This manuscript contains the ordinances of the Order of the Golden Fleece, a Roman Catholic order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip the Good in 1430. The Order still exists in Spain and Austria. This is a late medieval copy in French of the document that determined the practices and rules of this royal Order.

Contents

Table of contents I: the title on f. 1r reads: Sensuit la table de ce present livre des ordonnances de la thoison dor. Starts on f. 1r and ends on f. 4r.

Table of contents II: the title on f. 4v reads: Sensuit la table et ordonnance des iiii officiers appartenans a la dicte ordre. Starts on f. 4v and ends on f. 5v.

66 ordinances: start on f. 6r with the following words: Phelippe par la grace de dieu due de bourgoingne. And end on f. 27v with the following words: Donne en notre ville de lille, le xxviie jour de novembre Lan de grace mil iiiic trente et ung.

28 ordinances for the four officers: start on f. 28r with the following words: Sensieuent les ordonnances et instructions que tresexcellent, treshault et trespuissant prince monseigneur le due phelippe de bourgoingne. And end on f. 34v with the following words: en toutes choses loyaulment et diligamment a son povoir.

A good characteristic Flemish or northern French hand of the 15th century, with plain dull gold initials on alternate blue and red grounds, and larger and more elaborate gold initials on red or purple grounds.