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A |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-a.jpg) | Usage: am single compartment lower case 'a' used throughout. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-a2.jpg) | Usage: any a very strange 'a' with extra curling stroke above. This word occurs within the line on the first line of a stanza and there is therefore space above for otiose strokes. However, the scribe also uses this 'a' within lines of verse and it is definitely part of his accepted repertoire. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-a3.jpg) | Usage: And here the same letter form is used as an upper case letter at the beginning of a line. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-a4.jpg) | Usage: Allas another different form of upper case 'A'. |
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D |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-d.jpg) | Usage: doo the scribe's 'd' is unlooped and varies little from this shape. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-d2.jpg) | Usage: shulde the scribe uses looped 'd' only occasionally as here. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-d3.jpg) | Usage: handes occasionally 'd' has a fine stroke added at right angles to the ascender. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-d4.jpg) | Usage: lode 'd' on the top line allowing the scribe the licence to extend and decorate. |
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G |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-g.jpg) | Usage: longyng tailed 'g' used throughout. There are usually two horned extensions above the body of the graph. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-g2.jpg) | Usage: slomeringes the second stroke of the graph is very short and thick often with barely an extension for the tail. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-g3.jpg) | Usage: mightly | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-g4.jpg) | Usage: might 'g' on bottom line of text with elaborate strapwork decoration into the bottom margin. |
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H |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-h.jpg) | Usage: Who thick, tapering stem with looped head-stroke ending on the shoulder. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-h2.jpg) | Usage: How upper case 'H' at the beginning of a line with pronounced foot at the base of the stem. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-h3.jpg) | Usage: Such 'ch' combination with crossed 'h'. | | |
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R |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-r.jpg) | Usage: riȝt this 'r' is used in all positions except after 'o'. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-r2.jpg) | Usage: for 'z'-shaped 'r' used only after 'o'. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-r3.jpg) | Usage: horrible | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-r4.jpg) | Usage: your 'r' in final position with elaborate flourish probably representing a missing 'e'. |
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S |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-s.jpg) | Usage: absens 's' in final position frequently has a horn at the top right side of the letter. Only used in final position. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-s2.jpg) | Usage: as the letter is frequently formed like a '6' and has no stroke to join the curve to the horn at the top of the letter. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-s3.jpg) | Usage: Shal be upper case 'S' to begin a line. The letter has the horn shape both before and after the letter providing symmetry. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-s4.jpg) | Usage: sitte long 's' used initially and in medial positions. |
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W |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-w.jpg) | Usage: wight 'w' almost always has a small protuberance for a foot stroke on the lower end of the left limb. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-w2.jpg) | Usage: Who upper case letter at the beginning of a line. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-w3.jpg) | Usage: now occasionally a joining stroke may be seen between the first and second strokes. | | |
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Y |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-y.jpg) | Usage: you | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-y2.jpg) | Usage: body |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-y3.jpg) | Usage: eu(er)y on the bottom line the scribe is more exhuberant with the length of the tail. | | |
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Ampersand |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL1.jpg) | Usage: Ampersand with extra arching stroke above. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL1-2.jpg) | Usage: Ampersand with no extra superior stroke. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL1-3.jpg) | Usage: Ampersand with horned head. | | |
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I |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL2.jpg) | Usage: For wel I wote a thick shadow stroke mimics almost the entire length of the graph. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL2-2.jpg) | Usage: Now shulde I |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL2-3.jpg) | Usage: In this word is at the beginning of a line. This 'I' is without the parallel stroke and is in the scribe's repertoire but he uses the 'I' as in versions 1 and 2 more frequently. | | |
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Thorn and Yogh |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL3.jpg) | Usage: þer even this thorn has a small hook on the lobe. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL3-2.jpg) | Usage: þe a thorn of more usual shape. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL3-3.jpg) | Usage: riȝt yogh used for 'gh'. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL3-4.jpg) | Usage: riȝt this time the word is on the top line. The scribe uses yogh three times and each time it is for the word 'riȝt'. |
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Horned graphs |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL4.jpg) | Usage: seeth the scribe frequently uses a curved stroke at the top of letters giving the appearance of a horn. It is most noticeable on 's' as in Letter 6 but it can occur almost anywhere. After 's' the most frequent use is on 'e'. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL4-2.jpg) | Usage: (con)forte here the scribe uses the abbreviation for 'con' which usually appears resembling the number 9. This too has an idiosyncratic horned appearance. |
![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL4-3.jpg) | Usage: he another example of horned 'e'. | ![](https://www.dhi.ac.uk/san/medievalscribes/images/Harley3943-93-WL4-4.jpg) | Usage: That even the regular upper case 'T' gives the impression of angularity on its stem, despite the smooth curve of the head-stroke. This scribe has so many idiosyncratic features that he should be easily identifiable in other manuscripts. |