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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 |
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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
iij perles & one pipe
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. |
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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 |
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’ |
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