Warrant and Inventory of Jewels
and other stuffs requisitioned for
Queen Jane
on 14 July 1553
 
 
 
 
    Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen of England on Monday, 10 July 1553, and took up residence in the Tower of London that evening, as was customary for all new English monarchs. Four days later, on Friday, 14 July 1553, this inventory of jewels and fine fabrics requisitioned by Queen Jane out of the stores of the Royal Treasury and the Royal Wardrobe was prepared, together with a second royal warrant, all under the signature ‘Jane the Quene,’ authorizing the transfer of the various items from the Palace of Westminster to the Tower.

    The inventory and warrant are both in a secretarial hand, perhaps that of Sir Richard Rich, who in June 1553 was recalled to the Privy Council to support Edward VI’s alteration of the succession. What appear to be his initials mark several places on the two documents as well as the upper lefthand corner of each first page. The handwriting is also similar to that of Sir William Cecil, then secretary to the Council. A contemporary but different hand, perhaps that of Andrew Dudley or Sturton, has added numbers down the left column, probably as an aid to auditing the inventory.

    There are approximately 600 individual pieces of jewelery and lengths of fabric listed in the inventory, divided into 139 lots or ‘items.’ Most of the items were no doubt intended to outfit the young queen with accessories suitable to her new regal status. These include carcanets (necklaces), habillaments (jeweled edging for headgear), girdles (belts with long hanging ends), tablets (small jeweled pictures similar to brooches), ‘pairs’ of beads (long strings of large beads worn around the waist and hanging down the front), as well as rings, brooches, and other pieces.

    None of the items listed were ever Jane’s personal property. Nor did she bring any of them with her to the Tower on 10 July. As queen, she had unlimited access to the contents of the jewels in the Royal Treasury and fabrics in the Royal Wardrobe, however.

    Several of the items listed in the inventory are of particular interest. One is a gold toothpick in the shape of a fish (line 7). Another is a small clock in the shape of a book (line 130). There are also several brooches and ‘tablets’ containing the images of various saints, including St. James, St. Katherine, St. George, and St. David, all of which might seem at odds with Jane’s apparent religious inclinations, given the usual Protestant rejection of the efficacy of saints and the use of their images.

    The inventory is reproduced here with the original spelling. It is also in the same format and lineation as the original manuscript. And though it is not possible to reproduce the exact appearance of the handwriting itself, some effort has been made to choose a font that approximates the original. It will be necessary for your computer to be loaded with ‘Vivaldi’ font in order to view the warrant properly; otherwise, it will default to Times New Roman.
 
 
 
 
  The Inventory[1]:
 
 
 
Jane <the Quene>
A note of certaine Jewelles and
Other thing[es] delyvered vnto the Quenes
Hyghnes by    [blank]   Sturton Esquier
The xiiij ^th^ day of July 1553 in the
Fyrst yere of her highnes reygne
  
       
    1.  First one tablet vi squarre with ij faces and vj perles
  2.  Item one broche with a woman comyng out of a cloude with ij.
  3.  Chyldren. Item one other broche of golde with a story in it having
      xix tables rubies and ij tables dyamandes and viij rede rubies about
  4.  it. Item two pec[es] rubies and iij pec[es] with dyamand[es] and iij
      other pecies with ij perles in a pece all serving for byllymantes.
     Item one other pece with a dyamant for a girdle. Item one other broche
  5. Of the storie of a Sacrifice having on it ij red rubies and v.
  6.  lytle dyamandes and a faire Emerall. Item a fyshe of golde being
  7.  a toothe pyk. Item a litle pendau[n]t having one great perle and
  8.  vj lytle perles at it. Item one tablet of the picture of a woman
      graven in a stone like a Jacent w[i]th a faire pearle pendau[n]t.
  9. Item one tablet of Agathe garnishing with golde w[i]th a Ball in
      it w[i]th a ruby and a dyamand garnished w[i]th small stones
 10. having a perle pendaunt. Item another broche of Agathe w[i]th St
 11. James heade garnished with golde. Item one Dewbery of golde.
 12. Item a faire tablet w[i]th Cupides face graven in stone w[i]th a triangle
 13. Diamonde set in it. Item a tablet boke fashion w[i]th story of
      St David on the one side and on thother side iiij blewe saphieres.
 14. Item a Colet w[i]th v perles and a counterset stone. Item a
 15.  flowre w[i]th white Saphier and iij perles pendaunt. Item a

one aglet to spare

ij paire to spare
one aglet to spare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iij perles & one pipe
to spare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ij turkesis to spare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

