Hand: Hand 5 (fols. 150–9, 218–47), CCCC 198

Name: Hand 5 (fols. 150–9, 218–47)
Manuscript: CCCC 198
Script: Unspecified
Scribe: Unspecified
Date: Saec. xi1
Place: Worcester

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

This heavy hand has a good deal of shading is slightly forward-leaning, and has an untidy appearance. Letter-forms are almost identical to those of G.64-3 but are more laterally compressed, and it seems at least possible that the two hands were written by the same scribe at different times. Ascenders are thick and mostly straight, most often with small wedges, and descenders are straight. Minims are relatively straight and again show relatively small wedges and feet. Single-compartment a appears throughout with a teardrop shape but slightly rounded top formed by the same stroke as the back which can itself curl up in a long flourish at the end of lines. A similar structure was used for æ, but the back is angled at about 45°, a thick horizontal tongue extends at cue-height, and the eye is closed by a small angular hook; the tongue extends well beyond the hook and is turned down at the tip. The same construction is found in e, although this letter can be horned and have a more vertical back. Round c was used throughout, the hook of which can be quite horizontal, and d has a relatively long back but is essentially bilinear. The tongue of f is long and flat, and the hook branches from low on the vertical and angles upwards before turning down. The mid-section of g is quite angular but the tail is rounded and open, and the stroke hangs from the middle of the horizontal top. The shoulders of h and r are particularly angled, but those of m and n are more rounded. Low s only was used with a hook which branches from below cue-height and reaches forward. The scribe used ð almost exclusively, þ appearing rarely except in the usual abbreviation for þæt. The back of ð is thick, long, and vertical-tipped; it is angled at approximately 30–40°, and the through-stroke is turned down at the tip but barely passes through the back. Straight-limbed, undotted y appears throughout, the left stroke of which is unusually long, thick, and flat. The top of 7 is relatively flat but does rise somewhat to the right and has an upward tick at the left; the descender is quite vertical. Latin text is distinguished by script.