"Fondatie van den Godtshuuse ten Paradijse alsnu ghemaempt M'er Willem Wenemaere hospitael staende op S.te Pharahilden plaetse tot Ghendt".

Folio: [28] ff., brown ink on laid paper (light marg. soiling, full-page drawing stained, occ. sm. stains, paper reinforcements at the bottom of the 1st quires, mod. pencil pagin.).

Contemp. vellum, gilt-ruled boards (ties missing, some stains). Good condition.

Exceptional cartulary ill. with a beautiful title adorned with the founders' coat of arms, framed by a wreath of laurels, all watercoloured, followed by a full-page drawing in colour representing the tombstone of the founders. Copies of the charts are followed by 12 genealogical tables. All the records are signed by Jan D'Hollander (born in Ghent end 16th c.), protonotary apostolic and canon of Sainte-Waudru in Mons, who dedicates his work to his relatives. Enriched with 3 contemp. ms. doc. (2 losse, 1 pinned). Willem Wenemaer, alderman of Ghent in 1312 and 1315, bought the house "Het Paradijs" on the Veerleplein and converted it into a "godshuis" (poorhouse). He died in a battle at the Rekelinge bridge in Deinze on 21 July 1325. He was buried in the chapel of the so-called "Wenemaersgodhuis". His widow Margaretha Sbrunen took over the administration of the institution. She entered the convent in 1330 and a little later donated all her possessions to the "godshuis". She died on 7 September 1352 and was buried next to her husband in the chapel. The institution continued its activities until its closure in 1866. The building was demolished when the Vismarkt was extended in the 1870s.
Ref. https://www.gent-geprent.com/bijzondere-gebouwen/gebouwen-w-1/wenemaersgodshuis.
Prov. Dr De Waele (typed letter with aut. s. from the Conservator of "Archief Historische Museums en Monumenten der Stad Gent", 18-03-[19]52, about our cartulary, that he compared with the copy preserved in the archives of the City of Ghent).