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THe number of Knights that were at the first ad∣mitted into this Order was 31. who ought bee of noble bloud, men of good merite, and with∣out reproach.
The chiefe or head of this companie, is he vnto whom the succession of the Dukedome of Burgondy doth lawfullie discend.
Whosoeuer entereth into this Order, shall re∣nounce all other Orders of Knighthood of euerie Prince, Companie or Religion. Yet out of that lawe are excepted all Emperours, Kings and Dukes, vnto whom is dispensed, that they may weare the Badge of this Order, if they bee chiefe and Soueraines of their owne Order. But to the end the truth may ap∣peare, a generall Counsell of Knights shall bee called to consent vnto that dispensation.
The Soueraine of this Order, hath authoritie himselfe alone to giue and bestowe the Ensigne of the Order: which is a Coller of gold, wherein are the Armes of Burgondie, hauing the Toson of gold hanging thereat. This Coller, the Soueraine and e∣uerie of the Knights is bound to weare daylie, and failing thereof shall incurre a penaltie. But in time of warre or great affaires, to weare the Toson onlie shall suffice. Or if by mishap the Cheine doo breake, it is lawfull for mending thereof it may be carried to the Goldsmith. Or if any Knight trauailing by the way shall doubt to be robbed, he may without offence lay by or hide his Cheine. Yet is it not lawfull to en∣crease the quantitie of the said Cheine, nor adde thereunto any other stones or workmanship, and most of all it is vnlawfull to sell it, engage it, or ex∣change it.
These and many other Statutes and ordinances the Knights of this noble Order are sworne to ob∣serue and keepe. And many of them haue been sith the first institution enlarged, altered, or taken away by the Soueraines of the said Order.
The day of assemblie for these Knights, was at the
first institution appoynted on the feast of S. Andrew, but sithence altered vnto the second of May, and that but once in three yeares, vnlesse it shall please the So∣ueraine otherwise to command.
To this Order doo belong foure principall Offi∣cers. That is, a Chauncelor, a Threasurer, a Register, a King of Armes named Toson d'oro.
The first inuenter of the Impresa belonging to the Order of the Toson, was Charles Duke of Burgondie, whose great valour brought the French King Lewis the xj. into much trouble and warre, as Monsier de Argenton writeth.
His Impresa or deuise was an Instrument made to strike fire, with these words: Ante ferit, quam flam∣ma micet. Meaning, he had power to kindle great warre, as indeed he had. But his warres had vnhap∣pie euent. For hauing in hand a warre against Lorayn and the Swisses, after the defeate of Morat and Grau∣son, he was vtterlie ouerthrowne and slaine before Nansi, the euen of the Epiphany. Wherevpon Renato Duke of Lorayn being victorious, and seeing a Stan∣derd of Duke Charles, with the Impresa of the Instru∣ment of fire, said. That vnhappie Prince when hee had most neede to warme him, wanted leisure to strike fire. Which speach was verie pithie; and the more, for that the earth was then couered with Snowe, and by reason of the conflict full of bloud. At that time was the greatest frost and cold that any liuing man could remember.
The Toson which these Knights doo weare hang∣ing at their collers of the Order, is the forme of a gol∣den Fleece, expounded to bee like vnto the Fleece of
gold which Iason wonne at Colchos. Others suppose it to bee the Fleece of Gedeon, whereof is made men∣tion in holie Scripture: which signifieth, Fidelitie or Iustice vncorrupted.
The number of these Knights was much encrea∣sed by the Emperour Charles the fift: who hauing in hand the Dukedome of Burgondie, elected into that Order persons of greater qualitie than were at the first, and would haue that the election should bee by consent. And after him King Phillip did the like.
Here is to bee noted, that albeit Duke Charles did inuent the Impresa: yet the Creation was begun af∣ter by Duke Phillip, sirnamed Le bon: at such time as he called a generall assemblie of the States at the Hage in Holland. Anno. 1456.