Hours of the day were named for the hours of prayer: matins around midnight; lauds around three A.M.; prime, the first hour of daylight, at sunrise or about six A.M.; vespers at six in the evening; and compline at bedtime.
The hours of the day were traditionally linked to specific times of prayer in medieval Christian practice. These hours included matins, which took place around midnight, and lauds, observed at approximately three A.M. The morning prayers continued with prime, marking the first light of day at around six A.M.
As the day progressed, vespers were held in the evening at six, and compline was designated for bedtime, closing the day's prayers. This structure reflects the importance of prayer in daily life during the 14th century, as discussed in Barbara W. Tuchman's "A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century."