one button to spare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

one but a garnet  


 16. broche of golde w[i]th a woman mother of perle and a saile over
 17. her head. Item a newte of silver white. Item a tablet
 18. w[i]th a white Saphiere and a blewe and ballesse and a perle
 19. pendaunt. Item a tablet of Christall and Jacind with a
 20. picture w[i]th in them. Item a tablet of Agathe w[i]th Saint
 21. Katerin within it. Item a flowre w[i]th a blewe Saphiere
 22. square and a amatist square. Item the l[et]tre L w[i]th a
 23. great bales and iij perles pendaunt. Item a flowre of golde
      of iiij crosses and a flowre de luse of Diamand[es] and a perle
      a pendaunt. Item a pece of golde w[i]th a rede rubie in it for
 24. a girdle. Item a broche with an Agathe engraven w[i]th a story
 25. enamelled black and white. Item a tablet of golde
 26. enamelled black w[i]th a clock on it. Item a booke garnished
 27. w[i]th golde and covered w[i]th black velvet. Item a broche
 28. of golde w[i]th a face in Agathe. Item two Clasbes
 29. one w[i]th a flowre de luce of Dyamandes and thother <of>
 30  w[i]th a blewe Saphiere. Item a tablet of golde iiij
 31. Square enamelled blacke. Item one other paire of
      clasbes one w[i]th an Agathe and thother enamelled black
 32. Item a broche of golde enamelled black w[i]th a face of
 33. Agathe. Item a nother broche w[i]th a woman holding
 34. a flowre de luce of Diamandes in her hande. Item a flowre of
 35. golde w[i]th a great ballesse and ^x^ <ij> perles. Item a broche of
 36. with a story in blewe w[i]thin a Chrystall. Item a
      broche of golde with the picture of our Lady of another
 37. broken. Item a broche of a George of mother of perle.
 38. Item a Crosse of ten dyamandes and iij perles pendaunt.
 39. Item two clasbes one like a Scalope shell thother w[i]th a
 40. flowre of rubies. Item a broche of an Agathe w[i]th a
 41. horse in it. Item a tablet of golde hanged by a chaine
      with a Saint James heade and viiij Slot[es] pearles.
 42. Item a litle George of golde the grounde enamelled
 43. blewe. Item a hole George of golde set with diamand
 44. w[i]th a rubie in the Dragon Item a flowre w[i]th iij
 45. rede rubies and v pearles. Item a Sipher w[i]th a
      flowre de luce and a crowne set w[i]th diamand[es] and iij
 46. perles pendaunt. Item a tablet of golde on thone
      side the Salutac[i]on of our Lady and thother side
 47. the Resurrecc[i]on. Item a Crosse of golde of the
 48. picture of Crist enamelled white and rede. Item
      a broche of golde w[i]th a picture of a man of blewe.
 49. Stone. Item a tablet of golde with an Antyk heade
 50. of Agathe and a pearle hanging at it. Item a small
      tablet of a Cornelian w[i]th a picture enamelled white
 51. Item a tablet of a picture of our Lady of pitt in a
 52. blewe stone. Item an Egle enamelled whit garnished
      with vj counterset pearles and a counterset saphier
 53. Item a booke garnished w[i]th Acornes of Golde. Item
 54. one girdle cont[aining] xxxviij ^te^ pecies w[i]th a pendaunt having
      at it sondry small chaynes. the girdle enamelled
 55. blacke. Item another girdle cont[aining] xxxl pec[es] of goldsmithe
      worke enamelled red with a pendaunt without tassell.
 56. Item another girdle cont[aining] xxij pecies of goldsmythes
      worke enamelled white and blacke with a rounde knobbe
 57. or pendaunt at it. Item a nother girdle cont[aining] lij
      pecies of goldesmithes worke enamelled black and white
 58. Item a flagon chayne of golde cont[aining] Dlvj ^te^ lynk[es] /iij q[ua]rte
      of a yarde in lenghth. Item a paire of bead[es] of white
 59. purstayin with viij gawdes of golde and xxxviij
      beades of white with a tassell of golde and silke.
 60. Item one paire of beades of Lapis Lazarus cont[aining] xlvj
      stones. Viij gawdes and small pecies of golde betwene
 61. the stones. And a tassell of golde. Item another
      paire of beades of the same perele fashion cont[aining]
      xlij stones viij gawdes of goldes and betwene every of
 62. them a litle beade of golde. Item a paire of bead[es]
      of rede currall cont[aining] xlviij stones viij gawdes set
      w[i]th small garnet[es] and betwene every stone a litle
 63. pece of golde. Item a paire of bead[es] of Jacnick[es] cont[aining]
