Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 18 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown ink and red rubrics in fine gothic script on animal vellum. (158 x 112mm – 6 ¼ x 4 3/8’’)
Two illuminated two-line initials in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork; several initials heightened with red.
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 continues the Suffrages of the Saints. Suffrages attest to the deep personal connection between saints and ordinary medieval people. This leaf is devoted to Saints Katherine (patron of preachers) and Margaret. The prayer at line eight begins: “Virgo sancta…” (The virgin St. Katherine, jewel of Greece, was the daughter of King Costus in the city of Alexandria. Pray for us, blessed Katherine…).
The two-line illuminated “O” begins a prayer for the use of Sarum: “Omnipotens…” (Almighty and everlasting God, who didst have the body of thy virgin martyr Katherine carried to Mt. Sinai by angels, according to thy word…).
The two-line illuminated “D” begins: “Deus qui…” (O God who caused the blessed Margaret thy virgin to reach heaven through the palm of a martyr, grant us, we beseech, that following her examples we may deserve to come to thee).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
