Magna Carta
A medieval death
Illustrated Tiger and a Knight
Medieval illuminator
Medieval English Song
Matthew Paris's Map of Britain
Decorated initial with musicians
French Hebrew Manuscript
Expulsion of Jews
Cistercian nuns
This is a page from a medieval bestiary, a type of book that gathers together descriptions of different animals, from ordinary creatures such as goats and bees to fantastical beasts including griffins, mermaids and unicorns.
This illustration shows a knight stealing a tiger cub from its mother. The text above tells the reader that a tiger can run faster than a knight on a horse. The knight overcomes this problem by throwing a mirror to the tiger, who stops and looks at the reflection, thinking she is looking at her own cub.
Shelfmark: Harley 4751, f. 3v.