,,finger-,,ring ,,lore ,,london3 ,,printed ,,by ,,spottiswoode ,,and ,,co41 ,,new-,,street ,,square ,,and ,,parliament ,,street ,,finger-,,ring ,,lore ,,historical1 ,,legendary1 ,,anecdotal ,,by ,,william ,,jones1 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,with ,,numerous ,,illustrations ,london ,,chatto ,,and ,,windus1 ,,piccadilly #ahgg ,,to ,,my ,,wife3 ,illustration3 ,a pledge of ,happy ,wedded ,life ,bon ,cur3 ,sans ,peur4 ,,preface4 ,i had intended to confine my observations exclusively to the subject of #8ring superstitions1' but in going through a wide field of olden literature ,i found so much of interest in connection with rings generally1 that ,i have ventured to give the present work a more varied1 and1 ,i trust1 a more attractive character4 ,the importance of this branch of archology cannot be too highly appreciated1 embracing incidents1 historic and social1 from the earliest times1 brought to our notice by invaluable specimens of glyptic art1 many of them of the purest taste1 beauty1 and excellency2 elucidating obscure points in the creeds and general usages of the past1 types for artistic imitation1 besides supplying links to fix particular times and events4 ,in thus contributing to the extension of knowledge1 the subject of ring-lore has a close affinity to that of numismatics1 but it possesses the supreme advantage of appealing to our sympathies and affections4 ,so ,herrick sings of the wedding-ring3 ,and as this round ,is nowhere found ,to flaw1 or else to sever1 ,so let our love ,as endless prove1 ,and pure as gold for ever6 ,it must be admitted that in many cases of particular rings it is sometimes difficult to arrive at concurrent conclusions respecting their date and authenticity3 much has to be left to conjecture1 but the pursuit of enquiry into the past is always pleasant and instructive1 however unsuccessful in its results4 ,one of our most eminent antiquarians writes to me thus3 #8,we must not take for granted that everything in print is correct1 for fresh information is from time to time obtained which shows to be incorrect that which was previously written4' ,my acknowledgments are due to friends at home and abroad1 whose collections of rings have been opened for my inspection with true masonic cordiality4 ,i have also to thank the publishers of this work for the liberal manner in which they have illustrated the text4 ,many of the engravings are from drawings taken from the gem-room of the ,british1 and from other museums1 and from rare and costly works on the ,fine ,arts1 not easily accessible to the general reader4 ,descriptions of rings without pictorial representations would 7as in the case of coins7 materially lessen their attraction1 and would render the book what might be termed #8a garden without flowers4' ,in conclusion ,i will adopt the valedictory lines of an old author1 who writes in homely and deprecatory verse3 ,,for ,,herde ,,it ,,is1 ,a ,,man ,,to ,,attayne ,,to ,,make ,a ,,thing ,,perfyte1 ,,at ,,first ,,sight1 ,,but ,,wan ,,it ,,is ,,red1 ,,and ,,well ,,over ,,seyne ,,fautes ,,may ,,be ,,founde1 ,,that ,,never ,,came ,,to ,,lyght1 ,,though ,,the ,,maker ,,do ,,his ,,diligence ,,and ,,might4 ,,prayeing ,,them ,,to ,,take ,,it1 ,,as ,i ,,have ,,entended1 ,,and ,,to ,,forgyve ,,me1 ,,yf ,,that ,i ,,have ,,offended4 ,,contents4 ,,chapter ,,page ,i4 ,,rings ,,from ,,the ,,earliest ,,period #a ,,ii4 ,,ring ,,superstitions #ia ,,iii4 ,,secular ,,investiture ,,by ,,the ,,ring #agg ,,iv4 ,,rings ,,in ,,connection ,,with ,,ecclesiastical ,,usages #aih ,v4 ,,betrothal ,,and ,,wedding ,,rings #bge ,,vi4 ,,token ,,rings #cbc ,,vii4 ,,memorial ,,and ,,mortuary ,,rings #cee ,,viii4 ,,posy1 ,,inscription1 ,,and ,,motto ,,rings #cij ,,ix4 ,,customs ,,and ,,incidents ,,in ,,connection ,,with ,,rings #dai ,x4 ,,remarkable ,,rings #deg ,,appendix #dii ,,illustrations4 ,,page ,egyptian gold signet-ring #b ,egyptian bronze rings #d ,egyptian signet-rings #f ,egyptian porcelain ring #i ,egyptian mummy1 rings on the fingers of an #aj ,egyptian gold ring from ,ghizeh #aa ,etruscan ring with chimer #ae ,roman-,egyptian ring #ae ,modern ,egyptian rings #ag ,modern ,egyptian ring with double keepers #ag ,etruscan ring representing the car of ,admtus #ai ,etruscan rings with serpents and beetle #ai ,etruscan ring with scarabus #bj ,etruscan ring with representation of two spirits in combat #bj ,etruscan ring with intaglio #ba ,greek and ,roman rings #bb ,late ,roman rings #bc ,ring found at ,silchester #bd ,ring of a group pattern #bd ,ancient plain rings #bd ,iron ring of a ,roman knight #be ,roman ring1 crescent-shaped #bf ,roman ring of coloured paste #bh ,gallo-,roman ring representing a cow or bull #bi ,roman thumb-ring #bi ,roman ring1 with a representation of ,janus #cb ,roman ring1 with figures of ,egyptian deities #cb ,roman ring1 with busts2 from the ,muse du ,louvre #cc ,roman ring1 with head of ,regulus #cd ,roman rings from ,montfaucon #cf1 #cg1 #ch ,roman ring in the ,florentine ,cabinet #ci ,roman #8memorial' gift-rings #da ,anglo-,roman #da ,anglo-,roman and ,roman rings #db ,roman rings found at ,lyons #dc ,roman bronze ring of a curious shape #dd ,roman key-rings #de ,roman rings1 with inscription and monogram #dg ,roman #8legionary' ring #dg ,roman #8legionary' ring #dh ,roman amber and glass rings #dh ,byzantine ring1 from ,montfaucon #di ,byzantine ring1 found at ,constantinople #di ,rings from ,herculaneum and ,pompeii #di ,roman bronze ring #ej ,roman #8trophy' ring #ej ,roman ring1 from the ,museum at ,mayence #ej ,roman key-rings #ea ,roman1 late1 from the ,waterton ,collection #eb ,anglo-,saxon rings #ec ,early ,british 787 ring found at ,malton #ed ,ring of ,king ,ethelwulf #ed ,anglo-,saxon rings #eh ,early ,saxon rings found near ,salisbury #ei ,south ,saxon ring found in the ,thames #fj ,ancient ,irish rings found near ,drogheda #fa ,early ,irish gold ring #fb ,the #8,alhstan' ring #fb ,anglo-,saxon ring found near ,bosington #fc ,rings found at ,cuerdale1 near ,preston #fd ,rings in the ,royal ,irish ,academy #fe ,spiral silver ring1 found at ,lago #ff ,ring found at ,flodden ,field #ff ,figured ring supposed to represent ,st4 ,louis #fg ,rings found in ,pagan graves #fh ,rings of the ,frankish and ,merovingian periods #fi1 #gj ,gold #8,middle ,age' ring1 from the ,louvre #ga ,rings on the effigy of ,lady ,stafford #gb ,enamelled floral ring #ge #8,merchant's ,mark' rings #ge1 #hg ,ring of the sixteenth century #gf ,ring of ,frederic the ,great #gf ,venetian ring #gf ,italian diamond-pointed ring #gf ,italian symbolical ring #gg ,venetian ring #gh ,east ,indian ring1 with drops of silver #gh ,indian rings #gi ,spanish ring #gi #8,giardinetti' or guard rings #gi ,french rings of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries #hj #8,escutcheon' ring1 ,french #ha ,french rings #ha1 #hb1 #hc ,moorish rings #hb ,bavarian peasant's ring #hd ,thumb-rings #hi1 #ij1 #aci ,divination-rings #aja1 #ajb ,roman amulet-rings #ajd1 #aje1 #ajg ,astrological ring #ajh ,zodiacal ring #aaj ,amulet rings #abf1 #ach1 #ada1 #aea1 #aeb ,charm-rings #acc1 #aec ,talismanic rings #acd1 #ace1 #acf ,cabalistic rings #aci1 #adg ,mystical rings #adj ,rings of the ,magi #adc ,rings with mottoes1 worn as medicaments #adh ,rings1 ,runic #aej ,toadstone rings #aeg1 #aeh ,cramp rings #afc1 #afe ,serjeant's ring #aij ,ring of the #8,beef ,steak' ,club #aic ,the ,fisherman's ,ring #aii ,ring of ,thierry1 ,bishop of ,verdun #bjd ,ring of ,pope ,pius ,,ii4 #bjf ,papal rings #bjh ,episcopal rings #bag1 #bbf1 #bcj1 #bca ,episcopal thumb-ring #bai ,ring of ,archbishop ,sewall #bbe ,ring of ,archbishop ,greenfield #bbe ,ring of ,bishop ,stanbery #bbf ,decade ring with figure of ,st4 ,catherine 787 #bdi ,decade thumb-ring #bdi ,silver decade ring #bej ,decade ring found near ,croydon #bej ,decade signet-ring #bea ,decade rings #bea1 #beb ,decade ring of ,delhi work #bec ,trinity ring #bed ,religious rings #bed1 #bee1 #bef1 #bfj1 #bfa1 #bfb1 #bfc #8,paradise' rings #beg ,reliquary ring #beg ,early ,christian rings #beh1 #bei1 #bfh1 #bfi1 #bgj1 #bga1 #bgb1 #bgc ,ecclesiastical ring #bfd ,pilgrim ring #bfd ,roman key-rings #bid ,hebrew marriage and betrothal rings #bii1 #cjj1 #cjb ,byzantine ring #cjd ,betrothal ring #cjg ,half of broken betrothal ring #cji ,jointed betrothal ring #cad ,gemmel ring1 found at ,horselydown #caf ,ring with representation of ,lucretia #cah ,wedding-ring of ,sir ,thomas ,gresham #cai ,gemmel ring #cai #8,claddugh' ring #cbj ,betrothal ring with sacred inscription #cba ,devices on wedding rings #cbb ,the #8,devereux' ring #cch ,the #8,essex' ring #cdb ,old mourning ring #cfj ,memorial rings1 ,charles ,i4 #cff1 #cfg1 #cgj ,royalist memorial ring #cgj ,memorial and mortuary rings #cgc ,squared-work diamond ring found in ,ireland #chj ,mortuary rings at ,mayence #cha1 #chb ,gold rings from ,etruscan sepulchres #chc ,ring found at ,amiens #chc ,ring found in the tomb of ,william ,rufus1 ,winchester ,cathedral #che ,ring discovered in ,winchester ,cathedral #che ,ring of ,childeric #chf ,motto and device rings #cij1 #djf ,posy-ring #cia1 #dag ,inscription rings #daj1 #daa1 #dab1 #dag ,new ,year's gift ring #dba1 #dbb ,poison-rings #dcc ,dial-rings #deb1 #dec ,signet-ring of ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 and the ,darnley ring #dfj ,supposed ring of ,roger1 ,king of ,sicily #dfe ,the ,worsley seal-ring #dfg ,ring of ,saint ,louis #dfi ,ring-devices of the ,medici family #dgb1 #dgc ,ring found at ,kenilworth ,castle #dgd ,heraldic ring #dha ,martin ,luther's betrothal and marriage rings #dha1 #dhb1 #dhc ,shakspeare's ring 787 #dhd ,initials of ,sir ,thomas ,lucy1 at ,charlecote ,hall #dhf ,ivory-turned rings #dhh ,squirt ring #did ,,finger-,,ring ,,lore4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,rings ,,from ,,the ,,earliest ,,period4 ,the use of signet-rings as symbols of great respect and authority is mentioned in several parts of the ,holy ,scriptures1 from which it would seem that they were then common among persons of rank4 ,they were sometimes wholly of metal1 but frequently the inscription was borne on a stone1 set in gold or silver4 ,the impression from the signet-ring of a monarch gave the force of a royal decree to any instrument to which it was attached4 ,hence the delivery or transfer of it gave the power of using the royal name1 and created the highest office in the ,state4 ,in ,genesis 7xli4 #db7 we find that ,joseph had conferred upon him the royal signet as an insignia of authority4#a ,thus ,ahasuerus transferred his authority to ,haman 7,esther iii4 #ab74 ,the ring was also used as a pledge for the performance of a promise3 ,judah promised to send ,tamar1 his daughter-in-law1 a kid from his flock1 and for fulfilment left with her 7at her desire7 his signet1 his bracelet1 and his staff 7,genesis xxxviii4 #ag1 #ah74 ,darius sealed with his ring the mouth of the den of lions 7,daniel vi4 #ag74 ,queen ,jezebel1 to destroy ,naboth1 made use of the ring of ,ahab1 ,king of the ,israelites1 her husband1 to seal the counterfeit letters ordering the death of that unfortunate man4 ,the ,scriptures tell us that1 when ,judith arrayed herself to meet ,holofernes1 among other rich decorations she wore bracelets1 ear-rings1 and rings4 ,the earliest materials of which rings were made was of pure gold1 and the metal usually very thin4 ,the ,israelitish people wore not only rings on their fingers1 but also in their nostrils#b and ears4 ,josephus1 in the third book of his #8,antiquities1' states that they had the use of them after passing the ,red ,sea1 because ,moses1 on his return from ,sinai1 found that the men had made the golden calf from their wives' rings and other ornaments4 ,moses permitted the use of gold rings to the priests whom he had established4 ,the nomad people called ,midianites1 who were conquered by ,moses1 and eventually overthrown by ,gideon 7,numbers xxxi471 possessed large numbers of rings among their personal ornaments4 ,the ,jews wore the signet-ring on the right hand1 as appears from a passage in ,jeremiah 7xxii4 #bd74 ,the words of the ,lord are uttered against ,zedekiah3 #8though ,coniah the son of ,jehoiakim1 ,king of ,judah1 were the signet on my right hand1 yet would ,i pluck thee thence4' ,we are not to assume1 however1 that all ancient seals1 being signets1 were rings intended to be worn on the hand4 #8,one of the largest ,egyptian signets ,i have seen1' remarks ,sir ,j4 ,g4 ,wilkinson1 #8was in possession of a ,french gentleman of ,cairo1 which contained twenty pounds' worth of gold4 ,it consisted of a massive ring1 half an inch in its largest diameter1 bearing an oblong plinth1 on which the devices were engraved1 #a inch long1 #f_/ajths in its greatest1 and #d_/ajths in its smallest1 breadth4 ,on one side was the name of a king1 the successor of ,amunoph ,,iii41 who lived about fourteen hundred years before ,christ2 on the other a lion1 with the legend 8,lord of ,strength10 referring to the monarch4 ,on one side a scorpion1 and on the other a crocodile4' ,this ring passed into the ,waterton ,dactyliotheca1 and is now the property of the ,south ,kensington ,museum4 ,illustration3 ,egyptian ,bronze ,rings4 ,rings of inferior metal1 engraved with the king's name1 may1 probably1 have been worn by officials of the court4 ,in the ,londesborough collection is a bronze ring1 bearing on the oval face the name of ,amunoph ,,iii41 the same monarch known to the ,greeks as #8,memnon4' ,the other ring1 also of bronze1 has engraved on the face a scarabus4 ,such rings were worn by the ,egyptian soldiers4 ,in the ,british ,museum are some interesting specimens of ,egyptian rings with representations of the scarabus1#c or beetle4 ,these rings generally bear the name of the wearer1 the name of the monarch in whose reign he lived1 and also the emblems of certain deities2 they were so set in the gold ring as to allow the scarabus to revolve on its centre1 it being pierced for that purpose4 ,colonel ,barnet possesses an ,egyptian signet-ring formed by a scarabus set in gold4 ,it was found on the little finger of a splendid gilded mummy at ,thebes4 ,in all probability the wearer of the ring had been a royal scribe1 as by his side was found a writing-tablet of stone4 ,on the breast was a large scarabus of green porphyry1 set in gold4 ,the ,rev4 ,henry ,mackenzie1 of ,yarmouth1 possesses an ,egyptian scarabus1 a signet-ring1 set with an intaglio1 on cornelian1 found in the bed of a deserted branch of the ,euphrates1 in the district of ,hamadn in ,persia4 ,the engraving is unfinished1 the work is polished in the intaglio1 and the date has therefore been supposed not later than the time of the ,greeks in ,persia1 circa #cbe ,b4,c4 ,illustration3 ,egyptian ,signet-rings4 ,the representations here given illustrate the large and massive ,egyptian signet-ring1 and also a lighter kind of hooped signet1 #8as generally worn at a somewhat more recent period in ,egypt4 ,the gold loop passes through a small figure of the sacred beetle1 the flat under-side being engraved with the device of a crab4' ,in the ,british ,museum1 in the first ,egyptian ,room1 is the signet-ring of ,queen ,sebek-nefru 7,sciemiophris74 #8,sebek' was a popular component of proper names after the twelfth dynasty1 probably because this queen was beloved by the people4 ,on ,assyrian sculptures are found armlets and bracelets2 rings do not appear to have been generally worn4 ,at a meeting of the ,society of ,biblical ,archology1 in ,june #ahgc1 ,dr4 ,h4 ,f4 ,talbot1 ,f4,r4,s41 read an interesting paper on the legend of #8,ishtar descending to ,hades1' in which he translated from the tablets the goddess's voluntary descent into the ,assyrian ,inferno4 ,in the cuneiform it is called #8the land of no return4' ,ishtar passes successively through the seven gates1 compelled to surrender her jewels1 viz4 her crown1 ear-rings1 head-jewels1 frontlets1 girdle1 finger- and toe-rings1 and necklace4 ,a cup full of the ,waters of ,life is given to her1 whereby she returns to the upper world1 receiving at each gate of ,hades the jewels she had been deprived of in her descent4 ,mr4 ,greene1 ,f4,s4,a41 has an ,egyptian gold ring1 formerly in the possession of the late ,mr4 ,salt1 belonging to the nineteenth dynasty1 probably from the ,lower ,country1 below ,memphis4 ,it is engraved with a representation of the goddess ,nephthis1 or ,neith4 ,another gold ring of a later period1 from the ,upper ,country1 dates1 probably1 from the time of ,psammitichus1 ,b4,c4 #fga to #fag4 ,in the collection of ,egyptian antiquities formed by the late ,r4 ,hay1 ,esq41 of ,limplum1 ,n4,b41 were two ,grco-,egyptian gold rings1 found1 it is conjectured1 in the ,aasa-seef1 near ,thebes4 ,one of these is of the usual signet form1 but without an inscription2 the other is of an ,etruscan pattern1 and is composed of a spiral wire1 whose extremities end in a twisted loop1 with knob-like intersections4 ,both these objects are of fine workmanship1 and are wrought in very pure gold4 ,sir ,j4 ,g4 ,wilkinson1 in #8,manners and ,customs of the ,ancient ,egyptians1' remarks3 #8,the rings were mostly of gold1 and this metal seems always to have been preferred to silver for rings and other articles of jewellery4 ,silver rings are1 however1 occasionally to be met with1 and two in my possession1 which were accidentally found in a temple at ,thebes1 are engraved with hieroglyphics1 containing the name of the royal city4 ,bronze was seldom used for rings2 some have been discovered of brass and iron 7of a ,roman time71 but ivory and blue porcelain were the materials of which those worn by the lower classes were usually made4' ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king observes3 #8,i have seen finger-rings of ivory of the ,egyptian period1 their heads engraved with sphinxes and figures of eyes cut in low relief as camei1 and originally coloured4' ,the porcelain finger-rings of ancient ,egypt are extremely beautiful1 the band of the ring being seldom above one eighth of an inch in thickness4 ,some have a plate in which in bas-relief is the god ,baal1 full-faced1 playing on the tambourine1 as the inventor of music2 others have their plates in the shape of the right symbolical eye1 the emblem of the sun1 of a fish of the perch species1 or of a scarabus4 ,some few represent flowers4 ,those which have elliptical plates with hieroglyphical inscriptions bear the names of ,amen-,ra1 and of other gods and monarchs1 as ,amenophis ,,iii41 ,amenophis ,,iv41 and ,amenmest of the eighteenth and nineteenth dynasties4 ,one of these rings has a little bugle on each side1 as if it had been strung on the beaded work of a mummy1 instead of being placed on the finger4 ,blue is the prevalent colour1 but a few white and yellow rings1 and some even ornamented with red and purple colours1 have been discovered4 ,it is scarcely credible that these rings1 of a substance finer and more fragile than glass1 were worn during life1 and it seems hardly likely that they were worn by the poorer classes1 for the use of the king's name on sepulchral objects seems to have been restricted to functionaries of state4 ,some larger rings of porcelain of about an inch in diameter1 seven-eighths of an inch broad1 and one-sixteenth of an inch thick1 made in open work1 represents the constantly-repeated lotus-flowers1 and the god ,ra1 or the sun1 seated and floating through the heavens in his boat4 ,at the ,winchester meeting of the ,archological ,institute in #ahde a curious swivel-ring of blue porcelain was exhibited1 found at ,abydus in ,upper ,egypt2 setting modern4 ,it has a double impression3 on the one side is the king making an offering to the gods1 with the emblems of life and purity2 on the other side the name of the monarch in the usual #8cartouche1' one that is well known1 being that of ,thothmes ,,iii41 whom ,wilkinson supposes to have been the ,pharaoh of ,exodus4 ,it is worthy of remark that this cartouche is #8supported' by asps1 which are usually considered to be the attributes of royalty4 ,illustration3 ,egyptian ,porcelain ,ring4 ,the annexed engraving represents an ,egyptian ring1 en pte cramique1 from ,m4 ,dieulafait's #8,diamants et ,pierres ,prcieuses4' ,the signet of ,sennacherib in the ,british ,museum is made of ,amazon stone1 one of the hardest stones known to the lapidary1 and bears an intaglio #8which1' observes the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 #8by its extreme minuteness1 and the precision of the drawing1 displays the excellence to which the art had already attained4' ,on a mummy-case in the ,british ,museum is a representation of a woman with crossed hands1 covered with rings2 the left hand is most loaded4 ,upon the thumb is a signet with hieroglyphics on the surface1 three rings on the forefinger1 two on the second1 one formed like a snail shell1 the same number on the next1 and one on the little finger4 ,the right hand carries only a thumb ring1 and two upon the third finger4 ,illustration3 ,rings on the fingers of a ,mummy4 ,sir ,j4 ,g4 ,wilkinson observes3 #8,the left was considered the hand peculiarly privileged to bear these ornaments2 and it is remarkable that its third finger was decorated with a greater number than any other1 and was considered by them1 as by us1 par excellence1 the ring-finger1 though there is no evidence of its having been so honoured at the marriage ceremony4' ,the same author mentions that rings were a favourite decoration among the ,egyptians2 women wore sometimes two or three on the same finger4 ,they were frequently worn on the thumb4 ,some were simple1 others had an engraved stone1 and frequently bore the name of the owner2 others the monarch in whose time he lived1 and they were occasionally in the form of a snail1 a knot1 a snake1 or some fancy device4 ,a cat--emblem of the goddess ,bast1 or ,pasht1 the ,egyptian ,diana--was a favourite subject for ladies' rings4 ,illustration3 ,egyptian ,gold ,ring1 from ,ghizeh4 ,one of the oldest1 if not the most ancient ring known1 is supposed to be that in the collection of ,dr4 ,abbot1 of ,cairo1 now preserved with his other ,egyptian antiquities at ,new ,york4 ,it is thus described by him3--#8,this remarkable piece of antiquity is in the highest state of preservation1 and was found at ,ghizeh1 in a tomb near the excavation of ,colonel ,vyse1 called ,campbell's tomb4 ,it is of fine gold1 and weighs nearly three sovereigns4 ,the style of the hieroglyphics within the oval make the name of that ,pharaoh 7,cheops1 ,shofo7 of whom the pyramid was the tomb4 ,the details are minutely accurate and beautifully executed4 ,the heaven is engraved with stars2 the fox or jackal has significant lines within its contour2 the hatchets have their handles bound with thongs1 as is usual in the sculptures2 the volumes have the strings which bind them hanging below the roll--differing in this respect from any example in sculptured or painted hieroglyphics4 ,the determinative for country is studded with dots1 representing the land of the mountains at the margin of the valley of ,egypt4 ,the instrument1 as in the larger hieroglyphics1 has the tongue and semi-lunar mark of the sculptured examples2 as is the case also with the heart-shaped vase4 ,the name is surmounted with the globe and feathers1 decorated in the usual manner2 and the ring of the cartouche is engraved with marks representing a rope1 never seen in the sculptures2 and the only instance of a royal name similarly encircled is a porcelain example in this collection1 inclosing the name of the father of ,sesostris4 ,the ,o in the name is placed as in the examples sculptured in the tombs1 not in the axis of the cartouche2 the chickens have their unfledged wings2 the cerastes its horns1 now only to be seen with a magnifying glass4' ,in a lecture to the deaf and dumb in ,st4 ,saviour's ,hall1 ,oxford ,street1 ,london 7,october #ahge71 on #8,eastern ,manners and ,customs1' amongst various relics exhibited was the hand of a female mummy1 on one finger of which was a gold ring1 with the signet of one of the ,pharaohs4 ,a gold ring exhibited at the exhibition of antiquities at the ,ironmongers' ,hall1 in #ahfa1 had hieroglyphics meaning #8protected by the living goddess ,mu4' ,among some interesting specimens of ,egyptian rings exhibited at the ,south ,kensington ,loan ,exhibition of #ahgb ,i may mention an antique ring of pale gold1 with a long oval bezel chased in intaglio1 with representation of a sistrum 7timbrel1 used by the ,egyptians in their religious ceremonies71 the property of ,viscount ,hawarden2 an antique ring of pale gold 7belonging to ,lady ,ashburton71 formed of a slender wire1 the ends twisted round the shoulders1 upon which is strung a signet1 in form of a cat1 made of greenish-blue glazed earthenware4 ,from the collection of ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith1 ,esq4 ,f4,s4,a41 an ancient pale gold ring1 with revolving cylinders of lapis-lazuli1 engraved with hieroglyphics2 the shoulders of the hoop wrapped round with wire ornament4 ,the ,waterton ,collection contains ,egyptian rings of various descriptions3 one of silver1 with revolving bezel of cornelian representing the symbolical right eye4 ,several rings of glazed earthenware2 one of gold1 very massive1 with revolving scarab of glazed earthenware1 partially encased in gold4 ,a gold ring1 the hoop of close-corded work1 revolving bezel with blood-stone scarab1 engraved with ,hathor and child4 ,the same engraving is on a gold signet-ring1 with vesica-shaped bezel1 and upon a white-metal ring1 where the figures are surrounded by lotus-flowers4 ,another gold signet-ring is engraved with the figure of ,amen-ra2 a probably ,egyptian white-metal ring1 with narrow oblong bezel1 engraved with a frieze of figures1 and winged ,genii1 divided by candelabra4 ,several of the ,egyptian rings in the ,museum of the ,louvre at ,paris date from the reign of ,king ,mris4 ,one of the oldest rings extant is that of ,cheops1 the founder of the ,great ,pyramid1 which was found in a tomb there4 ,it is of gold1 with hieroglyphics4 ,the ,egyptian glass-workers produced small mosaics of the most minute and delicate finish1 and sufficiently small to be worn on rings4 ,dr4 ,birch1 in a very interesting paper communicated to the ,society of ,antiquaries1 at the meeting of ,november #ag1 #ahgj1 observes1 with regard to the scarabi and signet-rings of the ancient ,egyptians1 that the use of these curious objects 7the exhibition comprising upwards of five hundred scarabs from the collection of ,egyptian antiquities formed by the late ,r4 ,hay1 ,esq41 of ,sinplum1 ,n4,b41 to which ,i have alluded7 dates back from a remote period of ,egyptian history4 #8,as it is well known1 they were not merely made in porcelain1 but also in steatite1 or stea-schist1 and the various semi-precious stones suitable for engraving1 such as cornelian1 sard1 and such-like4' ,in the time of the twelfth dynasty the cylindrical ring1 also found in use among the ,assyrians and ,babylonians1 came into vogue4 ,the hard stones and gems were of later introduction1 probably under the influence of ,greek art1 for the ancient ,egyptians themselves do not appear to have possessed the method of cutting such hard substances4 ,a few1 however1 exist1 which are clearly of great antiquity--as1 for example1 a specimen in yellow jasper now in the ,british ,museum4 ,the principal purpose to which these scarabs were applied was to form the revolving bezel of a signet-ring1 the substance in which the impression was taken being a soft clay1 with which a letter was sealed4 ,it is singular that some of these objects have been found in rings fixed with the plane engraved side inwards1 rendering them unfit for the purposes of sealing4 ,it is well known that the use of these scarabs was so extensive as to have prevailed beyond ,egypt1 being adopted by the ,phnicians and the ,etruscans4 ,on this subject the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king remarks that gold rings1 even of the ,etruscan period1 are very rare1 the signets of that nation still retaining the form of scarabi4 #8,the most magnificent ,etruscan ring known1 belonging once to the ,prince de ,canino1 and now in the matchless collection of antique gems in the ,british ,museum1 is formed of the fore-parts of two lions1 whose bodies compose the shank1 whilst their heads and fore-paws support the signet--a small sand scarab1 engraved with a lion regardant1 and set in an elegant bezel of filagree-work4 ,the two lions are beaten up in full relief of thin gold plate1 in a stiff archaic style1 but very carefully finished4' ,the ,waterton ,collection contains a gold ring of ,etruscan workmanship1 of singular beauty4 ,it is described by ,padre ,geruchi1 of the ,sacred ,college1 as a betrothal or nuptial ring4 ,it has figures of ,hercules and ,juno placed back to back on the hoop1 having their arms raised above their heads4 ,hercules is covered with the skin of a lion1 ,juno with that of a goat4 ,illustration3 ,etruscan1 with ,chimer4 ,illustration3 ,roman-,egyptian4 ,fairholt1 in #8,rambles of an ,archologist1' describes an ancient ,etruscan ring in the ,british ,museum1 with chimer on it opposing each other4 ,the style and treatment partake largely of ancient ,eastern art4 ,there is also in the same collection a remarkable ring having the convolutions of a serpent1 the head of ,serapis at one extremity and of ,isis at the other2 by this arrangement one or other of them would always be correctly posited2 it has1 also1 the further advantage of being flexible1 owing to the great sweep of its curve4 ,silver rings are rarer than those of gold in the tombs of ,etruria1 and iron and bronze examples are gilt4 ,all the ,hindoo ,mogul divinities of antiquity had rings2 the statues of the gods at ,elephanta1 supposed to be of the highest antiquity1 had finger-rings4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king describes a ring in the ,waterton collection1 of remarkable interest--apparently dating from the ,lower ,empire1 for the head is much thrown up1 and has the sides pierced into a pattern1 the #8interrasile opus1 so much in fashion during those times4 ,it is set with two diamonds of 7probably7 a carat each3 one a perfect octahedron of considerable lustre1 the other duller and irregularly crystallised4 ,another such example might be sought for in vain throughout the largest cabinets of ,europe4' ,after the conquest of ,asia ,alexander the ,great used the signet-ring of ,darius to seal his edicts to the ,persians2 his own signet he used for those addressed to the ,greeks4 ,xerxes1 ,king of ,persia1 was a great gem-fancier1 but his chief signet was a portrait1 either of himself1 or of ,cyrus1 the founder of the monarchy4 ,he also wore a ring with the figure of ,anaitis1 the ,babylonian ,venus1 upon it4 ,thucydides says that the ,persian kings honoured their subjects by giving them rings with the likenesses of ,darius and ,cyrus4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the late ,mr4 ,fairholt purchased in ,cairo a ring worn by an ,egyptian lady of the higher class4 ,it is a simple hoop of twisted gold1 to which hangs a series of pendant ornaments1 consisting of small beads of coral1 and thin plates of gold1 cut to represent the leaves of a plant4 ,as the hands move1 these ornaments play about the finger1 and a very brilliant effect might be produced if diamonds were used in the pendants4 ,the rings worn by the middle class of ,egyptian men are usually of silver1 set with mineral stones1 and are valued as the work of the silversmiths of ,mecca1 that sacred city being supposed to exert a holy influence on all the works it originates4 ,illustration3 ,modern ,egyptian ,rings4 ,a curious ring with a double keeper is worn by ,egyptian men4 ,it is composed entirely of common cast silver1 set with mineral stone4 ,the lowermost keeper1 of twisted wire1 is first put on the finger1 then follows the ring4 ,the second keeper is then brought down upon it3 the two being held by a brace which passes at the back of the ring1 and gives security to the whole4 ,illustration3 ,modern ,egyptian ,ring1 with ,double ,keepers4 ,tavernier states in his #8,travels' that the ,persians did not make gold rings1 their religion forbidding the wearing of any article of that metal during prayers1 it would have been too troublesome to take them off every time they performed their devotions4 ,the gems mounted in gold rings1 sold by ,tavernier to the ,king1 were reset in silver by native workmen4 ,the custom of wearing rings may have been introduced into ,greece from ,asia1 and into ,italy from ,greece4 ,they served the twofold purpose1 ornamental and useful1 being employed as a seal1 which was called sphragis1 a name given to the gem or stone on which figures were engraved4 ,the ,homeric poems make mention of ear-rings only1 but in the later ,greek legends the ancient heroes are represented as wearing finger-rings4 ,counterfeit stones in rings are mentioned in the time of ,solon4 ,transparent stones when extracted from the remains of the original iron-rings of the ancients are sometimes found backed by a leaf of red gold as a foil4#d ,the use of coloured foils was merely to deceive and impose upon the unwary1 by giving to a very inferior jewel the finest colour4 ,solon made a law prohibiting sellers of rings from keeping the model of a ring they had sold4 ,the ,lacedmonians1 according to the laws of ,lycurgus1 had only iron rings1 despising those of gold2 either that the ,king devised thereby to retrench luxury1 or not to permit the use of them4 ,the ,etruscans and the ,sabines wore rings at the period of the foundation of ,rome1 #gec ,b4,c4 ,the ,etruscans made rings of great value4 ,they have been found of every variety--with precious stones1 of massive gold1 very solid1 with engraved stones of remarkable beauty4 ,among ,etruscan rings in the ,muse ,nap4 ,,iii4 the table of one offers a representation1 enlarged1 of the story of ,admtus1 the ,king of ,pher in ,thessaly4 ,he took part in the expedition of the ,argonauts1 and sued for the hand of ,alcestis1 the daughter of ,pelias1 who promised him to her on condition that he should come to her in a chariot drawn by lions and boars4 ,this feat ,admtus performed by the assistance of ,apollo1 who served him1 according to some accounts1 out of attachment to him1 or1 according to others1 because he was obliged to serve a mortal for one year1 for having slain the ,cyclops4 ,illustration3 ,etruscan 7,admtus74 ,illustration3 ,representation of ,admtus4 ,illustration3 ,etrusca4 ,among rings taken out of the tombs there are some in the form of a knot or of a serpent4 ,they are frequently found with shields of gold1 and of that form which we call ,gothic1 that is elliptical and pointed1 called by foreigners ogive1 with raised subjects chiselled on the gold1 or with onyxs of the same form1 but polished and surrounded with gold4 ,there are some particular rings which appear more adapted to be used as seals than rings1 and they have on the shields1 relievos of much more arched1 and almost ,egyptian1 form4#e ,illustration3 ,etruscan4 ,illustration3 ,etruscan4 ,among the antique jewels at the ,bibliothque ,nationale at ,paris are two fine specimens of ,etruscan rings4 ,one is of gold1 on which is a scarabus in cornelian2 the stomach of the scarabus is engraved hollow and represents a naked man holding a vase4 ,the other is a gold ring found in a tomb at ,etruria1 of which the bezel1 sculptured in relief1 could not serve as a seal4 ,the subject is a divinity combating with two spirits1 a representation of the eastern idea of the struggles between the two principles of good and evil1 such as are found on numerous cylinders that come from the borders of the ,euphrates and the ,tigris4 ,this analogy between the religious ideas of the ,etruscans and those of the most ancient monuments of the ,east is not astonishing when it is shown that the ,etruscans1 the ancient inhabitants of ,italy1 were originally from ,asia4 ,the following engraving represents an intaglio on a scarabus ring1 of fine workmanship1 preserved in ,vienna4 ,at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute 7,may #c1 #ahej7 the ,dowager ,duchess of ,cleveland exhibited a curious ,roman ring of pure gold 7weight #ahb grains71 of which an illustration is given in the ,journal of the ,institute 7vol4 vii4 p4 #aij74 #8,it was found1 with other remains1 at ,pierse ,bridge 7,,ad ,,tisam71 county of ,durham1 where the vestiges of a rectangular encampment may be distinctly traced4 ,the hoop1 wrought by the hammer1 is joined by welding the extremities together2 to this is attached an oval facet1 the metal engraved in intaglio1 the impress being two human heads respectant1 probably male and female--the prototype of the numerous 8love seals0 of a later period4 ,the device on the ring is somewhat effaced1 but evidently represented two persons gazing at each other4 ,this is not the first ,roman example of the kind found in ,england4 ,the device appears on a ring1 apparently of that period1 found on ,stanmore ,common in #agha4 ,on the medival seals alluded to1 the heads are usually accompanied by the motto 8,love me1 and ,i thee10 to which1 also1 a counterpart is found among relics of a more remote age4 ,galeotti1 in his curious illustrations of the 8,gemm ,antiqu ,litterat10 in the collection of ,ficoroni1 gives an intaglio engraved with the words 8,amo te1 ama me40' ,illustration3 ,etruscan4 ,the following engravings represent3 ,a ring in the ,muse du ,louvre1 with a lion sculptured by a ,greek artist1 in an oriental cornelian2 the reverse has an intaglio of a lion couchant4 ,the second1 from the ,webb ,collection1 is that of an ancient ,greek ring1 of solid gold1 with the representation of a comic mask in high relief4 ,the other1 a gold ring with a bearded mask1 ,roman1 in the ,waterton ,collection at the ,south ,kensington ,museum--also in high relief--has the shoulders thickened with fillets1 engraved with stars4 ,illustration3 ,greek4 ,illustration3 ,greek4 ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,a singular discovery of ,roman relics was made in #ahbd at ,terling ,place1 near ,witham1 ,essex1 by some workmen forming a new road2 the earth being soaked by heavy rains the cart-wheels sank up to their naves4 ,the driver of the cart saw some white spots upon the mud adhering to the wheels1 which proved to be coins4 ,on further search a small vase was discovered in which had been deposited with some coins1 two gold rings1 which are interesting examples of late ,roman work2 and representations of these1 by ,lord ,rayleigh's permission1 were given in the #8,journal of the ,archological ,institute' 7vol4 iii4 p4 #afc7 and are here shown4 ,one of the rings is set with a colourless crackly crystal1 or pasta1 uncut and en cabochon2 the other with a paste formed of two layers1 the upper being of a dull smalt colour1 the lower dark brown4 ,the device is apparently an ear of corn4 ,illustration3 ,late ,roman4 ,the ,hertz ,collection contained a well-formed octahedral diamond1 about a carat in weight1 set open in a ,roman ring of unquestionable authenticity4 ,at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum1 in #ahgb1 ,john ,evans ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a41 contributed a series of seven rings1 gold and silver1 ,roman1 set with antique stones2 one very massive1 of silver and gold1 set with intaglio on nicolo onyx2 one with an angular hoop1 and another with beaded ornaments4 #8,though1' remarks ,mr4 ,fairholt1 #8a great variety of form and detail was adopted by ,greek and ,roman goldsmiths for the rings they so largely manufactured1 the most general and lasting resembled a ,roman ring1 probably of the time of ,hadrian1 which is said to have been found in the ,roman camp at ,silchester1 ,berkshire4 ,the gold of the ring is massive at the face1 making a strong setting for the cornelian1 which is engraved with the figure of a female bearing corn and fruit4 ,by far the greater majority of ,roman rings exhumed at home and abroad are of this fashion1 which recommends itself by a dignified simplicity1 telling by quantity and quality of metal and stone its true value1 without any obtrusive aid4' ,sometimes a single ring was constructed to appear like a group of two or three upon the finger4 ,mr4 ,charles ,edwards1 of ,new ,york1 in his #8,history and ,poetry of ,finger ,rings1' has given an example of this kind of ring4 ,upon the wide part of each are two letters1 the whole forming #8,,zhcaic1' mayst thou live6 ,illustration3 ,ring found at ,silchester4 ,illustration3 ,group ,pattern4 #8,the simplest and most useful form of rings1 and that by consequence adopted by people of all early nations1 was the plain elastic hoop4 ,cheap in construction and convenient in wear1 it may be safely said to have been generally patronised from the most ancient to the most modern times4' ,an engraving by ,mr4 ,fairholt represents #8the old form of a ring made in the shape of a coiled serpent1 equally ancient1 equally far-spread in the old world1 and which has had a very large sale among ourselves as a decided novelty4 ,in fact1 it has been the most successful design our ring-makers have produced of late years4' ,illustration3 ,ancient ,plain ,rings4 ,the statues of ,numa and ,servius ,tullius were represented with rings1 while those of the other ,kings had none2 which would induce the belief that the use of rings was little known in the early days of ,rome4 ,pliny#f states that the first date in ,roman history in which he could trace any general use of rings was in ,a4,u4,c4 #ddi1 in the time of ,cneius ,flavius1 the son of ,annius4 ,less than a century before ,christ1 ,mithridates1 the famous ,king of ,pontus1 possessed a museum of signet-rings2 later1 ,scaurus1 the stepson of the ,dictator1 ,sylla1 had a collection of signet-rings1 but inferior to that of ,mithridates1 which1 having become the spoil of ,pompey1 was presented by him to the ,capitol4 ,in ,rome every freeman had the right to use the iron ring1 which was worn to the last period of the ,republic1 by such men as loved the simplicity of the good old times4 ,among these was ,marius1 who1 as ,pliny tells us1 wore an iron ring in his triumph after the subjugation of ,jugurtha4 ,in the early days of the ,empire the jus annuli seems to have elevated the wearer to the equestrian order4 ,those who committed any crime forfeited the distinction1 and this shows us the estimation in which the ring1 as an emblem of honour1 was regarded4 ,illustration3 ,iron ,ring of a ,roman ,knight4 ,we are told of ,csar that when addressing his soldiers after the passage of the ,rubicon he often held up the little finger of his left hand1 protesting that he would pledge even to his ring to satisfy the claims of those who defended his cause4 ,the soldiers of the furthest ranks1 who could see but not hear him1 mistaking the gesture1 imagined that he was promising to each man the dignity of a ,roman ,knight4 ,gold rings appear to have been first worn by ambassadors to a foreign ,state1 but only during a diplomatic mission2 in private they wore their iron ones4 ,in the course of time it became customary for all the senators1 chief magistrates1 and the equites to wear a gold seal-ring4 ,this practice1 which was subsequently termed the jus annuli aurei1 or the jus annulorum1 remained for several centuries at ,rome their exclusive privilege1 while others continued to wear the iron ring4 ,in ,plutarch's ,life of ,caius ,marius he mentions that the slaves of ,cornutus concealed their master at home1 and hanging up by the neck the body of some obscure person1 and putting a gold ring on his finger1 they showed him to the guards of ,marius1 and then wrapping up the body as if it were their master's1 they interred it4 ,magistrates and governors of provinces seem to have possessed the privilege of conferring upon inferior officers1 or such persons as had distinguished themselves1 the right of wearing a gold ring4 ,verres thus presented his secretary with a gold ring in the assembly at ,syracuse4 ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,montfaucon mentions in his #8,antiquity ,explained' 7,english ,edition1 #agbb1 vol4 iii4 p4 #adf71 a ,greek seal-ring1 which has the shape of a crescent4 ,an illustration is here given of a similarly-formed ,roman ring1 with the letters ,q4 ,s4 ,p4 ,q41 ,quintanus ,senatus ,populusque1 from the #8,gemm ,antiqu ,litterat4' ,some wore rings of gold1 covered with a plate of iron4 ,trimalchion wore two rings1 one upon the little finger of his left hand1 which was a large gilt one1 and the other of gold1 set with stars of iron upon the middle of the ring-finger4 ,some rings were hollow1 and others solid4 ,the ,flamines ,diales could only wear the former4 ,during the ,empire the right of granting the privilege of a gold ring belonged to the emperors1 and some were not very scrupulous in conferring this distinction4 ,severus and ,aurelian granted this privilege to all ,roman soldiers2 ,justinian allowed all citizens of the empire to wear such rings4 ,but there always seems to have been a difficulty in restricting the use of the gold ring4 ,tiberius 7,a4,d4 #bb7 allowed its use to all whose fathers and grandfathers had property of the value of #djj1jjj sestertia 7#c1bcjl474 ,the restriction1 however1 was of little avail1 and the ambition for the annulus aureus became greater than it had ever been before4 ,juvenal1 in his eleventh #8,satire1' alludes to a spendthrift who1 after consuming his estate1 has nothing but his ring3-- ,at length1 when nought remains a meal to bring1 ,the last poor shift1 off comes the ,knightly ring1 ,and sad ,sir ,pollio begs his daily fare1 ,with undistinguished hands1 and fingers bare4 ,martial attacks a person under the name of ,zoilus1 who had been raised from a state of servitude to ,knighthood1 and was determined to make the ring1 the badge of his new honour1 sufficiently conspicuous3-- ,zoile1 quid tota gemmam prcingere libra ,te juvat1 et miserum perdire sardonycha8 ,annulus iste tuus fuerat modo cruribus aptus2 ,non eadem digitis pondera conveniunt4 ,the keeping of the imperial ring 7cura annuli7 was confided to a state keeper1 as the ,great ,seal with us is placed in custody of the ,lord ,chancellor4 ,with the increasing love of luxury and show1 the ,romans1 as well as the ,greeks1 covered their fingers with rings1 and some wore different ones for summer and winter1 immoderate both in number and size4#g ,the accompanying illustrations represent a huge ring of coloured paste1 all of one piece1 blue colour--one of the rings of inexpensive manufacture in popular use among the lower classes4 ,it is smaller on one side1 to occupy less space on the index or little finger4 ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,the following illustrates a supposed ,gallo-,roman ring of outrageous proportions1 similar to those complained of by ,livy 7xxxiii41 see ,appendix71 for their extravagant size4 ,it is of bronze1 and supposed to represent a cow or bull seated1 with a bell round the neck4 ,heavy rings of gold of a sharp triangular outline were worn on the little finger in the later time of the ,empire4 ,a thumb-ring of unusual magnitude and of costly material is represented in ,montfaucon4 ,it bears the bust in high relief of the ,empress ,plotina1 the consort of ,trajan3 she is represented with the imperial diadem4 ,it is supposed to have decorated the hand of some member of the imperial family4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king mentions a ring in the ,fould ,collection 7dispersed by auction in #ahfj71 the weight of which1 although intended for the little finger1 was three ounces4 ,it was set with a large ,oriental onyx1 not engraved4 ,illustration3 ,supposed ,gallo-,roman4 ,illustration3 ,roman ,thumb-ring4 ,juvenal alludes to the #8season' rings3-- ,charged with light summer rings his fingers sweat1 ,unable to support a gem of weight4 ,the custom of wearing numerous rings must have been at a comparatively early period3 it is alluded to both by ,plato and ,aristophanes4 ,according to ,martial1 one ,clarinus wore daily no less than sixty rings3 #8,senos ,clarinus omnibus digitis gerit1' and1 what is more remarkable1 he loved to sleep wearing them1 #8nec nocte ponit annulos4' ,quintilian notices the custom of wearing numerous rings3 #8,the hand must not be overloaded with rings1 especially with such as do not pass over the middle joints of the finger4' ,demosthenes wore many rings and he was stigmatised as unbecomingly vain for doing so in the troubled times of the ,state4 ,seneca1 describing the luxury and ostentation of the time1 says3 #8,we adorn our fingers with rings1 and a jewel is displayed on every joint4' ,as a proof of the universality of gold rings as ornaments in ancient times1 we are told that three bushels of them were gathered out of the spoils after ,hannibal's victory at ,cann4 ,this was after the second ,punic war4 ,according to ,mr4 ,waterton it is believed that gems were not mounted in rings prior to the ,,lxii4 ,olympiad4 ,nero1 we are informed1 during his choral exhibitions in the circus1 was attended by children1 each of whom wore a gold ring4 ,galba's guard1 of the ,equites1 had gold rings as a distinguishing badge4 ,rock crystal appears to have been much in use among the ,romans for making solid finger-rings carved out of one single piece1 the face engraved with some intaglio serving for a signet4 #8,all those known to me1' remarks the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king in #8,precious ,stones1' c41 #8have the shank moulded into a twisted cable2 one example bore for device the ,christian monogram1 which indicates the date of the fashion4 ,it would seem that these rings superseded and answered the same purpose as the balls of crystal carried at an earlier period by ladies in their hands for the sake of the delicious coolness during the summer heat4' ,stone rings were in common use1 formed chiefly of chalcedony4 #8,it is most probable1' remarks the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 #8that the first ideas of these stone rings were borrowed by the ,romans from the ,persian conical and hemispherical seals in the same material4 ,some of these latter have their sides flattened1 and ornamented with divers patterns1 and thus assume the form of a finger-ring1 with an enormously massy shank and very small opening1 sufficient1 however1 to admit the little finger4 ,and this theory of their origin is corroborated by the circumstance that all these ,lower ,roman examples belong to the times of the ,empire1 none being ever met with of an early date4' ,silver rings were common3 ,pliny relates that ,arellius ,fuscus1 when expelled from the equestrian order1 and thus deprived of the right of wearing a gold ring1 appeared in public with silver rings on his fingers4 ,among the ancient jewels in the ,bibliothque ,nationale at ,paris is a fine ,roman ring1 of which the bezel1 a cornelian graved hollow1 represents a ,janus with four faces4 ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,another ,roman ring1 also of gold1 is attributed to the epoch of the ,emperor ,hadrian4 ,the three golden figures represented on it are those of ,egyptian deities1 which have suffered under the hands of a ,roman jeweller4 ,it is1 however1 possible to distinguish them as one of the most important of the ,egyptian ,pantheon2 that is to say1 ,horus1 ,isis1 and ,nephtys4 ,isis-,hathor is shown with cow's ears2 she has near her ,horus-,harpocrates1 her son1 who is crowned with the schent2 the mother and child rise from a lotus flower3 on the left is ,nephtys1 crowned with a hieroglyphic emblem1 accidentally incomplete1 but the signification of which is the name even of this divinity1 #8the lady of this house4' ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,montfaucon1 in his #8,l',antiquit ,explique1' describes a ring with a gem engraved representing ,bellerophon1 ,pegasus1 and the ,chimra4 ,the hero1 riding on his famous horse1 in the air1 throws a dart at the monster below1 whose first head is that of a lion1 the goat's head appears on her back1 and her tail terminates in a large head of a serpent4 ,this ring was found on the road to ,tivoli1 among some ashes of a dead body4 ,illustration3 ,representation of a ring ornamented with busts of divinities4 ,from the ,muse du ,louvre4 ,montfaucon gives the contents of a ,roman lady's jewel box cut upon the pedestal supporting a statue of ,isis1 and amongst other rich articles for female decoration are1 for her little finger1 two rings with diamonds2 on the next finger a ring with many gems 7polypsephus71 emeralds1 and one pearl4 ,on the top joint of the same finger1 a ring with an emerald4 ,the ,roman ladies were prodigal in their display of rings3 we read that ,faustina spent #dj1jjjl4 of our money1 and ,domitia #fj1jjjl4 for single rings4 ,greek women wore chiefly ivory and amber rings1 and these were less costly and numerous than those used by men4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king remarks of ,roman rings that if of early date1 and set with good intagli1 they are almost invariably hollow and light1 and consequently are easily crushed4 ,cicero relates of ,l4 ,piso1 that #8while prtor in ,spain he was going through the military exercises1 when the gold ring which he wore was1 by some accident1 broken and crushed4 ,wishing to have another ring made for himself1 he ordered a goldsmith to be summoned to the forum at ,cordova1 in front of his own judgment-seat1 and weighed out the gold to him in public4 ,he ordered the man to set down his bench in the forum1 and make the ring for him in the presence of all1 to prove that he had not employed the gold of the public treasury1 but had made use only of his broken ring4' ,the signs engraved on rings were very various1 including portraits of friends and ancestors1 and subjects connected with mythology and religion4 ,in the reign of ,claudius no ring was to bear the portrait of the emperor without a special licence1 but ,vespasian1 some time after1 issued an edict1 permitting the imperial image to be engraven on rings and brooches4 ,besides the figures of great personages1 there were also representations of popular events3 thus1 on ,pompey's ring1 like that of ,sylla1 were three trophies1 emblems of his three victories in ,europe1 ,asia1 and ,africa4 ,after the murder of this great general1 his seal-ring1 as ,plutarch tells us1 was brought to ,csar1 who shed tears on receiving it4 ,the ,roman senate refused to credit the news of the death of ,pompey1 until ,csar produced before them his seal-ring4 ,illustration3 ,head of ,regulus1 between cornucopi4 ,on the ring of ,julius ,csar was a representation of an armed ,venus1 as he claimed to be a descendant of the goddess4 ,this device was adopted by his partisans2 on that of ,augustus1 first a sphinx2 afterwards the image of ,alexander the ,great1 and at last1 his own portrait1 which succeeding emperors continued to use4#h ,among the ancients the figures engraved on rings were not hereditary1 and each assumed that which pleased him4 ,numa had made a law prohibiting representations of the gods1 but custom abrogated the ordinance1 and the ,romans had engraved in their rings not only figures of their own deities1 but those of other countries1 especially of the ,egyptians4 ,the physician ,asclepiades had a ring with ,urania represented upon it4 ,scipio the ,african had a sphinx2 ,cornelius ,scipio ,africanus1 younger son of the great ,africanus1 wore the portrait of his father1 but as his conduct was unworthy of the character of his illustrious sire the people expressed their disgust by depriving him of the ring4 ,sylla had a ,jugurtha2 the ,epicureans1 a head of ,epicurus2 ,commodus1 an ,amazon1 the portrait of his mistress ,martia2 ,aristomenes1 an ,agathocles1 ,king of ,sicily2 ,callicrates1 a ,ulysses2 the ,greeks1 ,helen2 the ,trojans1 ,pergamus2 the inhabitants of ,heraclia1 a ,hercules2 the ,athenians1 ,solon2 the ,lacedmonians1 ,lycurgus2 the ,alexandrians1 an ,alexander2 the ,seleucians1 ,seleucus2 ,mcenas1 a frog2 ,pompey1 a dog on the prow of a ship2 the ,kings of ,sparta1 an eagle holding a serpent in its claws2 ,darius1 the son of ,hystaspes1 a horse2 the infamous ,sperus1 the rape of ,proserpine2 the ,locrians1 ,hesperus1 or the evening star2 ,polycrates1 a lyre2 ,seleucus1 an anchor4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 in #8,antique ,gems1' informs us that #8the earliest mention of a ring-stone in relief occurs in ,seneca1 who1 in a curious anecdote which he tells 78,de ,beneficiis10 iii4 #bf7 concerning the informer ,maro and a certain ,paulus1 speaks of the latter as having had on his finger on that occasion a portrait of ,tiberius in relief upon a projecting gem1 8,tiberii ,csaris imaginem ectypam atque eminente gemma40 ,this periphrasis would seem to prove that such a representation was not very common at the time1 or else a technical term would have been used to express that particular kind of gem-engraving4' ,among the discoveries made during some excavations at ,canterbury in #ahfh was a ,roman ring of exceedingly pure gold1 the stone being a very fine and highly-polished onyx1 engraved with a ,ganymede4 ,at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute at ,norwich in #ahdg a fine gold ,roman ring found at ,caistor was exhibited1 set with an intaglio on onyx1 the subject being the ,genius of ,victory4 ,the following illustrations of engraved ,roman rings are taken from ,montfaucon's #8,l',antiquit ,explique'3-- ,illustration3 ,gold ring1 with head of ,trajan1 radiated4 ,illustration3 ,silver ring1 with head of the ,empress ,crispina4 ,illustration3 ,head of the ,emperor ,gordian ,,iii4 ,illustration3 ,iron ring1 with head of ,socrates4 ,illustration3 ,gold ring1 with name1 ,vibian4 ,illustration3 ,iron ring1 representing a shepherd and goat4 ,illustration3 ,jupiter ,serapis4 ,illustration3 ,galba4 ,illustration3 ,pan and ,goat4 ,illustration3 ,hygeia4 ,illustration3 ,mercury4 ,illustration3 ,bust1 with inscription #8,lucilla ,acv4 ,sta4 ,virgo1' formerly in the collection of ,st4 ,genevive2 added to the splendid ,cabinet of ,antiquities at ,paris in #agif4 ,the following engraving 7from ,gorlus7 refers to the story of ,masinissa and ,sophonisba1 well known to classical readers4 ,she was betrothed at a very early age to the ,numidian prince1 but was afterwards married to ,syphax1 ,b4,c4 #bjf4 ,this warrior1 in a battle with ,masinissa1 was conquered1 and ,sophonisba became a prisoner to the ,numidian prince1 who1 won by her charms1 married her4 ,scipio1 fearing her influence1 persisted in his immediate surrender of the princess1 and ,masinissa1 to spare her the humility of captivity1 sent her a bowl of poison1 which she drank without hesitation1 and thus perished4 ,illustration3 ,ring with figures of ,masinissa and ,sophonisba4 ,the portraits of ,caligula and ,drusilla1 in an iron ring1 made to turn from one side to the other 7,gorlus73-- ,illustration3 ,caligula and ,drusilla4 ,a representation of ,victory1 suspending a shield to a palm-tree 7,gorlus73-- ,illustration3 ,roman ring of #8,victory4' ,with regard to the engraved representations on rings1 ,clemens ,alexandrinus gives some advice to the ,christians of the second century3 #8,let the engraving upon the stone be either a pigeon1 or a fish1 or a ship running before the wind1 or a musical lyre1 which was the device used by ,polycrates2 or a ship's anchor1 which ,seleucus had cut upon his signet2 and if it represents a man fishing1 the wearer will be put in mind of the ,apostle1 and of the little children drawn up out of the water4 ,for we must not engrave on them images of idols1 which we are forbidden even to look at2 nor a sword1 nor a bow1 being the followers of peace1 nor drinking goblets1 being sober men4' 7,see ,chapter ,,iv41 #8,rings in connexion with ecclesiastical usages1' religious rings47 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king remarks that #8the practice of engraving licentious subjects on rings was very prevalent in ,ancient ,rome4 ,ateius ,capito1 a famous lawyer of the ,republic1 highly censured the practice of wearing figures of deities on rings1 on account of the profanation to which they were exposed4' ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,the same distinguished writer mentions an antique gold ring now in the ,florentine ,cabinet1 set with a cameo1 which evidently shows that it belonged to some ,roman sporting gentleman1 who1 as the poet says1 #8held his wife a little higher than his horse1' for it is set with a cameo-head of a lady1 of tolerable work in garnet1 and on the shoulders of the ring are intaglio busts of his two favourite steeds2 also a garnet with their names cut in the gold on each side--,amor and ,ospis4 ,on the outside of the shank is the legend ,pomphonica1 #8success to thee1 ,pomphius1' very neatly engraved on the gold4 ,in the possession of ,captain ,spratt is a remarkably fine specimen of early ,greek work1 a large ring of thin gold1 set with an intaglio on very fine red sard1 oval1 of most unusual size1 representing a figure of ,abundantia beside an altar2 the edge of the setting slightly bended2 the stone held in its position by thin points of gold4 ,this most important gem is in its original gold setting1 and was purchased in ,june #ahde at ,milo1 where it had been found the previous year1 within a short distance of the theatre1 near the position in which the ,venus of ,milo had been discovered about thirty years previously4 ,such was the value attached by the ,romans to the setting of gems in rings1 that ,nonius1 a senator1 is said to have been proscribed by ,antony1 for the sake of a precious opal1 valued at #bj1jjjl4 of our money1 which he would not relinquish4 ,the taste for engraved gems1 #8grew1' observes the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 #8into an ungovernable passion1 and was pushed by its noble votaries to the last degree of extravagance4 ,pliny seriously attributes to nothing else the ultimate downfall of the ,republic2 for it was in a quarrel about a ring at a certain auction that the feud originated between the famous demagogue ,drusus1 and the chief senator ,cpio1 which led to the breaking out of the ,social ,war1 and to all its fatal consequences4' ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a gold ,roman finger-ring1 with two hands clasping a turquoise in token of concord3 this device1 a favourite one in medival times1 has thus an early origin4 ,in the same collection is a beautiful ,romano-,british gold ring1 chased to imitate the scales of a serpent1 which it resembles in form3 the eyelet-holes have been set with some coloured gem1 or paste1 now lost4 ,sometimes the decoration of a ring was not confined to a single gem4 ,valerian speaks of the annulus bigemmis1 and ,gorlus gives specimens2 one1 the larger gem of which has cut upon it the figure of ,mars1 holding a spear and helmet1 but wearing only the chlamys2 the smaller gem is incised with a dove and myrtle-branch4 ,engraved are two examples of the emblematic devices and inscriptions adopted for classic rings when used as memorial gifts4 ,the first is inscribed1--#8,you have a love-pledge1' the second1--#8,proteros 7to7 ,ugi1' between conjoined hands4 ,illustration3 ,roman #8memorial' gift-rings4 ,the annexed illustration represents a jewelled ring of gold1 considered to be of ,roman work4 ,it is formed with nine little bosses1 set with uncut gems1 emeralds1 garnets1 and a sapphire3 one only1 supposed to be a blue spinel1 is cut in pyramidal fashion4 ,illustration3 ,anglo-,roman4 ,a similar ring1 of gold1 found in ,barton1 ,oxfordshire1 may1 probably1 be ascribed to the same period of the ,roman rule in ,britain4 ,weight #c dwts4 #af grains4 7#8,archological ,journal1' vol4 vi4 p4 #bij47 ,illustration3 ,anglo-,roman4 ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,the ,roman ring here given must have been inconvenient to the wearer from its form1 but may have been used as a signet4 ,rings were chiefly used by the ,romans for sealing letters and papers2 also cellars1 chests1 casks1 c4#i ,they were affixed to certain signs1 or symbols1 used for tokens1 like what we call tallies1 or tally-sticks1 and given in contracts instead of a bill1 or bond1 or for any sign4 ,rings were also given by those who agreed to club for an entertainment1 to the person commissioned to bespeak it1 from symbola1 a reckoning2 hence1 symbolam dare1 to pay his reckoning4 ,rings were also given as votive offerings to the gods4 ,in #ahda a curious discovery was made at ,lyons of the jewel-case of a ,roman lady containing a complete trousseau1 including rings3 one is of gold1 the hoop slightly ovular1 and curving upward to a double leaf1 supporting three cup-shaped settings1 one still retaining its stone1 an ,arabian emerald4 ,another is also remarkable for its general form1 and still more so for its inscription1 #8,veneri et ,tvtele ,votvm1' explained by ,m4 ,comarmond as a dedication to ,venus1 and the local goddess ,tutela1 who was believed to be the protector of the navigators of the ,rhine2 hence he infers these jewels to have belonged to the wife of one of those rich traders in the reign of ,severus4 ,illustration3 ,roman rings1 found at ,lyons4 ,boeckh's ,inscriptions 7dating from the ,peloponnesian ,war7 enumerate in the ,treasury of the ,parthenon1 among other sacred jewels1 the following rings3 an onyx set in a gold ring2 ditto in a silver ring2 a jasper set in a gold ring2 a jasper seal1 enclosed in gold1 seemingly a mounted scarabus2 a signet in a gold ring1 dedicated by ,dexilla 7the two last were evidently cut in the gold itself72 two gem signets set in one gold ring2 two signets in silver rings1 one plated with gold2 seven signets of coloured glass plated with gold 7i4e4 their settings72 eight silver rings1 and one gold piece1 fine 7probably a ,daric71 a gold ring of #a drs4 offered by ,axiothea1 wife of ,socles2 a gold ring with one gold piece1 fine1 tied to it1 offered by ,phryniscus1 the ,thessalian2 a plain gold ring weighing dr4 offered by ,pletho of gina 7a widow's mite74 ,fabia ,fabiana1 a ,roman lady1 offered in honour of her granddaughter ,avita1 amongst other costly gifts1 two rings on her little finger with diamonds1 on the next finger a ring with many gems1 emeralds and one pearl2 on the top joint of the same ring1 a ring with an emerald4 #8,the notice of the two diamond-rings and the emerald-ring on the top joint of the ring-finger are1' remarks the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 #8very curious4 ,the pious old lady had evidently offered the entire set of jewels belonging to her deceased grandchild for the repose of her soul4' ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,the annexed engraving represents a remarkably fine ,roman bronze ring of a curious shape4 ,the parts nearest the collet are flat and resemble a triangle from which the summit has been cut4 ,the peculiarity of the ring is an intaglio1 here represented1 cut out of the material itself1 representing a youthful head4 ,the two triangular portions which start from the table of the ring are filled with ornaments1 also engraved hollow4 ,upon it is the word ,,vivas1 or ,mayest thou live2 probably a gift of affection1 or votive offering4 ,in many of the ,roman keys that have been discovered the ring was actually worn on the finger4 ,the shank disappears1 and the wards are at right angles to the ring1 or in the direction of the length of the finger4 ,illustration3 ,roman #8,key-rings4' ,when a person1 at the point of death1 delivered his ring to anyone1 it was esteemed a mark of particular affection4 ,the ,romans not only took off the rings from the fingers of the dead1 but also from such as fell into a very deep sleep or lethargy4 ,pliny observes3 #8,gravatis somno aut morientibus religione quadam annuli detrahuntur4' ,some have conjectured that ,spartian alludes to this custom where1 taking notice in the ,life of the ,emperor ,hadrian of the tokens of his approaching death1 he says3 #8,signa mortis hc habuit3 annulus in quo ,imago ejus sculpta erat1 sponte de digito lapsus est4' ,the ring1 with his own image on it1 fell of itself from his finger4 ,morestellus thinks they took the rings from the fingers for fear the ,pollinctores1 or they who prepared the body for the funeral1 should take them for themselves1 because when the dead body was laid on the pile they put the rings on the fingers again1 and burnt them with the corpse4 ,the custom of burning the dead lasted to the time of ,theodosius the ,great1 as ,gothofredus states4 ,macrobius1 who lived under ,theodosius the ,younger1 says the custom of burning the dead had quite ceased in his time4 ,the ,romans commonly wore the rings on the digitus annularis1 the fourth finger1 and upon the left hand1 but this custom was not always observed4 ,clemens ,alexandrinus remarks that men ought to wear the ring at the bottom of the little finger1 that they might have their hand more at liberty4 ,for ,pliny's account of this1 and other ring customs1 ,i refer the reader to the ,appendix at the end of this volume4 ,the clients of a ,roman lawyer 7remarks ,fosbroke71 usually presented him1 as a birthday present1 with a ring1 which was only used on that occasion4 ,rings were given among the ,romans on birthdays--generally the most solemn festival among them1 when they dressed and ornamented themselves1 with as much grandeur as they could afford1 to receive their guests4 ,persius alludes to the natal ring in his first ,satire1 in which a ring1 richly set with precious stones1 figures as a part of the ceremonial4 ,the gladiators often wore heavy rings1 a blow from which was sometimes fatal4 ,the ring of the first barbarian chief who entered and sacked ,rome was a curious cornelian inscribed #8,alaricus rex ,gothorum4' ,in the famous ,castellani ,collection of ,antiques1 now in the ,british ,museum1 are some splendid specimens of ,roman rings3 one with an uncut crystal of diamond1 a stone of great rarity1 and highly prized2 also a minute votive ring set with a cameo1 which probably adorned the finger of a statuette2 a curious double ring for two fingers4 ,the early ,christian rings are very remarkable2 one has a crossed #8,p' in gold1 formerly filled with stones or enamel2 another has an anchor for device1 and one a ship1 emblematic of the ,church4 ,amongst the ,greek rings in this superb collection is the most splendid intaglio1 on gold1 ever discovered2 the bust of some ,berenice or ,arsinoe side by side with that of ,serapis2 the ring itself1 plain and very massive1 is1 as the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king observes1 #8a truly royal signet4' ,a ring in the ,londesborough ,collection bears the ,labarum1 the oldest monogram of ,christianity1 derived from the vision in which ,constantine believed he saw the sacred emblem1 and placed it on his standard with the motto1 #8,in hoc signo vinces4' ,this ring came from the ,roman sepulchre of an early ,christian4 ,an engraving of another ring in the same collection of massive silver is inscribed ,,sabbina1 most probably a love-gift4 ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,the following represents a bronze #8legionary' ring1 of oval form1 with flattened bezel1 supposed to be ,early ,christian2 obtained from ,rome 7#8,arch4 ,journal1' vol4 xxvi4 p4 #adf73-- ,illustration3 ,roman #8,legionary' ring4 ,another1 of the same description1 is more elaborate3-- ,illustration3 ,roman #8,legionary' ring4 ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,the collections of our ,english antiquaries contain numerous specimens of ,roman rings4 ,at ,uriconium several have been found of very varied materials4 ,rings formed of bone1 amber1#aj and glass were provided for the poorer people1 as was the case in ancient ,egypt4 ,illustration3 ,roman amber and glass rings4 ,in the later period of the ,roman empire a more ostentatious decoration of rings1 derived from ,byzantium1 became common4 ,in ,montfaucon we find illustrations of this change from the classical simplicity of earlier times4 ,a specimen of this character is given by ,montfaucon3-- ,illustration3 ,byzantine4 ,the annexed represents a gold ring1 probably of the fifth or sixth century1 found at ,constantinople 7#8,arch4 ,journal1' vol4 xxvi4 p4 #adf73-- ,illustration3 ,byzantine4 ,in the ,museum at ,naples are two fine specimens of rings discovered at ,herculaneum and ,pompeii1 illustrations of which are here given from the work of ,m4 ,louis ,barr1 #8,herculaneum et ,pompeii' 7,paris1 #ahci-dj73-- ,illustration3 ,rings from ,herculaneum and ,pompeii4 ,a bronze ring is curious from having similar ornaments to those of the horse-furniture discovered some years ago at ,stanwick1 on the estates of the ,duke of ,northumberland in ,yorkshire1 and which are analogous in the character of their design to those found in ,roman places of sepulture in ,rhenish ,germany4 ,illustration3 ,roman4 ,representation of a #8trophy' ring in the ,museum of the ,hermitage1 ,st4 ,petersburg2 the figure of a lion on the convex2 on the reverse a trophy3-- ,illustration3 ,roman #8,trophy' ring4 ,illustration3 ,roman ring 7from the ,museum at ,mayence74 ,in the ,waterton ,collection are some valuable and curious specimens of ,greek and ,roman art in ring-manufacture4 ,these are composed of gold1 silver1 bronze1 iron1 lead1 earthenware1 amber1 vitreous paste1 jet1 white cornelian1 lapis-lazuli1 chrysoprase1 c4 ,amongst these will be seen some interesting ,roman rings for children2 one engraved with a rude figure of ,victory1 found at ,rietri1 in #ahef1 diam4 #i_/af in4 ,in the same collection are bronze #8legionary' rings--perhaps the number of a #8centuria1' some corps employed about ,rome1 where all the rings of this character connected with the collection have been found4 ,among the #8votive' rings in this collection1 is one in the form of a shoe1 inscribed ,,felix1 of bronze4 ,there are also specimens of rings with the key on the hoop1 to which ,i have alluded in the chapter on #8,betrothal and ,wedding ,rings4' ,one has a fluted pipe2 another has a key with two wards2 in another the key is riveted on the hoop4 ,illustration3 ,roman ,key-rings4 ,the earthenware rings are of brown or red4 ,the amber rings are of mottled deep red1 set with green paste4 ,those in vitreous paste are of pale blue1 transparent yellowish and transparent brown4 ,a #8jet' ring belongs to the late ,roman period4 ,a white cornelian ring has a smaller part of the hoop cut down1 so as to form an oval bezel1 on which is engraved a standing figure of sculapius4 ,a gold ring1 ,roman1 set with oval intaglio1 on cornelian1 of a trophy consisting of a horse's head bridled1 