Hand: Hand 3 (fols. 116–58), TCC R.5.22 (717), fols. 72–158

Name

Hand 3 (fols. 116–58)

Manuscript

TCC R.5.22 (717), fols. 72–158

Script

Unspecified

Scribe

Unspecified

Date

Saec. x/xi

Place

Unknown (Sherborne prov?)

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

This scribe is also more old-fashioned in his script, like G.180-2: the proportions are square once again, and flat-topped a appears regularly. Long s, low s, and high-e ligatures all dominate. Indeed, the aspect is in some ways reminiscent of Phase-III Square minuscule, although the script is quite laterally compressed and can therefore be difficult to read. Ascenders are about the length of minims and have small wedges. Descenders are about the same length and taper somewhat. Minims have approach-strokes or small wedges and have horizontal or slightly rising ticks as feet. A very narrow form of horned, flat-topped a is found, the top of which is very flat, the back is very straight and vertical, and the left side is quite steep but curves around smoothly at the bottom. The a-component of æ, however, is fairly straight but angled up and the form is therefore teardrop-shaped; the tongue is straight and rising and the hook rounded, although a tall bulging ligature was normally used before minims and descenders. The back of c is not horned but it is narrow and very angular. Round d was used, the back of which is short and can be horizontal or angled by as much as 40°. A prominent horn is found on e which often meets the preceding letter; the back of e can be upright or can be angled down and left. The tongue of low e is straight and rising and the hook round, but tall bulging e is normally found before minims and descenders. The hook and tongue of f are both short, and the tongue can be concave up. The top of g is short and flat, and the mid-section hangs from the left, bulges very slightly out to the left but then curves back to the right, and the tail is wide, open, and normally horizontal or turned up at the tip, although early in the scribe’s stint it can be closed with an angular hairline. The shoulders of h, m, and n vary in angularity, and the minims usually curve out slightly but the bodies are narrow. The shoulder of r is similar but can branch from well below cue-height, and the body is even narrower. Only long s is found, the hook of which is quite short and can lean back slightly. The scribe preferred ð to þ, although both letters are found. The back of ð is fairly long and fairly thick; it is also fairly straight and angled at about 45°, although it can turn up at the tip, and the through-stroke is usually hooked down on the right but can be straight. Straight-limbed dotted y was used throughout, the branches of which are fairly steep, the right branch hooked left, and the tail hooked right. The top of 7 is wide and slightly concave up.