Hand: Older Additions (236v, 239r–54v), BL Cotton Vitellius C.v

Name

Older Additions (236v, 239r–54v)

Manuscript

BL Cotton Vitellius C.v

Script

Unspecified

Scribe

Unspecified

Date

Saec. x/xi

Place

SW England

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

The script of the additions looks very much like G.403-1, except that the pen is thinner and so the script lighter. Both G.403-1 and G.403-4 show the same form of a, and show preference for þ to ð and se with round s. However, the script of the additions has a more rounded hook of e than that of the main scribe, as well as a longer steeper back on ð and a low s in ligature with following c. The hand is regular and shows a fairly level cue-height and bodies which have fairly square proportions but are comparatively rounded. Ascenders are about the length of minims and show slightly split wedges. Descenders are straight and usually slightly longer than minims. Minims show wedges and horizontal feet. A somewhat rounded but essentially flat-topped a was used, the left side curving in like Conners ‘Form II’. The same structure was used for æ, the hook of which is round and rarely high, and the tongue usually straight and rising. Round c was used, although the top is relatively flat and the lower stroke relatively straight like those of a. Round d was used, the back of which is moderately long, slightly concave down, and usually angled at about 10–30°. The hook and tongue of e are like those of æ, and the body is like that of c; tall-e ligatures are uncommon but are wide and quite rounded. The tongue of f is flat and on the base-line. The top of g is flat, the mid-section hangs from the left, and the hook is open; the body is very rounded and shaped very much like S without the top section. The shouders of h, m, n, and r are all quite rounded. Tall, round, and low s were all used. Tall s is found before t and sometimes elsewhere. Round s is infrequent on the first couple of pages of the scribe’s stint but then becomes more common, especially in initial position. The conventional distinction between þ and ð was largely followed, although the scribe did show some preference for þ (syþþan, þrowiaþ, wræcsiþ). The back of ð is long, straight, and angled at about 70–80°, and the through-stroke is thin, lacks a hook, and barely passes through the back of the letter. The north-east branch of x is hooked slightly left, and the south-west branch is long and hooked right. Straight-limbed dotted y was used, the right branch of which is hooked left. The top of 7 is flat and not especially long, and the downstroke is vertical. Latin is distinguished by script.