Llanbeblig Book of Hours

The Llanbeblig Book of Hours is an illuminated manuscript in the National Library of Wales (NLW MS 17520A) that dates from the close of the fourteenth century. Entries in the Calendar link the Llanbeblig Hours to Wales, and more specifically the dedication of the church of Saint Peblig, which is marked June 6, connects it with Caernarfon.^[1]

A rare Lily Crucifixion motif is one of the seven illuminated miniatures in this Book of Hours.^[1] The Lily Crucifixion miniature is discussed in the context of other examples of the motif in devotional iconography in an NLW journal article by Eddie Duggan.^[2] Even though neither the miniatures nor the decorated borders and initial letters are of any great artistic merit, this manuscript is of interest as it is one of the few examples of an illuminated manuscript that is linked to Wales.^[3]

The early sixteenth century gold-tooled calf covers of the Llanbeblig Hours, which both bear the arms of King Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon in shields separated by two roses, are inlaid in the nineteenth century binding. The binding was thus executed before the 1532 annulment of King Henry's marriage to Katherine of Aragon.^[3]

Folio 1r. The Annunciation.
Folio 2r. The Lily Crucifixion.
Folio 2v. St. Peter, holding a key and a book.
Folio 3r. A king, possibly Magnus Maximus, holding a sceptre.
Folio 3v. A bishop, possibly St.Peblig, blessing and wearing a mitre, and holding a crosier.
Folio 4r. Madonna and Child.
Folio 4v. God, The Holy Spirit, and Christ Crucified.