Open Access#11605
Illuminated Patent of Nobility, Spain
Illuminated patent of nobility issued to Diego Belarde de Aguilar on his own account and on behalf of his brother Juan, reciting the patent granted by Charles V and the services of their father Captain Rodrigo Belarde de Aguilar. The patent includes a finely-illuminated miniature of the Virgin within a red and blue decorative border (leaf 1r) and a full-page illuminated coat of arms (leaf 7v). There are also illuminated hands and gilt borders throughout, as well as notarial seals and later dockets (leaves 24-26, dated 1607).