Hand: chi, Exeter 3500

EXON Project

This scribe may be recognised by the shape of the tail of g; the approach stroke in the final line of the ampersand; the Y-shaped Gallows mark.

1. Letterforms

a.- Round form with angular tail.

d.- Both round and straight-backed forms in use. The latter’s ascender is about double minim-height and sometimes has a sloping approach-stroke forming a wedge on the left (as the other ascenders). The round form has a taller ascender that raises at about 60º and slopes right into a vertical hairline at the top.  

e.- Broken back and a short projecting tongue with endstroke at word-end.

g.- Open, idiosyncratic form. Descender starts in the middle of the head with a (roughly) vertical neck before turning sharply to the right and forming reversed c-shape. It may be flat, but only very occasionally. It may also be rather angular.

h.- Ascender has an approach-stroke and is about double minim-height. Left leg stands on the baseline and may only occasionally be footed. Right leg tucks in and often reaches below the baseline.

p.- Bowl is rather angular and normally open at the top. Approach stroke and straight descender which, occasionally, may turn left at the bottom.

s.- Head is often round though not particularly tall (below double minim-heingt). Hood on the left and finishing stroke at the bottom forming a foot. It stands on the baseline.

t.- Curved shaft does not cut through the horizontal bar, which may be sloping.

x.- All limbs have either approach strokes or finishing strokes, except left leg, which is enlarged as a hairline below the baseline. It may occasionally be also finished in a flick up.

æ.- N/A.

2. Treatment of minims, ascenders & descenders

Minims .- They normally show an approach stroke as well as a finishing stroke that forms a foot (which may be enlarged at word-end).

Ascenders.- Normally about or below double minim-height. The shafts of b, straight-backed d, h and l may show an approach stroke, although this is not always visible.

Descenders.- They are straight and not particularly long. They are regularly unfooted, although they may occasionally be finished on a slight backward flick.

3. Form of capitals

A. Rustic form with an approach stroke at the top. 431r3 Alfricus.

G. Extended descender applied that reaches below the baseline. Gildenecota 431r3; 431r19 Godricus. This type of decorative addition is also found in other capital forms (B, D, H, M and U/V).

V. Open shape with approach strokes on both arms, the right one finished on a long hairline below the baseline. Same form used in numerals, if reduced in size. Approach stroke on the right arm is very similar to final stroke in the ampersand.

4. Forms of punctuation

Punctus simplex seems to be only form of punctuation in use.

5. Form of paraph (gallows mark)

Leaning Y-shaped form with a horizontal cross-stroke at the top and a third (vertical) stroke between the two arms.

6. Forms of abbreviation

Ampersand.- Formed departing from a round a to which three further strokes are added: one to extend its tail on the baseline; the second to form the top loop (which may occasionally remain open); and the final component with a looped approach stroke. The basic form of the ampersand normally reaches over the headline, but an enlarged (capitalised?) form is also occasionally used (430v4). Not too dissimilar from mu.

et nota.- Only two instances in one of the final entries, though they seem to be by a different hand, esp. considering the lack of space. 431v4-5. Horizontal bar is on headline. Descender extends well below baseline curving leftwards.

Overline.- Sloping stroke with both approach stroke and endstroke.

-ur.- 2-shaped form with vertical (minim-like) shaft and extended tail sloping slightly and finished in an endstroke.

-us.- -us compendium is almost round most times and normally attached to the letter below.

-orum.- N/A.

q- forms.- round a in qua.

e-cauda.- Not found, but q-cauda shows a y-shaped cedilla in which the two arms may be found almost closed.

pr- forms.- In pro, the hook starts below the baseline.

other forms.-

est.- N/A.

7. Forms of suspension

8. Ligatures

-ct- ligature: N/A.

-rt- ligature: N/A.

-st- ligature: Frequently used. potest 431r5.

-or-: N/A.

9. Method and form of annotation (signes de renvoi?)

N/A.

10. Method of correction and correction mark

Many corrections found, some by chi himself, but several by other hands. Methods of correction include: interlinear additions; erasures; erasure and insertion of correct form; crossing incorrect form and inserting the correct one on top (recepit 431v7); directly correcting a previous letterform by inserting one or various strokes (dimidia 431v6).

11. Treatment of numerals

Between dots. v used instead of u.

12. Proportions and measurements

Codicology

- Pricking.-

- Ruling.-

13. Other idiosyncrasies (preferred spellings, usages, …)

Hairline descenders are often applied to certain capital forms such as B, G and esp. U/V.

What does he write?

Roger de Courseulles (So) – 430v1-2; 430v2-1v9

Other relevant information

Although Flight has this stint as starting on line 2 (according to his list, 430v1 was left blank), it seems clear that this scribe wrote that top line too, which means that he finished the previous entry started by beta.