Psalter, folio 27r

The psalter, containing the Book of Psalms, was used in the liturgy but was also the central text for medieval private devotion until it was surpassed in popularity by the Book of Hours in the 13th century. The ubiquity of the psalter among the faithful, particularly among the wealthy classes, means that some lavishly illuminated copies have survived. This 14th century volume was probably an English family possession and is laden with intricate interlaced borders, colourful historiated initials and fantastical drolleries, including monkeys, serpentine monsters and other grotesque beasts. Several of the decorative features of the book were intended to amuse the reader such as the juxtaposition of the chained monkey in the historiated initial at the beginning of Psalm 29 with the words libera me (liberate me).