Notes on the
Plates

This mode is very suitable for a book of poems, in
which the lengths of the lines of writing may vary con¬
siderably, because the writing-line being longer than the
ordinary line of writing allows room for extraordinarily
long lines, and any appearance of irregularity is carried off
by the extra wide side margins. ,

THE WRITING is very beautiful, clear, and rapid
—made with a “slanted pen” (see “Italics,” p. 275, and
fig. 178). Note the slightness of the slope of the letters
(especially of the Capitals), and the length of the stems
and the wide spacing.

Note, also, the flatness of the curves in a c d e g 0 q
and the horizontal top stroke in a d g q, oblique in e с
(giving angular tops). The branching away from the stem
of the first part of the arch mbh mnp r (seen also reversed
in a dgq u), and the pointed, almost angular, quality of
the arch. This, which is apt to become a fault in a more
formal upright hand (see note on Plate XXII) is helpful
in a more rapid running hand, and gives clearance to the
junctions of the strokes (r r)—see fig. 182.

The heads, simple or built-up, hooks tending to become
triangular.

The letters in this MS. are rarely coupled.

The very graceful g has a large pear-shaped lower loop
touching the upper part.

PLATE XXII.—“Communion Service” written and
illuminated by E. Johnston, a.d. 1902. (“Office
Book," Holy Trinity Church, Hastings.) Reduced
( nearly I scale).

The MS. on 160 leaves (15 inches by 10 inches) of fine
parchment (“Roman Vellum,” see p. 139), contains the
Communion Service and many collects, epistles, and
gospels for special festivals, &c. MARGINS: Inner
if inch, Head if inch, Side г\ inches, Foot з|
inches.

420

THE WRITING—after tenth century model (see Notes on the
Plate VIII)—has the fault (referred to at p. 407) of p]ates

showing too much thin line (running up obliquely), the
upper and lower parts of the letters are not flat enough.

The tail of the g is inadequate, and the lines of writing
are too near together. The writing is readable, however,
and fairly regular. The CAPITALS are Uncials (after
Plate V.) and occasional “Romans."

The RUBRIC (“^J Then shall be said or sung”) is in
red, fitted in beside the round initial and marking the top
left-hand corner of the page (see footnote, p. 177).

The word “GLORY” (and decoration)—and also
the F and T, showing in recto page—are in raised bur¬
nished gold, which, it will be seen, has cracked consider¬
ably in the G (see p. 130).

The STAVES are in red (p. 106), the notes above
GLORY in raised gold, those in the lower stave, black.

The BOOK was of a special nature (see pp. 308-9),
being intended for use in a certain church and on certain
special festivals: hence a considerable degree of orna¬
ment and a generally decorative treatment was permitted
(p. 294). The Prayer of Consecration, together with a
miniature, occupied a complete opening, the eight margins
of which were filled with solid, framing borders (p. 179)
in red, blue, green, and gold. Coats-of-arms and other
special symbols and devices were introduced on the Title
page and in other places.

PLATE XXIII.—The Story of Aucassin and Nicole t te,
written and illuminated by W. H. Cowlishaw,
a.d. 1898.

THE VOLUME consists of 50 -j- leaves of “Roman
Vellum” (7! inches by 5^ inches).

MARGINS, approx.: Inner f inch, Head inch,

Side if inch, Foot 2 inches.

THE WRITING, very legible, rather “Gothic-
Roman.”

421