THE BLACK PRINCE'S RUBY. 173
Bridge.
It was a mass of precious stones. At the back of the lower band was a
large sapÂphire, one of the Stuart relics, and in front gleamed the
fire-red stone which had looked down in Agincourt from the helmet of
Henry v. The last coronation although it occurred half a century ago is
familiar to us owing to the revivifying process of the Queen's Jubilee.
The crown, which was also made by Messrs. Rundell & Bridge, is less
heavy than that of George iv. by three pounds and more. We will not
enumÂerate its thousands of diamonds, its hundreds of pearls, and its
scores of rubies and sapphires. The ornaments consist of fleur-de-lys
and Maltese crosses done in diamonds. In the center of the lower band
of the crown is placed the large sapphire already mentioned and just
above it, in the middle of a superb cross composed of seventy-five
diamonds, gleams the famous Ruby. It stands out in bold relief and the
red flash of its rays gives the needful touch of color to the sparkling
mass of diamonds. The French say
