Psalter and kalendar fragments, circa 1450

A psalter is a volume containing the Book of Psalms. These fragments have been rebound and were presented to the Cathedral in 1921 as there are references to early Bishops and saints of Rochester Paulinus and Ithamar, as well as Bishop Romanus.

St Withburga is also mentioned in the Kalendar. Although probably produced for the Cathedral or Priory it shows Low-Countries influence.

A note on the inside cover records that the bound volume was Presented to the Library of the Cathedral Church of Rochester by subscribers in 1921. An extract from a letter written by Dr Eeles to Mr Day in May '21, describing the book at the time of it's purchase:

‘. . it turns out to be a fragment of a Psalter with part of the Kalender. There seems no doubt that it was written for Rochester, probably for the Cathedral itself. Not only are St Itharnar and St Paulinus in red, but I also find a special festival of St Benedict, not his translation, and Romanus, Bishop, whose date does not correspond with any other Known saint of that vame, so that I conclude that it is Romanus, second Bishop of Rochester. There is also st Withburga in the Kalendar. The writing and illumination shows Low Country influence, but I think it was certainly written in England, just before the middle of the 15th century.’

This extract was included in a letter from the Council for

The Book of Psalms is part of the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament. The Book of Psalms is divided into five sections, each closing with a doxology (i.e., a benediction)—these divisions were probably introduced by the final editors to imitate the five-fold division of the Torah. In the Rochester Psalter fragments the divisions are marked by repeating red rubrication, i.e. Psalms 1–41 comprising Book 1 are each marked ‘Ps. dd.’, those of Book 2 (Psalms 42–72) are marked ‘Psalmus david’, Book 3 (Psalms 73–89), Book 4 (Psalms 90–106) and Book 5 (Psalms 107–150).

According to the Rule of St. Benedict, Psalm 1 to Psalm 20 were mainly reserved for office of Prime. Since the time of St. Benedict, the Rule of Benedict has used this psalm for the office Lauds on Monday (Chapter XIII). In the Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 5 is still recited or sung at Lauds on Monday of the first week.

Open complete facsimile here.

Jacob Scott
Heritage Officer