Printed in 1569 - found in 2020/21

This is the most important item found during the renovation at Oxburgh Hall. Despite the damage done to the first few pages it is clearly readable and is one of only three copies known to be  in existence of a book of personal devotions entitled ‘The Kings Psalms’. This one, however is different from the other two. They include, as the last two prayers, prayers for the King and the Army whereas this one has two psalms for relief from the Plague. As there was a severe outbreak of the plague in 1569 this dates this edition precisely.
Although it looks severely damaged in this photo, the real beauty is seen reflected in the mirror which shows the actual leather embossed and gilded cover, virtually undamaged (See extra).
The other extras are of the information cards in the display.
The one titled ‘Rats to the rescue’ shows the importance of the ‘debris sifting’ with which I was involved as described before. This minute piece of paper was discovered some time before the book was found and had been identified as a piece of that devotional work.
The third extra explains  the importance of this find and also shows one of the plague psalms.
Photographs taken at Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk - a National Trust property