Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Breviary
England, Devonshire, 1325-1330
MS M.329 fol. 7r

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In upper register of initial B, David, crowned, playing harp, is seated on bench. David: slinging at Goliath -- In lower register of the initial, David, raising sling with right hand, stands facing Goliath, as soldier, wearing helmet and armor, holding bannered spear and shield decorated with dragon (?) with left hand, looking over right shoulder toward David. Initial decorated with foliate ornament. Margins: In upper margin, hybrid man, wearing peaked hood, with two animal legs, upper termination of foliate scroll as border. In upper right margin, bird, possibly robin perches on foliage of border. In lower margins, terminating two halves of foliate scroll, hybrid king, confronting hybrid bishop with two cloven hooves. Text is Psalm 1 in Psalter.