and two ,gallic shields crossed1 with the name of ,q4 ,cornel ,lupi1 is the seal of ,quintus ,cornelius ,lupus1 commemorating a victory over the ,gauls3 the setting is modern4 ,another gold ring1 with oval bezel1 set with an intaglio on yellow sard1 has a youthful bust1 full-faced2 on one side a spear1 on the other side1 in ,greek letters1 #8,hermai4' ,a gold ring with nicoli onyx is inscribed #8,,vibas ,,luxuri ,,homo ,,bone4' ,some of the #8,early ,christian' rings in the same collection are very interesting4 ,these are of silver1 bronze1 and lead4 ,one of silver has an octagonal bezel engraved with the ,agnus ,dei2 another1 of bronze1 has a square bezel inscribed #8,,vivas ,,in ,,deo'2 a bronze ring with oval bezel is chased with a lamb1 the shoulders and hoop chased so as to represent a wreath of palms2 another1 of bronze1 has a projecting octagonal bezel1 engraved with a dove and a star1 the hoop formed so as to resemble a wreath4 ,a massive bronze ring has the bezel engraved with the figure of an orante2 on the hoop is also a sigillum engraved with a cross4 ,one ring1 of lead1 has a flattened bezel rudely incised with a cross4 ,the following engraving represents the fore-finger1 from a bronze statue1 of late ,roman workmanship1 on which a large ring is seen on the second joint4 ,a similar custom prevails in ,germany4 ,illustration3 ,late ,roman 7from the ,waterton ,collection74 ,the latest #8surprise' in regard to rings is that in connection with ,dr4 ,schliemann's discovery of antiquities upon the presumed site of ,troy4 ,the ,doctor1 in ,june #ahgc1 after indefatigable exertions in excavating1 came upon a trouvaille consisting of ancient relics of great rarity1 value1 and importance1 including finger-rings1 of which1 as ,i have mentioned1 the ,homeric writings make no mention4 ,these were found among a marvellous assemblage of bronze1 silver1 and gold objects1 which lay together in a heap within a small space4 ,this seemed to indicate that they had originally been packed in a chest which had perished in a conflagration 7most of the articles having been exposed to the action of fire71 a bronze key being found near them4 ,the period to which these objects belong is the subject of much controversy1 but their origin must date from a very remote period4 99 99 99 99 99 ,among our ,british1 ,saxon1 and ,medival ancestors1 rings were in common use4 ,pliny 7#8,hist4 ,nat4' lib4 xxxiii4 c4 #f7 mentions1 that the ,britons wore the ring on the middle finger4 ,in the account of the gold1 silver1 and jewellery belonging to ,edward the ,first is mentioned #8a gold ring with a sapphire1 the workmanship of ,st4 ,dunstan4' ,aldhelm1 #8,de ,laud4 ,virg4'1 describes a lady with bracelets1 necklaces1 and rings set with gems on her fingers4 ,rings are frequently mentioned in the ,anglo-,saxon annals4 ,they appear to have been worn then on the finger next to the little finger1 and on the right hand--for a ,saxon bard calls that the golden finger--and we find recorded that a right hand was once cut off on account of this ornament4 ,illustration3 ,anglo-,saxon4 ,illustration3 ,early ,british 787 ring1 found at ,malton4 ,it was not uncommon for ,saxon gold rings to have the name of the owner for a legend4 ,some of the rings of the ,anglo-,saxon period which have been discovered would not discredit the workmanship of a modern artificer4 ,one of the most interesting relics of enamelled art which is exhibited in the medal room of the ,british ,museum is the gold ring of ,ethelwulf1 ,king of ,wessex 7,a4,d4 #hcg-heg71 the father of ,alfred the ,great4 ,it was found in the parish of ,laverstock1 ,hampshire1 in a cart-rut1 where it had become much crushed and defaced4 ,its weight is #aa dwts4 #ad grains4 ,this ring was presented to the ,british ,museum by ,lord ,radnor1 in #ahbi4 ,ethelwulf became later in life a monk at ,winchester1 where he had been educated1 and he died there4 ,no reasonable ground can be alleged for doubting the authenticity of this ring4#aa ,illustration3 ,ring of ,ethelwulf4 ,m4 de ,laborde1 in his #8,notice des maux1 c41 du ,louvre1' considers the character of the design and ornament to be ,saxon2 and there is every reason to suppose it was the work of a ,saxon artist4 ,in connexion with this valuable relic is the gold ring of thelswith1 ,queen of ,mercia1 the property of the ,rev4 ,w4 ,greenwell1 ,f4,s4,a41 by whom it was exhibited at a meeting of the ,society of ,antiquaries in ,january #ahge4 ,on this occasion1 ,a4 ,w4 ,franks1 ,esq41 ,director of the ,society1 made the following observations3--#8,this ring is one of the most remarkable relics of antiquity that has appeared in our rooms for many years past4 #8,it was ploughed up in ,yorkshire1 between ,aberford and ,sherburn in the ,west ,riding1 and it is said that the fortunate finder attached it to the collar of his dog as an ornament4 ,it is of gold1 weighing #cab grains2 the outer surface is engraved1 and partly filled up with niello4 ,in the centre of the bezel is the ,agnus ,dei1 accompanied by the letters ,a4,d4 ,the second letter has a stroke passing through it1 so as to resemble the ,saxon th4 ,if this stroke is not to be considered a simple contraction1 it may be intended for or 4 ,in the half circle on each side are conventional animals or monsters2 the whole is surrounded by a border of dots1 much worn in places4 ,the most remarkable part of the ring1 however1 is the inscription within1 which is in letters large in proportion to the surface they occupy1 and which read ,,eathelsvith ,,regna4 ,these letters1 excepting the two last1 are in double outline4 ,the engraver seems to have miscalculated the space necessary1 and has left out one letter towards the end and given the ,,na in single lines2 or1 perhaps1 the ,i and the ,n are combined in a monogram4 #8,the inscription is perfectly genuine1 and we have1 therefore1 before us the ring of ,queen thelswith4 ,the only person to whom1 with any probability1 this inscription can be applied is thelswith1 daughter of ,ethelwulf1 and wife of ,burgred or ,burhred1 ,king of ,mercia4 ,she was thus sister to ,alfred the ,great4 ,according to the ,anglo-,saxon ,chronicle1 under the year #hec 7#hed71 ,burhred1 ,king of the ,mercians1 prayed in that year ,king ,ethelwulf to aid him in reducing the ,north ,welsh to obedience1 which he did2 the ,easter after which ,king ,ethelwulf gave his daughter in marriage to ,burhred4 ,she appears as witness to the charter of ,burhred in #hee and #heg1 and #hff and #hfi 7,kemble's ,codex1 cclxxvii41 cclxxviii41 cclxxx41 ccxci41 ccxii41 ccxcix474 ,in #hfh we have a charter giving to her faithful servant ,cuthwulf land in ,lacinge4 ,about #hgb-d she is witness to a charter of thelred1 ,duke of ,mercia4 ,in #hhh 7#hhi7 we learn from the 8,anglo-,saxon ,chronicle0 that she died3--8,and ,queen thelswith1 who was ,king ,alfred's sister1 died on the way to ,rome1 and her body lies at ,pavia40 #8,she was daughter of ,ethelwulf by ,osburh1 daughter of ,oslac1 the ,king's cup-bearer1 and must have been many years older than her brother ,alfred1 as he was only five years old at the time of her marriage4 #8,with regard to the inscription within the ring1 it may be noticed that it exhibits scarcely any traces of wear1 while the edges of the ring show marks of having been long worn4 ,the engraving 7which illustrates this explanation in the 8,proceedings of the ,society07 moreover1 scarcely looks like the work of a goldsmith4 ,i would1 therefore1 suggest that the ,queen had probably offered this ring at some shrine1 and the priests connected with the shrine had engraved her name within the ring1 to record the royal giver4 ,it could scarcely have been deposited in her tomb1 as she is recorded to have been buried at ,pavia4' ,in the rings of ,king ,ethelwulf and his daughter1 certain symmetrically-placed portions of the design are not filled with niello4 ,these may 7observes ,mr4 ,franks7 have been enriched with some coloured mastic now perished4 ,it has been habitual to describe the inlaying of ,ethelwulf's ring as blue enamel1 which is certainly an error4 ,enamel was very seldom employed by the ,anglo-,saxon jeweller1 and enamel and niello could with difficulty be applied to the same object1 on account of the different heat at which these two substances melt4 ,an illustration of the remarkable ring of the ,queen of ,mercia is displayed on the cover of this work4 ,rings were given in ,anglo-,saxon times to propitiate royal favours4 ,thus1 towards the end of the tenth century1 ,beorhtric1 a wealthy noble in ,kent1 left in his will a ring worth thirty mancuses of gold that the queen might be his advocate that the will should stand4 ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a plain silver ring1 inscribed on the top of the exterior of the hoop1 with the ,anglo-,saxon word #8,dolbot1' the meaning of which is1 compensation made for giving a man a wound1 either by a stab or blow4 ,this ring is ornamented by a simple wavy line1 and dots1 as if to represent a branch1 and was found in ,essex4 ,from its size1 probably a woman's ring--perhaps for injury1 or the death of her husband4 ,there are various nielloed rings of the ,saxon period2 notably a gold ring with an inscription1 and partly in runes1 meaning #8,alhreds owns me1 ,eanred engraved 7or wrought7 me1' now in the ,british ,museum1 which also has a gold ring with two facets1 found in the river ,nene1 near ,peterborough1 engraved in the ,archological ,institute ,proceedings for #ahef4 ,illustration3 ,anglo-,saxon4 ,plain wire rings were used by the ,south ,saxons2 specimens have been obtained in ,anglo-,saxon grave-mounds in ,england1 and others1 identical in form1 in the old ,saxon cemeteries in ,germany4 ,mr4 ,fairholt says3 #8,in the museum at ,augsburg are several1 which were found in cutting for the railway near that city4 ,one of the plain wire rings' 7the first of our illustrations7 #8was exhumed from a tumulus on ,chartham ,downs1 a few miles from ,canterbury1 in #aggc1 by the ,rev4 ,bryan ,faussett1 who says3 8,the bones were those of a very young person4 ,upon the neck was a cross of silver1 a few coloured earthen beads1 and two silver rings with sliding knots40 ,the second illustration--a wire ring1 twisted so as to resemble a seal ring--was discovered in a ,saxon cemetery on ,kingston ,downs1 ,canterbury4' ,illustration3 ,early ,saxon rings1 found near ,salisbury4 ,the simplest form of finger-ring worn by our ancestors1 consisted of a band of metal1 merely twisted round to embrace the finger1 and open at either end4 ,one of these rings found upon the finger-bone of an early ,saxon1 in excavating at ,harnham ,hill1 near ,salisbury1 was found on the middle finger of the right hand of a person of advanced age4 ,sometimes several rings were found on one hand4 ,among the bones of the fingers of the left hand of an adult skeleton was found a silver ring of solid form1 another of spiral form1 and a plain gold ring4 ,mr4 ,akerman1 who superintended these researches1 says3 #8,similar rings have been found at ,little ,wilbraham1 at ,linton ,heath1 at ,fairford1 and other localities4 ,they are1 for the most part1 of a uniform construction1 being so contrived that they could be expanded or contracted1 and adapted to the size of the finger of the wearer4' ,illustration3 ,south ,saxon ring1 found in the ,thames4 ,in the ,waterton ,collection is a very curious ,south ,saxon ring1 described as #8an elongated oval with a circular centre2 within the circle is the conventional figure of a dragon1 surrounded by four convoluted ornaments1 reminding one of the prevailing enrichments so lavishly bestowed on old ,runic ornaments1 at home and abroad4 ,four quaintly-formed heads of dragons occupy the triangular spaces above and below this centre4 ,the ground between the ornaments has been cut down1 probably for the insertion of niello or enamel colour4' ,it was found in the ,thames at ,chelsea in #ahef4 ,at a meeting of the ,royal ,archological ,institute in ,june #ahgc ,mr4 ,j4 ,j4 ,rogers exhibited some ,anglo-,saxon bronze rings which were found in a cave1 in the parish of ,st4 ,keverne1 ,cornwall4 ,the ,duke of ,northumberland possesses a beautiful ring of pale-coloured gold 7weight #aeg grains71 set with a ruby-coloured gem1 surrounded with filagree work1 the hoop beaded with small circles1 punched1 as on work of the ,saxon age4 ,it was discovered1 about #ahab1 by a boy who was ploughing1 near ,watershaugh1 ,northumberland1 and found the ring fixed on the point of his ploughshare4 ,in the collection of ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith1 ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a41 is a curious ,anglo-,saxon ring1 found about ten feet below the surface of the ground1 in making ,garrick ,street1 ,covent ,garden4 ,it is of gold1 the hoop nearly half an inch wide1 with a broad oval bezel1 expanding to #a-c_/af inches2 the gold pale1 alloyed with silver4 ,the whole is overlaid with funiform wire ornaments and granulated work2 on the bezel are four curves of beaded filagree radiating from the centre ornament1 and having smaller bosses of similar work between4#ab ,spiral elastic band rings of ,anglo-,saxon work have been found in considerable numbers in excavations4 ,douglas1 in his #8,nenia ,britannica1' describes many specimens under this term1 found by him in the graves of ,anglo-,saxon tribes4 ,illustration3 ,ancient ,irish rings1 found near ,drogheda4 ,in the earlier history of ,ireland we find instances of a wonderful development of artistic skill in goldsmith work4 ,the ,royal ,irish ,academy possesses some beautiful specimens of rings4 ,the ,londesborough ,collection includes two remarkable rings which were found with other gold ornaments near the remarkable tumulus1 known as #8,new ,grange1' a few miles from ,drogheda4 ,they were accidentally discovered in #ahdb by a labouring man1 within a few yards to the entrance of the tumulus1 at the depth of two feet from the surface of the ground1 and without any covering or protection from the earth about them4 ,another labouring man1 hearing of this discovery1 carefully searched the spot whence they were taken1 and found a denarius of ,geta4 ,the stone set in both rings is a cut agate4 ,aildergoidhe1 son of ,muinheamhoin1 monarch of ,ireland1 who reigned #cjgj ,a4,m41 is traditionally said to have been the first prince who introduced the wearing of gold rings into ,ireland1 which he bestowed on persons of merit who excelled in knowledge of the arts and sciences4 ,illustration3 ,early ,irish gold ring4 ,the engraving 7from the #8,archological ,journal1' ,june #ahdh71 represents a gold ring twisted1 or plaited1 of early ,irish work1 in the fine collection of antiquities of ,edwin ,hoare1 ,esq41 of ,cork4 ,illustration3 ,the #8,alhstan' ring4 ,the ,alhstan ring1 engraved and described in the #8,archologia' 7vol4 iv4 p4 #dg71 is in the ,waterton ,collection4 ,some observations on this very remarkable ring are given by that learned antiquary1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,pegge4 ,it was found by a labourer on the surface of the ground at ,llysfaen in ,caernarvonshire4 ,it is of good workmanship1 and weighs about an ounce4 ,it bears the inscription of ,alhstan1 which was a common ,saxon name4 ,mr4 ,pegge appropriates the ring to the ,bishop of ,sherborne of that name1 because the dragon of ,wessex1 apparent in the first lozenge1 was not only the device on the royal standard of ,wessex1 but the ,bishop of ,sherborne had often conducted armies under it1 having been much engaged in affairs of war4 ,the prelate died in #hfg1 in the beginning of the reign of ,ethelred ,i4 ,illustration3 ,anglo-,saxon ring1 found near ,bosington4 ,in the ,journal of the ,british ,archological ,association 7vol4 i47 is a cut of an ,anglo-,saxon gold-ring1 discovered at ,bosington1 near ,stockbridge2 it is of considerable thickness1 ornamented with rich chain-work1 and has in its centre a male head1 round which is inscribed #8,,nomen ,,ehlla ,,fid ,,in ,,xpo1'--my name is ,ella2 my faith is in ,christ4 ,it is now in the ,ashmolean ,museum at ,oxford4 ,illustration ,illustration ,illustration ,in #ahdj at ,cuerdale1 near ,preston1 some curious discoveries of coins and treasure were made1 considered to have been deposited about the year #iaj1 and the ornaments such as were worn about the time of ,alfred1 or somewhat earlier4 ,these included several rings1 representations of which are given in the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 iv4 p4 #abg74 ,one is merely a piece of metal hammered flat1 thinner and narrower at the ends1 and formed into a circle2 the ends lapping over1 but without any fastening4 ,it is entirely without ornament4 ,in some specimens the metal is hammered and bent into the form of a ring1 in the same manner as the flat one4 ,two rings are formed exactly like some armlets1 found at the same time2 the punch has had a triangular point1 and triangles conjoined at their bases having been struck side by side1 parallel rows of sunk lozenges have been produced4 ,another ring has been hammered into a small four-sided bar1 then twisted1 and ultimately formed into a ring1 the ends of which meet1 but have not been united4 ,in another ring two wires have been hammered into a roundish form1 tapering towards the ends1 which have been tied together4 ,each wire has been ornamented by transverse blows of a blunt chisel1 and has the appearance of being also twisted2 these two have been twined together to form one ring4 ,in a communication from ,mr4 ,worsaae1 of ,copenhagen1 to the #8,archological ,journal1' he observes that the triangular pattern with three or four points on the ,cuerdale rings differs totally from the designs on ,celtic1 ,roman1 or ,saxon remains1 and which never seems to occur on any objects found in the interior or southern parts of ,europe4 #8,to the instances which ,mr4 ,hawkins has already cited of similar patterns on silver objects found in ,denmark and in ,finland1 ,i can only add that ,i have seen precisely similar objects with the same pattern in ,ireland1 ,prussia1 and ,sweden1 and that in the interior of ,russia1 in tumuli in the neighbourhood of ,moscow1 the same patterns have been found on rings4 ,in nearly every instance these ornaments have been found along with oriental or ,cufic coins1 as in the case at ,cuerdale4' ,mr4 ,worsaae is of opinion that they are of eastern origin1 and were brought to the north in the same way as the oriental coins4 ,in the collection of antiquities of the ,royal ,irish ,academy there are two curious specimens of rings2 one1 like a ferule1 fluted both externally and internally1 so as to resemble seven plain rings1 attached to one another2 and their weight is #i dwts4 ,illustration3 ,rings in the ,royal ,irish ,academy4 ,the other is a five-sided bar of gold1 flat on the inside near the finger1 and angular externally2 weight #a oz4 #ab dwts4 #f grs4 ,this might be denominated a torque ring4 ,the following illustration represents a spiral silver ring1 found at ,largo1 weighing #abj grs4 ,it is shaped1 apparently1 by the hammer4 ,the edges are serrated4 ,a spiral ring found with ,saxon remains in ,kent1 engraved by ,douglas in his #8,nenia1' and another found in the ,isle of ,wight1 represented in the #8,winchester' volume of the ,archological ,association1 may be compared with the present example4 ,illustration3 ,spiral silver ring4 ,dr4 ,mantell has a massive gold ring1 supposed to have been worn on the finger1 formed of two square bars rudely twisted together1 and gradually diminishing in size towards the extremities1 where they are united together4 ,it was ploughed up at ,bormer1 in ,sussex1 and was presented to ,dr4 ,mantell by the ,earl of ,chichester4 ,it is represented in ,horsfield's #8,history of ,lewes1' plate iv4 ,similar rings of this description1 but differing in the fashion of the twist1 have been noticed as found in ,britain4 ,the resemblance between these ornaments and the gold #8ring-money' of the interior of ,africa is exceedingly curious4 ,illustration3 ,ring3 ,flodden ,field4 ,the annexed engraving 7from the #8,archological ,journal1' vol4 iii4 p4 #bfi7 represents a gold ring1 belonging to ,sir ,noel ,paton1 ,f4,s4,a41 ,scotland1 reported to have been found on the field of ,flodden3 weight #h dwts4 #ag grs4 ,other rings of a similar form have been discovered1 and #8they appear to offer some analogy with the torc of the ,celtic age4' ,the annexed illustration represents a remarkably fine ring engraved in ,chifflet's #8,anastasis ,childerici' 7#afee71 on the same page as that of the ,childeric ring 7described in the chapter on #8,memorial and ,mortuary ,rings'71 for purposes of comparison1 in carrying out his original theory1 that the supposed bees of ,childeric were1 by gradual transition1 converted into the figure known as the fleur de lys of a later monarchy1 as he endeavours to illustrate by numerous diagrams1 but he omits to say where this ring marked #8sapphirus' was originally found4 ,it is a mere supposition that the figure represents ,st4 ,louis1 but in ,montfaucon's #8,monuments de la ,monarchie ,franaise' 7,paris1 #agbi71 in a long disquisition on the origin1 c41 of the fleur de lys1 on referring to plate xxiii4 tom4 ii4 p4 #aeh1 where ,st4 ,louis #8instruit ses enfans1' his shield is noticed as bearing for the first time three fleurs de lys4 ,illustration ,sandford1 in his #8,genealogical ,history' 7pp4 #bgj1 #bhi71 says that ,henry the ,fifth1 being ,prince of ,wales1 #8did bear azure1 #c flowers de lys or1 for the ,kingdom of ,france1 reducing them from seme to the number #c1 as did ,charles ,,vi41 the present ,king4' ,among the old ,northmen rings were generally worn by rich people and persons of rank4 ,such rings are frequently found in barrows of pagan date1 and from their nature and quality it is easy to determine that they were generally of very simple workmanship2 the reason of which1 undoubtedly1 was that they were used instead of money in commercial transactions1 and had1 therefore1 not unfrequently to be cut asunder4 ,still1 rings of more artistic workmanship are sometimes found in pagan graves4 ,illustration3 ,gold4 ,illustration3 ,gold4 ,illustration3 ,bronze4 ,illustration3 ,gold1 enamelled and inlaid4 ,illustration3 ,gold4 ,illustration3 ,gold4 ,illustration3 ,gold4 ,the preceding cuts are taken from examples in the ,royal ,museum1 ,copenhagen1 of the curious twisted spiral rings alluded to1 found in the graves of the old ,northmen4 ,charlemagne sealed all his acts with his ring4 ,that of his son ,louis le ,dbonnaire had for inscription ,,xpe4 ,,prot,,ge ,,helldovicuni4 ,,imperatorem4 ,from the reign of ,hugh ,capet each ,king had his particular seal-ring4 ,st4 ,louis had for device a ring interlaced with a garland of lilies and daisies1 in allusion to his name and that of his queen4 ,two curious rings of early date are here represented3 one a seal-ring of the ,frankish period1 found near ,allonnes 7,sarthe7 bearing the monogram ,lanoberga2 the other1 of gold1 ,merovingian1 found in ,vitry-le-,franais1 supposed to be a conjugal ring1 with inscription4 ,illustration3 ,frankish period4 ,illustration3 ,merovingian4 ,the annexed illustration represents a gold ring1 in the ,bibliothque ,nationale at ,paris1 with the initials ,s4 ,r41 and supposed by the ,abb ,cochet 7#8,la ,normandie ,souterraine'7 to mean #8,sigebertus ,rex1' but which of the three ,sigeberts1 ,kings of ,austrasia 7the name given1 under the ,merovingians1 to the eastern possessions of the ,franks71 cannot be conjectured4 ,illustration3 ,merovingian4 ,to a similar period may1 perhaps1 be ascribed the ring found near ,blois1 represented in the following engraving3-- ,illustration3 ,merovingian4 ,the annexed cuts represent a gold signet-ring1 inscribed #8,heva1' and a seal-ring1 both of the ,merovingian period4 ,illustration3 ,merovingian4 ,a remarkable ring of the ,merovingian period1 now in the collection of ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith1 ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a41 was exhibited at the ,archological ,institute in #ahgd4 ,it is a massive gold ring1 with oval bezel #a inches long1 by #a inch in width1 set with an antique polished chalcedony of two layers1 the edges bevelled4 ,the setting is rather more than a quarter of an inch deep1 and is formed of a band of gold1 supported by perpendicular ridges1 made by folding another thick band1 or ribbon1 of gold2 a double row of pellets of gold1 and others on the shoulder of the hoop1 add to the rich effect of the whole4 ,the hoop is a somewhat rude angular band1 with a zigzag punched ornament round it4 ,this ring was found in the neighbourhood of ,bristol4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it was in the ,middle ,ages1 however1 after a period of comparative mediocrity1 that the greatest degree of perfection in goldsmiths' work1 and especially in rings1 began to display itself4 ,in the reign of ,edward ,,iii4 7#acfc71 so great was the extravagance in dress and decoration that an ,act was passed to repress the evil4 ,all persons under the rank of ,knighthood1 or of less property than two hundred pounds in land and tenements1 were forbidden to wear rings1 and other articles of jewellery4 ,illustration3 ,gold #8,middle ,age' ring1 from the ,louvre4 ,in the #8,vision of ,pierce ,ploughman1' written1 it is supposed1 about this date1 the poet speaks of a richly-adorned lady1 whose fingers were all embellished with rings of gold1 set with diamonds1 rubies1 and sapphires4 ,in a parchment roll of ,prayers to the ,virgin in the ,library of ,jesus ,college1 ,oxford1 which formerly belonged to ,margaret of ,anjou1 there is a portrait of that queen who is represented wearing two rings on each finger except the least1 placed on the middle as well as the third joint of the fingers--a fashion probably introduced by her1 and shown in the curious portrait of this queen on the tapestry at ,coventry4 ,in later ages we find the same practice of ornamenting the fingers with several rings4 ,in the description of a ,scottish woman of the middle of the sixteenth century1 attributed to ,dunbar1 we find3-- ,on ilkune fyngar scho weirit ringis tuo ,scho was als proud an ony papingo4 ,queen ,elizabeth had an immoderate love for jewellery2 and the description given of her dresses covered with gems of the greatest rarity and beauty reads like a romance4 ,for finger-rings she had a remarkable fondness4 ,paul ,hentzner1 in his #8,journey into ,england1' #aeih1 relates that a ,bohemian baron having letters to present to her at the palace of ,greenwich1 the queen1 after pulling off her glove1 #8gave him her right hand to kiss1 sparkling with rings and jewels--a mark of particular favour4' ,illustration3 ,rings on the effigy of ,lady ,stafford4 ,in ,bromsgrove ,church1 ,staffordshire1 are the fine monumental effigies of ,sir ,humphrey ,stafford and his lady 7#adej7--remarkable alike for the rich armour of the knight and the courtly costume of the lady4 ,she wears a profusion of rings2 every finger1 except the little finger of the right hand1 being furnished with one4 ,they exhibit great variety of design4 ,the two hands are lifted in prayer4 #8,in the ,duke of ,newcastle's comedy1' observes ,mr4 ,fairholt1 #8the 8,country ,captain0 7#afdi71 a lady of title is told that when she resides in the country a great show of finger rings will not be necessary3 8,show your white hand1 with but one diamond1 when you carve1 and be not ashamed to wear your own ringe with the old posie40 ,that many rings were worn by persons of both sexes is clear from another passage in the same play1 where a fop is described1 #8who makes his fingers like jewellers' cards to set rings upon4' ,the same custom prevailed in ,france4 ,mercier1 in his #8,tableau de ,france1' mentions that at the close of the eighteenth century enormous rings were worn4 ,the hand of a woman presented a collection of rings1 #8et si ces bagues taient des antiques1 elles offriraient un chantillon d'un cabinet des pierres graves4' ,he adds that #8the nuptial ring is now unnoticed on the fingers of women2 wide and profane rings altogether conceal this warrant of their faith4' ,so important a business was the making of rings that it was separated from the ordinary work of the goldsmith1 and became a distinct trade4 ,in the sixteenth century1 among the various articles carried by the pedlar rings were reckoned4 ,in ,heywood's #8,four ,,pp 7,a ,newe and a very mery ,enterlude of a ,palmer1 a ,pardoner1 a ,potycary1 and a ,pedler71' the ,potycary addresses the ,pedler3-- ,what the devyll hast thou there at thy backe8-- to which he replies3-- ,what dost thou not knowe that every pedler ,in all kinde of trifles must be a medler8 ,gloves1 pinnes1 combes1 glasses unspotty'd1 ,pomanders1 hookes1 and lases knottyed2 ,broches1 rynges1 and all maner of bedes4 ,the instances in which brooches and rings are mentioned together are numerous4 ,in ,scott's edition of ,sir ,tristrem 7pages #bc1 #bh7 we find3-- ,who gaf broche and beighe 7ring78 ,who but ,douk ,morgan8 ,a loud thai sett that sleigh ,with all his winning yare ,with broche and riche beighe4 ,in the ,chester ,mystery ,plays the shepherds do not know what to present to the ,babe of ,bethlehem1 and ,secundus ,pastor says3-- ,goe we nere anon1 with such as we have broughte1 ,ringe1 broche1 ner precious stoune1 ,let us see yf we have oughte to proffer4 ,and the #8first boye' adds3-- ,nowe ,lorde for to geve thee have ,i no thinge1 ,neither goulde1 silver1 broche1 ner ringe4 ,in the old ballad of ,redisdale and ,wise ,william the lady is enticed with rich presents3-- ,come down1 come down1 my lady fair1 ,a sight of you i'll see1 ,and bonny jewels1 broaches1 rings1 ,i will give unto thee4 to which she replies3-- ,if you have bonny broaches1 rings1 ,oh1 mine are bonny tee1 ,go from my yettes1 now1 ,reedisdale1 ,for me ye shall not see4 ,of the later period of ring decoration there are some splendid specimens in various collections4 ,mr4 ,fairholt1 in his #8,facts about ,finger-rings1' has given illustrations and descriptions of two rings of this character in the ,londesborough ,collection4 ,one is decorated with floral ornament1 engraved and filled with green and red enamel colours4 ,the effect on the gold is extremely pleasing1 having a certain quaint sumptuousness peculiarly its own4 ,the other specimen1 a signet-ring1 bears a #8merchants' mark' 7see notice of #8,merchants' marks' at the end of this chapter7 upon its face4 ,illustration3 ,enamelled floral ring4 ,illustration3 #8,merchant's' ring4 ,in the same collection is a ring1 doubtless a gage d'amour1 the hoop of which is richly decorated with quaint floriated ornaments1 cut upon its surface1 and filled in with the black composition termed niello1 once extensively used by goldsmiths in enriching their works4 ,this beautiful ring is inscribed within the hoop1 #8,mon ,cor ,plesor1'--#8my heart's delight4' ,there are two very beautiful examples of sixteenth century rings1 one in the ,londesborough ,collection1 which has a ruby in a very tall setting1 enriched by enamel4 ,the sides of the hoop are highly decorated with flowers and scroll ornament1 also richly enamelled4 ,the other ring is in the ,waterton ,collection1 gold1 enamelled1 set with a large turquoise in the centre1 and surrounded by six raised garnets4 ,this ring is said to have subsequently belonged to ,frederick the ,great1 ,king of ,prussia1 whose cipher is upon it4 ,illustration3 ,ring3 ,sixteenth ,century4 ,illustration3 ,ring of ,frederick the ,great4 ,rings of ,italian workmanship of a late period are remarkably beautiful4 ,venice particularly excelled in this art4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is a fine specimen4 ,the four claws of the other ring in open-work1 support the setting of a sharply-pointed pyramidal diamond1 such as was then coveted for writing on glass4 ,the shank bears a fanciful resemblance to a serpent swallowing a bird1 of which only the claws connecting the face remain on view4 ,illustration3 ,venetian4 ,illustration3 ,italian diamond ring4 #8,it was1' remarks ,mr4 ,fairholt1 #8with a similar ring ,raleigh wrote the words on a window-pane3 8,fain would ,i rise1 but that ,i fear to fall10 to which ,queen ,elizabeth added3 8,if thy heart fail thee1 do not rise at all0--an implied encouragement which led him on to fortune4'#ac ,the annexed engraving represents a gold symbolical ring of the sixteenth century1 enamelled1 of various colours4 ,illustration3 ,italian4 ,two rings are described by ,mr4 ,fairholt of a peculiar construction4 ,one1 of ,venice work1 is set with three stones in raised bezels2 to their bases are affixed1 by a swivel1 gold pendant ornaments1 each set with a garnet4 ,as the hand moves1 these pendants fall about the finger1 the stones glittering in the movement4 ,this fashion was evidently borrowed from the ,east1 where people delight in pendant ornaments1 and even affix them to articles of utility4 ,the other ring1 of silver1 is of ,east ,indian workmanship1 discovered in the ruins of one of the most ancient temples3 to its centre are affixed bunches of pear-shaped1 hollow drops of silver1 which jingle with a soft1 low note as the hand moves4#ad ,illustration3 ,venetian4 ,illustration3 ,east ,indian4 ,the ,indians prefer rings with large floriated faces spreading over three fingers like a shield4 ,when made for the wealthy1 in massive gold1 the flower leaves are of cut jewels1 but the humbler classes are content with them in cast silver4 ,representations are here given of these rings4 ,illustration3 ,indian4 ,in ,southern ,europe1 where jewellery is deemed almost an essential of life and the poorest will wear it in profusion1 though only made of copper1 the rings are curious and elaborate4 ,a ,spanish ring1 of the early part of the last century1 has a heart1 winged and crowned1 in its centre3 the heart is transfixed by an arrow1 but surrounded by flowers4 ,it may possibly be a religious emblem4 ,another ,spanish ring1 of more modern manufacture1 has a very light and elegant design4 ,the flowers are formed of rubies and diamonds1 and the effect is extremely pleasing4 ,such work may have originated the #8giardinetti' rings1 specimens of which are seen in the ,south ,kensington ,museum4 ,two are there described as ,english work of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries4 ,they appear to have been used as #8guards1' or #8keepers1' to the wedding-ring1 and are of pleasing floriated design1 and of very delicate execution4 ,illustration3 ,spanish4 ,illustration3 #8,giardinetti' rings4 ,annexed are representations of some remarkably fine rings 7,french7 dating from the close of the fourteenth century or the commencement of the fifteenth4 ,illustration3 ,french4 ,a handsome ring1 of silver gilt1 representing ,st4 ,george and the ,dragon1 belongs to the end of the fifteenth century4 ,there is a border of roses and fleurs-de-lys around the saint4 ,illustration3 ,french4 ,illustration3 ,french4 ,the following examples of ,french art of the sixteenth century are in the ,museum of the ,louvre3-- ,illustration3 ,french4 ,the annexed illustration represents an escutcheon ring 7from ,viollet le ,duc7 of the ,middle ,ages1 and is thus described by ,m4 ,chabouillet in his #8,catalogue ,gnral4' ,the ,cabinet of ,medals at ,paris possesses a ring dating from the commencement of the fifteenth century1 if one may judge from the form of the letters1 and that of the helmet engraved on the seal4 ,the ring is of massive gold2 the arms1 engraved hollow on the seal1 represent a shield1 charged with a dragon1 carrying 7perhaps7 some prey in his jaws4 ,on the two sides of the intaglio are two names--,,marin1 ,,pixian4 ,on the sides of the ring are two inscriptions in relief1 one only of which is legible1 and this is taken from ,st4 ,luke--#8,jesus autem transiens per medium illorum ibat4' ,illustration3 #8,escutcheon' ring4 ,french4 ,the accompanying are from ,chabouillet's #8,orfvrerie de la ,rnaissance1' in the ,fould ,collection 7dispersed by auction in #ahfj74 ,illustration3 ,french4 ,these engravings are from ,labarte's #8,orfvrerie du ,,xv4 et ,,xvi4 ,sicles'3-- ,illustration3 ,french4 ,illustration3 ,french4 ,the following represent rings in the ,muse ,sauvageot1 of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries2 one is elaborately wrought of chiselled iron1 of ,french manufacture--date1 #afth century4 ,illustration3 ,french4 ,the annexed are two fine specimens of comparatively modern date2 one ending in volutes near the bezel1 the other enamelled white1 red1 green1 and blue--a turquoise1 with diamonds and rubies in settings4 ,illustration3 ,french4 ,mr4 ,fairholt mentions two characteristic specimens of modern ,french ring-work2 one a signet ring1 the face engraved with a coat of arms4 ,at the sides two ,cupidons repose amidst scroll-work partaking of the taste of the ,rnaissance4 ,the same peculiarity influences the design of the second ring2 here a central arch of five stones1 in separate settings1 are held by the heads and outstretched wings of ,chimras1 whose breasts are also jewelled4 ,both are excellent designs4 ,illustration3 ,modern ,french4 ,illustration3 ,moorish4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is a triplicate of ,moorish rings1 which will enable us to understand their peculiarities4 ,one has a large circular face composed of a cluster of small bosses1 set with five circular turquoises and four rubies2 the centre being a turquoise1 with a ruby and turquoise alternating round it4 ,this ring is of silver4 ,another1 of the same material1 is set with an octangular bloodstone1 with a circular turquoise on each side4 ,there is1 also1 a silver signet ring1 bearing the name of its original owner1 engraved on a cornelian4 ,illustration3 ,bavarian4 ,in the ,south ,kensington ,museum is a massive and heavy brass ring1 with octagonal bezel armed with five projecting points1 used as a weapon by peasants in ,upper ,bavaria from about the year #agjj to the present time4 ,the ,indians prefer rings with large floriated faces1 spreading over three fingers like a shield4 ,when made for the wealthy in massive gold1 the flower leaves are of cut jewels1 but the humbler classes1 who equally love display1 are content with them in cast silver4 ,such a ring is in the ,british ,museum1 where there are also two specimens of rings beside it such as are worn by the humbler classes4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a curious gold ring1 bearing the impress a #8merchant's mark1' was exhibited by ,mr4 ,sully at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute of ,november #ahea4 ,it was found at ,st4 ,anne's ,well1 near ,nottingham1 and the date is about the time of ,henry ,,vi4 ,from a representation in the #8,journal' the impress appears to be composed of the orb of sovereignty1 surmounted by a cross1 having two transverse bars1 like a patriarchal cross4 ,the extremities of the lower limbs terminate with the ,arabic numerals1 #b--j1 the cipher being transversed by a diagonal stroke1 as frequently written in early times4 ,on one side of the hoop is seen the ,virgin and ,child1 on the other the ,crucifix2 these were originally enamelled4 ,within is inscribed--,mon ,cur avez4 ,weight #g dwts4 #ba grs4 ,a brass signet-ring found in the ,cathedral ,close at ,hereford1 bears for impress a kind of merchant's mark1 a cross1 with the lower extremity barbed like an arrow1 between the initials ,g4 ,m4--now in the possession of the ,dean of ,hereford4 ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a bronze signet-ring with a merchant's mark within a cable border3 the mark may be intended to represent a buoy1 which would accord well with the border1 supposing it to be a trader's cipher2 the hoop is likewise twisted to imitate the strands of a rope4 ,this ring was found in the ,thames4 ,in the same collection is a massive gold thumb-ring engraved as a signet1 with a merchant's mark within a rude shield4 ,the shoulders of the hoop are chased with ,marguerite flowers1 which were commonly adopted in the reign of ,henry ,,vi41 in honour of the queen-mother1 and may indicate the date of the ring4 ,it was found at ,littlebury1 ,essex1 in #ahdh4 ,in the same collection is a large gold thumb-ring1 with a round hoop and signet1 on which is engraved the letter ,e of ,longobardic form1 within delicately-cusped tracery1 surmounted by a coronet4 ,the hoop is inscribed externally with the words in4 on4 is4 al4 7in one is all73 probably intended for a charm1 of which so many forms are found upon rings of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is the fine specimen 7to which ,i have alluded in a previous page7 of a signet-ring bearing a #8merchant's mark4' #8,the marks1' observes ,mr4 ,fairholt1 #8varied with every owner1 and was as peculiar to himself as the modern autograph2 they were a combination of initials1 or letter-like devices1 frequently surmounted by a cross1 or a conventional sign1 believed to represent the sails of a ship4 ,the marks were placed upon the bales of merchandise1 and were constantly used where the coat armour1 or badge of a nobleman or gentleman entitled to bear arms would be placed4 ,the authority vested in such merchants' rings is curiously illustrated in one of the historical plays on the life and reign of ,queen ,elizabeth1 written by ,thomas ,heywood1 and to which he gave the quaint title3 8,if you know not me1 you know nobody40 ,sir ,thomas ,gresham1 the great ,london merchant1 is one of the principal characters1 and in a scene where he is absent from home1 and in sudden need of cash1 he exclaims3 8,here1 ,john1 take this seal-ring1 bid ,timothy send me presently a hundred pound40 ,john takes the ring to the trusty ,timothy1 saying3 8,here's his seal-ring2 ,i hope a sufficient warrant40 ,to which ,timothy replies3 8,upon so good security1 ,john1 ,i'll fit me to deliver it40 ,another merchant in the same play is made to obtain his wants by similar means3-- ------receive thou my seal-ring3 ,bear it to my factor2 bid him by that token ,sort thee out forty pounds' worth of such wares ,as thou shalt think most beneficial4 ,the custom must have been common to be thus used in dramatic scenes of real life4 ,these plays were produced in #afjf4'ae #8,merchants' marks1 which appear to have been imitated from the ,flemings during the reign of ,edward the ,third1 and became very common during the fifteenth and early part of the sixteenth century1 both on seals and signet-rings1 offer a somewhat curious field for research1 and are often very useful in identifying the persons by whom domestic and parts of ecclesiastical edifices on which they occur were built4 ,they were more generally used in the great seaports of ,england than in the south--a fact which is readily accounted for by the frequent intercourse between those ports and ,flanders4 ,it may be observed also that such marks belonged chiefly to wool-factors1 or merchants of the staple4'--,archological ,journal for ,march #ahdh4 ,illustration3 ,merchants' rings4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the collections of our ,english antiquaries are numerous specimens of thumb-rings1 and in the chapter on #8,ecclesiastical ,usages in ,connection with ,rings' ,i have mentioned several of particular interest1 notably an effigy with a signet-ring of remarkable size represented as worn over both the thumbs4 ,dr4 ,bruce found some thumb-rings along the line of the ,roman wall4 ,the custom of wearing thumb-rings is alluded to by ,chaucer1 in the #8,squire's ,tale1' where it is said of the rider of the brazen horse who advanced into the hall1 ,cambuscan1 that #8upon his thumb he had of gold a ring4' ,brome1 in the #8,antipodes1' #afch1 and also in the #8,northern ,lass3' #8,a good man in the city wears nothing rich about him but the gout1 or a thumb-ring4' ,in the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 iii4 page #bfh7 is a representation of a curious thumb-ring1 which supplies a good example of the signet thumb-ring of the fifteenth century4 ,it is of silver1 alloyed1 or plated with baser metal and strongly gilt4 ,the hoop is grooved spirally1 and the initial ,h is engraved upon it2 weight #ag dwts4 #ah grs4 ,it was found in #ahdf1 in dredging in the bed of the river ,severn1 at a place called ,saxon's or ,saxton's ,lode4 ,signet rings of this kind were worn by rich citizens1 or persons of substance not entitled to bear arms4 ,falstaff bragged that in his earlier years he had been so slender in figure that he could readily have crept through an #8alderman's thumb-ring1' and a ring thus worn--probably1 as more conspicuous--appears to have been considered as appropriate to the customary attire of a civic dignitary at a much later period4 ,a character in the ,lord ,mayor's show in #affd is described as #8habited like a grave citizen--gold girdle and gloves hung thereon1 rings on his fingers1 and a seal-ring on his thumb4' ,in ,labartes #8,hand-book of the ,fine ,arts in the ,middle ,ages' is a representation of a fine thumb-ring1 of ,hindoo workmanship1 cut out of a single piece of jade1 decorated with gold filagree1 and incrusted with rubies4 ,a magical thumb-ring of gilt1 bearing the figure of a toad1 and of ,german workmanship of the fourteenth century is in the ,londesborough ,collection1 and is described in the chapter on #8,ring ,superstitions4' ,the annexed representation is from a ring in the same collection4 ,illustration3 ,thumb-ring4 ,the figure of a morse ivory thumb-ring of an ,earl of ,shrewsbury1 belonging to ,dr4 ,iliff1 is given in the #8,proceedings of the ,society of ,antiquaries' 7,december1 #ahei71 in which it is fully described4 ,on this is engraved various coats of arms1 surrounded by the ,garter1 and ensigned with an earl's coronet4 ,a list of the quarterings is also given4#af ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a massive latten thumb-ring1 with a signet engraved with ,i4,h4,s4 and three tears below2 the words1 #8in ,deo ,salus' are inside the hoop4 ,they are from the ,penitential ,psalms1 and in union with the tears4 ,date from the thirteenth century4 ,in a portrait of ,lady ,anne ,clifford1 the celebrated ,countess of ,pembroke1 she wears a ring upon the thumb of her right hand4 ,to the practice of ,english ladies wearing1 formerly1 the wedding-ring on the thumb ,i have alluded in the chapter on #8,betrothal and ,wedding-rings4' ,dr4 ,thomas ,chalmers wore the ring of his great-great-great-grandfather1 ,john ,alexander1 on his thumb4 #8,oriental rings1' remarks the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 #8exactly like the ancient in shape1 and made of cornelian1 chalcedony1 and agate1 with legends in ,arabic on the face1 for the use of signets1 are by no means uncommon in collections4 ,they are of large size1 being designed to be worn on the thumb of the right hand1 in order to be used in drawing the bow-string1 which the ,orientals pull with the bent thumb1 catching it against the shank of the ring1 and not with the two first fingers1 as is the practice of ,english archers4' ,illustration3 ,brass ,thumb-ring4 ,a brass seal-ring large enough for a man's thumb was found in ,hampshire some years ago1 and is noticed in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' vol4 liv4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,ring ,,superstitions4 ,a mysterious significance has been associated with rings from the earliest periods1 among various nations4 ,they were supposed to protect from evil fascinations of every kind1 against the #8evil eye1' the influence of demons1 and dangers of every possible character2 though it was not simply in the rings themselves that the supposed virtues existed1 but in the materials of which they were composed1 in some particular precious stone that was set in them1 as charms or talismans1 in some device or inscription on the stone1 or some magical letters engraven on the circumference of the ring4 ,the ring worn by the high-priest of the ,jews was of inestimable value1 chiefly1 according to a tradition1 of its celestial virtues2 and the ring of ,solomon1 as ,hebrew legends state1 possessed powers which enabled him to baffle the most subtle of his enemies4#ag ,some curious particulars respecting this ring will be found in ,josephus 7lib4 viii4 ch4 #b71 which1 however1 are considered as interpolations4 ,according to this he witnessed the healing of demoniacs by one ,eleazar1 a ,jew1 in the presence of the ,emperor ,vespasian1 by the application of a medicated ring to the nostrils of the patient4 ,the ,jew recited several verses connected with the name of ,solomon1 and the devils came forth through the noses of the patients4 #8,it was to this great prince the honour of this discovery is attributed1 as well as other magical operations1 and without him it would be improbable to obtain success4'#ah ,the signet-ring of ,solomon had the mystic word schemhamphorasch engraved upon it1 and procured for him the wonderful shamir1 which enabled him to build the temple4 ,every day at noon it transported him into the firmament1 where he heard the secrets of the universe4 ,this continued until he was persuaded by the devil to grant him his liberty1 and to take the ring from his finger2 the demon then assumed his shape as ,king of ,israel1 and reigned three years1 while ,solomon became a wanderer in foreign lands4 ,according to an ,arabian tradition1 ,king ,solomon1 on going to the bath1 left his ring behind him1 which was stolen by a ,jewess1 and thrown by her into the sea4 ,deprived of his miraculous amulet1 which prevented him from exercising the judicial wisdom for which he was celebrated1 ,solomon abstained for forty days from administering justice1 when he at length found the ring in the stomach of a fish that was served at his table4 ,many curious fictions on this subject are related by ,arabian writers in a book called #8,salcuthat1' devoted to the subject of magical rings1 and they trace this particular ring of ,solomon in a regular succession from ,jared1 the father of ,enoch1 to the #8wisest of men4'#ai ,old legends state that ,joseph and the ,virgin ,mary used at their espousals a ring of onyx or amethyst4 ,the discovery is dated from the year #iif1 when the ring was given by a jeweller from ,jerusalem to a lapidary of ,clusium1 who indicated its origin4 ,the miraculous powers of the ring having been found out by accident1 it was placed in a church1 when its efficacy in curing disorders of every kind was remarkable--trifling1 however1 in comparison with its singular power of multiplying itself4 ,similar rings were claimed as the genuine relic by many churches in ,europe at the same time1 and received the same devout homage4 ,this superstition of the #8,virgin's ,ring' still prevails in ,catholic countries4 ,thus1 the correspondent of the #8,standard' newspaper1 in an article contributed to that journal on #8,art in ,perugia' 7,sept4 #d1 #ahge71 writes3--#8,we went into the ,duomo1 or cathedral of ,perugia4 ,it is not among the churches most worth visiting4 ,several other churches contain far more1 and more interesting works of art in various kinds4 ,the 8,nuptial ,ring of the ,virgin ,mary10 which is the treasure on which the ,chapter of ,perugia most prides itself1 is not to be seen4 ,a sacristan whom ,i innocently asked to show it to me1 looked at me and spoke to me as much as if ,i had requested him to show me round the wondrous scene described by the ,seer of the ,apocalypse4 ,he told me1 indeed1 when his first astonishment at my ignorant audacity had somewhat calmed down1 that the ring could be seen if ,i would 8call again0 on ,st4 ,joseph's day next1 on which solemnity it is every year exhibited from a high balcony in the church to the kneeling crowds of the faithful from all the country-side4 ,meanwhile it was locked away behind innumerable bars and doors1 the many keys of which are in the keeping of ,i do not know how many high ecclesiastical authorities4 #8,the ring itself1 a plain gold circlet--large enough1 apparently1 for any man's thumb1 and about six times as thick as any ordinary marriage-ring 7,i have seen an accurate engraving of it7--is1 of course1 in no wise worth seeing4 ,but the casket in which it is kept--a very remarkable specimen of medival goldsmiths' work--is1 by all accounts1 very much so4 ,however1 it is not to be seen1 not even on ,st4 ,joseph's day1 to any good purpose4' ,i may add that the celebrated painting of the ,marriage of the ,virgin1 by ,perugino1 was formerly in this chapel of the cathedral1 called #8,del ,santo ,anelo1' or the ,holy ,ring1 but was removed1 with many other spoils1 after the treaty of ,tolentino1 and is now in the ,museum of ,caen1 in ,normandy4 ,in the old ,mystery of the #8,miraculous ,espousal of ,mary and ,joseph1' ,issachar1 the #8,busshopp1' says3-- #8,mary2 wole ye have this man ,and hym to kepyn1 as yo lyff8' ,maria4-- #8,in the tenderest wyse1 fadyr1 as ,i kan1 ,and with all my wyttys ffyll4' ,ep'us4-- #8,joseph2 with this rynge now wedde thi wyff1 ,and be her hand1 now1 thou her take4' ,joseph4--#8,ser1 with this rynge1 ,i wedde her ryff1 ,and take her' now her' for my make4'#bj ,the planet ,jupiter was considered by the ,hebrews propitious for weddings1 and the newly-married gave rings on those occasions1 on which the words ,mazal ,tob were inscribed1 signifying that good fortune would happen under that star4 ,a remarkable gold talismanic ring1 supposed1 on satisfactory grounds1 by ,colonel ,tod 7author of #8,annals and ,antiquities of ,rajast'han'7 to be of ,hindu workmanship1 was found some years since on the ,fort ,hill1 near ,montrose1 on the site of an engagement in the reign of the unfortunate ,queen ,mary4 ,this ring had an astrological and mythological import4 ,it represented the symbol of the sun-god ,bal-nat'h1 around which is wreathed a serpent guardant1 with two bulls as supporters1 or the powers of creative nature in unison1 typified in the miniature ,lingam and ,noni--in short1 a graven image of that primval worship which prevailed among the nations of antiquity4 ,this is #8the pillar and the calf worshipped on the fifteenth of the month' 7the sacred ,amavus of the ,hindus7 by the ,israelites1 when they adopted the rites of the ,syro-,phnician adorers of ,bal1 the sun4 ,colonel ,tod considered that this curious relic belonged to some superstitious devotee1 who wore it as a talisman on his thumb4 ,according to ,zoroaster1 ,ormuzd represented the ,good ,principle1 and ,ahrimanes the ,evil4 ,the former is seen on ancient sculptures1 holding1 as an emblem of power1 a ring in one hand4 ,all the ,hindu ,mogul divinities are represented with rings4 ,the statues of the gods at ,elephanta have1 amongst other ornaments1 finger-rings4 ,from ,asia1 legends connected with rings were introduced into ,greece1 and numberless miraculous powers were ascribed to them4 ,the classical derivation of the ring was attributed to ,prometheus1 who1 having incurred the displeasure of ,jupiter1 was compelled to wear on his finger an iron ring1 to which was attached a fragment of the rock of the ,caucasus4 ,to adorn the finger-ring with inlaid stone ,was first to men by wise ,prometheus shown1 ,who from ,caucasian rock a fragment tore1 ,and1 set in iron1 on his finger wore4 ,the ring of ,gyges1 ,king of ,lydia1 rendered the wearer invisible when the stone turned inwards#ba 7so also the ring of ,eluned1 the ,lunet of the old ,english romance of ,ywaine and ,gawaine1 and in several ,german stories74 ,the ring of ,polycrates the tyrant1 which was flung into the sea to propitiate ,nemesis1 was found1 like that of ,solomon1 inside a fish served at his table4 ,the story is thus related by ,herodotus4 ,amasis1 ,king of ,egypt1 after ,polycrates had obtained possession of the island of ,samos1 sent the tyrant a friendly letter1 expressing a fear of the continuance of his singular prosperity1 for he had never known such an instance of felicity which did not come to calamity in the long run2 advising1 therefore1 ,polycrates to throw away some favourite gem in such a way that he might never see it again1 as a kind of charm against misfortune4 ,polycrates took the advice1 and1 sailing away from the shore in a boat1 threw a valuable signet-ring--an emerald set in gold--into the sea1 in sight of all on board4 ,this done he returned home and gave vent to his sorrow4 ,it happened five or six days afterwards that a fisherman caught a fish so large and beautiful that he thought it well deserved to be presented to the ,king4 ,so he took it with him to the gate of the palace1 and said that he wanted to see ,polycrates4 ,on being admitted the fisherman gave him the fish with these words3 #8,sir ,king1 when ,i took this prize ,i thought ,i would not carry it to market1 though ,i am a poor man who lives by his trade4 ,i said to myself1 it is worthy of ,polycrates and his greatness1 and so ,i brought it here to give to you4' ,the speech pleased the ,king1 who replied3 #8,thou didst well1 friend1 and ,i am doubly indebted both for the gift and the speech4 ,come now and sup with me4' ,so the fisherman went home1 esteeming it a high honour that he had been asked to sup with the ,king4 ,meanwhile the servants1 in cutting open the fish1 found the signet of their master in the stomach4 ,no sooner did they see it than they seized upon it1 and1 hastening to ,polycrates with great joy1 restored it to him1 and told him in what way it had been found4 ,the ,king1 who saw something providential in the matter1 forthwith wrote a letter to ,amasis telling him all that had happened4 ,amasis perceived that it does not belong to man to save his fellow-man from the fate which is in store for him4 ,likewise1 he felt certain that ,polycrates would end ill1 as he prospered in everything1 even finding what he had thrown away4 ,so he sent a herald to ,samos1 and dissolved the contract of friendship4 ,this he did that when the great and heavy misfortune came he might escape the grief which he would have felt if the sufferer had been his loved friend4 ,polycrates died in the third year of the #fdth ,olympiad4 ,this seal-ring was taken later to ,rome1 where ,pliny relates that he saw and handled it4 ,the ,emperor ,augustus had it inserted in a horn of gold1 and placed it in the temple of ,concord1 in the midst of other golden objects of great value4 ,the seal is represented to have been as large as a crown piece1 in shape a little oblong4 ,the subject was a lyre1 around which were three bees in the upper part2 at the foot was a dolphin on the right1 and the head of a bull on the left--the lyre1 the emblem of poetry2 the bees1 industry2 the bull1 production2 and the dolphin1 a friend to man4 ,some years ago1 it was reported that this remarkable seal-ring was found by an inhabitant of ,albano in a vineyard1 but this story has never been confirmed4 ,apart from the superstitious inferences deduced from the singular recovery of the ring1 the fact itself may be probably accepted4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 in #8,precious ,stones1 ,gems1 and ,precious ,metals1' observes3 #8,there can be little doubt that this tale of the 8,fish and the ,ring0 is true4 ,fish1 especially the mackerel1 greedily swallow any glittering object dropped into the sea2 and within my own recollection1 one when opened was found to contain a wedding-ring4'#bb ,legends of the fish and the ring are found in most countries3 the ancient ,indian drama of ,sacontala has an incident of this character4 ,in the armorial bearings of the see of ,glasgow1 and now of the city1 the stem of ,st4 ,kentigern's tree is crossed by a salmon bearing in its mouth a ring4 ,the legend attached to this is related in #8,jocelin's ,life of ,st4 ,kentigern4' ,in the days of this saint1 a lady having lost her wedding-ring1 it stirred up her husband's jealousy1 to allay which she applied to ,kentigern1 imploring his help for the safety of her honour4 ,not long after1 as the holy man walked by the river1 he desired a person who was fishing to bring him the first fish he could catch1 which was accordingly done1 and from its mouth was taken the lady's ring1 which he immediately sent to her1 to remove her husband's suspicions4 ,so runs the legend2 but a more truthful explanation of the arms of ,st4 ,mungo attributes the ring to the episcopal office1 and the fish to the scaly treasures of the river at the foot of the metropolitan cathedral4#bc ,an ,italian legend ascribes as an omen of the downfall of the ,venetian republic that the ring cast into the ,adriatic by the ,doge1 in token of his marriage to the sea1 was found in a fish that was served up at his table a year after the custom had been observed4 ,a popular ballad of old1 called the #8,cruel ,knight1 or the ,fortunate ,farmer's ,daughter1' represents a knight passing a cot1 and hearing that the woman within is in childbirth4 ,his knowledge in the occult sciences informs him that the child to be born is destined to become his wife4 ,he endeavours to evade the decrees of fate1 and1 to avoid so ignoble an alliance1 by various attempts to destroy the child1 but which are defeated4 ,at length1 when grown to woman's estate1 he takes her to the sea-side1 intending to drown her but relents2 at the same time1 throwing a ring into the sea1 he commands her never to see his face again1 on pain of death1 unless she can produce the ring4 ,she afterwards becomes a cook in a gentleman's family1 and finds the ring in a cod-fish as she is dressing it for dinner4 ,the marriage takes place1 of course4 ,the monument to ,lady ,berry in ,stepney ,church bears3--paly of six on a bend1 three mullets 7,elton7 impaling a fish1 and in the dexter chief point an annulet between two bends wavy4 ,this coat of arms1 which exactly corresponds with that borne by ,ventris1 of ,cambridgeshire1 has given rise to the tradition that ,lady ,berry was the heroine of the above story4 ,the ballad lays the scene of the events in ,yorkshire1 but incidents of the ring and the fish are1 as ,i observed1 numerous4#bd ,the various arts employed by the ancients in #8divination' were many4 ,the annexed illustrations1 representing divination rings1 are taken from ,liceti1 #8,antiqua ,schemata' 7,gemmarium ,annularium72 the two figures on one ring are trying eagerly to discover future events in a crystal globe4 ,crystallomancy included every variety of divination by means of transparent bodies4 ,these1 polished and enchanted1 signified their meaning by certain marks and figures4 ,the serpent held by the female figure refers to ophiomancy1 the art which the ancients pretended to1 of making predictions by serpents4 ,according to the ophites1 who emanated from the ,gnostics1 the serpent was instructed in all knowledge1 and was the father and author of all the sciences4 ,illustration3 ,divination ring4 ,the hieroglyphic ring represents a sphinx1 the monster described by the poets as having a human face with the body of a bird or quadruped1 the paws of a lion1 the tail of a dragon1 c4 ,it was said to propose riddles to those it met with1 and destroyed those who could not answer them4 ,upon this they consulted the oracle1 to know what should be done4 ,it answered that they could not be delivered until they could solve this riddle3 #8,what creature is that which has four feet in the morning1 two at noon1 and three towards night4' dipus answered that it was a man1 who1 in his infancy1 crawled on all fours1 until he was sufficiently strong to walk2 then went on two legs1 until old age obliged him to use a staff to help and support him4 ,on this the monster is said to have dashed out its brains against a rock4 ,illustration3 ,divination ring4 ,the star over the head of the sphinx in the engraving represents the divination by stars practised by the ,cabalists4 ,the stars vertical over a city or nation were so united by lines as to form resemblances of the ,hebrew letters1 and thus words which were deemed prophetic4 ,burder remarks that the rise of a new star1 or the appearance of a comet1 was thought to portend the birth of a great person2 also that the gods sent stars to point out the way to their favourites1 as ,virgil shows1 and as ,suetonius and ,pliny actually relate in the case of ,julius ,csar4 ,the cup or vase represented in the engraving near the sphinx refers to the divination by the cup1 one of the most ancient methods of discovering future events by crystalline reflection4 ,the divining cup of ,joseph shows that its use was familiar in ,egypt at that remote period4#be ,charmed rings found easy believers among the ,greeks and the ,romans1 and were special articles of traffic4 ,such objects1 made of wood1 bone1 or some other cheap materials1 were manufactured in large numbers at ,athens1 and could be purchased1 gifted with any charm required1 for the small consideration of a single drachma4 ,in the #8,plutus' of ,aristophanes1 to a threat on the part of the sycophant1 the just man replies #8that he is proof against evil influences1 having a charmed ring4' ,carion1 the servant1 observes #8that the ring would not prevail against the bite of a sycophant4' ,the ring was probably a medicated one1 to preserve from demons and serpents4 ,the following engraving from ,gorlus represents a human head with an elephant's trunk1 c41 holding a trident1 an amulet against the perils of the sea3-- ,illustration3 ,amulet ring3 ,roman4 ,the council of ravens1 prophetic birds 7and attributes of ,apollo71 or crows1 which were used as symbols of conjugal fidelity3-- ,illustration3 ,amulet ring3 ,roman4 ,a silver ring on a sardonyx1 engraved with the figure of a sow1 as a propitiatory sacrifice3-- ,illustration3 ,amulet ring3 ,roman4 ,in ,lucian's #8,philopseudes1' in a dialogue called the ,ship or ,wish1 a man is introduced who desires that ,mercury should bestow a ring on him to confer perpetual health and preservation from danger4 ,benvenuto ,cellini1 in his #8,memoirs1' mentions the discovery in ,rome of certain vases1 #8which appeared to be antique urns filled with ashes2 amongst these were iron rings inlaid with gold1 in each of which was set a diminutive shell4 ,learned antiquarians1 upon investigating the nature of these rings1 declared their opinion that they were worn as charms by those who desired to behave with steadiness and resolution either in prosperous or adverse fortune4 ,i likewise took things of this nature in hand at the request of some gentlemen who were my particular friends1 and wrought some of these little rings1 but ,i made them of steel1 well-tempered1 and then cut and inlaid with gold1 so that they were very beautiful to behold2 sometimes for a single ring of this sort ,i was paid above forty crowns4' ,in ,rome there were altars to the ,samothracian deities1 who were supposed to preside over talismans4 ,the people of that island were extensive manufacturers of iron rings1 to which they attached supernatural qualities4 ,on ancient ,mexican rings and seals set with precious stones are constellation representations1 as1 for example1 ,pisces4 ,those people awaited their ,messiah1 or ,crusher of the ,serpent1 during the conjunction of ,jupiter and ,saturn1 in the same zodiacal sign of ,pisces1 the protecting sign of ,syria and ,palestine4 ,pliny informs us that the ancients set additional value on articles made of jet1 such as rings1 buttons1 c41 from a notion that it possessed the virtue of driving away serpents--a belief which existed also in the days of the ,venerable ,bede1 who1 describing the various mineral productions of ,britain1 says3 #8,it has much excellent jet1 which is black and sparkling1 glittering at the fire1 and1 when heated1 drives away serpents4' ,some examples of jet rings have been found at ,uriconium4 ,a portrait of ,alexander the ,great1 set in a gold or silver ring1 and carried about on the finger1 was supposed by the ,greeks to ensure prosperity to the wearer2 as a reverse1 one of the omens announcing the fall of ,nero was the presentation to him of a ring engraved with the ,rape of ,proserpine1 being a symbol of death4#bf ,spartian includes among the omens of ,hadrian's coming death the falling off from his finger of his ring1 #8which bore a likeness to himself1' as he was taking the auspices on a ,new ,year's day1 and so obtaining a foreshadowing of the events of the coming year4 ,a portrait of ,hadrian1 engraved with ,mercury in a magic ring 7,gorlus73-- ,illustration3 ,amulet ring3 bust of ,hadrian4 ,heliodorus describes a precious stone as set in the ,king of ,ethiopia's ring1 one of the royal jewels1 the shank being formed of electrum and the bezel flaming with an ,ethiopian amethyst1 engraved with a youthful shepherd and his flock--an antidote to the wearer against intoxication4 ,philostratus relates how ,chariclea escaped unharmed from the funeral pyre on which she was condemned to be burnt by the jealous ,arsace1 from having secreted about her the espousal-ring of ,king ,hydaspes1 #8which was set with the stone called ,pandarbes1 engraved with certain sacred letters' and antagonistic to fire4 ,in the ,british ,museum is a remarkable collection of ornaments of the ,roman period connected with the worship of the ,de ,matres1 discovered in the county of ,durham1 or in some adjoining district in the beginning of this century4 ,among these are several rings which have been elaborately described by ,mr4 ,edward ,hawkins in the #8,archological ,journal' for ,march #ahea 7vol4 viii471 with illustrations4 ,in the ,waterton ,collection are some specimens of ,gnostic ,roman rings1 of the third century3 one1 of silver1 is set with an intaglio on bloodstone of an ,abraxas figure1 with head of a jackal4 ,the others have ,gnostic emblems and inscriptions4 ,astrological rings in connexion with mythological representations were worn by the ancients4 ,the accompanying engraving from ,gorlus represents the sun and stars4 ,according to the ,gnostic theories1 the properties of the sun on the destinies of men were numerous and important4 ,the mystical virtues of the most precious stones were under the solar influence4 ,illustration3 ,astrological ring4 ,planetary rings were formed of the gems assigned to the several planets1 each set in its appropriate metal3 thus1 the ,sun1 diamond or sapphire in a ring of gold2 the ,moon1 crystal in silver2 ,mercury1 magnet1 in quicksilver2 ,venus1 amethyst in copper2 ,mars1 emerald in iron2 ,jupiter1 cornelian in tin2 ,saturn1 turquoise in lead4 ,from the remotest antiquity every planet in the heavens was believed to possess a virtue peculiar to itself4 ,each presided over some kingdom1 nation1 or city2 then1 extending its influence to individuals1 it decided their personal appearance1 temperament1 disposition1 character1 health1 and fortune1 and even influenced the several members and parts of the body4 ,after this1 it ruled plants1 herbs1 animals1 stones1 and all the various productions of nature4 ,southey1 in the #8,doctor' 7vol4 iii4 p4 #aab71 commenting on the exhibition of the ,zodiacal signs in the #8,margarita ,philosophica1' a work of the sixteenth century1 observes3 #8,there ,homo stands naked1 but not ashamed1 upon the two ,pisces1 one foot upon each2 the fish being neither in air nor water1 nor upon earth1 but self-suspended1 as it appears1 in the void4 ,aries has alighted with two feet on ,homo's head1 and has sent a shaft through the forehead into his brain4 ,taurus has quietly seated himself across his neck4 ,the ,gemini are riding astride a little below his right shoulder4 ,the whole trunk is laid open1 as if part of the old accursed punishment for high treason had been performed on him4 ,the ,lion occupies the thorax as his proper domain1 and the ,crab is in possession of his domain4 ,sagittarius1 volant in the void1 has just let fly an arrow which is on its way to his right arm4 ,capricornus breathes out a visible influence that penetrates both knees4 ,aquarius inflicts similar punctures upon both legs4 ,virgo fishes1 as it were1 at his intestines1 ,libra at the part affected by schoolmasters in their anger1 and ,scorpio takes the wickedest aim of all4' ,the old astrological definition of the ,zodiac seems to be this--that it was the division of the great circle of the heavens into twelve parts4 ,these twelve parts are divided into those called northern and commanding 7the first six71 and those called southern and obeying 7the remaining six74 ,the other constellations of the two hemispheres are not unconsidered in astrology1 but those of the zodiac are more important1 because they form the pathway of the sun1 the moon1 and the planets1 and are supposed to receive from these bodies1 as they roll through their spaces1 extraordinary energy4#bg ,the following illustration from ,liceti1 #8,antiqua ,schemata ,gemmarum ,annularium1' represents ,jupiter1 ,mercury1 ,pallas1 and ,neptune surrounded by the signs of the ,zodiac3-- ,illustration3 ,zodiacal ring4 ,among the various modes of enquiring by magical means as to who should succeed to the ,roman emperorship during the reigns of ,valentinian and ,valens1 we are told that the letters of the alphabet were artificially disposed in a circle1 and a magic ring1 being suspended over the centre1 was believed to point to the initial letters of the name of him who should be the future emperor4 ,theodorus1 a man of most eminent qualifications and high popularity1 was put to death by the jealousy of ,valens on the vague evidence that this kind of trial had indicated the first letters of his name4 ,gibbon remarks on this point that the name of ,theodosius1 who actually succeeded1 begins with the same letters which were indicated in this magic trial4 ,this ring mystery1 the ,dactylomancia 7from two ,greek words signifying ring and divination71 was a favourite operation of the ancients4 ,it was preceded by certain ceremonies1 and the ring was subjected to a form of conjuration4 ,the person who held it was arrayed in linen1 a circlet of hair was left by an artistic barber on his head1 and in his hand he held a branch of vervain4 ,an invocation to the gods preceded the ceremony4 ,the #8suspended ring1' another mode of divination practised at a later period1 is thus described by ,peucer among various modes of hydromancy3 #8,a bowl was filled with water1 and a ring suspended from the finger was librated in the water1 and so1 according as the question was propounded1 a declaration1 or confirmation of its truth1 or otherwise1 was obtained4 ,if what was proposed was true1 the ring1 of its own accord1 without any impulse1 struck the sides of the goblet a certain number of times4 ,they say that ,numa ,pompilius used to practise this method1 and that he evoked the gods1 and consulted them in water this way4' ,the ring suspended over a monarch was supposed to indicate certain persons among those sitting round the