Examples may be seen in Pal?ographical Society, pl.
95, and in the excellent lithographs published by the monks of Monte
Cassino (_Paleografia artistica di Monte Cassino_, Longobardo-Cassinese,
tav. xxxiv., etc.). A very fine example occurs in pl. xv., dated
1087-88. Its characteristic letters are _a_, _e_, _g_, _t_.
_Visigothic._ The national hand of Spain. Also founded on the old Roman
cursive. It becomes an established hand in the eighth century, and lasts
until the twelfth. Examples occur in Ewald and Loewe, _Exempla Scriptur?
Visigotic?_, Heidelberg, 1883. It was at first very rude and illegible,
but afterwards became even handsome. A fine example exists in the
British Museum (Pal?ograph. Soc., pl. 48). Its characteristic letters
are _g_, _s_, _t_.
_Merovingian._ The national hand of France. A hand made up chiefly of
loops and angles in a cramped, irregular way. Its derivation the same as
the preceding. In the seventh century it is all but illegible. In the
eighth it is much better, and almost easy to read.
_Celtic_. The national hand of Ireland. It is founded on the demi-uncial
Roman, borrowed as to type from MSS. taken to Ireland by missionaries.
It is bold, clear, and often beautiful, lending itself to some of the
most astonishing feats of penmanship ever produced.
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