol. 2 (PhD Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2006)
Though fairly small, this hand is fairly rounded and quite regular. A relatively thin pen was used and shading is minimal. Ascenders are long and have fairly consistent wedges; descenders are straight and usually shorter than descenders but still longer than minims. Minims themselves have approach-strokes and short, approximately horizontal feet. A fairly wide but essentially teardrop-shaped a is found, the back vertical and the top pointed; flat-topped a is sometimes in ligature after g (sanga, line 8) and also very occasionally horned without ligature (þam, line 10; þas, line 12). The a-component of æ, in contrast, is flat-topped and horned, and the e-component often squinting and with a rising tongue which turns horizontal as it passes the hook except when in a low ligature which is found consistently after g and t and usually after minims or descenders. Round c is found throughout, but e is consistently horned and has a tongue and hook like those of low æ; tall e is not found. Bilinear d is found throughout. The tongue of f is relatively short and the hook branches from below cue-height. The top of g is flat and relatively wide, and the mid-section begins in the centre, curves slightly out to the left, then turns right, extends more or less horizontally, and curves around in a closed, fairly rotund loop. The shoulders of h, m, n, and r are all quite rounded. Tall and round s are found, the tall form has a wide hook, stands firmly on the base-line, and is found usually before t and wynn, often at the start of words, and sometimes when doubled. Low s is found but was used very infrequently (Ðis is, line 1; hys, line 5; mæssan, line 7; mæssena, line 8; ælmes, line 9; gerædnesse, line 12; hades, line 13). The back of ð is long and curved up at the tip; the through-stroke is long and hooked down on the right. The conventional distinction between ð and þ was followed except for Ð at the start of the text. Straight-limbed dotted y was used, the right branch hooked left and the tail slightly curved left. The top of 7 is long and can rise slightly, and the down-stroke is vertical. Latin is not distinguished by script.
