have
by command of our much honoured lord and master, the King, caused to be
handed to our dear and well-beloved cousin, Edward Somerset, Count and
Earl of Worcester, a ruby necklace containing ten large rubies and 160
pearls set and strung together in gold. Among the said rubies are also
two large diamonds, called the ' Sancì' and the ' Portugal! &c."*
The
" Portugal," of which nothing further is known, was probably the
above-mentioned stone received by Nicholas Harlai from Dom Antonio in
security for a large sum never repaid. It would thus became the
property of Harlai, and may have been sold by him to the English crown
when he disposed of the " Sanci " about 1590.
But,
however this be, the distinct reference here made to the " Sanci,"
while confirming Berquem's statement, brings the history of this stone
down to the reign of Charles II. There is an absurd statement current
in popular works to the effect that Charles' successor, James II.,
purchased the diamond from a Baron de Sanci, while residing at St.
Germain. But we have seen that it had passed from the Sanci family just
about 100 years previous to that time. James certainly did obtain
possession of the stone ; but that was either through purchase, or,
more probably gift, from the generous Earl of Worcester, its then
owner. All, however, are of accord that James, in his turn, sold it for
625,000 francs (£25,000) to Louis XIV. about the year 1695. From the "
Grand Monarque " it passed to his successor Louis XV.,