      xxxvj^te^ stones viij gawdes and betwen ev[er]y stone a
      lytle pece of golde having a knope with a tasell.
 64. paire of beades of Jeate cont[aining] vij gawdes
      and a knoppe enamelled black w[i]th smale chaynes
 65. and litle pecies of golde between ev[er]y stone. Item
      a paire of beades of currall acorne fashion cont[aining] xlviij
      stones and viij gawdes enamelled black w[i]th small
      bead stones betwen them having a tassell silke and
 66. golde. Item a paire of beades of golde cont[aining]xlvj
      pec[es] of goldesmythes worke enamelled white and
      blacke w[i]th vj gawdes like estroche fethers w[i]th
      litle pec[es] betwene ^to the nombr[e] of L^ and a tassell of golde and silver
 67. Item a paire of beades of Jacnick[es] cont[aining] lxj stones w[i]th
      viij gawdes of golde and betwen ev[er]y stone a litle
 68. beade of golde & a tassell of golde. Item a paire
      w[i]th viij gawdes of golde w[i]th perles & a tassell of
 69. venice golde. Item a paire of beades of golde cont[aining]
      lxvj beades and viij gawdes and a tassell of venice
 70. golde. Item a paire of bead[es] cont[aining] lxiiij stones of
      Ebony w[i]th lxiij pec[es] of golde betwen the stones w[i]th
 71. A tassell of black silke. Item a girdle of
      Golde like fryer[es] knot[es] cont[aining] xliij pec[es] w[i]th a
      knoppe of <wo> golde w[i]th small chaines & bell[es]
 72. at it. Item a paire of beades of blewe stones
      garnished w[i]th golde flagon[n] fashion cont[aining] xlviij
      stones w[i]th vj gawdes of golde enamelled black
      w[i]th a knoppe of Chaynes of golde and
 73. silver. Item a paire of bead[es] like turkesis
      cont[aining] lx blewe stones. Item a paire of bead[es] cont[aining]
 74. Lviij bead[es] of golde crymery worke w[i]th vj gawdes
 75. of the same worke & a small tassell. It[e]m a paire
      of beades of golde cont[aining] Dij small beades of crymery
 76. worke. Item a chaine of golde cont[aining] Diiij m[an]y lynck[es]
      wrothed & playne. It[e]m iij smale Chaynes of
      golde every of them being half a yarde long
 77. laking almoste one maile. It[e]m lxviij faire
  one aglet to spare       pair of Aglet[es] of golde & one od aglet enamelled
  ij paire to spare  78. white & blacke. It[e]m xviij paire of Aglet[es] of gold
  one aglet to spare  79. enamelled russett. It[e]m xix paire of aglet[es] of 
        golde w[i]th crosses enamelled blacke & white & one
 80. od aglet. It[e]m xiiij paire of small aglett[es] of
 80. golde enamelled blacke. Item xxxvij paire
      of Aglett[es] of golde of sondry sorte gret & smale
 81. & one broken pece of an aglett. Item xxviij aglet[es]
 82. of golde acorne fashion enamelled blacke. It[e]m xij
 83. bead stones of golde vppon a white threade. Item
      xxiiij od pec[es] of goldesmithes worke of soundry sort[es]
 84. for billyment[es] enamelled blacke. It[e]m xj pec[es] of
      goldesmithes worke for a girdle enamelled blacke
      w[i]th a pendaunt like a piller belonging to the same
 85. It[e]m xvj pec[es] of goldesmithes worke for billement[es]
 86. enamelled white & blewe It[e]m xv buttons of golde of
      Crymery worke enamelled black & white of
 87. soundrey sorteie. It[e]m ij pursses hangeres of silver
 88. and gilt. It[e]m v small bottons set w[i]th table
 89. rubies. It[e]m two pec[es] for a billyment of goldsmithes
      worke w[i]th flowre perles in a pece & a rose in the
 90. mid[s]t. It[e]m v small Agathes w[i]th fac[es] graven in
 91. them. It[e]m a Car^ca^nett w[i]th xv dyamand[es] set in golde
      & betwene ev[er]y of them some smale pec[es] of
 92. golde & perles. It[e]m a carcanet w[i]th xx rubies
      sett in golde w[i]th xxxv pearles in Rondell[es] of golde
      enamelled blacke with a flowre at the same set w[i]th
      iij table rubies & a rede rubye w[i]th a perle
 93. pendaunt. Item another carcanett w[i]th a perle
      <rubies> Diamand[es] set in golde and Dxxxv pearles
      & other smalle perles ^to the nombr[e] of xx ^te^^ w[i]th a flowre of golde
      at the same set w[i]th a crosse of dyamande[es]
      & iij table dyamand[es] & iij perles pendaunt.
 94. Item xxj pearles smale & great on a threade.
 95. It[e]m a Carcanet of golde fetterlocke fashion enamelled
      blacke in<some> ^one^ plac broken cont[aining] xliij pec[es] &
