Paleography

There seem to be two hands at work in the margins of Western MS 97. Below is the basis of the claim: on the two images chosen to represent Hand 1 (Figures 1 and 2), I have highlighted the letters E, R, and A to show their calligraphic kinship. The hand is an informal Gothic script and therefore difficult to date based on style alone. Based on the saints added by Hand 1, it is likely that it dates from the 15th century.

Figures 3 and 4 highlight the letters O and F in two marginalia by Hand 2. Hand 2 is probably from an earlier date than Hand 1, perhaps from the mid-14th century. (Procopius and Martial, two of the three saints added by Hand 2, were incorporated into the Dominican calendar in the 1330s.)

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Figure 1: Hand 1 on fol. 233v (Ten Thousand Martyrs)

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Figure 2: Hand 1 on fol. 206v (Saint Attala)

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Figure 3: Hand 2 on fol. 241v (Saint Procopius)

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Figure 4: Hand 2 on fol. 233r (Saints Anthony and Martial)