In 1572 Robert Dudley gave to his queen a tiny clock set in a bracelet, an object scholars believe to be the first wristwatch. While Dudley’s gift to Elizabeth i was striking in its innovation, it was not the only timepiece he or those in his circle gave her. Using the New Year’s Day “Gift Rolls,” only recently collected from disparate archives and transcribed from manuscript by Jane Lawson, I establish that Dudley and those associated with him turned to this particular form of gift more often than other Elizabethan courtiers. Using theories of gifting I go on to argue that courtly gift exchanges involving elaborate private clocks and watches allowed Dudley and his circle to suggest their unique usefulness to Elizabeth i by offering her ways to imagine their service and her sovereignty.

1572年，罗伯特·达德利（Robert Dudley）向他的王后赠送了一个镶在手镯上的小时钟，学者们认为这是第一枚手表。尽管达德利（Dudley）给伊丽莎白一世（Elizabeth I）的礼物令人惊讶，但它并不是他或他的同伴给她的唯一时计。使用元旦的“礼物卷”，这是最近才从不同的档案中收集并由简·劳森（Jane Lawson）抄录的手稿，我确定达德利和与他相关的人比其他伊丽莎白女王的朝臣更频繁地转向这种特殊形式的礼物。使用的馈赠我去理论，认为宫廷礼物交换涉及复杂的私人钟表允许达德利和他的圈子提出自己的独特用处伊丽莎白我 通过提供她的方式来想象他们的服务和主权。