Contents:

The manuscript is composed of at least two formerly independent volumes: ff. 1r-116v:
A Psalter and Hours, known as the 'Howard Psalter' (Arundel MS 83 I).ff. 177r-135v:
A calendar and the Speculum theologiae, a collection of diagrams attributed to John of Metz, that originally formed part of a Psalter, known as the 'De Lisle Psalter'
(Arundel MS 83 II).

The Howard Psalter is preceded by a collection of theological diagrams excerpted from several sources and known as the Speculum theologie, probably compiled by Johannes Metensis (John of Metz), a Franciscan preacher and follower of Bonaventura, active in Paris around 1273, and a calendar inserted among the diagrams: f. 2v:

A table of the Ten Commandments. f. 3r:
A table of the Eight Beatitudes. f. 3v:
Wheel of the Seven Petitions of the Lord's Prayer, the Seven Sacraments, the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc. f. 4r: Wheel of the Twenty Opposites. ff. 4v-5r:
The Tower of Wisdom (Turris Sapientae) attributed to John of Metz; 'Speculum theologie secundum a magistro Johanne Mecensi', preceded by an explanatory text, incipit: 'Tria sunt genera fidelium'.f. 5v:
A diagram of a 'cherub' with six wings, commonly associated with De sex alis cherubim; this text has been attributed to Alan of Lille, but the earliest manuscript attributions are to Clement of Llanthony (prior of Llanthony and theologian) (on the attribution see d'Alverny (1980), p. 27; and Carruthers, who also explores the relationship between the diagram and the text, 'Ars oblivionalis, ars inveniendi' (2009), p. 5). Cf. the diagram on f. 130v.ff. 6r-11v:
Calendar with East Anglian saints: Withburga, Ethelreda (twice), Sexburga, and Eligius.ff. 12r-13r:
Pictorial diagrams including:f. 12r:
A table of the Twelve Articles of Faith. f. 12v:
A table of the Seven Acts of Passion. f. 13r:
The Tree of Life, based on Bonaventura, Lignum vitae.ff. 14r-105r:
Liturgical Psalter with noted antiphons, canticles, and ferial litanies.ff. 106r-113v:
Office of the Dead.ff. 113v-116v:
Hours of the Passion, ending imperfectly in Vespers.Decoration:
9 diagrams, in colours and gold (ff. 2r- 5v, 12r-13r). 8 large historiated initials in colours and gold, with full historiated borders and bas-de-page scenes, at the beginning of the Psalter divisions (ff. 14r, 26v, 33v, 40v, 47r, 55v, 63v, 72r). 2 smaller historiated initials in colours and gold, with partial foliate borders in the Psalter (ff. 40r, 64v). 6 small miniatures in colours and gold in the Hours of the Passion (ff. 113v, 115r, 115v, 116r, 116v (x2)). 3 smaller decorated initials with extensions into the margins, in colours and gold (ff. 75v, 80r, 91r). Some smaller decorated initials including human heads, in colours and gold, in the last part of the manuscript (ff. 106r-116v). Smaller initials in gold on red and blue grounds. Small initials in gold with purple foliate pen-flourishing or in blue with red foliate pen-flourishing. The subjects of the miniatures and initials are:In the Psalter:f. 14r: Initial 'B'(eatus) of the Tree of Jesse extending into the margins, with the arms of England, France, Ely and Bury St Edmunds, and a hunting scene in the lower margin (Psalm 1).f. 26v: Initial 'D'(ominus) of David pointing to his eye with God blessing him (Psalm 26).f. 33v: Initial 'D'(ixi) of David pointing to his mouth with God above (Psalm 38).f. 40r: Initial 'Q'(uid) of David killing Goliath (Psalm 51).f. 40v: Initial 'D'(ixid) of a king stabbing himself with a sword and a fool (Psalm 52).f. 47r: Initial 'S'(alvum) of God blessing and Jonah being saved from the whale (Psalm (68).f. 55v: Initial 'E'(xultate) of David playing bells, with other musicians in the margin (Psalm 80).f. 63v: Initial 'C'(antate) of three clerics chanting (Psalm 97).f. 64v: Initial 'D'(omnie) of a cleric kneeling before God (Psalm 101).f. 72r: Initial 'D'(ixit) of the Trinity (Psalm 109).In the Hours of the Passion:f. 113v: The Betrayal and Scourging of Christ (Matins).f. 115r: Christ before Pilate (Prime).f. 115v: The Carrying of the Cross (Terce).f. 116r: The Crucifixion (Sext).f. 116v: The Crucifixion (None); the Deposition from the Cross (Vespers).

