Hand: Main Hand, Bodleian Eng. hist. a.2, no. xii
- Main Hand
- Bodleian Eng. hist. a.2, no. xii
- Saec. x/xi
Stokes, English Vernacular Script, ca 990–ca 1035, Vol. 2 (PhD Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2006)
The script is fairly regular and shows little spacing between letters and many conjoined letters especially after g and t; the aspect is not unlike. Ascenders and descenders are quite long and straight, although not always upright, and wedges can be well-formed or slightly forked. Descenders taper slightly and vary in length but are usually at least as long as minims. The minims themselves are often curved and can have prominent wedges or approach-strokes, although feet are consistently small. The bodies of a and the a-component of æ are round and usually with a short but fairly flat top, and the e-component of æ normally sits within cue-height and is joined to the following letter with its tongue; the exception is when joined to a following t, in which case the e-component sits above cue-height. A more teardrop-shaped a is also found. A round form of c was used with a diagonal south-west quadrant. Round e was used at first but was quickly replaced by the horned form, and the tongue of e can be bent downwards in both cases. Flat-topped d with a longish back is found throughout, and f has a fairly long, bent tongue. Rounded g was used, the body of which is well-formed, S-shaped, and hangs from the centre of the top-stroke, and the bottom of the tail is horizontal or slightly turned up. The minim and shoulder-strokes of m and n are quite rounded and show prominent approach-strokes; the shoulder of r is similar, but the descender here is quite straight. Only tall s was used except for one example of round s in sce. The scribe used þ exclusively. All combinations of straight and round, dotted and undotted y are found. The top of 7 sits at cue-height and rises slightly where it joins the descender, and the tip of the descender turns left. The opening Latin formula is not distinguished by script, but a gloss was added probably by the same scribe which shows Anglo-Caroline r and a more Caroline form of s.