 96. xlvj pearles. It[e]m a carcanet cont[aining] xxxviij great perles
 97. It[e]m another Carcanet cont[aining] xxv knot[es] of perle
      in ev[er]y knott iiij perles & betwen them xxxvj
  iij perles & one pipe  98. pipes of golde. Item a faire flowre of golde
  to spare       enamelled white & blacke set in it on emerall
   97. & a ruby & a perle pendau[n]t. Item xviij perles
      small & great & vij small pipes of golde together
 99. in a paper. Item a paire of brasselet[es] of xx ^te^
100. blewe & rede stones & ij Jacinck[es]. Item a paire
      of brassellet[es] of xiiij pec[es] of golde enamelled
      black & white w[i]th rubies & diamandes set in
101. them. It[e]m another paire of brasselet[es] of golde
102. of xxij pec[es] enamelled black & rede. It[e]m a
      paire of brasselet[es] of flagon chayne w[i]th
103.Jacnick[es]. It[e]m xxvj buttons of golde crymery work
104. in ev[er]y buttou[n] vj perles. Item five other buttons
      of a bigger sorte enamelled black w[i]th vj perles
105. in ev[er]y of buttou[n]. Item a george of golde w[i]thin a
106. garter hanging at a black lace. It[e]m xj pec[es] of
      goldesmithes worke for a billament enamelled white &
  ij turkesis to spare 107. rede. It[e]m xxx^te^ small turkesis litle worthe. Item
  108. viiij table diamond[es] set in collett[es] of golde. It[e]m a
109. Spone of golde w[i]th a Cuphid on the knoppe
110.It[e]m an older garter w[i]th the buckill pendaunt & l[ett]res
111 .of golde enamelled black. It[e]m a touche stone set
112. in golde. It[e]m vj rounde buttons enamelled rede set
113. in ev[er]y of them five counterset stones. It[e]m a pece
      of a brasselet cont[aining] vij pec[es] w[i]th counterset stones
114. & ij pec[es] w[i]th estriche fethers. It[e]m five rings of
      golde iij of them rubies, one amatist & thother
115 .an Agathe. It[e]m certen small garnet[es] in a paper
116.It[e]m one abillyment of Goldesmithes worke cont[aining] xxj
      rubies set in gold & xxij pec[es] set w[i]th ij perles
      in a pece. It[e]m another Abillyam[en]t w[i]th xij table
117.Diamondes set in golde & xiij ^tey^ peces of goldesmithes
118. worke w[i]th ij perles in a pece. It[e]m another abillement w[i]th
      xvj rede rubies set in golde & xvij pec[es] of goldsmithe
119. worke w[i]th ij perles in a pece. It[e]m another abillem[en]t
      w[i]th xvj pec[es] of Goldesmithes work w[i]th vj perles
      in a pece & xv pec[es] of goldesmithes work betwen them
120. <D> enamelled black. It[e]m another billiment cont[aining]
      xxv pec[es] of goldesmithes work enamelled black
121.It[e]m another Abillement cont[aining] xxv pec[es] of goldsmithes
122. abilliment cont[aining] xxxj pec[es] of goldesmithes work
123. enamelled white. It[e]m another abillm[en]t cont[aining] xl
      pec[es] of goldesmithes work ball fashion enamelled
124. black & white. It[e]m another Abillm[en]t cont[aining]
      xx^te^ long pec[es] of goldesmithes work enamelled
125. black & white. It[e]m xlix paire of great aglet[es]
126. of golde crymery work. It[e]m xx triangle buttou[n]s
127. of golde enamelled black. It[e]m xviij damaskin
  one button to spare 128. buttons. It[e]m a coller of S[ain]t michells cont[aining] xliiij
        knott[es] and xlvij Skallopp shell & a mighell hanging
129. at it. It[e]m two Glasses w[i]th estriche fethers
      ther set in golde garnished w[i]th soundry smale
      stones & an Antik face the handle being
      Christall & thother of silver garnished w[i]th
      five rede rubies set in golde the handle
130. christall. It[e]m a Clock of Damasked work
131. booke fashion. It[e]m a Chest of silver wicker
      fashion w[i]th a litle pot & a boule of golde
132. w[i]th a p[e]n in it. It[e]m a litle Square boxe
      cov[er]ed w[i]th purple velvit garnished w[i]th copper
      gilte having in it ten diamond[es] set in ring[es]
      whereof iij faire table Diamond[es] ij pointed
     Diamands .7. the rest of a smaller sorte. It[e]m
     Foure ^.11.^ rubies ^.11.^ two of iiij faire tables <illegible> set in
  one but a garnet      ring[es] ^.4.^ It[e]m iij ^.9.^ turkesis set in ring & ^.10.^ two table
       emeralles set in ring[es]. It[e]m ij ring[es] like
     Sarpent[es] .3. one w[i]th a diamand & thother
      w[i]th ^.8.^ a perle. ^.1.^ It[e]m a litle ring w[i]th iij 
     Diamond[es] & foure small rubyes .3. It[e]m
     A hart enamelled rede.
 
