This book was probably bound for use in the Royal Chapel during the reign of Queen Anne, as her monogram and the title: 'CHAPEL ROYAL WINDSOR' are gold-tooled on the binding. By the mid-eighteenth century, however, the book had passed into the ownership of a Jonas Clarke. In the flyleaves of the book, Jonas recorded several important life events, such as the death of his wife Sarah on 23rd August 1741, along with a short poem: "Patience and Virtue adorn'd with Grace / And I hope she is gone unto a happy Place / A tender Mother and a loving wife / And now is living with the Lord of Life". He also noted his second marriage to an Elizabeth Clarke on 4th November 1750 and the birth of two sons, Thomas and Jonas.

Binding information

Contemporary red goatskin binding, with gold-tooling on both sides and blind-tooling on the spine.

On both sides, an outer double fillet border; inner ‘panel’, formed of an outer single fillet and inner triple fillet, with circular tools on each of the inner corners; in the outer corners of the panel, the crowned monogram of Queen Anne (ARRA), flanked by palm fronds; on each of the outer sides of the panel, a triangular tool of swirling vines. On the right side, in the centre of the panel, the title: ‘CHAPL. ROYAL / WINDSOR’.

Inside and sides of both boards gold-tooled with flower-head roll.

Spine divided into six compartments by raised bands. Each compartment blind-tooled with a triple fillet border and a central flower-head, surrounded by four circular tools.

Contemporary marble endpapers.

All edges gilt.

Identical binding (with the exception of the spine) to RCIN 1053838 (Add B 53.3).