Script Type : minuscule cursive

Alternative Name : cursiva anglicana

Date : 13th century

Location : England

Function : document hand

Distinctive letters : Because the script is cursive, there is some variability in the letter forms. The letters have some curly calligraphic elaborations, and an upward flourish with a thick curving downstroke is added to the ends of words, sometimes as an abbreviation mark and sometimes just for effect. Letters with ascenders such as b, d, f, l or h are elaborated into loops. There are two forms of r, one with a long descender, and two forms of s, the short curly form and the tall form. The letter c is elaborated with a split back when it occurs at the beginning of words. While the letter j, where it appears, is different to the normal i, it is the same as i when i appears at the beginning of a word. The letters w and k only appear in English names and w as usual is enlarged and elaborate. The letter y does not appear, but there is a rare appearance of z in a Latinised English word.

The script contains the definitive cursiva anglicana letters of double chambered a, d with closed loop ascender, g with double closed loops, an open form of r which extends below the baseline and a final s which is short, curly and open at the top.

There are many abbreviations. I personally find this script difficult to read, being distracted by all the extraneous loops, but the resident medievalist says it is easy and rapidly typed up a transcript with the photograph propped behind the keyboard. I guess it's just a matter of practice.

Pass the cursor slowly over the picture for a running transcription. To look at the example in more detail, go on to the paleography exercises.

Paleography exercises using Flash

These require at least the Flash 5 plugin