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Scribal Profile
Unknown
 
Current Manuscript:London, British Library MS Stowe 950
Identification:Could be two scribes though the change is gradual and may be one scribe copying at different times.
Folios:1-176
Sampled Folios:17v, 102r
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: schape
we are uncertain as to whether there is a single scribe in this manuscript, or two. The change occurs around f49 and the second hand is very similar in most ways so maybe, perhaps, just copied at a different time and definitely with a different nib. This 'a' graph is from f17v of the manuscript.
Usage: fader
an 'a' with flattened head-stroke from the later part of the manuscript.
Usage: And
an upper case 'A' from f17v.
Usage: And
upper case 'A' as seen on f102r.
 
D
Usage: despuiled
the 'd's on both folios are not dissimilar in formation.
Usage: vsed
from f102r, 'd' in final position at the end of a line and tagged.
Usage: dicit(ur)
an unlooped 'd' from the rubric on f102r.
Usage: Do
the only upper case 'D' on the sampled folios occurs on f17v.
 
G
Usage: god
the 'g' graph does differ. This example from f17v has a hairline connector from the end of the tail back to the body of the graph which sits on the line.
Usage: largesse
this example from f102r has a much larger lower lobe and is a different shape. The tail stroke often goes below the line.
Usage: Gresse
as will be seen in these two examples of upper case 'G', the scribe does vary his graphs on the same folio.
Usage: God
 
H
Usage: haste
'h' on f17v has a more pointed head-stroke and the limb and tail-stroke curves round and is contained beneath the body of the graph.
Usage: hast
on f102r, the limb is straight on every occasion.
Usage: mightes
from the early folio with tail-stroke turning counter-clockwise.
Usage: His
upper case 'H' from f17v.
 
R
Usage: regnen
modern 'r' is used throughout on both folios and for all positions.
Usage: acorde
'z'-shaped 'r' does appear different on each folio. On f17v, the example seen here, 'r' has a horizontal stroke at the base. It is only used after 'o'.
Usage: priue
on f102r, 'z'-shaped 'r' is slightly different with the lower stroke set at an angle. It is used after 'o' but also after some round-bodied graphs.
Usage: euer
an 'r' in final position with a rarely used tag to finish.
 
S
Usage: so
long 's' used initially and medially on both folios.
Usage: wawes
a final kidney-shaped 's' from f17v.
Usage: places
a sharper example of final 's' from f102r. The shape is basically the same and perhaps the difference may be explained by a different nib.
Usage: So
 
W
Usage: wote
this is the only form of 'w' which is used on f17v.
Usage: wel
on f102r, this looped 'w' is used alongside the version to be seen in 3.
Usage: wedded
also used on f102r. This 'w' is not quite the same as the version on f17v which ends in a 'B'-shaped element rather than as here a single loop.
Usage: Which
upper case 'W' from f17v.
 
Y
Usage: yif
almost all 'y's on f17v have a tail which turns counter-clockwise.
Usage: hym
almost all 'y's on f102r have a tail-stroke which is straight.
Usage: seye
occasionally 'y' is dotted .
Usage: wyues
the single 'y' on f102r with curled tail.
 
Thorn and yogh
Usage: þe
thorn is not used at all on f17v. However, there are only two examples on f102r so the scribe does not use thorn a great deal.
Usage: soþ
Usage: ȝaf
yogh is not used on f17v. It is used several times on f102r equivalent to 'y' and also the gutteral.
Usage: aȝein
 
Upper Case Letters
Usage: Thus
upper case 'T' from f17v.
Usage: Thou
upper case 'T' from f102r.
Usage: Be
upper case 'B' from f17v.
Usage: Be
an almost identical upper case 'B' from f102r.
 
Serendipity
Usage: ffro man
catchword on f17v with distinctive looped bracket end and dotting.
Usage: ffor
first word of f102r.
Usage: be knowe
the top line of f102r with decorated ascenders.
Usage: lothe
a second type of decoration of an ascender on the top line of f102r.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP