Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Livre de la chasse
France, Paris, ca. 1406-1407
MS M.1044 fol. 1v

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Heraldry of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain held by two angels (one and four, counter quartered of Castile and L³bon, two and three pale Aragon and Sicily; crest: open coronet or; support: eagle of Evangelist John, displayed sable, nimbed, beaked and membered or). The two angels each also hold scroll inscribed with Psalm 139:17 (Vulg. 138:17): left, CONFORTATUS EST PRINCIPATUS EORUM CONFORTATUS and right, NIMIS HONORATI SUNT DEUS. At feet of the two angels is scroll inscribed LUX IN TENEBRIS LUCET ET TENEBRE EAM NON COMPRE[HENDERUNT] (John 1:5).
Margins decorated with two inhabited floreate borders:
1) Inner border of pomegranate branches inhabited by birds, including owls; two nude youths playing horns, another covering himself with hand and a fourth covering himself with round shield; symbols of Ferdinand and Isabella, bundles of arrows and yokes, respectively.
2) Outer border with floreate ornament including dianthus and daisy, inhabited by: hybrid men with bird bodies, one tonsured; animals; fox with rooster in mouth (Fable: Fox and Cock); ibex; owl; birds; two rabbits, one suckling young; crane confronting hybrid man with bird body; two bears, wrestling or dancing next to two casks (?); two confronted pigeons; sow with three piglets; and lynx.