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FRANCIS LANCELOTT, ESQ. Queens of England. Vol.1.

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FRANCIS LANCELOTT, ESQ.
Queens of England. Vol.1.
page 154



chaunting "lays of gladness" in the palace of royalty, ushered forth and paraded the streets of London in procession, accompanied by about one thousand of the good citizens, who, joining them with yoice and heart, made the welkin ring with their choruses of loyalty and in severai of the contemporary, or nearly contemporary historians, describe with enthusiasm the dazzling display of plate and jewelry at this marriage ; and certainly the list of gold and silver valuables used in the household, or to adorn the persons of Eleanora and her royal lord, brought to light by the research of Mr. Herbert, the learned librarian of the city of London, fully justify the encomiums. The plate, for the most part, was the work of Ade, the King's goldsmith, and comprised thirty-four pitchers of gold and silver, to hold either water or wines; ten gold cups from one hundred and forty-two to two hundred and ninety-two pounds value each ; ten other cups of silver gilt and silver white, some having stands and enamelled, and more than one hundred cups of silver, from four to one hundred and eighteen pounds value each ; also cups of jasper, silver plates, silver and silver-gilt dishes, gold and silver salts, alms bowls, silver gilt jugs, silver baskets, and numerous other vessels, all of the precious metals. The jewels and trinkets mentioned in the Wardrobe Accounts of Edward the First, include gold clasps offered at the different shrines, jewels given by the King to the bishops, andrestored after their deaths, rings remaining or given as presents, a large silver girdle with silver and precious stones, a large silver image of the King in a surcoat, and with a hood over his head, and a silver plate under his feet, enamelled silver jugs, round which were two figures of the King, and two figures of the Queen, pitchers of crystal, five serpents' tongues on a standard of silver, and a large ewer set with pearls all over. The next articles enumerated are a pair of knives, with silver sheaths, enamelled with a fork of crystal, which renders it highly probable that if, as is generally asserted, forks were not in general use in this country till the queer Tom Cory ate introduced them from Italy, in the reign of James the First, our Provencal Plantagenet queens, at any rate, did not eat with their fingers. After this comes another pair of knives, with ebony and ivory handles and studs, then a comb and looking-glass of silver gilt enamelled, and a bodkin of silver in a leather caso, gold, silver, and crystal crosses, some set with sapphires, and enclosing relics. One of them is described as set with rubies, emeralds, and other stones, and enclosing a piece of the real cross of Christ, and as such, considered of inestimable value ; a gold ring set with a large sapphire was also highly prized, as being the workmanship of the holy St. Dunstan, the patron saint of the city of London Goldsmiths' Company. Of precious stones are enumerated amethysts, sapphires, topazes, rubies, emeralds, carbuncles, chalcedonies, jaspers, diamonds, garnets, and cameos, Amongst these latter were, doubtless, many of the antique sort, which we meet with in the abbatial and other rings. Four royal crowns are also mentioned as set with rubie3, emeralds, and great pearls ; another with rubies and emeralds ; another with Indian pearls ; and one great crown of gold, ornamented with emeralds, sapphires of the east, rubies, and large eastern pearls, used at the coronation of the King and Queen. Many other articles in gold and silver might also be enumerated, but as our space is limited, these must suffice to convey to tho reader an idea of the variety and costliness of Edward and Eleanora's jewels and plate.


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