table1 and if a hair was used1 taken from one of the company1 it would swing towards that individual only4 ,an ancient method of divining by the ring is similar in principle to the modern table-rapping4 ,the edge of a round table was marked with the characters of the alphabet1 and the ring stopped over certain letters1 which1 being joined together1 composed the answer4 ,in another method of practising ,dactylomancy1 rings were put on the finger-nails when the sun entered ,leo1 and the moon ,gemini1 or the sun and ,mercury were in ,gemini and the moon in ,cancer2 or the sun in ,sagittarius1 the moon in ,scorpio1 and ,mercury in ,leo4 ,these rings were made of gold1 silver1 copper1 iron1 or lead1 and magical characters were attached to them1 but how they operated we are not informed4 ,another mode of water divination with the ring was to throw three pebbles into standing water1 and draw observations from the circles which they formed4 ,divination by sounds emitted by striking two rings was practised by ,execetus1 tyrant of the ,phocians4 ,in the enchanted rings of the ,greeks the position of the celestial bodies was most important4 ,pliny states that all the ,orientals preferred the emerald jasper1 and considered it an infallible panacea for every ill4 ,its power was strengthened when combined with silver instead of gold4 ,galen recommends a ring with jasper set in it1 and engraved with the figure of a man wearing a bunch of herbs round his neck4#bh ,many of the ,gnostic or ,basilidian gems1 evidently used for magical purposes1 were of jasper4 ,apollonius of ,tyana1 in ,cappadocia1 who flourished in the first age of the ,christian era1 and who fixed his residence in the temple of sculapius1 considered the use of charmed rings so essential to quackery that he wore a different ring on each day of the week1 marked with the planet of the day4 ,he had received a present of the seven rings from ,iarchas1 the ,indian philosopher4#bi ,it was a belief among the ,poles that each month of the year was under the influence of a precious stone4 ,thus ,january was represented by the garnet1 emblem of constancy and fidelity2 ,february1 the amethyst1 sincerity2 ,march1 bloodstone1 courage and presence of mind2 ,april1 diamond1 innocence2 ,may1 emerald1 success in love2 ,june1 agate1 health and long life2 ,july1 cornelian1 contented mind2 ,august1 sardonyx1 conjugal felicity3 ,september1 chrysote1 antidote against madness2 ,october1 opal1 hope2 ,november1 topaz1 fidelity2 ,december1 turquoise1 prosperity4 ,these several stones were set in rings and other trinkets1 as presents1 c4 ,in the early and middle ages it was not only generally believed that rings could be charmed by the power of a magician1 but that the engraved stones on ancient rings which were found on old sites possessed supernatural properties1 the benefits of which would be imparted to the wearer4 ,the great potentate ,charlemagne1 we are told by old ,french writers1 was1 in his youth1 desperately in love with a young and beautiful woman1 and gave himself up to pleasure in her society1 neglecting the affairs of ,state4 ,she died1 and ,charles was inconsolable at her loss4 ,the ,archbishop of ,cologne endeavoured to withdraw him from her dead body1 and at length1 approaching the corpse1 took from its mouth a ring in which was set a precious stone of remarkable beauty4 ,it was the talisman which had charmed the monarch1 whose passionate grief became now immediately subdued4 ,the body was buried1 and the ,archbishop1 fearing lest ,charles might experience a similar magical effect in another seducer1 threw it into a lake near ,aix-la-,chapelle4 ,the virtue of this marvellous ring was not1 however1 lost by this incident1 for the legend relates that the monarch became so enamoured of the lake that his chief delight was in walking by its margin1 and he became so much attached to the spot that he had a palace erected there1 and made it the seat of his empire4 ,in the ,persian ,tales a king strikes off the hand of a sorceress 7who had assumed the appearance of his queen71 which had a ring upon it1 when she immediately appears as a frightful hag4 ,the charmed ring of ,aladdin plays a wonderful part in the #8,arabian ,nights' ,entertainments4' ,one of the earliest ring superstitions in our own country1 is that connected with the life of ,edward the ,confessor4 ,in the mortuary chapel of this saintly monarch in ,westminster ,abbey are fourteen subjects in relievi1 represented on the frieze of the screen on the western side1 of incidents in the ,king's life1 in which the legend of the #8,pilgrim' 7derived from a chronicle written by lred--a monk1 and1 later1 abbot of ,rievaulx1 who died in #aaff--;but taken almost entirely from the life of ,st4 ,edward1 by ,osbert or ,osbern1 of ,clare1 prior of ,westminster74 is curiously displayed4 ,the whole length of this sculpture is thirty-eight feet six inches by three feet in height4 ,the relief is very bold1 the irregular concave ground being much hollowed out behind4 ,the compartment relating to the ring represents ,st4 ,john1 in the garb of a pilgrim1 asking alms of the ,king4 ,the figures are much injured4 ,the monarch occupies the centre of the compartment1 and a pilgrim or beggar is before him on the spectator's right hand4 ,behind the ,king is a figure holding a pastoral staff--probably an ecclesiastic--and in front of whom1 between the ,king and himself1--is an object not easily defined1 but which appears like a basket4 ,this design is interesting1 from the back-ground being entirely filled in by a large and handsome church4 ,this refers to the subject mentioned by lred1 of the ,king being engaged in the construction of a church in honour of ,st4 ,john1 when the pilgrim appeared and asked alms4 ,according to the legend1 ,king ,edward was on his way to ,westminster1 when he was met by a beggar1 who implored him in the name of ,st4 ,john--the apostle peculiarly venerated by the monarch--to grant him assistance4 ,the charitable ,king had exhausted his ready-money in alms-giving1 but drew from his finger a ring1 #8large1 beautiful1 and royal1' which he gave to the beggar1 who thereupon disappeared4 ,shortly afterwards1 two ,english pilgrims in the ,holy ,land found themselves benighted1 and in great distress1 when suddenly the path before them was lighted up1 and an old man1 white and hoary1 preceded by two tapers1 accosted them4 ,upon telling him to what country they belonged1 the old man1 #8joyously like to a clerk1' guided them to a hostelry1 and announced that he was ,john the ,evangelist1 the special patron of ,king ,edward1 and gave them a ring to carry back to the monarch1 with the warning that in six months' time the ,king would be with him in ,paradise4 ,the pilgrims returned and found the ,king at his palace1 called from this incident #8,havering atte ,bower4' ,he recognised the ring1 and prepared for his end accordingly4 ,on the death of the ,confessor1 according to custom1 he was attired in his royal robes1 the crown on his head1 a crucifix and gold chain round his neck1 and the #8,pilgrim's ,ring' on his finger4 ,the body was laid before the high altar at ,westminster ,abbey 7,a4,d4 #ajff74 ,on the translation of the remains of ,henry the ,second1 the ring of ,st4 ,john is said to have been withdrawn1 and deposited as a relic among the crown jewels4#cj ,during the reign of ,henry ,,iii4 some repairs were made at the tower1 and orders were given for drawing in the chapel of ,st4 ,john two figures of ,st4 ,edward holding out a ring and delivering it to ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist4 ,as a proof1 also1 how this beautiful legend was engrafted on the popular mind in after ages1 we find it stated in the account of the coronation of ,edward ,,ii4 7#acjg71 that the ,king offered1 first a pound of gold1 made like a king holding a ring in his hand1 and afterwards a mark1 or eight ounces of gold1 formed into the likeness of a pilgrim putting forth his hand to receive the ring1 a conceit suggested by the legend of the ,confessor4 ,so great was the sanctity in which this monarch 7who was influenced by childish and superstitious fancies7 was held1 that ,richard ,,ii41 whenever he left the kingdom1 confided the ring which he usually wore to the custodian of ,st4 ,edward's shrine4 #8,it appears1' observes ,mr4 ,edmund ,waterton 7#8,archological ,journal1' ,no4 #hb1 #ahfd71 #8that ,st4 ,edward's ring was deposited with his corpse in his tomb4 ,his translation took place on the third of the ides of ,october 7,october #ac71 ,a4,d4 #aafc1 ninety-seven years after the burial4 ,this ceremony was performed at midnight1 and on opening his coffin the body was found to be incorrupt4 ,on this occasion the ,abbot ,lawrence took from the body of the sainted king his robes and the ring of ,st4 ,john2 of the robes the abbot made three copes1 as appears from the following entry in the catalogue of the relics of the saint4 ,the abbot also gave the ring to the abbey3 8,dompnus ,laurentius quondam abbas hujus loci 444 sed et annulo ejusdem 7,sancti ,edwardi7 quem ,sancto ,johanni quondam tradidit1 quem et ipse de paradiso remisit1 elapsis annis duobus et dimidio1 postea in nocte translationis de digito regis tulit1 et pro miraculo in loco isto custodiri jussit40 ,the same manuscript 78,de ,fundacione ecclesie ,westm40 by ,ric4 ,sporley1 a monk of the abbey1 ,a4,d4 #adej71 contains the indulgences to be gained by those who visited the holy relics3--8,ad annulum ,sancti ,edwardi vj4 ann4 iijc4 xi4 dies40 ,no further mention has been found of ,st4 ,edward's ring4'#ca ,another legendary story1 in connection with saintly interposition1 is related in the annals of ,venice4 ,moreover1 it forms the subject of a painting1 attributed 7though with some doubt7 to ,giorgione1 #8,st4 ,mark staying1 miraculously1 the tempest1' in the ,accademia ,picture ,gallery at ,venice4 #8,in the year #acda1 an inundation of many days' continuance had raised the water three cubits higher than it had ever before been seen at ,venice2 and during a stormy night1 while the flood appeared to be still increasing1 a poor fisherman sought what refuge he could find by mooring his crazy bark close to the ,riva di ,san ,marco4 ,the storm was yet raging1 when a person approached and offered him a good fare if he would but ferry him over to ,san ,giorgio ,maggiore4 #8,who1' said the fisherman1 #8can reach ,san ,giorgio on such a night as this8 ,heaven forbid that ,i should try6' ,but as the stranger earnestly persisted in his request1 and promised to guard him from all harm1 he at last consented4 ,the passenger landed1 and having desired the boatman to wait a little1 returned with a companion1 and ordered him to row to ,san ,nicolo di ,lido4 ,the astonished fisherman again refused1 till he was prevailed upon by a further assurance of safety and excellent pay4 ,at ,san ,nicolo they picked up a third person1 and then instructed the boatman to proceed to the ,two ,castles at ,lido4 ,though the waves ran fearfully high1 the old man had by this time become accustomed to them1 and moreover1 there was something about his mysterious crew which either silenced his fears1 or diverted them from the tempest to his companions4 ,scarcely had they gained the ,strait1 than they saw a galley1 rather flying than sailing along the ,adriatic1 manned 7if we may so say7 with devils1 who seemed hurrying with fierce and threatening gestures1 to sink ,venice in the deep4 ,the sea1 which had been furiously agitated1 in a moment became unruffled1 and the strangers1 crossing themselves1 conjured the fiends to depart4 ,at the word the demoniacal galley vanished1 and the three passengers were quietly landed at the spots where each1 respectively1 had been taken up4 ,the boatman1 it seems1 was not quite easy about his fare1 and before parting1 he implied1 pretty clearly1 that the sight of the miracle would1 after all1 be bad pay4 #8,you are right1 my friend1' said the first passenger2 #8go to the ,doge and the ,procuratori1 and assure them that1 but for us three1 ,venice would have been drowned4 ,i am ,st4 ,mark2 my two comrades are ,st ,george and ,st4 ,nicholas4 ,desire the magistrate to pay you2 and add that all the trouble has arisen from a schoolmaster at ,san ,felice1 who first bargained with the devil for his soul1 and then hanged himself in despair4' ,the fisherman1 who seemed to have1 all his wits about him1 answered that he might tell that story1 but he much doubted whether he should be believed2 upon which ,st4 ,mark pulled from his finger a gold ring1 worth about five ducats1 saying3--#8,show them this ring1 and bid them look for it in my ,treasury1 whence it will be found missing4' ,on the morrow the fisherman did as he was told4 ,the ring was discovered to be absent from its usual custody1 and the fortunate boatman not only received his fare1 but an annual pension to boot4 ,moreover1 a solemn procession and thanksgiving were appointed in gratitude to the three holy corpses which had rescued from such calamity the land affording them burial4' ,pope ,hildebrand1 one of the prime movers of the ,norman invasion of ,england1 excommunicated ,harold and his supporters1 and despatched a sacred banner1 as well as a diamond ring enclosing one of the ,apostle ,peter's hairs1 to ,normandy4 ,the medival romances abound in allusions to the wonderful virtues of rings4 ,these were cherished conceits among the old writers4 ,in the fabulous history of ,ogier le ,danois the fairy ,morgana gives that hero a ring1 which1 although at that time he was one hundred years old1 gives him the appearance of a man of thirty4 ,after a lapse of two hundred years ,ogier appears at the court of ,france1 where the secret of his transformation is found out by the old ,countess of ,senlis1 who1 while making love to him1 draws the talisman from his finger1 and places it on her own4 ,she instantly blossoms into youth1 while ,ogier as suddenly sinks into decrepitude4 ,the ,countess1 however1 is forced to give back the ring1 and former appearances are restored1 but as she had discovered the virtues of the ring1 she employs thirty champions to regain it1 all of whom are successfully defeated by ,ogier4 ,in the #8,vision of ,pierce ,plowman' 7about #acej7 the poet speaks of a woman whose fingers were all embellished with rings of gold1 set with diamonds1 rubies1 and sapphires1 and also ,oriental stones or amulets to prevent any poisonous infection4 ,in the romance of #8,sir ,perceval of ,galles' the knight obtains surreptitious possession of a ring endowed with mysterious qualities3-- ,suche a vertue es in the stane ,in alle thys werlde wote ,i nane1 ,siche stone in a rynge2 ,a mane that had it in were1 ,one his body for to bere1 ,there scholde no dyntys hym dere1 ,ne to the dethe brynge4 ,so in #8,sir ,eglamour of ,artois'3-- ,seyde ,organata that swete thynge ,y schalle geve the a gode golde rynge ,with a fulle ryche stone1 ,whedur that ye be on water or on londe1 ,and that rynge be upon yowre honde1 ,ther schall nothyng yow slon4 ,the ring1 a gift to ,canace1 daughter of ,king ,cambuscan1 in the #8,squire's ,tale' of ,chaucer1 taught the language of birds1 and also imparted to the wearer a knowledge of plants1 which formed an important part of the ,arabian philosophy3-- ,the vertue of this ring1 if ye wol here1 ,is this1 that if hire list it for to were1 ,upon hire thomb1 or in hire purse it bere1 ,there is no fowle that fleeth under haven1 ,that she ne shal wel onderstond his steven 7language7 ,and know his mening openlie and plaine1 ,and answere him in his langage againe1#cb ,and every gras that groweth upon rote1 ,she shal eke know and whom it wol do bote1 ,all be his woundes never so depe and wide4 ,in the romance of ,ywain and ,gawaine 7supposed to have been written in the reign of ,henry ,,vi471 when the knight is in perilous confinement1 a lady looks out of a wicket which opened in the walls of the gateway1 and releases him4 ,she gives him a ring3-- ,i sal leue the her mi ring1 ,bot yelde it me at myne askyng1 ,when thou ert broght of al thi payn1 ,yelde it than to me ogayne3 ,als the bark kills the tre1 ,right so sal my ring do the2 ,when thou in hand hast the stane1 ,der 7harm7 sal thai do the nane2 ,for the stane es of swilk might1 ,of the sal men have na syght-- thus possessing the power ascribed to the ring of ,gyges4 ,in a story of the #8,gseta ,romanorum' a father1 on his death-bed1 gives a ring to his son1 the virtue of which was that whoever wore it would obtain the love of all men4 ,in chapter x4 of the same work the ,emperor ,vespasian marries a wife in a distant country1 who refuses to return home with him1 and yet declares that she will kill herself if he leaves her4 ,in this dilemma the emperor orders two rings to be made having wonderful efficacious properties2 one represents on a precious stone the figure of ,oblivion1 and the other bears the image of ,memory4 ,the former he gives to the empress1 the latter he keeps himself4 ,chapter cxx4 contains the story of the legacy of ,king ,darius to his three sons4 ,the eldest receives his inheritance1 the second all that had been acquired by conquest1 and the third a ring1 a necklace1 and a rich mantle1 all of which possess magical properties4 ,he who wore the ring gained the love and favour of all2 the collar obtained all that the heart could desire1 and whoever laid down on the mantle would be instantly transported to any part of the world he might desire to visit4 ,in the romance of #8,melusine1' the heroine1 when about to leave the house of her husband1 gives him two rings1 and says3 #8,my sweet love1 you see here two rings which have both the same virtue1 and know well for truth1 so long as you possess them1 or one of them1 you shall never be overcome in pleading1 nor in battle1 if your cause be rightful1 and neither you nor others who may possess them shall ever die by any weapons4' ,the ring given by the ,princess ,rigmel to ,horn possessed similar properties1 as also the ring in the #8,little ,rose-garden1' given by the ,lady ,similt to her brother ,dietlieb4 ,in ,orlando's #8,inamorata' the palace and gardens of ,dragontina vanish at ,angelica's ring of virtue1 which also enables her to become invisible4 ,now that she this upon her hand surveys1 ,she is so full of pleasure and surprise1 ,she doubts it is a dream1 and1 in amaze1 ,hardly believes her very hand and eyes4 ,then softly to her mouth the hoop conveys1 ,and1 quicker than the flash which cleaves the skies1 ,from bold ,rogero's sight her beauty shrouds1 ,as disappears the sun concealed in clouds4 ,lydgate1 in his #8,troy book' 7#aeac71 relates how ,medea gives to ,iason1 when he is going to combat the brazen bulls1 and to lull to sleep the dragon that guarded the golden fleece1 a ring1 in which was a gem charmed against poison1 and would render the wearer invisible4 #8,it was a sort of precious stone1' says ,lydgate1 #8which ,virgil celebrates1 and which ,venus sent her son neas that he might enter ,carthage4' ,in the metrical romance of #8,richard ,cur-de-,lion1' ,king ,modard gives him3-- ,two riche rings of gold3 ,the stones wherein be full bold4 ,hence to the land of ,ind1 ,better than they shalt thou not find4 ,for whoso hath that one stone1 ,water ne shall him drench none4 ,that other stone whoso that bear ,fire ne shall him never dere 7hurt74 ,in #8,floire and ,blanceflor' the latter1 drawing from her finger a ring containing a small talisman1 says to her lover3 #8,floire1 accept this as a pledge of our mutual love2 look on it every day2 if thou seest its brilliancy tarnished1 it is a sign that my life or my liberty is in danger4' ,in another part of the story1 when going in search of ,blanceflor1 who has been carried away1 ,floire receives a ring from his mother3 #8,have now1 lief son1 this ring3 whilst thou preservest it neither fire shall burn1 nor water drown1 nor weapon injure thee1 and all thy wants shall be instantly supplied4' ,in the #8,archologia' 7vol4 xix4 p4 #daa7 is a notice of a gold ring found in the ruins of the palace at ,eltham1 in ,kent1 bearing on the side edges of the interior the following inscription3-- ,qui me portera ecploitera ,et a grant ,joye revendra4 ,who wears me shall perform exploits1 ,and with great ,joy shall return3 implying that the ring was an amulet1 and may1 possibly1 have been presented to some distinguished personage when setting out for the ,holy ,land in the time of the ,crusades4 ,the ring is set with an oriental ruby and five diamonds1 placed at equal distances round the exterior4 ,illustration3 ,amulet ring4 ,the inscription is in small ,gothic characters1 but remarkably well-formed and legible4 ,the shape of the ruby is an irregular oval1 while the diamonds are all of a triangular form and in their natural crystallised state4 ,an emerald ring was thought to ensure purity of thought and conduct4 ,in #8,caltha ,poetarium1 or the ,humble ,bee1' by ,t4 ,cutwode 7#aeii71 ,diana is represented adorning the heroine of the piece3-- ,and1 with an emerald1 hangs she on a ring ,that keeps just reckoning of our chastity3 99 99 99 99 99 ,and1 therefore1 ladies1 it behoves you well ,to walk full warily when stones will tell4 ,in the ballad of #8,northumberland betrayed by ,douglas1' ,mary1 a ,douglas that dabbled in sorcery1 shows the chamberlain of ,earl ,percy1 ,james ,swynard1 the foes of the former in the field1 through the #8weme' 7hollow7 of her ring3-- ,i never was on ,english ground1 ,ne never sawe it with mine eye1 ,but as my book it sheweth me1 ,and through my ring ,i may descrye4 ,the treachery of ,earl ,douglas is thus foreshadowed1 and the chamberlain returns sorrowfully to his master with the news of what he had seen4 ,earl ,percy1 however1 is determined to keep his hunting appointment with ,douglas3-- ,now nay1 now nay1 good ,james ,swynard1 ,i may not believe that witch ladye2 ,the ,douglasses were ever true1 ,and they can ne'er prove false to me4 ,the #8witch-ladye' who effects such powerful influences with her magic ring is1 nevertheless1 rewarded for her warnings3-- ,he writhe a gold ring from his finger ,and gave itt to that gay ladye2 ,sayes #8it was all that ,i cold save ,in ,harley woods where ,i cold bee' 7where ,i was74 ,a ring story in which the ,venus of antiquity assumes the manners of one of the ,fays1 or ,fat of romance1 is quoted by ,sir ,walter ,scott in his notes to the #8,minstrelsy of the ,scottish ,border4' ,it is related by ,fordun in his #8,scotichronicon1' by ,matthew of ,westminster1 and ,roger of ,wendover4 ,in the year #ajeh a young man of noble birth had been married at ,rome1 and during the period of the nuptial feast1 having gone with his companions to play at ball1 he put his marriage-ring on the finger of a broken statue of ,venus in the area to remain while he was engaged in the recreation4 ,desisting from the exercise he found the finger on which he had placed the ring1 contracted firmly against the palm1 and attempted in vain either to break it1 or to disengage his ring4 ,he concealed the circumstance from his companions1 and returned at night with a servant1 when he found the finger extended and his ring gone4 ,he dissembled the loss and returned to his wife2 but whenever he attempted to embrace her he found himself prevented by something dark and dense1 which was tangible1 though not visible1 interposing between them1 and he heard a voice saying3 #8,embrace me1 for ,i am ,venus whom you this day wedded1 and ,i will not restore your ring4' ,as this was constantly repeated1 he consulted his relations1 who had recourse to ,palumbus1 a priest skilled in necromancy4 ,he directed the young man to go at a certain hour of the night to a spot among the ancient ruins of ,rome1 where four roads met1 and wait silently until he saw a company pass by2 and then1 without uttering a word1 to deliver a letter which he gave him to a majestic being who rode in a chariot after the rest of the company4 ,the young man did so1 and saw a company of all ages1 sexes1 and ranks1 on horse and on foot1 some joyful and others sad1 pass along2 among whom he distinguished a woman in a meretricious dress1 who1 from the tenuity of her garments1 seemed almost naked4 ,she rode on a mule2 her long hair1 which flowed over her shoulders1 was bound with a golden fillet1 and in her hand was a gold rod with which she directed the mule4 ,in the close of the procession a tall majestic figure appeared in a chariot adorned with emeralds and pearls1 who fiercely asked the young man what he did there4 ,he presented the letter in silence1 which the demon dared not refuse4 ,as soon as he had read1 lifting up his hands to heaven1 he exclaimed3 #8,almighty ,god1 how long wilt thou endure the iniquities of the sorcerer ,palumbus8' and immediately despatched some of his attendants1 who1 with much difficulty1 extorted the ring from ,venus1 and restored it to its owner1 whose infernal bands were thus dissolved4#cc ,another medival story is founded on the same myth1 but purified and ,christianised4 ,a knight is playing at ball and incommoded by his ring4 ,he therefore removes it1 and places it for safety on the finger of a statue of the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,on seeking it again he finds the hand of the finger clasped1 and is unable to recover his ring2 whereupon the knight renounces the world1 and1 as the betrothed of the ,virgin1 enters a monastery4 ,gifts of rings to the ,virgin were common in the ,middle ,ages4 ,monstrelet relates that at the execution of the ,constable of ,france1 ,louis de ,luxembourg1 in the reign of ,louis ,,xi41 he took a gold ring set with a diamond from his finger1 and1 giving it to the ,penitentiary1 desired he would offer it to the image of the ,virgin ,mary1 and place it on her finger1 which he promised to perform4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,baring ,gould1 in his #8,curious ,myths of the ,middle ,ages1' relates a legend by ,csarius of ,heisterboch of a similar character to that of ,venus and the ring4 ,a certain clerk1 ,philip1 a great necromancer1 took some ,swabian and ,bavarian youths to a lonely spot in a field1 where1 at their desire1 he proceeded to perform incantations4 ,first1 he drew a circle round them with his sword1 and warned them on no consideration to leave the ring4 ,then1 retiring from them a little space1 he began his incantations1 and suddenly there appeared around the youths a multitude of armed men brandishing weapons1 and daring them to fight4 ,the demons1 failing to draw them by this means from their enchanted circle1 vanished1 and there was seen a company of beautiful damsels1 dancing about the ring1 and by their attitudes alluring the youths towards them4 ,one of them1 exceeding in beauty and grace the others1 singled out a youth1 and1 dancing before him1 extended to him a ring of gold1 casting languishing glances towards him1 and1 by all the means in her power1 endeavouring to attract his attention and kindle his passion4 ,the young man1 unable to resist any longer1 put forth his finger beyond the circle to take the ring1 and the apparition at once drew him towards her1 and vanished with him4 ,however1 after much trouble1 the necromancer was able to recover him from the evil spirit4 #8,the incident of the ring1' remarks ,mr4 ,gould1 #8in connexion with the ancient goddess1 is certainly taken from the old religion of the ,teutonic and ,scandinavian peoples4 ,freyja was represented in her temples holding a ring in her hand2 so was ,thorgerda ,hrdabrda4 ,the ,faereyinga ,saga relates an event in the life of the ,faroese hero ,sigmund ,brestesson1 which is to the point4 8,they 7,earl ,hakon and ,sigmund7 went to the temple1 and the earl fell on the ground before her statue1 and there he lay long4 ,the statue was richly dressed1 and had a heavy gold ring on the arm4 ,and the earl stood up and touched the ring1 and tried to remove it1 but could not2 and it seemed to ,sigmund as though she frowned4 ,then the earl said3 #8,she is not pleased with thee1 ,sigmund1 and ,i do not know whether ,i shall be able to reconcile you2 but that shall be the token of her favour1 if she gives us the ring which she has in her hand4' ,then the earl took much silver1 and laid it on her footstool before her1 and again he flung himself before her1 and ,sigmund noticed that he wept profusely4 ,and when he stood up he took the ring1 and she let go of it4 ,then the earl gave it to ,sigmund and said3 #8,i give thee this ring to thy weal2 never part with it2' and ,sigmund promised he would not40 #8,this ring occasions the death of the ,faroese chief4 ,in after years ,king ,olaf1 who converts him to ,christianity1 knowing that this gold ring is a relic of paganism1 asks ,sigmund to give it to him3 the chief refuses1 and the king angrily pronounces a warning that it will be the cause of his death4 ,and his word falls true1 for ,sigmund is murdered in his sleep for the sake of the ring4' ,there was no limit to the credulity of believers in the mystic in the middle and even in later ages4 ,sir ,walter ,scott1 in his #8,demonology and ,witchcraft1' remarks that the early dabblers in astrology and chemistry1 although denying the use of all necromancy--that is1 unlawful or black magic--pretended always to a correspondence with the various spirits of the elements1 on the principle of the ,rosicrucian philosophy4 ,they affirmed that they could bind to their service1 and imprison in a ring1 a mirror1 or a stone1 some fairy sylph or salamander1 and compel it to appear when called1 and render answers to such questions as the viewer should propose4'#cd ,in the reign of ,henry ,,viii4 7#aecc7 ,jones1 the famous1 or rather infamous1 #8,oxford ,conjurer1' told his dupe1 ,sir ,william ,neville1 that amongst other marvels he could make rings of gold which would ensure the favour of great men to those who wore them4 ,he said #8that my lord cardinal 7,wolsey7 had such1' and he promised one to ,sir ,william and his brother4#ce ,it is not a little curious that ,henry ,,viii4 himself1 the despoiler of monasteries1 and1 to a certain extent1 the uprooter of many superstitious practices1 placed such faith in the traditional virtues of a jewel that had for ages decked the shrine of ,thomas ,becket at ,canterbury that he caused it to be placed in a ring1 which he constantly wore afterwards1 in the manner of those times1 on his enormous thumb4 ,the last time that this jewel appears in history is among the #8diamonds' of the golden collar of his daughter ,queen ,mary1 who1 although a bigoted ,roman ,catholic1 did not scruple to wear the spoils of a shrine4 ,this jewel was called the #8royal of ,france' having been presented to the shrine of the murdered ,archbishop by ,king ,louis ,,vii4 in #aagi4cf ,illustration3 ,charm-rings4 ,religious charms were of exhaustless variety4 ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a bone charm-ring1 surmounted by a circular signet1 on which is engraved the crucifix1 with our ,saviour upon it1 and the two ,maries standing on either side of the stem3 round the edge of the signet is the inscription #8,in hoc signo vinces1' headed with a small cross4 ,in the #8,journal of the ,archological ,institute' 7vol4 iii4 p4 #ceh7 is an account of a curious magical ring1 found on the coast of ,glamorganshire1 near to the #8,worm's ,head1' the western extremity of the county1 where numerous objects have been found at various times on the shifting of the sand1 such as fire-arms1 an astrolabe1 and silver dollars4 ,this ring is of gold1 much bent and defaced1 and inscribed with mystic words both inside and outside the hoop4 ,illustration3 ,talismanic ring4 #8,the talismanic character of these mysterious words seems to be sufficiently proved by comparison with the physical charms given in an ,english medical ,,ms41 preserved at ,stockholm1 and published by the ,society of ,antiquaries4 ,amongst various cabalistic prescriptions is found one 8for peynys in theth4444 ,boro berto briore vulnera quinque dei sint medecina mei ,tahebal ghether 7or guthman7 ,onthman10 c4 ,the last word should probably be read ,guthman1 and it is succeeded by five crosses1 probably in allusion to the five wounds of the ,saviour4' ,it is supposed that this ring and the other remains alluded to indicate the spot where a ,spanish or ,portuguese vessel was wrecked about two hundred years ago4 ,the following engraving1 from the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 iii4 p4 #bfg71 represents another cabalistic ring1 found in ,worcestershire1 and the property of ,mr4 ,jabez ,allies4 ,it is of base metal1 plated with gold1 and is1 apparently1 of the fourteenth century4 ,illustration3 ,talismanic ring4 ,in the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 v4 p4 #aei7 is an engraving and description of a curious talismanic ring1 with an inscription showing stronger evidence of oriental origin than any heretofore noticed1 the ,greek letters theta and gamma occurring twice in the legend4 ,the discovery of this relic1 which is of gold1 weighing #ef grains1 was singular4 ,it was found in digging up the roots of an old oak-tree which had been blown down by a violent wind in #ahdf1 on a farm called the #8,rookery1' in the parish of ,calne1 ,wiltshire1 belonging to ,mr4 ,thomas ,poynder1 who thinks that the spot where the ring was found was in the track of the fugitive ,royalists1 after the battle at ,rounday ,hill1 near ,devizes1 on their retreat towards ,oxford1 where the ,king's head-quarters were stated to be at that time4 ,this curious ring is divided into eight compartments1 with a row of three little rounded points1 or studs1 between each4 ,the hoop is bent irregularly1 so that the inner circle presents seven straight sides1 but the angles thus formed do not correspond precisely with the external divisions4 ,illustration3 ,talismanic ring4 ,illustration3 ,talismanic ring4 ,a talismanic ring of gold found in ,coventry ,park in #ahjb1 represents in the centre device ,christ rising from the sepulchre1 and in the background are shown the hammer1 sponge1 and other emblems of the ,passion4 ,on the left is figured the wound at the side1 with an inscription #8the well of ewerlastingh lyffe4' ,in the next compartment1 two smaller wounds1 with #8the well of confort1' #8the well of gracy1' and afterwards two other wounds inscribed #8the well of pitty1' #8the well of merci4' ,from some small remains it is evident that the figure of our ,saviour1 with all the inscriptions1 had been filled with black enamel1 whilst the wounds and drops of blood issuing from them were appropriately distinguished by red4 ,on the inside of the ring is the following inscription3 #8,wulnera quinq' dei sunt medecina mei1 pia crux et passio xpi sunt medecina michi1 ,jaspar1 ,melchior1 ,baltasar1 ananyzapta tetragrammaton4' ,in the #8,archologia' 7vol4 xviii47 it is stated that ,sir ,edward ,shaw1 goldsmith and alderman of ,london1 by his will 7circ #adhg71 directed to be made sixteen rings of #8fyne gold1 to be graven with the well of pitie1 the well of mercie1 and the well of everlasting life4' ,it is1 perhaps1 impossible now to explain the import of the legends which occur on certain medival rings1 and devices which are probably1 in many cases1 anagrammatic1 and the original orthography of the legend corrupted and changed in others2 but they1 no doubt1 had a talismanic meaning4 ,a gold ring found in ,rockingham ,forest in #ahda has inscribed on the outer side1 guttv3 gutta3 madros3 adros2 and in the inner side1 vdros3 udros3 thebal4 ,a thin gold ring discovered in a garden at ,newark in #agda was inscribed with the words ,agla3 ,thalcvt3 ,calcvt3 ,cattama4 ,the mystic word1 or anagram1 ,agla is engraved on the inner side of a silver ring 7of the fourteenth century7 found in #ahdf on the site of the cemetery of ,st4 ,owen's1 which stood on the west site of ,gloucester1 a little without the south gate1 and was destroyed during the siege of #afdc4 ,on the outside of the ring is engraved ,,ave ,,maria1 and within appear the letters ,,agla1 with the symbol of the cross between each letter4 ,the weight of the ring is #bj grs4 ,the term ,agla designated in the ,east a wand of dignity or office1 and may possibly have been used in connection with magical or alchemical operations4 ,there is a notice of a curious magical ring against leprosy in the #8,archologia' 7vol4 xxi4 p4 #be1 #abj74 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is a #8religious1' or #8superstitious' ring of silver1 the workmanship of which dates it at the end of the fifteenth century1 and which is supposed to have been worn as a charm against ,st4 ,vitus's dance4 ,to a circular plate are attached three large bosses1 and1 between each1 two smaller bosses1 all the nine of which are hollow1 and were filled1 apparently1 by some resinous substance4 ,on the three larger bosses are engraved the letters ,s4 ,m4 ,v4 7,sancta ,maria ,virgo7 in relief4 ,in the same collection is a gold ring of the same century1 the face engraved with ,st4 ,christopher bearing the infant ,saviour1 worn as a charm against sudden death1 more particularly by drowning4 ,it is very delicately engraved4 ,the circle is formed by ten lozenges1 each of which bears a letter of the inscription1 #8de boen cuer4' ,illustration3 ,amulet rings4 ,sir ,john ,woodford is in possession of a gold ring found on the field of ,azincourt1 which bears the inscription ,,buro4 ,,berto4 ,,beriora4 ,these mystic words occur likewise in the charm against tooth-ache given in the ,stockholm ,,ms4 7#8,archological ,journal1' vol4 iv4 p4 #gh74 ,a thumb-ring was discovered a few years since in the coffin of an ecclesiastic1 in ,chichester ,cathedral1 set with an ,abraxas gem1#cg an agate2 the deceased churchman1 it may be well believed1 had worn it guiltless of all knowledge of ,alexandrine pantheism4 ,the ring was of gold1 and was found on the right-hand thumb-bone of a skeleton1 the supposed remains of ,seffrid1 ,bishop of ,chichester1 ,a4,d4 #aabe4 ,illustration3 ,cabalistic ring4 ,a very large ring1 bearing great resemblance to the episcopal ring1 was occasionally worn as a thumb-ring by the laity4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is a fine specimen4 ,it is somewhat roughly formed of mixed metal1 and has upon the circular face a conventional representation of a monkey looking at himself in a hand-mirror4 ,this is surrounded by a cable-moulding1 and on each side is set two large stones4 ,the outer edge of this ring is also decorated with a heavy cable-moulding2 inside1 next the figure1 is the cross and sacred monogram1 placed on each side of the mystic word anamzapta1 showing it to be a charm-ring4 ,another mystical ring in the same collection is inscribed1 on an oval boss1 h,e,th2 the workmanship1 probably ,english1 of about the fifteenth century4 ,this ring was bought at ,ely4 ,heth was the sacred name of ,jehovah4 ,dr4 ,dee and similar ,gnostics composed several mystical arrangements founded on these four letters4 ,illustration3 ,mystical ring4 ,the ,londesborough ,collection has also a massive thumb-ring1 having the tooth of some animal as its principal gem1 supposed to have mystic power over its possessor4 ,it is set all around with precious stones to ensure its potency4 ,illustration3 ,mystical ring4 ,the last leaf of the #8,theophilus' ,,ms4 of the fourteenth century has3 #8,against the falling sickness1 write these characters upon a ring2 outside1 ou4 thebal gut guthani2 inside1 eri gerari4' ,a ring that had belonged to ,remigius1 being dipped in holy water1 furnished1 it is said1 a good drink for fever and other diseases4 ,the sacred names of #8,jesus1' #8,maria1' and #8,joseph' were formerly inscribed on rings1 and worn as preservatives against the plague4 ,rings simply made of gold were supposed to cure ,st4 ,antony's fire1 but if inscribed with magical words their effect was irresistible4 ,a representation is annexed of an amulet ring found near ,oxford1 about #ahje1 bearing an inscription ,,sca4 ,,bar41 ,sancta ,barbara4 ,the legend of ,st4 ,barbara calls her a patroness against storms and lightning4 ,illustration3 ,amulet ring4 ,the following engraving represents an amulet wedding-ring1 conjectured to be the figure of ,st4 ,catherine with her wheel1 being an emblem of good fortune2 the other being probably1 ,st4 ,margaret 7with the church71 an emblem of her faith1 wisdom1 constancy1 and fortitude3 time of ,richard ,,ii4 ,illustration3 ,amulet ring4 ,rings in which pieces of what was asserted to be the #8true cross' were placed are sometimes met with in old writings4 ,st4 ,gregory states that his sister wore one of this kind4 ,that this belief was not always credited is seen in the case of an exchange of rings between a bishop and an abbot in the annals of ,st4 ,alban's ,abbey4 ,this occurred in the reign of ,richard ,,ii41 when the ,bishop of ,lincoln 7,beaufort7 gave his to ,john1 fifth abbot of ,st4 ,alban's1 for one containing a piece of the true cross1 and was therefore earnestly prized and begged for by the bishop4 ,whether the prelate had his misgivings as to the alleged sanctity of the splinter1 or considered the garniture of the ring too plain1 he very soon after informed the abbot that his own ring was the most valuable of the two1 and the difference in value must be paid to him in money4 ,in his zeal for his material interests the bishop overlooked the assurances of friendship which the exchange conveyed1 and the abbot was obliged to give him five pounds4 ,relics of martyrs and saints were frequently inserted in rings3 in the ,londesborough ,collection is a silver reliquary1 probably intended for the thumb4 ,it has a heart engraved on a lozenge1 the reliquary being enclosed beneath4 ,it was found in the ruins of the abbey of ,st4 ,bertin1 at ,st4 ,omer4 ,in the possession of ,lady ,fitz ,hardinge is a remarkable reliquary ring1 of admirable workmanship1 probably of the tenth century1 perhaps ,anglo-,saxon1 but possibly of ,irish 7,celtic7 origin4 ,it is of gold with very large expanded bezel1 cruciform or quatrefoil1 #a in4 wide4 ,in the centre is a raised boss1 intended1 possibly1 to contain a relic1 as the ring is1 no doubt1 ecclesiastical2 from this radiates four monsters' heads1 similar to those on early ,irish work1 marked with thin lines of niello1 the eyes formed of dots of dark glass pastes1 the whole edged with fine corded ornament4 ,in the collection of ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith is a reliquary gold ring1 having suspended on the bezel side a small gold relic-case1 chased with two crosses1 and edged with beaded work of the twelfth century4 ,mr4 ,fairholt describes a curious ,venetian ring1 the bezel formed like a box to contain relics4 ,the face of the ring has a representation of ,st4 ,mark seated1 holding his gospel and giving a benediction4 ,the spaces between this figure and the oval border are perforated1 so that the interior of the box is visible1 and the relic enshrined might be seen4 ,liceti1 a ,genoese physician of the seventeenth century1 who wrote a book on rings1 ascribed the want of virtue in medicated rings to their small size1 observing that the larger the ring or the gem contained in it1 the greater was the effect4 ,he endeavoured to prove that the ,philistines1 when they were punished for touching the ark of ,israel1 wore rings on their fingers with the image of the disease engraved on them by way of expiation4 ,illustration3 ,rings of the ,magi4 ,the names of the ,three ,kings of ,cologne constituted a popular charm against diseases and evil influences in the ,middle ,ages4 ,the late ,crofton ,croker1 in his description of the rings in the ,londesborough ,collection1 mentions one dating from the fourteenth1 or early in the fifteenth century1 engraved outside with these names3 ,gasper3 ,melchior3 ,baltazar3 in4 ,god4 is4 a4 r4--the latter words1 probably1 implying #8in ,god is a remedy4' ,the three ,kings were supposed to be the ,wise ,men 7according to the legend1 three ,kings of ,arabia7 who made offerings to our ,saviour4 ,their bodies travelled first to ,constantinople1 thence to ,milan1 and1 lastly1 to ,cologne1 by various removals4#ch ,these three potent names have continued as a charm even to a late period2 for1 in ,january #agdh-i1 one ,william ,jackson1 a ,roman ,catholic1 and a proscribed smuggler1 being sentenced to death at ,chichester1 had a purse taken from his person1 containing the following scrap3-- ,sancti tres ,reges1 ,gaspar1 ,melchior1 ,baltasar1 ,orate pro nobis nunc et in hora ,mortis nostr4 ,the paper on which this invocation was written had touched the heads of the ,three ,kings at ,cologne4 ,in #8,reynard the ,fox1' the hero of that satirical work1 describing the treasure he pretends to have discovered for the sole benefit of his royal master and mistress1 says3 #8,oon of them was a rynge of fyne gold1 and within the rynge next the fyngre were wreton lettres enameld wyth sable and asure1 and there were three ,hebrew names therein1 y coude not myself rede ne spelle them1 for ,i onderstand not that language1 but mayster ,abryon of ,tryers1 he is a wise man1 he onderstandeth wel al maner of langages1 and the virtue of al maner of herbes4 ,and yet he byleveth not in ,god1 he is a ,jewe1 the wysest in conynge1 and specyally he knoweth the virtue of stones4 ,i shewed him thys ryng1 he sayd that they were the thre names that ,seth brought out of ,paradys1 when he brought to his fader ,adam the oyle of mercy4 ,and whomsoever bereth on hym thyse thre names1 he shal never be hurte by throndre ne by lyghtning1 ne no wytchcraft shal have no power over hym1 ne be tempted to doo synne2 and also he shall never take harme by colde though he laye thre wynters long nyghtes in the felde though it snowed1 stormed1 or froze never soo sore1 so grete myghte have these wordes4' ,the stone set in the ring and its wonderful properties are then enumerated1 and the conclusion is3 #8,i thought in myself that ,i was not able ne worthy to bere it1 and therefore ,i sent it to my dere lord1 the ,kyng1 for ,i knew hym for the moost noble that now lyveth1 and also all our welfare and worship lyeth on hym1 and for he shold be kepte fro al drede1 nede1 and ungeluck4' ,while the names of saints were employed for the prevention or relief of bodily ailments1 those of #8devils' were made the agency for criminal objects2 thus we read in ,monstrelet's #8,chronicles1' that in the plea of justification made by the ,duke of ,burgundy for the assassination of ,louis1 ,duke of ,orleans1 in #adjg1 he accused the latter of having conspired against the ,king of ,france by means of sorcery4 ,among other things a ring was made use of #8in the name of devils4' ,a monk undertook this #8who performed many superstitious acts near a bush1 with invocations to the devil4' ,two evil spirits appeared to him in the shape of two men1 one of whom took the ring1 which had been placed on the ground1 and vanished4 ,after half an hour he returned1 and gave the ring to the monk1 #8which to the sight was the colour of red1 nearly scarlet1' and said to him3 #8,thou wilt put it into the mouth of a dead man in the manner thou knowest1' and then vanished4 ,the monk obeyed these instructions #8thinking to burn the lord our ,king4' ,mr4 ,fairholt describes a mechanical ring1 of mystic signification1 as one of the most curious rings in the ,londesborough ,collection4 ,the outside of the hoop is perfectly plain1 and is set with a ruby and amethyst4 ,upon pressing these stones a spring opens1 and discovers the surface covered with magical signs and names of spirits2 among them ,asmodiel1 ,nachiel1 and ,zamiel occur1 a similar series occupying the interior of the hoop4 ,such a ring might be worn without suspicion of its true import1 looking simplicity itself1 but fraught with unholy meaning4 ,it was1 probably1 constructed for some ,german mystic philosopher1 at a time when students like ,faust devoted themselves and their fortune to occult sciences1 believing in the philosopher's stone1 the elixir of life1 and the power given to man to control the unseen world of spirits4 ,illustration3 ,cabalistic ring4 ,among the charges brought against ,joan of ,arc were that she had charmed rings to secure victory over her enemies4 ,the ancient physicians and empirics employed numerous charms for the cure of diseases1 and the practice was common among the medical professors of the middle and lower ,roman empire4 ,marcellus1 a physician who lived in the reign of ,marcus ,aurelius1 directs the patient who is afflicted with a pain in the side to wear a ring of pure gold1 inscribed with some ,greek letters1 on a ,thursday1 at the decrease of the moon4 ,it was to be worn on the right hand if the pain was on the left side1 and vice vers4 ,trallian1 another physician1 living in the fourth century1 cured the colic and all bilious complaints by means of an octangular ring of iron1 on which eight words were to be engraved1 commanding the bile to take possession of a lark6 ,a magic diagram was to be added4 ,he tells us that he had great experience in this remedy1 and had considered it extremely foolish to omit recording so valuable a treasure1 but he particularly enjoined keeping it a secret from the profane vulgar1 according to an admonition of ,hippocrates1 that sacred things are for sacred persons only4 ,he recommends also a cure for the stone by wearing a copper ring with the figure of a lion1 a crescent1 and a star1 to be placed on the fourth finger2 and for the colic in general a ring with ,hercules strangling the ,neman lion4 ,michaelis1 a physician of ,leipsic1 had a ring made of a sea-horse's tooth1 which he applied to all diseases indiscriminately1#ci but jasper was the favourite substance employed when a particular disorder was in question4 ,illustration3 ,rings with ,mottoes1 worn as ,medicaments4 ,galen mentions a green jasper amulet belonging to the ,egyptian ,king ,nechepsus1 who lived #fcj years before the ,christian era4 ,it was cut in the form of a dragon surrounded with rays1 and worn to strengthen the organs of digestion4 ,the numerous magical properties of the jasper made it a favourite among the ,gnostic or ,basilidian gems4 ,at a meeting of the ,society of ,antiquaries in ,march #ahge ,mr4 ,robert ,ferguson1 ,m4,p41 c41 exhibited among other rings1 one of yellow metal1 with ,anglo-,saxon runes2#dj diameter #a-a_/aj inch4 ,it bears an inscription similar to the ,cumberland specimen now in the ,british ,museum4 ,the ring is said to have belonged to a ,major ,macdonald1 in #agde1 and was obtained by ,mr4 ,ferguson from his descendant4 ,mr4 ,ferguson has since presented this ring to the ,british ,museum4 ,a somewhat similar ring1 the property of the ,earl of ,aberdeen1 is described in the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 xxi4 p4 #bef7 bearing the ,runic inscription1 #8whether in fever or leprosy1 the patient be happy and confident in the hope of recovery4' ,illustration3 ,runic4 ,the accompanying illustration represents a ,dano-,saxon ring worn as a charm against the plague1 and bearing an inscription thus rendered3-- ,raise us from dust we pray to thee2 ,from pestilence ,o set us free1 ,although the grave unwilling be4 ,illustration3 ,dano-,saxon ,runic ring4 ,at the proceedings of the ,royal ,society of ,antiquaries at ,copenhagen1 in #ahch1 a gold ring with a ,runic inscription1 found in ,fionia1 was exhibited4 ,the words rd eg lagd laga may be rendered #8,i guide the chain of destiny1' and show that its ,scandinavian possessor considered it an amulet4 ,rings of lead1 mixed with quicksilver1 were used against headaches and other complaints4 ,in the #8,rcueil des ,historiens de ,france' we read that ,passavant1 ,bishop of ,mans1 possessed a ring which had belonged to ,gulpherius de ,lastour1 during the ,crusades1 which was very precious1 and cured a great number of sick persons4 ,a gold ring of the fourteenth century1 in the ,londesborough ,collection1 has an inscription which1 freely translated1 is #8,may you be preserved from the evil eye6' ,in the ,shrewsbury ,museum is a small iron ring1 with an intaglio representing a fawn springing out of a nautilus-shell4 ,it was discovered at ,wroxeter4 ,this and similar devices the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king ascribes as probable charms against the #8evil eye4' ,this superstition still prevails extensively in the ,east1 and is also entertained in many parts of ,europe4 ,that it was well known to ,romans we have the authority of ,virgil3 #8,nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos' 7,ecl4 iii474 ,the following engraving 7from the ,collection ,chabouillet7 represents a ,greek amulet ring1 adopted by the ,etruscans and ,romans1 and which offers1 by the stone and setting1 the figure of an eye4 ,these rings were movable1 and turned on the axis4 ,illustration3 ,amulet against the #8evil eye4' ,the great preservative against this was the wearing of a ring1 with the figure of a cockatrice1 supposed to proceed from a cock's egg under various planetary and talismanic influences4 ,the ,londesborough thumb-ring has two cockatrices cut in high relief upon an agate4 ,illustration3 ,amulets against the #8evil eye4' ,the deadly power of the cockatrice is alluded to by ,shakspeare in #8,twelfth ,night' and in #8,romeo and ,juliet'-- ,say thou but ,i1 ,and that base vowel ,i shall poison more ,than the death-darting eye of cockatrice4 ,so ,dryden says3-- ,mischiefs are like the cockatrice's eye2 ,if they see first1 they kill2 if seen1 they die-- alluding to the counter-action1 that if the creature was seen by a person first1 without being perceived by it1 the cockatrice died from the effect of the human eye4 ,the figure of the bird merely gave security against the evil eye2 it had no other effect1 and for this purpose various engraved stones were used4 ,thus a ring in the ,londesborough ,collection has in its centre a ,gnostic gem with cabalistic figures1 believed able to avert the dreadful glance4 ,in the same collection is a massive thumb-ring1 having the tooth of some animal as its principal gem1 supposed to have mystic power over the fortunes of its possessor4 ,it is set all round with precious stones of talismanic virtues4 ,a dove1 with a branch of olive in its mouth1 engraved in pyrites1 and mounted in a silver ring1 ensured the wearer the utmost hospitality wherever he went1 possessing the power of fascination4 ,a fair head1 well combed1 with a handsome face1 engraved on a gem1 secured joy1 reverence1 and honour4 ,rings made of the bones of an ostrich were assumed to be of rare virtue4 ,illustration3 ,charm-ring4 ,annexed is a representation of a silver charm-ring in the ,south ,kensington ,museum2 the hoop is spirally fluted1 widening towards the bezel1 which is set with a tooth2 the shoulder of the ring is pierced in floriated ,german work of the eighteenth century4 ,in the ,waterton ,collection are several rings of hoof--probably that of an ass--enclosed in gold1 and considered a remedy for epilepsy4 ,from ,cardan 7de ,venenis7 we learn1 among other means for a physician to find out whether a patient is #8fascinated1' that of a ring made of the hoof of an ass1 put on his finger1 growing too large for him after a few days' wearing4 ,it seems that among the ,indians and ,norwegians the hoof of the elk is regarded as a sovereign cure for the same malady4 ,the person afflicted applies it to his heart1 holding it in his left hand1 and rubbing his ear with it4 ,brand1 in his #8,popular ,antiquities1' states that in ,berkshire a ring made from a piece of silver collected at the ,communion is supposed to be a cure for convulsions and fits of every kind4 ,if collected on ,easter ,sunday its efficacy is greatly increased4 ,silver is not considered necessary in ,devonshire1 where a ring is preferred made out of three nails or screws that have been used to fasten a coffin1 and that have been dug out of the churchyard4 ,it is curious to notice that1 according to ,pliny1 the ancients believed that a nail drawn out of a sepulchre and placed on the threshold of a bed-chamber door would drive away phantoms in the night4 ,in ,lucian's #8,philopseudes' one of the interlocutors states #8that since an ,arabian had presented him with a ring made of iron taken from the gallows1 together with a written charm1 he had ceased to be afraid of the demoniacs1 who had been healed by a ,syrian in ,palestine4' ,in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' for #agid we are told that a silver ring will cure fits when it is made from five sixpences collected from as many bachelors1 to be conveyed by the hands of a bachelor to a smith that is a bachelor4 ,none of the persons who gave the sixpences were to know for what purpose1 or to whom they gave them4 ,the #8,london ,medical and ,physical ,journal' for #ahae notices a charm successfully employed in the cure of epilepsy1 after the failure of various medical means4 ,it consisted of a silver ring contributed by twelve young women1 and was to be constantly worn on one of the fingers of the patient4 ,in #8,notes and ,queries' 7vol4 i4 #bnd series1 p4 #cca7 we find a ,gloucestershire ring prescription for epilepsy1 which shows the persistence of credulity even in the present enlightened period4 #8,the curate of ,hasfield1 going into the house of a parishioner whose daughter was afflicted with epileptic fits1 was accosted by the mother of the damsel in a most joyous tone3 8,oh6 sir1 ,emma has got her ring40 ,the good curate1 fearing that the poor girl might have stooped to folly1 and that this was an intimation that her swain intended to make an honest woman of her1 sought an explanation1 which was afforded in the following prescription3--8,why1 you see1 sir1 our ,emma has been long troubled with the fits1 and she went to the church door1 and asked a penny from every unmarried man that went in1 till she got twenty-four4 ,she then took them to a silversmith in ,gloucester1 who promised to get them changed for #8,sacrament' money 7which he said he could easily do1 as he knew one of the cathedral clergy74 ,and with that money1 sir1 he made her a silver ring1 and ,emma is wearing it1 and has not had a fit since40' ,in ,somersetshire it is a popular belief that the ring-finger1 stroked along any sore or wound1 will soon heal it4 ,all the other fingers would poison the finger instead of healing it4 ,it is still an article of belief in some persons that there is virtue enough in a gold ring to remove a stye from the eye1 if it be rubbed with it4 ,although silver appears to be the happy medium chiefly in these wonderful cures1 yet we are told that ,paracelsus had a ring made of a variety of metallic substances1 which he called electrum1 and which not only cured epilepsy1 but almost every other complaint4 ,at the meeting of the #8,society of ,antiquaries' 7,june #ab1 #ahgc7 a very interesting collection of so-called ,tau 7,t7 rings were exhibited by ,octavius ,morgan1 ,esq41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,f4,s4,a4 ,these1 bearing the mystical emblem of the ,t 7tau71 are by no means of frequent occurrence1 and it is not likely that so many were ever brought together before4 ,the tau was early esteemed a sacred symbol1 and was considered to be the mark placed on the forehead1 as mentioned in the ,bible4 #8,i have1' remarks ,mr4 ,morgan1 #8in my collection a champlev enamel of the thirteenth century1 where the 8man in the linen garment10 as mentioned in ,ezekiel ix41 is represented marking the ,t on the forehead of the faithful children of ,israel4 ,a mystical virtue was attached to this ,t1 and1 in company with the word ,,ananizapta--which1 being faithfully translated from the ,chaldee1 according to the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 means1 8,have mercy on us1 ,o ,judge0--was thought a most powerful prophylactic against epilepsy4' ,a description of these curious rings will be found in the #8,proceedings of the ,society' 7vol4 vi4 ,no4 #a1 pp4 #ea1 #ec74 ,a toadstone ring 7the fossil palatal tooth of a species of ,ray7 was supposed to protect new-born children and their mothers from the power of the fairies2 and this continued a late-day superstition1 for ,joanna ,baillie1 in a letter to ,sir ,walter ,scott1 mentions one having been repeatedly borrowed from her mother for that purpose4 ,it was believed also to be a specific in cases of diseased kidney1 when immersed in water which was drunk by the patient4 ,in the inventory of the ,duke de ,berry is mentioned #8une crapaudine assize en un annel d'or2' also1 in the inventory of the ,duke of ,burgundy1 we find #8deux crapaudines1 l'une en ung anneau d'or1 l'autre en ung anneau d'argent4' ,these were highly esteemed for their magical properties1 as ,i have remarked1 and were probably also worn to prevent the administration of poison1 being supposed to indicate its presence by perspiring and changing colour4 ,fenton1 who wrote in #aefi1 says1 #8,being used in rings they give forewarning of venom4' ,in ,ben ,jonson's #8,fox' 7ii4 #e7 it is thus alluded to3-- ,were you enamoured on his copper rings1 ,his saffron jewel1 with the toadstone in't8 ,lupton1 in his #8,thousand ,notable ,things1' says that the stone 7which1 according to ,fenton1 was most commonly found in the head of a he-toad7 was not easily attained1 for the toad #8envieth so much that man should have that stone4 ,to know whether the stone called crapaudina be the right or perfect stone or not1 hold the stone before a toad so that he may see it1 and1 if it be a right and true stone1 the toad will leap towards it1 and make as though he would snatch it from you4' ,illustration3 ,silver toadstone ring 7fifteenth century74 ,an ingenious method of obtaining the stone is given by the same writer3 #8,put a great or overgrown toad 7first bruised in divers places7 into an earthen pot2 put the same into an ant's hillock1 and cover the same with earth1 which toad at length the ants will eat1 so that the bones of the toad and stone will be left in the pot4' ,a medival author1 however1 states that the stone should be obtained while the toad is living1 and this may be done by simply placing upon him a piece of scarlet cloth1 #8wherewithal they are much delighted1 so that1 while they stretch out themselves as it were in sport upon that cloth1 they cast out the stone of their head1 but instantly they sup it up again1 unless it be taken from them through some secret hole in the same cloth4' ,the scarlet1 however did not always perform this miracle1 for ,boethius relates how he watched a whole night an old toad he had laid on a red cloth to see him cast forth the stone1 but the toad was stubborn1 and left him nothing to #8gratify the great pangs of his whole night's restlessness4' ,the ,londesborough ,collection contains two remarkable specimens of rings connected with toad superstition1 thus described by ,mr4 ,fairholt3 #8,the first is of mixed metal1 gilt1 having upon it the figure of a toad swallowing a serpent4 ,there is a medival story of a necromancer introducing himself to another professor of magic by showing him a serpent-ring1 upon which the latter1 who did not desire anyone to interfere with his practice1 produced his toadstone ring1 observing that the toad might swallow the serpent1 thereby intimating his power to overcome him4 ,the second ring is curious1 not only as containing the true toad-stone1 but the stone is embossed with the figure of a toad1 according to the description of ,albertus ,magnus1 who describes the most valuable variety of this coveted gem as having the figure of the reptile engraved on it4' ,illustration3 ,toadstone rings4 ,prtorius mentions that a member of the ,german house of ,alveschleben received a ring from a #8,nixe' to which the future fortunes of his line were to be attached4 ,the turquoise ring of ,shylock1 which he would not have given for a #8wilderness of monkeys' 7#8,merchant of ,venice1' scene i471 was probably more esteemed for its secret virtues than from any commercial value1 the turquoise1 turkise1 or turkey-stone having1 from remote periods1 been supposed to possess talismanic properties4 ,fenton1 in his #8,secret ,wonders of ,nature' 7#aefi71 thus describes the stone3 #8,the turkeys doth move when there is any peril prepared to him that weareth it4' ,dr4 ,donne alludes to ,a compassionate turquoise1 that doth tell1 ,by looking pale1 the wearer is not well4 ,among the virtues of the turquoise is one which would spare us the shame of a divorce-court1 as it was believed to take away all enmity1 and to reconcile man and wife4 ,holinshed1 speaking of the death of ,king ,john1 says3 #8,and when the king suspected them 7the pears7 to be poisoned indeed1 by reason of such precious stones as he had about him cast forth a certain sweat1 as it were bewraeing the poison1 c4' ,the turquoise was a supposed monitor of poison from this circumstance4 #8,with the ,germans the turquoise is still the gem appropriated to the ring1 the 8gage d'amour10 presented by the lover on the acceptance of his suit1 the permanence of its colour being believed to depend upon the constancy of his affection4 ,inasmuch as this stone is almost as liable to change1 and as capriciously as the heart itself1 the omen it gives is verified with sufficient frequency to maintain its reputation for infallibility' 7,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 on #8,precious ,stones1' c474 ,camillus ,leonardus1 in the #8,mirror of ,stones1' describes the carbuncle as #8brandishing its fiery rays on every side1 and in the dark appearing like a fiery coal4 ,it is esteemed the first among burning gems4' ,the ancients supposed this stone to give out a native light without reflection1 and they ranked it fifth in order1 after diamonds1 emeralds1 opals1 and pearls4 ,the virtue of the carbuncle was to drive away poisonous air1 repress luxury1 and preserve the health of the body4 ,the wonderful light emitted from the stone is one of the most prolific resources of romance among old writers4 ,shakspeare alludes to the superstition in #8,titus ,andronicus' 7,act ii4 sc4 #d74 ,martius4 ,lord ,bassianus lies embrud here ,all on a heap1 like to a slaughtered lamb1 ,in this detested1 dark1 blood-drinking pit4 ,quintus4 ,if it be dark1 how dost thou know 'tis he8 ,martius4 ,upon his bloody finger he doth wear ,a precious ring that lightens all the hole1 ,which1 like a taper in some monument1 ,doth shine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks1 ,and shows the rugged entrails of the pit4 ,ben ,jonson and ,drayton also refer to the same superstition4 ,the change of colours#da in stones1 portent of evil1 was a deep-set superstition in most parts of the world4 ,in the ,scotch ballad of #8,hynd ,horn' we find3-- ,and she gave to me a gay gold ring ,with a hey lillelu and a how lo lau1 ,with three shining diamonds set therein1 ,and the birk and the brume blooms bonnie4 99 99 99 99 99 ,what if these diamonds lose their hue1 ,with a hey lillelu and a how lo lau1 ,just when my love begins for to rew1 ,and the birk and the brume blooms bonnie4 ,for when your ring turns pale and wan ,with a hey lillelu and a how lo lau1 ,then ,i'm in love with another man1 ,and the birk and the brume blooms bonnie4 99 99 99 99 99 ,seven long years he has been on the sea1 ,with a hey lillelu and a how lo lau1 ,and ,hynd ,horn has looked how his ring may be1 ,and the birk and the brume blooms bonnie4 ,but when he looked this ring upon1 ,with a hey lillelu and a how lo lau1 ,the shining diamonds were pale and wan1 ,and the birk and the brume blooms bonnie4 ,oh6 the ring it was both black and blue1 ,with a hey lillelu and a how lo lau1 ,and she's either dead or she's married1 ,and the birk and the brume blooms bonnie4 ,a curious passage occurs in a letter addressed by ,lord ,chancellor ,hatton to ,sir ,thomas ,smith1 preserved among the ,harleian ,,mss41 relating to an epidemic then prevailing3 #8,i am likewise bold to commend my humble duty to our dear mistress 7,queen ,elizabeth7 by this letter and ring1 which hath the virtue to expel infectious airs1 and is 7as it letteth me7 to be worn between the sweet duggs1 the chaste nest of pure constancy 7674 ,i trust1 sir1 when the virtue is known it shall not be refused for the value4' #8,medijcinable' rings for the cure of the falling sickness and the cramp are mentioned in the ,household ,books of ,henry ,,iv4 and ,edward ,,iv42 the metal they were composed of was what formed the ,king's offering to the ,cross on ,good ,friday1 that day being appointed for the blessing of the rings4 ,the following entry occurs in the account of the seventh and eighth years of ,henry ,,iv4 7#adjf74 #8,in oblacionibus domini regis factis adorando crucem in capella infra manerium suum de ,eltham1 die parasceves1 in precio trium nobilium auri1 et v4 solidorum sterlyng1 xxv4 s4' #8,in denariis solutis pro eisdem oblacionibus reassumptis1 pro annulis medicinalibus inde faciendis1 xxv4 s4' ,a ring considered to possess some healing or talismanic virtues was also termed1 in medival ,latin1 vertuosus4 ,thus ,thomas de ,hoton1 rector of ,kyrkebymisperton1 #acea1 bequeathed to his chaplain #8j4 zonam de serico1 j4 bonam bursam1 j4 firmaculum1 et j4 anulum vertuosum4 ,item1 domino ,thome de ,bouthum1 j4 par de bedes de corall1 j4 annulum vertuosum4' ,andrew ,boorde1 who lived in the reign of ,henry ,,viii41 alluding to the cramp-rings1 says1 in his #8,introduction to ,knowledge1' the #8,kynges of ,england doth halow every yere crampe rynges1 ye whych rynges worn on one's finger doth helpe them whych have the crampe4' ,and1 again1 in his #8,breviary of ,health' 7#aeeg71 he writes3 #8,the kynge's majesty hath a great helpe in this matter in halowynge crampe rings1 and so given without money or petition1 ye which rynges worne on one's finger doth helpe them1' c4 ,this ceremonial was practised by previous sovereigns4 ,hospinian gives an account of the proceedings1 and states that they took place on ,good ,friday1 and originated from the famous #8pilgrim' ring of ,king ,edward the ,confessor4 ,according to tradition the sapphire in the ,british crown came from this ring1 the possession of which gave ,english sovereigns the power of procuring an efficacious blessing to the cramp-rings4 ,gardiner1 in #aebi1 received a number of cramp-rings to distribute among the ,english embassage to the ,pope1 #8the royal fingers pouring such virtue into the metal that no disorder could resist it4'#db ,illustration3 ,silver ,cramp-ring4 ,the superstitious belief in the efficacy of cramp-rings was by no means1 as we have seen1 confined to the ignorant and uneducated classes2 even ,lord ,berners1 ambassador to the ,emperor ,charles ,v41 writing to #8my ,lord ,chancellor's ,grace' from ,saragossa 7,june #cj1 #aeah71 says1 #8,if your ,grace remember me with some crampe-ryngs1 ye shall doe a thing muche looked for1 and ,i trust to bestowe theym well1 with ,goddes grace1 who evermore preserve and increase your most reverent estate4' ,the late ,cardinal ,wiseman 7#8,notes and ,queries1' vol4 vii41 #ast series1 p4 #hi7 had in his possession a manuscript containing both the ceremony for the blessing of the cramp-rings1 and that for the touching for the ,king's evil4 ,at the commencement of the manuscript are emblazoned the arms of ,philip and ,mary4 ,the first ceremony is headed #8,certain ,prayers to be used by the ,quene's ,heignes in the ,consecration of the ,crampe-rynges4' ,accompanying it is an illumination1 representing the queen kneeling1 with a dish containing the rings to be blessed on each side of her4 ,the second ,ceremony is entitled #8,the ceremonye for ye ,heling of them that be diseased with the ,kynge's ,evill4' ,this manuscript was exhibited at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute1 ,june #f1 #ahea4 ,in ,burnet 7vol4 ii4 p4 #bff of #8,records'7 there is the whole ,latin formula of the consecration of the cramp-rings4 ,it commences with the psalm #8,deus misereatur nostri4' ,then follows a prayer invoking the aid of the ,holy ,spirit3 the rings then lying in one basin or more1 a prayer was said over them1 from which we learn that the rings were made of metal1 and were to expel all living venom of serpents4 ,the rings were then blessed with an invocation to the ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 and signed frequently with the cross4 ,in the last benediction the prayer is made #8that the rings may restore contracted nerves4' ,a psalm of benediction follows1 and a prayer against the frauds of devils4 #8,the ,queen's ,highness then rubbeth the rings between her hands1 saying the prayer implying that as her hands rub the rings1 the virtue of the holy oil wherewith she was anointed might be infused into their metal1 and1 by the grace of ,god1 might be efficacious4' ,the remainder of the curious ceremony concluded with holy water being poured into the basin with further prayers4 ,this ceremonial was practised by previous sovereigns1 and discontinued by ,edward ,,vi4 ,queen ,mary intended to revive it1 and1 in all probability1 did so1 from the manuscript to which ,i have alluded as having belonged to the late ,cardinal ,wiseman4#dc ,the annexed cut represents a cramp-ring of lead1 simply cast in a mould1 and sold cheap for the use of the commonalty4 ,it belongs to the fourteenth century4 ,illustration3 ,lead ,cramp-ring4 ,a curious remnant or corruption of the use of cramp-rings at the present time is noticed by ,mr4 ,rokewode1 who says that in ,suffolk the use of cramp-rings as a preventive against fits is not entirely abandoned3 #8,instances occur where young men of a parish each subscribe a crooked sixpence to be moulded into a ring for a young woman afflicted with that malady4' ,the use of galvanic rings for the cure of rheumatism belongs to our own time1 and is by no means extinct2 however1 we have no right to class this practice among our superstitions4 ,after all1 faith works wonders6 ,particular rings were worn on certain days from superstitious motives2 thus in the inventory of ,charles ,v41 in #acgi1 a ring with a cameo representing a ,christian subject is thus described3--#8annel des vendredis1 lequel est nell et y est la croix double noire de chacun cost1 o il y a ung crucifix d'un camayeux1 ,saint ,jean et ,notre-,dame1 et deux angeloz sur les bras de la croix1 et le porte le roy continuellement les vendredis4' ,evil portents with regard to rings prevailed in the reign of ,elizabeth4 ,the queen's coronation-ring1 which she had worn constantly since her inauguration1 having grown into her finger1 necessitated the ring being filed off1 and this was regarded as an unfavourable augury by many1 who1 doubtless1 attributed any untoward event that occurred at this period to an omen4 ,few were more credulous in such matters than the strong-minded 7in most respects7 queen herself1 who was a firm believer in the still