Beyeren Armorial

The Beyeren Armorial is a manuscript roll of arms of the early 15th century, containing 1096 hand-colored coats of arms, with annotations in Middle Dutch. It is held by in the National Library of the Netherlands in The Hague (KB), shelf mark 79 K 21.



History
The manuscript was compiled at the court of Holland and was completed on 23 June 1405 by Claes Heynenzoon (c.1345−1414). He was Ruwieren King of Arms, the chief herald of the Netherlands around 1400. He is also the creator of the Gelre (Guelders) Armorial, for which he has also been referred to as the "Gelre Herald".

Contents
The manuscripts is divided into 5 series or chapters
 * I (fol. 1r–8v, 18r–28v): 337 coats of arms from participants in a tournament in Compiègne, "February 1238" [mccxxxviii]: the indicated date is likely in error (as many of the coats of arms would be anachronistic), perhaps 1278 [mcclxxviii] is intended (the coat of arms of the king of Sicily is that of Anjou, for Charles I, r. 1266–1285); the Luxembourg lion for "Henry of Luxembourg" would then be in reference to Henry VI (1240–1288), father of emperor Henry VII.
 * II (fol. 28v–35v, 49r–52v): 191 coats of arms from participants in a tournament in Mons; 1310
 * III (fol. 52v–57v, 36r–48v, 9r–13r): 404 coats of arms from participants in a raid against the Frisians in Kuinre; 1396
 * IV (fol. 13r–17v, 58r–60r): 122 coats of arms from participants in the siege of Gorinchem; 1402
 * V (fol. 60r–62v): 14 series of The Three Best, by given name ("the three best Johns", "the three best Williams", etc. )

Fol. 64v has a doodle of heart symbols pierced by arrows with the maxim Wacht u, dool ich ("you wake, I sleep").