Hand: Laws, Hand 1 (3v1–4), BL Harley 55, fols. 1–4

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

Although Ker attributed this entire passage to a single scribe, there is in fact a change of hand after the first word of 3v4, and indeed Ker’s observation that low s was not used is clearly based on the following hand, G.412-2, as low s is often found in these first four lines.Ker, Catalogue, p. 302 (no. 225). The first hand was written with a medium-width but relatively round pen and has wider and more rounded letters than G.412-2. Ascenders are straight, only slightly longer than minims, and are split with long tapering strokes trailling off to the left. Descenders are usually of similar length but can be longer and are straight. Minims are short, not especially straight, and have small approach-strokes and very small feet. The shape of a is essentially that of a teardrop, although the back is often angled at about 70–80° and can be curved over at the top to form a more rotund bowl. A similar structure was used for æ, but in this case the back is more consistently angled; the hook branches below the shoulder and remains below cue-height, and the tongue is straight and close to horizontal. Horned c was used throughout, the hook of which is very short and does not always meet the back. Round d was used, the back of which is short and angled at about 45° but barely reaching above cue-height. Horned e was used throughout, the back of which is vertical and the tongue and eye like those of æ. The tongue of f is short, tapering, and extends left of the descender. The mid-section of g is fairly straight and angled at about 60° before turning right at about 30° below horizontal, and then curving around in an open loop and ~-shaped tip. The shoulders of h, m, n, and r are all quite rounded; that of r normally turns well back to the left and comes close to the down-stroke before turning out in a curved, rising foot. Long, round, and low s were all used with little apparent distinction; long s reaches down by a full descender-length but does not quite reach up to ascender-height, and round s has a small hook which tends to rise slightly above cue-height. The conventional distinction between þ and ð was followed. The back of ð is very long, reaching much higher than other ascenders and above the tips of descenders on the preceding line; its tapering tip turns up slightly, and the through-stroke is hooked down on the right. Dotted round y was used throughout, the tail of which is relatively long and reaches beneath the preceding letter. The top of 7 is short and quite concave up, and the descender straight and vertical.