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Scribal Profile
Selden Scribe
Profiles for this Scribe:
2. Oxford, Bodleian Library, Arch Selden supra 53 (SC 3441)
 
Current Manuscript:Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Selden supra 53
Folios:1-158
Sampled Folios:59r
Example Page:Display a full page showing this scribe's hand
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A
Usage: and
the scribe uses a neat anglicana formata and the lower case double compartment 'a' varies little.
Usage: Auaricious
upper case 'A' has a number of variant forms, all of which have a squarish lower lobe.
Usage: And
the shape of the extended stroke to the left of the graph varies in curve and length.
Usage: And
in this example, the stroke is almost horizontal to the graph itself.
 
D
Usage: degree
lower case 'd' is consistently formed with squarish lower lobe and upper loop which either does not extend back further than the extent of the graph or else sits comfortably to the right of the lower lobe.
Usage: good
another evely formed 'd'.
Usage: woldist
there is a tendency for the scribe to make the graph more squat depending on its position in the word.
Usage: 'wickedly
here the 'd' appears amost squashed between the 'e' and the 'l'.
 
G
Usage: good
once again the scribe's graphs are evenly formed and there is little variation in anglicana 'g'. The upper lobe has a beak-like extension to the next graph which comes from the centre of the lobe.
Usage: denegare
'g' in the Latin gloss in the hand of the scribe in the right margin.
Usage: god
the lower lobe of 'g' tends to be squashed laterally rather than rounded.
Usage: greet
in this example the lower lobe is more rounded than usual.
 
H
Usage: what
another neatly executed graph. The thick limb tapers to a short tail tucked neatly below the body of the letter.
Usage: hardily
the shape of lower case 'h' varies little.
Usage: The
the 'h' graph here may have been intended to represent an upper case graph. It follows from the red-flourished, blue lombard initial which begins the stanza. The two distinct points on the stem differentiate it from other 'h's on this folio.
Usage: She
the only other occurrence of the 'h' graph with two points on the stem is in this word where again the 'h' follows the blue initial at the beginning of the opening stanza.
 
R
Usage: retentif
he scribe uses modern 'r' in all positions except after 'o'.
Usage: her
'r' in final position.
Usage: worlde
'z'-shaped 'r' after 'o'.
Usage: scriptu(m)
'r' within a word as here in the Latin gloss in the hand of the scribe in the right margin.
 
S
Usage: coueitous
8-shaped 's' is always used in final position.
Usage: shaketh
long 's is used in initial and medial positions.
Usage: excessif
where 's' is doubled, the first 's' is shorter than the second. The shaft of the letter is short, not descending much below the lower level of the other letters.
Usage: So
upper case 'S' is very similar to the modern graph. The curving headstroke is distinctive and although difficult to see, there may be faint parallel lines which bisect the graph. This would match with parallel lines in other upper case graphs of this scribe.
 
W
Usage: owne
all 'w's are evenly executed. The left limb is shaped like a 'C' with the second element scribed like a letter 8 which forms a circular lower lobe with a hook-like stroke to form the upper lobe which is not always closed.
Usage: wiche
Usage: with holdist
Usage: Why
'W' at the beginning of a line. The scribe's upper and lower case graphs of 'w' are identical.
 
Y
Usage: may
the tail of 'y' is short and fine. The left arm is straight and the fork usually occurs to coincide with the lower level of the preceding letters.
Usage: Why
Usage: gredy
a slight turn on the tail is usual.
Usage: manye
here the fork occurs just below the level of the other letters. The scribe's 'y' is very similar to his 'thorn'.
 
Thorn and Yogh
Usage: þow
thorn is a squat letter and stem and lobe meet together at the bottom of the stem.
Usage: wiþ holdist
the formation of thorn is very similar to the formation of 'y' and where 'y' has a very fine tail, it is difficult to distinguish between the two graphs.
Usage: ȝeuest
yogh is used to mimic the 'y' sound.
Usage: ouȝt
yogh is also used for the 'gh' combination.
 
Upper Case Letters
Usage: Of
many of this scribe's upper case letters have serrated edges and are therefore distinctive.
Usage: That
Usage: No
Usage: But
 
Punctuation and tags
Usage: be or
virgulae are used extensively throughout to separate out phrases or seemingly to point the sense.
Usage: bere.
puncti are used at the end of every line.
Usage: doist
almost all final 't's have a tag.
Usage: excessif
final 'f's have a shorter tag.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP