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Scribal Profile
John Shirley
Profiles for this Scribe:
1. Cambridge, Trinity College MS R. 3. 20 (600)
 
Current Manuscript:Cambridge, Trinity College MS R.3.20 (600)
Folios:1r-368
Sampled Folios:116r, 130r, 367r
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A
Usage: Whane
single compartment 'a' with pointed head.
Usage: a
'a' as it occurs in the title of Chaucer's poem to Adam.
Usage: Adam
the scribe's upper case 'A'.
Usage: And
 
D
Usage: ladyes
looped 'd' used throughout.
Usage: and
'd' in final position with tag as a continuation from the loop stroke.
Usage: double
the word occurs in the title.
Usage: goddes
 
G
Usage: gentil
tailed 'g' with curled horn at the head.
Usage: long
'g' in final position with tag attached to the continuation of the horizontal slash.
Usage: Geffrey
from the introduction to the 'Complaint to Mars'.
  
 
H
Usage: hee
'h' always has a looped head-stroke.
Usage: byhynde
the tail-stroke descends in a clockwise direction then turns counter-clockwise.
Usage: He
a more elaborate graph for the upper case letter.
Usage: night
crossed 'h' in 'ght' combination.
 
R
Usage: vnder
the 'e' can be seen at the left side of the letter. Long 'r' used infrequently on this folio.
Usage: hir
modern 'r' used in all positions. The stem of 'r' is a curved stroke which loops round to complete the graph.
Usage: mortel
'z'-shaped 'r' used after 'e' on this folio.
Usage: Retourne
upper case 'R' with arching approach stroke.
 
S
Usage: his
kidney-shaped 's' used in final position.
Usage: punyshment
long 's' used initially and medially.
Usage: scryveyne
long 's' in initial position. The head-stroke often comes off the stem below the top.
Usage: She
upper case 'S'.
 
W
Usage: werke
the scribe has two forms of 'w'. In this form the limbs are diagonal strokes, the compartment to the right is square.
Usage: lowe
looped 'w' used interchangeably with 'w' with straight arms as seen in version 1.
Usage: With
arching left arm of the first stroke of this graph.
Usage: wymmen
 
Y
Usage: yee
a pronounced curve as the lead-in stroke. The tail of 'y' frequently curves back below previous letters before turning counter-clockwise.
Usage: hertely
Shirley frequently curls the tail of 'y' up and over the letter.
Usage: Yee
Usage: may
the word occurs at the end of a line hence the sort of 'signing off' feature at the end. Shirley occasionally includes a curved stroke above the letter.
 
m, n
Usage: mortel
where 'm' or 'n' occur in initial position, Shirley always uses a long curved approach stroke.
Usage: noble
Usage: may
Usage: noon
 
L
Usage: Looke
a remarkably modern-looking upper case 'L' bisected by the lower strokes of 'Ff' on the line above.
Usage: Loo
this word occurs in the incipit so is perhaps a little more elaborate.
Usage: Lifft
the first word of the folio.
Usage: Loo
 
Thorn
Usage: haþe
Shirley makes frequent use of thorn for 'th' throughout. The stem is long and tapering.
Usage: beginneþe
thorn used in the incipit.
Usage: Þat
the initial letter of a line in an upper case position.
Usage: þy
thorn on the bottom line with tail extended into decorative swirls in the lower margin.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP