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The Tudors and the Stuarts: Dyamants
In the "Archaeologia" (vol. xv.) there is "An Inventorie of the Jewelles belonging once to the high and mightie prince Henry, Prince of great Brytane (died Nov., 1612). A Crowne sett with Dyamants, Saphirs, and Emeraudes. A very riche cros Sword all sett with Dyamants, with chap richlie sett, gevin be her Matie at his creation. A Rapier and Dagger enamelled and sett with Dyamants, geven to the King of Denmarke. A Sword with a cros hilt, enamelled, sett with Dyamants, geven be my lord Harrington. A chayne of Spanish work sett with Dyamants, with a great George hanging thereat. A great riche Jewell in forme of a Crescent, given out of his Matie's owne store. A great George sett with dyamants upon both sydes. Twelf great Buttons, all sett with dyamants. A great Agat George, sett with Dyamants upon the one syde. Another great George, sett with Dyamants upon the one syde, and with Rubies on the other. Fyve other Georges sett with Dyamants. Thre little Georges of plane gold. One Garter all sett with Dyamants. One Garter of gold letters, with Dyamantes thinne sett. Two Garter of perles. A great Saphir. A great ballat Rubie, with a great Perle hanging theretoe. Another ballat Rubie, in forme of an H, with perles upon everie syde, with a great perle hanging theretoe. A helmet upon a shield, with a plume, sett with Dyamants. A payre of Brydell bosses sett with Dyamants. A payre of gold Spurres sett with Dyamants. A Thistle, with Dyamants and Rubies. A booke of an Agat, sett with Dyamants. "A note of those Jewelles which are not yett payd, bot taken and agreed upon be his Highnes owne self: A riche hatband, all of Dyamantes, with a great Jewell toe it in forme of a Rose, and this Jewell was made of his owne store, which is not receaved becaus it is not finished. A fayre riche chayne, all sett with Dyamants, boght and aggreed upon with the hatband whiche his Highnes did appoynt for his deere and worthy sister. A fayre chaine and tablett of Dyamants, which his Highnes did appoynt for the Prince Electeur. Another little chayne and tablett, which his Highnes did appoynt for Comte Henry. Fyfteen dissone of gold buttons, with a Dyamant in top of everie one of them, for his hignes owne wearing. A little chayne of gold, curiouslie wroght, for his highnes owne wearing.
At the marriage of Elizabeth, daughter of James I., to Frederic the Elector-palatine, her father loaded himself with six hundred thousand pounds' worth of jewels; and the bride's white satin dress was embroidered with pearls and gems, and her coronet set in pinnacles of diamonds and pearls. Among the MSS. belonging to the Rev. Walter Sneyd, of Keele Hall, county Stafford, is a receipt, dated April 9, 1612, signed by Elizabeth of Bohemia, for jewels delivered to her by Jacob Hardret, on this and some previous days. The total value was pound 325 and 25s. There were pendants and rings, some of diamonds and some of rubies.
Howell tells us, in one of his letters, that "Queen Anne (consort of James I.) hath left a world of brave jewels behind; and although one Piers, an outlandish man, hath run away with many, she hath left all to the Prince (Charles I.) and none to the Queen of Bohemia."