A Book of Hours Leaf - Prayer by Venerable Bede - c 1450

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Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 18 lines of text recto – 8 lines verso, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown ink & red rubrics in fine gothic script on animal vellum. (158 x 112mm – 6 ¼ x 4 3/8’’) 

One two-line illuminated initial in burnished gold on red and blue ground with white penwork; two illuminated one-line initials alternating in deep blue with delicate red penwork and burnished gold with delicate violet penwork.

Flanders (Use of Sarum), c. 1450 – produced to follow the English rites, for the English market. The Litany of the Saints from this book listed several Saints associated with Britain, including George (patron of Britain), Swithin (Bishop of Westminster), Eusebius (martyred Irish Benedictine), Burinus (Apostle of Wessex), and Julian (early English Martyr).

This leaf concludes the Psalter of St. Jerome an unusual inclusion. It is an abridgement of the entire Book of Psalms which could be recited in one day, for the benefit of those who, a result of illness or for the benefit of their endangered immortal souls, had taken a vow to perform this act every day. Jerome reportedly had been informed by an angel that this was a perfectly acceptable solution.

Text continues Psalm 142 (King James 143) 12: “Et in Misericordia tua…” (And in Thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies. Thou wilt cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am Thy servant).

The two-line illuminated “L” begins a complete prayer by the Venerable Bede (English saint):  “Liberator animarum…” (O Liberator of souls, Redeemer of the world, Jesus Christ, The Lord, King Eternal & Immortal: I supplicate & beseech thine infinite goodness that of thy great mercy by the Psalms, which I unworthy & a sinner, sing before Thee, Thou wouldest free my soul from sin, turn my heart from every evil way, from all wicked & perfidious thoughts, release my soul from the slavery of Sin, drive far away carnal concupiscence, loose me from every snare of Satan and his wicked ministers visible and invisible, who seek after my soul: protect me from these and all other evils…).

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-11990
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