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90
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PRECIOUS STONES.
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the marriage of one of the scions of the family, the bridegroom
presented gifts to each of the guests, consisting of diamonds, valued, in the aggregate, at nearly eighty thousand francs. Philip the Bold, on great public occasions, appeared in
jewels worth a fortune. His costume at the meeting with the Duke of Lancaster, of England, at Amiens, in 1391, as described by the chroniclers of the times, comprised a surcoat which was embroidered on the left sleeve with a branch bearing twenty blossoms made of pearls, rubies, and sapphires, and buds consisting of pearls. Other articles of his elaborate wardrobe were decorated with the same profusion of rich ornament, including a suit of crimson velvet, covered with rubies and sapphires, which was to be worn with chain and bracelets set with rubies. When regent of France, this luxurious prince indulged in the same reckless extravagance, and, as a consequence, died a bankrupt. Philip the Good surpassed his predecessor in the splendor of his ornaments and the magnificence of his retinue. His collection of gems was so large and varied that he is said to have worn at public receptions jewels valued at one million francs, and to have changed them each day of the week, so that, if diamonds were the choice of one particular day, rubies were selected for the next, sapphires for the third, and so on to the end of the week, according to the fancy of the owner. As a matter of course, his example was followed b»y the numerous suite that always attended him, making his court one of unparalleled splendor and luxury. Charles the Bold, the last Duke of Burgundy, exceeded all
the princes of this house in his acquisitions of precious stones. His ducal crown of pearls and diamonds was " worth a whole duchy." A mantle worn by this prince, covered with gold and diamonds, cost two hundred thousand ducats ; while the tent used in his campaigns was remarkable for the richness of its |
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