Breviary of Marie de Saint Pol (MS Dd.5.5)

This manuscript was owned, perhaps commissioned, by Marie de Saint Pol, Countess of Pembroke (c. 1304-1377) and wife of Aymer de Valence. Marie was the foundress in 1347 of the Hall of Valence Mary - now known as Pembroke College in Cambridge. The manuscript is heavily ornamented with decorated borders, marginal grotesques and miniatures. The one shown here depicts a woman in her heraldic mantle kneeling before St Cecilia. The arms shown were Marie's own, showing that the manuscript was made for her, and were adopted by Pembroke College.