popular superstition of #8good luck4' ,long after this period1 however1 there were not wanting believers in the supernatural efficacy of charmed rings2 there was even a charge against the ,puritans of having contributed to foster the popular delusion4 ,in the #8,scourge1' a series of weekly papers which appeared between #agag and #agah1 alluding to ,may #bi1 the writer says of the ,roundheads3 #8,yet these priests of ,baal had so poisoned the minds of the populace with such delusive enchantments that from rings1 bodkins1 and thimbles1 like the ,israelitish calf of gold1 would start up a troop of horse to reinforce the saints4' ,even to a comparatively late period the belief in the ,gnostic amulets was current in our own country4 ,immediately after the battle of ,culloden the baggage of ,prince ,charles ,edward fell into the hands of the ,duke of ,cumberland's army1 and many private and curious articles came into the possession of ,general ,belford--amongst others a stone set in silver attached to a ring1 which probably the superstitious ,prince may have obtained on the ,continent as a charm1 and carried it as a protection in the hazardous enterprise in which he was engaged4 ,it was a ruby blood-stone1 having on one face the figure of ,mars1 with the inscription beside it1 ,i ,a w4 ,on the other face was a female naked figure1 probably ,isis1 with the inscription1 ,a ,t ,i ,t ,a4 ,the ancient superstition of securing the favour of the great by wearing certain precious stones appears in the ,east by the aid of a talismanic ring--simply1 however1 of silver1 without the assistance of a jewel4 ,in ,herbelot's #8,customs of the ,mussulmans of ,india' a formula is given for the making of these rings3 #8,should anyone desire to make princes and grandees subject and obedient to his will he must have a silver ring made1 with a small square tablet fixed on it1 upon which is to be engraved the number that the letters composing the ism represent1 which in this case is #b4fac4 ,this number by itself1 or added to that of its two demons1 #bhf and #aab1 and its genius1 #a1haa--;amounting in all to #d1hbb--must be formed into a magic square of the solacee or robace kind1 and engraved4 ,when the ring is thus finished1 he is1 for a week1 to place it before him1 and daily1 in the morning and in the evening1 to repeat the ism five thousand times1 and blow on it4 ,when the whole is concluded he is to wear the ring on the little finger of the right hand4' ,the losing of a ring given as a pledge of affection was considered in former times1 as it is not unfrequently now1 to be an omen of mishap4 ,the widow of ,viscount ,dundee1 the famous ,claverhouse1 was met and wooed at ,colzium ,house1 in ,stirlingshire1 by ,william ,livingstone 7afterwards ,viscount ,kilsyth74 ,as a pledge of his love he presented her with a ring1 which she lost1 next day1 in the garden2 and this giving rise to sad presentiments1 a large reward was offered for its finding and restoration4 ,strange it may seem1 but ,lady ,kilsyth was killed in ,holland with her infant1 by the fall of a house1 and their bodies were brought to ,scotland and interred at ,kilsyth4 ,in #agif the tenant of the garden in which the ring was lost discovered it1 when digging for potatoes1 in a clod of earth4 ,at first he regarded it as a bauble1 but the moment the inscription became apparent the tradition came fresh to his recollection1 and he found it was the identical ring of ,lady ,kilsyth4 ,it was of gold and about the value of ten shillings2 nearly the breadth of a straw1 and without any stone4 ,the external surface is ornamented with a wreath of myrtle1 and on the internal surface is the legend3 #8,zovrs onlly euver4' ,this ring came into the possession of the ,edmonstone family4 ,in ,sir ,john ,bramstone's autobiography 7#afca7 it is related that his stepmother dropped her wedding-ring off her finger into the sea1 near the shore1 when she pulled off her glove4 ,she would not go home without the ring1 #8it being the most unfortunate that could befall anyone to lose the wedding ring4' ,happily for her comfort1 the ring was found4 ,rings bursting on the fingers1 as an ill-omen1 is thus alluded to in the ,scotch ballad of #8,lammilsin'3 99 99 99 ,the ,lord sat in ,england ,a drinking the wine4 ,i wish a may be weel ,wi' my lady at hame2 ,for the rings of my fingers ,they're now burst in twain4 ,in the #8,state ,trials' 7vol4 xiv41 ,case of ,mary ,norkott and ,john ,okeman7 is a curious instance of superstition connected with the marriage-ring4 ,it was a case of murder1 and the victim1 at the touch of the person accused of the crime1 #8thrust out the ring or marriage-finger three times1 and pulled it in again1 and the finger dropped blood upon the grass4' ,sir ,nicholas ,hyde said to the witness3 #8,who saw this beside you8' ,the answer was3 #8,i cannot swear what others saw2 but1 my ,lord1 ,i do believe the whole company saw it1 and if it had been thought a doubt1 proof would have been made of it1 and many would have attested with me4' ,the breaking of a ring was of ominous import4 ,atkinson1 in his #8,memoirs of the ,queen of ,prussia1' says3 #8,the betrothal of the young couple 7,frederic and ,sophia ,charlotte1 first ,king and ,queen of ,prussia7 speedily followed4 ,i believe it was during the festivities attendant upon this occasion that a ring worn by ,frederic1 in memory of his deceased wife1 with the device of clasped hands1 and the motto 8 jamais10 suddenly broke1 which was looked upon as an omen that this union1 likewise1 was to be of short duration4' ,the breaking of a wedding-ring is still regarded in some parts of ,england as an import that its wearer will soon be a widow4 ,a correspondent of #8,notes and ,queries' found this superstition current in ,essex a few years ago4 ,a man had been murdered in that county1 and his widow said3 #8,i thought ,i should soon lose him1 for ,i broke my wedding-ring the other day1 and my sister lost her husband after breaking her ring4 ,it is a sure sign'6 ,it was an olden superstition that the bending of the leaves to the right or to the left of the orpine plants1 or ,mid-summer men1 as they were called 7,telephium71 would never fail to tell whether a lover was true or false4 ,in an old poem1 the #8,cottage ,girl1' we find3-- ,oft on the shrub she casts her eye1 ,that spoke her true love's secret sigh2 ,or else1 alas1 too plainly told ,her true love's faithless heart was cold4 ,in #ahja a small gold ring was exhibited at the ,society of ,antiquaries 7found in a ploughed field near ,cawood1 in ,yorkshire7 which had for a device two orpine plants joined by a true-love knot1 with a motto above3 #8ma fiance velt1' my sweetheart wills1 or is desirous4 ,the stalks of the plants were bent to each other1 in token that the parties represented by them were to come together in marriage4 ,the motto under the ring was3 #8,joye l'amour feu4' ,from the form of the letters it appeared to have been a ring of the fifteenth century4 ,the ring conferring divination powers on the wedding-cake is thus alluded to in the #8,st4 ,james's ,chronicle' 7#agii73-- ,enlivening source of ,hymeneal mirth1 ,all hail the blest receipt that gave thee birth6 ,though ,flora culls the fairest of her bowers1 ,and strews the path of ,hymen with her flowers1 ,nor half the raptures give her scatter'd sweets1 ,the ,cake far kinder gratulation meets4 ,the bridesmaid's eyes with sparkling glances beam1 ,she views the cake1 and greets the promised dream2 ,for1 when endowed with necromantic spell1 ,she knows what wondrous things the cake will tell4 ,when from the altar comes the pensive bride1 ,with downcast looks1 her partner at her side1 ,soon from the ground these thoughtful looks arise ,to meet the cake that gayer thoughts supplies4 ,with her own hands she charms each destined slice1 ,and through the ring repeats the trebled thrice4 ,the hallow'd ring1 infusing magic power1 ,bids ,hymen's visions wait the midnight hour2 ,the mystic treasure placed beneath her head ,will tell the fair if haply she will wed4 ,these mysteries portentous lie conceal'd ,till ,morpheus calls and bids them stand reveal'd2 ,the future husband that night's dream will bring1 ,whether a parson1 soldier1 beggar1 king1 ,as partner of her life the fair must take1 ,irrevocable doom of ,bridal-cake4 ,rowe1 in his #8,happy ,village' 7#agif71 says #8the wedding-cake now through the ring was led4' ,the connection between the bride-cake and wedding-ring is strongly marked in the following custom1 still retained in ,yorkshire1 where the former is cut into little square pieces1 thrown over the bridegroom and bride's head1 and then put through the ring4 ,in the ,north slices of the bride-cake are put through the wedding-ring1 and they are afterwards laid under the pillows at night to cause young persons to dream of their lovers4 ,douce's manuscript notes say3 #8,this is not peculiar to the north of ,england1 but seems to prevail generally2 the pieces of cake must be drawn nine times through the wedding-ring4' ,in ,brand's #8,popular ,antiquities' we read3 #8,many married women are so rigid1 not to say superstitious1 in their notions concerning their wedding-rings1 that neither when they wash their hands1 nor at any other time1 will they take the ring off the finger2 extending1 it should seem1 the expression of 8till death do us part0 even to this golden circlet1 the token and pledge of matrimony4' ,there is an old proverb on the subject of wedding-rings1 which has1 no doubt1 been many a time quoted for the purpose of encouraging and hastening the consent of a diffident or timorous mistress3-- ,as your wedding-ring wears1 ,your cares will wear away4 ,a charm-divination on ,october #f1 ,st4 ,faith's day1 is still in use in the north of ,england4 ,a cake of flour1 spring water1 salt1 and sugar1 is made by three girls1 each having an equal hand in the composition4 ,it is then baked in a ,dutch oven1 silence being strictly preserved1 and turned thrice by each person4 ,when it is well baked it must be divided into three equal parts1 and each girl must cut her share into nine pieces1 drawing every piece through a wedding-ring which has been borrowed from a woman who has been married seven years4 ,each girl must eat her pieces of cake while she is undressing1 and repeat the following verses3-- ,o good ,st4 ,faith1 be kind to-night1 ,and bring to me my heart's delight2 ,let me my future husband view1 ,and be my visions chaste and true4 ,all three must then get into one bed1 with the ring suspended by a string to the head of the couch4 ,they will then dream of their future husbands4 ,a very singular divination practised at the period of the harvest-moon is thus described in an old chap-book3 #8,when you go to bed place under your pillow a ,prayer-book open at the part of the ,matrimonial ,service1 8,with this ring ,i thee wed20 place on it a key1 a ring1 a flower1 and a sprig of willow1 a small heart-cake1 a crust of bread1 and the following cards3 the ten of clubs1 nine of hearts1 ace of spades1 and the ace of diamonds4 ,wrap all these in a thin handkerchief of gauze or muslin1 and on getting into bed cross your hands and say3-- ,luna1 every woman's friend1 ,to me thy goodness condescend2 ,let me this night in visions see ,emblems of my destiny4 ,if you dream of storms1 trouble will betide you2 if the storm ends in a fine calm1 so will your fate2 if of a ring1 or the ace of diamonds1 marriage2 bread1 an industrious life2 cake1 a prosperous life2 flowers1 joy2 willow1 treachery in love2 spades1 death2 diamonds1 money2 clubs1 a foreign land2 hearts1 base children2 keys1 that you will rise to great trust and power1 and never know want2 birds1 that you will have many children2 and geese1 that you will marry more than once4' ,there is an old superstition on the colours of stones in #8keepsake' rings3-- ,oh1 green is forsaken ,and yellow's forsworn1 ,but blue is the prettiest colour that's worn4 ,a correspondent of #8,notes and ,queries' observes that in the district about ,burnley it is common to put the wedding-ring into the posset1 and1 after serving it out1 the unmarried person whose cup contains the ring will be the first of the company to be married4 ,in ,ireland it is a popular belief that finding the ring in a piece of ,michaelmas pie would ensure the maiden possessor an early marriage4 ,the following notice of an advertisement is extracted from an ,oxford paper of #ahfj1 and republished in #8,notes and ,queries' 7#crd series1 vol4 x4 p4 #ai73 #8,,important ,,notice6--,the largest cake ever made in ,oxford1 weighing upward of #a1jjj pounds1 and containing #cj gold wedding and other rings1 in value from #gs4 #f;d4 to ,two ,guineas each6 ,to be seen for sale at ,no4 #a ,queen ,street1 ,oxford1 from ,thursday1 ,december #bgth1 until ,saturday1 ,january #eth1 #ahfa1 when it will be cut out at the low price of #as4 #b;d4 per pound 7this quality frequently sold for wedding-cake74 ,persons at a distance desirous of purchasing may rely upon prompt attention being given to their favours4 #8,n4,b4--,j4 ,boffin will feel obliged if persons obtaining the gold rings will favour him with their names4' ,a wide-spread superstition or fancy prevails with regard to the use of a gold ring at weddings4 ,mr4 ,wood1 in his #8,wedding ,day in all ,ages and ,countries1' observes #8that the ,irish peasantry have a general impression that a marriage without the use of a gold ring is not legal4 ,at a town in the south-east of ,ireland1 a person kept a few gold wedding-rings for hire1 and when parties who were too poor to purchase a ring of the necessary precious metal were about to be married1 they obtained the loan of one1 and paid a small fee for the same1 the ring being returned to the owner immediately after the ceremony4 ,in some places it is common for the same ring to be used for many marriages1 which ring remains in the custody of the priest4' ,mr4 ,jeaffreson says3 #8,i have known labourers of the eastern counties of ,england express their faith in the mystic efficacy of the golden arrabo in language that in the seventeenth century would have stirred ,puritan auditors to denounce the ,satanic bauble and its worshippers with godly fervour4' ,pegge1 in his #8,curialia1' alludes to the superstition that a wedding-ring of gold rubbed on a stye upon the eyelid was a sovereign remedy1 but it required to be rubbed nine times4 ,mr4 ,w4 ,r4 ,s4 ,ralston1 in his #8,songs of the ,russians1' mentions some curious superstitions in connexion with rings in that country4 ,a custom exists in ,russia of catching rain that falls during a thunderstorm in a basin1 at the bottom of which rain has been placed4 ,in the ,riazan ,government1 water that has been dropped through a wedding-ring is supposed to have certain merits as a lotion2 and at a ,little-,russian marriage the bride is bound to give the bridegroom to drink from a cup of wine in which a ring has been put4 ,from the mention of a ring made in the #8,dodola ,songs1' and in others referring to storm and rain1 it is supposed that a golden ring1 in mythical language1 is to be taken as a representation of the lightning's heavenly gold4 ,in the olden time the celestial divinities were supposed to be protectors and favourers of marriage1 and the first nuptial crown was attributed to that heavenly framer of all manner of implements who forged the first plough for man4 ,and so1 in some of the songs1 a prayer is offered up to a mysterious smith1 beseeching him to construct a golden nuptial crown1 and out of the fragments of it to make a wedding-ring1 and a pin with which to fasten the bridal veil4 ,there comes a ,smith from the ,forge1 ,glory6 ,the ,smith carries three hammers1 ,glory6 ,smith1 ,smith1 forge me a crown1 ,glory6 ,forge me a crown both golden and new1 ,glory6 ,forge from the remnants a golden ring1 ,glory6 ,and from the chips a pin1 ,glory6 ,in that crown will ,i be wedded1 ,glory6 ,with that ring will ,i be betrothed1 ,glory6 ,with that pin will ,i fasten the nuptial kerchief1 ,glory6 ,when a lover leaves his mistress for a time1 he gives her a golden ring 7prsten'1 a signet-ring1 or one set with gems--from perst1 a finger7 and receives from her a gold ring in exchange 7,kol' ts1 a plain circlet like our own wedding-ring1 from ,kolo1 a circle74 ,it is not a falcon flying across the sky1 ,it is not a falcon scattering blue feathers1 ,but a brave youth galloping along the road1 ,forth from his bright eyes pouring bitter tears4 ,he has parted from his own1 ,the ,lower ,river track1 through which1 ,in all her beauty1 ,mother ,volga flows4 ,he has parted from the maiden fair1 ,and with her as a token left ,a costly diamond ring2 ,and from her has he taken in exchange ,a plighting ring of gold4 ,and while exchanging gifts thus has he spoken3 #8,forget me not1 my dear one1 ,forget me not1 my loved companion4 ,often1 often gaze upon my ring2 ,often1 often will ,i kiss thy circlet1 ,pressing it to my beating heart1 ,remembering thee1 my own4 ,if ever ,i think of another love1 ,the golden circlet will unclasp2 ,shouldst thou to another suitor yield1 ,from the ring the diamond will fall4' ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,secular ,,investiture ,,by ,,the ,,ring4 ,the investiture of our ,english sovereigns per annulum1 or by the ring1 is an important part of our present coronation ceremonial4 ,on this august occasion the master of the ,jewel-,house delivers the ring 7which is of plain gold1 with a large table ruby1 on which the cross of ,st4 ,george is engraved71 to the ,archbishop of ,canterbury1 who places it on the fourth finger of the sovereign's right hand1 saying3 #8,receive this ring1 the ensign of kingly dignity and of defence of the catholic faith1 that as you are this day consecrated head of the kingdom and people1 so1 rich in faith1 and abounding in good works1 you may reign with ,him who is ,king of kings1 to whom be glory and honour for ever and ever1 ,amen4' ,of the intrinsic value ascribed to the coronation ring we have an instance recorded in the life of ,james ,,ii4 ,he was detained by the fishermen of ,sheerness in his first attempt to escape from ,england in #afhh2 the particulars are related in his #8,memoirs3' #8,the ,king kept the diamond bodkin which he had of the queen's1 and the coronation ring1 which1 for more security1 he put into his drawers4 ,the captain1 it appeared1 was well acquainted with the dispositions of his crew one of whom cried out 8,it is ,father ,petre--,i know him by his lantern jaws20 a second called him an old 8hatchet-faced ,jesuit20 and a third1 8a cunning old rogue1 he would warrant him602 for1 some time after he was gone1 and1 probably by his order1 several seamen entered the ,king's cabin1 saying they must search him and the gentlemen1 believing that they had not given up all their money4 ,the ,king and his companions told them that they were at liberty to do so1 thinking that their readiness would induce them not to persist2 but they were mistaken2 the sailors began their search with a roughness and rudeness which proved they were accustomed to the employment4 ,at last one of them1 feeling about the ,king's knee1 got hold of the diamond bodkin1 and cried out1 with the usual oath1 he had found a prize2 but the ,king boldly declared he was mistaken4 ,he had1 indeed1 scissors1 a tooth-pick case1 and little keys in his pocket1 and what was felt was undoubtedly one of these articles4 ,the man still seemed incredulous1 and rudely thrust his hand into the ,king's pocket2 but in his haste he lost hold of the diamond bodkin1 and1 finding the things the ,king mentioned1 remained satisfied it was so2 by this means the bodkin and ring were preserved4' ,the ring is said to have been a favourite one of the unfortunate ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 and was sent by her1 at her death1 to ,james ,i41 through whom it came into the possession of ,charles ,i41 and on his execution was transmitted by ,bishop ,juxon to his son4 ,it afterwards came into the hands of ,george ,,iv41 with other relics belonging to ,cardinal ,york4 ,this ring is mentioned in the #8,inventory of the ,goods and ,chattels belonging to ,king ,james the ,second1' taken ,july #bb1 #agjc3 #8one ruby ring1 having a cross engraved on it1 with which the late king was crowned1' and is valued at #a1ejjl4 ,in ,leland's #8,collectanea1' in describing the ceremonies made use of at the coronation of the mother of ,henry ,,viii41 it states that the archbishop #8next blest her ring1 and sprinkled on it holy water4' ,in the coronation of the kings of ,france the ring was first blessed by the officiating archbishop1 who1 seated with the mitre on his head1 placed it on the fourth finger of the right hand of the monarch1 using a nearly similar form of benediction to that practised at the coronations of our own sovereigns4#dd ,in the curious account of the coronation of ,louis ,,xiii4 of ,france1 preserved in a chronicle of his reign1 it mentions3 #8,the royal ring being blessed by the ,cardinal de ,joyeuse 7who officiated for the ,archbishop of ,rheims71 a symbol of love1 whereby the ,king was wedded to his realm1 he placed it on the fourth finger of ,his ,majesty's right hand1 for a mark of the sovereign power4' ,kirchmann states that at the coronation of ,ferdinand ,,iii4 at ,ratisbon1 in #afaf1 a few years before he wrote1 the ,archbishop and ,elector of ,maintz1 having received from the altar a very precious ring1 placed it on the finger of the ,emperor1 with these words3 #8,accipe regi dignitatis annulum1 et per hoc ,catholic fidei cognosce signaculum1 et ud hodie ordinaris caput et princeps regni et populi1 ita perseverabilis auctor et stabilitor ,christianitatis et ,christian fidei fias1 ut feliciter in opere cum ,rege regum glorioris per eum1 cui est honor et gloria1 per infinita secula seculorum4--,amen4' ,the typical meaning of the royal investiture by the ring is the union of the sovereign with his people1 whom he is supposed to espouse at this solemnity1 and in this sense some older writers have called it #8the wedding ring of ,england4' ,the ring worn by the queen-consorts of ,great ,britain at their coronation was of gold with a large table ruby set therein1 and small rubies set round about the ring1 of which those next the setting were the largest1 the rest diminishing in proportion4 ,queen ,mary ,beatrice1 consort of ,james the ,,ii41 wore a ring of this description to her dying day1 and nothing during her misfortune could ever induce her to part with it4#de ,that the ring was considered an indication of sovereign will from the earliest times1 we have proofs1 as ,i have mentioned1 in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,so ,alexander the ,great1 on his death-bed1 on being asked to whom he would leave the kingdom1 answered1 to the most worthy1 and gave his ring1 when speechless1 to ,perdiccas4 ,the ,emperor ,tiberius1 on the point of death1 took his ring from his finger1 and held it a short time1 as though intending to give it to some one1 as his successor2 he however1 put it on again1 and became insensible4 ,recovering at length1 he found that his ring had been taken from him1 and demanded it1 upon which his attendants smothered him with the cushions4 ,the ,emperor ,valerian gave a ring with two precious stones to his successor ,claudius4 ,the knights of ancient ,rome were permitted to wear1 as the insignia of their rank1 golden rings and collars4 ,they were presented at the public expense with a horse and gold ring4 ,offa1 king of the ,east ,angles1 is recorded to have appointed ,edmund1 the son of a kinsman1 his successor1 by sending him the ring which he received at his own coronation4 ,the #8pilgrim-ring' of ,edward the ,confessor1 to which ,i have alluded in the chapter on #8,ring ,superstitions1' was in after times preserved with great care at his shrine in ,westminster ,abbey1 and was used at the investiture of subsequent sovereigns4 ,the investiture of ,prince ,edmund1 second son of ,king ,henry ,,iii41 as ,king of ,sicily1 which took place in #abee1 was performed at ,london by the ,bishop of ,bononia1 in the presence of the ,king1 and a numerous assembly1 by the symbol of a ring1 which the ,pope had sent for that purpose4 ,henry is said to have wept for joy1 and sent the ,pontiff immediately afterwards fifty thousand marks1 but this event led to the association of the barons against the ,king and other great changes4 ,in #adfi1 ,charles of ,france having renounced the possession of the duchy of ,normandy1 for which he received in exchange ,guyenne1 his ducal ring was sent by ,louis ,,xi4 to the exchequer at ,rouen1 where it was broken in two pieces at a solemn assembly held for that purpose in the castle of ,bouvreuil1 in the presence of the ,constable of ,france1 ,louis de ,luxembourg4 ,a papal investiture1 by a ring1 of a sovereign of ,england is recorded by ,john of ,salisbury1 contemporary with ,pope ,adrian ,,viii41 and who states that the ,pontiff ceded and gave to ,henry ,,ii4 the island of ,ireland1 in hereditary succession1 claiming1 as his right to do so1 the grant of ,constantine by which all islands belonged to the ,see of ,rome4 ,the ,pope sent a large gold ring1 set with a fine emerald1 as a mark of investiture1 and which1 together with the bull1 were deposited in the archives at ,winchester4 ,richard ,,ii4 resigned the crown to ,henry ,,iv4 by transferring to him his ring4 ,in subsequent ages1 and within a few centuries of our time1 we find the royal power displayed significantly in the ring1 which1 in the instance ,i mention1 was truly a messenger of grace4 ,two ,scotch burgesses in the stormy days of ,queen ,mary had been condemned to death1 but were reprieved at the foot of the gallows by her ,majesty4 ,the messenger was sent in great haste by the ,earl of ,bothwell1 #8and presented the ,queen's ring to the provost's inspection for the safety of their lives4' ,this was considered a sufficient indication of the royal clemency1 and #8the revival' 7observes ,knox1 in his #8,history of the ,reformation in ,scotland'7 #8of an ancient custom practised by ,scottish monarchs before the date of the earliest sign-manual on record1 when everything in ,church and ,state were represented in types and symbols4' ,another interesting incident in connection with ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 is the ring with which she invested ,darnley with the ,dukedom of ,albany4 ,an engraving and description of this ring will be found in the chapter on #8,remarkable ,rings4' ,the infant ,james1 son of ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 was1 a few days after his baptism1 invested with the ring and other insignia1 as ,prince of ,scotland1 ,duke of ,rothsay1 ,earl of ,carrick and ,cunningham1 and ,baron of ,renfrew4 ,the royal child sat in his mother's lap while a gold ring was placed on his tiny finger4 ,among the insignia connected with the investiture of the ,princes of ,wales is a ring4 ,the earliest charter of creation known by ,selden is that of ,edward ,,iii4 to his son and heir-apparent1 ,edward1 ,duke of ,cornwall1 some years after he was made ,duke4 ,this charter contains the particulars of the ceremony of investiture with the coronal1 the ring of gold1 and the rod of silver4 ,in the letters patent issued by ,george ,i4 7,sept4 #bb1 #agad71 declaring his son ,george ,augustus1 ,duke of ,brunswick ,lunenburgh1 #8,prince of ,wales and ,earl of ,chester1' the investiture is thus described3 #8,likewise1 we invest him1 the said ,prince1 with the aforesaid principality and county1 which he may continue to govern and protect2 and we confirm him in the same by these ensigns of honour--the girding of a sword1 the delivering of a cap and placing it on his head1 with a ring on his finger1 and a golden staff in his hand1 according to custom1 to be possessed by him and his heirs1 ,kings of ,great ,britain4'#df ,the practice now is that the ,prince of ,wales is invested with the ,earldom of ,chester by special patent1 while he enjoys by a sort of hereditary prescription certain other titular distinctions4 ,in the patent of creation of ,albert ,edward1 ,prince of ,wales 7dated ,dec4 #hth1 #ahda71 the ,queen1 in the patent1 states3 #8,we do ennoble 7our most dear son7 and invest with the said principality and earldom1 by girting him with a sword1 by putting a coronet on his head1 and a gold ring on his finger1 and also by delivering a gold rod into his hand1' c4 ,according to ,french writers it was formerly a custom in that country to give a marquis1 on his elevation to that dignity1 a ring set with the ruby2 a count received a diamond ring4 ,the royal signet-ring in ,anglo-,saxon times served as an authority in law-suits about land4 ,in the ,cottonian ,,mss4 7,aug4 #b1 p4 #ae71 one charter states that #8,wynfleth1 to prove a gift of land by ,alfrith1 led witnesses to the ,king1 who sent a writ to ,leofwin1 and desired that men should be summoned to the shire-gemot to try the case1 and as an authority sent his signet-ring to this gemot by an abbot and greeted all the witan4' ,the charters given by our early kings received the royal confirmation by the ring3 thus ,richard ,cur-de-,lion1 in a charter relating to the exchange of ,andeli1 in ,normandy1 belonging to the clergy of ,rouen1 for other properties1 much to the advantage of the ecclesiastics1 passed his ring1 in sign of investiture1 in the silk threads suspended to the parchment4 ,this ring was still attached to the charter in #afff1 as appears in the #8,histoires des ,archvsques de ,rouen' 7p4 #dbd71 but has since disappeared4 ,m4 ,achille ,deville1 in his #8,histoire du ,chteau-,gaillard1' observes3 #8,il n'est pas de fois que j'aye touch la charte de ce monarque clbre 7et je l'ai eue souvent entre les mains71 que la perte de ce prcieux anneau ne m'ait caus de cuisants rgrets'--a regret which all lovers of historic relics will fully share4 #8,the ninth1 twelfth1 and thirteenth centuries1' says ,willemin1 #8offer rings attached to diplomas1 but it is questionable whether they served to hold the place of the seal1 or were simply marks of investiture2 we know that anciently the purchaser and recipient of a gift were put into possession by a ring4' ,dugdale states that #8,osbert de ,camera1 some time in the twelfth century1 being visited with great sickness1 granted unto the canons of ,st4 ,paul in pure alms for the health of his soul certain lands and houses lying near ,haggelane1 in the parish of ,st4 ,benedict1 giving possession of them with his gold ring1 wherein was set a ruby1 appointing that the said gold ring1 together with his seal1 should for ever be fixed to the charter whereby he so disposed them4' ,from the same source we are told that #8,william de ,belmers gave certain lands to ,st4 ,paul's ,cathedral1 and at the same time directed that his gold ring1 set with a ruby1 should1 together with the seal1 be affixed to the charter for ever4' ,at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute1 in ,march #ahej1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,foulkes exhibited a gold signet-ring1 preserved by the family of ,j4 ,jones1 ,esq41 of ,llanerchrwgog ,hall1 impressions of which are appended to deeds concerning that property from the middle of the thirteenth century4 ,the impress is a monogram1 meaning ,i and ,m 7,iesus and ,maria871 placed under a crown4 ,it has been supposed to be the ring of ,madoc1 one of the last princes of ,powis1 and to have descended as a heir-loom1 with lands granted by them to the ancestors of ,mr4 ,jones4 ,a ruby ring is described as the #8,charter of ,poynings1' in the will of ,sir ,michael de ,poynings1 in #achf4 ,poynings1 in the neighbourhood of ,brighton1 was the seat of this ancient family from a period soon after the ,conquest till the year #addf1 when the barony1 owing to the marriage of the heiress1 merged into the earldom of ,northumberland1 and became extinct in #afgi4 ,michael de ,poynings1 a banneret under ,edward ,,iii4 at the battle of ,crecy1 amongst other grants1 left to his heir the ruby ring #8which is the charter of my heritage of ,poynings4' ,this ruby ring of inheritance1 the charter of the #8,sires of ,ponynges1' came into possession of his son ,thomas1 and then to his second son ,richard4 ,according to tradition the famous ,isabella de ,fortibus1 ,countess of ,devon1 in the reign of ,henry ,,iii41 settled the boundaries of certain disputed parishes by flinging her ring into a marsh1 hence called #8,ring in the ,mire4' ,so late as the sixteenth century the conveyance of property by means of a ring may be remarked in the following passage or item in the will of ,anne ,barrett1 of ,bury1 dated #aejd1 #8,my maryeng ryng wt4 all thynggs thereon4' ,it is worthy of note that among the numerous kinds of evidence allowed in courts of law to establish a pedigree1 engravings on rings are admitted upon the presumption that a person would not wear a ring with an error upon it4#dg ,john ,o',molony1 ,bishop of ,limerick in #afhg1 who1 after the siege of that city1 followed ,james ,,ii4 to ,paris1 where he assisted in the foundation of a ,university for the education of ,irish priests1 left a gold ring at his death1 which was to be sent to1 and to denote1 the head branch of the family4 ,this conferred the privilege to have any of the name of ,molony brought up as priests at the ,university1 free of expense4 ,the custom of serjeants presenting rings on taking the coif1 has formed the subject of some interesting notices in that valuable work #8,notes and ,queries4' ,mr4 ,serjeant ,wynne in his observations touching the antiquity and dignity of serjeants-at-law 7#agfe7 remarks3 #8,the first introduction of rings themselves on this occasion of making serjeants is as doubtful as that of mottoes4 ,they are taken notice of by ,fortescue in the time of ,henry ,,vi41 and in the several regulations for general calls1 in ,henry ,,viii4 and ,queen ,elizabeth's time4 ,whatever is the antiquity of these rings1 that of mottoes seems to fall short of them at least a century4 ,that in the #aith and #bjth ,elizabeth 7#aegf-gg7 may perhaps be the first1 because till that time they are no more mentioned4 ,when ,dugdale speaks of the posies that were usual1 he must be understood to speak of the usages of his own time4' ,the motto which ,serjeant ,wynne notices as of the earliest occurrence in #aith and #bjth ,elizabeth was #8,lex regis prsidium4'#dh ,in the #8,diary of a ,resident in ,london' 7,henry ,machyn1 ,camden ,society7 we find that on ,october #ag1 #aeeb1 #8was made vii serjants of the coyffe1 who gayf to 7the judges7 and the old serjants1 and men of the law1 rynges of gold1 every serjant gayf lyke rynges4' ,in the inventory of the effects of ,henry ,howard1 ,k4,g41 ,earl of ,northampton 7#afad71 7,archologia1 vol4 ii41 part ii41 page #cej7 we find #8v serjeantis ringes waighinge one ounce1 three quarters1 four graines4' ,these were presentations to him in his official capacity of ,lord ,privy ,seal4 ,serjeant ,wynne brings his list of the serjeants called down to the year #agfe1 and gives1 in most cases1 the mottoes1 which were not confined1 it seems1 to individuals1 but adopted by the whole call4 ,he remarks that in late years they have been strictly classical in their phrase1 and often elegant in their application--whether in expressing the just idea of regal liberty--in a wish for the preservation of the family1 or in a happy allusion to some public event1 and1 at the same time1 a kind of prophetic declaration of its success4 ,in the same work will be found an account of the expense and weight of the rings--that these matters were important appears from an extract in #a ,modern ,reports1 case #cj3 #8,seventeen serjeants being made the #adth day of ,november 7#affi871 a daye or two after1 ,serjeant ,powis1 the junior of them all1 coming to the ,king's ,bench ,bar1 ,lord ,chief ,justice ,kelynge told him #8that he had something to say to him1' viz41 that the rings which he and the rest of the serjeants had given weighed but eighteen shillings apiece2 whereas ,fortescue1 in his book 8,de ,laudibus ,legum ,angli10 says 8the rings given to the ,chief ,justices and to the ,chief ,baron ought to weigh twenty shillings apiece10 and that he spoke not this expecting a recompense1 but that it might not be drawn into a precedent1 and that the young gentlemen there might take notice of it4' ,with regard to the cost of the serjeants' rings1 and the parties to whom they are presented1 ,mr4 ,mackenzie ,walcott1 ,m4,a41 writes in #8,notes and ,queries' that on ,june #h1 #agje1 fifteen serjeants-at-law took the customary oaths at the ,chancery ,bar1 and delivered to the ,lord ,keeper a ring for the ,queen1 and another to ,h4,r4,h4 ,prince ,george of ,denmark1 each ring being worth #fl4 #acs4 #d;d4 ,the ,lord ,keeper1 and the ,lord ,treasurer1 ,lord ,steward1 ,lord ,privy ,seal1 ,lord ,high ,chamberlain1 ,master of the ,household1 ,lord ,chamberlain1 and the two ,chief ,justices1 each received a ring of the value of #ahs42 the ,lord ,chief ,baron1 the ,master of the ,rolls1 the ,justices of either ,bench1 and two ,chief ,secretaries1 each1 one worth #afs42 the ,chief ,steward and ,comptroller1 each a ring valued at #al42 the ,marshal1 ,warden of the ,fleet1 every ,serjeant-at-law1 the ,attorney-,general and ,solicitor-,general1 each a ring worth #abs42 the three ,barons of ,exchequer1 one each of #ajs42 the two ,clerks of the ,crown1 the three ,prothonotaries1 the ,clerks of the ,warrants1 the ,prothonotary of ,queen's ,bench1 and the ,chirographer1 each a ring worth #es42 each ,filazer and ,exigenter1 the ,clerk of the ,council1 and the ,custom ,brevium1 each a ring that cost #bs4 #f;d4 ,the motto on the rings was #8,moribus1 armis1 legibus4' ,on the admission of fourteen serjeants in #agcg1 #a1dji rings were given away1 at a cost of #ggcl41 and besides this number1 others were made for each serjeant's own account1 to be given to friends at the bar1 which came to more than all the rest of the expense4 ,there are some quaint old customs still adhering to the making of a serjeant4 ,he is presented to the ,lord ,chancellor by some brother barrister 7styled his #8colt'71 and he kneels while the ,chancellor attaches to the top of his wig the little1 round1 black patch that now does duty for the #8coif1' which is the special badge of the ,serjeant4 ,the new ,serjeant presents a massive gold ring to the ,chancellor1 another to his #8colt1' one to the ,sovereign1 and each of the ,masters of the ,court of ,common ,pleas4 ,these rings used also to be given to all the ,judges1 but of late years the ,judges have refused to receive them1 thus diminishing a somewhat heavy tax4 ,it would be curious to know whether this custom is derived from the ,romans4 ,juvenal alludes to the practice of lawyers exhibiting their rings when pleading3-- ,ideo conducta ,paulus agebat ,sardonyche et que ideo plurisquam ,cossus agebat ,quam ,basilus4 ,rara in tenui facundia panno4 ,the reader will find a list of mottoes1 and much information on the subject of serjeants' rings1 in #8,notes and ,queries' 7#ast ,series1 vol4 v4 pp4 #aaj1 #aci1 #aha1 #efc2 #bnd ,series1 vol4 i4 p4 #bdi74 ,the most recent instance 7,january #ahgb7 of the presentation of a serjeant's ring is that of ,mr4 ,j4 ,r4 ,quain1 who chose for his motto #8,dare1 facere1 prstare4' ,at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum1 in #ahgb1 a serjeant's gold ring1 inscribed ,,lex ,x ,,regis ,x ,,pr,,sidium1 was shown--the property of ,mr4 ,john ,evans--as the earliest known1 the date being #aegf-gg4 ,the small size of the ring would assume that it was merely complimentary4 ,some barristers that ,lord ,brougham did not think much of1 wishing to be made serjeants1 he suggested that the most appropriate motto that could be found for their rings would be the old legal word #8scilicet4' ,illustration3 ,serjeants' ring4 ,this illustration represents a serjeant's ring1 supposed to be of the seventeenth century--a plain band of gold1 engraved with #8,imperio regit unus quo' 7,horace1 lib4 iii41 ,ode iv474 ,in the collection of ,mr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,singer is a very fine serjeant's ring1 which that gentleman attributes as of very early manufacture4 ,it is a rare type of rings of this description1 which have not been much noticed4 ,the inscription reads3 #8,legis executo regis pservatio4' ,in ,france1 ,italy1 and ,germany1 a forensic order of knighthood was frequently conferred on the successful practitioner at the bar4 ,bartoli1 the oracle of the law in the fourteenth century1 asserted that at the end of the tenth year of successful professional exertion1 the avoct belonging to the denomination of l',ordre des ,avocts became ipso facto a knight4 ,when the distinction was applied for1 the ,king commissioned some ancient ,knight of the ,forensic ,order to admit the postulant into it4 ,the avoct knelt before the ,knight-commissary and said3 #8,i pray you1 my lord and protector1 to dress me with the sword1 belt1 golden spurs1 golden collar1 golden ring1 and all the other ornaments of a true knight4 ,i will not use the advantages of knighthood for profane purposes2 ,i will use them only for the purposes of religion1 for the ,church1 and the holy ,christian faith1 in the warfare of the science to which ,i am devoted4' ,the postulant then rose2 and being fully equipped1 and girded with the sword1 he became1 for all purposes1 a member of the order of knighthood4 ,in the ,memoirs of the ,marchal de ,vieilleville1 who died in #aega1 such knights are mentioned as very common4 ,in #agie the ,order of ,avocts was suppressed1 after #dbg years of a brilliant existence4 ,doctors1 as indicative of their position1 wore formerly a ring on the third finger of the right hand4 ,a ring formed part of the investiture of three poets-laureate by the ,chancellor of the ,university of ,strasburg in #afba1 who at their installation pronounced these words3 #8,i create you1 being placed in a chair of state1 crowned with laurel and ivy1 and wearing a ring of gold1 and the same do pronounce and constitute poets-laureate in the name of the ,holy ,trinity1 the ,father1 the ,son1 and the ,holy ,ghost4 ,amen4' ,gower1 in his #8,confessio ,amantis1' mentions a statue of ,apollo1 adorned with a ring3-- ,forth ryghte he straighte his finger oute1 ,upon the which he had a ringe1 ,to seen it was a ryche thynge1 ,a fyne carbuncle for the nones1 ,most precious of all stones4 ,in the early ,saxon times1 we read that ,gumlaughr1 the scald1 presented to ,king ,ethelred a heroic poem which he had composed on the royal virtues1 and received in return #8a purple tunic lined with the richest furs1' also #8a gold ring of the weight of seven ounces4' ,in ancient ,wales the ,judge of the ,king's palace had as ensign of his office a gold ring from the ,queen4 ,it was his duty at his own cost to reward the successful competitor in the musical contests of the bards with a silver chair as #8,pen ,cerdd' 7chief of song71 and who in return presented him with a gold ring1 a drinking-horn1 and a cushion4 ,the royal minstrel received on his appointment a harp from the ,king1 and a ring from the queen4 #8,merchant ,marks' 7to which ,i have alluded in the first chapter of this work7 originated from the guild or mayor's rings1 which were used as personal signets1 by such as were not entitled to bear arms4 ,they were worn on the thumb for constant use in sealing4 ,a fine ring of this kind is engraved in the #8,journal of the ,archological ,institute4' ,it was found in the bed of the ,severn1 near ,upton1 and is1 probably1 a work of the fifteenth century2 it is of silver and has been strongly gilt4 ,the hoop is spirally grooved1 and upon the circular face is a large ,h surrounded by branches4 ,in the custody of the ,mayor of ,winchester is a signet-ring with the arms of the city and initials ,e4 ,w41 probably ,edward ,white1 ,mayor in #afac and #afba4 ,in late times we have the ring adopted as a club badge by the famous ,beef-,steak ,club1 of convivial notoriety4 ,the members wore a blue coat1 with red cape and cuffs1 buttons with the initials ,b4 ,s41 and behind the ,president's chair was placed the ,society's halbert1 which1 with the gridiron1 was found among the rubbish after the ,covent ,garden fire in #ahjh4 ,illustration3 ,ring of ,beef-,steak ,club4 ,ashmole1 in his #8,history of the ,most ,noble ,order of the ,garter1' mentions that gold rings have been cast into the figures of garters1 #8the ground on the outside enamelled with a deep blue1 through which the golden letters of the motto appearing1 set them off with an admirable beauty4 ,and it seems such rings were in vogue1 since the preface to the black book of the ,order makes mention of wearing the garter on the leg and shoulder1 and sometimes subjoins the thumb1 interdum pollice gestare1 by which we may naturally conclude that gold rings were formed into the fashion of garters1 and bestowed by some new-installed knights upon their relations and friends to wear in memorial of so great an honour conferred upon them4' ,in the collection of the ,rev4 ,w4 ,b4 ,hawkins is a gold official ring of the ,grand ,master of the ,order of ,st4 ,john of ,jerusalem 7,malta71 with bezel oval1 glazed1 with skeleton1 hour-glass1 and scythe1 in enamel on a black ground2 on the shoulders of the ring is a death's head with cross-bones4 ,at the meeting of the ,archological ,institute at ,norwich in ,july #ahdg1 a ring formed like a strap or garter1 buckled1 was exhibited1 bearing the inscription #8,mater ,dei memento mei1' found at ,necton1 date about #adej4 ,rings of this fashion were in use from the close of the fourteenth century1 shortly after the institution of the ,order of the ,garter4 ,other specimens are to be seen in the ,british ,museum1 and in the collection of the ,archological ,institute4 ,a cap and a ring are conferred with the degree of ,doctor of ,civil ,laws in ,belgium4 ,in the #8,biographia ,britannica' 7,article #8,crichton'7 we read of the bestowal of a ring on a college disputant4 ,this was in the case of the #8,admirable ,crichton1' who1 when he was only twenty years of age1 entered the academic lists with anyone who would compete with him in ,hebrew1 ,syriac1 ,arabic1 ,greek1 ,latin1 ,spanish1 ,french1 ,italian1 ,english1 ,dutch1 ,flemish1 and ,sclavonian1 besides every kind of courtly accomplishment4 ,this he maintained in the ,college of ,navarre1 and the president1 after many compliments on his vast acquirements1 gave him a diamond ring and a purse of money4 ,at the ceremonies observed on the inauguration of a king-at-arms the crown and ring were generally bestowed by the hand of the monarch himself1 as in the case of ,sir ,david ,lindsay1 ,lord ,lion1 ,king-at-arms3 ,whom royal ,james himself had crowned1 ,and on his temples placed the round ,of ,scotland's ancient diadem2 ,and wet his brow with hallow'd wine1 ,and on his finger given to shine ,the emblematic gem4 ,among the insignia of the ,knights of the ,order of ,st4 ,john of ,jerusalem is a ring bearing the ,cross4 ,in the #8,dublin ,penny ,journal' we read of the signet-ring of the famous ,turlough ,lynnoch1 which was found at ,charlemont1 in the county of ,armagh4 ,it bears the bloody hand of the ,o',neils1 and initials ,t4 ,o4 ,the signet part of the ring is circular1 and the whole of it is silver4 ,james the ,first made this bloody hand the distinguishing badge of a new order of baronets1 and they were created to aid1 by service or money for forces1 in subduing the ,o',neils4 ,in #aghj a large gold ring1 supposed to have belonged to one of the knights hospitallers of ,winckbourne1 some of whom are believed to have been buried at ,southwell1 was found by the sexton of ,southwell church while digging a grave4 ,it is six-eighths of an inch in diameter1 and three-eighths of an inch in breadth4 ,the following motto is deeply cut on the inside3 #8 ,,miev ,,mori ,,qve ,,change ,,ma ,,foi ' 7better to die than change my faith74 ,i have already mentioned how1 from the earliest times1 the ring was considered to denote peculiar distinction1 and was the emblem of nobility2 and so1 amidst many divergences1 it still continued to a later period to be considered as a badge of honourable birth4 ,thus ,rabelais alludes to the rings that ,gargantua wore because his father desired him #8to renew that ancient mark of nobility4' ,on the forefinger of his left hand he had a gold ring set with a large carbuncle1 and on the middle finger one of mixed metal1 then usually made by alchemists4 ,on the middle finger of the right hand he had #8a ring made spire-wise1 wherein was set a perfect balew ruby1 a pointed diamond1 and a ,physon emerald of inestimable value4' ,the ,french expression une bague au doigt means a sinecure--pay without the work4 ,in former times the victor in a wrestling match received a ram and a ring4 ,in the ,coke's #8,tale of ,gamelyn1' ascribed to ,chaucer1 we read3-- ,there happed to be there beside ,tryed a wrestling2 ,and therefore there was y setten1 ,a ram and als a ring4 ,and in the #8,litil ,geste of ,robin ,hood'3-- ,by a bridge was a wrestling1 ,and there tayred was he2 ,and there was all the best yemen ,of all the west countrey4 ,a full fayre game there was set up1 ,a white bull up yspight1 ,a great courser with saddle and brydle1 ,with gold burnished full bryght2 ,a payre of gloves1 a red golde ringe1 ,a pipe of wine1 good fay2 ,what man bereth him best1 ,i wis1 ,the prize shall bear away4 ,so ,sir ,walter ,scott1 in the #8,lady of the ,lake'3-- ,prize of the wrestling-match1 the ,king ,to ,douglas gave a golden ring4 ,in the #8,gulistan1' or rose-garden of ,sadi1 is a pretty story in connection with a prize-ring for shooting4 ,a certain ,king of ,persia had a very precious stone in a ring4 ,one day he went out with some of his favourite courtiers1 to amuse himself1 to the mosque near ,shiraz1 called ,musalla2 and commanded that they should suspend the ring over the dome of ,azad1 saying that the ring should be the property of him who could send an arrow through it4 ,it so befell that four hundred archers1 who plied their bows in his service1 shot at the ring1 and all missed4 ,a stripling at play was shooting arrows at random from a monastery1 when the morning breeze carried his shaft through the circle of the ring4 ,the prize was bestowed upon him1 and he was loaded with gifts beyond calculation4 ,the boy1 after this1 burned his bow and arrows4 ,they asked him why he did so2 he replied3 #8,that my first glory may remain unchanged4' ,at the tournaments held in the reign of ,henry ,,vii4 7#adid7 a proclamation was put forth #8that hoo soo ever justith best in the justys roiall schall have a ryng of gold1 with a ruby of the value of a ml scuttes or under2 and hoo soo ever torneyeth the best1 and fairyst accumplishit his strokkis schall have a ryng of gold1 with a diamant of like value4' ,on ,november #i 7#adid7 ,john ,peche received from the ,ladie ,margerete #8the kyngis oldeste doughter1 a ryng of gold with a ruby4' ,on the #aath1 the ,earl of ,suffolk1 ,thomas ,brandon1 received as a reward for his prowess in the lists #8a ryng of gold with a rubee4' ,on the third tournament 7,november #ac7 ,sir ,edward ,a4 ,borough1 as victor1 received #8a ryng of gold with a dyamant4' ,the ,earl of ,essex1 for his valour in this tournament1 received #8a ryng of gold with an emerauld4' ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,rings ,,in ,,connection ,,with ,,ecclesiastical ,,usages4 ,the ring has1 for many ages1 formed a part of ecclesiastical insignia4 ,it appears to have had a twofold purpose and signification1 the one as a mark of dignity and authority1 the other symbolic of the mystical union between the priesthood and the ,church4 ,to commence with the head of the ,romish hierarchy3 that distinguished authority on antiquarian topics1 ,mr4 ,octavius ,morgan1 ,m4,a41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,f4,s4,a41 c41 has contributed to the #8,archologia' 7vol4 xl4 p4 #cib7 a very interesting account of #8,episcopal and other ,rings of ,investiture2' and1 since the publication of that paper1 has kindly informed me that ,mr4 ,waterton states1 from his own knowledge1 that the #8,fisherman's ,ring' is the ,pope's ring of investiture1 and is placed on his finger immediately after his election1 before it is engraved4 ,but if1 as it sometimes happens1 the ,pope-elect is not a bishop1 he is consecrated prior to his coronation as ,supreme ,pontiff1 and receives the ring with the usual formula1 except that the consecrating cardinal kisses his hand after investing him with the ring4 #8,there is a ring which the ,pontiff wears on state occasions--the stone of which is an exquisitely fine cameo1 cut in bloodstone1 of the head of ,our ,saviour--which is known to be more than three hundred years old1 and is1 probably1 a fine cinque-cento gem4 ,this descends from one ,pope to another4 #8,what is called the ,annulus ,piscatoris1 or the 8,fisherman's ,ring10 is the ,pope's lesser seal1 or signet1 used for documents of minor consequence1 and the impression is usually made on red wax or stamped on the paper2 the ,bulla being what may be termed the great seal1 employed for giving validity to instruments of greater importance1 and the impression of it is always on lead4 ,the origin of the ,fisherman's ,ring is obscure1 but it derives its name from a representation of ,st4 ,peter in a fisherman's boat of ancient form1 which is engraved on it1 and not from any tradition that it ever belonged to ,st4 ,peter1 as1 from its ,english name1 is not uncommonly supposed4 ,the ,germans call it ,der ,fischer-ring1 which is 8the ,fisherman ,ring10 whereas we1 probably in our translation of ,annulus ,piscatoris1 have termed it the 8,fisherman's ,ring10 seeming to imply thereby that it had once belonged to 8the ,fisherman40 ,the figure of ,st4 ,peter forms the centre4' ,illustration3 ,the ,fisherman's ,ring4 ,after the reign of ,pope ,calixtus the ,third1 the ,ring of the ,fisherman was no longer used as the private seal of the ,popes1 but was always attached to briefs4 ,on the death of ,innocent the ,tenth the name was cut out of the ring or erased4 ,at the decease of ,pius the ,sixth the usual ceremonies were not observed1 and the ring was not broken1 as was the practice at the elevation of each pontiff4 ,aimon1 in his #8,tableau de la ,cour de ,rome1' says that after the ,pope's death #8le ,cardinal ,camerlingue vient en habit violet1 accompagn des clercs de la chambre en habits noirs1 reconnotre le corps du ,pape4 ,il l'appelle trois fois par son nom de baptme1 et comme il ne lui donne ni rponse1 ni signe de vie1 il fait dresser un acte sur sa mort par les ,protonotaires ,apostoliques4 ,il prend du ,matre de la ,chambre ,apostolique1 l'anneau du ,pcheur1 qui est le sceau du ,pape1 d'or massif1 et du prix de cent cus4 ,il le fait mettre en pices et donne ces pices aux ,matres des ,crmonies qui elles appartiennent4 ,le ,dataire et les ,scrtaires qui ont les autres sceaux du ,pape dfunt1 sont obligs de les porter au ,cardinal ,camerlingue1 qui les fait rompre en prsence de l',auditeur de la ,chambre du ,trsorier1 et des ,clercs ,apostoliques1 et il n'est permis aucun autre des ,cardinaux d'assister cette fonction4' ,when it was decided by the ,french in #agih that the ,pope was to be removed to ,france1 on ,february #ah in that year the ,republican ,haller1 son of the celebrated ,swiss physician of that name1 chose the moment when the ,pontiff was at dinner in the ,vatican to announce to him the resolution of the ,french ,republic4 ,he entered the apartment rudely1 and1 advancing to the ,pope1 announced the object of his visit1 and demanded the instant surrender of the ,papal treasures4 #8,we have already given up all we possessed1' replied the ,pope calmly4 #8,not all1' returned ,haller1 #8you still wear two very rich rings2 let me have them4' ,the ,pope drew one from his finger3 #8,i can give you1' he said1 #8this one1 for it is indeed my own2 take it3 but the other is the ,ring of the ,fisherman1 and must descend to my successor4' #8,it will pass first to me1 holy father1' exclaimed ,haller1 #8and if you do not surrender it quietly it will be taken from you by force4' ,to escape further insult the ,fisherman's ,ring was given up1 but as it was found to be intrinsically of no value it was soon afterwards restored to the ,pontiff4 ,the ring of ,pius the ,ninth is of plain gold1 weighing one and a half ounces1 and it was made from the gold which composed the ,ring of the ,fisherman of ,pope ,gregory the ,sixteenth4#di ,the ,fisherman's ,ring is always in the custody of the ,grand ,papal ,chamberlain4 ,it is taken to the ,conclave1 or ,council of the ,cardinals1 with the space left blank for the name2 and as soon as a successful scrutiny of votes for a new ,pope has taken place1 the newly-elected ,pontiff is declared1 and conducted to the throne of ,st4 ,peter1 where1 before the cardinals have rendered homage to their chief1 the ,grand ,chamberlain approaches1 and1 placing the ,papal ring on the finger of the new ,pope1 asks him what name he will take4 ,on the reply of the ,pontiff1 the ring is given to the first ,master of the ,ceremonies to have the name engraved on it that has been assumed4 ,the announcement of the pontifical election is then made to the people from the balcony of the ,papal palace4 ,kissing the ,pope's ring as an act of reverent homage is a custom which has descended to our own times4 ,one of the important ceremonies at the opening of the great cumenical ,council at ,rome 7,december #h1 #ahfi7 was that every single primate1 patriarch1 bishop1 and mitred abbot1 who were present on this solemn occasion at ,st4 ,peter's1 and who were to take part in the ,council1 paused before ,pius the ,ninth1 and1 in an attitude of profound reverence1 kissed his ring4 ,as high dignitaries they were exempted from kissing the ,pope's toe1 a condescension reserved for the laity and lower clergy4 ,in ,bishop ,bale's #8,image of ,both ,churches' occurs a curious passage on the subject of episcopal rings3 #8,neyther regarde they to knele any more doune1 and to kisse their pontifical ryngs1 which are of the same metall' 7i4e4 fine gold74 ,it would seem that the ,popes were formerly buried in their pontifical habits and ornaments4 ,in the #8,journal' of ,burcard1 ,master of the ,ceremonies in the ,pope's chapel from ,sixtus the ,fourth to ,julius the ,second1 he mentions as having1 by virtue of his office1 thus clothed the body of ,sixtus the ,fourth1 and amongst other things a sapphire ring of the value of three hundred ducats was placed on his finger1 and so little trust was placed in the honesty of those who came to see the body that guards were placed to prevent the ring and other ornaments from being stolen4#ej ,in #adhb ,cardinal d',estouteville1 ,archbishop of ,rouen1 was buried with great magnificence at ,rome1 where he died4 ,the body of the prelate was arrayed in the richest robes of cloth of gold1 and his fingers were covered with rings of the greatest rarity and beauty4 ,the brilliancy of the jewels 7observes ,dom ,pommeraye in his #8,lives of the ,archbishops of ,rouen'7 excited the cupidity of the canons of ,st4 ,mary ,major at ,rome1 where he was interred1 insomuch that they threw themselves on the body1 and struggled with each other to get at the rings4 ,the monks of ,st4 ,augustine1 who also attended on this occasion1 pretended to be highly scandalized at this profanation--#8peut-tre1' however1 #8pour avoir part au butin'--and attempted on their part to seize the rings4 ,in this unclerical skirmish the body of the archbishop was entirely stripped of its gorgeous trappings1 and left naked1 a piteous spectacle4 ,matthew ,paris informs us that archbishops1 bishops1 and abbots1 with other principals of the clergy1 were buried in their pontificalibus2 thus #8they prepared the body of ,hubert1 ,archbishop of ,canterbury1 for the burial1 closing him in his robes1 with his face uncovered1 and a mitre put on his head1 with gloves upon his hands1 a ring on his finger1 and all the other ornaments belonging to his office4' ,in describing the finger-ring found in the grave of the ,venerable ,bede1 the writer of a brief account of ,durham ,cathedral adds3 #8,no priest during the reign of ,catholicity was buried or enshrined without his ring4' ,the practice may have prevailed generally1 as many instances of rings recovered from the graves of ecclesiastics show1 but it was more particularly the usage of prelates4 ,martene 7#8,de ,antiquis ,ecclesi ,ritibus'7 remarks3 #8,episcopus debet habere annulum1 quia sponsus est4 ,cteri sacerdotes non1 quia sponsi non sunt1 sed amici sponsi1 vel vicarii4' ,the bones of ,st4 ,dunstan were discovered in the time of ,william1 fortieth abbot of ,glastonbury3 a ring was on the finger-bone of this saint4 ,william1 the twenty-second abbot of ,st4 ,alban's ,abbey1 who died in #abce1 was buried in pontifical habits #8with a ring on his finger4' ,richard de ,gerbery1 forty-fifth ,bishop of ,amiens1 in the thirteenth century1 died in #abaj1 and was buried in the cathedral1 in pontificalibus1 with mitre1 ring1 and ivory cross4 ,when the body of ,st4 ,john of ,beverley 7died #gba7 was translated into a new shrine1 about the year #ajcg1 a ring1 among other articles1 was found in his coffin4 ,we have a much earlier instance cited by ,aringhi1 that the ring of ,st ,caius 7#bhc-bif7 was found in his tomb3 #8intra sepulchrum tria ,diocletiani ,imperatoris numismata1 sub quo coronatus fuerat1 et ,sanctissimi ,pontificis annulus adinventatus est4' ,a gold ring was found in the tomb of ,st4 ,birinus1 ,bishop of ,dorchester1 who died in #fdj4 ,mr4 ,e4 ,waterton mentions a remarkable ring1 set with fine opal1 preserved at ,mayence ,cathedral1 where it was found with an enamelled crosier in the tomb1 as was supposed1 of ,archbishop ,sigfroi ,,iii4 7#abdi74 ,illustration3 ,ring of ,thierry1 ,bishop of ,verdun4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is the ring of ,thierry1 ,bishop of ,verdun 7who died in #aafe71 found in his tomb in #ahbi4 ,it is of gold1 with a sapphire1 an irregular oval with five capsular marks on the face2 the shank1 two winged dragons1 between the heads of which is the inscription ,,ave ,,maria ,,gratia4 ,this ring was procured in exchange from the collection of ,m4 ,failly1 ,inspector of ,customs1 at ,lyons in #ahdh4 ,mr4 ,octavius ,morgan remarks3 #8,it is difficult to reconcile the practice of returning the ring to the ,emperor' 7to which ,i have in this chapter alluded7 #8with that of interring the bishop with his ring on his finger2 but it is probable that1 when in the twelfth century the ,emperor ceded to the ,popes the right of investiture by the ring the sending back the ring was dispensed with2 and1 being the property of the ,church1 and not of the ,emperor1 the bishop was allowed to be interred with his ring as an emblem of his dignity4' ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king remarks that the custom of burying ecclesiastics with all their official insignia appears to have lasted far down into the ,middle ,ages2 for1 amongst the amusing adventures of ,andreuccio da ,perugia1 related by ,boccaccio1 he1 when reduced to despair1 joins some thieves in plundering the tomb of the ,archbishop of ,naples1 interred the previous day in all his precious vestments1 and with a ring on his finger valued at five hundred scudi4 ,two parties of plunderers1 headed by a priest of the cathedral1 visit the tomb in succession1 and almost at the same time2 to which circumstance ,andreuccio owes his escape from a horrible death1 and returns home in possession of the ring1 which more than makes up for all his losses4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king considers it probable that this common practice of plundering the tombs1 gave origin to the huge rings of gilt metal1 which bear the titles1 or coats of arms1 of some pope or bishop4 ,on the subject of pontifical rings of an ordinary character1 ,i may observe that they are found in several collections1 usually of brass or copper gilt4 ,benvenuto ,cellini1 in his #8,memoirs1' mentions a magnificent diamond as having been presented to ,pope ,paul the ,third by the ,emperor ,charles the ,fifth on his entry into ,rome 7#aecf71 for which he was desired to make a ring1 and succeeded in giving the diamond a tint which surpassed anything yet done4 ,illustration3 ,ring of ,pope ,pius ,,ii4 ,in the collection of ,thomas ,windus1 ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a41 is a ring bearing the arms of ,pope ,pius ,,ii4 of the family of ,piccolomini1 the ,papal tiara1 and inscription1 #8,papa ,pio4' ,the ring is of brass1 thickly gilt2 the stone topaz3 on the sides are the four beasts of the #8,revelation4' ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is the ring of ,pope ,boniface1 from whose tomb it was taken during the popular insurrection at ,rome1 #ahdi4 ,it is large and of gilt bronze1 set with a large amethyst1 cut into facets4 ,it is of the usual type of ,papal rings1 and massive2 on one side of the broad shank is engraved the triple crown1 with bands for tying it1 extending until they are met by the cords attached to the keys1 which appear on the other side4 ,the sides of the box-setting are square for an inch below the stone1 and on them are the emblems of the four ,evangelists in high relief3 all these are winged4 ,in the ,waterton ,collection at the ,south ,kensington ,museum are some remarkably fine specimens of bronze-gilt ,papal rings of the fifteenth century1 very massive and in excellent condition4 ,most of these have the symbols of the four ,evangelists1 the triple crown1 and crossed keys4 ,at a meeting of the ,society of ,antiquaries in ,november1 #aheh1 ,octavius ,morgan1 ,esq41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,f4,s4,a41 exhibited a ,papal ring of great interest1 massive1 and of copper-gilt1 set with blue glass4 ,at the angles were the symbols of the four ,evangelists in relief2 on the hoop was inscribed ,,pavlvs ,,pp ,,secndvs 7,paulus ,papa ,secundus74 ,at the sides were two shields2 one of them bearing three fleurs-de-lys1 and ensigned with an open crown1 probably the arms of ,france2 the other charged with a lion debruised by a bend1 being the arms of the family of ,barbo of ,venice1 to which ,paul ,,ii4 belonged4 ,in the upper part of this shield was a small ,papal tiara1 which might have been placed there for want of room above1 or might have been adopted by the ,pope's relation1 ,marco ,barbo1 made by him a cardinal in #adfd1 and who died #adij4 ,mr4 ,morgan had received this interesting addition to his collection from ,venice4 ,illustration3 ,papal ,rings 7,gorlus74 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is a fine specimen of a ,papal ring4 ,the crossed keys surmount a coat of arms on one side of the ring2 the keys alone appear on the opposite side2 foliated ornament fills the space above the circlet on either side4 ,this ring is set with a large crystal4 ,illustration3 ,papal ,ring4 ,at the suppression of the monasteries there were found in ,worcester ,cathedral #8four pontifical rings of gold1 with precious stones' ,at the same period1 amongst the plate and jewels in ,winchester ,cathedral was a #8pontyfycall ryng of silvare and gilt1 with counterfeitt stones4' ,at ,st4 ,augustine's ,church at ,canterbury were three pontifical rings with precious stones1 and one of silver gilt2 at ,st4 ,swithin's ,church at ,winchester1 four pontifical rings with precious stones4 ,the earliest document with a certain date in which mention is made of a bishop's ring is that usually cited in the #bhth canon of the ,council of ,toledo1 held in #fcc4 ,the ring was of gold and jewelled1 but at this ,council it was ordained that the ring of a prelate reinstated in his diocese1 after an unjust deposition1 should be delivered to him1 which was merely confirming a ceremony already ancient in the confirmation of bishops1 which may be traced to the fourth century4 ,in the consecration of bishops in the ,anglo-,saxon ,church1 the hands and head were anointed with oil1 the crosier delivered into his hands1 and the ring placed on his finger2 each ceremony being accompanied with a prayer4 #8,there is1 however1' remarks ,mr4 ,octavius ,morgan 7#8,archologia1' vol4 xxxvi4 part ii4 p4 #cgc71 #8another authority1 at least contemporary with the ,toledo ,council1 if not of earlier date4 ,st4 ,isidor1 ,bishop of ,seville1 who died ,a4,d4 #fcf1 in his work #8,de ,ecclesiasticis ,officines' 7lib4 ii4 cap4 #e71 when writing on the episcopal dignity1 informs us that the staff and ring were given to the bishop on his consecration1 and mentions the twofold purpose and signification of the ring1 but does not tell us from what source these insignia were derived4'#ea ,that the episcopal ring1 from the earliest times1 was considered a symbol of sacerdotal authority1 we have many instances4 ,in the #8,continuation of the ,history of ,simeon of ,durham' we are told that ,bishop ,ralph 7#ajii7 having been inveigled into a boat and his life in danger1 he drew the ring which he wore from off his finger1 and his notary took his seal1 and they cast them into the river1 being apprehensive that1 as these were well known everywhere throughout ,england1 the enemy would prepare deceitful writs by their means4 ,the same bishop1 a month before his decease in #aabh1 directed that he should be carried into the church1 opposite the altar1 there to make confession of his sins4 ,placing a ring upon the altar he thereby restored to the church everything of which he had deprived it1 and this restitution he confirmed by charter and seal1 which are still preserved in the treasury of the ,dean and ,chapter of ,durham4 ,to the charter was also attached the episcopal gold ring 7which is no longer there74 ,the charter states that #8he has surrendered to the ,lord ,st4 ,cuthbert and his monks whatsoever he had taken from them after he came to the bishopric1' c41 #8restoring them by 7placing7 a ring upon the altar1' c4 ,thomas ,becket1 when at ,rome in #aaff1 during his quarrel with ,henry ,,ii41 solemnly resigned1 in the presence of the ,papal ,court1 his episcopal ring into the hands of ,pope ,alexander1 whom he exhorted to name a fitting successor4 ,in the ,history of the ,archbishops of ,canterbury1 by ,gervase1 we read that in #aagi1 ,godfrey1 ,bishop-elect of ,st4 ,asaph's1 resigned his bishopric by surrendering his ring4 ,an ancient custom in the ,archbishopric of ,rouen was that the body of the deceased prelate1 before being interred in the cathedral1 was carried to the church of ,st4 ,ouen 7at ,rouen71 where it remained exposed a whole day4 ,the dean of the cathedral1 in committing the body to the charge of the ,abbot of ,st4 ,ouen1 said #8,ecce1' to which the latter replied #8,est hic4' ,then the dean gave the ,archbishop's ring to the abbot1 at the same time placing his hand in the coffin of the defunct1 and saying3 #8,you gave it to him living2 behold he is dead1' alluding to the custom of the ,archbishops of ,rouen being consecrated in the church of ,st4 ,ouen4 ,mr4 ,waterton remarks #8that in #eaa1 the ,council of ,orleans makes mention of the rescript of ,clodovicus1 wherein he promises to leave certain captives at the disposition of the ,gallican bishops1 8si vestras epistolas de annulo vestro signatas sic ad nos dirigatis40' ,the same eminent antiquarian states that #8prior to the eleventh century1 many1 if not all1 of the episcopal rings were signets2 for before that time large official seals were not in general use4 ,each bishop seems to have chosen the subject to be engraved on his ring1 at pleasure4 ,st4 ,augustine1 in one of his letters1 mentions that he sealed it with his ring1 8qui exprimit faciem hominis attendentis in latus40 ,in writing to ,apollinaris1 ,bishop of ,valence1 ,clodovicus begs him to send the seal1 or signet 7signatorum71 which he had promised1 made in such a way 8ut annulo ferreo et admodum tenui1 velut concurrentibus in se delphinulis concludendo1 sigili duplicis forma geminis cardinalis inseratur40 ,and1 referring to the subject to be engraved on the bezel1 he adds1 8si quras quid insculpendum sigillo1 signo monogrammatis mei per gyram scripti nominis legatur indicio40' ,in the early days of ,christianity bishops sealed with their rings the profession of faith which the neophytes made in writing4 ,they also sealed their pastoral letters4 ,ebregislaus1 ,bishop of ,meaux1 in #ffj1 wore on his ring an intaglio1 representing ,st4 ,paul1 the first hermit1 on his knees before the crucifix1 and above his head1 a crow1 by which he was miraculously fed4 ,in conformity with a decree of ,st4 ,sergius ,i4 7#fhg-gja71 the bishops of ,france and ,spain used to seal up the baptismal fonts with their rings from the beginning of ,lent to ,holy ,saturday4 ,from ancient documents it would appear that bishops sometimes called their rings #8annuli ecclesi4' ,david1 ,bishop of ,benevento1 in the time of ,charlemagne1 issued a mandate1 ending as follows3 #8annulo sanct nostr ecclesi firmavivus roborandum4' ,in #hfb1 ,rathbodus1 ,bishop of ,treves1 writes thus3 #8,hanc epistolam ,grcis litteris1 hinc1 inde1 munire decrevimus1 et annulo ecclesi nostr bullare censuimus4' ,in #ihe ,pope ,john ,,xvi4 sealed with his ring the confirmation of the decree made by the ,council of ,mayence1 in favour of the monks of ,corvey1 in ,saxony4 ,these quotations are sufficient to prove that until the #aath century the bishops used their rings as signets2 but we must not infer that every episcopal ring was a signet4 ,it is probable that each bishop had a large jewelled ring to use when pontificating4 ,of the importance attached to the possession of the episcopal ring we are told that ,gundulf1 the good ,bishop of ,rochester1 in his last days distributed all his goods to the poor1 even to his shoes1 and bequeathed his rich vestments to the cathedral4 ,there was only one ornament with which he could not part1 that was the episcopal ring1 and he confided this to the care of his attendants1 intending1 probably1 that it should be delivered to his successor4 ,ralph1 who had lately been elected ,abbot of ,battle1 had formerly been ,prior of ,rochester1 and had been deservedly popular4 ,the monks were anxious that he should be the successor of ,gundulf1 and were prepared to elect him1 if they could obtain the consent of the archbishop4 ,if to the ,abbot of ,battle ,gundulf bequeathed or resigned the episcopal ring1 it might be produced as an indication of ,gundulf's wish that ,ralph1 of ,battle ,abbey1 should succeed him4 ,a suggestion to this effect was made to the old bishop1 who said curtly3 #8,he is a monk1 what has he to do with an episcopal ring8' ,he was1 probably1 offended at the ambition of the