Hand: Decree (75v), BAV Reg.lat.946, fols. 72–76

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

This hand is very regular, was written with a relatively flat pen but much shading, and has somewhat square proportions. Ascenders are as long as or longer than minims, and the tops are wedged but can be slightly split. Descenders are straight and are usually similar length but can be short. Minims have approach-strokes and heavy feet. The form of a is essentially teardrop-shaped, although the letter is relatively wide and round. The same form was used for æ, the tongue of which is horizontal and close to cue-height and the hook is high in ligature wherever possible and is sometimes high even without a ligature. Round c and e were both used, the latter being always low and with a long tongue which is hooked up at the tip. The back of d is fairly straight and angled at about 45°; it can be hooked down at the tip but is usually wedged. The tongue of f is long, flat, and extends slightly to the left of the down-stroke. The top of g is flat and very wide, the mid-section starts towards the left end of the top and bulges to the left before turning back to the right, and the tail is also wide and is approximately horizontal at the tip. The shoulders of h, m, and n branch from a little below cue-height, and that of r is very angular. Only tall s is found, the down-stroke of which usually tapers slightly below the base-line but can have an angled finial on the line. The conventional distinction between þ and ð was followed. The form of ð is like d, including the wedge, but the back is longer and the through-stroke is long and has a slight hook down on the right. The north-west branch of x is hooked down, the north-east branch is hooked left, and the south-west branch is long and hooked right. An approximately bilinear dotted round y was used most often, but straight-limbed dotted y is also found with the right branch hooked left. The top of 7 is short and flat.