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Scribal Profile
Hand B
Profiles for this Scribe:
 
Current Manuscript:London, British Library MS Additional 27944
Folios:8ra-151vb
Sampled Folios:8r, 71v, 93v
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A
Usage: abstinence
the scribe uses both single and double compartment 'a'.
Usage: pater
Usage: schamfast
the scribe has a third lower case 'a' graph. It is not merely version 1 gone wrong, it is a form of 'a' which follows the pattern used by some scribes as an upper case graph with squarish lobe.
Usage: And
the scribe has several distinctive versions of upper case 'A' which may be seen in the Wild Letter section. This is his more conventional graph.
 
D
Usage: bord
the shape of this graph is totally consistent and almost invariable.
Usage: children
the single exception on the three folios consulted is this graph in the middle of a word.
Usage: coold
the scribe rarely adds tails to 'd' in final position. This is the only example I have found on the three sample folios.
Usage: Denys
the scribe does have other forms for upper case 'D' particularly in his display script.
 
G
Usage: glasy
the lower lobe of 'g' is significantly smaller than the upper compartment, a striking feature of this hand.
Usage: games
a single example of tailed 'g' on these folios.
Usage: a mong
'g' in final position is tagged.
Usage: Grete
 
H
Usage: hete
'h' is uniform throughout.
Usage: sch
it is possible that the crossed 'h' is used here to replace a missing 'e'. The word comes at the end of a line and the 'h' is already beyond the frame line.
Usage: seuenth
an unusual occurrence for the 'h' to be crossed but as with the example in version 2, perhaps the cross here signals a missing 'e'. This word also occurs at the end of a line and the frame line is easily seen bisecting the graph.
  
 
R
Usage: restreined
modern 'r' used in all positions. An occasional long 'r' may be found but modern 'r' is used for the majority of the time.
Usage: ffor
'z'-shaped 'r' used only after 'o'. The otiose stroke which appears to be attached to 'o' is actually attached to the head-stroke of 'r'. This otiose stroke is almost always visible.
Usage: grete
long 'r' used for a few lines on certain folios and then abandoned.
Usage: her
the only flourished 'r' in final position on the three sampled folios. The word occurs at the end of a line and is followed by a virgule.
 
S
Usage: is
both kidney and sigma 's' used in final position but the preference is for kidney 's'.
Usage: is
8-shaped 's' is also used in final position.
Usage: so
sigma 's' used in initial and final position. Long 's' is also used both initially and medially.
Usage: Somtyme
blue paraph precedes.
 
W
Usage: winde
the scribe has many different forms of 'w'. He seems to enjoy experimenting with this graph. However, this is his most used and stable form.
Usage: work
Usage: felawe
Usage: folewyth
 
Y
Usage: deyde
the tail of 'y' turns back on itself and retraces the descender by running parallel to it. The angle between the two parts of the tail is very narrow.
Usage: Somtyme
another variation on a later folio has no return on the tail of 'y'.
Usage: by
a third form of 'y' appears to be a compromise between versions 1 and 2. The tail is minimal as in version 2, but the scribe finishes with a small hooked stroke rather than the parallel return.
Usage: þey
word on the bottom line which may have encouraged the scribe to add an extension to the short tail of 'y'.
 
Thorn and Yogh
Usage: comeþ
thorn used frequently for definite article, adjectives, adverbs, verb endings and elsewhere to replace 'th'.
Usage: eiȝtþe
Usage: Aȝenst
Usage: ȝelouȝ
yogh used twice, each time with a different function.
 
Upper Case 'A'
Usage: And
Usage: Aungels
Usage: And
Usage: Amen
 
Upper Case Letters
Usage: FOr
the second letter after the illuminated capital. Note the two parallel lines which this scribe does not always use, but which are reminiscent of his partner scribe in this manuscript, Scribe D.
Usage: Ierarchia
upper case 'I' which is very similar to that used by Scribe D. It has the same single protuberance on the stem.
Usage: I pinchind
just as with Scribe D, this scribe also has an alternative and simpler upper case 'I'.
Usage: AS
 
More upper Case Letters
Usage: Now
the scribe has two forms of upper case 'N'. Scribe D uses the same two forms.
Usage: No man
this 'N' also has the double parallel line feature which Scribe D uses frequently.
Usage: De
a second form of 'D' in the rubric.
Usage: Besi
this scribe's upper case 'B' is different from that of Scribe D.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP