Book of Hours illuminated manuscript leaf. Dutch, 15th century

Written in medieval Dutch or possibly Low German. Contains 19 lines of text in Gothic script. Includes illimiated capitals, burinished in gold, and detailed floral boarders.

Title: Hier beghint die heilgen geest getide [Here beginneth the Holy Ghost Hours]. The full title of this work listed as ‘Getijde van de Heilge Geest’ in a number of Dutch catalogues. The text is a likely translation of the Latin. The text reads "O heer du selte opwen mijn lippen enn mijnn mont sel voerkondighen dijn lof". Translation, O Lord, thou shalt open my lips and my mouth shall make known thy praise = Domine labia mea aperies. Et os meum annuciabit laudem tuam.

After the prayer Glory be to the Father…. the text then deviates and does not correspond with the traditional Latin/English translation.

The subsequent paragraph suggests an invitatory verse (the psalm used to start certain daily prayer offices in Catholic and Anglican traditions) followed possibly by a paraphrase of Psalm 95 (LXX 94). The text reads " Coemt laet uns seer vervrouwen ten heren laet ons iubilieren gode onsen heilgever, sijn aensicht, laet ons te voren begripen mit beliene en lae ons mit psalmen dat is mit love sange tot…

Possibly translation: Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.