passing/through
half-a-dozen more hands, doubling its price at each change of
ownership, came into the possession of Pope Julius II. for the sum of
30,000 ducats, who placed the same in his tiara. Others again make this
the identical Austrian Yellow Diamond, which the reader must be
reminded is actually thrice the weight of the largest Diamond known in
the middle of the next century ! Besides Charles had lost " toutes ses
grandes bagues " at Granson. As to the recognition of his corpse, naked
and crushed ; that was done, says Comines, by an Italian his page, and
by his Portuguese physician, Luppa, from their knowledge of his person.
The Duke did indeed wear a ring upon the day of his death, though not
on his finger, neither was it a gem ring but his privy signet. Comines'
own words with their quaint conclusion ought to set this matter to rest
for ever :—" J'ay depuis veu un Signet, à Milan, que maintes fois avoye veu pendu à son pourpoinet, qui estoit un anneau et
y avoit un fusil * entaillé en un camayieu où estoient ses armes ;
lequel fut vendu pour deux ducats au lieu de Milan. Celuy qui le lui
osta lui fut mauvais valet de chambre ! "
The
capricious form recorded to have been given to the third stone, the "
triangle and heart " combined, has a striking analogy with the
ingenuity displayed in the devising of the figuration of the first. As
yet the inventor had no idea of improving the lustre of the Diamond :
his object was to display his victory over the hitherto invincible
material.f
