Prayerbook, in German [Rhineland (perhaps Cologne), late 15th or early 16th century]

148x95mm, paper, i+242, apparently complete, 19-20 lines, 114x66mm, small red initials; in a later hand, 'Duisburg' on f.242v; very slightly darkened toward the edges, overall in excellent condition; 16-century blind-tooled brown leather binding, metal clasp, red edges  

This prayer book is written in Ripuarian (note for instance, 'vp', 'over', 'dat'), a German dialect group spoken in the Rhineland. It includes a very large number of different prayers, including a long rosary, and ends with instructions about how to make a crib for the Christ Child.

Opening with a rubric 'Den oister avendt salstu godt din gebedt up offeren und sprechen dit gebedt vur der vesperen' and the prayer 'Oh liver herz jhu xpe ich offeren dir mein clein und unverdiges Gebedt …' (f.1r); prayers said during the night (f.1v); three prayers for redemption and three Salve regina, opening 'O du koninck der ewiger und gotlicher glorien …' and 'O du aller werdichste yunsser Maria …' (f.7r); prayers to be said when taking the Holy Sacrament (ff.13r); prayers concerning the Resurrection of Christ, starting with the appearance of St Magdalene (f.15v), and prayer with rubric 'Op den hilgen paischdaig en Gebedt', opening 'O du edell mechtiger verwinner …' (f.26r); five prayers to be said for redemption, followed by seven Salve regina (f.27v); prayer to be said for Easter Sunday (f.29v); other prayers for Easter (f.38r); prayers for redemption and 'Up kirmis dach', to be said in May 'Mach dem herren einen geistlichen mey. Up tiburcij und valeriani daig …' up to Ascension (f.51r); prayers for the heavenly civil rights (f.67r); prayers, 'ein veni creator und vii sancte spiritus' (f.69r), prayers for the Holy Sacrament (f.79r), the Mother of God (f.81r), and the rosary (f.84r); many other prayers (f.129r); prayers for Christ on the Mount of Olives (f.170v); prayers for the sorrows of Our Lady, and other prayers (f.195r); and finally how to make a crib for the Christ Child '… wie man dem kintgen Jhu ein wiegelin machen sall' (f.228r); added prayers (f.240r).