“For my babies’ presenting his mistresse, I sende an olde double crosse of Lorraine, not so rich as anciente, yet not contemtible for the valewe: a goodly looking-glasse, with my picture in it, to be hung at her girdle, quhiche ye must tell her ye have caused it so to be enchawnted by a vile magike, as, quhensoever she shall be pleased to look into it, she shall see the fairest ladie that ather her brother’s or youre father’s dominions can afforde.[[448]] Ye shall present her also,” James continues, “two faire long dyamonts, sett lyke an anker, and a faire pendant dyamont hanging at thaime; a goodlie roape of pearles,” a collar, or carcanet, of thirteen great ballas rubies, and thirteen knots or cinques of pearls; together with a “head-dressing, and two-and-twentie great pear pearls;” also, three pear-shaped diamonds, the largest of which was to be worn “at a needle,” in the middle of her forehead, and one in each ear.

His “babie,” the King decreed, was to have his own round brooch of diamonds, and he sent also a famous jewel called the “Three Brethren,” consisting of a great pointed diamond, with three great pearls attached to it, and a large pendent pearl; also, the “Mirror of France,” “the fellowe of the Portugal Dyamont,” which, says the King, “I would wishe you to weare alone in your hatte, with a little blakke feather. Ye have also,” he adds, “goode dyamont buttons, of your own, to be sett to a doublett or jerkin. As for your Ｔ, it maye serve for a present to a Don.”[[449]]

Steenie was furnished with a fair table diamond, which the King wanted to have given him before, but Buckingham had refused it; to this a “faire pewre pearl” was now suspended, “for wearing,” said the thoughtful monarch, more occupied with these details than with the good of England, “in thy hatte, or quhaire thow plessis; and if my babie will spaire thee the two long dyamonts in form of an anker, with the pendant dyamont, it were fitt for an admirall to weare, and he hath enough better jewels for his mistresse.”

Then follows a trait of the gentle Marchioness, quite in keeping with the whole of her character:

“Thow hes of thyne owne thy goode olde jewell, thy three pindars dyamonts, the picture-cace I gave Kate, and the greate dyamont chaine I gave her, quho wolde have sent thee the best paire she hadde, if I hadde not stayed her.”

Divers other jewels were to be sent with the fleet for presents, “for saving of chairges quhair have too much nede.” These were to be presents to Spanish grandees.

The King then concludes:—

“Thus ye see how, as long as I want the sweete comfort of my boyes’ conversation, I ame forced, yea, and delytes, to converse with thaime by long letres. God bless you both, my sweete boyes; and sende you, after a successful journey, a joyful and happie returne in the armes of your dear dad,

“James R.

“Dated from Newmarket, on Saint Patrick’s Day, quho of olde was too well patronized in the cuntrey ye are in.”