Manuscript - Original leaf from a latin breviary ca. 14th century - 1350

Original manuscript - 14th century - vellum - 14 x 10.5 cm.

Condition: although more than 600 years old, the condition is good; the parchment is slightly browned and, near the text, there are small holes, the ink has affected the parchment, for this page the number of holes is minimal!!

Elements that determine the value: the rarity, quality of age and attractiveness, despite the holes a top piece in any serious collection.

This 14th-century manuscript page comes from a Latin Breviary written in France. The text is written in 2 different colours and typefaces.

This manuscript on vellum (thin parchment, animal skin) with beautiful decorated initials with penwork in the margin concerns an original piece from the 14th century.

The text contains prayers and readings in honor of the saints (martyrs and confessors). Here is the transcription and translation:
Latin Transcription
(the red text gives instructions or titles, 'Collecta' means prayer)
Adesto domine populo tuo. Colla [Collecta]:
Cum sanctorum tuorum patrocinio supplicanti: ut quod propria fiducia non presumit suffragantium merito consequantur. Per [dominum].
In vigilia [unius] regis confessoris. ps [psalmus] Venite. In primo nocturno Antiphona: Beatus vir. ps [psalmus] Beatus vir. Lectio prima:
Cum sanctorum merita religiosa mente meditamur: quibus iustorum gloriae frequenti laude eorum mores sanctos: atque iustitiam imitemur.
[Lectio secunda]: Si propria iustitiorum fideles quos diligimus: quod in eis iustitiam fidemque suspicimus: possumus nos quoque esse quod sunt: si faciamus ipsi quod fecerunt.

Nederlandse Vertaling
Stand your people by, Lord. Prayer:
That on Your urging and with the protection of Your saints, they may obtain that which they dare not hope by own trust, but by the merits of their intercessors. Through [our Lord].
In the vigil of a king-believer. Psalm: Come, let us worship. In the first night office, Antiphon: Blessed is the man. Psalm: Blessed is the man. First reading:
When we, with a religious spirit, reflect on the merits of the saints, by whom the glory of the righteous is praised, let us then imitate their holy morals and justice.
[Second reading]: If we, the faithful, love the righteousness of the righteous that we admire, and esteem their justice and faith highly, then we too can become what they are, if we do what they did.

Commentary on the text
• Vigil of a king-believer: This page contains texts for the eve (vigil) of the feast day of a saint who was a king (such as Saint Louis or Saint Edward).
• Lectio (Readings): The text urges the reader not only to venerate the saints, but above all to imitate their behavior and faith. It is a moral exhortation: "we can become like them, if we do what they did."