Who transcribed wrote down the earliest known manuscript of Beowulf?

There isn't a single definitive answer to who transcribed the earliest known manuscript of Beowulf. The manuscript we have today is known as the Nowell Codex, and it's believed to have been written in the late 10th or early 11th century.

Here's what we know:

* The scribe's identity is unknown. There's no signature or other identifying mark in the manuscript itself.

* The scribe was likely a professional scribe. The quality of the writing and the use of abbreviations suggest a skilled and trained individual.

* The scribe probably worked in a monastery. The Nowell Codex is written on parchment and contains religious texts alongside Beowulf, suggesting a monastic origin.

* The scribe likely copied from an earlier source. The Beowulf manuscript is a copy, not an original. This means there was another, now lost, manuscript from which our copy was made.

In conclusion: While we don't know the name of the scribe who wrote the Nowell Codex, they were likely a skilled professional working in a monastic environment. The search for their identity continues, as it holds the key to understanding more about the history and transmission of Beowulf.