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The Tudors and the Stuarts: Tower

Among the Harleian MSS. is a long detailed "Inventory of the goods, jewels, etc., sold by order of the Council of State from the several places and palaces following:--The Tower Jewel-Houses, Somerset House, Whitehall, Greenwich, Wimbledon, Oatlands, Windsor, Hampton Court, Richmond, Sion House, St. James's, and several other places; with the several contracts made by the contractors for sale of the said goods, etc., from the year 1646 to the year 1652." In this we have notices of much that is lost--the splendid tapestry, the gorgeous jewels and regalia, and many curious items of great interest. The Jewel-House, at the period this account was taken, was, in fact, a museum of curiosities. A few items will suffice. In the Tower Jewel-House we read of "a Bugill-horn tipped with gold, and a chain," sold for pound 12. "A Fountain for perfumed waters, artificially made to play of itself" (of silver), sold for pound 30. A large antique vessel for mead from the Duke of Muscovy, pound 25, and a large beaker from the said Duke, made of many pieces of coin joined together, pound 20. A silver eagle, made to move, pound 6 5s. The Temple of Jerusalem, made of ebony and amber, pound 25. A branch for candles, cut in rock-crystal, with silver sockets, pound 50. A chess-board said to be Queen Elizabeth's, inlaid with gold, silver, and pearls, pound 23. A great Amethyst, engraved in Hebrew, in gold, pound55. A conjuring drum from Lapland, with an Almanack, cut on wood, pound 1 11s. A trumpet made of a large elephant's tooth, engraved with several odd figures, 7s. 6d. A very large scimetar, pound 5 17s. A Saxon King's mace used in war, pound 37 8s. A Roman shield of buff leather, covered with a plate of gold, finely chased with a Gorgon's head; set round the rim with rubies, emeralds, turquoise stones, in number 137, pound 132 12s.

In the Tower Upper Jewel-House are enumerated, amongst others, an ewer of mother-of-pearl, garnished with gold and rubies, a fair sapphire at the foot, pound 41. A large estridge (ostrich) egg-pot, garnished with enamelled gold, the cover gold, and the handle a green enamelled serpent, pound 72. A golden nun, enamelled, with a ragged staff in her hand, pound 35. The imperial Crown of massy gold, weighing 7lb. 6oz., enriched, etc., at pound 40 per lb.: valued pound 280; delivered to the Mint to be coined. One blue sapphire, pound 50; one do., pound 15; one do., pound 3; two do., pound 30; one do., pound 3; one do., pound 10; two do., pound 15; one do., pound 8; one do., pound 8; one do., pound 3; one do., pound 20; one do., pound 15; one do., pound 3; one do., pound 5; two do., pound 10. 232 pearls at 15s. a piece, pound174. Ruby Ballassis: Four rubies in the flower-de-luce, pound 20; do. do. cross, pound 6; two do. de-luce, pound 12; four do. cross, pound 6; two do. de-luce, pound 3; four do. cross, pound 12; four do. de-luce, pound 30; do. do. cross, pound 20; do. do. de-luce, pound 20; do. do. cross, pound 20: total, pound 149. The Queen's crown, 3lb. 10 1/2oz., valued at pound 40 per lb., 50z. being abated for stones, is pound 136 13s. 4d.; the gold delivered to the Mint to be coined. 20 sapphires, pound 70; 16 do., pound 50; 22 rubies, pound 40; 83 pearls, pound 41: total, pound 201; sold for pound 210. A small crown found in an iron chest, formerly in the custody of Lord Cottington, weighing 2lb. 1oz., whereof three ounces are allowed for the weight of the stones, valued at pound 3 6s. 8d. per oz., pound 73 6s. 8d. The globe, weighing 1lb. 5 1/4oz., at pound 3 6s. 8d. per oz., valued at pound 51 10s., delivered to the Mint to be coined. Two coronation bracelets, weighing 7 1/4oz., whereof one ounce to be deducted for the weight of the stones and pearls, at pound 3 6s. 8d. per oz., pound 20; to be delivered to the Mint to be coined. The stones and pearls of the three parcels sold for pound 25. Broken stones: Three rubies ballas, set in each of the bracelets, valued at pound 6. Twelve pearls valued at pound 6. Two sceptres, weighing 16 1/4oz., at pound 3 6s. 8d. per oz., pound 60; delivered to the Mint. A long rod of silver gilt, weighing 11.5 oz., at 5s. 4d. per oz., pound 4 10s. 8d.; delivered to the Mint. One gold poringer and cover, weighing 15 1/2oz., valued at pound 3 6s. 8d. per oz., pound 51 18s. 4d.; delivered to the Mint. One gold cup set with two sapphires and two ballas rubies, weighing 15 1/2oz., at pound 3 6s. 8d. per oz., pound 51 13s. 4d.; delivered to the Mint. Divers pieces of broken gold enamelled, put together in a bag, weighing 5lb. 7oz., at pound 3 per oz., pound 201. A George on horseback, of gold, with a pearl in his helmet, and a dragon enamelled, weight 33oz., at pound 3 per oz., pound 99; delivered to the Mint. "An Inventory of that Part of the Regalia, which is now removed from Westminster to the Tower Jewel-House." Queen Edith's crown, formerly thought to be of massy gold, but upon trial found to be of silver gilt; enriched with garnet, fowl pearl, sapphire, and some stones, weighing 50 1/2oz., valued at pound16; 10z. sold Mrs. Dammersque for 5s. 4d. King Ellfred's crown of gold, wire-work, sett with slight stones and two little bells, weighing 79 1/2oz., at pound3 per oz., pound10; delivered to the Mint. A dove of gold, set with stones and pearl, per oz., 8 1/2oz., set with studs of silver gilt, in a box, valued together pound26; delivered to the Mint. A large staff with a dove at the top, formerly thought to be all gold, but upon trial found to be the lower part wood within and silver gilt without, the upper part wood within and gold without, weighing 27oz., and valued at pound35; delivered to the Mint. One small staff, with a flower-de-luce on the top, formerly thought to be all gold, but upon trial found to be iron within and silver gilt without, value pound2 10s. 0d.; delivered to the Mint. Two sceptres--one set with pearls and stones, the upper end gold, the lower end silver, the gold weighing 23oz., at 35s. per oz., the lower end being horn and a little silver gilt, valued at 12s.; the other, silver gilt, with a dove formerly thought to be gold, weighing 7 3/4oz., at 5s. 6d. per oz.--pound65 19s. 7 1/2d.; delivered to the Mint.