ex-prior of ,rochester1 who ought to have been contented with his newly-acquired dignity at ,battle ,abbey4 ,soon after this1 another ,ralph made his appearance at the priory1 ,ralph of ,seez1 who afterwards became ,archbishop of ,canterbury4 ,having been ejected from his monastery by violence1 he came to ,england1 and was received everywhere with hearty regard1 on account of his virtues and accomplishments4 ,hearing of ,gundulf's illness1 he hastened to ,rochester1 to console his old friend on the bed of sickness4 ,ralph was obliged to leave ,rochester after a short visit1 but on quitting his friend he was recalled1 and ,gundulf1 demanding of his attendant the episcopal ring1 placed it as a parting gift in the hand of ,ralph of ,seez1 who suggested it might be better disposed of to one of ,gundulf's episcopal friends1 since it did not pertain to an abbot to wear a ring4 ,he reminded the bishop that1 though not living a monk1 still a monk he was4 #8,take it1 nevertheless1' said the bishop1 #8you may want it some day4' ,the possession of this ring reconciled the monks to the appointment of ,ralph of ,seez as successor of ,gundulf to the bishopric of ,rochester1 as they regarded the donation in the light of a prophecy4 #8,before1' says ,mr4 ,waterton1 #8receiving the pastoral staff and mitre1 the bishop-elect is invested by the consecrating bishop with the pontifical ring4 ,the formula seems to have varied at different times1 the most ancient one1 contained in the ,sacramental of ,st4 ,gregory1 #eij1 is this3 8,accipe annulum discretionis et honoris1 fidei signum1 et qu signanda sunt signes1 et qu aperienda sunt prodas1 qu liganda sunt liges1 qu solvenda sunt solvas1 atque credentibus per fidem baptismatis1 lapsis autem sed pnitentibus per mysterium reconciliationis januas regni clestis aperias2 cunctis vero de thesauro dominico ad ternam salutem hominibus1 consolatus grati ,domini nostri ,jesu ,christi40 #8,another form1 of a later date1 has the above1 with the following addition3--8,memor sponsionis et desponsationis ecclesiastic et dilectionis ,domini ,dei tui1 in die qu assecutus es hunc honorem1 cave ne obliviscaris illius40 #8,the ancient ,ordo ,romanus contains a formula couched in more elegant words3 8,accipe annulum pontificalis honoris1 ut sis fidei integritate ante omnia munitus1 misericordi operibus insistens1 infirmis compatiens1 benevolentibus congaudens1 aliena damna propria deputans1 de alienis gaudiis tanquam de propriis exultans40 #8,the formula1' continues ,mr4 ,e4 ,waterton1 #8seems to have varied at different times2 that contained in the pontifical of ,ecgberht1 ,archbishop of ,york1 is as follows3 8,accipe annulum pontificalis honoris ut sis fidei integritate munitus40 ,the ,anglo-,saxon pontifical at ,rouen1 and that of ,st4 ,dunstan at ,paris1 both give the following3 8,accipe ergo annulum discretionis et honoris1 fidei signum1 et qu signanda sunt signes1 et qu aperienda sunt prodas40' ,in the eleventh and twelfth centuries the ring1 as a part of ecclesiastical investiture1 was a fruitful subject of discord between the ,emperors and the ,popes1 until #aabc1 the ,emperor ,henry the ,fifth1 alarmed by the threats of the ,pontiff1 ceded the right to ,calixtus ,,ii41 from which time the rings were sent to the bishops-elect from the ,pope--a practice continued in the ,roman ,catholic hierarchy to the present time4 ,in preceding ages1 however1 monarchs were not so yielding4 ,in the romance of #8,king ,athelstan1' the sovereign says to an offending archbishop3-- ,lay down thy cross and thy staff1 ,the myter and the ryng that ,i to thee gaff1 ,out of my land thou flee4 ,cardinals on their creation receive a ring in which is usually a sapphire4 ,wolsey was raised to this dignity in #aeae1 the ,pope having forwarded with the hat 7an unusual thing to be sent out of ,rome7 a ring of more than ordinary value4 ,cardinals wear their rings at all times1 but on ,good ,friday they lay them aside1 as a sign of the mourning in which the ,church is placed for her ,spouse4 ,at the recent installation of cardinals 7,september #ahge7 the venerable ,pontiff presented each dignitary with a gold ring set with a sapphire4 ,in #aaia the fashion of the episcopal ring was definitively settled by ,innocent ,,iii41 who ordained that it should be of gold1 solid1 and set with a precious stone1 on which nothing was to be cut2 previous to this1 bishops' rings were not restricted to any special material or design4 #8,in the thirteenth century1' remarks ,mr4 ,e4 ,waterton1 #8many of the episcopal rings were of very rude fashion1 frequently in almost literal conformity with the rescript of ,innocent ,,iii41 without regard to shape or elegance4 ,the stone was set just as it was found1 merely having the surface polished1 and the shape of the bezel was adapted to the gem4 ,there are proofs that cameos were worn in episcopal rings4 ,in the list of rings and precious stones collected by ,henry ,,iii4 for the shrine of ,st4 ,edward1 in ,westminster ,abbey1 there is enumerated3 8j chamah in uno annulo pontificali40 ,we know that during the ,middle ,ages the glyptic art had declined very much1 and that from their fancied assimilation antique gems were occasionally used for devout subjects4 ,thus the monks of ,durham converted an antique intaglio of ,jupiter ,tonans into the #8caput ,sancti ,oswaldi4' ,during the latter part of the thirteenth century the large episcopal rings were enriched by the addition of previous stones1 which were set around the principal one4 ,thus1 in the #8,wardrobe ,book' there is the following entry3 #8,annulus auri cum quatuor rubettis magnis qui fuit ,fratris ,j4 de ,peccham1 nuper ,cantuariensis ,archiepiscopi4 ,he died in #abib4' ,episcopal rings were usually set with sapphires1 probably from a popular belief that this precious stone had the power of cooling love2 owing1 perhaps1 to the coldness of its touch1 due to its density4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 however1 gives as a reason for the choice of the sapphire that1 besides its supposed sympathy with the heavens1 mentioned by ,solinus1 and its connexion with the god of day1 ,apollo1 the violet colour agrees with the vestments appropriated to the priestly office4 ,an episcopal ring1 with gold and a sapphire1 said to have belonged to ,st4 ,loup1 is in the treasury of the ,cathedral of ,sens1 and is1 probably1 of the ,carlovingian period4 ,illustration3 ,episcopal ring4 #8,mention occurs1' remarks ,mr4 ,e4 ,waterton1 #8of episcopal rings being set with the balass-ruby1 the emerald1 the topaz1 the turquoise1 the chalcedony1 and1 as accessories1 pearls and garnets4 ,sometimes these gems were of great value4' ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king thinks it probable that when medival rings occur1 set with a ruby instead of a sapphire1 they belong to bishops who were at the same time cardinals4 ,at the disgraceful seizure of ,archbishop ,cranmer's effects1 in #aeec1 we find mentioned1 among the articles of considerable value taken from his house at ,battersea3 #8six or seven rings of fine gold1 with stones in them1 whereof were three fine blue sapphires of the best2 an emerald1 very fine2 a good turquoise and a diamond4' ,at the degradation of a bishop in former times1 the reasons were given in a solemn assembly1 and judgment pronounced1 the mitre was removed from his head1 and the pontifical ring drawn off his finger1 as having outraged the ,church4 ,with regard to the finger on which the episcopal ring is worn1 a correspondent of #8,notes and ,queries' 7vol4 v41 first series1 p4 #aad71 remarks that #8all who wear rings1 ex officio1 wear them on the third finger of the right hand4 ,cardinals1 bishops1 abbots1 doctors1 c41 do this for the reason that it is the first vacant finger4 ,the thumb and the first two fingers have always been reserved as symbols of the ,three ,persons of the ,holy ,trinity4 ,when a bishop gives his blessing he blesses with the thumb and two first fingers4 ,our brasses1 with sepulchral slabs1 bear witness to this fact4' ,a ,french writer observes that formerly the episcopal ring was worn on the fore-finger1 but as1 for the celebration of the holy mysteries1 bishops were obliged to place it on the fourth finger1 the custom prevailed of carrying it thus4 ,mr4 ,e4 ,waterton gives his explanation thus1 and there could be no better authority3 #8,it appears that bishops formerly wore their rings on the index of their right hand1 being the middle one of the three fingers which they extend when they are giving their blessing1 but when celebrating mass they passed the ring on to the annular4 ,they wore it on the index as the fore-finger was indicative of silence1 that they ought to communicate the divine mysteries only to the worthy4 ,gregory ,,iv41 in #hbg1 ordered that the episcopal ring should not be worn on the left1 but on the right hand1 as it was more distinguished 7nobile7 and was the hand with which the blessing was imparted4'#eb ,illustration3 ,episcopal ,thumb-ring4 ,the episcopal ring is now always worn on the annular finger of the right hand1 and bishops never wear more than one4 ,in the pictures of the early ,italian masters1 however1 and on sepulchral effigies1 bishops are represented with many rings1 some of which are not unfrequently on the second joint of the fingers4 ,a thumb-ring is often seen2 one is represented 7p4 #bai7 belonging to a late ,dean of ,st4 ,patrick's1 the sketch of which was made by the late ,mr4 ,fairholt1 when it was in the possession of ,mr4 ,huxtable1 ,f4,s4,a41 in #ahdg4 ,it is of bronze1 thickly gilt1 and set with a crystal4 ,in ,raffaelle's portrait of ,julius ,,ii4 the ,pope is represented as wearing six rings4 ,certain it is1 as late as the year #aeaf1 the ,popes occasionally wore two or more rings4 ,as the large pontifical ring was of a size sufficient to enable the bishop to pass it over the silk glove which he wears when pontificating1 a smaller1 or guard ring1 was used to keep it on the finger4 ,in the ,waterton ,collection is a very pale gold episcopal ring1 with oblong hexagonal bezel1 set with a pale cabochon sapphire1 and the hoop divided into square compartments chased with rosettes1 and finished on the shoulders with monsters' heads4 ,french1 of the early part of the fifteenth century4 ,in the ,anglo-,saxon annals1 an archbishop bequeaths a ring in his will1 and a king sends a golden ring1 enriched with a precious stone1 as a present to a bishop4 ,so great was the extravagance among the clergy for these ornaments that ,elfric1 in his #8canons1' found it necessary to exhort the ecclesiastics #8not to be proud with their rings4' ,in the medival romances we are told that at the marriage of ,sir ,degrevant1 there came ,erchebyschopbz with ryng ,mo than fiftene4 ,in the effigy of ,bishop ,oldham 7died #aeai71 in ,exeter ,cathedral1 the uplifted hands of the recumbent figure1 which are pressed together1 are adorned with no less than seven large rings on the fingers1 three being on the right1 and four on the left hand4 ,in addition to these1 a single signet-ring of extraordinary size is represented as worn over both the thumbs4 ,but the number of these rings is exceeded by far in the case of the arm of ,st4 ,blaize1 exhibited in the ,cathedral of ,brunswick1 on the fingers of which are no less than fourteen rings4 ,this relic was brought from ,palestine by ,henry the ,lion in the eleventh century1 and is encased in silver4 ,in a miniature in the #8,heures d',anne de ,bretagne' 7#aejj71 representing ,st4 ,nicholas and the miracle of the three children1 the bishop is represented with one hand extended in the act of blessing1 with a large ring over two fingers4 ,a ring is on one of the fingers of the other hand4 ,in paintings of the early bishops of the ,church they are figured with gloves having the ruby on the back of the hand1 and the official ring on the fore-finger of the right hand sometimes1 but not always1 introduced4 ,dart1 in his #8,history of ,canterbury1' gives an inventory of the ,ornamenta ,ecclesiastica taken in #acae4 ,one of the annuli pontificales was of elaborate character1 and is thus described3 #8,annulus quadratus magnus cum smaragdine oblongo1 et quatuor pramis1 et quatuor garnettis4' ,the others had sapphires surrounded by smaller gems4 ,one of these rings was set #8cum sapphiro nigro in quatuor cramponibus ex omne parte discoperto4' ,in the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 ii41 #ahed7 is an interesting account by the late ,mr4 ,albert ,way1 of the ecclesiastical mortuary or corse-present3 #8,whether this was originally a composition for offerings omitted1 or in the nature of a payment for sepulture1 frequently consisted1 amongst other things of a ring4 ,thus in the archdeaconry of ,chester1 on the death of every priest1 his best signet1 or ring1 with various other objects belonging to the bishop as being the archdeacon4' ,the ,king1 in like manner1 on the death of every archbishop and bishop1 was entitled to a gold ring with other things4 ,on the death of some abbots the ,king claimed the like4 ,these rights existed in the reign of ,edward ,i4 and probably earlier4 ,in the province of ,canterbury the second-best ring of the bishop accompanied the seals1 which1 there is reason to think1 were given up to their metropolitans4 ,in #acaj1 on the death of ,robert ,orford1 ,bishop of ,ely1 his pontifical ring not having been delivered up in due course1 a mandate was issued by ,archbishop ,winchelsey1 directed to ,richard de ,oteringham1 then administering the spiritualities of the vacant see1 to obtain possession of the ring1 which appeared to have been kept back by two of the monks of ,ely4 ,the mandate recites all the circumstances which had occurred1 describing the ring as #8annulum qui pontificalis vulgariter appellatur1 qui de jure et consuetudine nostre ecclesie ,cantuariensis ad nos dignoscitur pertinere4' ,it was alleged by the monks of ,ely that the deceased prelate had made a gift of this ring in his lifetime to the ,prior and ,convent1 but that1 having no other pontifical ring1 he had retained it for his own use until his death4 ,the ,prior and ,convent then had possession of the ring1 which they forthwith caused to be affixed to the shrine of ,st4 ,ealburga4 ,the two monks incurred the penalty of excommunication2 the ,archbishop forthwith cited the ,prior and ,convent to appear before him1 and there can be little doubt that the ring was ultimately delivered up4 ,the details of this curious transaction are related in ,archbishop ,winchelsey's ,register1 and may be seen in ,wilkins's #8,concilia1' vol4 ii4 p4 #djc4 ,in regard to two of the sees in ,wales1 ,st4 ,asaph and ,bangor1 the claim extended to the palfry with bridle and saddle1 the capa pluvialis1 or riding-cloak1 and the hat used by the deceased prelate4 ,the seals and best ring were likewise demanded1 as in the case of the other bishops of the ,principality1 and of the province of ,canterbury in general4 ,on the decease of ,anian1 ,bishop of ,bangor1 in #acbg1 the metropolitan see being at that time vacant1 the ,prior of ,christ ,church claimed the ring1 seals1 and other effects1 which had not been rendered up to him in due course4 ,the following entry appears on this occasion3 #8,de annulo et sigilis ,episcopi ,bangorensis restituendis4--,magister ,kenewricus ,canonicus ,assavensis1 officialis noster sede ,bangorensi vacante1 habet literam de annulo secundo meliori et omnibus sigillis bone memorie domini ,aniani ,episcopi ,bangorensis1 ac etiam de aliis bonis nobis et ecclesie nostre ,cantuarien de jure et consuetudine antiqua et approbata debitis post mortem cujuslibet ,episcopi ,bangorensis1 que de ,magistro ,madoco ,archidiacono ,angles' executore testimenti dicti domini ,aniani recepit1 nobis absque more majoris dispendio apud ,cantuariam transmittendis necnon de omnibus aliis bonis que ad manus suas sede ,bangorensi vacante vel plena devenerunt2 et ad certificandum nos infra xx dies post recepcionem presentium quod super premissis duxerit faciendis4 ,dated at ,canterbury1 ,july #ae1 #acbh4' ,these instructions from the ,prior to his official seem to have produced no effect4 ,a letter is found subsequently in the same register 7,k4 #ab1 f4 #aeh1 vo71 addressed from ,mayfield by ,simon ,mepham1 ,archbishop of ,canterbury1 to ,henry ,gower1 ,bishop of ,st4 ,david's1 stating the demand of the ,prior had not been satisfied1 and requiring him to obtain restitution of the seals and ring which had belonged to the deceased prelate4 ,the matter appears accordingly to have been adjusted without delay1 since a formal acquittance is found in the same volume1 dated at ,canterbury1 ,february #c1 #acbh4 ,a similar occurrence is recorded in the register on the decease of ,david ,martyn1 ,bishop of ,st4 ,david's1 ,march #i1 #acbh4 ,his executors had delivered the seals and ring to ,master ,edmund de ,mepham1 who had departed this life2 and a letter is found from ,henry de ,eastry1 ,prior of ,christ ,church1 to ,robert ,leveye1 ,edmund's executor1 requesting him to render up these objects to which the ,prior was entitled4 ,the ,wardrobe ,books and other records would doubtless show that the rights of the ,crown were constantly enforced on the decease of archbishops and bishops with no less jealous vigilance than those of the ,church of ,canterbury4 ,in the ,wardrobe ,book of #bhth ,edward ,i41 for instance1 amongst various articles mention is made of the gold ring of ,william de ,hothum1 ,archbishop of ,dublin1 who died in #abih1 set with a sapphire1 as also of many silver ciphi and gold rings set with various gems1 delivered to the ,king on the decease of several other prelates at that period4 ,in the same record are to be found the gold rings of the abbots of ,glastonbury1 ,st4 ,alban's1 and ,abingdon1 lately deceased1 in custody of the ,king's wardrobe4 ,it is deserving of remark that at an earlier period no claim1 as regarded the pontifical ring1 appears to have been acknowledged by the ,bishops of ,rochester4 ,mr4 ,edmund ,waterton1 in the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 xx4 pp4 #bce et seq471 gives a list of a few of the authentic episcopal rings now in existence in ,england4 ,the ring of ,seffrid1 ,bishop of ,winchester1 who died in #aaea4 ,this is most curious1 for it is set with a gnostic gem1 representing the figure with the head of a cock4 ,it is a strange subject for the ring of a bishop4 ,a massive gold ring set with a sapphire1 found in a tomb on the thumb of the skeleton of a bishop1 supposed to be ,hilary1 ,bishop of ,chichester1 who died in #aafi1 together with a silver chalice1 and paten1 and a pastoral staff4 ,a gold ring with an octagonal sapphire1 set griffes1 and with four small emeralds in the corners4 ,this was found in a stone coffin on which was inscribed ,,episcopus1 and which also contained some remains of vestments1 and a pastoral staff4 ,these three rings belong to the ,dean and ,chapter of ,chichester4 ,gold ring set with a ruby1 and found in ,york ,minster in the tomb of ,archbishop ,sewall1 who died #abeh4 ,a gold ring1 also set with a ruby1 found in the tomb of ,archbishop ,greenfield1 who died #acae4 ,illustration3 ,ring of ,archbishop ,sewall4 ,illustration3 ,ring of ,archbishop ,greenfield4 ,a gold ring1 the stone of which has fallen out and which bears on the inside the chanon #8honnoretjoye1' found in the tomb of ,archbishop ,bowett1 who died in #adbc4 ,the three last rings are preserved in ,york ,minster4 ,a large gold ring set with an irregular oval sapphire secured by four grips in the form of fleurs-de-lys4 ,the stone is pierced longitudinally4 ,this was found in ,winchester ,cathedral1 and may be assigned to the thirteenth century4 ,illustration3 ,episcopal ring 7thirteenth century74 ,the ring of ,william of ,wykeham1 ,bishop of ,winchester1 died #adjd4 ,a massive plain gold ring1 set with a sapphire4 ,by his will he bequeathed to his successor in the ,bishopric of ,winchester1 his best book1 ,de ,officio ,pontificali1 his best missal1 and his larger gold pontifical ring1 set with a sapphire1 and surrounded with four balass-rubies4 ,a gold ring found in the tomb of ,bishop ,gardiner1 in ,winchester ,cathedral 7died #aeee74 ,it is set with an oval plasma intaglio of the head of ,minerva2 on the shoulders of the hoop are two square facetted ornaments1 each set with five small rubies en cabochon4 ,these rings belong to the ,dean and ,chapter of ,winchester ,cathedral4 ,illustration3 ,ring of ,bishop ,stanbery4 ,a massive gold ring set with a sapphire4 ,the shoulders are ornamented with flowers1 and inside is the chanon #8en 3 bon 3 an4' ,found in the tomb of ,john ,stanbery1 ,bishop of ,hereford1 #adeb4 ,a gold ring set with an uncut ruby1 and which has on either shoulder a ,tau cross1 filled in with green enamel1 and a bell appended4 ,within is the inscription enamelled #8,ave ,maria4' ,found in the tomb of ,richard ,mayhew1 or ,mayo1 ,bishop of ,hereford1 #aejd4 ,these rings were found in ,hereford ,cathedral4 ,they are figured in the #8,archologia' 7vol4 xxxi4 p4 #bdi74 ,a massive gold ring set with a sapphire1 en cabochon4 ,this was found on one of the fingers of ,st4 ,cuthbert1 when his coffin was opened by the visitors in #aecg4 ,it came into the possession of ,thomas ,watson1 the ,catholic ,dean appointed on the dismissal of ,robert ,horne1 the ,protestant ,dean1 in #aeec4 ,dean ,watson gave the ring to ,sir ,thomas ,hare1 who gave it to ,antony ,brown1 created ,viscount ,montague1 by ,queen ,mary1 in #aeed4 ,he gave it to ,dr4 ,richard ,smith1 ,bishop of ,calcedon1 in partibus1 and ,vicar ,apostolic of the ,northern ,district1 whom he had for a long time sheltered from the persecution4 ,bishop ,smith gave the ring to the monastery of the ,english ,canonesses of ,st4 ,augustine at ,paris2 and it is now preserved at ,st4 ,cuthbert's ,college1 ,ushaw1 near ,durham4 ,the ring is evidently not one worn by the sainted bishop during his lifetime4 ,it does not appear to have been of an earlier date than the fourteenth century2 and a gold ring1 set with a sapphire1 and almost its counterpart1 which was found at ,flodden1 is now in the ,british ,museum4 ,probably the ring had belonged to one of the bishops of ,durham1 and had been offered to the shrine of ,st4 ,cuthbert1 and placed on a finger of the corpse on some occasion when the shrine was opened4 ,the authentication of the ring simply states the fact that it was found on the hand of ,st4 ,cuthbert in #aecg4 ,the ring of ,arnulphus1 consecrated ,bishop of ,metz in #fad1 is stated to be preserved in the treasury of the cathedral of that city4 ,it is believed to be of an earlier date than the fourth century1 and it is set with an opaque milk-white cornelian1 engraved with the sacred symbol of the fish4 ,in addition to these examples are two other ,french episcopal rings4 ,one is that of ,gerard1 ,bishop of ,limoges1 who died in #ajbb4 ,didron thus describes it3 #8,cet anneau est en or massif2 il pese #ad gram4 #aic m42 aucune pierrerie ne le decore4 ,la tte de l'anneau1 ou chaton1 est forme de quatre fleurs trilobes opposes par la base sur lesquelles courent de lgers filets d'email bleu4' ,in ,august #agfc the remains of ,thomas de ,bitton1 ,bishop of ,exeter from #abic to #acjg were discovered in the cathedral of that city4 ,the skeleton was nearly entire1 and among the dust in the coffin a gold ring was found and a large sapphire set in it4 ,this ring and a chalice recovered at the same time are preserved within a case in the chapter-house of the cathedral4 ,the following extracts from the ,wardrobe ,book of #bhth ,edward ,i4 7,a4,d4 #abii-acfj71 relating to episcopal rings1 are of interest3-- #8,jocalia remanencia in fine anni #bg4 #8,annulus auri cum sapphiro qui fuit fratris ,willelmi quondam ,dublin' archiepiscopi defuncti4 #8,jocalia remanencia in fine anni #bg de jocalibus ,regi datis1 et post decessum prlatorum ,regis restitutis anno #be4 #8,annulus auri cum sapphiro crescenti qui fuit ,n4 quondam ,sarum episcopi defuncti4 #8,annulus1 auri cum rubetto perforato qui fuit ,roberti ,coventr' et ,lichfield' episcopi defuncti4 #8,jocalia remanencia in fine anni #bg de jocalibus ,regi datis et post decessum prlatorum ,regis restitutis4 ,annulus auri cum sapphiro qui fuit ,j4 ,ebor' archiepiscopi defuncti anno #bd4 #8,jocalia remanencia in fine anni1 #bg de jocalibus receptis de venerabili ,patre ,will' ,bathon' et ,wellen' episcopo4 #8,tres annuli auri cum rubettis4 #8,unus annulus auri cum ameraud4 #8,unus annulus auri cum topacio 7chrysolite74 #8,unus annulus auri cum pereditis 7topaz74' ,the ,jocalia ,sancti ,thom1 which is given by ,dart in his history of ,canterbury ,cathedral1 are as follows3-- #8,annulus pontificalis magnus cum rubino rotundo in medio3 #8,item4 ,annulus magnus cum sapphiro nigro qui vocatur lup4 #8,item4 ,annulus cum parvo sapphiro nigro qui vocatur lup4 #8,item4 ,annulus cum sapphiro quadrato aquoso4 #8,item4 ,annulus cum lapide oblongo qui vocatur turkoyse4 #8,item4 ,annulus unus cum viridi cornelino sculpto rotundo4 #8,item4 ,annulus parvus cum smaragdine triangulato4 #8,item4 ,annulus unus cum chalcedonio oblongo4' ,the term lup may signify en cabochon1 uncut4 ,in #ahfg ,mr4 ,binns exhibited a gold episcopal ring1 at a meeting of the ,society of ,antiquaries1 which he obtained at the shop of a jeweller at ,worcester1 and supposed to be the ring of ,walter de ,cantilupe1 who presided over the see of ,worcester from #abcf to #abff4 ,in the #8,archologia' 7vol4 xx4 p4 #eef7 is figured an amethyst ring1 which was discovered at ,evesham ,abbey1 on the finger of the skeleton of ,henry of ,worcester1 abbot of that house1 #abef-abfc4 ,in the possession of the ,dean and ,chapter of ,wells is a fine massive episcopal ring of gold1 the date supposed to be the commencement of the twelfth century4 ,it has a solid projecting bezel1 set with an irregularly-shaped ruby1 polished on the surface and pierced longitudinally--an oriental stone which has been used as a pendant4 ,at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum1 in #ahgb1 ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith contributed1 amongst his fine collection of #adj finger-rings1 a series of seven gold episcopal rings of the pointed or stirrup-shaped type2 these are mostly set with sapphires1 rudely shaped and polished4 ,date from the #acth and #adth centuries4 ,this engraving represents a gold episcopal ring1 in the ,londesborough ,collection1 with sapphire4 ,french work of the thirteenth century4 ,illustration3 ,french ,episcopal ring4 ,in the ,royal ,irish ,academy is a large episcopal ring1 but1 of comparatively modern date4 ,it is the largest ring in the collection1 and had originally held a very fine amethyst1 which was removed by ,dean ,dawson1 when the ring was in his possession1 and a piece of glass inserted in its stead4 ,illustration3 ,episcopal ring4 ,in the ,waterton ,collection is one of the finest of medival gold episcopal rings1 obtained at ,milan4 ,it has been reset with an amethyst1 the original stone1 stated to have been a valuable sapphire1 having been removed4 ,no date is assigned to it4 ,illustration3 ,episcopal ring4 ,abbots were invested with the ring4 ,lawrence1 seventeenth ,abbot of ,westminster1 is said to have been the first of that dignity who obtained from the ,pope 7,alexander ,,iii47 the privilege of using the mitre1 ring1 and gloves4 ,he died in #aafg1 and was represented on his monument with a mitre1 ring1 and staff4 ,in #ajdh1 ,wulgate1 twelfth ,abbot of ,croyland1 received the crosier and ring from the king4 ,the consecration of an abbot was similar1 in most respects1 to the episcopal ceremony4 ,the abbot received from the bishop1 or whoever was appointed to officiate1 the insignia of his ecclesiastical dignity4 ,the privilege of the mitre1 pontifical ring1 c41 was conceded to the abbots of ,st4 ,denis1 in ,france1 about the year #aagg by ,alexander ,,iii4 ,jocelyn of ,brakelond1 in his #8,chronicles of ,st4 ,edmundsbury' 7twelfth century71 informs us that ,sampson was inaugurated abbot of that monastery in #aahb1 by the ,bishop of ,winchester1 who placed the mitre on his head1 and the ring on his finger1 saying3 #8,this is the dignity of the abbots of ,st4 ,edmund2 my experience early taught me this4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the reception of novices into the ,roman ,catholic sisterhood1 one of the ceremonies performed was the presentation of a ring blessed by the bishop1 usually of gold with a sapphire4 ,after the benediction of the veil1 the ring1 and the crown1 the novices receive the first as a mark of renouncing the world2 the ring1 by which they are married to the ,son of ,god1 and the crown1 as a type of that prepared for them in heaven4 ,the origin of this custom of espousals to ,christ dates from a very remote period4 #8,we meet1' remarks ,lingard1 in his #8,history and ,antiquities of the ,anglo-,saxon ,church1' #8for more than a thousand years after the first preaching of ,christianity1 with females who1 to speak the language of our ancestors1 had wedded themselves to ,god4' ,on one of four rings of ,st4 ,eloy 7#fth century71 preserved before the ,revolution of #agic in the treasury of the church at ,noyon1 in ,france1 was inscribed3-- ,annulus ,eligii fuit aureus iste beati1 ,quo ,christo sanctam desponsavit ,godebertam4 7,this gold ring of the ever-blessed ,st4 ,eloy was that with which he married ,st4 ,godiberte to ,christ47 ,john ,alcock1 ,bishop of ,ely 7#adhf71 gives #8an exhortacyon made to relygyous systers in the tyme of theyr consecracyon by him3 8,i aske the banes betwyx the hyghe and moost myghty ,prynce1 ,kyng of all kynges1 ,sone of ,almyghty ,god1 and the ,virgyn ,mary1 in humanyte ,cryste ,jesu of ,nazareth1 of the one partye1 and ,a4 ,b4 of the thother partye1 that yf ony or woman can shewe any lawfull impedymente other by any precontracte made on corrupcyon of body or soule of the sayd ,a4 ,b4 that she ought not to be maryed this daye unto the sayd mighty ,prynce ,jesu1 that they wolde accordynge unto the lawe shewe it40' ,there is no doubt that these #8espousals to ,christ' were in connection with the spiritual marriage of the bishop with the ,church implied by the sanctity of the episcopal ring4 #8,the mystical signification1' observes ,mr4 ,e4 ,waterton1 #8attached to this ring has been set forth by various ecclesiastical writers4 8,datur et annulus episcopo10 observes ,st4 ,isidore1 of ,seville1 in the #afth century1 8propter signum pontificalis honoris1 vel signaculum secretorum40 ,in #aaia ,innocent ,,iii4 wrote that 8annulus episcopi perfectionem donorum ,spiritus ,sancti in ,christo significat40 ,durandus1 who lived in the #acth century1 enlarges upon the subject in his 8,rationale40 8,the ring10 he says1 8is the badge of fidelity with which ,christ betrothed the ,church1 his holy ,bride1 so that she can say3 #8,my ,lord betrothed me with his ring4' ,her guardians are the bishops1 who wear the ring for a mark and a testimony of it2 of whom the ,bride speaks in the ,canticles3 #8,the watchmen who kept the city found me4' ,the father gave a ring to the prodigal son1 according to the text1 #8put a ring on his finger4' ,a bishop's ring1 therefore1 signifies integritatum fidei2 that is to say1 he should love as himself the ,church of ,god committed to him as his ,bride1 and that he should keep it sober and chaste for the heavenly ,bridegroom1 according to the words1 #8,i have espoused you to one ,husband1 that ,i my present you as a chaste virgin to ,christ1' and that he should remember he is not the lord1 but the shepherd40' ,it was the custom in former ages for the high dignitaries of the ,church1 at the time of their elevation to episcopal rank1 to celebrate such event with pompous ceremonies4 ,we find recorded1 among others1 the marriage of prelates1 especially in ,italy4 ,in #aeai1 ,antonio ,pucci was elected ,bishop of ,pistoja1 and made his solemn entre with a brilliant cortge4 ,on reaching a nunnery called ,san ,pier ,maggiore1 #8he descended from his horse1' says ,michel-,ange ,salvi1 #8and entered the church1 which was richly decorated4 ,after praying1 he went towards the wall which separated the church from the convent1 where an opening had been made1 and1 in an apartment there1 wedded the abbess1 placing on her finger a sumptuous ring4 ,after this he went to the cathedral1 and with various ceremonies was inducted into his bishopric4' ,at ,florence1 when an archbishop was elected1 he proceeded to a convent dedicated to ,st4 ,peter1 and was married to the abbess4 ,a platform was erected1 surmounted by a rich baldequin1 near the high altar2 a golden ring was brought to the prelate1 which he placed on the finger of the abbess1 whose hand was sustained by the oldest priest of the parish4 ,the archbishop slept one night at the convent1 and the next day was enthroned1 with great ceremony1 in the cathedral4 ,the same usages were practised at the installation of the archbishops of ,milan1 the ,bishops of ,bergamo1 ,modena1 c4 ,aimon1 in his #8,tableau de la ,cour de ,rome1' describing the ceremonies attending the consecration of cardinals1 says3 #8,le ,pape leur fait alors une exhortation1 et leur assigne des titres2 leur met au doigt annulaire de la main droite1 un anneau d'or1 dans lequel est enchass un saphir1 qui cote chaque ,eminence cinq cents ducats4 ,cet anneau est donn au nouveau ,cardinal pour lui apprendre qu'il a l'glise pour pouse1 et qu'il ne le doit jamais abandonner4' ,during the ceremony of consecrating the ,bishop of ,limoges at ,ntre ,dame in ,paris 7#afbh71 in presence of the ,queen and the ,duke of ,orleans1 the former sent the ,bishop a rich diamond ring1 which she took from her finger1 in token of the spiritual marriage which he was contracting with the ,church4 ,m4 ,thiers1 in his #8,trait des ,superstitions1' gives a curious instance of these espousals to ,christ3 a ,carmelite1 in his assumed quality of #8,secretary of ,jesus1' had persuaded some of his devotees to sign contracts of marriage with the ,saviour4 ,a translation of one of these ,i now give3 #8,i1 ,jesus1 son of the living ,god1 the husband of my faithful1 take my daughter1 ,madelaine ,gasselin1 for my wife2 and promise her fidelity1 and not to abandon her1 and to give her1 for advantage and possession1 my grace in this life1 promising her my glory in the other1 and a portion of the inheritance of my ,father4 ,in faith of which ,i have signed the irrevocable contract by the hand of my secretary4 ,done in the presence of the ,father ,eternal1 of my love1 of my very worthy mother ,mary1 of my father ,st4 ,joseph1 and of all my celestial court1 in the year of grace #afej1 day of my father ,st4 ,joseph4 #8,,jesus1 the husband of faithful souls4 #8,mary1 mother of ,god4 ,joseph1 husband of ,mary4 ,the guardian angel ,madelaine1 the dear lover of ,jesus4 #8,this contract has been ratified by the ,holy ,trinity1 the day of the glorious ,st4 ,joseph1 in the same year4 #8,brother ,arnoux1 of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist1 ,carmelite4 ,dchauss1 unworthy secretary of ,jesus4' #8,i1 ,madelaine ,gasselin1 unworthy servant of ,jesus1 take my amiable ,jesus for my husband1 and promise him fidelity1 and that ,i never have any other but ,him1 and ,i give ,him1 as a proof of my truth1 my heart1 and all that ,i shall ever be1 through life unto death doing all that is required of me1 and to serve ,him with all my heart throughout eternity4 ,in faith of which ,i have signed with my own hand the irrevocable contract1 in the presence of the ever-adorable ,trinity1 of the holy ,virgin1 ,mary1 mother of ,god1 my glorious father ,st4 ,joseph1 my guardian angel1 and all the celestial court1 the year of grace #afej1 day of my glorious father ,st4 ,joseph4 #8,,jesus1 lover of hearts4 #8,mary1 mother of ,god4 ,joseph1 husband of ,mary4 ,the guardian angel ,madelaine1 the dearly-beloved of ,jesus4 #8,this contract has been ratified by the ever-adorable ,trinity the same day of the glorious ,st4 ,joseph1 in the same year4 #8,brother ,arnoux1 of ,st4 ,john the ,baptist4' ,a curious legend of a ring of espousals received from our ,saviour by a pious maiden1 is recorded by ,nider1 in his treatise #8,in ,formicario1' and is referred to by ,kirchmann 7#8,de ,annulis'74 ,he writes in praise of celibacy1 and describes a certain maiden who1 rejecting all earthly loves1 is filled with sincere affection for ,christ only4 ,after praying for some token of ,divine acceptance3 #8orti locello quo nunc oculis corporeis visum dirigo4 ,et ecce in eodem momento et locello vidit tres or duos circiter violarum amenos flosculos4444 ,violas manu collegit propria et conservavit solliciter1 ut exinde amor et spes artius ad suum sponsum grate succrescerent4' ,after enforcing the miraculous character of the event by reminding his readers that it was not the season of flowers1 but somewhere about the feast of ,st4 ,martin1 he continues3--#8,in sequenti anno iterum in orto suo laboraret quodam die1 et ibidem in locum certum intuitum dirigeret1 optando ex imo cordis desiderio quatenus ibi reperiret in signum ,christifere desponsationis annulum aliquem1 si divin voluntatis id esset3 et en altera vice non sprevit ,deus preces humilis virginis sed reperit materialem quemdam annulum quem vidi postmodum4 ,erat autem coloris albi1 de minera qua nescio1 argento mundo videbatur similior4 ,et in clausura ubi jungebatur in circulum due manus artificiose insculpte extiterunt4444 ,hunc annulum virgo gratissime servavit in posterum1 et altissimo suo sponso deinceps ut antea in labore manuum suarum vivere studuit4' ,vide ,j4 ,nider1 ,in ,formicario1 ,cologne1 #adgc 787 #8,notes and ,queries'4 ,this mystical union by the ring was exemplified in a singular manner in the instance of ,edmund ,rich1 who was consecrated ,archbishop of ,canterbury in #abcd4 ,when a young man he made a vow of celibacy1 and1 that he might be able to keep it1 he wedded himself to the mother of our ,lord4 ,he had two rings made with #8,ave ,maria' engraved on each4 ,one he placed on the finger of an image of the ,virgin1 which stood in a church at ,oxford1 and the other he wore on his own finger1 considering himself espoused in this manner to the ,virgin4 ,he cherished the remembrance of this transaction to his death1 and at his funeral the ring was observed on his finger4#ec ,in the legends of the saints there are frequent allusions to the espousals with ,christ1 in which the ring is prominently mentioned2 thus of ,st4 ,catherine of ,alexandria1 it is said that1 as she slept upon her bed1 #8the blessed ,virgin appeared to her again1 accompanied by her divine ,son1 and with them a noble company of saints and angels4 ,and ,mary again presented ,catherine to the ,lord of ,glory1 saying1 8,lo1 she hath been baptized1 and ,i myself have been her godmother60 ,then the ,lord smiled upon her1 and held out his hand1 and plighted his troth to her1 putting a ring upon her finger4 ,when ,catherine awoke1 remembering her dream1 she looked1 and saw the ring upon her finger2 and1 henceforth regarding herself as the betrothed of ,christ1 she despised the world1 and all the pomp of earthly sovereignty1 thinking only of the day which should reunite her with her celestial and espoused ,lord4' ,in a painting by ,ghirlandago1 ,st4 ,catherine is represented with a ring conspicuous on her finger1 in allusion to her mystical espousals4 ,mrs4 ,jameson1 in her #8,sacred and ,legendary ,art1' mentions an engraving of the marriage of ,st4 ,catherine by one of the earliest artists of the genuine ,german school1 the anonymous engraver known only as #8,le ,graveur de #adff1' #8the scene is ,paradise2 and the ,virgin-,mother1 seated on a flowery throne1 is in the act of twining a wreath1 for which ,st4 ,dorothea presents the roses2 in front of the ,virgin kneels ,st4 ,catherine1 and beside her stands the ,infant ,christ 7here a child about five or six years old71 and presents the ring1' c4 ,in ,titian's #8,marriage of ,st4 ,catherine1' #8the ,infant ,christ is seated on a kind of pedestal1 and sustained by the arms of the ,virgin4 ,st4 ,catherine kneels before him1 and ,st4 ,anna1 the mother of the ,virgin1 gives ,st4 ,catherine away1 presenting her hand to receive the ring2 ,st4 ,joseph is standing on the other side2 two angels behind the saint1 look on with an expression of celestial sympathy4' ,st4 ,agnes1 in the old legend1 when tempted to marry the son of ,sempronius1 the prefect of ,rome1 by rich presents1 rejects them with scorn1 #8being already betrothed to a lover who is greater and fairer than any earthly suitor4' ,in ,hone's #8,everyday ,book' 7vol4 i4 p4 #ada7 there is a curious story connected with ,st4 ,agnes1 #8who1' says ,butler1 #8has always been looked upon as a special patroness of purity1 with the immaculate mother of ,god4' ,it seems that a priest who officiated in a church dedicated to that saint was very desirous of being married4 ,he prayed the ,pope's licence1 who gave it him1 together with an emerald ring1 and commanded him to pay his addresses to the image of ,st4 ,agnes in his own church4 ,the priest did so1 and the image put forth her finger and he put the ring thereon2 whereupon the image drew her finger again1 and kept the ring fast1 and the priest was contented to remain a bachelor1 #8and yet1 as it is sayd1 the rynge is on the fynger of the ymage4' ,mrs4 ,jameson remarks1 on a painting representing in one compartment of the picture the ,espousal of ,st4 ,francis of ,assisi with the ,lady ,poverty1 that she is attended by ,hope and ,charity as bridesmaids1 being thus substituted for ,faith4 ,st4 ,francis places the ring upon her finger1 while our ,saviour1 standing between them1 at once gives away the bride and bestows the nuptial benediction4 ,st4 ,herman of ,cologne1 in the thirteenth century1 is said to have had an ecstatic dream1 in which the ,virgin descended from heaven1 and1 putting a ring on his finger1 declared him her espoused4 ,hence he received from the brotherhood with which he was connected the name of ,joseph4 ,he died in #abcf4 ,in ,hone's #8,everyday ,book' it is remarked that the meeting of ,st4 ,anne and ,st4 ,joachim at the ,golden ,gate was a popular theme4 ,the nuns of ,st4 ,anne1 at ,rome1 showed a rude silver ring as the wedding one of the two saints4 ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a thick1 gold1 nun's ring1 with a conical surface to the band of the hoop1 and an inscription of the fourteenth century1 in ,longobardic characters1 #8 ,o 7for avec7 cest 7for cet7 anel seu 7for je suis7 espose de ,jheusu ,crist4' ,in the ,waterton ,collection at the ,south ,kensington ,museum is also a nun's ring of the same date1 inscribed #8,god with ,maria4' ,in former times complaints were made in the #8,constitutions' of nuns wearing several rings4 ,in the #8,ancren ,riwle1 or ,regul ,inclusarum' 7,camden ,society7 nuns are forbidden to have brooch or ring1 or studded girdle3-- ,ring ne broche nabbe ye2 ne gurdel i-membred4 #8,espousals to ,god' were not confined to the religious portion of the community4 ,eleanora1 third daughter of ,john1 ,king of ,england1 on the death of her husband1 the ,earl of ,pembroke1 in #abca1 in the first transports of her grief1 made in public a solemn vow1 in presence of ,edmund1 ,archbishop of ,canterbury1 that she would never again become a wife1 but remain a true spouse of ,christ1 and received the ring in confirmation1 which vows she1 however1 subsequently broke1 to the indignation of a strong party of the laity and clergy of ,england1 by her marriage with ,simon de ,montfort1 ,earl of ,leicester4 ,at the head of the clergy was one ,william de ,avendon1 a ,dominican friar1 who quoted a tractate on vows1 by one #8,master ,peter1' from which it appears that a sacred plight-ring was considered almost as impassable a barrier as the veil itself1 against the marriage of the wearer4 ,mary1 sixth daughter of ,edward ,i41 took the veil at ,amesbury1 thirteen young ladies being selected as her companions4 ,the spousal rings placed on their fingers were of gold1 adorned with a sapphire1 and were provided at the expense of the ,king4 ,in a very interesting paper by ,mr4 ,harrod1 ,f4,s4,a41 in the #8,archologia' 7vol4 xl4 part #b7 we have particulars of the custom1 which prevailed in the ,middle ,ages1 of widows taking a vow of chastity1 and receiving a particular robe and ring4 ,sir ,harris ,nicolas printed in the #8,testamenta ,vetusta' an abstract of the will of ,lady ,alice ,west1 of ,hinton ,marcel1 widow of ,sir ,thomas ,west1 dated in #acie1 and proved in the ,prerogative ,court of ,canterbury4 ,there is a bequest to her son ,thomas1 amongst other things of #8a ring with which ,i was yspoused to ,god4' ,sir ,harris rightly says that this could not have been her marriage-ring1 and it was certain she had not entered a convent4 ,this is still more clearly made out by a reference to the transcript of the will in the registers of the ,prerogative ,court4 ,gough1 in his #8,sepulchral ,monuments1' quotes a story1 from ,matthew ,paris1 of one ,cecily ,sandford1 a lady of condition1 who1 on her deathbed1 having passed through the usual forms with her confessor1 and he ordering her attendants to take off a gold ring he observed on her finger1 although just expiring1 recovered herself enough to tell them she would never part with it1 as she intended carrying it to heaven with her into the presence of her celestial spouse1 in testimony of her constant observance of her vow1 and to receive the promised reward4 ,she had1 it appears1 made a vow of perpetual widowhood1 and with her wedding-ring assumed the russet habit1 the usual sign of such a resolution4 #8,in the 8,colchester ,chronicle10 portions of which are printed in ,cromwell's 8,history of ,colchester10 one entry appears to confirm the conjecture that the whole was composed in the fourteenth or fifteenth century1 8,anno ,dni ccciij4 ,helena mortuo ,constancio perpetuam vovit viduitatem40 #8,by the testament of ,katharine ,rippelingham1 dated ,february #h1 #adgc1 who calls herself 8advowes10 she desires to be buried in the church of ,baynardes ,castell of ,london1 where she was a parishioner2 and by her will1 in which she gives herself the title of 8widow advowes10 she shows herself in the full exercise of her rights of property1 devising estates1 carrying out awards1 and adjusting family differences1 and in an undated codicil she bequeaths to her daughter's daughter1 ,alice ,saint ,john1 8her gold ring with a diamante sette therein1 wherewith she was #8sacred4'0' #8,sir ,gilbert ,denys1 ,knight of ,syston1 #adbb3 8,if ,margaret my wife will after my death vow a vow of chastity1 ,i give her all my moveable goods1 she paying my debts and providing for my children2 and1 if she will not vow a vow of chastity1 ,i desire that my goods may be distributed1 or divided into three equal parts1 c40 #8,john ,brakenbury1 in #adhg1 leaves his mother certain real estate1 8with that condicion that she never mary1 the which she promised afore the parson and the parish of ,thymmylbe1 and if she kepe not that promise1 ,i will she be content with that which was my fader's will1 which she had every peny40 #8,william ,herbert1 knight1 ,lord ,pembroke1 in his will dated ,july #bg1 #adfi1 thus appeals to his wife3 8,and1 wife1 that you remember your promise to take the order of widowhood1 so ye may be the better maistres of your owen1 to perform my will1 and to help my children1 as ,i love and trust you40 #8,william ,edlington1 esquire1 of ,castle ,carlton1 on ,june #aa1 #adff1 states in his will3 8,i make ,christian1 my wife1 my executor on this condicion1 that she take the mantle and the ring soon after my decease2 and1 if case be that she will not take the mantle and the ring1 ,i will that ,william1 my son 7and other persons therein named7 be my executors1 and she to have a third part of all my goods moveable40 #8,lady ,joan ,danvers in #adec1 gives the ring of her profession of widowhood to the image of the crucifix1 near the north door of ,st4 ,paul's4 #8,lady ,margaret ,davy1 widow1 in #adhi1 leaves her profession-ring to 8,our ,lady of ,walsingham40' ,gough prints the ,act of ,court from the ,ely ,registers1 on the taking the vow by ,isabella1 ,countess of ,suffolk1 in #achb4 ,this took place at the priory of ,campsey1 in the presence of the ,earl of ,warwick1 the ,lords ,willoughby1 ,scales1 and others4 ,the vow was as follows3 #8,jeo ,isabella1 jadys la femme ,william de ,ufford1 ,count de ,suffolk1 vowe ,dieu1 c41 en presence de tres reverentz piers en ,dieu evesques de ,ely et de ,norwiz1 qe jeo doi estre chaste d'ors en avant ma vie durante4' ,and the ,bishop of ,ely1 with authority of the ,bishop of ,norwich 7in whose diocese ,campsey was7 received and admitted the same1 #8et mantellum sive clamidem ac annulum dicte voventis solempniter benedixit et imposuit super eam4' ,catherine1 sixth daughter of ,henry the ,fourth1 married to ,william ,courtenay1 ,earl of ,devon1 on the death of her husband1 took the vow of perpetual widowhood in #aeaa4 ,dugdale1 in his #8,history of ,warwickshire' and in his #8,baronage1' prints a licence from ,john1 ,bishop of ,lichfield1 to one ,n4 ,n4 to administer the vow of chastity to ,margery1 wife of ,richard ,middlemore1 who died #aeth of ,henry the ,seventh1 which contains this passage3 #8,in signum hujusmodi continenti et castitatis promisso perpetuo servando eandem ,margeriam velandam seu peplandam habitumque viduitatis hujusmodi viduis1 ut prfertur1 ad castitatis professionem dari et uti consuetum cum unico annulo assignandum4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,legacies and gifts of rings for religious purposes were frequent in former times2 thus1 amongst other rich gifts to the ,cathedral of ,canterbury1 ,archbishop ,hubert1 in #abje1 presented four gold rings adorned with precious stones4 ,henry the ,third1 while on a visit to ,st4 ,alban's ,abbey1 made some costly presents1 including bracelets and rings1 and five years afterwards gave similar gifts at another visit to the same abbey4 ,the same monarch1 among other gifts to ,salisbury ,cathedral1 #8offered one gold ring with a precious stone called a ruby4' ,after hearing mass he told the dean that he would have the stone and the gold applied to adorn a sumptuous gold #8text' 7a ,bible for the use of the altar7 enriched with precious stones given by ,hubert de ,burgh4 ,dugdale mentions in a list of jewels formerly in the treasury of ,york ,cathedral #8a small mitre1 set with stones1 for the bishop of the boys1 or1 as he was anciently called1 the barne bishop2 also a pastoral staff and ring for the same4' ,the ,bishop of ,ardfert1 in ,ireland1 gave to ,st4 ,alban's #8three noble rings2 one set with an oriental sapphire1 the second with a sapphire that possessed some medicinal quality1 and was formed like a shield1 and the other with a sapphire of less size4' ,henry de ,blois presented to the same abbey a large ring set with jewels2 the middle one was a sapphire of a faint colour1 and in the circuit four pearls and four garnets4 ,john of ,st4 ,alban's1 a knight1 left as a legacy to the monks of the abbey #8a number of rings containing many precious stones4' ,at the death of ,walter1 ,abbot of ,peterborough1 among his effects1 containing many rich articles1 were no less than thirty gold rings1 the offerings of the faithful4 ,thomas ,chillenden1 fortieth ,abbot of ,canterbury1 gave several pontifical rings to the abbey4 ,thomas de la ,chesnaye 7died #aeag7 left1 for the shrine of the ,virgin at ,rouen ,cathedral1 a ring garnished with a costly precious stone4 ,eustace ,grossier1 canon of the same cathedral1 bequeathed1 in #aecd1 his signet-ring to the shrine of ,st4 ,romain4 ,two years afterwards ,jean de ,lieur1 another canon1 left four rings to the shrine of the ,virgin1 #8o il y a en une1 une petite esmaraude2 en laultre une petite turquoise1 en laultre ung petit saphir1 et en laultre ung petit rubi4' ,in #aedd ,etienne ,burnel leaves to ,our ,lady a gold ring with a ruby enchased1 and a pendant pearl2 and to the shrine of ,st4 ,romain a gold ring with a diamond4 ,charles the ,third 78 ,naples7 took from his finger a ring of great value to adorn the golden canopy1 enriched with precious stones1 for the ,host1 in the church of the ,holy ,sepulchre at ,jerusalem4 ,lady ,morgan1 in her #8,italy1' mentions the miraculous statue of the ,virgin and ,child at ,loretto3 #8,the ,bambino holds up his hand as if to sport a superb diamond ring on his finger1 presented to him by ,cardinal ,antonelli3 it is a single diamond and weighs thirty grains4' ,in the #8,annals of ,ireland' we read that in #adba ,richard ,o',hedian1 ,archbishop of ,cashel1 was accused1 among other crimes1 of taking a ring away from the image of ,st4 ,patrick 7which the ,earl of ,desmond had offered7 and giving it to his mistress4 ,louis ,,vii41 of ,france1 laid the first stone of the porch and two towers of the abbey church of ,st4 ,denis1 in #aadj4 ,when the officiating minister pronounced the words #8lapides pretiosi omnes muri tui et turres1 ,jerusalem1 gemmis dificabunter1' the ,king took a costly ring from his finger1 and threw it into the foundations4 ,several of the other persons present followed the example4 ,saint ,honor1 eighth ,bishop of ,amiens1 in the sixteenth century1 left his pastoral ring to the treasury of the cathedral1 but it was sold by one of his successors1 ,bishop ,gervain4 ,it was afterwards repurchased and replaced in the treasury by ,bishop ,godefroy4 ,we read in the account of the spoliation of the shrine of ,st4 ,thomas ,becket1 at ,canterbury 7temp4 ,henry ,,viii471 of a stone #8with an ,angell of gold poynting thereunto1 offered there by a ,king of ,france' 7which ,king ,henry put7 #8into a ring1 and wore it on his thumb4' ,the shrine blazed with gold and jewels2 the wooden sides were plated with gold1 and damasked with gold wire3 cramped together on this gold ground were innumerable jewels1 pearls1 sapphires1 balasses1 diamonds1 rubies1 and emeralds1 and also #8in the midst of the gold1 rings1 or cameos of sculptured agates1 cornelians1 and onyx stones4' ,the stone that the rapacious ,henry took was said to be as large as a hen's egg1 or a thumb-nail1 and was commonly called the #8,regale of ,france' offered to the shrine by ,louis ,,vii4 of ,france1 when on a pilgrimage there4#ed ,at the meeting of the ,archological ,institute at ,norwich in #ahdg ,sir ,thomas ,beevor exhibited a silver ring1 with a zigzag tooling and the word #8,dancas' signifying a token of thanks1 or acknowledgment of services received1 or1 possibly1 an ex voto1 in accordance with the common usage of suspending such ornaments near the shrines of saints1 as appears in the inventories of ,st4 ,cuthbert's shrine1 c4 ,adam ,sodbury1 fifty-third ,abbot of ,glastonbury1 gave to the abbey1 among other precious gifts1 #8a gold ring with a stone called ,peritot1 which was on the finger of ,st4 ,thomas the ,martyr1 when he fell by the swords of wicked men4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,among what may be called #8religious' rings1 ,i would notice those which are termed #8decade1' #8reliquary1' #8pilgrims1' c41 some of which are highly interesting1 and serve to show how1 in past ages1 the zeal of our forefathers was animated by these rings1 or1 as some would call them1 these aids to superstition4 ,in olden wills they are frequently mentioned as heir-looms of great value4 ,what are termed ,,decade-rings1 having ten projections at intervals all round the hoop1 were common in former times1 and were used as beads for repeating ,aves4 ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection a ring is mentioned with eleven knobs1 the last being larger than the others1 indicating ten ,aves and one ,paternoster4 ,each of the knobs is separated by three small beaded dots across the hoop from its neighbour1 probably symbolic of the ,trinity4 ,at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute at ,norwich1 in #ahdg1 a curious ring was exhibited dating from the reign of ,henry ,,vi41 found at ,st4 ,faith's1 near ,norwich4 ,it is engrailed1 presenting ten cusps1 and may be placed in the class of decade-rings4 ,on the facet is engraved the figure of ,st4 ,mary ,magdalen 7or ,st4 ,barbara871 and on the outer circle #8de bon cver' 7#8de bon cur'74 ,another ring of the same date is of a more delicate workmanship1 and bears on the facet1 ,st4 ,christopher1 the hoop engrailed like the last1 and has the legend #8en4 bo4 n4 ane' 7#8en bon an'74 ,at the same exhibition of antiquities among the rings of latten or base-metal was shown one engraved with the figure of a female saint1 probably ,st4 ,catherine2 the hoop formed with eleven bosses1 date about #adej4 ,a similar brass ring bearing the same figure1 found near ,british and ,roman weapons in the bed of the ,thames1 at ,kingston1 engraved in ,jesse's #8,gleanings in ,natural ,history1' is here represented4 ,this ring has eleven bosses1 and1 although found in the immediate vicinity of vestiges of an earlier date1 may be regarded as of medival date1 having been accidentally thrown together in the alluvial deposit4 ,illustration3 ,latten ring1 with figure of ,st4 ,catherine 7874 ,illustration3 ,thumb-ring4 ,two decade-rings of the fifteenth century were also exhibited at the ,norwich meeting1 bearing the monogram ,i4,h4,s4 one found in ,norwich ,castle1 and the other at ,heigham4 ,a gold ring with ten knobs1 was found in #ahdf1 at ,denbigh1 in pulling down an old house4 ,its weight is a quarter of an ounce4 ,a similar ring of base metal1 discovered in a tomb in ,york ,minster1 is preserved in the treasury of that church2 and another example1 in silver1 of precisely similar form1 was found in ,whitby ,abbey1 ,yorkshire4 ,mr4 ,edward ,hoare1 of ,cork1 writing to the editor of the #8,archological ,journal1' observes that1 as far as he has been able to obtain information about decade-rings1 they were worn by some classes of religious during the hours of repose1 so that on awaking during the night they might repeat a certain number of prayers1 marking them by the beads or knobs of the rings4 ,if worn on any finger except the thumb1 at other periods of time than those of repose1 it must have been as a sort of penance1 and perhaps these rings were sometimes so used4 ,the addition of a twelfth boss marked the repetition of a creed4 ,illustration3 ,silver ,decade-ring4 7,in the possession of ,e4 ,hoare1 ,esq47 ,the following illustration is from the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' 7#agib71 of a ring found near ,croydon1 concerning which a correspondent of that work wrote that he remembered a similar ring in the possession of a man advanced in years1 who had passed his youth at sea4 #8,the ring1' he said1 #8was a dicket 7a corruption of 8,decade071 to be placed1 successively1 on each of the fingers1 and turned with the thumb2 the cross and larger boss for the ,paternoster2 the ten smaller ones for ,ave ,maria1 and that he used to say his prayers with it on board ship without being noticed by the sailors1 in the hurry and confusion of a man of war4' ,illustration3 ,decade-ring1 found near ,croydon4 ,in the rich collection of ,e4 ,hoare1 ,esq41 is a curious decade signet-ring1 of which the following is a representation from the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 ii4 p4 #aih74 ,it was discovered near ,cork in #ahdd1 and is thus described3 #8,the hoop is composed of nine knobs or bosses1 which may have served instead of beads in numbering prayers1 whilst the central portion which forms the signet supplied the place of the gade4' ,some persons 7as ,mr4 ,hoare remarked7 have considered this ring as very ancient2 ,mr4 ,lindsay supposed it to have been of earlier date than the ninth century1 regarding the device as representing an arm1 issuing from the clouds1 holding a cross with a crown1 or an ecclesiastical cap1 beneath it4 ,sir ,william ,betham expressed the following opinion respecting this relic3 #8,there can be little doubt but your ring is a decade ring1 as there are ten knobs or balls about it4 ,the globe surmounted by a cross is a ,christian emblem of sovereignty2 the ring and cross1 of a bishop2 the cap looks like a crown1 and1 only that the ring is too old1 it might be considered the ciulid or barred crown of a sovereign prince4 ,it certainly is of considerable antiquity1 and ,mr4 ,lindsay is not far out in his estimation4' ,illustration3 ,decade signet-ring4 ,illustration3 ,decade-ring4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is a #8religious' ring1 apparently a work of the fourteenth century4 ,it has a heart in the centre1 from which springs a double flower4 ,on the upper edge of the ring are five protuberances in each side3 they were used to mark a certain number of prayers said by the wearer1 who turned his ring as he said them1 and so completed the series in the darkness of the night4 ,illustration3 ,decade rings4 ,it has been stated by ,french antiquaries that metal rings formed with ten bosses1 and one of as early date as the reign of ,st4 ,louis1 have been found in ,france4 ,it was at that period that the use of the chapelet in honour of the ,blessed ,virgin is supposed to have been devised by ,peter the ,hermit4 ,a decade silver ring found at ,exton1 in ,rutlandshire1 in the possession of ,mrs4 ,baker1 of ,stamford1 has also a central projection engraved with a cross4 ,in ,mr4 ,hoare's collection is a silver decade-ring found in #ahdh in ,surrey4 ,the hoop has ten projections resembling the cogs of a wheel1 and on the circular facet is the monogram ,i4,h4,s4 surmounted by a cross1 with a heart pierced by three nails4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is a ring of ,delhi workmanship which has been referred to as a decade4 ,the face is convex1 circular1 and of turquoise1 engraved and inlaid with ,oriental characters in gold1 surrounded by ten cup-shaped bosses of rubies4 ,the sides of the bosses are enamelled green1 and the backs red and white like leaflets4 ,the back of the face is richly enamelled with flowers having red blossoms and green leaves1 among which1 upon the shank1 are intermingled some pale-blue blossoms1 and within the centre1 where the shank is attached to the back of the face1 are small golden stars upon an enamelled ground1 and on each side leaves of green enamel4 ,the inscription reads #8,jan 7,john7 ,kaptani4' ,illustration3 ,ring of ,delhi work4 ,mr4 ,edmund ,waterton1 at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute 7,december1 #ahfb71 gave the following notice of some rings of a peculiar class1 of which he sent several specimens for inspection3 #8,on a former occasion ,i exhibited1 at one of the meetings1 some of the so-called--and wrongly--rosary-rings1 one of which had seven1 the other eleven1 and the third1 thirteen knobs or bosses4 ,i stated my opinion that we ought to consider these examples as belonging to a form of ring prevalent about the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries1 and described in wills and inventories as rings with 8knoppes or bulionys40 ,i had never met with a proper rosary1 or1 more properly1 decade1 ring of a date anterior to the sixteenth century4 ,but a remarkable specimen has lately been added to my collection which ,i send for exhibition4 ,it is of ivory2 there are ten knobs or bosses for the ,aves1 and an eleventh of larger size and different form1 for the ,pater4 ,there are holes around the hoop1 probably merely for ornament4 ,i am inclined to ascribe it to the fourteenth century1 and think it not unlikely it is of ,irish origin4 ,i am induced to form this opinion from the peculiar fashion of the eleventh boss1 which presents a type found in rings discovered only in ,ireland4 ,this ring was found many years ago in an old tomb in ,merston churchyard1 in ,holderness4 ,i also send another decade-ring1 of silver1 and of a later date and type4 ,this ring was formerly in the possession of the ,reverend ,mother ,anne ,more1 ,lady ,abbess of the ,english ,augustinian ,nuns at ,bruges1 and sister of ,father ,more1 of the ,society of ,jesus1 the last male descendant of ,sir ,thomas ,more4 ,he gave the ,more relics to ,stonyhurst ,college4' ,illustration3 ,trinity ring4 ,among other examples of #8religious' rings1 ,i may mention a beautiful one of gold1 of fifteenth-century work1 found at ,orford ,castle in ,suffolk1 and the property of the ,rev4 ,s4 ,blois ,turner4 ,on the facet is engraved a representation of the ,trinity1 the ,supreme ,being supporting a crucifix2 on the flanges are ,st4 ,anne instructing the ,virgin ,mary1 and the ,mater ,dolorosa4 ,these designs were probably enamelled4 ,a representation is here given of a gold triple ring1 brought from ,rome1 and1 possibly1 emblematic of the ,trinity4 ,it is an ,early ,christian ring1 dating1 probably1 from the end of the third or beginning of the fourth century4 ,illustration3 ,religious rings4 ,at the meeting of the ,archological ,institute in ,march #ahej an exquisite gold #8religious' ring of the fifteenth century was exhibited1 found within the precincts of ,lewes ,priory4 ,it is delicately chased with the following subjects3 on the facet1 the ,virgin and child2 on one side1 the ,emperor ,domitian2 on the other1 ,st4 ,pancras2 on the flanges are represented the ,holy ,trinity1 and ,st4 ,john with the ,holy ,lamb4 ,the work was originally enriched with transparent enamel4 ,illustration3 ,religious ring4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is a gold #8religious' ring1 enamelled with a diamond in the centre1 and six rubies1 arranged like a sacred cross1 around it4 ,the scrolls are enriched with white1 blue1 and green enamel4 ,at ,barnard ,castle1 in #ahaa1 a gold ring was found of eight globules1 in weight equal to three guineas and a half4 ,on the second is ,s2 on the fourth1 ,,us2 on the sixth1 ,,jh2 on the eighth1 ,s1 the abbreviation of ,sanctus ,jesus2 on the first1 is the ,saviour on the cross in the arms of ,god2 on the third1 the ,saviour triumphing over death2 on the fifth1 the ,saviour scourged2 on the seventh1 ,judas1 the traitor4 ,the accompanying illustration represents a #8religious' ring1 found in the eighteenth century near ,loughborough1 and described in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' for #ahjb4 ,the figures are those of the ,virgin ,mary1 ,child1 and ,st4 ,michael4 ,illustration3 ,religious ring4 ,a ring of a curious form is described in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' for #ahaa1 as having been found in the parish of ,stonham-,aspal1 ,suffolk4 ,the gold seemed pure1 but the workmanship was rude1 and the gem which it enclosed was supposed to be a virgin sapphire4 ,illustration3 ,religious ring4 ,the following represents a large and curious ring found about #agej at the hermitage on the ,river ,itchen1 at ,southampton1 which is noticed in ,sir ,henry ,englefield's #8,walk ,round ,southampton1' and is mentioned in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' for #ahjb4 ,the bezel is little broader than the hoop4 ,illustration3 ,religious ring4 ,in the collection of ,mr4 ,octavius ,morgan1 ,f4,r4,s41 ,f4,s4,a41 is a ,jewish ring enamelled with figures in relief1 representing the ,creation1 the ,temptation1 and the ,fall of ,adam and ,eve2 date1 sixteenth century4 ,illustration3 #8,paradise' rings4 ,in the cathedral library at ,chichester is an ancient gem having the ,gnostic equivalent of the blessed name ,jehovah4 ,this was used by ,seffrid1 ,bishop of ,chichester 7died #aaei71 as his episcopal signet4 ,illustration3 ,reliquary ring4 ,in the ,grente ,collection is a reliquary ring of silver-gilt elaborately ornamented4 ,the ,bessborough ,collection has a ring with a frog or toad cut in a magnificent almandine1 of ,roman work--a favourite device in the later ,imperial times1 the animal typifying a new birth by its total changes of form and habits1 and hence adopted into the list of ,christian symbols4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king notices in his #8,antique ,gems1' among some #8highly curious and undoubted ,christian subjects engraved on gems1 one of the most interesting--a red jasper set in an elegant antique gold ring1 the shank formed of a corded pattern1 in wire1 of a novel and beautiful design4 ,the stone bears1 in neatly-formed letters3 ,c,c--,c-1 8,jesus1 ,son of ,god1 keep us40 ,another1 of equal interest and of the earliest period of our religion1 a fish cut on a fine emerald 7quarter of an inch square71 is set in an exquisitely-moulded six-sided ring1 with fluted and knotted shank1 imitating a bent reed1 very similar to a bronze one figured in ,caylus4' ,the first of the annexed illustrations represents an early ,christian ring with the symbol of an anchor4 ,illustration3 ,early ,christian rings4 ,the other engraving is from ,gorlus1 of an early ,christian ring with the sacred emblems1 found in the ,catacombs at ,rome4 ,the following illustration represents a key-ring1 with sacred monogram4 ,illustration3 ,early ,christian4 ,in the ,waterton #8,dactyliotheca' is an early ,christian ring having #8the ,holy ,church represented by a pillar1 on which are figured twelve dots1 which denote the twelve apostles4 ,three steps1 thrice repeated1 lead to the pillar1 symbolising the lavacrum regenerationis1 which was formerly received by three immersions1 and three interrogations1 and three replies given by those who were being baptised4' ,in the treasuries of various continental churches are #8religious' rings1 to which a high value is attached4 ,in the church of ,st4 ,ursula1 at ,cologne1 is one called the ring of that saint1 and is1 certainly1 of very early date4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,singer informs me that he has seen in the treasury of the cathedral of ,lige1 a large shrine1 far above the size of life1 in silver-gilt1 the bust of ,st4 ,lambert1 the patron of the cathedral4 ,one hand has a crosier1 and the other holds a book4 ,on the right hand are six rings1 and on the left are three1 of the seventeenth and eighteenth century style2 the shrine being late fifteenth or early sixteenth century4 ,the rings are on very different parts of the fingers1 some being on the first joint4 ,these rings may have been votive offerings2 one is a ruby ring having a stone weighing ten carats4 ,in a catalogue 7kindly lent to me by ,mr4 ,singer71 #8,des ,bijoux de la ,trs ,sainte ,vierge del ,pilar de ,saragosse' of offerings by the pious to the sacred treasury for many centuries1 and which were sold in #ahgj to defray the expenses of repairs and embellishments to the ,holy ,chapel1 numerous costly rings are included among other precious objects4 ,with a few instances of #8religious' rings1 including pilgrims' rings1 c41 now in the possession of several eminent collectors1 and exhibited at various meetings of the ,archological ,society1 ,i must conclude the present chapter4 ,in the curious catalogue of ,dr4 ,bargrave's ,museum 7,camden ,society7 is mentioned #8a small gold ,salerno ring1 written on the outside--not like a posey1 in the inside1 but on the out--,bene scripsisti de ,me1 ,thoma4 ,the story of it is1 that ,thomas ,aquinas1 being at ,salerno1 and in earnest in a church before a certain image there of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary1 his devotion carried him so far as to ask her whether she liked all that he had writ of her1 as being free from original sin1 the ,queen of ,heaven1 c41 and entreated her to give him some token of her acceptance of his endeavours in the writing of so much in her behalf2 upon which the image opened its lipps and said1 ,bene scripsisti de ,me1 ,thoma4 ,illustration3 ,religious seal-ring4 #8,salerno layeth a little beyond ,naples on the ,mediterranean ,sea2 and the goldsmiths of that place1 for their profit1 make thousands of these rings1 and then have them touch that image which spake4 ,and no merchant or stranger that cometh thither but buyeth of these rings for presents and tokens4' ,a seal-ring1 considered to belong to the fifteenth century1 was discovered at ,cuddesden in #ahad1 by some workmen1 in front of the gate of the episcopal palace4 ,it is of brass2 the impress is an oblong octagon2 the device is the word pax1 with a crown above1 and a heart and palm-branches below4 ,in the collection of the ,hon4 ,richard ,neville is a ring of silver-gilt 7time1 ,henry ,,vii471 with bevelled facets1 engraved with figures of saints1 found at the ,borough ,field1 ,chesterford2 also a latten ring found in the ,thames 7#ahdf71 the impress being the ,virgin and ,child2 and the ring of latten--ihc--discovered in repairing ,weston ,church1 ,suffolk2 within is inscribed1 in deo salus4 ,a gold ring in the possession of ,mrs4 ,baker1 of ,stamford1 stated to have been found in the tomb of an ecclesiastic1 in a stone coffin1 near ,winchester1 bears a representation of ,st4 ,christopher4 ,a ring found at ,loughborough1 in #ahjb1 represents the ,virgin and ,st4 ,michael1 with motto4 ,illustration3 ,religious ring4 ,a silver ring found at ,carlisle1 in #aghh1 bears an inscription below1 which has been suggested for #8,mary1 ,jesus4' ,the bezel of this ring is a rude representation of joined hands1 surmounted by a crown1 and a portion of the hoop is decorated with lozenge-shaped spaces1 filled with a row of quatrefoils4 ,a correspondent to the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' for #aghh1 in allusion to this ring1 mentions that the hands joined together exactly resemble one found at ,shaf ,abbey1 with the motto #8iheu4' ,or1 he suggests1 #8it may be a wedding-ring1 and to be read1 ,marith 7marrieth7 us4' ,a similar ring1 with the hands joined1 and inscribed ,jesus ,nazarenus1 is represented in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' 7vol4 liv4 p4 #gcd1 and vol4 lv4 p4 #ccc74 ,illustration3 ,inscription on a supposed religious ring1 found at ,carlisle4 ,the annexed engraving represents a ring found1 about #agij1 in ,stretly ,park1 near ,nottingham4 ,the figure is that of ,st4 ,edith1 and the ring probably belonged to the abbess of some religious house in the neighbourhood4 ,illustration3 ,religious ring4 ,the following illustration represents a ring discovered1 in #ahab1 while harrowing near ,froxfield1 ,hants2 weight #d dwt4 #g grs4 ,it is supposed to have been worn by a warrior in the ,crusades4 ,the bezel part exhibits on the dexter side a knight with a shield1 charged with a cross1 thrusting a lance down the throat of a dragon--probably meant for ,st4 ,george4 ,the figure on the corresponding side varies in having a cross on the right side of his mantle1 and appears to be in a boat1 or wading through water2 and it may be conjectured to be intended for ,st4 ,christopher4 ,illustration3 ,religious ring4 ,representation of a ring with a crowned ,i over a pillar1 supposed to be the initial of our ,saviour's name as ,king of the ,jews3 ,illustration3 ,religious ring4 ,mr4 ,davis1 of ,hempton1 ,oxfordshire1 possesses a brass ring found there1 in the form of a strap and buckle1 or of a garter1 so contrived as to admit of being contracted or enlarged1 to suit the wearer's finger2 the end of the strap being formed with little knobs1 upon which the buckle catches1 and keeps the ring adjusted to the proper size4 ,the hoop is inscribed in relief1 ,,mater ,,dei ,,memento4 ,in the ,waterton ,collection is an ecclesiastical ring1 silver-gilt1 with circular bezel set with a cabochon crystal1 the shoulders ornamented with cherubs' heads in full relief1 supported by brackets2 on the reverse of the bezel is engraved the figure of ,christ on the ,cross2 sixteenth century2 diameter two and a half inches4 ,illustration3 ,ecclesiastical ring4 ,a singular silver ring1 of which a representation is given in the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 iii4 p4 #gh7 was exhibited at a meeting of the ,institute in #ahdf by ,mr4 ,talbot4 ,the interlaced plated work resembles some ornaments of the ,saxon period1 but is remarkable for having the impress of two feet1 which may1 probably1 be regarded as one of the emblems of the ,passion1 or as a memorial of the pilgrimage to the ,mount of ,olives1 where the print of the feet of the ,saviour which miraculously marked the scene of ,his ,ascension1 was visited by the pilgrims with the greatest veneration4 ,illustration3 ,pilgrim ring4 ,in the collection of ,mr4 ,octavius ,morgan1 ,f4,r4,s41 ,f4,s4,a41 is a gold ring1 probably one of those obtained at ,jerusalem1 as tokens of pilgrimage to the ,holy ,city4 ,on the head1 which is circular1 is engraved the ,jerusalem ,cross1 and around the hoop the first words of ,numbers vi4 #bd3 #8,the ,lord bless thee and keep thee1' in ,hebrew characters4 ,at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute 7,feb4 #ahee71 ,mr4 ,gough ,nichols exhibited impressions from two signet-rings1 also bearing as a device the #8,jerusalem ,cross1' or cross potent between four crosslets1 the insignia of the ,kingdom of ,jerusalem1 worn likewise on the mantles of the ,knights of the ,holy ,sepulchre4 ,this device is regarded as emblematic of the five wounds of our ,lord4 ,on one of these rings1 of gold1 purchased at ,brighton1 the cross appears between two olive-branches1 with the word #8,jerusalem' in ,hebrew characters beneath2 on the other the branches alone are introduced4 ,the ring last mentioned1 which is of silver1 is in the possession of ,mr4 ,thompson1 of ,leicester4 ,these are supposed to be memorial rings brought as tokens of pilgrimage to the ,holy ,city4 ,a gold ring of most beautiful workmanship was exhibited at the ,lincoln meeting of the ,archological ,institute1 by the ,rev4 ,s4 ,blois ,turner1 bearing the device of the bear and bton ragul1 with the motto inscribed above1 #8,soulement une' 7only one74 ,around the hoop are the words1 #8be goddis fayre foot'4 ,this very singular legend has been supposed to have reference to the miraculous impress of the ,saviour's feet on the ,mount of ,olives1 which was regarded by pilgrims with extreme reverence1 and1 like the five wounds1 was probably used as a symbol of talismanic virtue4 ,this ring1 formerly in the possession of ,george ,,iv41 now belongs to ,general ,johnson4 ,weight #bcj grains4 ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a brass ring strongly gilt1 with a long1 oval1 flat signet1 engraved with ,hebrew characters1 #8,pray for the peace of ,jerusalem1' from ,psalm cxxii41 supposed to be one of the rings given to tourists to the holy city1 as a certificate of their visit1 and called in the ,east #8hadji' or pilgrims' rings4 ,in the same collection is a slight silver ring1 with narrow and flat band to hoop1 surmounted by a circular signet2 on the hoop is this inscription1 in relief1 between lines raised along each edge1 headed and ended by small flowers1 #8,m ,s ,d ,,monserrata4' ,on the signet1 also in relief1 appears a double-handled stone-mason's saw 7serra71 the ,latin for which furnished the key to this monkish riddle2 it reads thus1 #8,mater ,sancta de ,monserrata1' or ,holy ,mother of ,monserrat1 in ,spain1 where there was a chapel dedicated to the ,virgin1 and this is1 probably1 the ring of a pilgrim to that shrine4 ,at the meeting of the ,archological ,institute at ,norwich in #ahdg some curious examples of religious rings 7of silver7 were exhibited1 connected1 most probably1 with charms and superstitions4 ,a ring dating about the period of ,henry ,,vi4 is engraved with the figure of a female saint1 and the symbols of the five wounds4 ,another1 of the same age1 found at ,fransham1 has the hoop swaged or twisted2 on the angular facets had been engraved figures of saints4 ,the engraving on another ring was #8,maria,anna,ih'us4' ,amongst the rich collection of rings lent by ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith to the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum in #ahgb1 were six rings1 gold and silver1 of the iconographic type1 having for the most part figures of saints engraved on the bezel1 one inscribed within1 in ,gothic letters1 #8yspartircancdec' 7partir sans dsir74 ,in the #8,journal of the ,royal ,institution of ,cornwall' 7,sept4 #ahge7 is a note on an ancient signet-ring found at ,penryn by ,mr4 ,w4 ,h4 ,tregelles3 #8,this ring was found a few years since in a field near ,budock church1 by a watchmaker of the neighbourhood1 of whom ,i bought it for ,mr4 ,octavius ,morgan1 ,f4,s4,a41 late ,m4,p4 for ,monmouthshire4 ,it has been the subject of much interesting discussion1 the result of which1 with a description of the ring1 and three impressions in hard wax1 ,i have deposited in the ,museum of the ,royal ,institution of ,cornwall1 at ,truro4 #8,it is an oriental ring of silver1 set with an oblong sard1 engraved2 it appears at one time to have been gilt1 and the loop and back of the bezel were ornamented with a small pattern in niello1 now almost obliterated by long wear4 #8,in the middle of the device is a cartouche1 or escutcheon1 terminating at the top in a ,greek cross potent4 ,in the lower part of the escutcheon is engraved a paschal lamb1 and in the upper part are some oriental characters1 which have not been deciphered with certainty4 ,on either side of the escutcheon is some ornamental scroll-work1 having in the middle the ,jerusalem cross potent4 #8,it was submitted to ,mr4 ,albert ,way and ,mr4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king2 and the latter gentleman1 who took much pains to make out the inscription1 considered that the characters were ,servian1 and that they represent the name of some ecclesiastic of the ,greek ,church to whom it once belonged4 #8,it was evidently an ecclesiastical ring1 and ,m4 ,castellane stated that he has seen several ,armenian priests at ,rome wearing similar rings4 ,it may1 perhaps1 date from the early part of the last century4 #8,the most probable conjecture as to the reason of such an object being found in ,cornwall is that it may have been brought over by some traveller1 and1 having been lost by him or the person to whom he gave it1 was mislaid among rubbish1 and carted out with manure4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,in the first chapter of this work ,i have alluded to rings of the early ,christians1 a subject of great interest1 to which ,i again refer in these notices of #8religious' rings1 with additional illustrations from the #8,archological ,journal4' ,the following cut represents a portion of a ring of dark-green jasper1 from ,rome1 dating1 probably1 from the second or third century4 ,on the oval bezel a symbol is engraved in intaglio1 viz4 a boat1 on which is a cock1 carrying a branch of palm4 ,illustration ,a bronze ring1 probably ,christian1 of the third or fourth century1 of an oval octagonal form1 set with red jasper1 engraved in intaglio with the subject of a shepherd4 ,from ,rome4 ,illustration ,the ring here represented is of bronze1 engraved with a ship1 the emblem of the ,church1 between the letters chi and rho4 ,this ring was obtained at ,rome4 ,illustration ,the accompanying illustrations are of small gold rings1 in workmanship and form dating from the third or fourth century4 ,illustration ,annexed 7probable date about #ddj7 is a signet-ring1 the subject incised upon the gold apparently a matrimonial or love-ring4 ,illustration ,to the same period may be ascribed a bronze ring1 of coarse workmanship1 taken from the ,roman catacombs4 ,a circular hoop is surmounted by a flat circular bezel1 on which is engraved an ear of corn between two fishes1 emblem of the bread of life1 and those who live in faith of it4 ,illustration ,another bronze ring is engraved with the sacred symbol1 the united chi and rho between the alpha and omega above1 and two sheep below4 ,probable date1 the middle of the fourth century4 ,found at ,rome4 ,illustration ,to the same class of rings belongs the last of the above engravings4 ,it is of bronze1 having a simple convex hoop2 the device1 a draped male figure with nimbus1 and standing before a cross appearing to spring from a bunch of grapes4 ,it was brought from ,athens1 and is probably ,byzantine1 of the sixth or seventh century4 ,the following engraving represents a ring of duplex form1 of solid gold1 weighing #e dwts4 ,it has engraved ,d ,,filinan ,a and ,vivas in ,deo994 ,the ring probably dates from the latter part of the third1 or beginning of the fourth1 century4 ,it was discovered in the neighbourhood of ,masignano1 a small township of ,fermo4 ,illustration ,early ,christian rings of silver are unusual2 that now represented is of duplex form4 ,on one oval is engraved the name ,,favstvs1 and on the other is a palm-branch4 ,the date is1 probably1 of the latter half of the fourth century4 ,illustration ,a bronze ring1 intended for a signet4 ,on the bezel is a monogram deeply cut in reverse1 which has been rendered by ,rossi1 ,deus dona vivas in ,deo4 ,from ,rome1 and of the fourth century4 ,illustration ,a bronze ring with circular hoop1 the bezel engraved with the sacred monogram4 ,this ring is said to have been found in the neighbourhood of the house of ,pudens4 ,illustration ,a bronze ring of coarse workmanship and angular form4 ,the device1 two doves and a fish4 ,illustration ,the shoulders of the following bronze ring are engraved as palm branches4 ,the bezel is raised by four steps or tables1 and engraved with a monogram4 ,from ,rome4 ,illustration ,a bronze ring with high1 projecting bezel4 ,on the square face the subject of ,abraham's sacrifice is deeply engraved4 ,the execution may be attributed1 perhaps1 to the latter end of the third century1 but1 more probably1 to the fourth4 ,brought from ,viterbo4 ,illustration ,bronze ring1 formed as a circle of half-round metal1 engraved with a double-fluked anchor1 crossed by one of a single fluke1 and surrounded by a pearl border4 ,from the catacombs at ,rome4 ,illustration ,bronze ring1 with plain rounded hoop4 ,device1 a draped female standing between two birds4 ,on either side is the ,christian monogram4 ,found1 it is believed1 in the catacombs of ,st4 ,calixtus2 date1 fourth century of our era4 ,illustration ,an iron ring of octagonal form1 the bezel engraved with two human figures and the sacred monogram4 ,a human figure is represented on each face of the octagon4 ,this is a remarkable ring of its class4 ,illustration ,bronze ring1 with bezel shaped as the sole of a shoe1 and incised with the legend ,,in ,,deo1 in the collection of ,c4 ,d4 ,e4 ,fortnum1 ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a43 ,illustration ,in ,montfaucon's #8,l',antiquit ,explique' are several illustrations of ,roman rings with the bezels representing a human foot4 ,one seems to have been a ,christian seal1 the inscription on which1 ,,dedonao1 is there1 perhaps1 put for ,,dei ,,dona4 ,montfaucon mentions one in his own cabinet1 inscribed1 between two crosses1 ,,dei ,,dona4 ,a bronze stamp1 formed as the sole of a shoe1 is preserved in the ,christian ,museum of the ,vatican4 ,inscription reversed1 ,,spes ,,in ,,deo4 ,illustration ,a child's ring of gold4 ,a simple hoop1 flattened out on the bezel1 which is engraved with the palm-branch4 ,this ring was found in a child's tomb in the neighbourhood of ,rome4 ,illustration ,bronze ring1 the bezel engraved with the sacred monogram1 round which is placed the inscription1 ,,cosme ,,vivas4 ,this was discovered in one of the catacombs on the ,via ,appia4 ,illustration ,a small iron ring1 on which is engraved the lion of ,st4 ,mark1 dating1 probably1 from the sixth century4 ,found in a ,coptic grave near the temple of #8,medinet ,aboo1' at ,thebes4 ,illustration ,mr4 ,hodder ,m4 ,westropp1 in his #8,handbook of ,archology1' remarks that ,christian inscriptions #8are all funeral1 and are1 for the most part1 found in the ,catacombs1 or subterranean cemeteries of the early ,christians in ,rome4 ,they are characterised by symbols and formul1 peculiar to the ,christian creed2 the idea of another life--a life beyond the grave--usually prevails in them4 ,the symbols found in connection with the funeral inscriptions are of three kinds2 the larger proportion of these refer to the profession of ,christianity1 its doctrines and its graces4 ,a second class1 of a partly secular description1 only indicate the trades of the deceased1 and the remainder represent proper names2 thus a lion must be named as a proper name1 ,leo2 ,onager1 an ass2 a dragon1 ,dracontius4 ,of the first kind the most usually met with is the monogram of ,christ4 ,the other symbols generally in use are the ship1 the emblem of the church2 the fish1 the emblem of ,christ2 the palm1 the symbol of martyrdom2 the anchor1 representing hope in immortality2 the dove1 peace2 the stag1 reminding the faithful of the pious aspiration of the ,psalmist2 the horse was the emblem of strength in the faith2 the hunted hare1 of persecution2 the peacock and the phnix stood for signs of the resurrection2 ,christ1 as the good pastor1 and the - of the ,apocalypse1 was also introduced in the epitaphs4 ,even personages of the pagan mythology were introduced1 which the ,christians employed in a concealed sense1 as ,orpheus1 enchanting the wild beasts with the music of his lyre was the secret symbol of ,christ1 as the civilizer of men1 leading all nations to the faith4 ,ulysses1 fastened to the mast of his ship1 was supposed to present some faint resemblance to the ,crucifixion4' ,,chapter ,v4 ,,betrothal ,,and ,,wedding ,,rings4 ,it would be difficult to find a subject more interesting in all its associations than a wedding-ring4 ,from the most remote times it has had a mystical signification1 appealing to our most cherished feelings1 hopes and wishes4 ,the circular form of the ring was accepted in days by-gone1 as a symbol of eternity1 thus indicative of the stability of affection4 ,we find some of our noted divines echoing the sentiments of old enthusiasts on the figurative virtues of a ring4 ,thus ,dean ,comber and ,wheatley express themselves3 #8,the matter of which this ring is made is gold1 signifying how noble and durable our affection is2 the form is round1 to imply that our respect 7or regards7 shall never have an end2 the place of it is on the fourth finger of the left hand1 where the ancients thought there was a vein that came directly from the heart1 and where it may be always in view2 and1 being a finger least used1 where it may be least subject to be worn out2 but the main end is to be a visible and lasting token of the covenant which must never be forgotten4' ,jeremy ,taylor1 in his sermon on a #8,wedding-ring for the ,finger1' conveys1 in quaint and forcible language1 the duties and responsibilities of married life4#ee ,in an old ,latin work1 ascribing the invention of the ring to ,tubal ,cain1 we find3 #8,the form of the ring being circular1 that is1 round1 and without end1 importeth thus much1 that mutual love and hearty affection should roundly flow from one to the other1 as in a circle1 and that continually and for ever4' ,herrick has versified this conceit3-- ,julia1 ,i bring ,to thee this ring1 ,made for thy finger fit2 ,to show by this ,that our love is1 ,or should be1 like to it4 ,close though it be1 ,the joint is free2 ,so1 when love's yoke is on1 ,it must not gall1 ,nor fret at all ,with hard oppression4 ,but it must play ,still either way1 ,and be1 too1 such a yoke ,as not1 too wide1 ,to overslide1 ,or be so straight to choke4 ,so we who bear ,this beam1 must rear ,ourselves to such a height ,as that the stay ,of either may ,create the burthen light4 ,and as this round ,is nowhere found ,to flaw1 or else to sever1 ,so let our love ,as endless prove1 ,and pure as gold for ever4 ,the same idea is conveyed in some lines by ,woodward 7#agcj7 #8to ,phoebe1 presenting her with a ring3'-- ,accept1 fair maid1 this earnest of my love1 ,be this the type1 let this my passion prove2 ,thus may our joy in endless circles run1 ,fresh as the light1 and restless as the sun2 ,thus may our lives be one perpetual round1 ,nor care nor sorrow ever shall be found4 ,in modern poetry we have many sweet and tender allusions to the wedding-ring4 ,thus ,byron writes3-- ,in that one act may every grace ,and every blessing have their place1 ,and give to future hours of bliss ,the charm of life derived from this3 ,and when e'en love no more supplies1 ,when weary nature sinks to rest1 ,may brighter1 steadier light arise ,and make the parting moment blest6 ,in a collection of poems printed in ,dublin 7#ahja7 we find some touching lines to #8,s4 ,d41 with a ring3'-- ,emblem of happiness1 not bought nor sold1 ,accept this modest ring of virgin gold4 ,love in the small but perfect circle trace1 ,and duty in its soft yet strict embrace4 ,plain1 precious1 pure1 as best becomes the wife2 ,yet firm to bear the frequent rubs of life4 ,connubial love disdains a fragile toy1 ,which rust can tarnish1 or a touch destroy1 ,nor much admires what courts the gen'ral gaze1 ,the dazzling diamond's meretricious blaze1 ,that hides with glare the anguish of a heart1 ,by nature hard1 tho' polish'd bright by art4 ,more to thy taste the ornament that shows ,domestic bliss1 and1 without glaring1 glows2 ,whose gentle pressure serves to keep the mind ,to all correct1 to one discreetly kind2 ,of simple elegance th' unconscious charm1 ,the only amulet to keep from harm1 ,to guard at once and consecrate the shrine2 ,take this dear pledge--it makes and keeps thee mine4 ,the most painful ordeal for #8,patient' ,grisild 7in ,chaucer's #8,clerk's ,tale'7 is the surrender of what she most valued to her imperious lord1 the ,marquis1 the wedding-ring with which she had espoused him4 ,this1 in her sore affliction1 she returns to him3-- ,here again your clothing ,i restore1 ,and eke your wedding-ring for evermore4 ,the celebrated ,sanscrit drama1 which ,kalidasa wrote upon the beautiful ,sakuntala1 turns upon ,dushyanta's recognition of his wife by means of a ring which he had given to her4 ,the tender and affectionate faith derived from the wedding-ring is illustrated in the legend of ,guy1 ,earl of ,warwick4 ,the doughty knight1 when in a moment of temptation he is about to marry the beautiful ,loret1 daughter of the ,emperor ,ernis1 is recalled to his duty at the sight of the wedding-ring1 and remembers his fair ,flice1 who is far distant1 pining at his absence3-- ,the wedding-ring was forth brought2 ,guy1 then1 on fair ,flice thought1 ,he had her nigh forgotten clean4 #8,alas1' he said1 #8,flice1 the sheen6' ,and thought in his heart anon-- #8',gainst thee now have ,i misdone6' ,guy said1 #8penance ,i crave1 ,none other maid my love shall have4' ,we see also the tenderness that a wedding-ring can inspire in the instance of ,louis ,,ix4 of ,france1 who in his youth was married to ,marguerite of ,provence1 the victim of a cruel jealousy on the part of ,blanche of ,castile1 the ,king's mother4 ,the young ,prince1 who loved his wife dearly1 constantly wore a ring ornamented with a garland of lilies and daisies1 in allusion to his spouse and himself4 ,a magnificent sapphire bore the image of a crucifix1 and the inscription #8hors cet annel pourrions nous trouver amour4' ,in the ,german ballad of #8,the ,noble ,moringer1' translated by ,sir ,walter ,scott1 the hero1 after some years' absence on a pilgrimage1 returns disguised as a palmer to his castle1 on the eve of his wife's nuptials with another knight4 ,the lady ------,bade her gallant cup-bearer a golden beaker take1 ,and bear it to the palmer poor to quaff it for her sake4 ,it was the noble ,moringer1 that dropp'd amid the wine ,a bridal-ring of burning gold1 so costly and so fine4 ,now listen1 gentles1 to my song1 it tells you but the sooth1 ',twas with that very ring of gold he pledged his bridal troth4 ,then to the cup-bearer he said1 #8,do me one kindly deed1 ,and1 should my better days return1 full rich shall be thy meed4 ,bear back the golden cup again to yonder bride so gay1 ,and crave her of her courtesy to pledge the palmer grey4' ,the cup-bearer was courtly bred1 nor was the boon denied1 ,the golden cup he took again1 and bore it to the bride4 #8,lady1' he said1 #8your reverend guest sends this and bids me pray ,that1 in thy noble courtesy1 thou pledge the palmer grey4' ,the ring hath caught the lady's eye1 she views it close and near1 ,then might you hear her shriek aloud1 #8,the ,moringer is here6' ,then might you see her start from seat1 while tears in torrents fell1 ,but whether 'twas for joy or woe1 the ladies best can tell4 ,the veneration for a wedding-ring is shown in the instance of the great lexicographer1 ,dr4 ,samuel ,johnson4 ,he writes1 under date ,march #bh1 #agec3 #8,i kept this day as the anniversary of my ,letty's death1 with prayers and tears in the morning4 ,in the evening ,i prayed for her conditionally1 if it was lawful4' ,her wedding-ring was preserved by him1 as long as he lived1 with an affectionate care1 in a little round wooden box1 and in the inside of which was a slip of paper inscribed3 #8,eheu6 ,eliz4 ,johnson1 nupta ,jul4 #i1 #agcf2 mortua1 eheu6 ,mart4 #ag1 #ageb4' ,according to the #8,london ,press1' ,mr4 ,john ,lomax1 bookseller1 of ,lichfield1 who died lately at the age of eighty-nine1 possessed1 among many other ,johnsonian relics1 this wedding-ring of ,mrs4 ,johnson4 ,the poet ,moore1 in his #8,diary1' mentions the gift of his mother1 of her wedding-ring4 ,he writes3 #8,have been preparing my dear mother for my leaving her1 now that ,i see her so much better4 ,she is quite reconciled to my going1 and said this morning3 8,now1 my dear ,tom1 don't let yourself be again alarmed about me in this manner1 nor hurried away from your house and business40 ,she then said she must1 before ,i left her this morning1 give me her wedding-ring as her last gift2 and accordingly1 sending for the little trinket-box in which she kept it1 she herself put the ring on my finger4' ,the value1 even to death1 attached to wedding-rings has been frequently shown4 ,in a testamentary document made at ,edinburgh ,castle by ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 before the birth of her son ,james1 and when under the impression that she would die in childbed1 among numerous bequests1 she enumerates her rings1 of which she had a large number4 ,among them was a diamond ring1 enamelled red1 recorded by the ,queen herself as that with which #8she was espoused4' ,on the other side is written #8,for the ,king who gave it me4' ,this is presumed to be the ring with which ,darnley wedded ,mary in the privacy of ,rizzio's chamber at ,stirling1 for at the public solemnity of their nuptials in the ,chapel ,royal of ,holyrood three rings of surpassing richness were used4 ,the ring with which ,james1 ,duke of ,york 7afterwards ,king ,james the ,second71 married ,mary of ,modena1 had a small ruby set in gold4 ,the ,queen showed it to the nuns of ,chaillot1 with whom she resided chiefly in the days of her sorrowful widowhood1 exile1 and poverty4 ,although obliged to part with most of her jewels1 she would never give up this ring1 which she valued above everything4 ,even ,william of ,orange1 remarkable for his stern and taciturn disposition1 felt sensibly the tender feelings which a marriage-ring can nourish after the death of a beloved object4 ,on his decease a ribbon was found tied to his left arm1 with a gold ring appended to it1 containing some hair of the ,queen4 ,the ,londesborough ,collection contained a royal ring1 which is supposed to have been the same given by the ,prince of ,orange to the ,princess ,mary4 ,it is of gold1 the strap and buckle set with diamonds1 and is enamelled black4 ,engraved in letters in relief is the motto of the ,order of the ,garter4 ,the following words are engraved within3 #8,i'll win and wear thee if ,i can4' #8,this posy' 7as the late ,crofton ,croker observed7 #8has a double construction2 whether addressed to the princess before marriage or after is doubtful1 with reference to ,william's design to contest the crown of ,england with her father4' ,baron ,rosen was sent a captive to ,siberia1 in consequence of political tumults which occurred on the accession of the ,emperor ,nicholas to the throne of ,russia4 ,on his arrival he was searched1 and some family trinkets taken from him4 ,he was then required to give up a gold ring which he wore on his finger4 ,he replied3 #8,it is my wedding-ring1 and you can only have it by taking the finger also4' ,fortunately the ring was spared4 ,however1 like everything1 humanly speaking1 the wedding-ring has had its vicissitudes1 and1 from being the emblem of all that is pure and holy in life1 has been desecrated to the vilest and most impious of usages4 ,nothing can be more humiliating to good faith and rectitude than to read the accounts of what took place not many years ago concerning the #8,fleet ,marriages4' ,in ,burns' #8,registers' of these mock celebrations we read sad cases of this abominable system1 which prevailed in the last century1 of clandestine marriages4 ,a case is there mentioned of a young lady who had been inveigled into the trap of a marrying parson 7871 and1 finding herself unable to escape without money or a pledge1 told her persecutors1 who wanted to force a marriage upon her1 that she liked the gentleman who desired to marry her so well that she would meet him on the next night4 ,she gave them a ring as a pledge1 which she said was her mother's ring1 who enjoined her that if she should marry it was to be her wedding-ring4 ,by this contrivance #8she got rid of the black doctor and his tawny crew4' ,great was the disgust of the respectable portion of the community for these disgraceful alliances4 ,it is recorded in the #8,daily ,post' for #agdb1 of a gentleman possessed of a considerable fortune1 that he bequeathed it in the hands of trustees for his wife1 with the proviso that if she married an ,irishman they were to pay her ten guineas for a #8,fleet' marriage1 a dinner1 and ring2 the remainder1 about eight thousand pounds1 to devolve on his nephew4 ,on a trial for bigamy in #agca1 ,samuel ,pickering deposed3 #8,the prisoner was married at my house in the 8,fleet40 ,i gave her away1 and saw the ring put upon her hand1 and broke the biscuit over her head4' ,on the suppression of the ,fleet marriages in the middle of the last century commenced the scandalous ,gretna ,green marriages--the name derived from that of a farmstead in the vicinity of the village of ,springfield1 in the parish of ,graitney1 ,dumfriesshire4 ,the official who performed these irregular marriages was of different vocations--sometimes a blacksmith4 ,in the report of a late ,court of ,probate case at ,westminster1 an agriculturist1 ,thomas ,blythe1 admitted that he did a small stroke of business in the #8joining' line as well2 and in reply to counsel's question #8how the marriage ceremony was performed' he replied3 #8,i first asked them if they were single persons4 ,they said they were4 ,i then asked the man1 8,do you take this woman for your wife80 ,he said1 8,yes40 ,i then asked the woman1 8,do you take this man for your lawful husband80 ,she said1 8,yes40 ,i then said1 8,put on the ring10 and added1 8the thing is done1 the marriage is complete40' ,a ring sent as a love-pledge1 or token1 was in frequent use in former times4 ,philip de ,comines relates in his #8,memoirs' that1 a marriage between the ,princess of ,burgundy and the ,duke of ,austria 7#adgg7 being determined upon1 a letter was written by the young lady at her father's command signifying her consent to the alliance1 and a diamond ring of considerable value was sent as a pledge or token of it4 ,at the time arranged for the ceremony the ,princess was at ,ghent1 and1 in the presence of ambassadors sent on that occasion1 she was asked whether she designed to make good her promise4 ,the ,princess at once replied #8that she had written the letter and sent the ring in obedience to her father's command1 and freely owned the contents of it4' ,the engagement by a ring is also historically exemplified in late times by the notorious intimacy of ,george the ,fourth1 when ,prince ,regent1 with ,mrs4 ,fitzherbert4 ,in order to overcome her scruples to a private marriage 7the ,royal ,marriage ,act having been a bar71 the ,prince caused himself one day to be bled1 and put on an appearance of having attempted his own life1 and sent some friends to bring her to him4 ,she was then induced to allow him to engage her with a ring in the presence of witnesses1 but she afterwards broke the engagement1 went abroad1 and for a long time resisted all the efforts made to induce her to return4 ,it is singular that one of the chief instruments in bringing about the union of this ill-assorted pair was the notorious ,philippe ,egalit1 ,duke of ,orleans4 ,in old times rings made of rushes were used for immoral purposes1 not only in ,england1 but in ,france4 ,douce refers ,shakspeare's #8,tib's rush for ,tom's forefinger' to this custom 7#8,all's ,well that ,ends ,well1' act ii4 sc4 #b74 ,in ,d',avenant's #8,rivals' we find3-- ,i'll crown thee with a garland of straw1 then1 ,and ,i'll marry thee with a rush ring4 ,the #8crack'd' ring 7alluded to in ,beaumont and ,fletcher's #8,captain'7 applied metaphorically to female frailty3-- ,come to be married to my lady's woman1 ,after she's crack'd in the ring4 ,the abuse of the rush ring led to the practice being strictly prohibited by the constitutions of ,richard ,poore1 ,bishop of ,salisbury1 in #abag2 but it had a long continuance4 ,quarles1 in #8,shepheard's ,oracles' 7#afdf71 writes3-- ,and while they sport and dance1 the love-sick swains ,compose rush rings and myrtleberry chains4 ,in ,greene's #8,menaphon' we find3--#8',twas a good world when such simplicitie was used1 saye the olde women of our time1 when a ring of a rush would tye as much love together as a gimmon of gold4' ,the practice of the rush ring in ,france prevailed for a considerable period4 ,another equivocal pretence for engagement was the ring of ,st4 ,martin1#ef so named from the extensive franchises and immunities granted to the inhabitants of the precincts of the ,collegiate ,church of ,st4 ,martin's-le-,grand4 ,in a rare tract1 entitled #8,the ,compter's ,commonwealth' 7#afag71 is an allusion to these rings1 which shows their import3 #8,this kindnesse is but like alchimie1 or ,saint ,martin's rings1 that are faire to the eye and have a rich outside1 but if a man should break them asunder and looke into them1 they are nothing but brasse and copper4' ,in #8,whimsies1 or a ,new ,cast of ,character' 7#afca71 mention is made of ,st4 ,martin's rings and counterfeit bracelets as #8commodities of infinite consequence4 ,they will passe for current at a ,may-pole1 and purchase a favour from their ,may-,marian4' ,so also in #8,plaine ,percevall1 the ,peace-maker of ,england'3 #8,i doubt whether all be gold that glistereth1 sith ,st4 ,martin's rings be but copper within1 though they be gilt without1 sayes the goldsmith4' ,the materials of which wedding-rings have been made are numerous2 besides the various metals1 we have an instance of a leather ring made on the spur of the moment out of a piece of kid cut from the bride's glove4 ,as a substitute for the usual ring1 the church key has been put into requisition4 ,horace ,walpole1 in a letter to ,mr4 7afterwards ,sir ,robert7 ,mann1 dated ,july #bg1 #ageb1 alludes to the use of a curtain-ring for this purpose3 #8,the event which has made most noise since my last is the extensive wedding of the youngest of the two ,gunnings1' and he then describes an assembly at ,lord ,chesterfield's1 when the ,duke of ,hamilton made love to ,miss ,gunning1 and two nights after sent for a parson to perform the marriage ceremony4 ,the ,doctor refused to act without a licence and a ring4 #8,the ,duke swore he would send for the ,archbishop2 at last they were married with a ring of the bed-curtain1 at half-an-hour past twelve at night1 at ,may ,fair ,chapel4' ,in #8,notes and ,queries' 7#bnd series1 vol4 x47 we find an editorial note on this subject4 ,a parish clerk recollected an instance of a party that came to the church1 and requested to be married with the church key4 ,it was what is called a #8parish wedding1' and the parochial authorities1 though willing to pay the church fees1 because #8they were glad to get rid of the girl1' had not felt disposed to furnish the wedding-ring4 ,the clerk stated1 however1 that1 feeling some hesitation as to the substitution of the church key in his own church1 he stepped into the great house hard by1 and there borrowed an old curtain-ring1 with which the marriage was solemnised4 ,sir ,john ,suckling1 in his ballad on a #8,wedding1' has this conceit on a ring3-- ,her fingers were so small1 the ring ,would not stay on which they did bring1 ,it was too wide a peck3 ,and to say truth1 for out it must1 ,it look'd like the great collar1 just ,about our young colt's neck4 ,perhaps one of the smallest wedding-rings on record is that which is mentioned in the fianailles of the ,princess ,mary1 daughter of ,henry ,,viii41 to the ,dauphin of ,france1 son of ,king ,francis ,i4 ,the fianc was represented on that occasion by ,admiral ,bonnivet1 the ,french ,ambassador4 ,the dauphin was born ,february #bh1 #aeah1 and the event of his birth was made a matter of ,state policy1 for a more intimate alliance with ,france4 ,on ,october #e1 in the same year1 the bridal ceremonies took place at ,greenwich with great pomp4 ,king ,henry took his station in front of the throne2 on one side stood ,marie of ,france1 and ,queen ,katherine2 in front of her mother was the ,princess ,marie1 just two years old1 dressed in cloth of gold1 with a cap of black velvet on her head1 blazing with jewels4 ,on the other side stood the two legates1 ,wolsey and ,campeggio4 ,after a speech by ,dr4 ,tunstal1 the ,princess was taken in arms2 the consent of the ,king and ,queen was demanded1 and ,wolsey approached with a diminutive ring of gold1 fitted to the young lady's finger1 in which was a valuable diamond4 ,admiral ,bonnivet1 as proxy for the baby bridegroom1 passed it over the second joint4 ,the bride was blessed1 and mass performed by ,wolsey1 the ,king and the whole ,court attending it4 ,the blessing of the wedding-ring is of ancient origin4 ,the form prescribed for the #8halowing' is given in #8,the ,doctrine of the ,masse ,booke from ,wottonberge1 by ,nicholas ,dorcaster1' #aeed3 #8,thou ,maker and ,conserver of mankinde1 ,gever of ,spiritual ,grace1 and ,grauntor of ,eternal ,salvation1 ,lord1 send thy blessing upon this ring1 that she which shall weare it maye be armed wyth the virtue of heavenly defence1 and that it may profit her to eternal salvation1 thorowe ,christ1' etc4 ,a prayer followed this3 #8 halow ,thou1 ,lord1 this ring which we blesse in ,thy holye ,name1 that what woman soever shall weare it1 may stand fast in ,thy peace1 and continue in ,thy wyll1 and live1 and grow1 and wax old in ,thy love1 and be multiplied into the length of daies1 thorow our ,lord1' etc4 ,rings were formerly placed on the missal book1 with money at marriages2 thus in the #8,wardrobe ,book1' roll #ah1 of ,edward the ,first1 there is an entry of #8money given to place upon the missal book1 along with the ring with which she was married1 #djs4' ,a similar entry occurs on the marriage of ,margaret1 fourth daughter of the same monarch1 when the ,king gave sixty shillings to be placed on the missal with the spousal ring4 ,the #8heathenish origin1' as it was termed1 of the wedding-ring1 led during the ,commonwealth to the abolition of its use during weddings1 and is thus referred to in ,butler's #8,hudibras3'-- ,others were for abolishing ,that tool of matrimony1 a ring1 ,with which the unsanctified bridegroom ,is marry'd only to a thumb#eg 7,as wise as ringing of a pig1 ,that's used to break up ground and dig71 ,the bride to nothing but her will ,that nulls the after-marriage still4 ,this #8heathenish' origin may have been derived from the supposition that the ring was regarded as a kind of phylactery1 or charm1 and to have been introduced in imitation of the ring worn by bishops4 #8,though the ,puritans1' remarks ,mr4 ,jeaffreson1 in his #8,brides and ,bridals1' #8prohibited and preached against the ring1 to the injury of goldsmiths1 and the wrath of ring-wearing matrons1 they did not succeed in abolishing the tool1 or even in putting it so much out of fashion as some people imagined4 ,even ,stephen ,marshall1 the ,presbyterian minister of ,finchingfield1 ,essex1 when his party was most prosperous1 married one of his lightly-trained daughters with the ,book of ,common ,prayer and a ring2 and gave this for a reason1 that the statute establishing the ,liturgy was not repealed1 and he was loth to have his daughter turned back upon him for want of a legal marriage4' ,the ,rev4 ,george ,bull1 subsequently ,bishop of ,st4 ,david's1 also in these ,presbyterian times1 who married a ,miss ,gregory1 in defiance of tyrannical enactments used a wedding-ring with the motto3 #8,bene parere1 parre1 parare det mihi ,deus4' 7,see chapter on #8,posy1 ,motto1 and ,inscription ,rings4'7 ,the ,puritan scruples against the wedding-ring were much criticised at the time3-- ,because the wedding-ring's a fashion old1 ,and signifies1 by the purity of gold1 ,the purity required i' the married pair1 ,and by the rotundity the union fair1 ,which ought to be between them endless1 for ,no other reason1 we that use abhor4 ,a ,long-winded ,lay-lecture 7published #afgd74 ,they will not hear of wedding-rings ,for to be us'd in their marriage2 ,but say they're superstitious things1 ,and do religion much disparage3 ,they are but vain1 and things profane2 ,wherefore1 now1 no wit bespeaks them1 ,so to be tyed unto the bride1 ,but do it as the spirit moves them4 ,a ,curtain-lecture 7#8,loyal ,songs1' vol4 i ,no4 #ae74 ,the objections of the ,dissenters to the ring in marriage were answered by ,dr4 ,comber1 7#8,office of ,matrimony1' c41 folio edition1 part #d17 by ,dr4 ,nicholls upon the ,office of ,matrimony1 and ,wheatley in his #8,rational ,illustration4' ,in the ancient ritual of marriage the ring was placed by the husband on the top of the thumb of the left hand1 with the words1 #8,in the name of the ,father2' he then removed it to the forefinger1 saying1 #8and of the ,son1' then to the middle finger1 adding1 #8and of the ,holy ,ghost2' finally he left it on the fourth finger1 with the closing word #8,amen4' ,the ,english #8,book of ,common ,prayer' orders that the ring should be placed on the fourth finger of the woman's left hand4 ,the spousal manuals of ,york and ,salisbury assign this practical reason for the selection of this finger3 #8quia in illo digito est qudam vena procedens usque ad cor4'#eh ,other reasons than its connection with the heart are assigned by ,macrobius4 ,the author of the #8,vulgar ,errors' had entirely overthrown the anatomical fiction4 ,on the subject of ring-fingers1 a #8,polyglot ,dictionary' by ,john ,minshew 7#afbe7 says3 #8,vetus versiculus singulis digitis ,annulum tribuens1 ,miles1 ,mercator1 ,stultus1 ,maritus1 ,amator4 ,pollici adscribitur ,militi1 seu ,doctori2 ,mercatorum1 a pollice secundum2 ,stultorum1 tertium2 ,nuptorum vel ,studiosorum1 quartinum2 ,amatorum1 ultimum4' ,amongst the ,hebrews1 the finger of ,god denoted his power1 and it was the forefingers of the gods of ,greece and ,italy which wore the ring1 the emblem of divine supremacy4 ,why the ring is worn on the left hand is said to signify the subjection of the wife to the husband2 the right hand signifies power1 independence1 authority1 the left dependence or subjection4#ei ,columbiere remarks3 #8,some of the ancients made the ring to denote servitude1 alleging that the bridegroom was to give it to his bride1 to denote to her that she is to be subject to him1 which ,pythagoras seemed to confirm when he suggested wearing a straight ring1 that is1 not to submit to over-rigid servitude4' ,it is very observable that none of the ,hereford1 ,york1 and ,salisbury missals mention the hand1 whether right or left1 on which the ring is to be put4 ,in the #8,british ,apollo' 7vol4 i4 page #abg1 edit4 ,,mdccxxvi47 a question is asked3 #8,why is it that the person to be married is enjoined to put a ring upon the fourth finger of his spouse's left hand8' ,the answer is3 #8,there is nothing more in this than that the custom was handed down to the present age1 from the practice of our ancestors1 who found the left hand more convenient for such ornaments than the right1 in that 'tis ever less employed2 for the same reason they chose the fourth finger1 which is not only less used than either of the rest1 but is more capable of preserving a ring from bruises1 having this one quality peculiar to itself1 that it cannot be extended but in company with some other finger1 whereas the rest may be singly stretched to their full length and straightened4 ,some of the ancients' opinions in the matter1 viz4 that the ring was so worn because to that finger1 and to that only1 comes an artery from the heart2 but1 the politer knowledge of our modern anatomists having clearly demonstrated the absurdity of that notion1 we are rather inclined the continuance of the custom owing to the reason above mentioned4' ,these explanations1 given in the curious and entertaining miscellany1 from which ,i have quoted1 are from the writings of ,macrobius1 to which ,i have alluded4 ,these appear to settle the contention as to the proper finger for the wedding-ring4 #8,rings in modern times1' remarks ,madame de ,barrera1 #8have been made in some countries ,love's telegraph4 ,if a gentleman wants a wife1 he wears a ring on the first finger of the left hand2 if he be engaged1 he wears it on the second finger2 if married1 on the third2 and on the fourth if he never intends to be married4 ,when a lady is not engaged she wears a hoop or diamond on her first finger2 if engaged1 on her second2 if married1 on the third2 and on the fourth1 if she intends to die a maid4 ,as no rules are given for widows1 it is presumed that the ornamenting of the right hand1 and the little finger of the left1 is exclusively their prerogative4' #8,this ,english fashion is1 perhaps1 too open a proclamation of intentions to suit such as do not choose to own themselves as mortgaged property4' ,the ,greek ,church directs that the ring be put on the right hand1 and such may have been the practice in ,england1 since ,rastell1 in his counter-challenge to ,bishop ,jewell1 notes it as a novelty of the ,reformation #8that the man should put the wedding-ring on the fourth finger in the left hand of the woman1 and not in the right hand as hath been many hundreds of years continued4' ,with the bridal ring1 formerly1 were delivered the keys of the house4 ,this is of ancient origin1 as ,i have noticed in mentioning the rings of the ,romans4 ,we read in ,photius that ,theosebius says to his wife3 #8,i formerly gave to thee the ring of union2 now of temperance to aid thee in the seemly custody of my house4' ,he advisedly speaks of that custody1 for the lady of the house in ,plautus says3-- ,obsignate cellas1 referte annulum ad me1 ,ego huc transes4 ,some ,roman keys attached to rings1 so as to be worn on the fingers1 and which are well known to antiquaries1 were recently found at ,water ,newton1 in digging for gravel1 close to the road from ,stamford to ,peterborough4 ,these were of brass and bronze1 and of the size used by the ,roman ladies1 who were accustomed to carry their casket-keys in this manner4 ,illustration3 ,roman ,key-rings4 ,mr4 ,waterton suggests that the key-rings found on ,roman sites may have been worn by slaves or by the confidential servi who had care of the wardrobes1 cabinets1 c41 of their masters4 ,among the old ,northmen1 the keys of the store-room were occasionally deputed to the wife on the wedding-day1 and were carried at her side as a sign of housewifely dignity4 ,in the ,saxon formula of matrimony1 the father of the bride said3 #8,i give thee my daughter to be thy honour and thy wife1 to keep thy keys1 and to share with thee in thy bed and goods1 in the name of the ,father1 ,son1 and ,holy ,ghost4' ,leybard1 the famous saint of ,tours1 in the sixth century1 being persuaded in his youth to marry1 gave his betrothed a ring1 a kiss1 and a pair of shoes--the latter being a sign of his great subjection to her and to bind his feet1 the ring binding his hands4 ,a ,,ms4 in the ,harleian library1 quoted by ,strutt1 states that #8by the civil law1 whatsoever is given ex sponsalitia largitate1 betwixt them that are promised in marriage1 hath a condition 7for the most part silent7 that it may be had again if marriage ensue not1 but if the man should have had a kiss for his money1 he should lose one half of that which he gave4 ,yet with the woman it is otherwise1 for1 kissing or not kissing1 whatsoever she gave1 she may ask and have it again4' ,however1 this extends only to gloves1 rings1 bracelets1 and such like small wares4 ,plain gold wedding-rings which are at present used as a visible pledge of matrimony1 seem to have descended to us in the mere course of traditionary practice from the times of the ,saxons1 without any impulse from written authority or rubric4 ,at the marriage of ,queen ,mary with ,philip of ,spain in #aeed the wedding-ring was laid in the ,bible to be hallowed4 ,some discussion had previously taken place in the ,council about this ring1 which the ,queen decided by declaring that she would not have it adorned with gems1 #8for she chose to be wedded with a plain hoop of gold1 like other maidens4'#fj ,plain gold rings appear to have been given away at weddings in great numbers at this period2 thus ,anthony ,wood writes that #8,killey 7in #aehi7 at ,trebona was equally profuse beyond the limits of a sober philosopher1 and did give away in gold-wire rings 7twisted71 at the marriage of one of his maid-servants to the value of four thousand pounds4' ,the ,prince ,regent1 on the celebration of his unhappy marriage with ,caroline of ,brunswick1 presented a number of rings to the members of his family and friends4 ,these gifts1 with other accounts1 being in the list for settlement by ,parliament later1 gave rise to the undignified ,jeffreys scandal4 ,at the marriage of ,queen ,victoria1 rings were distributed having the royal likeness in profile in gold2 the legend being #8,victoria ,regina4' ,the whole was less than a quarter of an inch in diameter1 but with the aid of a powerful magnifying-glass the features were disclosed1 beautifully delineated4 ,the ,queen was so pleased with this microscopic work of art that she ordered six dozen impressions to be struck and set by the court jewellers1 ,rundle and ,bridges1 in gold rings for distribution among distinguished personages4#fa ,at the marriage of the ,princess ,royal of ,england1 in #aheh1 to the heir of the now ,german ,empire1 the wedding-rings used were of ,silesian gold1 manufactured at ,breslau4 ,the maker of these1 who has a large gold-refining establishment in that town1 had the two rings mounted on a skin of parchment1 on which was engrossed a short history of his gold-works at ,richenstein1 from which we learn that in former days ,silesia was a ,california on a small scale1 gold not only being obtained by mining1 but by washing the sands of certain rivers4 ,in the form of a heading to an historical document1 the two gold wedding-rings were presented to the ,prince4 ,to give an idea of the immense number of plain gold wedding-rings required in the present day1 it is stated that no less than thirty thousand have passed through the ,birmingham ,assay ,office in one year4 99 99 99 99 99 ,as pledges of betrothal1 or wedding gifts1 rings are of very ancient origin4 ,they were worn by the ,jews prior to ,christian times1 and constitute1 even at present1 an important feature in their marriage ceremonials4 ,wheatley says3 #8,the reason why a ring was pitched upon for the pledge1 rather than anything else1 was because anciently the ring was a seal1 by which all orders were signed1 and things of value secured1 and therefore the delivery of it was a sign that the person to whom it was given was admitted into the highest friendship and trust4 ,for which reason it was adopted as a ceremony in marriage to denote that the wife1 in consideration of being espoused to the man1 was admitted as a sharer in her husband's counsels1 and a joint partner in his honour and estate1 and therefore we find that not only the ring1 but the keys1 were1 in former times delivered to her at the marriage4' ,a passage in ,ruth 7chap4 iv4 verse #g7 gives some reason to suppose that the ring was used by the ,jews1 as a covenant1 in making agreements1 grants1 c41 whence the wedding engagement by a ring may have been derived4 ,leo ,modena1 in his #8,history of the ,rites1 ,customs1 and ,manner of ,life of the ,present ,jews throughout the ,world' 7translated by ,edm4 ,chilmead1 #hvo42 ,london1 #afej71 alluding to the ,jewish manner of marrying1 states that #8before the bride's dowry is produced and read1 the bridegroom putteth a ring upon her finger1 in the presence of two witnesses1 which commonly used to be the ,rabbines1 saying1 withal1 unto her3 8,behold thou art my espoused wife1 according to the custom of ,moses and of ,israel40' ,selden says that rings were first given in lieu of dowry-money1#fb and that the wedding-ring came into general use by the ,jews after they saw it was everywhere prevalent4 ,these ,jewish rings were1 in past ages1 generally of large size and elaborate workmanship4 ,some curious examples are mentioned in the ,londesborough ,collection ,catalogue4 ,one ring1 formerly belonging to the late ,crofton ,croker1 is of ,german or ,flemish work of the seventeenth century4 ,it is of brass1 with three points1 or bosses1 and belongs to a class of ring called ,mazul-touv 7pronounced ,mussul-taub71 or1 freely translated1 #8,joy be with you1' or #8,good luck to you4' ,in the same collection is a ,jewish #8tower' betrothal ring1 enamelled blue1 of the sixteenth century4 ,another betrothal ring belongs to the same class and date1 called #8temple1' or #8tower1' from the figure of the sacred temple placed on their summit4 ,in one of the ,londesborough specimens it takes the form of a sexagonal building with a domed roof of an ,eastern character2 in another it is square1 with a deeply-pitched roof1 having movable vanes at the angles1 and is probably the work of some ,german goldsmith4 ,on the former of these rings the inscription is in enamelled letters1 #8,joy be with you2' and the same words are in more richly-designed letters on the curve of the latter ring4 ,illustration3 ,hebrew ,marriage ,rings4 ,a ring of gold1 enamelled and decorated with five blue enamelled rosettes and five filigree bosses4 ,the roof only of the temple surmounts the ring2 it is decorated with light-green enamel1 it opens on a hinge1 and exhibits beneath the letters 4 ,from the ,londesborough ,collection4 ,illustration3 ,hebrew ,betrothal ,ring4 ,a remarkably fine example of these rings is in the ,braybrooke ,collection4 ,it has five filigree bosses equidistant along the broad exterior1 which is also ornamented with filagree scroll-work1 filled with blue and white enamel2 the summit of the hoop is surmounted by a pyramid-shaped tower opening upon a hinge1 but without any inscription1 which is often covered by it4 ,in this case the word or words are engraved on the inside of the ring1 and are probably ,mazul-touv or ,mussul-taub 7#8,joy be with you'74 ,the tower is to represent the ark of the covenant2 the bosses or points are sometimes supposed to represent the number of witnesses at the ceremony required by law of the ,jews4 ,the points or bosses consist of rosettes with six leaves1 each of blue1 and six leaves of white1 enamel4 ,the pyramidical ark has the sides filled with blue enamel only2 on the two narrow sides there is a small perforation to represent the window1 in allusion to the dove4 ,a large silver-gilt ,hebrew wedding-ring1 in the same collection1 is of a remarkable form4 ,the hoop is three-quarters of an inch wide1 with raised edges1 and plain surface between the five elevations on its upper portion4 ,the centre one of these is a hexagonal tower1 with pent-house roof sloping on each side to the course of the hoop2 the gables and sides of these are pierced with fourteen holes for windows1 and the roof is scored to imitate tiles2 on each side of this is a smaller bell-shaped tower1 equidistant from it1 with four circular holes in them2 and on each side of these last is a still smaller tower of the same shape1 and at an equal distance1 but without any windows4 ,there is not the usual inscription on any part of this ring4 ,illustration3 ,jewish4 ,illustration3 ,jewish4 ,the annexed illustrations1 from rings in the ,bailewski ,collection1 represent a gold ,jewish ring of the thirteenth century1 and one of the fourteenth century4 ,in the collection of the late ,lady ,fellows was a fine ,jewish betrothal ring of gold decorated with filigree and enamel4 ,instead of any setting1 the head is formed with a steep ridge1 like the roof a house1 opening on hinges2 within is a cavity1 closed by a lid1 and probably intended to contain a charm or pastille4 ,on the inner side of the hoop are engraved two ,hebrew words signifying good fortune4 ,in a communication from ,mr4 ,singer 7whose unique collection of wedding-rings with inscriptions ,i have noticed in the chapter on #8,posy1 ,inscription1 and ,motto ,rings'7 he informs me that he has a fine ,hebrew ring of sixteenth-century work--#8a real old one1 as most of those now about are forgeries4 ,this has the ,hebrew word 8mussul taub0 in a short ,hebrew character1 meaning 8,we wish you good luck10 engraved on the inside4' ,according to ,jewish law in modern times1 it is necessary that the ring should be of a certain value4 ,it is therefore examined and certified by the officiating ,rabbi and the chief officers of the synagogue1 when it is received by the bridegroom4 ,when absolute property it must not be obtained by credit or by gift4 ,when this is properly certified the ring is returned to him1 and he places it on the bride's finger1 calling attention to the fact that she is by these means1 consecrated to him4 ,so completely binding is this action that1 should the marriage be no further consecrated1 no other could be contracted by either party1 without a legal divorce4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 in #8,antique ,gems1' remarks that huge gold rings adorned with filigree-work and surmounted by a small temple1 with ,hebrew inscriptions on the interior of the shank1 puzzle the beholders as to their use1 being much too large for the finger4 ,they were made for the use of the synagogue1 and are placed on the finger of the couple at a certain part of the marriage rites4 ,mr4 ,singer1 in describing the ,hebrew wedding-ring in his collection1 adds3 #8,the ,hebrews married on the first finger1 as to the ring4 ,this is done now1 but even the ,jews change a little1 and after the ceremony the ,jewish ladies take off their ring1 and place it on the third finger1 the same as we do1 for now they wear the ordinary ring4' ,the following illustrations represent the marriage-rings of the ,german ,jews1 the workmanship of the sixteenth century1 and very fine specimens of art4 ,both are of gold2 the larger one is richly ornamented in filigree with enamels of light and dark green4 ,it is crowned by a house2 the roof1 which is covered with enamelled tiles1 opens by means of a key1 and the space within serves for perfumes or some souvenir4 ,four small crowns of gold are suspended from the ring4 ,illustration3 ,jewish ,wedding-rings 7from the ,fould ,collection74 ,the other1 smaller in size1 is also richly decorated1 but is crowned with only the roof of a house1 enamelled white and red4 ,the enamels which decorate the other parts of the ring are white4 ,the wedding-rings of the ,romans were generally of iron1 called #8,pronubum1'#fc symbolical of the lasting character of the engagement1 and probably springing out of another ,roman custom1 the giving of a ring as earnest1 upon the conclusion of a bargain4 ,it was the custom to betroth before marriage1 as it is at this day4 ,they that acted between the two parties were called #8,proxenet1' #8,auspices1' and #8,pronubi1' which last name was very much in use4 ,when the marriage-maker was a woman she was called #8,pronuba'2 and it was a condition that such a one was to have had but one husband4 ,they arranged about the portion1 and other marriage articles1 which conditions were afterwards written on tablets1 and sealed with the ring called annulus signatorius4 ,the ring was used in marriage among ,christians as early as #hfj4 ,pronubal or pledge rings passed between the contracting parties among the ,romans4 ,when the marriage settlement had been properly sealed1 rings1 bearing the names of the newly-married couple1 were handed round to the guests4 ,there were others1 also1 of pure gold and a plain circle 7linea infinita7 to symbolise conjugal fidelity1 and to act as a reminder that the love of married people should be infinite4 ,kirchmann asserts that in ,rome the custom was to place in the hand of the newly-made bride a ring of pure gold1 at the same moment in which a ring of iron was sent to the house of her parents1 a remembrance of modesty and domestic frugality4 ,in the possession of ,a4 ,w4 ,franks1 ,esq41 ,m4,a41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,f4,s4,a41 is a gold ring1 remarkable for the amount of the ornamentation with which it is covered4 ,this fine ,byzantine bicephalic ring was1 doubtless1 used as a signet1 and was1 possibly1 a matrimonial or betrothal gift4 ,it has been suggested that the heads resemble those of the ,emperor ,leo ,i4 and ,verina 7,a4,d4 #deg-gd71 but it is doubtful whether they are imperial portraits4 ,it is presumed that this ring was found in ,egypt1 where it had been preserved in the ,demetrio ,collection 7#8,arch4 ,journal1' vol4 xxix4 page #cje74 ,illustration3 ,byzantine4 ,a loadstone sometimes was set instead of a jewel1 indicative of love's attractions4 ,later1 however1 ,tertullian and ,isidore1 ,bishop of ,seville1 mention the #8annulus nuptialis sponsalitius1' as being of gold4 ,sometimes there were inscriptions on the rings1 such as #8,may you live long6' #8,i bring you good fortune6' ,frequently a stone was inserted upon which was engraved an intaglio1 such as a hand pulling the lobe of an ear1 and the words #8,remember me' above it4 ,among the old ,northmen1 the exchanging of rings between the betrothed did not form1 so far as can be ascertained from the ancient sagas and laws1 any essential part in the wedding ceremonial1 neither in pagan1 nor in ,christian times4 ,mention is1 however1 made of an exchange of rings1 but this was only done as a kind of memorial gift1 and no importance was attached to it4 ,the custom of the betrothal ring was first introduced into ,norway at a much later period1 in imitation of that in vogue in southern countries4 ,in the #8,sword1' ,tyrfing1 in the #8,hervarer-,saga1' the ,princess ,ingburgo1 who is betrothed to ,hialmar1 says to the latter1 as he is leaving for battle3 #8,i swear by ,varra1' presenting to him her ring in pledge1 #8that to whomever ,uller gives victory1 ,i am the bride but of one4' ,viga ,glum's #8,saga' we read of the ,scandinavian use of a ring4 ,in the midst of a wedding-party ,glum calls upon ,thorarin1 his accuser1 to hear his oath1 and1 taking in his hand a silver ring which had been dipped in sacrificial blood1 he cites two witnesses to testify to his oath on the ring4 #8,in ,iceland' 7remarks ,mr4 ,wood1 in his #8,wedding-days in all ,countries'7 #8a large ring was used for the ratification of all engagements2 it was variously formed of bone1 jet1 stone1 gold1 and silver4 ,sometimes it was so large as to allow the palm of the hand to be passed through it4 ,so in the solemnisation of a betrothing contract the bridegroom passed four fingers and his palm through one of these rings1 and in this manner he received the hand of his bride4 ,sometimes these rings for confirming mutual contracts were placed upon the altar and there used4 ,we may1 perhaps1 trace this custom in the old form of marriage in the ,orkneys1 where the contracting parties join their hands through a perforation1 or ring1 in a stone pillar4' ,among the ,anglo-,saxons1 at the betrothal of a young couple1 after the taking of hands1 an exchange of presents was made4 ,amongst those given by the bridegroom was a ring1 which1 after being blessed by the priest with a prayer1 was placed on the maiden's right hand1 and was to be worn so until the time of marriage4 ,on this event1 if espousals had previously taken place 7for they were not necessary71 the ring was removed by the bridegroom to the bride's left hand1 and was placed on the first finger1 having been blessed by the priest with a prayer4 ,betrothal rings sometimes bore the name and title of the ,saviour in full2 one in the ,londesborough ,collection represents two hands clasped in front1 so that it was1 most probably1 a gift1 or betrothal ring4 ,it is of silver1 somewhat rudely fashioned4 ,the inscription is in uncial characters1 and1 shorn of its somewhat awkward abbreviation1 reads3 #8,jesus ,nazareneus ,rex4' ,mr4 ,h4 ,t4 ,wake1 of ,cockermouth1 gives the following account of a curious betrothal ring in #8,notes and ,queries' 7,series v4 vol4 ii4 p4 #ebh73 #8,in a small shrubbery1 adjoining a house at ,mosser1 near ,cockermouth1 has recently been found a massive finger-ring1 of fine gold4 ,when discovered1 it was lying on the surface1 but is supposed to have been removed1 along with some mould1 from a garden at the back of the house1 a short time previously4 ,it is plain inside1 without any hall-mark1 but the exterior is polygonal in shape1 having the following inscription engraved in large capitals on thirteen facets1 viz43-- x #aj sv #a s ig n e de am is t e a #8,the posy seems to be3 8,josui signe de amis te10 and to mean 8,joshua's token of love to thee10 the ,a following being the initial of the young woman to whom it was presented4 ,i take it to be a betrothal ring of the eleventh or twelfth century2 and from the admixture of the ,roman and ,gothic ,e in the inscription1 which peculiarly appears also in the great seal of ,william the ,conqueror1 in the word 8,,evnde10 as well also from its being in ,french1 it is probably as old as the ,norman period4 ,i bought it of the farmer's wife who found it4' ,a betrothal ring1 in the collection of the ,rev4 ,james ,beck1 has two hearts surmounted by a crown--denoting the sovereignty of love over the heart--set with marcasites4 ,a silver ring of a similar import1 found at ,carlisle1 is here represented1 and from the clasped hands1 crowned1 was evidently a betrothal ring4 ,illustration3 ,betrothal ring4 ,in the ,middle ,ages1 solemn betrothal by means of the ring often preceded matrimony4 ,henry1 ,duke of ,saxony and ,bavaria1 married ,matilda1 eldest daughter of ,henry the ,second1 ,king of ,england1 in #aafh4 ,a picture of this event was painted at the time1 and afterwards hung up in the church of ,st4 ,blosius1 at ,brunswick1 which is engraved by ,scheidius in his #8,origines ,guelfic1' ,matilda is represented as holding the plight-ring1 a golden hoop1 adorned in the centre with a magnificent brilliant1 but she seems much at a loss to know what to do with it4 ,in #abce an embassy was sent to make a formal petition for the hand of ,isabella1 second daughter of ,king ,john of ,england1 from the ,emperor ,frederick of ,germany4 ,she was presented with a plight-ring1 and as the chief of the embassy1 ,peter de ,vine1 placed it on her finger1 he formally declared her the empress of the whole ,roman empire4 ,isabella1 on her part1 sent a ring to the ,emperor in token of her acceptance of his troth4 ,in the #8,dutch ,courtezan1' an old play1 a pair of lovers are introduced plighting their troth4 ,beatrice says to ,freville3 #8,i give you faith1 and prethee1 since1 poore soule1 ,i am so easie to believe thee1 make it much more pitty to deceive me4 ,weare this sleight favour in my remembrance4' 7,throweth down a ring to him47 ,freville4 #8,which when ,i part from1 ,hope1 the best of life1 ever part from me6 ,graceful mistresse1 our nuptiall day holds4' ,beatrice4 #8,with happy constancye a wished day4' ,in the #8,merchant of ,venice' ,bassanio and ,gratiano give the rings received from ,portia and ,nerissa to the young doctor and his clerk1 after the discomfiture of ,shylock1 although ,portia had said3-- ,this house1 these servants1 and this same myself1 ,are yours1 my lord2 ,i give them with this ring3 ,which1 when you part from1 lose1 or give away1 ,let it presage the ruin of your love1 ,and be my vantage to exclaim on you4 ,bassanio answers3-- ,when this ring ,parts from this finger1 then parts life from hence2 ,o1 then be bold to say1 ,bassanio's dead4 ,solemn betrothal was sometimes adopted by lovers1 who were about to separate for long periods4 ,thus ,chaucer1 in #8,troilus and ,cressida1' describes the heroine as giving her lover a ring1 and receiving one from him in return3-- ,soon after this they spake of sundry things1 ,as fell to purpose of this aventure1 ,and1 playing1 interchangeden their rings1 ,of which ,i cannot tellen no scripture4 ,illustration3 ,half of broken betrothal ring4 ,shakspeare has more than one allusion to this custom1 which is absolutely enacted in the #8,two ,gentlemen of ,verona1' when ,julia gives ,proteus a ring1 saying3 #8,keep you this remembrance for thy ,julia's sake1' and he replies3 #8,why1 then we'll make exchange3--here1 take you this4' ,a ritual of ,bordeaux 7#aeif7 gives a form of betrothal by public ceremony1 when rings were interchanged4 ,kleist1 in his #8,kate of ,heilbron1' makes ,frederick say3-- ,to tally close1 ,as joints of rings dissever'd1 alluding to the custom sometimes practised by lovers1 among the common people1 plighting a faith1 when a ring is broken in two1 one half of which was kept by each party1 that if from time to time1 or at the day of marriage1 the two pieces agree with each other1 proof may be thus afforded that they have not been transferred1 and consequently that both bride and bridegroom remain still of the same mind2 otherwise1 the engagement is annulled4 ,a ring of pure gold she from her finger took1 ,and just in the middle the same then she broke2 ,quoth she3 #8,as a token of love you this take1 ,and this1 as a pledge1 ,i will keep for your sake4' 7#8,exeter ,garland4'7 ,de ,laet1 writing in #afdg1 states that he remembers when it was the custom 7and an ancient one7 for the gentleman to present the lady on their betrothal with two rings1 the one set with a diamond1 the other with a ruby table-cut4 ,this gift went by the ,french name #8,mariage4' ,among the ,germans at the present day the interchange of rings is practised at the publication of the banns among the ,lutherans2 the minister joins the hands of the couple1 and rings are interchanged4 #8,the ,italians1' observes ,mr4 ,wood1 #8in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries used betrothing rings1 which were generally made of silver1 inlaid with niello4 ,the bezel was either oval or circular1 and the shoulders of the hoop were shaped so as to form sleeves1 from each of which issued a right hand4 ,the hands were clasped together in the ,fede4 ,some of these rings were of a large size1 and were worn by men4 ,the diamond was long esteemed by the medival ,italians as the favourite stone for setting in espousal rings1 and it was called 8pietra della reconciliazione10 from its supposed power to maintain concord between man and wife4' ,it was also usual1 at the periods mentioned1 for the ,italian ladies to give their lovers rings which contained their portraits4 ,lovers wore these rings on holidays1 as was the practice in ,england1 as we find in #8,england's ,helicon' 7#afjj73-- ,my songs they be of ,cinthia's prayse1 ,i weare her rings on holly-dayes4 ,when a noble ,venetian married in the seventeenth century1 a day was appointed for giving the bride a ring1 and the ceremony was performed in her house1 in the presence of relations and friends4 ,the ring-giving was followed by the usual sacrament in church4 ,in modern ,greece1 two rings1 one of gold and the other of silver1 are interchanged at the betrothal1 which takes place as follows3--,the priest1 remaining in the sacrarium1 delivers to the persons to be betrothed1 and who are standing without the sacred doors1 lighted candles into the hands of each1 and then returns with them into the body of the church4 ,here1 after prayers have been said1 two rings are brought out1 of gold and silver respectively1 which had previously been placed upon the altar to be dedicated and consecrated1 and the priest gives the gold ring to the man1 and the silver ring to the woman1 repeating three times this form of words3 #8,the servant of ,god1 ,m41 espouses the handmaid of ,god1 ,n41 in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1 now and ever1 and to endless ages1 ,amen4' ,after a threefold repetition of the same words to the woman1 the rings are put on the right-hand finger1 and are taken off1 and interchanged by the bridegroom's man1 both in order that the woman may not take too deeply to heart her inferiority1 which the less costly material of the ring seems to hint at1 as also to confirm the mutual right and possession of property1 either present or future4 ,the ring ceremony in ,russian marriages differs materially from that of ,english usage4 ,in the first place1 there are two rings1 and these are changed three times4 ,the man places the ring first on the woman's finger1 then the priest changes the man's ring1 and places it on her finger1 and then again the priest and the man join and place the ring where it is to remain for life4 ,have these three changes anything in connection with a peculiarity in ,russian legends of the ever-predominating number #8three'8 ,thus fathers are said usually to have three sons1 the heroes and knights-errant ride through three times nine empires2 the bravest are always thirty-three years old2 they achieve their deeds only on the third attempt4 ,or1 are the three changes emblematic of the ,trinity8 ,at the ,russian marriages of the ,imperial family the rings are exchanged by a third person4 ,at the wedding of the ,duke of ,edinburgh and the ,grand ,duchess ,marie ,alexandrovna1 daughter of the ,emperor of ,russia 7,january #bc1 #ahgd71 the master of the ceremonies carried the marriage rings on plates of gold1 and placed them on the altar4 ,the confessor of the ,emperor and ,empress then received the rings from the ,archipretres of the court1 and1 whilst a prayer was being said1 placed them upon the fingers of the bride and bridegroom1 when the ,metropolitan began the office4 ,in ,spain the gift of a ring is looked upon as a promise of marriage1 and is considered sufficient proof to enable a maiden to claim her husband4 ,among the ,armenians 7observes ,madame de ,barrera7 children are betrothed from their earliest youth1 sometimes when only three years old1 sometimes as soon as born4 ,when the mothers on both sides have agreed to marry their son and daughter1 they propose the union to their husbands1 who always sanction the choice of the wives4 ,the mother of the boy then goes to the friends of the girl1 with two old women and a priest1 and presents to the infant maiden a ring from the future bridegroom4 ,the boy is then brought1 and the priest reads a portion of the ,scripture1 and blesses the parties4 ,the parents of the girl make the priest a present1 in accordance with their means2 refreshments are partaken of by the company1 and this constitutes the ceremonies of the betrothals4 ,should the betrothals take place during the infancy of the contracting parties1 and even should twenty years elapse before the boy can claim his bride1 he must every year1 from the day he gives the ring1 send his mistress at ,easter a new dress1 c4 ,the olden matrimonial ,gemmel1 or ,gemmow1 ring was a kind of double ring1 curiously made4 ,there were links within each other1 and though generally double1 they were1 by a further refinement1 made triple1 or even more complicated2 thus ,herrick writes3-- ,thou sent'st to me a true love-knot1 but ,i ,return a ring of jimmals1 to imply ,thy love had one knot1 mine a triple tye4 ,ray1 among his north-country words1 explains #8jimmers' as #8jointed hinges1' and adds1 #8in other parts called wing-hinges4' ,at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute1 in ,november #ahea1 the ,rev4 ,w4 ,c4 ,bingham exhibited a silver gemmel-ring of singular fashion1 date fourteenth century1 found in ,dorsetshire1 the hoop formed in two portions1 so that a moiety of the letters composing the legend1 ,,ave ,,mari1 appears on each1 and it only becomes legible when they are brought together side by side4 ,each demi-hoop is surmounted by a projecting neck and a small globular knob1 so that the ring appears to have a bifid head4 ,the two portions of this ring are not intertwined1 and as no adjustment now appears by which they might be kept together in proper juxtaposition1 it is possible that in this instance it was intended that each of the affianced parties should retain a moiety of the gemmel4 ,there is an allusion to the #8joint' ring in ,dryden's play of #8,don ,sebastian'3-- ,a curious artist wrought 'em1 ,with joynts so close as not to be perceived2 ,yet are they both each other's counterpart4 7,her part had ,juan inscribed1 and his1 had ,zayda-- ,you know those names were theirs37 and in the midst ,a heart divided in two halves was placed4 ,now if the rivets of those rings1 inclos'd1 ,fit not each other1 ,i have forged this lye1 ,but if they join1 you must for ever part4 ,a ring in the ,londesborough ,collection illustrates this passage4 ,it parts into three hoops1 secured on a pivot2 the toothed edge of the central hoop forming an ornamental centre to the hoop of the ring1 and having two hearts in the middle2 a hand is affixed to the side of the upper and lower hoop2 the fingers slightly raised1 so that when the hoops are brought together they link in each other1 and close over the hearts1 securing all firmly4 ,illustration3 ,jointed betrothal ring4 ,the late ,mr4 ,crofton ,croker1 in his privately-printed catalogue of ,lady ,londesborough's ,collection1 gives the following account of the use to which the ring has been put3 #8,there can be little doubt1 from the specimens that have come under observation1 that it had been used as a betrothing ring by an officer of the ,king's ,german ,legion with some ,irish lady1 and that the notched ring was retained by some confidential female friend1 who was present as a witness at the betrothal ceremony--usually one of the most solemn and private character--and at which1 over the ,holy ,bible1 placed before the witness1 both the man and the woman broke away the upper and lower rings from the centre one1 which was held by the intermediate person4 ,it would appear that the parties were subsequently married1 when it was usual1 as a proof that their pledge had been fulfilled1 to return to the witness or witnesses to the contract the two rings which the betrothed had respectively worn until married2 and thus the three rings1 which had been separated1 became reunited1 as in the present instance4' ,a gemmel-ring1 of which a representation is given 7page #caf71 was dug up in #ahjj1 at ,horselydown1 ,surrey1 found among some ,roman and ,english remains and skeletons of human bodies1 about nine feet below the surface4 ,the ring is constructed in twin or double hoops1 one side being flat1 the other convex4 ,on the lower hand is represented a heart4 ,on the flat side of the hoops are engraved in ,roman capitals1 #8,us de ,vertu4' ,this ring is probably not later than ,queen ,elizabeth's reign4 ,a plain gemmel wedding-ring1 with an inscription inside each hoop1 which the ,prince ,regent1 afterwards ,george ,,iv41 had given to ,mrs4 ,fitzherbert1 was exhibited1 with the lady's miniature1 at the ,loan ,collection of precious objects at the ,south ,kensington ,museum in #ahgb4 ,illustration3 ,gemmel-ring1 found at ,horselydown4 ,this practice of dividing the betrothal rings has its origin from ancient times1 and reminds us of the practice among the ,franks of breaking the sou d'or in two pieces1 in sign of a sacred engagement4 ,thus we read of ,childeric1 ,king of ,france1 when in exile1 wishing to know when he might return to his country1 dividing the sou d'or1 keeping one part1 and giving the other to a trusty friend1 who tells him3 #8,when ,i send to you this half1 and you find that it unites with the other1 you will understand that you can return4' ,the propitious moment having arrived1 ,childeric received the token1 and1 returning1 was re-established in his dominions4#fd ,from other passages in #8,don ,sebastian1' it appears that one of the two rings was worn by ,sebastian's father1 the other by ,almeyda's mother1 as pledges of love4 ,sebastian takes off his ring1 which had been placed on his finger by his dying father2 ,almeyda does the same with hers1 which had been given to her by her mother at parting1 and ,alvarez unscrews both the rings and fits one half to the other4 ,in ,sir ,henry ,ellis's #8,original ,letters ,illustrative of ,english ,history' 7series ii4 vol4 ii4 page #bij7 we have a curious anecdote in connection with linked rings4 ,lady ,catherine ,grey 7a sister of ,lady ,jane ,grey7 married the ,earl of ,hertford1 much to the displeasure of ,queen ,elizabeth1 who sent the bridegroom to the ,tower1 and subjected the countess to great hardships4 ,they were both exposed to an ordeal of examination to prove the validity of the marriage1 and amongst other evidence ,lady ,catherine exhibited a ring which she declared had been used at the marriage ceremony4 ,it was of gold1 and consisted of five links1 on four of which were engraved as many verses of the ,earl's composition1 expressing the assurance of his lasting faith and love1 and the ring could1 apparently1 have been prepared for no other purpose than that of serving as their marriage-ring4 ,the judgment of the commissioners appointed to examine into the marriage was to dissolve it1 and it was so pronounced in the ,bishop of ,london's palace in #aefb4 ,lady ,hertford sank under this cruel conduct of the ,queen1 and on her dying bed called to her attendants to bring her the box in which her wedding-ring was4 ,she first took from it a ring with a pointed diamond in it1 and said to ,sir ,owen ,hopton 7at whose house1 ,cockfield ,hall1 ,suffolk1 she had been staying73 #8,here1 ,sir ,owen1 deliver this unto my lord2 it is the ring that ,i received of him1 and gave myself unto him1 and gave him my faith4' #8,what say you1 madam1' answered ,sir ,owen1 #8was this your wedding-ring8' #8,no1 ,sir ,owen1 this is the ring of my assurance unto my lord1 and there is my wedding-ring1' taking another ring of gold out of the box4 ,this consisted of five links1 having engraved in it the verses of the ,earl's composition1 which she had exhibited to the commissioners of inquiry4 7,see chapter on #8,posy1 ,inscription1 and ,motto ,rings4'7 #8,deliver this1' she said1 #8unto my lord1 and pray him1 as ,i have been a faithful and true wife1 that he would be a loving and natural father unto my children1 to whom ,i give the same blessing that ,god gave unto ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob4' 7,see chapter on #8,remarkable ,rings4'7 ,illustration3 ,ring with representation of ,lucretia4 ,a gemmel-ring of the fifteenth century1 in the ,londesborough ,collection1 bears an engraved head of ,lucretia1 the same kind as that mentioned by ,shakspeare 7#8,twelfth ,night1' act ii4 sc4 v47 where ,malvolio1 breaking open the letter1 purporting to be in the handwriting of his mistress1 says3-- ,by your leave1 wax4 ,soft6 and the impressure her ,lucrece1 with which she uses to seal4 ,lucretia is seen grasping her dagger4 ,the clasped hands1 adopted on the gemmel-rings1 became a frequent emblem on the solid wedding-ring4 ,illustration3 ,wedding-ring of ,sir ,thomas ,gresham4 ,the betrothal or wedding ring of ,sir ,thomas ,gresham 7#aedd7 engraved in ,burgon's life of that eminent merchant prince1 opens horizontally1 thus forming a double ring of gold1 linked together in the form of a gemmel2 in one half is set a white stone1 in the other a red2 in the interior of each half is a cavity1 in one of which is a small figure of a child in gold1 enamelled2 #8,,qvod ,,devs ,,conivnsit' is engraved on one half1 and #8,,homo ,,non ,,separet' on the other4 ,this interesting relic was formerly in the possession of the ,thruston family1 at ,weston ,hall1 ,suffolk1 and was exhibited at the ,society of ,antiquaries 7,april #ahfb7 by ,granville ,leveson ,gower1 ,esq4 ,a gemmel-ring of the sixteenth century1 found in the ,thames1 is in the ,londesborough ,collection4 ,originally gilt1 it is of silver3 two hands are clasped2 on the opposite side two quatrefoils spring from a heart engraved3 #8,help ,god6' or #8,god help6' ,illustration3 ,gemmel-ring4 ,a remarkably fine gemmel-ring 7,londesborough7 is here engraved4 ,it is set with sapphire and amethyst1 the elaborate and beautiful design enriched by coloured enamels4 ,the lower figure in the representation of this ring shows it parted1 displaying the inscription on the flat side of each section1 which is also enriched by engraving and niello4 ,the clasped hands 7originating from the ancient ,romans71 adopted on the gemmel-rings1 we are told in ,chambers's #8,book of ,days1' are still the fashion1 and in constant use in that curious local community of fishermen inhabiting the ,claddugh at ,galway on the western coast4 ,they number with their families between five and six thousand1 and are particularly exclusive in their tastes and habits2 rarely intermarrying with others than their own people4 ,the wedding-ring is an heirloom in the family2 it is regularly transferred from the mother to the daughter who is first married1 and so passes to her descendants4 ,many of these gemmel-rings1 still worn there1 are very old4 ,illustration3 #8,claddugh' ring4 ,mr4 ,mackenzie ,e4 ,c4 ,walcot1 ,f4,s4,a41 etc41 in #8,notes and ,queries1' writes3 #8,a ring of gold1 about the time of the thirteenth century1 was found at ,burbage1 near ,marlborough1 and1 apparently1 from the clasped hands on the lower side1 a gemmel or betrothal ring1 has a sapphire uncut1 held by four bent cramps1 and on the circle the following letters in two lines1 divided by punctuation in the form of 4 ,the letters1 of course1 are of the period3-- ,,ni ,w ,i ,,ie ,,au ,,al ,,hn ,i have alluded to sacred inscriptions on some betrothal rings4 ,the following engraving refers to one in the ,londesborough ,collection1 described in page #cjf4 ,illustration3 ,betrothal ring with sacred inscription4 ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a splendid gold gemmel ring1 with enamelled and jewelled twin or double hoops1 which play one within another1 like the links of a chain4 ,each hoop has one of its sides convex1 the other flat1 and each is set with a stone1 one a fine ruby1 the other an aquamarine1 or beryl1 so that1 upon bringing together the flat surfaces of the hoops the latter immediately unite in one ring1 and as they close1 the stones slide into contact1 forming a head to the whole4 ,the inside flat surfaces are inscribed with the words #8,quod ,deus conjunxit1 homo non separet1' part on one hoop1 part on the other1 so as to be legible when these are opened1 but entirely concealed when they are reunited in one ring4 ,this seems to be an exception to the general rule1 with respect to rings of the same denomination1 since the hoops cannot be dissevered according to the usual custom at betrothals4 ,nares1 in his #8,glossary1' observes that the name #8gimmal' was preserved to rings made triple1 or even more complimentary4 ,this splendid specimen is of ,italian workmanship1 dating about the end of the fifteenth or the beginning of the sixteenth century4 ,at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute in ,march #ahfc the ,rev4 ,john ,beck exhibited some curious specimens of linked or #8puzzle-rings4' ,one of gold consists of seven slender rings linked together1 which1 when properly adjusted1 combine in a knot4 ,another1 of silver1 consists of four slight rings1 set with a blue stone1 and ornamented with flowers of forget-me-not4 ,a third1 also of silver1 has nine rings1 which1 when intertwined1 unite so as to present a fede as the head of the ring4 ,the ,french term for the hooped rings is foi1 alliance1 which last word in the #8,dictionnaire de ,trevoux' is defined to be a ring #8que l'accord donne son accorde1 o il y a un fil d'or et un fil d'argent4' ,illustration3 ,devices on ,wedding-rings4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,token ,,rings4 ,rings as #8tokens' date from very early times4 ,we are told that ,clovis1 ,king of the ,franks1 in the latter part of the fifth century1 wishing to marry ,clotilde1 niece of ,gondebauld1 ,king of ,burgundy1 deputed ,aurelianus1 in whom he had perfect confidence1 to ascertain whether the maiden had any predilection for him4 ,the messenger travelled in very humble guise1 and arrived at the castle in ,burgundy where ,clotilde resided4 ,the princess1 however1 knew beforehand his mission1 and was prepared to receive him4 ,she concealed this knowledge1 however1 and treated him as an ordinary mendicant1 receiving him hospitably1 and1 according to the custom of those times1 even washing his feet4 ,while this operation was being performed1 ,aurelianus said3 #8,princess1 if you will permit me1 ,i will tell you of strange things4' #8,speak1' replied ,clotilde4 #8,clovis1 ,king of the ,franks1 has sent me to announce his wish to marry you4 ,is it your desire that ,i should ask permission from your father8' #8,what proof can you give me of the truth of your mission8' #8,the ring of my ,sovereign1 which he entrusted me with for this object4' #8,but1' said ,clotilde1 #8,i am a ,christian1 and ,i cannot marry a pagan4 ,if1 however1 it is the will of ,god that ,i should become the wife of ,clovis1 ,i am content4' ,thus saying1 she received the ring1 and gave ,aurelianus her own ring in return1 and after some difficulties with ,gondebauld were overcome1 ,aurelianus married ,clotilde in the name of ,king ,clovis1 by the gift of #8one sou and one denier1' as the price of her liberty1 according to the custom of that period4 ,if the old historians are to be credited1 this is the earliest instance of a marriage by proxy4 ,edward the ,first1 in #abig1 presented ,margaret1 his fourth daughter1 with a golden pyx1 in which he deposited a ring1 the token of his unfailing love4 ,he placed it in her hands with a solemn benediction1 when she bade him farewell1 preparatory to rejoining her husband at ,brussels4 ,hardyng1 in his #8,chronicles1' relates a pretty story of ,oswald1 ,king of ,northumberland 7seventh century71 and ,kineburg1 his consort4 ,a hermit1 of extraordinary sanctity1 desirous of ascertaining whether any person surpassed himself in purity of life1 was1 in answer to his meditation1 told by revelation #8that ,king ,oswald was more holy1 though he had wedded a wife4' ,the pious hermit accordingly repaired to the king1 with holy zeal1 to be informed concerning his course of life4 ,on which ,oswald1 in the true spirit of that love and confidence which reposed on the purity and virtue of his beloved wife1 referred the hermit to her1 bidding him carry to her his ring1 with his command that she should entertain him 7the hermit7 as though he were her own royal spouse4 ,the ,queen1 who had the greatest veneration for her husband1 failed not to obey his instructions1 but1 while she shared with the holy man the regal repast1 showed him that it consisted only of bread and water1 no other food being permitted to him2 thus exhibiting an example of that self-denial by which purity of life is alone attainable4 ,when night came1 the hermit was more surprised than ever when the queen ordered him to be put into a cold-water bath1 according to the custom of the ,king whom he wished to imitate4 ,gladly1 and yet right early in the morning1 did the venerable man take leave of the queen2 and1 having restored to ,king ,oswald his ring1 frankly acknowledged that his whole entire life was not so holy as one of the ,king's days and nights4 ,i must observe1 however1 that1 with this rigid observance of sobriety and virtue1 ,king ,oswald is the first prince of our ,saxon rulers who is recorded to have been served in silver dishes4 ,we can easily understand a hermit's repugnance to bathing of any kind4 ,some other instances of rings as tokens are related by medival historians4 ,we are told by ,matthew ,paris that ,pope ,innocent1 desiring to gain ,king ,john over to favour his plans1 and knowing that he was covetous1 and a diligent seeker after costly jewels1 sent him four gold rings adorned with precious stones1 in token that the rotundity of the rings signified eternity2 #8therefore your royal discretion may be led by the form of them to pray for a passage from earthly to heavenly1 from temporal to eternal things4 ,the number of four1 which is a square number1 denotes the firmness of mind which is neither depressed in adversity nor elated in prosperity2 which will then be fulfilled1 when it is based on the four principal virtues1 namely--justice1 fortitude1 prudence1 and virtue4444 ,moreover1 the greenness of the emerald denotes faith2 the clearness of the sapphire1 hope2 the redness of the pomegranate denotes charity1 and the purity of the topaz1 good works4444 ,in the emerald1 therefore1 you have what to believe2 in the sapphire1 what to hope for2 in the pomegranate1 what to love2 and in the topaz1 what to practise2 that you ascend from one virtue to another1 until you see the ,lord in ,zion4' ,henry the ,fourth1 ,emperor of ,germany1 was cruelly treated by his son1 who conspired against him1 and forced him to abdicate the throne4 ,the degraded emperor is said to have been reduced by famine to such extremities that he ate the leather of his boots for hunger4 ,he sent his ring and sword as his last token of forgiveness to his rebel son1 with the simple and touching message3 #8,if thou hadst left me more1 ,i would have sent more to thee4' ,thomas ,chester1 a writer for the minstrels in the reign of ,henry the ,sixth1 and who is stated to have translated the #8,erle of ,tolouse1' a metrical romance1 relates that an ,earl of this house1 disguised in pilgrim's weeds1 asked alms of the empress1 consort of ,diocletian1 ,emperor of ,germany1 to whom his secret is known1 and who gives him forty florins and a ring4 ,he receives the latter present with the greatest satisfaction1 and1 although obliged to return home1 comforts himself with this reflection3-- ,well is me ,i have thy grace ,of the to hav thys thyng1 ,if ever ,i hav grace of the ,that any love between us be ,this may be a tokenyng4 ,the empress1 on the false accusation of two knights1 is thrown into prison4 ,the ,earl of ,toulouse1 disguised as a monk1 obtains permission to act as her confessor2 the empress1 not knowing him in his present disguise1 confesses that she once gave a ring to the #8,erle4' ,on this he challenges the two knights1 and1 of course1 overcomes them in combat4 ,on the death of the emperor he marries the empress4 ,this story reminds us of the lines in #8,marmion1' by ,sir ,walter ,scott3-- ,the fair ,queen of ,france ,sent him a turquoise ring and glove1 ,and charged him as her knight and love ,for her to break a lance3 a fatal gift1 as ,flodden ,field proved4#fe ,in the #8,lays' of ,marie1 the ,princess ,guilliadun1 having fallen in love with ,sir ,eliduc1 sends him as tokens a ring and a rich girdle4 ,in the #8,lyfe of ,ipomydon1' the manuscript of which is in the ,harleian ,collection at the ,british ,museum1 the queen gives her son a ring-token3-- ,it befell upon a day1 ,the queen to her son gan say1 ,in privitie and in counsail1 #8,thou hast a brother withouten fail1 ,privily gotten me upon1 ,ere ,i was wedded to any mon4 ,but hastily he was done fro me1 ,i ne wot if he alive be1 ,and he me sent1 this ender 7last7 year1 ,a rich ring of gold full clear2 ,an ever he any brother had1 ,that ,i should give it him1 he bade2 ,that where he come1 among high or low1 ,by that ring he should him know4 ,than take this ring1 my son1 of me3 ,in what country that he be1 ,who that knoweth this ilke ring1 ,he is thy brother without lesing4' ,ipomydon accepts the ring1 and promises to spare no pains in searching for its original proprietor1 who1 after various adventures1 is found in the person of ,sir ,campanys1 with whom he has an encounter1 during which the latter discovers his mother's ring on the finger of ,ipomydon4 ,in the romance of #8,sir ,isumbras1' when he and his wife and child are taken prisoners by the #8,soudan1' the lady1 before her separation from her husband and child-- ------callyd hir lorde to hir agayne1 ,a rynge was thaire takynnynge4 ,the mother of ,sir ,perceval of ,galles gives him a ring-token3-- ,his moder gaffe hym a ryng1 ,and bad he solde agayne it bryng2 #8,sonne1 this salle be oure takynnynge1 ,for here ,i salle the byde4' ,the knight sets forth on his travels1 and soon changes the ring for another3-- ,thofe he were of no pryde ,forthirmore ganne he glyde ,tille a chambir ther besyde1 ,moo sellys to see2 ,riche clothes faude he sprede ,a lady slepuned on a bedde ,he said1 #8forsothe a tokyne to wedde ,salle thou lefe with mee2' ,ther he kyste that swete thynge1 ,of hir fynger he tuke a rynge1 ,his aweune moder takynnynge ,he lefte with that fre4 ,in the very pretty poem of #8,lay le ,fraine1' by ,marie1 the lady of a knight1 #8a proud dame and malicious1' having twins1 consigns the charge of one of them to a confidential servant1 to be taken away and left to the mercy of anyone who might find it4 ,at the same time1 that the child might be known to have been born of noble parents1 she took a rich mantle lined with fur-- ,and lapped the little maiden therein1 ,and took a ring of gold fine1 ,and on her right arm it knit ,with a lace of silk in plit4 ,the child is placed in a hollow ash-tree1 near a nunnery1 by the maid1 and on being discovered by the porter is taken to the abbess1 by whom she is reared and becomes an accomplished and beautiful maiden4 ,a rich knight falls in love with her and persuades her to live with him in his castle1 to which she repairs1 and ,with her took she no thing ,but her pel1 and her ring4 ,the lord1 however1 is induced to marry her sister1 taking ,le ,fraine with him to the wedding1 who places on her bed in her room the magnificent #8pel1' or mantle1 by which and the ring she is discovered by her mother4 ,in the romance of the #8,seven ,wise ,masters' 7,cotton ,,mss47 is a story1 #8,the ,two ,dreams1' in which a ring displays a prominent feature4 ,in the ballad of the #8,lass of ,lochroyan' 7#8,minstrelsy of the ,scottish ,border'7 ,lord ,gregory says3-- #8,gin thou be ,annie of ,lochroyan 7,as ,i trow thou binna she71 ,now tell me some of the love-token ,that passed between thee and me4 #8,o dinna ye mind1 ,lord ,gregory1 ,as we sat at the wine1 ,we changed the rings from our fingers1 ,and ,i can show thee thine8 #8,o yours was gude and gude enough1 ,but aye the best was mine2 ,for yours was of the gude red gowd1 ,but mine o' the diamond fine4' ,in the ballad of #8,cospatrick' 7the designation of the ,earl of ,dunbar in the days of ,wallace and ,bruce7 we have3-- #8,he gae to me a gay gowd ring1 ,and bade me keep it abune a' thing4' #8,and what did you wi' the gay gowd ring ,i bade you keep abune a' thing8' #8,i gae them to a ladye gay ,i met in greenwood on a day4' ,in the ballad of #8,prince ,robert1' ,prince ,robert has wedded a gay ladye ,he has wedded her with a ring1 ,prince ,robert has wedded a gay ladye1 ,but he darna bring her hame4 ,the ,prince is poisoned1 and his lady-love arrives just after the funeral1 and is told3-- #8,ye'se get nane o' his gowd1 ye'se get nane o' his gear1 ,ye'se get nothing frae me4 ,ye'se no get an inch o' his good braid land1 ,though your heart suld burst in three4' #8,i want nane o' his gowd1 ,i want nane o' his gear1 ,i want nae land frae thee3 ,but ,i'll hae the rings that's on his finger1 ,for them he did promise to me4' #8,ye'se no get the rings that's on his finger1 ,ye'se no get them frae me2 ,ye'se no get the rings that's on his finger1 ,an your heart suld burst in three4' ,in the ballad of #8,broomfield ,hill' a witch-woman says to #8a lady bright3' ,take ye the rings off your fingers1 ,put them on his right hand1 ,to let him know when he doth wake1 ,his love was at his command4 ,the ,child of ,elle receives from the page of his lady-love1 the #8fayre ,emmeline1' some tokens of her affection to him in her #8woe-begone' state3-- ,and here she sends thee a ring of golde1 ,the last boone thou mayst have1 ,and biddes thee weare it for her sake1 ,when she is layde in grave4 ,the famous ,guy1 ,earl of ,warwick1 after marvellous adventures abroad1 returns to his own country1 and becomes a hermit at ,guy's ,cliff1 near ,warwick ,castle4 ,falling sick1 he sends a ring-token to the fair ,flice4 ,he came to his rocky dwelling1 ,like pilgrim poore1 and was not knowne2 ,and there ,i lived a hermit's life1 ,a mile and more out of the towne1 ,and dayle came to beg my bread ,of ,pheliss1 att my castle-gate1 ,not known unto my loved wiffe1 ,who dayle mourned for her mate3 ,till1 at the last1 ,i fell sore sicke1 ,yea1 sicke soe sore that ,i must dye2 ,i sent to her a ringe of golde1 ,by which she knew me presentlye4 ,in the romance of #8,floire and ,blanceflor1' the young hero1 on his way to ,babylon1 arrives at a bridge1 the keeper of which has a brother in the city1 to whose hospitality he wishes to recommend ,floire1 and for that purpose he gives him his ring4 #8,take this ring to him1' he says1 #8and tell him from me to receive you in his best manner4' ,the message was attended with complete success4 ,king ,john is said to have made use of a ring to aid his criminal designs upon the beautiful wife of the brave ,eustace de ,vesci1 one of the twenty-five barons appointed to enforce the observance of ,magna ,charta4 ,the tyrant1 hearing that ,eustace de ,vesci had a very beautiful wife1 but far distant from court1 and studying how to accomplish his licentious designs towards her1 sitting at table with her husband and seeing a ring on his finger1 he laid hold of it and told him that he had such another stone1 which he resolved to set in gold in that very form4 ,and having thus got the ring1 he presently sent it to her in her husband's name2 by that token conjuring her1 if ever she expected to see him alive1 to come speedily to him4 ,she1 therefore1 upon sight of the ring1 gave credit to the messenger and came with all expedition4 ,but it so happened that her husband1 casually riding out1 met her on the road1 and1 marvelling much to see her there1 asked what the matter was2 and when he understood how they were both deluded he resolved to find a wanton1 and put her in apparel to personate his lady4 ,the ,king afterwards boasting to the injured husband himself1 ,eustace had the pleasure to undeceive him4 ,when ,richard ,,iii4 brings his rapid wooing to a conclusion he gives the ,lady ,anne a ring1 saying3-- ,look1 how this ring encompasseth thy finger1 ,even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart2 ,wear both of them1 for both of them are thine4 ,passionate words1 but too noble for a man both faithless and cruel4 ,margaret1 eldest daughter of ,henry ,,vii41 married to ,james ,,iv4 of ,scotland1 when requiring money1 sent to her royal husband1 not only letters1 but a token1 as is seen in the ,treasurer's accounts3 #8,june #cj 7#aejd73 ,given to the ,queen to give away1 when she sent ,master ,livesay1 ,englishman1 with a ring in token--#ahs4' ,so we have later3 #8,luke of the wardrobe carried letters1 with a ring1 to ,stirling to the ,queen's grace4' ,in #aeae1 while under the tyranny of the ,duke of ,albany at ,edinburgh1 ,margaret endeavoured to escape to ,blackater1 a fortress within a few miles of ,berwick4 ,she sent a faithful clerk1 ,robin ,carr1 to ,lord ,dacre1 who had proposed her flight1 and a ring was to be ,carr's credential to ,king ,henry the ,eighth1 whom he was to see afterwards4 ,the ,king1 however1 did not recognise the token1 though it was one that his sister had worn in her girlish days4 ,in #8,cymbeline' 7act i4 sc4 ii47 ,imogen gives ,posthumus a ring when they part1 and he gives her a bracelet in exchange3-- #8------,look here1 love2 ,this diamond was my mother's2 take it1 heart2 ,but keep it till you woo another wife1 ,when ,imogen is dead4' ,posthumus4--#8,how6 how6 another8 ,you gentle gods give me but this ,i have1 ,and sear up my embracements from a next ,with bonds of death6 ,remain thou here1 7,putting on the ring7 ,while sense can keep it on4' ,yet he afterwards gives it up to ,iachimo--upon a false representation1 however--to test his wife's honour3-- ------,here1 take this too2 ,it is a basilisk unto my eye1 ,kills me to look on't4 ,a diamond ring was sent by ,henry the ,eighth in #aedb to ,sir ,arthur ,plantagenet 7,lord ,lisle1 natural son of ,edward the ,fourth7 in token of forgiveness1 and accompanying an order for his release from the ,tower1 but the unfortunate prisoner1 in his excess of joy1 died4 ,in ,shakspeare's #8,henry the ,eighth' 7,act v4 sc4 i47 a ring is delivered by the ,king to ,cranmer1 in token of royal confidence and esteem3-- ,be of good cheer1 ,they shall no more prevail than we give way to4 ,keep comfort to you2 and this morning see ,you do appear before them2 if they shall chance1 ,in charging you with matters1 to commit you1 ,the best persuasions to the contrary ,fail not to use1 and with what vehemency ,the occasion shall instruct you3 if entreaties ,will render you no remedy1 this ring ,deliver them1 and your appeal to us ,there make before them4 ,the sequel of this incident is related in ,foxe's #8,acts and ,monuments of the ,christian ,martyrs1' printed in #aefc3--#8;,anon the ,archbishop was called into the council-chamber1 to whom was alleged as before is rehearsed4 ,the ,archbishop answered in like sort as the ,king had advised him2 and in the end1 when he perceived that no manner of persuasion or entreaty could serve1 he delivered them the ,king's ring1 revoking his cause into the ,king's hands4 ,the whole council being thereat somewhat amazed1 the ,earl of ,bedford1 with a loud voice1 confirming his words with a solemn oath1 said3 8,when you first began the matter1 my ,lords1 ,i told you what would become of it4 ,do you think the ,king would suffer this man's finger to ache8 ,much more1 ,i warrant you1 will he defend his life against brabling varlets4 ,you do but cumber yourselves to hear tales and fables against him40 ,and1 incontinently1 upon the receipt of the ,king's token1 they all rose1 and carried to the ,king his ring1 surrendering that matter1 as the order and use was1 into his own hands4' ,by the same capricious monarch a turquoise ring was sent to ,cardinal ,wolsey1 in his last troubles at ,esher1 by ,sir ,john ,russel1 as a #8token' from ,his ,majesty1 with the assurance that #8he loved him as well as ever he did1 and was sorry for his trouble4' ,on hearing subsequently from ,dr4 ,buttes of the serious illness of his discarded favourite1 he sent a valuable ring to him1 and ,mistress ,anne ,boleyn1 then at the ,king's side1 at her royal lover's request1 took a gold tablet from her girdle1 and gave it with a speech expressing sympathy and commendation--false gifts and hollow words6 ,in after years1 when a deputation was sent by the council of ,king ,edward the ,sixth to reduce the recusant ,princess ,mary to conformity with the ,protestant religion1 she1 on her knees1 delivered a ring as a token to the ,king1 saying #8she would die his true subject and sister1 and obey him in all things1 except in matters of religion4' ,when1 as ,queen1 ,mary lay on her deathbed1 ,king ,philip1 her husband1 who did not revisit ,england after his return to ,spain1 sent a message and a ring-token to his consort1 a ruby set in gold1 which she bequeathed to him among other jewels4 ,one of the most interesting episodes of ring-tokens is that which ,queen ,elizabeth is said to have given to the ,earl of ,essex #8in token of esteem1' with the intimation that if ever he forfeited her favour1 and it should be sent back to her1 the sight of it would ensure his forgiveness4 ,the chief authorities for the story appear to be the #8,relation of ,m4 ,aubrey de ,maurier1' printed in #afhh1 and the account given at the same period by ,lady ,elizabeth ,spelman4 ,the particulars of this occurrence are related in the memoirs of ,robert ,carey4 ,when ,essex lay under sentence of death1 he determined to try the virtue of the ,queen's ring by sending it to her and claiming the benefit of her promise4 ,knowing1 however1 that he was surrounded by the creatures of those who were bent on taking his life1 he was fearful of trusting to any of his attendants4 ,at length1 looking out of his window1 he saw1 early one morning1 a boy whose countenance pleased him1 and he induced him by a bribe to carry the ring1 which he threw down from above1 to the ,lady ,scroop1 his cousin1 who had taken so friendly an interest in his fate4 ,the boy1 by mistake1 took the ring to the ,countess of ,nottingham1 the cruel sister of the fair and gentle ,scroop1 and1 as both these ladies belonged to the royal bed-chamber1 the mistake might easily occur4 ,the ,countess carried the ring to the ,lord ,admiral1 who was a deadly foe of ,essex1 and told him the message1 but he bade her suppress both4 ,the ,queen1 unconscious of the incident1 waited in the painful suspense of an angry lover for the expected token to arrive1 but1 not receiving it1 she concluded that he was too proud to make the last appeal to her tenderness1 and1 after having once revoked the warrant1 she ordered the execution to take place4 ,the romantic story of the ,queen visiting the ,countess of ,nottingham1 who had kept back the ring2 of her shaking her on her death-bed1 and crying out bitterly #8that ,god might forgive1 but she could not1' is somewhat credited as documents come to light4 ,in ,birch's #8,memoirs of the ,peers of ,england during the ,reign of ,james the ,first1' this story is given1 as having been repeatedly told by ,lady ,elizabeth ,spelman1 great-granddaughter of ,sir ,robert ,carey4 ,the ,queen is said to have been so hurt by this revelation of ,lady ,nottingham that she never went to bed1 nor took any sustenance from that period4 #8,in confirmation of the time of the ,countess's death1' says ,birch1 #8it appears from the parish register of ,chelsea that she died at ,arundel ,house1 ,london1 ,february #be1 and was buried the #bhth1 #afjc4 ,her funeral was kept at ,chelsea1 ,march #bast following1 and ,queen ,elizabeth died three days afterwards4' ,the celebrated ring on which the life of the ,earl of ,essex is thus said to have depended has been claimed by various persons4 ,in #8,old ,england' 7vol4 ii4 p4 #gd7 a story is told that when1 in #aefd1 ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 married ,darnley1 she sent to her fair cousin of ,england a diamond-ring in the form of a heart1 in token of the event and her own affection4 ,the ring was accompanied by some ,latin verses by ,buchanan1 thus translated3-- ,this gem behold1 the emblem of my heart1 ,from which my cousin's image ne'er shall part2 ,clear in its lustre1 spotless does it shine1 ',tis clear and spotless as this heart of mine4 ,what though the stone a greater hardness wears1 ,superior firmness still the figure bears4 #8,according' 7observes the editor of #8,old ,england'7 #8to information which has been communicated to us1 with an implicit faith on the part of our informants1 that was the ring presented by ,elizabeth to ,essex1 as being the most precious it was in her power to give him4' ,another account says that ,mr4 ,thomas ,penning1 of the ,exchequer1 had1 in #agha1 a purse and ring by bequest from ,mr4 ,sotheby1 whose sister he married1 and who was related to the late ,mrs4 ,cooke1 by long succession and inheritance from ,sir ,anthony ,cooke1 of ,giddy ,hall1 ,essex1 preceptor of ,edward the ,sixth1 and to whose family1 according to tradition1 these precious objects were given by ,queen ,elizabeth4 ,the ring was of gold1 with the ,queen's bust in bas-relief on a garnet1 dressed as in her sixpenny and threepenny pieces of #aegd1 with the same features round it in the garter with the motto1 and fastened with a buckle composed of two diamonds1 and the strap turned by another4 ,over the bust was the crown1 composed of twelve diamonds1 and on each side the collet three diamonds4 ,on the inner surface1 immediately under the bust1 was the union rose4 ,illustration3 ,the #8,devereux' ,ring4 ,perhaps the strongest claim to the possession of the real ring of ,essex is that which was exhibited at the ,society of ,antiquaries1 ,march #aheh1 by the ,rev4 ,lord ,john ,thynne4 ,it is of gold1 slightly made1 and ornamented on the inside with blue enamel4 ,on the face is set a cameo cut in sardonyx1 representing ,queen ,elizabeth in a high ruff4 ,the workmanship is good1 and shows considerable skill in the adaptation of the layers of the stone to the details of the dress4 ,it seems to have been originally made for a very small finger1 and to have been subsequently enlarged4 ,the ring is said to have been the property of ,lady ,frances ,devereux1 daughter of the ,earl of ,essex1 and afterwards ,duchess of ,somerset1 and to have passed from mother to daughter until it came to ,louisa1 daughter of ,john1 ,earl of ,granville1 who married ,thomas ,thynne1 second ,viscount ,weymouth1 great-grandfather of the present owner4 ,it has been stated by ,captain ,devereux that no mention of the ring in question is made in the elaborate will of the ,duchess of ,somerset4 ,she may1 however1 have given it to her daughter in her lifetime4 ,the ring appears to have been made for a female finger1 and as it is not very likely that the ,queen would have worn her own portrait in a ring1 it is more probable that this ring was intended for one of the ladies of her court1 and it may have been enlarged for some subsequent owner4 ,it is undoubtedly a remarkable work of art of the period of ,elizabeth4 ,it may be noticed that the ,hon4 ,captain ,devereux1 in his #8,lives and ,letters of the ,devereux1 ,earls of ,essex1' seems to believe in the story of the ring1 but the evidence he adduces is not sufficient to justify his faith4 ,another ring1 which is in the possession of ,c4 ,w4 ,warner1 ,esq4 7and is1 together with that noticed1 engraved in the #8,lives and ,letters of the ,devereux1 ,earls of ,essex'71 sets forth a rival claim to be the identical ring given to ,essex1 of which1 however1 it shows no internal evidence1 being a slight ring1 without any device1 and has an enamelled hoop1 set with a pear-shaped diamond4 ,in #8,manningham's ,diary1' #afjb-afjc 7,camden ,society71 is the following entry3 #8,dr4 ,parry told me the ,countess ,kildare assured him that the ,queene caused the ring wherewith shee was wedded to the crowne to be cutt from hir finger1 some six weekes before her death1 but wore a ring which the ,earl of ,essex gave her unto the day of hir death4'#ff ,the interchange of rings as royal tokens between ,queen ,elizabeth and ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 was frequent2 whether genuine in the feelings that prompted their transmission 7at least1 as regards the former7 may be questioned4 ,on the baptism of the son of the ,scottish ,queen 7afterwards ,james the ,sixth7 we are informed that the ,duke of ,bedford1 besides a gold font1 the present of ,queen ,elizabeth1 sent #8ane ring with ane stane to be delivered to the said woman who should occupy the place of the ,queen's ,grace of ,england at the said baptism4' ,mary is mentioned by the ,english ambassador to the ,scottish court as wearing1 on the celebration of ,twelfth ,day in #aefb1 no jewels or gold1 but a ring sent to her by ,elizabeth4 ,it may have been that which1 a prisoner at ,lochleven ,castle1 she wished to obtain from the royal jewels which had been kept back from her by the ,earl of ,moray4#fg ,it had been sent to her as a token of friendship1 and the promise that if it were returned to the donor in any period of misfortune she would do her best to assist her4 ,miss ,strickland informs us that ,mary1 in a letter to ,elizabeth1 though unable1 as she mentions1 to send back the ring1 reminds ,elizabeth of her promise4 ,this interesting letter is still preserved at ,hatfield ,house4 #8,it will please you to remember1' she writes1 #8you have told me several times that on receiving the ring you gave me you would assist me in my time of trouble4 ,you know that ,moray has seized all that ,i have1 and those who had the keeping of some of these things have been ordered not to deliver any of them to me4 ,robert ,melville1 at any rate1 to whom ,i have secretly sent for this ring1 as my most precious jewel1 says 8he dare not let me have it40 ,therefore ,i implore you1 on receiving this letter1 to have compassion on your good sister and cousin1 and believe that you have not a more affectionate relative in the world1' etc4 etc41 #8dated from my prison this #ast of ,may' 7#aefh74 ,on the escape of ,mary from her #8prison1' ,sir ,robert ,melville1 anticipating a counter-revolution from the general feeling in favour of the ,queen1 was one of the first who came to her at ,hamilton ,castle to renew his homage1 bringing with him as a peace-offering the precious ring so often demanded in vain4 #8,on leaving ,scotland1' says ,miss ,strickland1 #8after her fatal resolution of throwing herself on the protection of ,queen ,elizabeth1 ,mary sent the ring as an avant-courier1 with a letter4 ,this romantic toy1 which she regarded in the same light as one of the fairy talismans in eastern love1 was actually the lure which tempted her in this desperate crisis of her fortunes to enter ,england1 under the fond idea that its donor could not refuse to keep her promise4 ,she concludes an affecting letter to ,queen ,elizabeth 7dated from ,dundrennan7 thus3 8,to remind you of the reasons ,i have to depend on ,england1 ,i send back to the ,queen the token of her promised friendship and assistance40' ,this memorable ring is described by ,aubrey1 to have been a delicate piece of mechanism1 consisting of several joints1 which1 when united1 formed the quaint device of two right hands supporting a heart between them4 ,this heart was composed of two separate diamonds1 held together by a central spring1 which1 when opened1 would allow either of the hearts to be detached4 #8,queen ,elizabeth1' says ,aubrey1 #8kept one moietie1 and sent the other as a 8token0 of her constant friendship to ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 but she cut off her head for all that4' ,illustration3 ,essex ring 7874 ,the circumstance of the ring is further verified beyond dispute by ,mary herself1 in a subsequent letter to ,elizabeth1 in which she bitterly reproaches her with her perfidious conduct4 #8,after ,i escaped from ,lochleven1' she says1 #8and was nearly taken in battle by my rebellious subjects1 ,i sent you by a trusty messenger the diamond you had given me as a token of affection and demanded your assistance4 ,i believed that the jewel ,i received as a pledge of your friendship would remind you that when you gave it me ,i was not only flattered with great promise of assistance from you1 but you bound yourself on your royal word to advance over the border to my succour1 and to come in person to meet me1 and that if ,i made the journey into your realm that ,i might confide in your honour4' ,elizabeth1 as is well known1 took no notice either of the pledge or allusions to her former professions4 ,the illustration on the preceding page represents the ring mentioned 7p4 #cci7 as the property of the ,warner family4 ,sir ,thomas ,warner1 to whom it was presented by ,james the ,first1 placed it on his shield of arms1 with the motto1 #8,i hold from the ,king4' ,during the ,duke of ,norfolk's imprisonment in the ,tower he sent two diamond rings1 as love-tokens to ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 while she was at ,coventry4 ,in the metrical chronicle of the #8,life of ,sir ,nicholas ,throgmorton' we find that when ,elizabeth heard rumours of the death of her sister1 ,queen ,mary1 to be really sure1 she sent ,sir ,nicholas ,throgmorton to the palace to request one of the ladies of the bed-chamber1 who was in her confidence1 #8if the queen were really dead1 to send her as a token the black enamelled ring which ,her ,majesty wore night and day'3-- ,she said 7since nought exceedeth woman's fears1 ,who still do dread some baits of subtlety73 #8,sir ,nicholas1 know a ring my sister wears ,enamell'd black--a pledge of loyalty-- ,the which the ,king of ,spain in spousals gave4 ,if aught fall out amiss1 'tis that ,i crave4 #8,but hark6 ope not your lips to anyone ,in hope us to obtain of courtesy1 ,unless you know my sister first be gone1 ,for grudging minds will still coyne 7coin7 treachery4 ,so shall thyself be safe1 and us be sure4 ,who takes no hurt shall need no care of cure4' ,elizabeth's meaning seems to have been that the ring should not be sought for until ,mary's death4 ,a ring #8token' was also the announcement of ,queen ,elizabeth's death4 ,lady ,scroope1 it seems1 gave the first intelligence of the event by dropping from the window of the palace a sapphire ring to her brother1 ,sir ,robert ,carey1 who was lurking beneath the chamber of death at ,richmond4 ,he departed with this ring at his utmost speed to announce the tidings to the ,scottish monarch4 ,the sapphire in this ring is in the possession of the ,countess of ,cork1 and was exhibited at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,jewellery at ,south ,kensington in #ahgb4 ,a statement in the catalogue records the incident related4 ,the ring is mentioned in ,robertson's #8,history of ,scotland' and ,banks' #8,peerage ,books4' ,it was afterwards given to ,john1 ,earl of ,orrery1 by the ,duchess of ,buckingham1 natural daughter of ,james the ,second4 ,i may here remark that ,camden relates a romantic incident1 that while ,queen ,elizabeth was celebrating the anniversary of her coronation1 ,henry of ,anjou1 one of her royal suitors1 in a fit of gallantry1 took from her finger a ring in token of betrothal1 and put it on his own in presence of the ,court2 but as this story is entirely refuted by history ,i forbear the details4 ,an incident in connection with ring-tokens is related in the life of that distinguished knight and courtier1 ,sir ,john ,perrot1 which has additional interest from having formed the subject of a poem by the late ,mrs4 ,maclean 7#8,l4 ,e4 ,l4'74 ,the ballad1 which appeared some years ago in one of the #8annuals1' is so charming and characteristic that ,i have ventured to reproduce it3-- ,the evening tide is on the turn2 so calm the waters flow1 ,there seems to be one heav'n above1 another heav'n below2 ,the blue skies broken by white clouds1 the river by white foam1 ,the stars reflect themselves1 and seem to have another home4 ,a shade upon the elements2 'tis of a gallant bark1 ,her stately sides fling on the waves an outline dim and dark2 ,the difference this by things of earth1 and things of heav'n made1 ,the things of heav'n are trac'd in light1 and those of earth in shade4 ,wrapt in his cloak a noble knight stept to and fro that deck1 ,revolving all those gentler thoughts the busier day-hours check2 ,a thousand sad1 sweet influences in truth and beauty lie ,within the quiet atmosphere of a lone starry sky4 ,a shower of glittering sparkles fell from off the dashing oar1 ,as a little boat shot rapidly from an old oak on shore2 ,his eye and pulse grew quick1 the knight's1 his heart kept no true time ,in his unsteady breathing1 with the light oar's measur'd chime4 #8,thou hast loiter'd--so1 in sooth1 should ,i--thy errand be thy plea1 ,and now1 what of my lady bright1 what guerdon sent she me8 ,or sat she lonely in her bower1 or lovely in the hall8 ,how look'd she when she took my gift8 sir page1 now tell me all4' #8,i found her with a pallid cheek1 and with a drooping head2 ,i left her1 and the summer rose wears not a gladder red4 ,and she murmur'd something like the tones a lute has in its chords2 ,so very sweet the whisper was1 ,i have forgot the words4' #8,a health to thee1 my lady love1 a health in ,spanish wine1 ,to-night ,i'll pledge no other health1 ,i'll name no name but thine4' ,the young page hid his laugh1 then dropp'd in rev'rence on his knee3 #8,in sooth1 good master1 that ,i think to-night may scarcely be4 #8,while kneeling at your lady's feet another dame passed by1 ,the lion in her haughty step1 the eagle in her eye3 8,and doth the good knight barter gems8 ,god's truth1 we'll do the same10 ,a pleasant meaning lit the smile that to her proud eyes came4 #8,she took the fairest of the gems upon her glittering hand1 ,with her own fingers fasten'd it upon a silken band1 ,and held it to the lamp1 then said3 8,like this stone's spotless flame ,so tell your master that ,i hold his high and knightly fame40' ,low on his bended knee the knight received that precious stone1 ,and bold and proud the spirit now that in his dark eyes shone3 #8,up from your sleep1 my mariners1 for ere the break of day1 ,and even now the stars are pale1 ,i must be miles away4' ,the spray fell from the oars in showers1 as in some fairy hall ,they say in melting diamonds the charmd fountains fall2 ,and though1 as set the weary stars1 the darker grew the night1 ,yet far behind the vessel left a track of silver light4 ,they saw again that self-same shore which they that morn had pass'd1 ,on which they look'd as those who know such look may be the last-- ,then out he spoke1 the helmsman old3 #8,i marvel we should go1 ,just like a lady's messenger1 on the same path to and fro4' #8,and 'tis to see a lady's face this homeward task we ply4 ,i wot the proudest of us all were proud to catch her eye4 ,a royal gift our queen hath sent1 and it were sore disgrace ,if that ,i first put on her gem1 and not before her face6' ,on the terrace by the river-side there stood a gallant band1 ,the very flower of knight and dame were there of ,english land2 ,the morning wind toss'd ostrich plume1 and stirr'd the silken train1 ,the morning light from gold and gem was mirror'd back again4 ,there walk'd the ,queen ,elizabeth2 you knew her from the rest ,more by the royal step and eye than by the royal vest2 ,there flashed1 though now the step was staid1 the falcon eye was still1 ,the fiery blood of ,lancaster1 the haughty ,tudor's will4 ,a lady by the balustrade1 a little way apart1 ,lean'd languidly1 indulging in the solitude of heart ,which is ,love's empire tenanted by visions of his own-- ,such solitude is soon disturb'd1 such visions soon are flown4 ,love's pleasant time is with her now1 for she hath hope and faith1 ,which think not what the lover doth1 but what the lover saith4 ,upon her hand there is a ring1 within her heart a vow2 ,no voice is whispering at her side--what doth she blush for now8 ,a noble galley valiantly comes on before the wind2 ,her sails are dyed by the red sky she's leaving fast behind4 ,none other mark'd the ship that swept so eagerly along2 ,the lady knew the flag1 and when hath lover's eye been wrong8 ,the lonely lady watch'd2 meantime went on the converse gay4 ,it was as if the spirits caught the freshness of the day4 #8,good omen such a morn as this1' her ,grace of ,england said1 #8,what progress down our noble ,thames hath ,sir ,john ,perrot made8' ,then spoke ,sir ,walter ,raleigh1 with a soft and silvery smile1 ,and an earnest gaze that seem'd to catch the ,queen's least look the while1 #8,methinks that ev'ry wind in heav'n will crowd his sails to fill1 ,for goeth he not forth to do his gracious ,sovereign's will8' ,with that the bark came bounding up1 then staid her in her flight2 ,and right beneath the terrace she moor'd her in their sight4 #8,now1 by my troth1' exclaimed the ,queen1 #8it is our captain's bark4 ,what brings the loiterer back again8'--her eye and brow grew dark4 #8,fair ,queen1' replied a voice below1 #8,i pay a vow of mine1 ,and never yet was voyage delayed by worship at a shrine4' ,he took the jewel in his hand1 and bent him on his knee1 ,then flung the scarf around his neck1 where all the gem might see4 ,his white plumes swept the very deck1 yet once he glanc'd above2 ,the courtesy was for the ,queen1 the glance was for his love4 #8,now fare-thee-well1' then said the ,queen1 #8for thou art a true knight4' ,but even as she spoke the ship was flitting from the sight4 ,woe to the ,spaniards and their gold amid the ,indian seas1 ,when rolled the thunder of that deck upon the southern breeze1 ,for bravely ,sir ,john ,perrot bore our flag across the main1 ,and ,england's bells for victory rang when he came home again4 ,in the will of ,thomas ,sackville1 ,duke of ,dorset 7,lord ,high ,treasurer in the times of ,elizabeth and ,james ,i471 given in ,collins's #8,baronage1' is a mention of a token ring4 ,it is described as #8of gold and enamelled black1 and set round with diamonds to the number of twenty2 whereof1 five1 being placed in the upper part of the said ring1 do represent the fashion of a cross4' ,it is further mentioned as to be a heirloom4 #8,and to the intent that they may knowe howe just and great cause bothe they and ,i have to hould the sayed ,rynge1 with twentie ,diamonds1 in so highe esteeme1 yt is most requisite that ,i doe here set downe the whole course and circumstance1 howe and from whome the same rynge did come to my possession1 which was thus3 ,in the ,begynning of the monethe of ,june1 one thousand sixe hundred and seaven1 this rynge thus set with twenty ,diamonds1 as is aforesayed1 was sent unto me from my most gracious soveraigne1 ,king ,james1 by that honourable personage1 the ,lord ,haye1 one of the gentlemen of ,his ,highnes ,bedchamber1 the ,courte then beying at ,whitehall in ,london1 and ,i at that tyme remayning at ,horsley ,house in ,surrey1 twentie myles from ,london1 where ,i laye in suche extremetye of sickness as yt was a common and a constant reporte all over ,london that ,i was dead1 and the same confidentlie affirmed even unto the ,kinge's ,highnes himselfe2 upon which occasion it pleased his most excellent majestie1 in token of his gracious goodness and great favour towards me1 to send the saied ,lord ,hay with the saied ,ringe1 and this ,royal message unto me1 namelie1 that his ,highness wished a speedie and a perfect recoverye of my healthe1 with all happie and good successe unto me1 and that ,i might live as long as the diamondes of that ,rynge 7which therewithall he delivered unto me7 did endure1 and in token thereof1 required me to weare yt and keepe yt for his sake4' ,among other token rings1 under affecting circumstances1 ,i may also mention those given on the eve of his execution 7#afea7 by ,james ,stanley1 ,earl of ,derby1 ,governor of the ,isle of ,man--#8a man1' observes ,lodge1 #8of great honour and clear courage4' ,a minute narrative of the circumstances of his final hours was penned with touching simplicity by a ,mr4 ,bagaley1 one of his gentlemen1 who was allowed to attend him to the last1 and the manuscript has been carefully preserved in the family4 ,a transcript of the most part of it may be found in ,collins's #8,peerage4' ,he wrote letters to his wife1 daughter1 and sons1 and sent a servant to purchase all the rings he could get4 ,these were wrapped in separate papers1 and ,bagaley1 under the ,earl's instructions1 directed them to his children and servants1 and the unfortunate nobleman said3 #8,as to them ,i can say nothing2 silence and your own looks will best tell your message4' ,rings1 as #8tokens1' or pledges1 for the repayment of loans were made for ,queen ,henrietta ,maria1 the consort of ,charles the ,first1 while she was in ,holland1 endeavouring to raise money and troops for her unfortunate husband4 ,to such as gave her pecuniary assistance she was accustomed to show her gratitude by the gift of a ring1 or some other trinket from her own cabinet2 but when the increasing exigencies of the ,king's affairs compelled her to sell or pawn in ,holland the whole of her plate and most of her jewels for his use1 she adopted an ingenious device by which she was enabled1 at a small expense1 to continue her gifts to her friends1 and in a form that rendered them more precious to the recipient parties1 because they had immediate reference to herself4 ,she had a great many rings1 lockets1 and bracelet clasps made with her cipher1 the letters #8,h4 ,m4 ,r41' ,henrietta ,maria ,regina1 in very delicate filagree of gold1 entwined in a monogram1 laid on a ground of crimson velvet1 covered with thick crystal1 cut like a table-diamond and set in gold4 ,these were called the ,king's pledges1 or #8tokens1' and presented by her to any person who had lent her money1 or had rendered her any particular service1 with an understanding that if presented to ,her ,majesty at any future time1 when fortune smiled on the royal cause1 it would command1 either repayment of the money advanced1 or some favour from the ,queen as an equivalent4 #8,many of these interesting testimonials are still in existence' 7observes ,miss ,strickland71 #8and1 in families where the tradition has been forgotten1 have been regarded as amulets which were to secure good fortune to the wearer4' ,one of these royal pledges1 ,miss ,strickland informs us1 has been preserved as an heirloom in her family1 and there is a ring with the same device1 in possession of ,philip ,darrell1 ,esq41 of ,cales ,hill1 ,kent1 which was presented to his immediate ancestor by that queen4 ,it was in the reign of ,charles the ,first that a fearful incident occurred in ,scotland 7#afcj7 at the ,castle of ,frendraught--a fire breaking out at midnight in a sudden manner1 #8yea1 in ane clap1' says ,spalding1 involving the whole of the inmates in destruction1 excepting three persons4 ,viscount ,melgum1 son of the ,marquis of ,huntly1 only twenty-four years of age1 who was a guest of the ,laird of ,frendraught at the time1 perished1 leaving a widow and child4 ,a popular ballad of the day speaks of his being called on to leap from the window3-- #8,how can ,i leap1 how can ,i win1 ,how can ,i leap to thee8 ,my head's fast in the wire-window1 ,my feet burning from me4' ,he's ta'en the rings from aff his hands1 ,and thrown them o'er the wall2 ,saying1 #8,give them to my lady fair1 ,where she sits in the hall4' ,a pledge or token ring of remarkable interest was exhibited by ,mr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,singer at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery1 ,south ,kensington ,museum1 in #ahgb4 ,this ring 7of silver1 set with a yellow topaz1 diamonds1 and a small ruby of ,english manufacture7 has been preserved in the ,penderell family1 as that given by ,king ,charles ,,ii4 as a token of gratitude for the fidelity which saved him in the oak-tree at ,boscobel1 after the battle of ,worcester4 ,at the ,king's ,restoration the five brothers ,penderell attended at ,whitehall1 #8when his ,majesty was pleased to own their faithful service1 and graciously dismissed them with a princely reward' 7#8,boscobel ,tracts'74 ,this ring now belongs to ,mrs4 ,whiteby1 of ,beckington1 ,somerset1 fifth in descent from ,penderell4 ,a yearly pension of one hundred pounds for ever was conferred upon the family1 a portion of which 7forty pounds7 is now only received by a male relative4 ,a ring-token1 of sinister omen1 is mentioned of the same monarch4 ,this ill bestowal of a ring from royalty is exemplified in the case of that hideous judicial monster ,jeffreys4 ,with thorough want of judgment1 ,charles ,,ii41 in a fit of imprudency1 habitual to him1 gave the infamous judge a ring from his own finger4 ,this was popularly termed ,jeffreys's blood-stone1 as he obtained it soon after the execution of ,sir ,thomas ,armstrong4 ,roger ,north says3 #8,the ,king was persuaded to present him with a ring1 publicly taken from his own finger1 in token of his ,majesty's acceptance of his most eminent services2 and this1 by way of precursor1 being blazoned in the ,gazette1 his ,lordship went down into the country as from the ,king1 legatus latere4' ,and a mission of blood and brutality it was6 ,a ring-token or present is mentioned in the #8,true ,remembrances' of ,richard ,boyle1 the great ,earl of ,cork1 who says3 #8,when first ,i arrived in ,ireland1 ,june #bc1 #aehh1 all my wealth then was twenty-seven pounds three shillings in money1 and two tokens which my mother had given me1 viz4 a diamond ring1 which ,i have ever since and still do wear1 and a bracelet of gold worth about ten pounds4' ,many other instances of ring-tokens might be mentioned1 but the limits to which this work is confined prevent me from enlarging on the subject4 ,i will merely allude as a memorable instance in modern times1 to the ring-token presented to ,george ,,iii4 on his birthday in #agfd by his ,queen4 ,it was a ring splendidly ornamented with brilliants1 and contained an enamel in which were the portraits1 exquisitely represented1 of their children4 ,i will conclude these notices of token rings with a very stirring ballad by ,mr4 ,planch1 entitled #8,the ,three ,rings'3-- #8,good morrow1 lovely lady6 ,is thy noble lord with thee8' #8,sir knight1 since to the wars he went1 full moons have wasted three2 ,three weary moons have wax'd and waned since he sail'd o'er the main1 ,and little wist ,i when these eyes shall see my lord again4' #8,forget him1 lovely lady1 as by him thou art forgot4' #8,thou dost him wrong1 sir knight2 by him forgotten ,i am not3 ,i hold within my arms a pledge for his true love to me1 ,this new-born babe--his child and mine--which he hath yet to see4' #8,oh1 let me be thy servant1 lady--,i will love thee dear--' #8,sir knight1 ,i am a wedded wife1 such words ,i may not hear--' #8,none else can hear them1 lady4 ,what witnesses are nigh8' #8,this heart1 which is ,hernando's1 and ,god who sits on high4' #8,sweet lady1 yet a boon1 upon my bended knee1 ,i crave--' #8,sir knight1 if one which ,i can grant with honour1 ask and have4' #8,oh1 give me these three golden rings that on thy fingers shine4' #8,sir knight1 with life alone ,i part with these three rings of mine6' #8,oh1 lend them but a day--an hour--to wear them for thy sake--' #8,it may not be1 such act my lord would proof of falsehood make4' #8,enough1 enough1 unkind one6 ,then ,i may nought obtain8' #8,when thou would'st aught that ,i may grant1 sir knight1 demand again4' ,the knight hath mounted his steed and away--his love is changed to hate4 ,at the nearest town he lighted down before a goldsmith's gate3 ,he hath bought three rings of plain red gold1 like those by ,clara worn1 #8,o bitterly thy slight of me1 proud lady1 shalt thou mourn6' ,he hath mounted again his coal-black barb before the break of day4 ,and who is he1 the warrior bold1 who meets him on the way8 ,it is the brave ,hernando1 who1 the ,soldan's city won1 ,now pants to hold within his arms his wife and new-born son4 #8,what news8 what news8 thou noble knight2 good friend1 thy tidings tell-- ,how fare my wife and infant child--say1 are they safe and well8' #8,thy wife is well1 and eke the boy'--#8,thy speech is brief and cold2 ,clara is true8'--#8,for answer1 look on these three rings of gold4' ,one instant1 and his vizor's clos'd1 his lance is in the rest-- #8,defend thee now1 thou felon knight6 ,foul shame be on thy crest6' ,one charge--one shock4 ,the traitor's corse is from the saddle cast1 ,through plate1 and chain1 and gambeson1 ,hernando's spear hath pass'd4 ,he buries in his courser's flank his bloody spears again2 ,away6 away6 he scales the hill--he thunders o'er the plain6 #8,up1 ,clara1 up6' her mother cries2 #8,hernando comes6 ,i see ,the well-known blazon on his shield4 ',tis he1 my child1 'tis he6' #8,oh1 mother6 rides he fast as one who to his true-love hies8 ,canst see his face1 dear mother8 ,looks joy from out his eyes8' #8,his helmet1 child1 is open1 and he rideth fast enow1 ,but his cheek is pale1 and bent1 as if in anger1 seems his brow4' ,the tramp of armed feet is heard upon the turret stair2 ,forth springs to meet her lord's embrace that lady fond and fair4 ,by the silken locks1 in which his hands have oft been fondly twined1 ,he hath seized and dragged her from her bower with jealous fury blind4 ,he hath bound her at his horse's heels--nor shriek nor prayer he heeds2 ,o'er rugged rock1 through bush and briar1 the goaded courser speeds2 ,her flesh is rent by every thorn1 her blood stains every stone1-- ,now1 ,jesu sweet1 have mercy6 for her cruel lord hath none6 ,and lo6 the sharp edge of a flint hath shorn the cord in twain2 ,down leaps the vengeful lord to make his victim fast again4 #8,what have ,i done48 ,before ,i die1 my crime1 ,hernando1 say8' #8,the golden rings ,i charged thee keep1 thou false one1 where are they8' #8,oh where1 but on the hand which1 with my heart1 ,i gave to thee6 ,draw off my glove--,i cannot--for my strength is failing me6' #8,oh curses on my frantic rage6--my wrong'd--my murder'd wife-- ,come forth1 my sword6 ,then1 ,clara1 shall life atone for life6' ,she staggered up1 love gave her strength1 the sword afar she hurl'd1 #8,thou know'st my innocence6 ,oh1 live to prove it to the world6 ,weep not for ,clara--loved by thee1 contented she expires6 ,live for our child--the boy whose fame shall emulate his sire's6' #8,our child6--the child my fury hath made motherless to-day6 ,and when he for his mother asks--,o ,god--what shall ,i say8' #8,say that her name was ,clara--that thy love was her pride-- ,that1 blessing him and thee1 she smiled1 as in thy arms she died6' ,mr4 ,planch has borrowed the subject of his admirable poem from a legend still popular in ,normandy4 ,it is that of ,marianson1 the wife of a ,french noble4 ,an evil spirit instigates a false knight to borrow the three golden token-rings of the lady during the absence of her lord4 ,he takes them to a jeweller1 who is ordered to prepare three others exactly similar1 and then returns the lady her own rings4 ,on his way he meets the husband1 whose wife he declares has been unfaithful1 and in proof of his assertion he shows the three surreptitious rings4 ,the result of this is the fearful death of ,marianson1 being tied to the tail of a wild horse1 and torn to pieces1 and the after-discovery of the three rings in her drawer by the jealous husband4 ,a somewhat similar legend is related of the ,lady of ,toggenburg1 who lived in a castle near the ,lake of ,zurich4 ,her #8token' ring was stolen by a crow1 who dropped it in the park1 where it was found by a young squire1 who placed it on his finger4 ,the ,count of ,toggenburg1 passing at the time1 saw the ring1 and1 inflamed by jealous fury1 without asking any questions1 rushed into the castle1 and hurled his wife from the battlements into the lake4 ,the young squire was torn to pieces by wild horses4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,memorial ,,and ,,mortuary ,,rings4 ,bequests of rings are frequently mentioned in wills of the middle and later ages4 ,in the reign of ,henry the ,third1 two rings were bequeathed to that monarch by a bishop of ,chichester1 one adorned with an emerald1 the other with a ruby4 ,these jewels were taken out and employed to decorate an image of the ,virgin at ,westminster1 and were placed on her forehead4 ,in the will of ,humphrey de ,bohun1 ,earl of ,hereford and ,essex 7#acai71 among various bequests is #8un anel d'or avec un ruby qe ma femme me devisa1 qe ad tout pleni de coups1 et est en un petit forcer en une graunte husche au bout de la basse gardrobe' 7the gold ring with a ruby which his wife devised to him1 and which is all covered with bruises1 and is in a little casket in a great box at the end of the lower wardrobe74 ,this is probably the same ring mentioned in an inventory of effects as an #8anel d'or ove j ,rubie4' ,thomas de ,hoton1 rector of ,kyrkebymisperton 7#acea71 bequeathed to his chaplain1 amongst other objects1 #8j annulum vertuosum4' ,another is to #8,domine ,thome de ,bouthum4' ,these were supposed to possess some healing1 or talismanic properties1 such rings being termed1 in medival ,latin1 vertuosus4 ,in the #8,bury ,wills and ,inventories' 7,camden ,society7 are various bequests of rings4 ,some of these entries are very curious4 ,john ,baret 7#adfc7 leaves to #8,elizabet ,drury1 my wyf1 a ryng of gold with an ymage of the ,trinitie4' ,to ,dame ,margarete ,spurdaunce #8a doubyl ryng departyed of gold1 with a ruby and a turkeys1 with a scripture wret with jnne1 for a rememberaunce of oold love vertuously set at all times to the pleseer of ,god4' ,to his nephew1 ,thomas ,drury1 #8my best ryng of gold next m signet1 therein is wretyn ,grace me governe1 with letteris of ,i and ,b1 accordyng to my name innamelid4' ,to his niece ,katerine1 #8for a tookne of rememberaunce1 a gold ryng1 wretyn with jnne the gold ryng1 ,in noi ,ih'u signo me signo tab4' ,to ,william ,clopton1 #8the jemews and the rynges of sylvir1 therin wretyn ,grace me governe1 for a tookne he vowchesaf in tyme comyng to shewe his good maistershepe to my wil4' ,to #8,thomais ,brews1 esquiyer1 my crampe ryng1 with blak innamel and a part sylvir and gilt4' ,anne of ,cleves1 who survived ,henry ,,viii41 left by her will several mourning-rings of various values for distribution among her friends and dependents4 ,in the #8,wills from ,doctors' ,commons1 #adie to #afie' 7,camden ,society71 ,cecily1 ,duchess of ,york 7#adie71 gives to ,john ,metcalfe and ,alice his wife #8all the ringes that ,i have1 except such as hang by my bedes and ,agnus1 and also except my signet4' ,anne ,barett 7#aejd7 bequeaths to ,our ,lady of ,walsingham #8my maryeng ryng1 with all thyngys hangyng theron4' ,agnes ,hals 7#aeed7 leaves to her son #8a rynge with the ,passion of gold1' and to her niece #8my ringe with the wepinge eie2' to another son #8my rynge with the dead manes head4' ,jasper ,despotin1 ,m4,d4 7#afdh71 wills and appoints #8ten rings of gold to be made of the value of twenty shillings a peece sterling1 with a death's head vpon some of them1 within one moneth after my depture1 and to be disposed of amongst my friends as my executrices shall thinke meet4' ,to ,mr4 ,gibbon1 #8fortie shillings sterling to buy him a ring for a memoriall of me4' ,lady ,anne ,drury 7#afba7 bequeaths #8tenne pounds a peece to all my brothers to buy them ringes1 and twentie pounds to be bestowed in ringes of tenne shillinges amongest my freinds whom they shall thinke fitte4' ,edmund ,lee 7#aece7 mentions in his will #8my ij wrethed rynge of gold1 whych ,i ware on my thombe2' also #8my gold ryng wt a turkes1 and a crampe ryng of gold wt all4' ,dame ,maude ,parr 7#aebi71 amongst other bequests of rings1 mentions one #8with a table diamontt sett with blacke aniell1 meate for my little finger4' ,stephen ,gardiner1 ,bishop of ,winchester 7#aeeg71 bequeaths1 #8to my ,lord ,legate's ,grace 7,cardinal ,pole7 a ring with a dyamounte1 not so bigge as he is wourthie to have1 but such as his poore orator is able to geve4' ,speaker ,lenthall 7#afhb7 appoints his executor #8to give my friends ,sir ,john ,lenthall1 his lady and children1 and other my cozens and nephews1 #ej gold rings with this motto1 8,oritur non ,moritur40' ,in a codicil he adds3 #8,i also desire that my son will weare his mother's wedding-ring about his arme in remembrance of her4' ,william ,prynne 7#afii7 bequeaths #8to my deare brother1 ,mr4 ,thomas ,prynne1 my best gold ring with my father's armes4' ,to ,katheryne ,clerke1 #8my best serjeant's ring4' ,to her husband1 #8one of my gold rings4 ,item4 ,i give to every one of their sonnes and daughters who shal be living at the tyme of my decease one gold ring1 and one hundred pounds a peece4' ,in the will of ,sir ,richard ,gresham 7died #aedh71 father of the founder of the ,exchange1 he bequeathed a ring to the ,protector1 ,duke of ,somerset1 and another to the profligate ,duchess of ,somerset1 each of the value of five pounds1 and he also left rings to all his friends4 ,john ,meres1 an #8,esquire ,beadle' of ,corpus ,christi ,college1 left1 in #aeeh1 to the ,vice-,chancellor of the ,college a ring weighing a royal 7valued at ten shillings73 to ,dr4 ,hutcher1 a ring worth fifteen shillings1 and a gold ring set with a cornelian to each of the #8supervisors4' ,meres had a patent for being gauger in #aeej4 ,matthew ,parker1 ,archbishop of ,canterbury1 gave by will 7#aege7 a gold ring with a round sapphire to ,edmund ,grindal1 ,archbishop of ,york1 who succeeded him in the see of ,canterbury4 ,in ,collins's #8,baronage' is the curious will of ,thomas ,sackville1 ,earl of ,dorset 7,lord ,high ,treasurer in the times of ,elizabeth and ,james ,i471 in which several rings are mentioned 7see chapter on #8,token-,rings'74 ,amongst others #8a ring of gold enamelled black1 wherein is set a great table diamonde1 beying perfect and pure1 and of much worth4' ,this ring1 with other jewels1 was given to him by the ,king of ,spain4 ,during the minority of his descendants1 these were to be consigned1 as heirlooms1 #8in a strong chest of iron1 under two several keys1' to the custody of the ,warden1 and a senior fellow of ,new ,college1 ,oxford4 ,sir ,philip ,sidney 7#aehf7 desires that #8three gold rings1 set with large diamonds1 might be fashioned exactly alike1 for his aunt1 the ,countess of ,sussex2 another aunt's husband1 the ,earl of ,huntingdon2 and his brother-in-law1 the ,earl of ,pembroke4' ,thomas ,wentworth1 one of the chiefs of that great house1 who died in #aehg1 bequeathed to his son and heir1 ,william1 besides other valuables1 his gold ring1 #8whereon is engraved his crest1 badge1 and cognizance4' ,among the ,rokeby family papers1 in the will of ,sir ,ralph ,rokeby 7#afjj71 is the bequest of several rings1 #8gratuities to kynsfolkes4' ,thomas ,sutton1 founder of the ,charter ,house1 bequeaths 7in #afaa7 ten pounds to ,mr4 ,thomas ,brown1 #8to make him a ring4' ,our great national dramatist1 ,shakspeare1 in his will 7dated #afaf7 mentions certain moneys for the purchase of rings by several of his friends4 ,five are mentioned3 two are his townsmen1 ,hamlet 7,hamnet7 ,sadler1 and ,william ,reynolds1 who have each twenty-six shillings and eightpence left them #8to buy them ringes1' the other three being the actors 7#8my fellows1' as he affectionately terms them71 ,john ,hemynge1 ,richard ,burbage1 and ,henry ,cundell1 each of whom has a similar sum4 ,in the testament of ,richard ,burgess1 vicar of ,witney 7#afcb71 he gives to his eldest son1 ,john1 the ring which he usually wore on his left hand1 and also #8twenty shillings to each of the two overseers of his last will1 to purchase rings4' ,sir ,henry ,wotton1 in #afcg1 leaves to each of the ,fellows at ,eton ,college #8a plain gold ring1 enamelled black1 all save the verge1 with this motto within1 8,amor unit omnia40' ,in a will1 dated #afdh1 occurs this clause3 #8,i do will and appoint ten rings of gold to be made1 of the value of twenty shillings a piece1 sterling1 with a death's-head upon some of them4' ,the stock of rings described in the ,duke of ,newcastle's play1 #8,the ,varietie' 7#afdi71 as the treasure of an old country lady1 is suggestive of past legacies or memorials as well as the tastes of the yeomanry at that period3 #8,a toadstone1 two ,turkies 7turquoises71 six thumb-rings1 three alderman's seals1 five gemmals1 and foure death's-head1' ,the enumeration concludes with the uncomplimentary observation1 #8these are alehouse ornaments' 7,fairholt74 ,there are numerous varieties of mourning rings left by bequest in former times4 ,the accompanying illustration represents one that would appeal to the feelings of the survivors in the simple and affecting inscription which it bears3 #8,when this you see1 remember me4' ,the ring is of silver1 jet1 and gold4 ,illustration3 ,old ,mourning ring4 ,miss ,agnes ,strickland1 in her #8,lives of the ,four ,princesses of the ,royal ,house of ,stuart1' mentions a circumstance in the life of the ,princess ,henrietta ,anne 7#afgj71 that1 #8as ,bossuet was kneeling by her bedside1 she suddenly turned to one of her ladies and spoke