32 PRECIOUS STONES.
But
far more magnificent in his royal display of costly jewels, rich
raiments, and splendid caparisons, was the famous Tudor progenitor of
our present Monarch (if the chroniclers of that time—1540—may be
believed), the uxorious Henry VIII, who, as Hall relates, when he met
his new bride, the Princess Anne of Cleves, on Blackheath, January 3rd,
" was all ablaze with gold, and jewellery."
"
The King's Highness was mounted on a goodly courser, trapped in rich
cloth of gold, traversed lattice-wise square, all over embroidered with
gold of damask, pearled on every side of the embroidery ; the buckles,
and pendants were all of fine gold. His person was apparelled in a coat
of purple velvet, somewhat made like a frock, all over embroidered with
flat gold of damask, with small lace mixed between, of the same gold;
and other laces of the same so going traverse-wise ; which garment was
a rich guard, very curiously embroidered ; the sleeves, and breast were
cut, lined with cloth of gold, and ty'd together with great buttons of
Diamonds, Rubies, and Orient Pearl; his sword, and sword-girdle,
adorned with stones, especial Emerodes ; his night-cap garnished with
Stone ; but his bonnet was so rich with jewels that few men could value
them. Beside all this, he wore, in baudrick-wise, a collar of such
Balystes, and Pearls, that few men ever saw the like. And,
notwithstanding that this rich apparel, and precious jewels were
pleasant to the Nobles, and all other being present to behold, yet, his
princely countenance, his goodly personage, and royal gesture, so far
exceeded all other creatures being present that in comparison of his
person all his rich apparel was little esteemed."
