Hidden in Plain Sight: Looking at changes to the Richard III’s Book of Hours

On 22 August 1485, King Richard III was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth by Henry Tudor, who ascended the throne as Henry VII. Among the spoils seized by Tudor forces was Richard’s personal Book of Hours, Lambeth Palace Library MS 474, which likely came into the possession of Lady Margaret Beaufort, the new King’s mother. In the following decades, the manuscript underwent a series of modifications attesting to its continued devotional use. Notably, Richard III’s name was erased from a prayer in which he had originally been identified twice as Ricardum regem (‘King Richard’).

This erasure has prompted a historiographical debate. Some scholars attribute it to Lady Beaufort, interpreting it as an early Tudor attempt to reframe Richard’s reputation. Others, however, suggest that it may have been carried out by a later owner who adapted the prayer book to new devotional needs. To date, the question has remained unresolved, largely because it depends on establishing the relative chronology of the erased text – an issue that has proven difficult to resolve using traditional methods of manuscript study.

To address this limitation, advanced scientific analyses were conducted as part of the AHRC-funded Hidden in Plain Sight project. This has distinguished between different campaigns of erasure within the manuscript. It thus becomes possible to establish their relative chronology, possibly resolving the long-standing debate. The lecture will explore both the history of the manuscript and the technology employed in its analysis, while highlighting the broader methodological implications of this approach for the study of erasure in late medieval manuscripts.

About the speakers:

Orly Amit recently submitted her PhD at Tel Aviv University, focusing on personal prayer books owned by laypeople in late medieval and early modern England. Her research examines how these books were modified across generations through additions and erasures of inscriptions, images, heraldry, and liturgical elements. It shows how successive owners used them to express piety, preserve family memory, and assert socio-political status. She has published articles and received several competitive fellowships, including the Rotenstreich Fellowship.

Maciej Pawlikowski is the Head of Cultural Heritage Imaging Laboratory at Cambridge University Library. Responsible for providing visual data content to the library readers, digitisation and research projects requiring specialist imaging. He is a member ISO TC/42 JW26 workgroup focusing on standards for archival imaging, photography of transparent materials and multispectral imaging. Co-investigator of The Small Performances AHRC funded project (2024-2027). Over the years, he has developed and designed equipment, protocols, and techniques to accommodate specialised imaging of cultural heritage artefacts taking it beyond standard photography.

Eyal Poleg is a historian of objects and faith. He is Professor of Material History at Queen Mary University of London and the Principal Investigator of the major AHRC research project, Hidden in Plain Sight. His work brings together historians, scientists, curators and conservators in developing new technologies for studying historical books and objects. He has employed a range of technologies, from micro-CT scanning to aDNA analysis, to learn how books and amulets were used, mutilated and worshipped. His previous work has explored the ways objects can inform us on the history of medieval and early modern religion, unfolding the complex place of the Bible in medieval and early modern England.

All are welcome, but those wishing to attend should book a ticket via Eventbrite or email archives@churchofengland.org no later than Thursday 9 July.

This event is also available to watch online. Please book a separate ticket if you wish to join us online instead of in person for this lecture.

Please note that tickets must be booked individually for security purposes.