 
  Trustie and welbeloved we grete you well
  and where ye have by o[u]r order & com[m]aund
  ement given vnto you by worde of mouth
  deliv[er]ed vnto o[u]r owne handes those Jewell[es] 
  & other thing[es] before mentioned. We minding
  yo[u]r dyschardge in this behalf and that
  yo[u]r conformitie in the delivery of the said
  Jewell[es] w[i]thout warrant shall not be any
  waies p[re]iudicall vnto you do by these
  p[ate]nt[es] acknowledge the receyt of the said
  Jewell[es] & other thing[es] before written
  A<blot> clerely acquite & dyscharge you
  of the same for w[hi]ch purpose these shalbe
  yo[u]r sufficient warraunt. Yeoven
  at o[u]r Towre of london the xiiij ^th^
  of July in the first yere of o[u]r reigne
   
To our trustie and welbeloved
vncle S[i]r Andrewe Dudley knight
of the ordre [2]
 
 
 
  Transcription:
 
 
Jane <the Queen>
A note of certain Jewels and
Other things delivered unto the Queen’s
Highness by    [blank]   Sturton, Esquire,
The 14th day of July 1553 in the
First year of Her Highness’ reign.
     
 
  1.  First, one tablet 6 square [i.e., hexagonal] with 2 faces and 6 pearls
  2.  Item, one brooch with a woman coming out of a cloud with 2
  3.  Children. Item, one other brooch of gold with a story [i.e., picture] in it having
       19 table rubies and 2 table diamonds and 8 red rubies about [i.e., around]
  4.  it. Item, two pieces [with] rubies and 3 pieces with diamonds and 3
       other pieces with 2 pearls in a piece all serving for billaments.
       Item, one other piece with a diamond for a girdle. Item, one other brooch
  5. Of the story of a Sacrifice having on it 2 red rubies and 5
  6.  little diamonds and a fair Emerald. Item, a fish of gold being
  7.  a toothpick. Item, a little pendant having one great pearl and
  8.  6 little pearls at it. Item, one tablet of the picture of a woman
       [en]graven in a stone like a Jacent with a fair pearl pendant.
  9.  Item, one tablet of Agate garnished with gold with a Ball in
       it with a ruby and a diamond garnished with small stones
 10. having a pearl pendant. Item, another brooch of Agate with St
 11. James’s head garnished with gold. Item, one Dewberry of gold.
 12. Item, a fair tablet with Cupid’s face [en]graven in stone with a triangle
 13. Diamond set in it. Item, a tablet book fashion[ed] with [the] story of
       St David on the one side and on the other side 4 blue sapphires.
 14. Item, a Colet with 5 pearls and a counterset stone. Item, a
 15. flower with white Sapphirr and 3 pearls pendant. Item, a
 16. brooch of gold with a woman [carved in] mother of pearl and a sail [i.e., ribbon] over
 17. her head. Item, a newt of silver white. Item, a tablet
 18. with a white Sapphire and a blue and balas and a pearl
 19. pendant. Item, a tablet of Crystal and Jacind with a
 20. picture within them. Item, a tablet of Agate with Saint
 21. Katherine within it. Item, a flower with a blue Sapphire
 22. square and an amethyst square. Item, the letter ‘L’ with a
 23. great balas and 3 pearls pendant. Item, a flower of gold
       of 4 crosses and a fleur-de-lis of Diamonds and a pearl
       pendant. Item, a piece of gold with a red ruby in it for
 24. a girdle. Item, a brooch with an Agate engraved with a story
 25. enameled black and white. Item, a tablet of gold
 26. enameled black with a clock on it. Item, a book garnished
 27. with gold and covered with black velvet. Item, a brooch
 28. of gold with a face in Agate. Item, two Clasps
 29. one with a fleur-de-lis of Diamonds and the other <of>
 30  with a bluee Sapphire. Item, a tablet of gold 4
 31. Square enameled black. Item, one other pair of
       clasps, one with an Agate and the other enameled black.
 32. Item, a brooch of gold enameled black with a face of
 33. Agate. Item, another brooch with a woman holding
 34. a fleur-de-lis of Diamonds in her hand. Item, a flower of
 35. gold with a great balas and 10<2> pearls. Item, a brooch of
 36. with a story in blue within a Crystal. Item, a
       brooch of gold with the picture of Our Lady, of another
 37. broken. Item, a brooch of a [St] George of mother of pearl.
 38. Item, a Cross of ten diamonds and 3 pearls pendant.
 39. Item, two clasps, one like a Scallop shell, the other with a
