Ledger of Queen Elizabeth’s Jewel House, New Year’s 1571-2.

The lists provided of the New Year’s gifts given each year to Queen Elizabeth are not as the rule particularly descriptive. There was a ledger,[1] however, kept by her Keeper of the Jewel House, John Ashley, in a particularly fine secretary hand. Ashley had been the husband of the Queen’s Beloved Kate Ashley,  by the time of this book deceased, and suffered with them both as treasurer of her household under the abuse of the Duke of Somerset.

The jewels are delivered and returned by Elizabeth’s closest Lady, after the death of Ashley, Catherine Howard. Presumably, there was an escort provided during transfer.

What follows is the record of transfers for the year 1571-2. No specific dates are given but the descriptions are gratifyingly precise — including who had given the gift. There must be no doubt that the jewels returned in precisely the same condition that they left.

"In this booke are contained all suche Juells as are delyvered to Maistres Katherine Howarde, one of the Gentlewomen of her Majestie's Privy Chamber, from time to time to her Highnes use." This List will be found in its proper date every year till 1593-4 inclusive.

Juelles delivered in charge to Mrs. Katharine Howarde, by bill indented between her and John Asteley, Esquier, Master and Threasorer of her Highnes Juelles and Plate, which Juells wear geven her Majestie on Newe-yeres daye, anno 14° regni sui, &c.:

First, one armlet or skakell of golde, all over fairely garnishedd with rubyes and dyamondes, haveing in the closing thearof a clocke, and in the fore parte of the same a fayre lozengie dyamonde without a foyle, hanging thearat a rounde juell fully garnished with dyamondes, and perle pendant; weying 11 oz. qu^a dim̃. and farthing golde weight. In a case of purple vellate [velvet] all over embranderid with Venice golde, and lyned with greene vellat. Geven by therle of Leycetor [Earl of Leicester].

Item, a juell of golde, being a branche of bayleaves, and thearupon a rose of golde enamuled white, with a fayre ballas in the middes, and six red roses, about the same, every of them haveing a lozengie dyamond. In the toppe of the rose is a spyder, having a lozengie dyamonde on her backe; and under the same rose, a bee with two dyamondes on her; weying 3 oz. dim. q^a. Geven by therle of Warivycke [Earl of Warwick].

Item, a juell, being the hedd and body of an armed man, of mother of perle, without armes and leggs, garnished with golde, the borders sett with garnetts, to of them lacking, hanging at a cheine of golde; enamuled with 13 true love knotts, and every knott having 2 sparke of emeraldes; 4 oz. 3 q^a. dim. Geven by the Counties of Warwiche [Countess of Warwick].

Item, a juell, being a white hare of mother of pearle, having two rubies, the one behinde, and the other before in her brest, and an emeralde on her forehedd, sitting upon a stocke of golde enamuled, and garnished with 3 table dyamonds and many smalerubyes, with a cluster of pearles pendaunte, containing 10 pearles altogether, hanging in three smale cheynes of golde; oz. 3 q^a. Geven by the Counties of Bedforde [Countess of Bedford].

Item, a payre of braceletts of gold, enamuled, and garnished with five agathe hedds and five mother of perles, the peece; 2 oz. dim. q^a. Geven by Lord Stafforde.

Item, 3 dozen of buttones of golde, havinge 3 pearles and a sparcke of an emeralde or rubye in every buttone; 3 ounces and a halfe. Geven by the Lady Clintone.

Item, a ring of golde with a mounte of dyamondes, containing a lozengie dyamonde in the toppe, with 3 dyamondes on eyther syde of the ring. Geven by the Lady Sydneye.

Item, a flower of golde enamuled, having a pauncy with an amatast lozengye and two daysyes, in the one of them a rubye, and in the other a dyamond, with a butterflye betweene them; 3 q^a. dim. of an ounce. Geven by the Lady Cheake. Geven by her Majestie to Mrs. Lucye.

Item, a little ring of golde enamuled, with a smale dyamond thearin. Geven by Sir Thomas Benger, Knight.

Item, a booke of golde enamuled and glased over with two claspes, 5 oz. q^a. dim. Geven by Sir Owen Hopton, Knight.

Item, one fayre flower of golde enamuled, and garnished with a chrysolite and an emeralde, and fully furnished with rubyes, diamondes, and pearles, and three pearles pendaunte ; two ounces q^a. and farthing gold weight. Geven by Sir Edwarde Umpton, Knight.

Item, a fayre flower of gold, being a rose enamuled white and redd in the toppe, and 2 other flowers also, all sett with 3 diamonds, 3 rubies, and one little perle in the midds ; halfe an ounce and a farthing golde weight. Geven by Mrs. Blaunche Parrye. Geven by her Majestie to Mrs. Elizabeth Howarde.

Item, a fayre juell called pyzands of gold, fully garnished with rubyes and dyamonds, and flowers sett with rubyes, with one perle pendaunte, and another in the toppe ; thre ounces dim. Geven by Mr. Hatton, Esquier.

Item, a hart of golde garnished with sparcks of rubyes, 3 smale perles, and a litle rounde perle pendaunte, owte of which harte goeth a braunche of roses red and white, whearin are two smale dyamondes, three smale rubyes, two little emerauldes, and two smale pearles; 3 q^a. dim. and farthing golde weight. Geven by Mr. John Harrington, Esquier.

 

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[1] Sloane MS. 814.

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Lady Southwell on the Final Days of Queen Elizabeth I.  March 24, 2019.  “her majesty told [Lady Scrope] (commanding her to conceal the same ) that she saw, one night, in her bed, her body exceeding lean, and fearful in a light of fire.”

Check out the English Renaissance Article Index for many more articles and reviews about this fascinating time and about the Shakespeare Authorship Question.

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