sporting and Rural Records of the Chcvelcy Estate. 31 



5893 ounces of white plate and 1066 ounces of gilt plate for the 

 use of his establishment during that embassy. The Earl of Sunder- 

 land, Ambassador to the King of Spain, the Earl of Peterborough, 

 Ambassador to the Emperor (Vienna), a like quantity; and Sir 

 George Downing, who, being only an Envoy Extraordinary to the 

 United Provinces of the Netherlands, received considerably less. 

 As a general rule this plate was only lent to the Ambassadors for 

 the honour and dignity of their establishments during their 

 embassies, and was returnable to the Jewel Office when their 

 respective missions terminated ; but it frequently followed, par- 

 ticularly when an Ambassador's diplomacy found favour with the 

 King, a " discharge " was given whereby the plate became, the 

 absolute property of the recipient by royal will and favour.* Apart 

 from establishment plate, vast demands were made on the Royal 

 Jewel House. When the King became a godfather, 1 20 ounces of 

 gilt plate was given as his Majesty's gift at the christening of the 

 child. A chain and call of silver to Ambrose Lovet, boatswain of 

 the King's yacht, of the value of ;^5o or thereabouts, " to be given 

 as a free gift from his Majestic unto him for his good and faithful 

 service." Pittman, Sergeant of the Royal Buckhounds, " one 

 silver hunting home of the quantitye of forty ounces as a guift 

 from his Ma"" " Ten thousand ounces of white plate to the Duke 

 of Monmouth. The Right Reverend Father in God, the Lord 

 Bishop of Salisbury, Chancellor of the Most Noble Order of the 

 Garter, a chain of gold weighing twelve ounces or thereabout. 

 A chain and medal of gold of the value of £160 or thereabouts as 

 a gift from the King to Mons. Botson, envoy from the Duke of 

 Courland. A similar gift to Don Franciso Roiz, secretary to the 

 Spanish Embassy. The Physician in Ordinary to the Queen 

 100 ounces of gilt plate " over and above his usual allowance 

 unto him in regard of his extraordinary duty service and 



* Foreign ambassadors accredited to the Court of St. James's invariably 

 received a chain and medal of gold as a gift from the King of the value of 

 /■200. The secretaries of embassies also were presented with a similar gift of 

 the value of ;{'iio. 



Cheveley. 



Henry Earl of 

 St. Albans. 



The Royal 

 Jewel House, 