 40. flower of rubies. Item, a brooch of an Agate with a
 41. horse in it. Item, a tablet of gold hanged by a chain
       with a Saint James’s head and 9 Slots pearls.
 42. Item, a little [St] George of gold the [back]ground enameled
 43. blue. Item, a whole [St] George of gold set with diamond
 44. with a ruby in the Dragon. Item, a flower with 3
 45. red rubies and 5 pearls. Item, a Cypher with a
       fleur-de-lis and a crown set with diamonds and 3
 46. pearls pendant. Item, a tablet of gold, on the one
       side the Salutation of Our Lady and the other side
 47. the Resurrection. Item, a Cross of gold of the
 48. picture of Christ enameled white and red. Item,
       a brooch of gold with a picture of a man of blue
 49. Stone. Item, a tablet of gold with an Antique head
 50. of Agate and a pearl hanging at it. Item, a small
       tablet of a Carnelian with a picture enameled white.
 51. Item, a tablet of a picture of Our Lady of Pity in a
 52. blue stone. Item, an Eagle enameled white garnished
       with 6 counterset pearls and a counterset sapphire.
 53. Item, a book garnished with Acorns of Gold. Item,
 54. one girdle containing 38 pieces with a pendant having
       at it sundry small chains, the girdle enameled
 55. black. Item, another girdle containing 80 pieces of goldsmith’s
       work enameled red with a pendant without tassel.
 56. Item, another girdle containing 22 pieces of goldsmith’s
       work enameled white and black with a round knob
 57. or pendant at it. Item, another girdle containing 52
       pieces of goldsmith’s work enameled black and white.
 58. Item, a flagon chain of gold containing 156 links three-quarters
       of a yard in length. Item, a pair of beads of white
 59. purstain with 8 gauds of gold and 38
       beads of white with a tassel of gold and silk.
 60. Item, one pair of beads of Lapis Lazuli containing 46
       stones. 8 gauds and small pieces of gold between
 61. the stones. And a tassel of gold. Item, another
       pair of beads of the same pearl fashion containing
       42 stones 8 gauds of gold and between every of
 62. them a little bead of gold. Item, a pair of beads
       of red coral containing 48 stones 8 gauds set
       with small garnets and between every stone a little
 63. piece of gold. Item, a pair of beads of Jacnicks containing
       36 stones 8 gauds and between every stone a
       little piece of gold having a knot with a tassel.
 64. A pair of beads of Jet containing 7 gauds
       and a knot enameled black with small chains
 65. and little pieces of gold between every stone. Item,
       a pair of beads of coral, acorn fashion, containing 48
       stones and 8 gauds enameled black with small
       bead stones betwen them having a tassel silk and
 66. gold. Item, a pair of beads of gold containing 46
       pieces of goldsmith’s work enameled white and
       black with 6 gauds like ostrich feathers with
       little pieces between to the number of 50 and a tassel of gold and silver
 67. Item, a pair of beads of Jacnicks containing 61 stones with
       8 gauds of gold and between every stone a little
 68. bead of gold & a tassel of gold. Item, a pair
       with 8 gauds of gold with pearls & a tassel of
 69. Venice gold. Item, a pair of beads of gold containing
       66 beads and 8 gauds and a tassel of Venice
 70. gold. Item, a pair of beads containing 64 stones of
       Ebony with 63 pieces of gold between the stones with
 71. A tassel of black silk. Item, a girdle of
       gold like friar’s knots containing 43 pieces with a
       knot of <wo> gold with small chains & bells
 72. at it. Item, a pair of beads of blue stones
       garnished with gold flagon fashion containing 48
       stones with 6 gauds of gold enameled black
       with a knot of Chains of gold and
 73. silver. Item, a pair of beads like turquoises
       containing 60 blue stones. Item, a pair of beads containing
 74. 58 beads of gold crimery work with 6 gauds
 75. of the same work & a small tassel. Item, a pair
       of beads of gold containing 102 small beads of crimery
 76. work. Item, a chain of gold containing 104 many links
       wrought & plain. Item, 3 small Chains of
       gold every of them being half a yard long
 77. lacking almost one mail. Item, 68 fair

  one aiglett to spare        pair of Aiglettes of gold & one odd aiglett enameled
  2 pair to spare  78. white & black. Item, 18 pair of Aiglettes of gold
  one aiglett to spare  79. enameled russett. Item, 19 pair of aiglettes of 
         gold with crosses enameled black& white & one
 80. odd aiglett. Item, 14 pair of small aiglettes of
 80. gold enameled black. Item, 37 pair
       of Aiglettes of gold of sundry sort great & small
 81. & one broken piece of an aiglett. Item, 28 aiglettes
 82. of gold acorn fashion enameled black. Item, 12
 83. bead stones of gold upon a white thread. Item,
       24 odd pieces of goldsmith’s work of sundry sorts
 84. for billaments, enameled black. Item, 11 pieces of
       goldsmith’s work for a girdle enameled black
       with a pendant like a pillar belonging to the same
 85. Item, 16 pieces of goldsmith’s work for billaments
 86. enameled white & blue. Item, 15 buttons of gold of
       Crimery work enameled black & white of
 87. sundrey sorts. Item, 2 purses hanger of silver
 88. and gilt. Item, 5 small buttons set with table
 89. rubies. Item, two pieces for a billament of goldsmith’s
       work with flower pearls in a piece & a rose in the
 90. midst. Item, 5 small Agates with faces [en]graven in
 91. them. Item, a Carcanet with 15 diamonds set in gold
       & between every of them some small pieces of
 92. gold & pearls. Item, a carcanet with 20 rubies
       set in gold with 25 pearls in Rondels of gold
       enameled black with a flower at the same set with
       3 table rubies & a red ruby with a pearl
 93.  pendant. Item, another carcanet with a pearl
       <rubies> Diamonds set in gold and 135 pearls
       & other small pearls ^to the number of 20^ with a flower of gold
       at the same set with a cross of diamonds
       & 3 table diamonds & 3 pearls pendant.
 94. Item, 21 pearls small & great on a thread.
 95. Item, a Carcanet of gold fetterlock fashion enameled
       black in <some> ^one^ place broken containing 43 pieces &
 96. 46 pearls. Item, a carcanet containing 38 great pearls
 97. Item, another Carcanet containing 25 knots of pearl
       in every knot 4 pearls & between them 36
  3 pearls & one pipe  98. pipes of gold. Item, a fair flower of gold
  to spare        enameled white & black set in it on emerald
 

 97. & a ruby & a pearl pendant. Item, 18 pearls
       small & great & 7 small pipes of gold together
 99. in a paper. Item, a pair of bracelets of 20
100. blue & red stones & 2 Jacinckes. Item, a pair
       of bracelets of 14 pieces of gold enameled
       black & white with rubies & diamonds set in
101. them. Item, another pair of braceletes of gold
102. of 22 pieces enameled black & red. Item, a
        pair of bracelets of flagon chain with
103. Jacnickes. Item, 26 buttons of gold crimery work
104. in every button 6 pearls. Item, five other buttons
       of a bigger sort enameled black with 6 pearls
105. in every of button. Item, a [St] George of gold within a
106. Garter hanging at a black lace. Item, 11 pieces of
        goldsmith’s work for a billament enameled white &

