The Procession from the Tower and the Jewels of King James' Wife

In the "Archaeologia" (vol. xv., page 271) is a communication of the Rev. John Brand, secretary to the Society of Antiquaries (read May 17th, 1804), of "A true Inventorie and Appraisement of all the Plate now being in the Lower Jewell-House of the Tower, in the Custodie of Mr. Carew Mildmay, made and taken 13th of August, 1649;" also "A true and perfect Inventorie of all the Plate and Jewells now being in the Upper Jewell-House of the Tower, in the charge of Sir Henry Mildmay, together with an appraisemt of them made and taken the 13th, 14th, and 15th daies of August, 1649," the year in which the unfortunate Charles was martyred. The "Totall of the Lower Jewell-House" was valued at 6,496 pound 12s. 4d. The contents of the Upper Jewel-House, including the "King's Crowne" the "Queene's Crowne," a small crown found in an iron chest, the globe, two sceptres, two coronation bracelets, etc., were valued at 6,771 pound os. 4d. The estimated value of the "Regalia now in Westmr Abby in an iron chest where they were formerly kept," is pound 612 17s. 8d.

There is also an "Inventory of several things received from some Gentlemen, in whose custody they were, and now remayning in Somerset House Closet, in Mr. Browne's charge." This includes "a quarter of blue velvett, sett with 412 small diamonds, formerly in captaine Preston's custody, and now in the Closett of Somerset House." This was valued at 160 pound. The total value of the "several things" is estimated at 341 pound 5s. The "Totall of the whole Duplicate amounts to 14,221 pound 15s. 4d."

Alluding to the coronation of James II, Macaulay says, that the King "ordered an estimate to be made of the cost of the state procession from the Tower to Westminster, and found it would amount to about half as much as he proposed to expend in covering his wife with trinkets. He accordingly determined to be profuse where he ought to have been frugal, and niggardly where he might pardonably have been profuse. More than a hundred thousand pounds were laid out in dressing the Queen, and the procession from the Tower was omitted."

The circlet crowns and other regal ornaments appear to have been of unparalleled magnificence. The cost of the diamonds, pearls, and other gems with which the imperial diadem was set, amounted to 100,658 pound sterling, according to Evelyn, who saw the bills attested by the goldsmith and jeweller who set them. When completed, however, it was valued at 111,900 pound.

The rest of the coronation decorations were on the same splendid scale, so that there is no wonder that the historian, describing the Queen on this occasion, should state, "The jewels she had on were reckoned at a million's worth, which made her shine like an angel."