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Scribal Profile
Delta
Profiles for this Scribe:
 
Current Manuscript:Scotland, Aberdeen University Library, MS 21
Identification:Hand 1, or this scribe could be Delta
Sampled Folios:8r, 12r, 34v, 56v
Example Page:Display a full page showing this scribe's hand
Image Rights:Reproduced with the permission of the University of Aberdeen.. 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: made
double compartment 'a' used throughout.
Usage: I planed
the upper compartment is usually slightly smaller than the lower one. Here the down-stroke is angled at the head.
Usage: Anselm
the scribe uses a selection of upper case 'A' graphs.
Usage: Arthur
 
D
Usage: drynke
'd' is almost always looped.
Usage: myddel
the upper loops extend back beyond the body of the graph.
Usage: hodes
a single unlooped 'd' found on the four folios examined.
Usage: Dedalus
upper case 'D' with double vertical parallel line decoration. Upper case letters are frequently tipped with yellow.
 
G
Usage: greet
g' is double compartment. It usually sits well above the line with downward sloping slash from the head to join to the following graph.
Usage: feng
'g' usually has a projection from the upper right side of the lower lobe which flicks upwards to finish.
Usage: egged
Usage: Gregory
another upper case graph with double vertical parallel lines to bisect.
 
H
Usage: hath
unlike several of the scribe's graphs, 'h' is evenly formed. The head-stroke is thick and angles down obliquely, sometimes connecting with the top of the shoulder with a hairline turn.
Usage: streccheþ
the limb and tail-stroke usually end at or near the line.
Usage: Ioseph
'h' is not usually crossed but is perhaps crossed here because it is a name.
Usage: hercules
there does not appear to be any difference between the upper and lower case graphs.
 
R
Usage: rybbe
modern 'r' is the most frequently used graph in all positions except after vowels and round-bodied graphs.
Usage: piler
'r' in final position, whether modern 'r' as here, or long 'r' which is also used, often has a final flourish.
Usage: firste
'z'-shaped 'r' is used after all vowels and also after round-bodied graphs.
Usage: glasty(n)gbury
long 'r' is also used but is not the most selected 'r' graph. The fork of long 'r' is usually above the line and the graph itself does not extend much below the line.
 
S
Usage: staues
long 's' is used in initial and medial positions. The approach stroke to the shaft is often seen to the left of the stem.
Usage: kynges
most 's's in final position are 8-shaped. The upper compartment is smaller than the lower one.
Usage: swyftliche
sigma 's' is sometimes used in initial position. There is no distinction between this graph and the upper case version of 4.
Usage: So
upper case 'S'.
 
W
Usage: was
'w' is a distinctive graph in this manuscript. The version represented here is the one used most of the time. However, the scribe does have another version as may be seen in versions 3 and 4, and the distribution of the two versions may or may not indicate a separate scribe later in the manuscript.
Usage: wt
'with' is frequently abbreviated to 'wt'.
Usage: write
occasionally this version of 'w' is used.
Usage: was
 
Y
Usage: ynne
'y' is fairly evenly formed with short tail-stroke which usually turns counter-clockwise at or around the line.
Usage: housynge
Usage: playes
the final turn of the tail is rarely extended to any great length.
Usage: wrappynges
 
Thorn and Yogh
Usage: beeþ
thorn is used frequently on any occasion to replace 'th'.
Usage: neu(er)þeles
the formation of thorn is consistent with slightly curved tapering stem and lobe attached which extends to line level.
Usage: nouȝt
yogh is used both as equivalent of the gutteral 'gh' sound and also as equivalent to 'y'.
Usage: ȝere
 
Upper Case Letters
Usage: SOlinus
another example of parallel line decoration of upper case graphs. Here a separate set of lines branches off at an angle from the vertical.
Usage: Turgesius
a triangular element with hairline joining stroke back to the vertical bisector. Again an upper case graph tipped with yellow.
Usage: Alisau(n)dre
another variation of upper case 'A'.
Usage: By
2-shaped element at the front of the graph. Vertical line with 'B'-shaped element infilled with yellow.
 
More Upper Case Letters
Usage: Irlond
the consistent formation of upper case 'I' with hairline approach stroke and single lump on the stem.
Usage: Rotherik
Usage: Engelond
Usage: Neu(er)þeles
upper case 'N' with central dot. Other upper case graphs such as 'D' may also have a dot in the centre.
 
Serendipity
Usage: & here oþ(er) kyn
catchword on f34v.
Usage: Punctus elevatus; the scribe uses the punctus elevatus frequently.
Usage: Ampersand; the scribe has two versions of ampersand. It is a defining feature of the hand as it comprises a number of separate strokes. The version of the ampersand seen here has an oblique stroke running the length of the graph on the left side which is not present in the alternative version. Ampersand always has a covering stroke above.
Usage: is
for long runs of text, the 'i' graph frequently has an oblique dash above. However, the scribe is not consistent in its usage.
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP