Hand: mu, Exeter 3500

EXON Project

This hand may be recognised by the 8-shaped g; the shape of the ampersand with the diagonal stroke crossed by an attenuated s mark; the wavy horizontal bar in T; a Gallows mark with (frequently) a round corner.

1. Letterforms

a.- Uncial form in which may have a rather small head. Occasionally, this may be so small that the whole form is that of a pointed a.

d.- Both round and straight-backed forms in use. The former has a rather small ascender (esp. when compared to other ascenders) that rises at 45º with a vertical finishing stroke. The ascender of straight-backed d may reach slightly higher ad it shows an approach stroke that forms a triangular notch on the left. The bowl of this form is normally bigger than that of the round form.

e.-The lower component may be rather short (barely rising from the baseline at times), but the projecting tongue rises at about 45º and ligatures with the following letter, if any. It often has a round back.

g.- It often has a 8-shape with a larger bottom bowl which remains open. Head reaches up to the headline and tail starts below the head, though it is always attached. Tail may occasionally be closed by a hairline flick.

h.- Ascender shows an approach stroke on the left and left leg is also footed by a finishing stroke. Right limb tucks in and it often reaches below the baseline (even if slightly).

p.- Approach stroke on the left and straight descender of varying length (though normally over minim length) with a slight finishing flick forward at the end. Bowl may occasionally be left unclosed at the top.

s.- Rather high form with approach stroke (often horizontal) on the left and round head. It may also have a small flick right at the bottom.

t.- Curved shaft consistently cuts across the headstroke.

x.- This form tends to be equal-limbed, although its left leg may be slightly elongated and even reach just below the baseline.

æ.- Similar shape to that of the ampersand, but with a projecting tongue off the e-component instead of a stroke across the diagonal stroke. æcclesia 525r2. Also 527v5.

2. Treatment of minims, ascenders & descenders

Minims .- Normally footed with a round flick forward which is often longer at the end of the letterform (e.g., the last minim in m or n).

Ascenders.- Those of b, straight d, h and l have an approach stroke that creates a triangular notch on the left of the ascender. They may vary slightly in length, but on average they are about minim height over the headline.

Descenders.- They tend to be straight and of varying length. They often show a very light finishing stroke.

3. Form of capitals

A. Rustic form made of two diagonal strokes with feet. Same form is used for Æ on 527v1 with the small addition of an eye for the e-component. Sometimes an enlarged uncial form is used which only differs from its minuscule counterpart in the fact that its head rises a bit higher.

I. Very prominent, horizontal approach stroke. It reaches below the baseline on a hairline turning right.

T. Rather idiosyncratic form with a straight and footed shaft and a wavy headstroke, sometimes ending in an elongated upward hook. DORSETA 527v10.

4. Forms of punctuation

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

5. Form of paraph (gallows mark)

Two main strokes join forming a round corner. Very thin cross-stroke. Beads are sometimes added to any (or various) of the strokes (9v11; 527v; 525r4).

6. Forms of abbreviation

Ampersand.- Most idiosyncratic form of this scribe: main form is not too dissimilar from other scribes, but final stroke made in the shape of the abbreviation mark (as an attenuated s) is unique.

et nota.- 7 shaped form with cupped horizontal bar reaching just over the headline. It reaches below the baseline and turns left in a harline.

Overline.- Mostly, it starts as a horizontal stroke that turns upwards as a hairline. It may also be cupped.

-ur.- Often made quite far from the letter below. Reverse hook with a slopping tail rising at 45º.

-us.- Open 9-shaped compendium that may be attached to the letter below.

-orum.-.

q- forms.-

e cauda.- Open fishbone shape.

pr- forms.- .

other forms.- The -bus suspension is used on 527v6 in what appears to be a later correction by the same scribe (judging by the shape of a in mansionibus and t in the following word). Open a suspension for both qua and par.

est.-.

7. Forms of suspension

8. Ligatures

-ae-

-ct- ligature: 527v9.

-rt- ligature:

-st- ligature: often used.

-or-: often used.

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

See ‘other relevant information’ note below. This scribe is found elsewhere adding annotations (on the margins) mainly using signe de renvoi.

10. Method of correction and correction mark

Crossed-out text (9v12). Erasure of numerals (527v1). Erasure and interlinear addition (495v2).

11. Treatment of numerals

Between dots (sometimes including the preceding ampersand). Minims have a small approach stroke and finishing flick. Normally all stand on the baseline. Slightly enlarged v instead of u.

12. Proportions and measurements

.

Codicology

- Pricking.-

- Ruling.-

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

Besides the Gallows mark it is not entirely uncommon for this scribe to add beads to capital letters in a rather inconsistent manner. As example, in fo. 9v we find two instances of T in line 14, the first (Torbertus) with a bead halfway down its curved shaft, the second (Toroldus) without it.

Idiosyncratic spelling of the word 'ghildum'.

What does he write?

Terrae Occupatae (Dn) – 495r19-v6; 497v21-3; 498r13-9v20; 500r2-16

Terrae Occupatae (Co) – 507v3-8r16

Terrae Occupatae (So) – 508v6-9; 508v11-10v20; 524v16-5r6

Geld Accounts (Do) – 24r7-9

Geld Accounts (Wi) – 9v10-24

Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset (Wi, Do, Dn, So) – 527v1-8r16

William de Falaise (Dn) - 366r1-v18 [opens quire]

Previously unidentified stints (Flight)

Alfred d'Epaignes (So) - 373v5-6; 373v11-12

English Thegns (So) – 493v13-14

Terrae Occupatae (Dn) – 506r19-20

Other booklets/Hundred List (So) – 64r1

Geld Accounts (Wi) – 9r40-41

William de Falaise (So) - 369v3

Other relevant information

This scribe seems to have been very active entering additions in quire 2 where he inserts 5 entries in 7v (to sigma), 2 in 8r (to sigma), 2 in 8v (to rho) and 2 in 9r (to sigma). This scribe also writes a full entry in the quire (9r11-24).

This scribe seems to be the author of the unidentified stint on 493v13-14. Even though his main idiosyncratic feature (ampersand) is not found there, other letterforms may confirm the identification: the shape (and beads) of the Gallows mark; the short tail of round d; the 8-shaped form of g the cedilla in the e-cauda; the shape of the et nota.