Some Grey Matter
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Inventory of Jewels
and other stuffs requisitioned by
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 royal warrant, both 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.

The Inventory [1] :
 Jane <the Quene>
A note of certaine Jewelles and
Other thing[es] delyvered vnto the Quenes
Hyghnes by       Sturton Esquier
The xiij ^th^ day of July 1553 in the
Fyrst yere of her highnes reygne
  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
one aglet to spare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

iij perles & one pipe
to spare

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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
      pair of Aglet[es] of golde & one od aglet enamelled
 78. white & blacke. It[e]m xviij paire of Aglet[es] of gold
 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
 98. pipes of golde. Item a faire flowre of golde
      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 &
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
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
      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

Notes:
            [1] New College Libary (Oxford University), Manuscript Volume 328/1, folios 38 - 40.

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.

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Updated 25 May 2007

Copyright © 2007-2008, J. Stephan Edwards
May not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of the author.