The Order of the Holy Spirit (Ordre du Saint-Esprit) was the most senior French order of knighthood. It was established by the French king Henry III in 1578. The Order was intended to be granted to the most powerful princes and nobles in the realm, with the older Order of Saint Michel reserved for other honourees. The Order was dedicated to the Holy Spirit due to the fact that Henry had been elected King of Poland at Pentecost 1573 and inherited the French throne at Pentecost the following year. The Order was abolished during the French Revolution but revived by Louis XVIII on the restoration of the monarchy. It was finally abolished in 1830 following the July Revolution.

This book contains the statutes of the Order as they were in 1703 during the reign of Louis XIV. It was one of the books selected by the Royal Librarian, Richard Rivington Holmes, in 1893 as a fine example of bookbinding in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.

Binding information

Full leather bound in red morocco, with the French Royal Arms in the centre, and the badge of the Order of St Esprit in the corners, within palmette roll tool frame. Spine divided into six compartments, with fleurs-de-lis and flame tools, and title STATUT DE L'ORDRE DU ST. ESPRIT to second compartment. All edges gilt, edges of outside of boards tooled with triangular roll tool.