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Scribal Profile
John Shirley
Profiles for this Scribe:
3. USA, California, San Marino, Henry E. Huntington Library MS El 26 A.13
 
Current Manuscript:USA, San Marino, CA, Henry E. Huntington Library MS El 26 A.13
Folios:ii verso
Sampled Folios:Flyleaves
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A
Usage: hande
Shirley has several forms of 'a' which he alternates at random.
Usage: and
'a' is mainly single compartment often with horned head.
Usage: Halsham
double compartment 'a' appears to be reserved for titles or headings.
Usage: And
a very angular lower compartment for this upper case 'A'.
 
D
Usage: lande
'd' has a rectangular bowl and an upper loop.
Usage: god
a rather quakey representation of 'd'.
Usage: wyde
a triangular lower lobe for this example.
Usage: vnder
 
G
Usage: god
secretary tailed 'g' sometimes with, sometimes without extensions above the horizontal cross-stroke.
Usage: kynge
the tail turns clockwise and either runs horizontal, as in version 1, or curves up and then makes a downward turn as in this example.
Usage: leng(er)e
Usage: Gower
upper case 'G' which looks rather like an armchair.
 
H
Usage: hoote
the tail of 'h' is usually flicked counter-clockwise to finish.
Usage: vnheonde
Usage: ought
'h' in combination with 'g' or 't' is crossed on this folio.
Usage: Halsham
an elaborate, angular example of upper case 'H'.
 
R
Usage: grounde
Shirley uses mainly modern 'r' on this folio. It is used in all positions.
Usage: Gower
in final position 'r' is tagged.
Usage: nerre
Usage: preserue
'z'-shaped 'r' is used frequently. Its use does not seem to be confined to a position after 'o' and round-bodied graphs. Shirley seems to use it randomly.
 
S
Usage: so
long 's' is used in initial and medial positions. The head may be rounded or angular. There is usually a thickening of the stem at the top before tapering to a finer point.
Usage: is
kidney-shaped 's' is used in final position.
Usage: stidfast
a scooped head-stroke in this example. Again, the double thickness at the top of the stem is very noticeable.
Usage: sutyle
the thickening of the stem gives the appearance of the text an uneven look.
 
W
Usage: worlde
Shirley uses a variety of 'w's. This example has loops at the head and a single lobe to the right.
Usage: wyde
two separate straight strokes descending at an angle provide the limbs. A single lobe is added to finish.
Usage: what
this and the previous example are more typical of Shirley's hand. They can be with or without a curved approach stroke to the left limb.
Usage: weyes
 
Y
Usage: yitte
the left limb of 'y' usually has a curl as an approach stroke.
Usage: youre
the tail may be longer or shorter, gently curved or sharply angled as in the next example.
Usage: lytel
Usage: þy
a dotted 'y'. Shirley uses this curved stroke above 'i' as well as 'y'. He does not use it consistently.
 
Thorn
Usage: þe
thorn is used frequently for 'th' but not exclusively.
Usage: firþer
the stem is long, gently curved and tapering.
Usage: makeþe
Usage: Þe
upper case position at the beginning of a line.
 
Upper Case Letters
Usage: A
an elaborate and flamboyantly typical example of Shirley's upper case 'A'.
Usage: If
'I' with closed loop at the head. This example is at the beginning of a line. Shirley has another upper case 'I' as seen in version 4.
Usage: May
Usage: I
upper case 'I' used in the middle of the text and dotted at each side of the graph.
 
Display Letters
Usage: Lord
these letters occur on the top line of text but are typical of Shirley's decorative style.
Usage: preserue
Usage: mighty
Usage: ihu
the heading for the folio.
 
Shirley's 'k'
Usage: karving
Shirley has a very distinctive 'k' graph. The squared-off foot is typical as well as the arching stroke at the head.
Usage: makeþe
Usage: knowest
Usage: kynge
Centre for Medieval Studies, University of York, King's Manor, York YO1 7EP