Hand: Names of months (fols. 6–11), Rubrics (fols. 207–12), Rubrics (fols 207–12), Rouen, BM 274 (Y.6)

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

This hand is quite rounded, the aspect heavily influenced by the transitional Style I/IV Anglo-Caroline minuscule of the main text. Ascenders are longer in Vernacular minuscule than in Latin, are longer than minims, and are normally wedged but can be tapering in the calendar on fols 6–11. Descenders are usually shorter and usually turn left slightly at the tip. Minims are like those of the Latin script with wedges and horizontal feet. Teardrop-shaped a was used, particuarly in the calendar, and Caroline a is also found here, but a rounder form is more common with the top and back written in a single stroke. The same form was used for æ, the hook of which is bulging in ligature with a following minim, descender, g, or t. Round c was used, as was d with a short rounded back angled at about 45°. Horned e was used throughout, the tongue of which is straight and rising in the low form, but tall bulging ligatures are also common. The tongue and hook of f are both relatively short, and the hook branches from well below cue-height. The top of g is flat, the mid-section is relatively angular, and the tail is round and closed. The shoulders of h, m, n, and r are all quite round, and m and n are exactly like those in Latin. Long, low, and round s are found, long usually initially and before t or p, low usually after æ or e, and round elsewhere. The hook of long s is relatively wide and the down-stroke extends slightly below the base-line. The conventional distinction between þ and ð was followed. The back of ð is long and vertical-tipped, and the through-stroke is hooked up slightly at the tip. The upper north-west of x is curved down, the north-east branch is hooked left, the south-east branch curves out to the right, and the south-west branch is long and hooked right. Straight-limbed dotted y was used, and the right branch is hooked left. The top of 7 is wide and concave-up. Caroline g, h, and r are all found occasionally, most often in the calendar.