In January, 1587, George Heriot married Christian, the daughter of Simon Marjoribanks, an Edinburgh merchant. On this occasion, his father gave him 1000 marks, with 500 more to fit out his shop and purchase implements and clothes, and he had 1075 marks with his wife. Their united fortunes amounted to about 214l. 11s. 8d., which Heriot’s last biographer says, was “a considerable sum in those days; but rendered much more useful by the prospect of his father’s business, which would at this time naturally be transferred to the younger and more active man.”
In May, 1588, Heriot became a member of the incorporation of goldsmiths. “Scotland which was then an independent kingdom, with a court in the metropolis, though poor in general, was probably in a state not less favourable to the success of Heriot’s occupation than at present. A rude magnificence peculiar to the age, atoned for want of elegance, by the massy splendour of its ornaments. The nobles were proud and extravagant when their fortunes would permit; and Ann of Denmark, the reigning queen, was fond of show and gallantry.” During this period, Heriot was employed by the court. In 1597, he was made goldsmith to the queen, and so declared “at the crosse, be opin proclamatione and sound of trumpet.” Shortly after, he was appointed jeweller and goldsmith to the king, with a right to the lucrative privileges of that office.
Heriot rose to opulence, and lost his wife; he afterwards married Alison, eldest daughter of James Primrose, clerk to the privy-council, and grandfather of the first earl of Roseberry. On the accession of James to the throne of England, he followed the court to London, where he continued to reside almost constantly. He obtained eminence and wealth, and died there on the twelfth of February, 1624, in the sixtieth year of his age, and was buried at St. Martin’s in the Fields.
Queen Ann of Denmark’s Jewels.
In a volume of original accounts and vouchers relative to Heriot’s transactions with the queen, there are several charges which illustrate the fashion of the times in these expensive decorations, viz.—
- For making a brilliant in form of a ship.
- For gold and making of a Valentine.
- A ring with a heart and a serpent, all set about with diamonds;
- Two pendants made like moore’s heads, and all sett with diamonds;
- A ring with a single diamond, set in a heart betwixt two hands.
- Two flies with diamonds.
- A great ring in the form of a perssed eye and a perssed heart, all sett with diamonds.
- One great ring, in forme of a frog, all set with diamonds, price two hundreth poundis.
- A jewell in forme of a butterfly.
- A jewell in forme of a lillye, sett of diamonds.
- An anker sett with diamonds.
- A jewell in form of a honey-suckle.
- A pair of pendants, made lyke two drums, sett with diamondis.
- A jewel, in forme of a jolley flower, sett with diamonds.
- A jewell in forme of a horne of aboundance, set with 6 rose diamondis, and 12 table diamondis.
- A ring of a burning heart set with diamondis.
- A ring, in forme of a scallope shell, set with a table diamond, and opening on the head.
- A pair of pendentis of two handis, and two serpentis hanging at them.
- A parrate of diamondis.
- A ring of a love trophe set with diamondis.
- Two rings, lyke black flowers, with a table diamond in each.
- A daissie ring sett with a table diamond.
- A jewell in fashione of a bay leaf, opening for a pictur, and set with diamondis on the one syde.
- A pair of lizard pendantis, set with diamondis.
- A jewell for a hatt, in forme of a bay leafe, all set with diamonds.
- A little watch set all over with diamonds, 170l.
- A ryng sett all over with diamondis, made in fashion of a lizard, 120l.
- A ring set with 9 diamonds, and opening on the head with the king’s picture in that.
Margaret Hartsyde.
In an account of “jewells and other furnishings,” which were “sould and deliuered to the Queene’s most excellent matie. from the xth. of April, 1607, to the xth. of February followinge, by George Heriote, her Highnes’ jewellor,” there is the following