Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Speculum humanae salvationis
England, Yorkshire?, ca. 1400
MS M.766 fol. 59v

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Left column:
Virgin Mary: Misericordia -- Virgin Mary, nimbed and crowned, extends arms to hold mantel enclosing crowd including tonsured cleric, crowned king, and woman, veiled with wimple.
Caption, MARIA EST NOSTRA DEFENSATRIX, is inscribed above scene.
Right column:
Moses: before Gates of Sabba -- Moses, name inscribed MOISES, wearing armor, including helmet with crest of plumes, spurs, holding lance over right shoulder, wearing at left shoulder shield decorated with arms of Colville family of York (a fess and in chief 3 bezants), is astride bridled horse with trappings. In background, Tarbis, and her father, King of Ethiopia, both crowned, and both gesturing, appear behind crenellations on wall between two towers.
Caption, THARBIS DEFEND(IT) URBEM SABA AB IMPUGNAC(I)O(N)E MOISI, is inscribed above scene.
Text reference, PRIMO REG(UM) UICENSIMO SECUNDO, is in upper margin.