Calendar and prefatory cycle of miniatures and diagrams (the 'De Lisle Psalter') The 'De Lisle Psalter' includes:

ff. 117r-122v: Calendar, use of Sarum. ff. 123r-135:
Prefatory material including the Speculum theologie, a collection of theological diagrams excerpted from several sources, probably compiled by Johannes Metensis (John of Metz), a Franciscan preacher and follower of Bonaventura, active in Paris around 1273. This material was originally bound in a different order and likely designed to precede a Psalter which does not survive. Decoration:
13 moral, devotional, and theological diagrams in colours and gold (ff. 123v, 125v, 126r, 126v, 127r, 127v, 128r, 128v, 129r, 129v, 130v, 131r, 135r).
3 full-page miniatures of the Life of Christ, divided in three registers containing each two quadrolobed miniatures in colours and gold (ff. 124r, 124v, 125r);
2 full page miniatures (ff. 131v-132r). 1 half-page miniatures in colours and gold (f. 127r).
5 full-page miniatures (later addition), in colours and gold (ff. 130r, 130v, 133v, 134r, 134v). Large decorated initials with foliate extensions into the margins, in colours and gold.
Small initials in gold with purple pen-flourishing or in blue with red pen-flourishing.The prefatory material includes:f. 123v:
A table of spheres, based on the introduction to John of Peckham, Tractatus de sphera.f. 124r:
The Nativity; the Annunciation to the Shepherds; the Circumcision; the Adoration of the Magi; the Flight into Egypt.f. 124v:
The Massacre of the Innocents; the Wedding at Cana, the Raising of Lazarus; the Entry into Jerusalem; the Last Supper; the Betrayal of Christ.f. 125r: Christ before Pilate; the Mocking of Christ; Christ before Herod; the Blindfolding of Christ; The Flagellation; Christ bearing the Cross.f. 125v: The Tree of Life, based on Bonaventura, Lignum vitae.f. 126r:
The Wheel of the Twelve Stages of Human Life.f. 126v:
The Wheel of the Ten Ages of Man.f. 127r:

A poem in Anglo-Norman French, incipit: 'Compaynouns ueez ceo ke ieo uoy', with a miniature of the Three Living and the Three Dead.f. 127v:

A Table of the Ten Commandments.f. 128r: A Table of the Twelve Articles of Faith.f. 128v:
The Tree of Vices.f. 129r: The Tree of Virtues.f. 129v:
The Wheel of the Seven Petitions of the Lord's Prayer.f. 130r: Christ in Majesty.f. 130v:
A diagram of a 'cherub' with six wings, commonly associated with De sex alis cherubim; this text has been attributed to Alan of Lille, but the earliest manuscript attributions are to Clement of Llanthony (prior of Llanthony and theologian) (on the attribution see d'Alverny, 'Alain de Lille' (1980), p. 27; and Carruthers, who also explores the relationship between the diagram and the text, 'Ars oblivionalis, ars inveniendi' (2009), p. 5). Cf. the diagram on f. 5v.f. 131r:
A table of the Seven Acts of the Passion (unfinished).f. 131v: The Virgin and Child.f. 132r:
The Crucifixion.f. 132v:
The Descent into Hell; the Deposition from the Cross; the Entombment of Christ; Pilate and the Soldiers.f. 133r: The Resurrection; the Holy Women at the Tomb; the Noli me Tangere; the Supper at Emmaus.f. 133v: The Ascension.f. 134r: Pentecost.f. 134v: The Coronation of the Virgin.f. 135r: The Tower of Wisdom (or Turris Sapientiae) attributed to John of Metz.The illuminations have been attributed to the Madonna Master, named after the facing miniatures of the Virgin and the Crucifixion (ff. 131v-132r, see Sandler, Gothic Manuscripts 1986), except the miniature on f. 123v and three diagrams (ff. 128v, 129r, 135r).
A further five full-page miniatures were added to the prefatory program, probably shortly before Robert de Lisle gave the manuscript away in 1339 (ff. 130r, 130v, 133v, 134r, 134v).
These miniatures have been attributed to the Majesty Master, named after the miniature on f. 130r.

One of the major examples of 14th-century English illumination, the Psalter of Robert de Lisle is among the outstanding treasures in the British Library. The new paperback edition includes the complete illustration cycle reproduced in colour, each miniature being accompanied by the same detailed introductory text as in the original edition. The illustrations are preceded by a compre- hensive introduction treating the style and iconography of the miniatures in the context of contemporary English painting, analysing the pictorial and textual components of the unusual and elaborate moral and theological diagrams, and offering conclusions about patronage, date and provenance. An appendix provides a handlist of more than thirty manuscripts containing the same group of diagrams, known as the Speculum theologie, with a group of additional copies research since the first edition. This edition also has a new preface and postscript which evaluate recent research bearing on the manuscript, as well as an updated bibliography. 'The Psalter is one of the masterpieces of English Gothic Illumination from the first half of the fourteenth century ... Sandler's book is a welcome contribution to the Literature.'

Robert de Lisle, Pious Baron

Robert de Lisle (1288-1344) was elevated to baronial status by Edward II (1284-1327), King of England. The illuminations for his psalter reflect his interest in reflection on matters of the spirit. His stated wish was that the psalter would pass to two of his daughters and, upon their deaths, to the Gilbertine priory of Chicksands (fol. 122v, dated 1339). Possession, however, is untraced until 1590 when William Howard (1563-1640) inscribed his name on fol. 117r. He probably had it bound with a similar work, the Howard Psalter (MS Arundel 83, fols. 1-116).

William bequeathed the combined manuscript to his nephew Thomas Howard (1585-1646), Earl of Arundel. Henry Howard (1628-1684), Duke of Norfolk, presented it to the Royal Society in 1667. The British Museum purchased hundreds of Arundel manuscripts, including the De Lisle Psalter, from the society in 1831. The manuscript holdings of the British Museum were transferred to the British Library in 1973. The present binding dates from 1963.