Philip the Good, of Burgundy, who died in 1467, was scarcely worthy of his title of virtue. He was, however, in spite of his adroitness in deception, an encourager of industry and commerce, and a protector of the arts. He invited the brothers, John and Hubert Van Eyck, to Bruges, and he patronised men of science and scholars. "Lord of so many opulent cities and fruitful provinces, he felt himself equal to the kings of Europe." Upon his marriage with Isabella of Portugal, he founded at Bruges the celebrated order of the "Golden Fleece." This Order played a great part in Flemish history. The symbol of the Golden Fleece was both religious and industrial, and the Lamb of God, hung upon the breast of the twenty-five knights, represented not only devotion, but also the woollen trade of the country. Motley gives the number of the knights as twenty-five, but another authority states that it numbered thirty-one, and that the members of the Order wore a distinguishing cloak, lined with ermine, and the cipher of the Duke of Burgundy in the form of a B, with flints striking fire. The motto was: _Aute ferit, quam flamma micat._ The memorials of the days of splendour are many in this city of the past. The cathedral is not of the finest Gothic work externally, but it is rich in monuments, and lavishly decorated within. Its earlier portions date from the twelfth century, the fine nave is of a later period. The pictures are not of much importance. Notre Dame has a lofty spire, and many interesting details will be found in its architecture of the early and the later Gothic periods. One of the chapels contains the tombs of Charles, Duke of Burgundy, and his daughter, Mary. The images are in copper, and recumbent on marble. Memories of Charles the Bold crowd into the mind as we stand before his effigy. His vast ambition led him into rash adventures, and his career, if brilliant, was also tragic in its failures. Charles would have made Burgundy a kingdom, but he lacked the essentials of a conqueror, in spite of his courage. His rapacity was a drain on the resources of the Netherlands; his love of power made him an oppressor, and caused discontent and rebellion. Through his want of the true kingly qualities he brought disaster upon the country, and destroyed the peace of the small republics. In his forty-fourth year, in 1477, he died, leaving his people impoverished, and the industries decaying. His realm was given into the charge of his daughter, Mary, who married the Emperor Maximilian. The monument of Mary of Burgundy is an example of the work of De Beckere, an eminent sculptor. A painting by Porbus of "The Crucifixion and Last Supper" is in this church. The carved pulpit is a good specimen of this Flemish craft.