44 Pearls. 



Nancy in 1475, was so covered with diamonds and 

 Pearls as to be worth the value of a " whole duchy." 



At the famous meeting between Henry VIII. 

 and Francis I. on the Field of the Cloth of Gold 

 (a.d. 1520), the banqueting chamber was hung with 

 tissue raised with silver, and framed with cloth of 

 silver raised with gold ; w^hile the seams were 

 covered with broad wreaths of goldsmith's work, 

 set with precious stones and Pearls. The foot carpet 

 of the English Queen's Throne was also embroidered 

 with Pearls. When Henry VIII. met his bride, 

 Anne of Cleves, he wore, we are told, a coat of 

 purple velvet, embroidered in gold and clasped with 

 great buttons of diamonds, rubies, and Oriental Pearls ; 

 and a collar richly ornamented with Pearls and precious 

 stones. Anne of Cleves' wedding dress was a gown 

 of cloth of gold thickly embroidered with large 

 flowers of Pearls. Queen Mary wore at her wedding 

 a dress richly brocaded in gold, and a train mag- 

 nificently bordered with Pearls and diamonds. 

 The sleeves were turned up with clusters of gold 

 set with Pearls and diamonds. Elizabeth wore at a 

 tournament given in Mary's reign, on December 

 29th, 1554, a white satin dress decorated with 

 large Pearls. 



Queen Elizabeth had a perfect passion for or- 

 naments, especially jewellery of all kinds, and her 



