King James has been accused of financial extravagance by historians: this inventory provides evidence of some lavish spending on a ‘great looking glass’ that was covered in diamonds and precious stones, January 1604 (catalogue ref SP 14/6 f. 21r)
Transcript
The value of a great looking glass
with a great clock in it
In the foot of the glass 5 table diamonds
at 50 pounds a piece comes to ijClli
For 7 rubies at 25 pounds a piece comes to jClxxvli
For 4 emeralds at 20s a piece comes to iiijli
Five table*diamonds in the square of the foot
at 30li a piece comes to jClli
For 4 pearls at 50s a piece comes to xli
Three rubies at 6li a piece comes to xviijli
Four emeralds at 20s a piece comes to iiijli
One thick table diamond in the fore p[ar]te of the
wooman valued at Lxli
two triangle diamonds one of them yellow at
15li a piece, comes to xxxli
On the other side one other diamond valued at xxxli
Two great table diamonds valued at 200li a piece iiijCli
Two rock rubies at 45li a piece comes to iiijxli
Five rubies 2 cut and 3 uncut at 30li a
piece comes to jClli
Four great emeralds at 7li 10s a piece xxxli
Four lesser emeralds at 50s a piece xli
Four diamonds on the other side at 60li a piece ijCxli
One pointed diamond at jCxxxli
Five rubies at 30li a piece comes to jClli
Four great emeralds at 7li 10s a piece xxxli
Four lesser emeralds at 40s a piece viijli
In gold besides the clock & glass being 118
ounces 15d which at 54s the ounce comes iijCxxli –xijs-vjd
Summa Totalis [total] 2739li-12s-6d
Notes
*The table is the flat surface on the very top of the stone
S = Shillings, li = pounds; d= pence