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Scribal Profile
Richard Osbarn
Profiles for this Scribe:
1. London, British Library MS Harley 3943
 
Current Manuscript:London, British Library MS Harley 3943
Folios:Hand B copied 2r-7v, 9r-56v, 63r-67v [1r-67r according to LALME]
Sampled Folios:15r
Example Page:Display a full page showing this scribe's hand
Image Rights:Reproduced with permission of The British Library. All images on this website are reproduced with permission of the Libraries, Archives, and Owners of the manuscripts. Manuscript images that appear on this website remain in the copyright of the libraries where the manuscripts are held. Use of these images for any purpose other than private study without written permission of those libraries is prohibited by law.
 
A
Usage: al
double compartment 'a' used throughout. The upper compartment is usually smaller than the lower one.
Usage: And
the consistent form of upper case 'A' on this folio.
Usage: may
the head of 'a' stands a little above surrounding graphs.
Usage: And
a really square-shaped lower lobe to this upper case 'A'.
 
D
Usage: gladyd
the letter 'd' varies little in the scribe's stint in this manuscript.
Usage: And
the left of the lobe is pointed.
Usage: distresse
a very square lobe.
  
 
G
Usage: gladyd
'g's are all double compartment and usually have a diamond-shaped compartment above and a more rounded one beneath.
Usage: grete
the horned effect to the upper and lower left side of the upper compartment is frequently repeated in this scribe's formation of 'g'.
Usage: Thurgh
'gh' combination.
Usage: g(ra'ce
'g' with 'ra' abbreviative mark above.
 
H
Usage: shal
'h' frequently has an angular foot.
Usage: Hath
'H' as upper case at the beginning of a line. There is no difference in the usual letter shape apart from a more pronounced angular stroke at the foot of the stem.
Usage: wroth
crossed 'h' after 't' when 'h' is in final position.
Usage: Thurgh
crossed 'h' after 'g'.
 
R
Usage: Therfor
modern 'r' used only a couple of times on this folio.
Usage: For
'z'-shaped 'r' used after 'o' with thick otiose stroke descending from the left corner of the graph.
Usage: are
long 'r' used the majority of the time in initial, medial and final positions.
Usage: errour
both versions of 'r' are used in this example.
 
S
Usage: aftirwardis
sigma 's' used mainly in final position but also used initially as in the word 'sobre'.
Usage: his
perhaps a new nib in the second stanza which seems to have encouraged a much more spikey and finer appearance to the letters.
Usage: conseyt
the stem of 's' is not very long. Long 's' used initially and medially.
Usage: so
 
W
Usage: wole
the scribe's 'w' varies little. Upper and lower case appear to be exactly the same.
Usage: wykkydnes
the HM114 scribe often has a slight foot at the bottom of the left arm of the graph.
Usage: wyse
a more rounded left limb
Usage: why
the middle limb of 'w' is usually open at the head.
 
Y
Usage: ye
the tail of 'y' is usually short and contained.
Usage: my
occasionally there is no turn on the tail.
Usage: assentyd
  
 
Thorn and yogh
Usage: 'trouþe
the thorn graph has virtually no descender.
Usage: þu
Usage: ȝow
yogh used initially to represent the 'y' sound.
Usage: ȝow
yogh used only twice on this folio, both for the same word.
 
Upper Case Letters
Usage: To
Usage: But
Usage: No
Usage: Of
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP