Hand: Main Corrector, BL Cotton Julius E.vii

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

This scribe wrote with a very thin pen and dark ink, marking insertions with : in the text and using a similar sign before an interlinear addition. Ascenders are long, thin, and wedged, and descenders are long and straight. Minims show small wedges and small feet. The script is relatively old-fashioned compared to the main hands, as shown most clearly by the flat-topped horned a which was used throughout. The same form was used for æ, the hook of which is normally round and within cue-height but is occasionally tall (Ð æt, 77v16). Round c is normal, although an approximately horned form is sometimes found (sce, 206v28). The back of d is round and short, but e is horned and often has a laid-back angular lower stroke and a long thin tongue which can turn up at the tip. The tongue of f is straight and relatively long, and the top of g is flat and the tail hangs from the left with a closed loop. The shoulders of h, m, and n are rounded. Tall s is normal, but the low form is found once (englisc, 79r4), and two conjoined low ss are found on 82r7. The scribe normally used ð, the back of which is long, low, and straight, and the through-stroke is hooked at both ends. One occurrence of þ can be found (þā, 82r7), immediately after punctus uersus. Straight-limbed y is found with a short tail, a long, low left branch, and either with or without a dot. The first, left-right stroke of x is curved and the second, longer stroke hooked at both ends. Latin is not distinguished by script except for a single Caroline a (amen, 82r).