Script Type : minuscule
Script Family : cursiva anglicana
Date : late 13th century
Location : England, royal chancery
Function : Document hand or charter hand
Distinctive letters : This is an example of the formal cursiva anglicana script of the late 13th century, as produced in a formal document, in this case letters patent of King Edward I. The style is distinctive, retaining some of the split ascenders in some examples of b, h, l, f and long s, but is developing the loopy look of the script of the 14th century.
The definitive forms of cursiva anglicana are there: a consisting of a double closed loop, short and curly closed g, the long and open r that descends below the baseline although the simplified r that looks like z makes an appearance after the letter o, and the short and curly s with an open upper loop and closed lower loop.
The letter d has the distinctive loopy appearance with strongly marked thin upstroke and heavy downstroke. The letter t is short with a broad cross stroke. The letter x has a curly descender, making it possible to confuse it with g if you are not careful.
The letters i and j are not distinguished, and neither are u and v, except where v occurs at the beginning of a word.
The letter w is no longer composed of two simple interlocked vs, but is developing the extra loops that turn it into the large and extravagant English celebration w. I wonder if it is a coincidence that this seems to occur during the reigns of kings called Edward. It does give the first word of their proclamations a certain flourish.
Pass the cursor slowly over the segment illustrated to pick out some words. As this sample does not extend across the full width of the document, the text is not continuous, so it doesn't make too much sense. Even with a rejuvenated scan, the script looks a bit small and scratchy, but perhaps that is just the way it is. That is why we need to learn these cunning paleographical skills. I couldn't resist the subject matter. The king is announcing that he has had delivered to the abbey of Fontevraud the heart of his deceased father, King Henry III, as promised. Organ donation meant something rather different in the middle ages. A paleography exercise will be forthcoming so that you can read all about it.
Script
Index Paleography
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