The life and times of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, Volume 1 (of 3): From original and authentic sourcesThomson, A. T., Mrs.
History
The life and times of George Villiers, duke of Buckingham, Volume 1 (of 3): From original and authentic sources
Thomson, A. T., Mrs.
Buckingham, George Villiers, Duke of, 1592-1628
“For my babies’ presenting his mistresse, I sende an olde double
crosse of Lorraine, not so rich as anciente, yet not contemtible for
the valewe: a goodly looking-glasse, with my picture in it, to be
hung at her girdle, quhiche ye must tell her ye have caused it so to
be enchawnted by a vile magike, as, quhensoever she shall be pleased
to look into it, she shall see the fairest ladie that ather her
brother’s or youre father’s dominions can afforde.[448] Ye shall
present her also,” James continues, “two faire long dyamonts, sett
lyke an anker, and a faire pendant dyamont hanging at thaime; a
goodlie roape of pearles,” a collar, or carcanet, of thirteen great
ballas rubies, and thirteen knots or cinques of pearls; together
with a “head-dressing, and two-and-twentie great pear pearls;” also,
three pear-shaped diamonds, the largest of which was to be worn “at
a needle,” in the middle of her forehead, and one in each ear.
Footnote 448:
Thus described in the list:—“A looking-glasse set in goulde, the
backside richly garnished with faire dyamondes, and six peeces of
chayne to hange it, garnished with dyamondes on both sydes.”
His “babie,” the King decreed, was to have his own round brooch of
diamonds, and he sent also a famous jewel called the “Three
Brethren,” consisting of a great pointed diamond, with three great
pearls attached to it, and a large pendent pearl; also, the “Mirror
of France,” “the fellowe of the Portugal Dyamont,” which, says the
King, “I would wishe you to weare alone in your hatte, with a little
blakke feather. Ye have also,” he adds, “goode dyamont buttons, of
your own, to be sett to a doublett or jerkin. As for your =T=, it
maye serve for a present to a Don.”[449]
Footnote 449:
A jewel in the form of a =T=.
Steenie was furnished with a fair table diamond, which the King
wanted to have given him before, but Buckingham had refused it; to
this a “faire pewre pearl” was now suspended, “for wearing,” said
the thoughtful monarch, more occupied with these details than with
the good of England, “in thy hatte, or quhaire thow plessis; and if
my babie will spaire thee the two long dyamonts in form of an anker,
with the pendant dyamont, it were fitt for an admirall to weare, and
he hath enough better jewels for his mistresse.”
Then follows a trait of the gentle Marchioness, quite in keeping
with the whole of her character:
“Thow hes of thyne owne thy goode olde jewell, thy three pindars
dyamonts, the picture-cace I gave Kate, and the greate dyamont
chaine I gave her, quho wolde have sent thee the best paire she
hadde, if I hadde not stayed her.”
Divers other jewels were to be sent with the fleet for presents,
“for saving of chairges quhair have too much nede.” These were to be
presents to Spanish grandees.
The King then concludes:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account