Leaf on vellum from a manuscript Breviary.

A vellum leaf of over 750 years old!
The calf whose skin was used for this piece of parchment grazed the gently rolling hills of Flanders at the time of the last Crusades!! The vellum is quite firm: the booklet, a breviary (A liturgical book used to celebrate the Divine Office. All members of monastic orders and the clergy are committed to the daily recitation of the breviary. It was popularized by the Dominicans and the Franciscans in the 13th century.) was meant to be carried about, every day, by traveling monks.
The most striking feature of this leaf is the initial D on the recto and the E on the verso, both full length in the upper margin in gold, mauve, and blue!!
The text is from the Book of Psalms that we find in all breviaries. Here is a transcription and translation of both sides [ psalm 53 and 54 or 54 and 55 in most bibles.] Deus in nomine tuo salvum me fac et in virtute tua iudica me Deus exaudi orationem meam auribus percipe verba oris me
Save me, O God, by thy name, and judge me in thy strength. O God, hear my prayer: give ear to the words of my mouth.

Reference: brev56