| The history of this manuscript of a Cistercian Breviary is given on its first page: it came from Bebenhausen where it was possibly written and was given on 28 September 1538 to the Swiss Cistercian abbey of St Urban. One of the 27 miniatures features the dream of Bernard's mother, Aleth, within the initial A(d sancti ac beatissimi patris nostri cuius hodie festa celebramus laudes...), words ascribed to St Ambrose and which were used in the Bernard Office until 1656. Aleth is shown lying in a bed with a barking dog standing on top of her, the one she dreamt she would give birth to, namely Bernard, illustrating William of St Thierry's story in the Vita Prima. The theme forms part of a number of Bernard cycles, but is rare in illuminated manuscripts.
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