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Updated: June 25, 2025
A book from Grolier's library, the "Toison d'Or," 1563, brought £405, or over $2,000, and a Heptameron, which had belonged to Louis XIV, in beautiful brown morocco, with crown, fleur-de-lys, a stag, a cock, and stars, as ornaments, all exquisitely worked in gold, lined with vellum, was sold for £400.
"Listen well to this man's words, my Lord Constable," he whispered, and then turning to the gleaming figure of the herald, he demanded: "Your message, sir?" Toison d'Or advanced a few feet nearer to the monarch and spoke in a ringing voice.
"Sire," he said, "the Burgundian herald, Toison d'Or, attends under a flag of truce with a message for your majesty." Louis turned to his barber. "We will receive him here, Olivier, in this green audience chamber. We need the free air when we hold speech with Burgundy." As Olivier left the royal presence a little thing happened which meant much to four people.
I make you Grandee of Spain of the first class; you, and, at the same time, whichever of your sons you may wish to have the same distinction; and your eldest son I will make chevalier of the Toison d'Or."
He died about 1508. He had one son, Jean, who executed a triptych in the Hôtel de Ville of Malines in 1535, and illuminated a manuscript register on vellum relating to the "Toison d'Or." This book was presented to Charles-Quint, and so pleased him that he ordered a duplicate which cost the artist three years of hard work to complete. He died in July, 1557, highly honored.
Even as he spoke the air was stirred with a cheerful flourish of trumpets and the quiet garden was invaded by Tristan l'Hermite and a company of soldiers, escorting a tall and stately gentleman, whose gorgeous tabard proclaimed him to be Toison d'Or, the herald of the Duke of Burgundy.
"Silence, Le Glorieux," said the Duke; "and you, Toison d'Or, who are too learned to be intelligible, stand back and bring that rascal forward, some of you. Hark ye, villain," he said in his harshest tone, "do you know the difference between argent and or, except in the shape of coined money?" "For pity's sake, your Grace, be good unto me! Noble King Louis, speak for me!"
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