Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts

Book of Hours
England, probably Oxford, ca. 1325-1330
MS M.700 fol. 79r

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Constantine the Great: Scene, confronting Pagans -- Three horsemen, two hooded, and one raising sword, all attend Constantine, crowned, mounted on horse, holding cross-staff with heraldic standard of Holy Roman Empire (or, a double-headed eagle displayed sable), and raising right hand. All confront four horsemen (pagans), two hooded, and one holding broken lance with heraldic standard decorated with dragon (possibly representing Triumph over Idolatry).
Scene against gold diapered background within initial D with ornament of foliage; spandrels decorated with diapered ornament.
Margins decorated with rectilinear foliate extensions and sprigs of foliage.
In upper margin, two fantastic animals.
In right margin, hybrid man and heraldic escutcheon of du Bois, variant (argent, two bars and a canton gules, within a bordure engrailed [or omitted]).
In lower margin, two confronting hybrid women, one striking drum with club and the other blowing trumpet with standard, and heraldic escutcheon of Tuchet (ermine, a chevron gules).
In left margin, heraldic escutcheon of du Bois (argent, two bars and a canton gules).