  2 turquoises to spare 107. red. Item, 30 small turquoises [of] little worthe. Item,
  108. 9 table diamonds set in collets of gold. Item, a
109. Spoon of gold with a Cupid on the knot
110. Item, an older Garter with the buckle pendant & letters
111. of gold enameled black. Item, a touchstone set
112. in gold. Item, 6 round buttons enameled red set
113. in every of them five counterset stones. Item, a piece
        of a bracelet containing 7 pieces with counterset stones
114. & 2 pieces with ostrich feathers. Item, five rings of
        gold 3 of them rubies, one amethyst& the other
115. an Agate. Item, certain small garnets in a paper.
116. Item, one billament of Goldsmith’s work containing 21
        rubies set in gold & 22 pieces set with 2 pearls
        in a piece. Item, another billament with 12 table
117. Diamonds set in gold & 13 pieces of goldsmith’s
118. work with 2 pearls in a piece. Item, another billament with
        16 red rubies set in gold & 17 pieces of goldsmith
119. work with 2 pearls in a piece. Item, another billament
       with 16 pieces of Goldsmith’s work with 6 pearls
        in a piece & 15 pieces of goldsmith’s work between them
120. <D> enameled black. Item, another billament containing
        25 pieces of goldsmith’s work enameled black.
121. Item, another billament containing 25 pieces of goldsmith’s
122. a billament containing 31 pieces of goldsmith’s work
123. enameled white. Item, another billament containing 40
        pieces of goldsmith’s work ball fashion enameled
124. black & white. Item, another billament containing
        20 long pieces of goldsmith’s work enameled
125. black & white. Item, 49 pair of great aiglettes
126. of gold crimery work. Item, 20 triangle buttons
127. of gold enameled black. Item, 18 damascene
  one button to spare 128. buttons. Item, a collar of S[ain]t Micheal containing 44
          knots and 47 Scallop shells & a mighell hanging
129. at it. Item, two Glasses [i.e., mirrors] with ostrich feathers
       there set in gold garnished with sundry small
       stones & an Antique face, the handle being
       Crystal; & the other of silver garnished with
       five red rubies set in gold, the handle
130. crystal. Item, a Clock of Damascene work
131. book fashion. Item, a Chest of silver wicker
       fashion with a little pot & a bowl of gold
132. with a pen in it. Item, a little Square box
       covered with purple velvet garnished with copper
       gilt having in it ten diamonds set in rings
       whereof 3 fair table Diamonds 2 pointed
       Diamonds .7. the rest of a smaller sort. Item,
       Four ^.11.^ rubies ^.11.^ two of 4 fair tables <illegible> set in
  one but a garnet        rings ^.4.^ Item, 3 ^.9.^ turquoises set in ring & ^.10.^ two table
         emeralds set in rings. Item, 2 rings like
       Serpents .3. one with a diamond & the other
       with ^.8.^ a pearl. ^.1.^ Item, a little ring with 3
       Diamonds & four small rubies .3. Item,
       A heart enameled red.
 
 
  Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well
and where you have by our order & command-
ment given unto you by word of mouth
delivered unto our own hands those Jewels 
& other things before mentioned. We minding
your discharge [i.e., release from any accusation of wrongdoing] in this behalf and that
your conformity in the delivery of the said
Jewels without warrant shall not be any
way preudicial unto you do by these
patents acknowledge the receipt of the said
Jewels& other things before written
A<blot> clearly acquit & discharge you
of the same for which purpose these shall be
your sufficient warrant. Given
at our Tower of London the 14th
of July in the first year of our reign.
   
To our trusty and well-beloved
uncle Sir Andrew Dudley, Knight
of the Order [of the Garter][2]
 
 
 
  NOTES :      
 
[1]
   New College Libary (Oxford University), Manuscript Volume 328/1, folios 38 - 40.  
 
     
 
[2]
   Andrew Dudley was the younger brother of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. King Edward VI had earlier appointed Andrew Keeper of the Palace of Westminster, which housed both the Royal Wardrobe and the Royal Jewels.  
 
  KEY :    
    Letters included between brackets, [ ], are indicated in the original by standard sixteenth-century abbreviations similar to shorthand.  
    Words or letters enclosed within < > are scratched through in the original.  
    Words or letters enclosed within ^ ^ appear as additional superscript (above the line) in the original.  
 
 
  GLOSSARY : Aiglette : Pronounced ‘eyelet’, an ornamental end-cap to a string, cord, or lace; often made of gold and heavily embellished, they were used as tips on the laces that held pieces of sixteenth-century clothing together

Antique head : A cameo

Balas : A red or orange spinel, sometimes confused with ruby

Billament : The jeweled decoration and edging of female headgear

Carcanet : A jeweled necklace or collar

Crymery work : Uncertain, though undoubtedly some specific pattern of carving or embossing of gold, similar to Venice work and Spanish work

Flower : In sixteenth-century jewelry, a type of figured or carved brooch or pin

Gaud : An ornamental bead, usually embossed or carved.

Girdle : A chain worn around the waist

Jacnick : A stone similar to jasper

Pair of beads : Two strands of beads worn suspended from the waist, often attached to a ‘girdle’ (see above)

Pearl pendant : Usually refers to a pearl suspended from the bottom edge of a larger piece of jewelry

Pipe : A small tube thread onto a cord

Pointed (in reference to stones) : Cut with a pyramid-shaped top. Stone cutting was crude in the 16th century, with most stones having but a bare minimum of facets

Table (in reference to stones) : Cut with a large flat top. Stone cutting was crude in the 16th century, with most stones having but a bare minimum of facets

Tablet : A carved, figured, or enameled pinor brooch depicting some person or scene

Venice gold (or ‘work’) : gold that has been worked with a specific pattern of embossing and tracery, similar to but distinct from ‘Spanish work’ 		 
       
 
 
     
 
Copyright © 2005 – 2022, J. Stephan Edwards
No portion of this site may be reproduced either in part or in whole without written permission of the author.