to her in ,english1 which the ,bishop did not understand1 to tell her that when she should have entered into her rest1 she was to give ,bossuet the emerald ring which had been ordered to be made for him as a memorial of her4' ,izaak ,walton added a codicil to his will 7#afhc7 for the distribution of memorial rings to several of his relations and friends1 with the motto1 #8,a friend's farewell4 ,i4 ,w41 obiit2' the value of the rings to be thirteen shillings and fourpence each4 ,in the will itself he gives to his son-in-law1 ,dr4 ,hawkins1 #8whom ,i love as my own son2' to his daughter1 his wife1 and his son ,izaak1 a ring to each of them1 with the motto1 #8,love my memory4 ,i4 ,w41 obiit4' ,to the ,lord ,bishop of ,winchester a ring1 with the motto1 #8,a mite for a million4 ,i4 ,w41 obiit4' ,in a codicil of the last testament of ,nell ,gwyn 7#afhg7 she requests that ,lady ,fairborne may have fifty pounds given to her to buy a ring4 ,dr4 ,john ,spencer1 ,master of ,corpus ,christi ,college1 in his will 7#afic7 left twenty shillings to each of the ,fellows of his college for a funeral ring4 ,queen ,elizabeth1 eldest daughter to ,james the ,first1 wore to the day of her death a mourning ring1 in which was a lock of her brother's hair1 brought over to ,bohemia by a faithful servant1 with the device of a crown over a skull and cross-bones1 and the letters #8,c4 ,r4' ,after her death1 in #affb1 it was much prized by her descendants1 and was long a heirloom among them4 ,on the eve of the death of ,henrietta ,anne1 the daughter of ,charles the ,first1 she sent most tender messages to her brothers ,king ,charles the ,second1 and ,james1 ,duke of ,york2 and1 drawing from her finger a ring1 she expressed a wish that it might be sent to the former1 as a memorial of her dying love4 ,a remarkable interest is attached to the bequest of a ring by ,sir ,charles ,cotterell1 master of the ceremonies1 who died in #agjj4 ,the particulars are given in the #8,proceedings of the ,society of ,antiquaries' 7,january #cj1 #ahfb74 #8,i bequeath to my constantly obliging ,friend1 ,sr ,stephen ,fox1 a ring wth a figure cut in an onyx1 which was given by ,king ,charles ye first1 from his ,finger to ,sr ,philip ,warwick1 at ye ,treaty in the ,isle of ,wight1 to seal letters he there writt for him1 and whch ,sr ,philip left to me for a ,legacy1 and wch ,i cannot leave to anybody that has been a greater ,honourer of that ,excellent ,prince's ,memory1 nor a ,worthier ,friend to us both1 and who for these reasons ,i know will value it4' ,to this has been added1 by ,sir ,stephen ,fox1 #8which ,i leave to my son ,stephen and his ,heirs1 enjoining him to keep it in remembrance of the excellent ,king that gave it off his ,finger to ,sr ,philip ,warwick1 who died in ,august #afhd1 and his son ,philip at ,new ,market a month after1 and excellent ,sr ,charles ,cotterell died in the year #agjj1 and after this was left to my good son ,charles1 who died in ,september #agac4 ,ste7phen7 ,fox4' ,at the commencement of the first of these memoranda1 and 7observes ,mr4 ,franks1 by whom these particulars were given to the ,society7 at the conclusion of the last are much-mutilated impressions from a very small antique gem1 which1 there can be no doubt1 is the onyx set in the ring in question4 ,the figure is of fine workmanship1 and represents a partially-draped young man standing in profile to the right4 ,it is1 possibly1 a representation of ,mercury1 and resembles somewhat in attitude the bronze statue found at ,huis1 in the south of ,france1 and known as the ,payne ,knight ,mercury4 ,mr4 ,franks corrects an error of ,sir ,stephen ,fox as to the date of the death of ,sir ,philip ,warwick1 which took place ,january #ae1 #afhb-c4 ,the subsequent history of this remarkable ring is contained in a short note written on the envelope enclosing the above memoranda1 by the ,earl of ,ilchester1 son of ,sir ,stephen ,fox4 #8,memorandum3 ,i am much concerned for the loss of the ring which was given by ,king ,charles ,i4 to ,sir ,philip ,warwick1 as mentioned in the enclosed paper4 ,this ring was stolen when my house in ,burlington ,street was broken open by rogues in ,january #agbb4' #8,with these papers' 7remarks ,mr4 ,franks7 #8is preserved a long letter giving an account of the burglary1 which took place during the absence of the family1 and was of a very cool and daring character4 ,it is sadly to be feared that the gold setting of the ring has found its way to the melting-pot2 the onyx1 however1 may have been preserved1 and may1 probably1 be hereafter identified by the mutilated impressions in the ,earl of ,ilchester's possession4' ,in the ,appendix to ,pepys's #8,diary' is a list of all the persons to whom rings and mourning were presented upon the occasion of his death 7,may #bf1 #agjc7 and funeral1 by which it appears that forty-six rings of the value of twenty shillings1 sixty-two at fifteen shillings1 and twenty at ten shillings were distributed among friends on that occasion4 ,in a codicil to the will of ,bishop ,burnet 7died #agae7 a long list of legacies occurs to his children2 some of these were afterwards erased1 and amongst them the bequest of #8my pointed diamond' to ,gilbert1 his second son4 ,the ring was given to the late ,sir ,john ,sewell of ,doctors' ,commons1 by a descendant from ,bishop ,burnet4 ,this ring is in the possession of ,mr4 ,c4 ,desborough1 ,bedford4 ,in the collection of the ,duke of ,richmond is a memorial ring1 gold1 set with diamond1 hoop enamelled in white1 and inscribed #8,e4 ,s4 ,dux ,buckingensis1' divided by a ducal coronet on a black ground4 ,english work of the middle of the seventeenth century4 ,made in memory of ,edmund ,sheffield1 second ,duke of ,buckingham1 who died a minor in #agce4 ,that great man1 ,george ,washington1 in his will1 thus bequeaths #8to my sisters-in-law ,hannah ,washington and ,mildred ,washington1 to my friends ,eleanor ,stuart1 ,hannah ,washington1 of ,fairfield1 and ,elizabeth ,washington1 of ,hayfield1 ,i give each a mourning-ring of the value of one hundred dollars4 ,these bequests are not made for the intrinsic value of them1 but as mementos of my esteem and regard4' ,in a few loving words addressed by a ,lady ,palmerston1 when dying1 to her husband1 after mentioning the wealth at her disposal1 which she gave to him1 she mentions two chocolate-cups formed of mourning-rings1 which were used daily by ,lady ,palmerston in memory of departed friends2 these she wished her husband to look upon as a remembrance of death1 and also of the fondest and most faithful friend he ever had4 ,a very long list might be added of bequests of rings by distinguished persons1 but ,i must be content to notice how the practice has been continued at intervals to the present time4 ,a notable item occurs in the will of ,charlotte ,augusta ,matilda1 eldest daughter of ,george ,,iii41 and ,queen of ,wurtemberg1 in which she bequeaths to the ,princess ,augusta1 among other costly objects1 a ring containing a watch1 set with brilliants4 ,rings were formerly given to attendants at funerals2 an extract from the books of the ,ironmongers' ,company1 dated #agai1 states3 #8,the master acquainted the court that one ,john ,turney1 an undertaker for funerals1 had lately buried one ,mrs4 ,mason for the ,hall1 but had refused the master1 wardens1 and clerk each a ring1 c41 according to his agreement1 the persons invited being served with gloves1 hat-bands1 and rings4 ,ordered3 the said undertaker be compelled to perform his agreement as the master and wardens shall direct4' ,the practice of offering rings at funerals is introduced as an incident in #8,sir ,amadace4' ,in former days widows wore their ring on the thumb as an emblem of widowhood1 and the following #8trick' in connection with it is mentioned in the #8,spectator3'--#8,it is common enough for a stale virgin to set up a shop in a place where the large thumb-ring1 supposed to be given her by her husband1 quickly recommends her to some wealthy neighbour1 who takes a liking to the jolly widow that would have overlooked the veritable spinster4' ,among the most touching episodes in connection with memorial rings is that exhibited in the closing hours of the unfortunate ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 at ,fotheringay ,castle1 just previous to her execution4 ,she distributed the jewels that remained to her among her faithful attendants as tokens of her affection and regard4 ,among other sad memorials1 she desired that a sapphire ring1 which she took from her finger1 might be conveyed as a mark of grateful acknowledgment to her brave kinsman ,lord ,claude ,hamilton4 ,concerning this ring1 ,bishop ,burnet says1 #8it is carefully preserved as one of the most precious heirlooms of that illustrious family4' ,miss ,strickland informs us that it is now in the possession of ,lord ,claude's accomplished representative1 the present ,duke of ,hamilton1 #8by whom it was courteously shown to me at ,hamilton ,palace in #aheg4 ,it is a large square sapphire of peculiar beauty1 rose-cut in several diamond-points1 and set in gold enamelled blue in the curious cinque-cento work of that period4' ,in the #8,times' 7,january #b1 #aheg7 is an account of another memorial ring of the last sad hours of ,queen ,mary at ,fotheringay4 ,the letter is signed #8,a ,constant ,reader4' #8,there is a lady residing at ,broadstairs who is in possession of the identical ring which was worn by ,mary1 previous to her execution1 and given by her to one of her maids of honour as a token of remembrance1 and who was afterwards so reduced as to be compelled to sell it for the value of the gold4 ,the engraving is on amber1 the usual material for such purposes at that period1 and1 as you may see from the enclosed impression1 is much worn by time4 ,it is supposed that the seal in the late ,earl of ,buchan's collection was copied from it4 ,this valuable antique was purchased many years ago by a member of the present possessor's family1 at the sale of the celebrated antiquary ,john ,m',gowan1 of ,edinburgh1 who considered it a most valuable gem4' ,a ring memorial was sent by the ,countess of ,hertford 7the great granddaughter of ,henry ,,vii41 and one of the victims of ,queen ,elizabeth's jealousy7 on her dying bed by the hands of ,sir ,owen ,hopton1 of ,cockfield ,hall1 ,suffolk3 #8,this shall be the last token unto my lord that ever ,i shall send him4 ,it is the picture of myself4' ,the ring bore a death's head with an inscription around it3 #8while ,i live--yours4' ,illustration3 ,memorial rings1 ,charles ,i4 ,the ,londesborough ,collection contains two memorial rings of ,king ,charles ,i41 one of gold1 with a table-faced diamond1 and two smaller diamonds on each side4 ,on the shank is engraved an elongated skeleton1 with cross-bones above the skull1 and a spade and pickaxe at the feet upon black enamel4 ,within is engraved #8,c4 ,r41 ,january #cj1 #afdi1 ,martyr4' ,the other ring is also of gold1 with a square table-faced diamond on an oval face1 which opens and reveals beneath a portrait of ,charles in enamel4 ,the face of the ring1 the back and side portions of the shank are engraved with scroll-work1 filled in with black enamel4 ,illustration3 ,memorial ring1 ,charles ,i4 ,in the fifteenth day's sale 7,may #aa1 #ahdb7 at ,strawberry ,hill 7lot #ei71 #8a truly interesting relic1' as the ring was termed1 is recorded to have been bought by ,mr4 ,harvey1 of ,regent ,street1 for fifteen guineas4 ,in ,horace ,walpole's catalogue it is described as one of the only seven mourning-rings given at the burial of ,charles ,i4 ,it has the ,king's head in miniature behind a death's-head between the letters #8,c4 ,r4' ,the motto is #8,prepared be to follow me4' ,a present to ,horace ,walpole from ,lady ,murray ,elliott4 #8,a long and minute account of a ring1' remarks the late ,crofton ,croker1 #8with a miniature of ,charles ,i41 appeared in the 8,gentleman's ,magazine0 for ,july #ahbc4 ,it was then in the possession of the late ,captain ,i4 ,toup ,nicholas1 ,r4,n41 and he inherited it from the ,giffard family4 ,this ring had four diamonds on the top1 on lifting up which1 a head of ,king ,charles1 enamelled on a turquoise1 presented itself4 ,the size of the painting does not exceed the fourth part of an inch2 the execution is particularly fine1 and the likeness excessively faithful4 ,the small part of his ,majesty's dress which is visible1 appears similar to that in which he is usually represented2 and a piece of the ribbon to which the 8,george0 is suspended is discernible2 on closing the lid the portrait becomes perfectly hid4 ,although miniatures of ,charles ,i4 are not uncommon1 this is particularly valuable from the portrait being concealed1 and also from its being supposed to be the smallest of him4' ,at page #aeb of ,hulbert's #8,history of ,salop' is an account of a ring in the possession of the ,misses ,pigott1 of ,upton ,magna1 said to be one of the four presented by ,charles ,i41 prior to his execution4 ,it bears a small but beautiful miniature of the royal martyr4 ,inside the ring and reverse of the portrait is inscribed over a death's-head #8,january #cj1 #afdi1' inside of the ring is engraved #8,martyr ,populi4' ,a similar ring to this is in the possession of ,mrs4 ,henderson 7formerly ,miss ,adolphus71 of ,london2 and is said to have come to her in the female line1 through her mother's family4 ,charles presented it to ,sir ,lionel ,walden on the morning in which he lost his life4 ,it bears a miniature likeness of the ,king1 set in small brilliants4 ,inside the ring are the words #8,sic transit gloria mundi4' ,a ring bearing the same inscription and a miniature of ,king ,charles is in the collection of ,john ,evans1 ,esq41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,vice-,president of the ,antiquarian ,society4 ,in the family of ,rogers1 of ,lota1 a ring is still preserved as a heirloom which was presented to an ancestor by ,king ,charles ,i4 during his misfortunes4 ,in the will of ,robert ,rogers1 which was registered in the ,record-office1 ,dublin1 occurs the following paragraph3 #8,and ,i also bequeath to ,noblett ,rogers the miniature portrait-ring of the martyr ,charles ,i41 given by that monarch to my ancestor1 previous to his execution1 and ,i particularly desire that it may be preserved in the name and family4' ,the miniature1 which is beautifully painted in enamel1 and said to be by ,vandyck1 has been re-set in a very tasteful and appropriate style3 the original settings and inscriptions exactly correspond with those on the ring in the possession of the ,misses ,pigott1 as previously mentioned4 ,the correspondent of #8,notes and ,queries1' from whom ,i have derived this information1 adds3 #8,i have lately seen a ring with a portrait of ,charles on ivory in a coarse and very inferior style1 and in a plain gold setting4 ,it is in the possession of a gentleman1 in whose family it has remained for several generations4' ,another memorial ring of ,charles ,i4 is described in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' 7,september #ahbc7 as having belonged to a lady named ,heanaud1 who died at ,chelsea in #ahji4 #8,the ring itself was of pure gold1 and without jewellery or ornament of any kind4 ,on the top of it was an oval of white enamel1 not more than half an inch in longitudinal diameter1 and apparently about an eighth of an inch in thickness4 ,the surface was slightly convexed1 and divided into four compartments1 in each of which was painted one of the four cardinal virtues1 which1 although so minute as to be scarcely perceptible to the clearest sight1 by the application of a glass appeared perfectly distinct1 each figure being well proportioned1 and having its appropriate attitude4 ,by touching a secret spring the case opened and exposed to view a very beautifully-painted miniature of the unfortunate ,charles1 with the pointed beard1 mustachios1 etc41 as he is usually portrayed1 and1 from its resemblance to the portraits generally seen of the monarch1 having every appearance of being a strong likeness4 ,within the lid of this little box 7for box1 in fact1 it was7 were enamelled1 on a dark ground1 a skull and cross-bones4' ,mr4 ,howe1 master-gunner at the castle of ,carisbrooke1 had a little son1 who was a great favourite of the unfortunate ,charles4 ,one day1 seeing him with a sword at his side1 the ,king asked him what he intended doing with it4 #8,to defend your ,majesty from your ,majesty's enemies1' was the reply1 which so pleased the ,king that he gave the child the signet-ring he was wearing4 ,it has descended to ,mr4 ,wallace1 of ,southsea1 a kinsman of ,mr4 ,cooke1 of ,newport1 who belonged to the ,howe family4 ,illustration3 ,royalist memorial ring4 ,in ,lockhart's #8,life of ,scott' it is stated that ,sir ,henry ,halford gave ,sir ,walter ,scott a lock of the hair of ,charles ,i41 when the royal martyr's remains were discovered at ,windsor1 ,april #ahac4 ,sir ,john ,malcolm gave him some ,indian coins to supply virgin gold for the setting of this relic1 and1 for some years1 ,sir ,walter constantly wore this ring1 which had the word #8,remember' embossed upon it4 ,illustration3 ,memorial ring of ,charles ,i4 ,miss ,gerard is in possession of a memorial gold ring which is stated to have been given to ,bishop ,juxon by ,charles ,i41 on the scaffold1 since which period it has been preserved as an heirloom in the family of the present owner4 ,the ring appears to resemble those of the period of ,henry ,,viii4 ,it is described and engraved in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' for ,october #agig4 ,the bezel is hexagonal1 with death's-head in white enamel on black ground1 surrounded by the legend #8,,behold 4 ,,the 4 ,,ende2' round the edge is the motto #8,,rather 4 ,,death 4 ,,then 4 ,,fals 4 ,,faith4' ,at the back the initials #8,m' and #8,l' tied with a mourning ribbon4 ,this interesting #8memorial' was exhibited at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum in #ahgb4 ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is one of the ,royalist mourning-rings1 of gold1 with slight hoop beautifully inlaid with black enamel1 the top surmounted by an oval box three quarters of an inch long1 the sides of which are ornamented with perpendicular ovals of black and white enamel alternately4 ,the inside or under part of the box is inlaid with fifteen longer ovals in a similar manner1 round a black centre1 in imitation of a sun-flower4 ,the box contains a large and beautifully-painted portrait of ,charles ,i4 on blue enamel ground1 over a surface as large as half an acorn4 ,the base of this is bound by a narrow band of plain gold4 ,lord ,braybrooke described this ring as one of the most beautiful he had seen1 and1 besides the superiority of the workmanship1 the likeness is well preserved4 ,in the same collection is a ,royalist gold mourning-ring with black enamel inlaid upon the shoulders of the hoop and also upon the circular box on the top1 which contains a sort of love-knot1 or possibly intended for the royal cipher1 below a cut crystal setting4 ,after the execution of ,dr4 ,john ,hewett1 chaplain to ,charles ,i41 and the object of ,cromwell's vindictive cruelty1 a mourning-ring inscribed #8,herodes necuit ,johannem1' was worn by the ,royalists4 ,the mourning-ring for ,king ,charles ,,ii4 bore the inscription #8,chs4 ,rex4 ,remem4--obiit--ber43 #fth ,feb4 #afhe4' ,in the ,waterton ,collection at the ,south ,kensington ,museum is a memorial gold ring1 with oval bezel set with crystal1 beneath which is a crown with the initials #8,c4 ,r4 ,k4 ,b4' in gold1 over hair 7,charles ,,ii4 and ,catharine of ,braganza74 ,english4 ,date about #afhe4 ,diameter1 nine-tenths of an inch4 ,devices illustrative of death have frequently formed the subjects of mourning-rings4 ,among some antiquities found in ,sussex1 and exhibited at the ,society of ,antiquaries in ,march #ahff1 was the fragment of a mourning-ring set with a coffin-shaped crystal1 on which was delicately engraved a skeleton4 ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a gold ring of about the end of the sixteenth or beginning of the seventeenth century1 with a hexagonal tablet1 which is inlaid with a white stone engraved with a death's-head2 round it on the gold are engraved the words #8,dye to ,live4'#fh ,in the same collection is a #8memento mori' ring1 of bronze1 with a tablet on the hoop1 half an inch square1 and edges serrated2 a death's-head is engraved upon it with the above inscription4 ,rings with the same device and words are alluded to by ,beaumont and ,fletcher in the #8,chances3' ,i'll keep it as they keep death's-heads in rings1 ,to cry #8memento' to me4 ,rings engraved with skulls and skeletons were not1 however1 necessarily mourning-rings1 but were worn also by persons who affected gravity4 ,luther wore a gold ring with a small death's-head in enamel1 which is now preserved in ,dresden 7see #8,remarkable ,rings'74 ,biron1 in #8,love's ,labour's ,lost1' refers to #8a death's face in a ring4' ,mr4 ,fairholt describes a ring on which two figures of skeletons surround the finger and support a small sarcophagus4 ,the ring is of gold1 enamelled1 the skeletons being made still more hideous by a covering of white enamel4 ,the lid of the sarcophagus is also enamelled1 with a ,maltese cross in red on a black ground studded with gilt hearts4 ,this lid is made to slide off and display a very minute skeleton lying within 7,londesborough ,collection74 ,in the #8,recueil des ,ouvrages d',orfvrerie1' by ,gilles l',egar1 published in the early part of the reign of ,louis ,,xiv41 is an unusually good design for a mourning-ring with skull decorations4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is a fine specimen of a mourning-ring of the early part of the last century4 ,illustration3 ,memorial and mortuary rings4 ,in digging a grave in or near ,ripon some years ago a sexton discovered an ancient signet-ring1 on which was engraved a dormouse coiled up in sleep1 with an inscription around it1 in black-letter characters1 #8,wake me no man4' ,a similar ring is said to have been turned up in a churchyard near ,scarborough4 ,at a meeting of the ,royal ,archological ,institute in ,april #ahge1 ,mr4 ,fortnum1 ,f4,s4,a41 exhibited a mourning-ring of ,queen ,anne1 the bezel of which is formed as a coffin1 containing a mat of the ,queen's hair1 over which are the crowned initials ,a4 ,r41 and a death's-head and cross-bones beneath a piece of crystal4 ,the hoop is enamelled black1 with the inscription #8,,anna 4 ,,regina 4 ,,pia 4 ,,felix1' in letters of gold2 inside is engraved1 #8,nat4 #e ,feb4 #affd4 ,inaug4 #h ,march #agjb4 ,obt4 #a ,august #agad4' ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a small and delicate lady's gold mourning-ring1 in memory of ,queen ,mary1 wife of ,william ,,iii4 ,the hoop1 which is very slight1 is inlaid upon the shoulders with black enamel and surmounted by a square box for setting1 ornamented with perpendicular lines of the same down the sides4 ,the box contains a tress of the deceased ,queen's hair1 plaited1 with #8,m4 ,r4' and a crown in small gold ciphers laid over it4 ,a crystal1 cut into facets1 encloses them4 ,the under side of the box has a death's-head and cross-bones inlaid in black enamel4 ,in the same collection is a gold mourning-ring1 inscribed1 in letters of gold on black enamel1 #8,gulielmus ,,iii4 ,rex41 #agjb4' ,after the #8,rex4' is a death's-head of gold4 ,it is a slight gold hoop with a silver frame on the summit1 set round with six small pearls1 and made to imitate a buckle with a gold tongue across it1 so that the band of it1 visible below1 resembles the garter4 ,in the collection of the late ,lady ,fellows was an ivory patch-box1 with figure-subject carved in relief1 formerly belonging to the unfortunate ,queen ,marie ,antoinette1 and containing a small gold ring1 given by her to one of her attendants4 ,pope bequeathed sums of five pounds to friends1 who were to lay them out in rings2 and ,gray1 the poet1 in his will1 gives an amount of stock to ,richard ,stonehewer1 adding3 #8,and ,i beg his acceptance of one of my diamond rings4' ,the same bequest is given to ,dr4 ,thomas ,warton of a diamond ring and five hundred pounds4 ,to his cousins he leaves his watches1 rings1 etc4 ,a touching instance of #8memorial' rings occurs in late times4 ,the ,princess ,amelia1 before her death1 in #ahaj1 had the sad satisfaction of placing on the finger of her royal father1 ,george ,,iii41 a ring made by her own directions for the express purpose1 containing a small lock of her hair enclosed under a crystal tablet1 set round with a few sparks of diamonds4 ,this memorial of affection1 given almost on her death-bed1 hastened the attack of the mental disorder from which the ,king had suffered so much about twenty years before4 ,the circumstances attending this gift were very affecting2 she held the ring in her hand at the time of her father's accustomed visit1 and1 while placing it on his finger1 said1 #8,take this in remembrance of me4' ,this affecting incident was commemorated by ,dr4 ,wolcot in some elegant lines1 very different to his usual compositions3-- ,with all the virtues blest1 and every grace ,to charm the world and dignify the race1 ,life's taper losing fast its feeble fire1 ,the fair ,amelia thus bespoke her sire3 #8,faint on the bed of sickness lying1 ,my spirit from its mansion flying4 ,not long the light these languid eyes will see1 ,my friend1 my father1 and my king1 ,receive the token and remember me6' ,lord ,eldon wore a mourning-ring in memory of his wife1 and desired in his will that it might be buried with him4 ,a very interesting memorial ring in connection with the death of ,nelson is mentioned in a communication to #8,notes and ,queries' 7vol4 vii4 #ast series1 p4 #cje74 ,mr4 ,nicholls1 of ,pelsall1 ,staffordshire1 writes3 #8,i am in possession of a ring which in place of a stone has a metal basso-relievo representation of ,nelson 7half-bust74 ,the inscription inside the ring is as follows3 8,a gift to ,t4 ,moon from ,g4 ,l4 ,stoppleberg1 #ahae40 ,the late ,mr4 ,thomas ,moon was an eminent merchant of ,leeds1 and the writer has always understood that the ring referred to1 is one of three or half a dozen which were made subsequently to ,nelson's death4 ,the metal 7blackish in appearance7 forming the basso-relievo1 set in them1 being in reality portions of the ball which gave the late lamented and immortal admiral his fatal wound at ,trafalgar4' ,another memorial ring of the greatest of our naval commanders is described in #8,notes and ,queries' 7#dth series1 vol4 x4 p4 #bib7 as belonging to a lady whose husband's father's aunt married ,earl ,nelson 7a clergyman71 and whose husband inherited the ring4 #8,it is of gold2 on the bezel1 a broad oblong with rounded corners1 is a black enamelled field1 surrounded by a white border4 ,in coloured enamel on the field appear two coronets1 one that of a viscount1 with the velvet cap1 but showing1 however1 only seven pearls1 the letter 8,n10 in ,old ,english character1 appearing underneath4 ,the second coronet is a ,british ducal one1 without the cap1 and has under it the letter 8,b0 in old ,english4 ,beneath the above runs in ,roman capitals the word 8,trafalgar40 ,round the broad hoop of the ring is incised1 in ,roman capitals1 8,palmam qui meruit ferat10 the hero's motto1 and inside the bezel1 in ,english cursive characters1 8,lost to his country #ba ,oct #ahje4 ,aged #dg40' ,of course1 the coronets and letters #8,n' and #8,b' refer to the titles ,nelson and ,bront1 but the heraldic insignia were evidently not executed by an adept4 ,the case in which this ring is lodged appears to be the original one1 and has on a printed oval label #8,sa' 7the rest wanting1 probably #8ms'71 #8,jew' 7rest1 of course1 #8eller'71 #8,silversmith1 and ,cutleer1 #ce1 ,strand4' ,on the subject of ,nelson memorial rings1 the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,gatty1 in #8,notes and ,queries' 7#dth series1 vol4 x4 p4 #cef71 says3 #8,i do not think these rings can be very uncommon1 and ,i have no doubt that ,sir ,thomas ,hardy and other officers serving under ,lord ,nelson received one4 ,my wife1 who is a daughter of the ,rev4 ,a4 ,j4 ,scott1 ,d4,d41 ,nelson's chaplain and foreign secretary on the 8,victory10 has one in her possession1 which was sent to her father1 and to whom ,lord ,nelson left a legacy of #bjjl4 ,our friend ,mrs4 ,mirehouse1 a daughter of the late ,bishop ,fisher of ,salisbury1 has also a similar ring4 ,we have always thought they were given1 after the old fashion of 8mourning0 rings4 ,the pattern is certainly handsome and tasteful4' ,mr4 ,h4 ,s4 ,williams1 ,f4,r4,h4,s41 writing to the editor of #8,notes and ,queries' 7#dth series1 vol4 x4 p4 #dda71 remarks that rings 7with the ,viscount's coronet with #8,n' beneath it for the title ,viscount ,nelson1 the ducal coronet1 that of ,sicily1 for the ,bront estate and dukedom7 of this description were made in #ahjf by ,lord ,nelson's private friend ,salter1 jeweller in the ,strand1 and by the order of ,dr4 ,william ,nelson1 who was then ,earl ,nelson4 ,there were fully a hundred of these rings originally made1 as every admiral and post captain1 then living1 who was present at the ,battle of ,trafalgar had one1 as well as every member of the ,nelson1 ,bolton1 and ,matcham families4 ,the custom of decorating the dead with their jewellery 7including rings7 has been traced in a remarkable manner to the earliest periods of the world's history4 ,in ,genesis xli4 #ef1 #eg1 we read3 #8,the famine was over all the face of the earth1 and ,joseph opened all the storehouses1 and sold unto all the ,egyptians2 and the famine waxed sore in the land of ,egypt4 ,and all countries came into ,egypt for to buy corn1 because that the famine was so sore in all lands4' ,but ,joseph could not empty the storehouses of ,egypt to satisfy the cravings of all lands1 nor sell away the bread of ,egypt at any price when money became less precious than bread4 ,such was the state of things when an ,arabian princess in ,yemen wrote1 or when in her name were written1 to be inscribed on her sepulchre1 some impressive lines4 ,ebn ,hesham relates that a flood of rain had laid bare a sepulchre in ,yemen1 in which lay a woman having on her neck seven collars of pearls1 and on her hands and feet bracelets and armlets1 and ankle-rings1 seven on each1 and on every finger a ring in which was set a jewel of great price1 and at her head a coffer filled with treasure1 and a tablet with an inscription thus translated by ,mr4 ,forster3-- ,in thy name1 ,o ,god1 the ,god of ,himyar1 ,i1 ,tajah1 the daughter of ,dzu ,shefar1 sent my servant to ,joseph1 ,and he delaying to return to me1 ,i sent my handmaid1 ,with a measure of silver1 to bring me back a measure of flour3 ,and not being able to procure it1 ,i sent her with a measure of gold3 ,and not being able to procure it1 ,i commanded them to the ground3 ,and finding no profit in them1 ,i am shut up here4 ,whosoever may hear of it1 let him commiserate me2 ,and should any woman adorn herself with an ornament ,from my ornaments1 may she die with no other than my death4 ,inexorable with the ,arabian princess1 severe with his own brethren1 proof against the blandishments of ,potiphar's wife1 yet susceptible of every pure and generous affection1 this saviour of ,egypt was ever consistent with himself4#fi ,this ,biblical monument confirms in a remarkable manner the truth of the ,old ,testament history4 ,in opening ancient sepulchral barrows plain or jewelled rings have in many instances been found1 which1 perhaps1 a widowed wife or widower took from their fingers1 and flung1 in the intensity of their grief1 into the graves of those they mourned4 ,a modern instance of this is given in the #8,times' of ,october #bh1 #ahfe1 when1 at the funeral of ,lord ,palmerston in ,westminster ,abbey1 the chief mourner1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,sullivan1 as #8a precious offering to the dead1' threw into the grave several diamond and gold rings4 ,small rings are frequently met with on the breasts of mummies4 ,at the excavations at ,veii and ,prneste1 by ,padre ,raffaele ,garucchi1 a great quantity of tiny rings of yellow and blue enamel were found1 of a similar character to those mentioned4 ,it was customary among the ,anglo-,saxons to place rings and other ornaments in the grave3 an early ,anglo-,saxon poem1 recounting the adventures of the chieftain ,beowulf and his burial1 states #8they put into the mound rings and bright gems4' ,the custom of burying corpses with a ring on the finger continued for ages1 as ,i have remarked in several chapters of this work4 ,annexed is an illustration1 from the #8,archologia' 7vol4 ii4 p4 #cb1 #aggc71 of a ring with seventy-five table-diamonds1 set in gold1 found in #agdh in a grave at ,carne1 seven miles west of ,mullinghar1 in the county of ,westmeath1 ,ireland4 ,illustration3 ,squared-work diamond ring found in ,ireland4 ,in the antiquarian researches in the ,ionian ,isles in #ahab 7#8,archologia1' vol4 xxxiii47 some rings were discovered in tombs at ,samo and ,ithaca4 ,one of these appears to have been a silver finger-ring1 or signet1 bearing on the upper part an elliptic piece of glass or crystal1 in a state of decomposition1 turning on the wire that passes through it4 ,the other is a gold ring of solid fabric1 having for device the figure of a female with a bare head2 one arm is enveloped in the folds of her dress1 while the other hand is pouring incense on a slender altar4 ,a zigzag garland surrounds the verge of the field4 ,the locality would suggest that it may represent ,penelope sacrificing to some tutelar deity1 and invoking it to conduct ,ulysses home in safety--a conceit which might hold good1 even were the work decided to be ,roman4 ,there are some remarkably fine specimens of rings in the ,royal ,danish ,museum1 which have been discovered in ,scandinavian graves1 and some of which are represented in the chapter on #8,rings from the ,earliest ,period' 7p4 #fh74 ,on the opening of some barrows on the wolds of ,yorkshire in #ahae1 #ahaf1 and #ahag1 among other disinterments was the skeleton of a female1 and some of her ornaments2 amongst others1 a ring of red amber1 in exterior diameter #a in41 in interior diameter half an inch4 ,also a small ring scarcely one inch in diameter1 and a ring of very nearly standard gold1 weighing #c dwts4 #ba grs4 ,in front this ring is clasped in a kind of rose1 or quatrefoil1 and it is an ornament by no means of despicable workmanship4 ,the era of this interment is supposed to be prior to a general extension of ,christianity in ,britain4 ,stukeley 7,abury1 p4 #de7 records the finding of a flat gold ring in a barrow at ,yatesbury4 ,douglas1 in his discoveries of a later date 7#8,nenia ,brit4' p4 #aag71 says #8rings to the finger seldom occur of any ponderous metal1 like the ,roman ones of gold1 silver1 and bronze4' ,in the museum at ,mayence 7the ,roman ,maguntiacum1 or ,mogontiacum71 so exceedingly rich in antiquarian remains1 there are some fine specimens of finger-rings found in ,franconian graves4 ,the following illustration represents a gold ring1 set with a coin1 which is probably the copy of a ,roman one3-- ,illustration3 ,mortuary ring at ,mayence4 ,in the second cut the inscription of the reverse1 excepting a few letters1 is erased in the process of fastening the ring to it1 by the melting of the metal4 ,illustration3 ,mortuary ring at ,mayence4 ,a metal ring with inscription translated #8,in ,dei nomine1 ,amen4' ,a gold finger-ring with a figure in the centre of the shield2 the ornaments of dragons on the outer panels are inlaid with dark blue enamel3-- ,illustration3 ,mortuary ring at ,mayence4 ,in ancient times rings were burnt with the corpse4 ,when ,cynthia's shade appears to ,propertius1 he remarks3 #8,et solitam digito adederat ignis2' #8a fact 7remarks the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king7 which fully accounts for the number of fine intagli partly or wholly calcined which every collector meets with not unfrequently1 and often with the greatest regret at the destruction of some matchless specimen of the skill of the engraver4' ,at the burial of ,csar we are told that1 among the tokens of grief exhibited by the ,romans1 the matrons burned on his funeral pyre their personal ornaments1 the robes and even the rings of their sons4 #8,the ,greeks and ,romans1' observes ,mr4 ,fairholt1 #8literally revelled in rings of all styles and sizes4 ,nothing can be more beautiful in design and exquisite in finish than ,greek jewellery2 and the custom of decorating their dead with the most valued of these ornaments has furnished modern museums with an abundance of fine specimens4' ,the two rings next represented are copied from originals found in the more modern ,etruscan sepulchres1 and are probably contemporary with the earliest days of the ,roman ,empire4 ,in one of these rings the hoop is not perfected1 each extremity ending in a broad1 leaf-shaped ornament1 most delicately banded with threads of beaded and twisted wire1 acting as a brace upon the finger4 ,illustration3 ,gold rings from ,etruscan sepulchres4 ,lord ,braybrooke purchased in #ahdi a ,roman gold finger-ring1 set with an intaglio in ribbon onyx1 which was found in a ,roman stone coffin at ,york3 subject1 a ,fortuna ,redux4 ,in the same collection is a very curious and massive gold mourning-ring formed of two knotted withes twisted together2 the knots are hollowed to receive enamel4 ,the inscription inside the hoop is1 in old ,english characters3 #8,when ye loke on thys1 thyncke on hym who gave ye thys4' ,this ring was found in the ,thames at ,westminster4 ,illustration3 ,ring found at ,amiens4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is the representation of a ring found upon the hand of a lady's skeleton1 who was buried with her child in a sarcophagus discovered in #ahdf in a field near ,amiens1 called #8,le ,camp de ,csar2' on two of her fingers were rings1 one of which was set with ten round pearls1 the other1 represented in the collection mentioned1 is of gold1 in which is set a red cornelian1 engraved with a rude representation of ,jupiter riding on the goat ,amalthea4 ,the child also wore a ring1 with an engraved stone4 ,the whole of the decorations for the person found in this tomb proclaim themselves late ,roman work1 probably of the time of ,diocletian4 ,it is customary in ,russia on the death of a sovereign to distribute mourning-rings to those connected with the imperial court4 ,a writer in #8,notes and ,queries' 7#dth series1 vol4 iii4 p4 #cbb7 remarks3 #8,when ,i was at ,st4 ,petersburg1 ,i saw one of the rings given on the death of the late ,emperor ,nicholas4 ,they were in the form of a serpent1 enamelled black4 ,attached to the head and within the body of the ring was a narrow band of metal inscribed with the name of ,nicholas1 and the date of his death4 ,this band was held within by a spring1 in the same way as a spring measuring-tape4 ,the serpent's head was mounted with two diamonds for eyes4 ,the ring ,i saw was presented to the gentleman in whose possession it then was by reason of his official appointment of dentist to the imperial family4' ,in early times it was usual to bury sovereigns with their rings4 ,during some repairs at ,winchester ,cathedral in #agfh a monument was discovered containing the body of ,king ,canute4 ,on his forefinger was a ring containing a very fine stone4 ,in the #8,archologia' 7vol4 xlii4 part ii4 p4 #cji7 is an account1 by the ,rev4 ,j4 ,g4 ,joyce1 ,b4,a41 ,f4,s4,a41 of the opening and removal of a tomb in ,winchester ,cathedral in #ahfh1 reported to be that of ,king ,william ,rufus4 ,gale1 in his #8,history of ,winchester1' states that the tomb was broken open during the civil wars1 and amongst other articles found was a large gold ring4 ,the body of ,rufus1 however1 had been removed out of the tomb in which it had originally lain 7whether this or another7 many years before the civil wars broke out4 ,stow gives this testimony1 and an inscription upon a mortuary chest into which the bones of ,rufus were translated 7#aebe71 and which inscription was repeated a second time 7#affa74 ,there is reason for doubting whether this ring really belonged to ,king ,rufus1 and that the tomb supposed to be that of the ,king is that of an ecclesiastical dignitary4 ,the ,rev4 ,j4 ,g4 ,joyce adds3 #8,i have not dwelt upon the ring1 because1 while ,milner1 after ,gale1 alleges such a ring to have been taken out of the tomb by the rebels1 it is open to uncertainty whether this be actually the one1 and if so it was assuredly in company with the chalice 7found with the ring71 and so makes against ,rufus1 and in favour of a more saintly occupant4' ,the ring known as that found in this tomb is not of gold1 but of bronze gilt4 ,it is apparently intended for the thumb1 very coarsely executed1 and has a plain square imitation jewel1 which is a very poor copy of a sapphire4 ,a representation of this and another ring from tombs in ,winchester ,cathedral are here given1 from ,woodward and ,wilks' #8,history of ,hampshire' 7,london1 #aheh-fi74 ,illustration3 ,ring found in the tomb of ,william ,rufus1 ,winchester ,cathedral4 ,illustration3 ,ring discovered at ,winchester ,cathedral4 ,according to ,matthew ,paris1 ,henry ,,ii4 was arrayed after death in his royal vestments1 having a golden crown on his head and a great ring on the finger4 ,the will of ,richard ,,ii4 directs that he should be buried with a ring1 according to royal custom4 ,the same monarch1 as ,grafton states1 caused the dead body of ,robert de ,vere1 ,duke of ,ireland1 to be arrayed in princely garments1 garnished with a chain of gold1 and rich rings put on his fingers1 with his face uncovered4 ,as an instance of royal interments with a ring at a late period1 ,i may mention that of ,william ,frederic1 ,duke of ,gloucester1 who married his cousin the ,princess ,mary1 daughter of ,george ,,iii4 ,he was buried in his uniform1 and wore on his finger a ring which had been an early love-gift to him from the ,princess whom he married4 ,illustration3 ,ring of ,childeric4 ,in #aefb the ,calvinists rifled the tomb of ,queen ,matilda1 consort of ,william the ,conqueror1 in the church of the ,holy ,trinity at ,caen4 ,one of the party observed a gold ring with a sapphire on one of the ,queen's fingers1 and1 taking it off1 presented it to the ,abbess of ,montmorenci4 ,the same custom of monarchs being buried with their rings prevailed in ,france during the early and middle ages4 ,the gold ring of ,childeric ,i41 formerly in the ,bibliothque ,nationale at ,paris1 was found in the ,king's tomb at ,tournay4 ,it bore the inscription #8,childirici regis4'#gj #8,the ring was not set with a gem1 but had an oval bezel in the gold1 engraved with his bust in front face1 holding a spear as in the type of the contemporary ,byzantine aurei4 ,he wore the long hair of the ,merovingian line4 ,traces remained of the legend #8,childirici ,regis4' ,the intaglio was very neatly cut1 infinitely superior to the execution of the ,merovingian coin-dies1 and1 in fact1 so much in the style of ,leo's aurei1 that it might reasonably be supposed a present sent1 with other offerings1 from ,constantinople' 7the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 #8,handbook of ,engraved ,gems'74 ,the engraving is taken from ,j4 ,j4 ,chiflet's #8,anastasis4' ,in #agic1 at the exhumation of the bodies buried at the ,abbey of ,st4 ,denis1 rings were found in several of the royal tombs4 ,that of ,jeanne de ,bourbon1 consort of ,charles ,v41 was of gold1 with the remains of bracelets and chains4 ,the ring of ,philippe le ,bel was also of gold2 that of ,jeanne de ,bourgoyne1 first wife of ,philippe de ,valois1 was of silver1 as also the ring of ,charles le ,bel4 ,to the ancient custom of interring prelates with their rings ,i have alluded in the chapter on #8,rings in ,connection with ,ecclesiastical ,usages4' ,in #aghj the tomb of the great ,german ,emperor ,frederic1 who died in #abej1 was opened1 and the body discovered arrayed in embroidered robes1 booted1 spurred1 and crowned4 ,a costly emerald ring was on one of the fingers1 and the ball and sceptre in the hands4 ,some interesting #8memorial' rings were shown at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum in #ahgb1 the principal of which ,i have already mentioned4 ,one of gold1 oval bezel1 set round with amethysts1 had1 beneath glass1 a representation of a fallen tree1 and a funeral urn with initials2 the motto1 #8,fallen to rise2' date1 #aggi2 the property of ,mr4 ,g4 ,f4 ,duncombe4 ,dr4 ,ashford exhibited a memorial gold ring1 hasp enamelled on the outside in black1 with figure of a skeleton and funereal emblems4 ,date1 #agae4 ,five rings belonging to ,mrs4 ,m4 ,e4 ,vere ,booth ,powell2 one of gold1 oval bezel set round with rubies1 in the centre an urn jewelled with diamonds beneath a weeping willow2 dated at back #aggi4 ,a ring with a long1 pointed1 oval bezel1 with miniature of a female figure seated beside an inscribed pedestal1 on which is an urn2 date1 #aghh4 ,another of a similar form1 with miniature of an old man holding a skull1 seated near a ,gothic building2 inscribed1 #8,omnia vanitas2' #aghb4 ,a duplicate of this ring1 undated4 ,a ring with long eight-sided bezel1 gold1 with dark-blue translucent enamel2 in the centre an urn set with diamonds2 dated #agij4 ,a gold ring1 bezel set with portrait of ,charles ,i42 the property of the ,rev4 ,w4 ,b4 ,hawkins4 ,a massive gold ring1 enamelled and set with sapphire1 engraved inside1 #8,napoleon ,buonaparte ,joachim ,murat1' #ahji2 exhibited by ,mr4 ,george ,bonnor4 ,a gold ring1 richly chased and enamelled in black1 the bezel square1 with rounded top1 which opens1 showing within a representation of a corpse2 ,italian1 sixteenth century2 the property of ,dr4 ,ashford4 ,a gold ring1 in the centre of which is a death's-head in enamel1 with the legend #8,memento mori' in enamelled black letters2 sixteenth century4 ,also1 a gold ring with bezel hollow2 has had upon it a death's-head in enamel1 inscribed #8,remember ,death2' round the edge of the bezel is #8,yeman joyce2' early sixteenth century4 ,a gold ring1 hexagonal bezel with motto #8,death 99 sy 99 myn 99 eritag '2 sixteenth century4 ,the last three rings were exhibited by ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith1 ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a4 ,memorial ring with portrait of ,augustus ,,iii41 son of ,augustus the ,strong1 ,king of ,poland and ,saxony2 early eighteenth century4 ,another with enamelled skull1 set with diamonds1 probably ,german of the seventeenth century2 also1 one of the same date1 enamelled1 with skull and female face4 ,the property of ,c4 ,drury ,fortnum1 ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,posy1 ,,inscription1 ,,and ,,motto ,,rings4 ,within the hoop of the betrothal ring it was customary from the middle of the sixteenth to the close of the eighteenth century to inscribe a motto or #8posy' 7poesie71 consisting chiefly of a very simple sentiment4 ,illustration3 ,motto and device rings4 ,shakspeare1 in the #8,merchant of ,venice' 7act v4 scene #a71 makes ,gratiano1 when asked by ,portia the reason of his quarrel with ,nerissa1 answer3 ,about a hoop of gold1 a paltry ring1 ,that she did give me1 whose posy was ,for all the world like cutler's poetry ,upon a knife1 ,love me and leave me not4 ,hamlet 7act iii4 scene #b7 says-- ,is this a prologue1 or the posy of a ring8 ,in #8,as ,you ,like ,it' 7act iii4 scene #b7 ,jaques remarks3 #8,you are full of pretty answers2 have you not been acquainted with goldsmiths' wives1 and conned them out of rings8' ,in ,ben ,jonson's comedy1 #8,the ,magnetic ,lady1' the parson1 compelled to form a hasty wedding1 asks3 ,have you a wedding ring8 ,to which he receives an answer-- ,ay1 and a posie3 ,annulus hic nobis1 quod sic uterque1 dabit4 ,he exclaims3 --------,good6 ,this ring will give you what you both desire2 ,i'll make the whole house chant it1 and the parish4 ,the following illustration represents a posy-ring of the simplest form1 such as would be in use in the early part of the seventeenth century4 ,illustration3 ,posy-ring4 ,herrick1 in his #8,hesperides1' says3 ,what posies for our wedding-rings1 ,what gloves we'll give and ribbonings6 ,and in his #8,church ,miserie'3 ,indeed1 at first1 man was a treasure2 ,a box of jewels1 shop of rarities1 ,a ring whose posie was #8my pleasure4' ,and in the same work1 #8,the ,posie3' ,lesse than the least ,of all ,thy mercies is my posie still3 ,this on my ring1 ,this1 by my picture1 in my book ,i write4 ,some of these posies and inscriptions are very appropriate and tender2 others are quaint and whimsical4 ,not the least curious among the latter is that1 well known1 of ,dr4 ,john ,thomas1 ,bishop of ,lincoln1 in #agec1 who had been married three times4 ,on his fourth espousals he had the following motto inscribed on his wedding-ring3 ,if ,i survive ,i'll make thee five4 ,burke1 in his #8,anecdotes of the ,aristocracy1' states that ,lady ,cathcart1 on marrying her fourth husband1 ,hugh ,macguire1 had inscribed on her wedding-ring3 ,if ,i survive ,i will have five4 ,in far better taste than these was the motto on the ring presented by ,bishop ,cokes to his wife on the day of their marriage4 ,it bore the representations of a hand1 a heart1 a mitre1 and a death's-head1 with the words3 ,these three ,i give to thee1 ,till the fourth set me free4 #8,on the wedding-ring that ,dr4 ,george ,bull1 ,bishop of ,st4 ,david's 7#agjc71 gave to his wife1 was the inscription3 8,bene parre1 parare det mihi ,deus0--a prayer she might be a prolific mother1 an obedient wife1 and a good housekeeper4 ,the prayer was heard2 she had five sons and six daughters1 lived in wedlock happily fifty years1 and was esteemed a model housekeeper' 7,singer74 ,richard ,beauchamp1 ,earl of ,warwick1 died #adci1 had three daughters1 who all married noblemen4 ,margaret's husband was ,john ,talbot1 ,earl of ,shrewsbury1 and the motto of her wedding ring was1 #8,till deithe depart4' ,alianour married ,edmund1 ,duke of ,somerset1 and her motto was1 #8,never newe4' ,elizabeth married ,lord ,latimer1 and hers was1 #8,til my live's end4' ,the custom of having posies on rings is thus alluded to in the #8,art of ,english ,poesie1' published in #aehi3 #8,there be also another like epigrams that were sent usually for ,new ,year's gifts1 or to be printed or put upon banketting dishes of sugar-plate or of ,march paines1 etc42 they were called ,nenia or ,apophoreta1 and never contained above one verse1 or two at the most1 but the shorter the better4 ,we call them poesies1 and do paint them now-a-dayes upon the back sides of our fruit-trenchers of wood1 or use them as devises in ringes and armes4' ,henry ,,viii4 gave ,anne of ,cleves a ring with the posy #8,god send me well to kepe'--a most unpropitious alliance1 for the ,king expressed his dislike to her soon after the marriage4 ,in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries posies were generally placed outside the ring4 ,in #afbd a collection of posies was printed1 with the title1 #8,love's ,garland1 or ,posies for ,rings1 ,handkerchiefs1 and ,gloves1 and such pretty ,tokens as ,lovers send their ,loves4' ,at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute1 in ,march #ahfc1 some curious posy rings were exhibited by the ,rev4 ,james ,beck2 one1 of particular interest1 dating from the early part of the fifteenth century1 had been dug up at ,godstow ,priory1 ,oxfordshire4 ,it is a broad massive hoop of gold1 of small diameter1 suited for a lady's finger4 ,the decoration on the hoop consists of three lozenge-shaped panels1 in which are represented the ,trinity1 the ,blessed ,virgin with the infant ,saviour1 and a ,saint1 nimbed1 clad in a monastic habit1 with the cowl falling upon the shoulders4 ,the intervening spaces are chased with foliage and flowers of the forget-me-not2 the whole surface was enriched with enamel1 of which no remains are now visible4 ,within the hoop is delicately engraved in small black-letter character3 ,most in mynd and yn myn herrt ,lothest from you ferto deparrt4 ,also a plain gold hoop of the sixteenth century1 found in #ahfb at ,glastonbury ,abbey1 within which is engraved #8,devx4 corps4 vng4 cver1' with the initials #8,c4 ,m4' united by a true-love knot4 ,several plain gold rings of the seventeenth century were also shown1 inscribed with the following posies1 in each case within the hoop3-- ,i haue obtain'd whom ,god ordain'd4 ,god unite our hearts aright4 ,knitt in one by ,christ alone1 ,wee joyne our loue in god aboue4 ,joyn'd in one by god a lone1 ,god above send peace and love4 ,at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum in #ahgb1 ,j4 ,w4 ,singer1 ,esq41#ga contributed a collection of posy rings1 the mottos1 for the most part1 inscribed within the hoop4 ,gold1 ,english of the fifteenth century1 inscribed in ,gothic letters #8,gevoudroy4' ,another of the same date1 gold2 on the outside are engraved four ,maltese crosses2 within1 three ,gothic letters1 apparently ,e4 ,gold1 ,english1 early sixteenth century1 inscribed in large semi-,gothic characters1 ,i x x ,,am x x ,,yours x x ,k 3 ,s4 ,gold1 chased1 has been enamelled ,,espoir4 ,,en4 ,,dieu4 7,english1 late sixteenth century47 ,gold1 massive1 #8,,my ,,hart ,,and ,i ,,untill ,i ,,dy4' 7,english1 late sixteenth century47 ,gold1 massive1 #8,i ,,love ,,and ,,like ,,my ,,choyse4' 7,english1 early seventeenth century47 ,silver gilt3 within1 #8,i ,,chuse ,,not ,,to ,,change4' 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,gold1 chased1 traces of enamel1 ,let4 ,reson4 ,rule4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,gold1 chased1 #8,let reason rule affection4' 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,gold1 chased1 traces of black enamel1 #8,a token of good-will4' 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,brass1 #8,live in ,loue4' 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,rings with double-line posies3 ,gold1 #8,in ,god aboue and ,christ his ,sonne1 ,we too are joyned both in one4' 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,gold1 #8,who feares the ,lord are blest1 wee see2 ,such thou and ,i ,god grant may bee4' 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,gold1 #8,as ,i in thee have made my choyce1 ,so in the ,lord let vs rejoice4' #afcg1 ,w4 ,d4 ,a4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,gold1 #8,as ,i expect so let me find1 ,a faithfull and constant mind4' 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,gold1 #8,i like my choyce1 so will4 4 4 4' the remainder obliterated4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,gold1 chasing worn away1 #8,tho' little1 accept it1' letters black enamelled4 7,english1 early eighteenth century47 ,gold1 chased with representation of skeleton1 cross-bones1 and hour-glass encircling the hoop2 has been enamelled black1 #8,you and ,i will lovers dye4' 7,english1 about #agbj47 ,gold1 #8,fear the ,lord and rest content1 ,so shall we live and not repent4 ,b4 ,w4 #agcj4' 7,english1 eighteenth century47 ,gold1 chased1 inscribed within #8,t4 ,rowe1 ,c4 obt4 #ac ,may1 #agae1 t4 #bh4' ,worn by ,mrs4 ,elizabeth ,rowe1 the poetess4 ,gold1 overlaid with open-work pattern of flowers in coloured enamel1 #8,rite to requite4' 7,english1 eighteenth century47 ,silver1 two hands holding a heart1 #8,love and feare ,god4' 7,english1 eighteenth century47 ,gold1 massive1 #8,virtus est pretiosa gemma4 ,auribus frequentius quam lingu utere4' ,outside1 in ,gothic letters1 #8,voluptate capiuntur homines non minus quam hamo pisces4' 7,modern ,english47 ,a double-line gold wedding-ring in the collection of ,mr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,singer bears the words3 ,them which ,god copleth ,let no man put them asonder4 ,this ring is a very early sixteenth-century one1 and shows that wedding-rings were not1 formerly1 the plain ones of the present day1 but were ornamented with fine work4 ,mr4 ,singer has several rings of this description1 ornamented in the same way4 ,je sui ici en liu dami 7,je suis ici en lieu d'ami74 ,no treasure like a treu friend4 7,eighteenth century47 ,not to but on1 till life be gon4 ,correct our ways2 ,love all our dayes4 ,hearts united live contented4 ,no cut to unkindness4 ,conceave consent1 confirme content4 ,no recompenc but remembrance4 ,vertue only bringeth felicitie4 ,the above nine rings from the ,braybrooke ,collection4 ,from the ,waterton ,collection in the ,south ,kensington ,museum3 ,amour,merci4 7,french1 fourteenth century47 ,pensez deli ,parkisvici 7pensez de lui par que je suis ici74 7,english1 early fifteenth century47 ,je4 le4 de4 sir4 7,english1 late fifteenth century47 ,por tous jours4 7,english1 fifteenth century47 ,nul sans peyn2 inside1 ,sans mal desyr4 7,english1 early sixteenth century47 ,my worldely joye alle my trust hert1 thought1 lyfe1 and lust4 7,english1 early sixteenth century47 ,a plain gold hoop ring1 inscribed within with a heart pierced with an arrow1 and the word #8,eygen1' a star1 and the word #8,uwer4' 7,dutch or ,german1 sixteenth century47 ,devx4 corps1 vng4 ever4 7,english1 sixteenth century47 ,c'est mon plaisir4 7,english1 sixteenth century47 ,quant4 dieu4 plera4 melior4 sera4 7,english1 sixteenth century47 ,pour bien4 7,english1 sixteenth century47 ,my wille were4 7,english1 sixteenth century47 ,time4 deum4 me4 ama4 qd ,r_/,,ie4 7,english1 sixteenth century47 ,observe ,wedloke2 inside1 ,memento mori4 7,english1 sixteenth century47 ,loyalte na peur4 7,french1 seventeenth century47 ,let liking last4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,this sparke will grow 7set with a diamond74 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,accept this gift of honest love1 which never could nor can remove4 #a4 ,hath tide4 #b4 ,mee sure4 #c4 ,whilst life4 #d4 ,doth last4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,,mb4 ,remember the 7a heart7 that is in payne4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,time lesseneth not my love4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,in constancie ,i live and dye4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,love the truth4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,my promise past shall always last4 7,english1 eighteenth century47 ,you have me hart4 7,lady's betrothal ring4 ,english1 eighteenth century47 ,love ever4 7,english1 seventeenth century47 ,love true1 'tis joy4 7,english1 early seventeenth century47 ,love me4 7,english1 eighteenth century47 ,keepe4 fayth4 till4 deth4 ,i fancy noe butt thee alone4 ,not this but mee2 99 yf4 this4 then me4 ,wheare grace is found ,love doth abound4 ,my soul will keep thine company to heaven4 ,mr4 ,singer informs me that his early pre-,reformation wedding-rings have the motto prefaced with a cross1 and1 as this died out1 the remains of a cross1 in a kind of rude star1 sometimes carried on between each word4 ,mr4 ,singer has one bronze wedding-ring with a motto1 found in ,wiltshire1 but numerous silver ones4 ,ma vie et mon amour ,finiront en un jour4 ,dieu nous unisse ,pour son service4 ,seconde moi pour te rendre heureuse4 ,nos deux curs sont unis4 ,en ma fidlit je finirai ma vie4 ,domine dirige nos4 ,let us agree4 ,continue constant4 ,my love is true ,to none but you4 ,the gift is small1 ,but love is all4 ,in ,god and thee ,my joy shall be4 ,let not absence banish love4 ,love in thee is my desire4 ,whear this i giue ,i wish to liue4 ,let vs loue ,like turtle doue4 ,god saw thee ,most fit for me 7on the wedding-ring of the wife of ,john ,dunton1 the bookseller74 ,god did decree this unitie4 ,where hearts agree1 there ,god will be4 ,i have obtained whom ,god ordained4 ,virtue passeth riches4 ,no force can move affixed ,love4 ,vnited hartes ,death only partes4 ,liue1 loue1 and be happie4 ,the love is true that ,i ,o ,u4 ,my love is fixt1 ,i will not range4 ,i like my choice too well to change4 ,this is the thing ,i wish to win4 ,well projected if accepted4 ,god thought fitt this knott to knitt4 ,a loving wife prolongeth life4 ,let virtue be a guide to thee4 ,thy ,desart hath won my hearte4 ,death only partes two loving heartes4 99 ,b 99 ,,trve 99 ,,in 99 ,,harte 994 ,true loue is lye to man and wye4 7,true love is life to man and wife47 ,lett ,death leade loue to rest4 ,to ,bodys on harte4 ,good will is aboue ,gould4 ,true love is the bond of peace4 ,a virtuous wife preserveth life4 ,let our contest bee who loves best4 ,no chance prevents the ,lord's intents4 ,i joy in thee1 joy thou in me4 ,and this also will pass away4 ,fear ,god1 honour the ,prince1 ,lye still ,joan1 and don't wince4 ,if thee dosn't work1 thee shasn't eat4 7,from ,monmouthshire47 ,from the #8,card of ,courtship2 or1 ,the ,language of ,love1 fitted to the ,humours of all ,degrees1 ,sexes1 and ,conditions1' #afec3 ,thou art my star1 be not irregular4 ,without thy love ,i backward move4 ,thine eyes so bright are my chief delight4 ,this intimates the lover's states4 ,my life is done when thou art gone4 ,this hath no end1 my sweetest friend4 ,our loves be so1 no ending know4 ,love and joye can never cloye4 ,the pledge ,i prove of mutuall love4 ,i love the rod and thee and ,god4 #afdf4 ,all ,i refuse1 but thee ,i chuse4 ,gift and giver1 your servants ever4 ,non mchaberis4 ,tuut mon coer4 ,mulier viro subjecta esto4 ,sans departir nul autre4 ,tout mon cuer avez4 ,lel ami avet4 ,par ce present ami aumer rent4 7,by this gift to love me given47 ,let ,reason rule4 ,j'aime mon choix4 vous jamais4 ,je suis content4 ,l'amour nous unit4 ,je suis content1 j'ai mon dsir4 ,je vous aime d'un amour extrme4 ,ce que ,dieu conjoint1 l'homme ne le spare point4 ,desire hath no rest4 ,this and my heart4 ,acceptance is my comfort4 ,god us ayde 7on a curious old ring1 chased with the ,nortons' motto71 i h c ,naserus rex ,judiorum me serere 4 ,my giving this begins thy bliss4 ,remember ,him who died for thee1 ,and after that remember me4 ,let me wish thee full happy be4 ,tibi soli 7on ,beau ,fielding's ring2 temp4 ,queen ,anne74 ,from a ,commonplace ,book of the seventeenth century in ,sion ,college ,library3 ,there is no other1 and ,i am he1 ,that loves no other1 and thou art she4 ,eye doth find1 heart doth choose1 ,faith doth bind1 death doth lose4 ,let us be one ,to live in love ,till we are none ,i love to live4 ,love well1 and ,virtus non vultus ,live well4 ,patior ut potiar4 ,sequor ut consequar4 ,i seek to be ,not thine1 but thee4 ,nowe ys thus 7inscription upon a gold ring found about #aghf on the site of the battle of ,towton1 ,yorkshire4 ,the weight was more than an ounce2 it had no stone1 but a lion passant was cut upon the gold4 ,the inscription was in old black characters4 ,the crest is that of the ,percy family1 and it is supposed the ring was worn by the ,earl of ,northumberland on the day of the battle 7,march #bi1 #adfa74 ,the motto seems to allude to the times3 #8,the age is fierce as a lion'74 ,je change qu'en mourant4 ,unalterable to my ,perdita through life 7inscribed on a ring presented to ,mrs4 ,robinson1 by the ,prince ,regent1 afterwards ,george ,,iv474 ,if love ,i finde1 ,i will bee kinde4 ,in thee my choyse how ,i reioyce4 ,in thee my choice ,i do rejoice 7this posy is on a massive gold ring1 which is thus described by a writer in #8,notes and ,queries'3--,in the centre of the ornamentation outside is a shield1 with three lions passant on it4 ,on the right of the shield ,h1 and on the left of it ,i1 each letter having an old-fashioned crown over it4 ,at the extreme ends of the ornamentation1 outside the letters ,h and ,i are three fleurs-de-lys74 ,take hand and heart1 ile nere depart4 ,live and dye in constancy4 ,a vertuous wife yt serveth life4 ,as long as life your loving wife4 ,i will be yours while breath indures4 ,love is sure where faith is pure4 ,a vertuous wife doth banish strife4 ,as ,god hath made my choyse in thee1 ,so move thy heart to comfort mee4 ,god yt hath kept thy heart for mee1 ,grant that our love may faithfull bee4 ,god our love continue ever1 ,that we in heaven may live together4 ,the eye did find1 ye heart did chuse1 ,the hand doth bind1 till death doth loose4 ,first feare ye ,lord1 then rest content1 ,so shall we live and not repent4 ,breake not thy vow to please the eye1 ,but keepe thy love1 so live and dye4 ,i am sent to salute you from a faithfull friend4 ,this and my heart4 ,acceptance is my comfort4 ,too light to requite4 ,patience is a noble virtue4 ,lost all content1 if not consent4 ,a friend to one as like to none4 ,your sight1 my delight4 ,virtue meeting1 happy greeting4 ,as trust1 bee just4 ,for a kiss1 take this4 ,no better smart shall change my heart4 ,hurt not yr heart whose joy thou art ,my heart and ,i until ,i dye4 ,sweetheart ,i pray doe not say nay4 ,my heart you have and yours ,i crave4 ,as you now find so judge me kind4 ,let this present my good intent 7#ageh74 ,one word for all1 ,i love and shall4 ,my constant love shall never move4 ,like and take1 mislike forsake4 ,the want of thee is griefe to mee4 ,be true to me yt gives it thee4 ,privata di te moriro4 ,deprived of thee ,i die4 ,till yt ,i have better ,i remayne your detter4 ,mon esprit est partout4 ,mon cur est avec vous4 ,lite to requite4 ,faithfull ever1 deceitefull never4 ,i present1 you absent4 ,despise not mee1 yt ioyes in thee4 ,i live1 ,i love1 and live contented1 ,and make my choice not to be repented4 ,desire hath set my heart on fire4 ,i hope to see you yielde to mee4 ,both1 or neither1 chuse you whether4 ,heart1 this1 and mee1 if you agree4 ,this accepted1 my wish obtained4 ,this accepted1 my wish affected4 ,thy friend am ,i1 and so will dye4 ,o yt ,i might have my delight4 ,parting is payne when love doth remayne4 ,my corne is growne1 love reape thy owne4 ,this thy desert shall crown my heart4 ,i fancy none but thee alone4 ,god sent her me my wife to be4 ,god's appointment is my contentment4 ,this is your will to save or kill4 ,if you but consent1 you shall not repent4 ,if you deny1 then sure ,i dye4 ,wth teares ,i mourne1 as one forlorne4 ,a friend to one1 as like to none4 ,your sight1 my delight4 ,grieve not his heart whose joy thou art4 ,first love ,christ that died for thee4 ,next to ,hym love none but me4 ,joye day and night bee our delight4 ,divinely knitt by ,grace are wee1 ,late two1 now one2 the pledge here see4 ,b4 ,a4 7#afeg74 ,loue and liue happy 7#afhi74 ,avoid all strife 'twixt man and wife4 ,joyfull loue this ring do proue4 ,in thee1 deare wife1 ,i finde new life4 ,of rapturous joye ,i am the toye4 ,in thee ,i prove the joy of love4 ,in loving wife spend all thy life 7#afig74 ,true love will ne'er remove4 ,in unitie let's live and dy4 ,happy in thee hath ,god made me4 ,i loue myself in louing thee4 ,silence ends strife with man and wife4 ,more weare--more were 7#afeb74 ,i kiss the rod from thee and ,god4 ,this ring doth binde body and minde4 ,endless as this shall be our bliss 7,thos4 ,bliss1 #agai74 ,death neuer parts such loving hearts4 ,loue and respect ,i doe expect4 ,no gift can show the love ,i ow4 ,loue thy chast wife beyond thy life 7#afha74 ,loue and pray night and daye4 ,great joye in thee continually4 ,my fond delight by day and night4 ,pray to love1 love to pray 7#afdg74 ,honour et ,foye 7inscription on a gold ring belonging to ,earl ,fitzwilliam73 ,illustration3 ,motto ring4 ,body and minde in thee ,i finde4 ,deare wife1 thy rod doth leade to ,god4 ,god alone made us two one4 ,eternally my loue shal be4 ,worship is due to ,god and you4 ,god aboue continew our loue4 ,i wish to thee all joie may bee4 ,with my body ,i worship thee4 ,beyond this life1 loue me1 deare wife4 ,rien ne m'est plus1 ,plus ne me rien 7fifteenth century74 ,une seule me suffit4 ,elle m'a bien conduite4 ,de cuer entier4 ,in adversis etiam fida4 ,even in adversity faithful4 ,device--a mouse gnawing away the net in which a lion is caught4 ,non immemor beneficii4 ,mindful of kindness4 ,all that ,i desire of the ,lord is to fear ,god and love me4 ,en bon foy4 ,i cannot show the love ,i ,o4 ,i love and like my choice4 ,ryches be unstable ,and beuty wyll dekay1 ,but faithful love will ever last ,till death dryve it away4 ,on a medival armillary ring1 consisting of eight rings1 one within the other1 each having a portion of the motto3 ,w4 ,a4 ,d4 ,g4 ,,cs1 ,t4 ,l4 ,a4 ,l4 ,a4 ,r4 ,,ct4 7,where heart and hand do give consent1 ,there live and love and rest content47 ,device--a golden apple4 ,vous le meritez4 ,you deserve it4 ,i change only in ,death4 ,love ,i like thee2 sweets requite mee4 ,faithfull ever1 deceitful never4 ,i like1 ,i love1 as turtle dove4 ,as gold is pure1 so love is shure4 ,from #8,the ,mysteries of ,love and ,eloquence2 or1 the ,arts of ,wooing and ,complementing1 as they are manag'd in the ,spring ,garden1 ,hide ,park1 the ,new ,exchange1 and other eminent places' 7,london1 #afeh1 pp4 #aed1 #aeg73 ,thou wert not handsom1 wise1 but rich2 ',twas that which did my eyes bewitch4 ,divinely knit by ,god are we1 ,late one1 now two1 the pledge you see4 ,we strangely met1 and so do many1 ,but now as true as ever any4 ,as we begun so let's continue4 ,my beloved is mine and ,i am hers4 ,true blue will never stain4 ,against thou goest ,i will provide another4 ,let him never take a wife ,that will not love her as his life4 ,i do not repent that ,i gave my consent4 ,what the eye saw the heart hath chosen4 ,more faithful than fortunate4 ,love me little but love me long4 ,love him who gave thee this ring of gold1 ',tis he must kiss thee when thou 'rt old4 ,this circle1 though but small about1 ,the devil1 jealousy1 shall keep out4 ,if ,i think my wife is fair ,what need other people care4 ,this ring is a token ,i give to thee ,that thou no tokens do change for me4 ,my dearest ,betty is good and pretty4 ,i did then commit no folly ,when ,i married my sweet ,molly4 ',tis fit men should not be alone1 ,which made ,tom to marry ,jone4 ,su is bonny1 blythe1 and brown2 ,this ring hath made her now my own4 ,like ,philis there is none2 ,she truely loves her ,choridon4 ,nosce teipsum4 ,think on mee4 ,desire and deserve4 ,keepe faith till death4 ,as ,god hath appointed ,soe ,i am contented4 7,these are given from wills of the seventeenth century in the glossary appended to #8,fabric ,rolls of ,york ,minster1' published by the ,surtees ,society47 ,ever last 7on the rings given at the funeral of ,john ,smith1 ,alderman of ,london1 who #8made a great game by musk catts which he kept'74 ,redime tempus 7on the rings given at the funeral of ,samuel ,crumbleholme1 ,master of ,st4 ,paul's74 ,this and the giver ,are thine for ever4 ,my ,joyh consisteth in ,hope4 ,quies servis nulla4 ,i desire to disarne 7disarm74 ,i will you trewllie serve4 ,success to the ,british flag4 ,valued may greater ,b4 ,love 7,love undervalued may greater be47 ,great ,dundee for ,god and me 7engraved on the inside of a ring with a skull1 ,viscount ,dundee4 ,this relic of the famous ,claverhouse1 given to him by ,king ,james1 was in the possession of ,miss ,graham of ,dundrune4 ,it is stated to have been missing since #ahbh74 ,christ and thee my comfort be 7#8,gentleman's ,magazine1' vol4 ii4 p4 #fbi74 ,,ov ,,est ,,nvl ,,si ,,loiavls ,,qvi ,,se ,,poet ,,garder ,,des ,,mavxdisans 7on a gold ring found on ,flodden ,field1 in the possession of ,george ,allen1 ,esq41 of ,darlington1 #aghe74 ,i love you my sweet dear heart ,go ,i pray you pleas my love 7on a silver ring found at ,somerton ,castle1 ,lincoln1 in #ahje74 ,,candu ,,plera ,,meleor ,,cera 7inscribed on a brass thumb-ring formerly in the possession of the ,marquis of ,donegal1 #ahac74 ,,in ,,god ,,is ,,all 7on a silver ring found among the ruins of the ,priory of ,st4 ,radigund1 near ,dover1 in #ahca74 ,tout pour bein feyre 7inscribed on a ring found at ,st4 ,andrew's ,chapel1 near ,ipswich74 ,mon cur avez ,honour et joye 7on a gold ring found near ,st4 ,anne's ,well1 ,nottingham74 ,amor4 vincit4 om4 7on a silver ring found near ,old ,sarum74 ,illustration3 ,inscription ring4 ,an enamelled ring is mentioned in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' 7vol4 lxxix47 as having been found in #ahjh in the ruins of an old manor-house1 occupied in the sixteenth century by a family of distinction1 which then becoming extinct1 the manor-house fell to decay4 ,illustration3 ,french ,inscription ring4 7,inscription ring of gold1 found in ,sarthe1 ,france1 bearing the names #8,dromachius' and #8,betta1' supposed to be a marriage ring1 of1 probably1 the fifth century47 ,joye sans cesse4 ,b4 ,l4 ,loue alway1 by night and day4 ,filz ou fille 7,anthony ,bacon1 #aeif74 ,to enjoy is to obey4 ,loue for loue4 ,post spinas palma4 ,all for all4 ,mutual forbearance 7#agdb74 ,in loues delight spend day and night4 ,love's sweetest proofe4 ,en bon foye4 ,truth trieth troth4 ,beare and forbeare4 ,lett nuptiall joye our time employe4 ,not this bvt me4 ,none can prevent the ,lord's intent4 ,christ for me hath chosen thee4 ,by ,god alone we two are one4 ,god's blessing be on thee and me4 ,love me and be happy4 ,the love is true ,i owe you4 ,god did foresee we should agree4 ,in ,god and thee my joy shall be4 ,absence tries love4 ,virtue surpasseth riches4 ,let virtue rest within thy breast4 ,i lyke my choyce4 ,as circles five by art compact shews but one ring in sight1 ,so trust uniteth faithful mindes with knott of secret might2 ,whose force to breake no right but greedie death possesseth power1 ,as time and sequels well shall prove4 ,my ringe can say no more4 7,the ,earl of ,hertford's wedding-ring consisted of five links1 the four inner ones containing the above posies of the ,earl's making4 ,see page #cah1 #8,betrothal and ,wedding ,rings4'7 ,joye sans fyn4 7,fourteenth century47 ,in #8,manningham's ,diary1' #afjb-afjc 7,camden ,society71 we have the following #8,posies for a jet ring lined with sylver'3 #88,one two10 so written as you may begin with either word4 8,this one ring is two10 or both sylver and jet make but one ring2 the body and soule one man2 twoe friends one mynde4 8,candida mens est10 the sylver resembling the soule1 being the inner part4 8,bell' ame bell' amy10 a fayre soule is a fayre frend1 etc4 8,yet faire within40 8,the firmer the better10 the sylver the stronger and the better4 8,mille modis lti miseros mors una fatigat40' ,live as ,i or else ,i dye4 ,within thy brest my harte doth rest4 7,on two gold posy-rings found in ,sussex1 #ahff47 ,in #aghj the sexton of ,southwell1 in digging a grave1 found a gold ring weighing nine dwts4 six grs4 ,on the inside is the following inscription1 in characters very distinct1 deep1 and not inelegantly cut3 ,,miev ,,movri ,,que ,,change ,,ma ,,foy 4 ,the cross at the beginning is of the same size as the letters1 that between the words very small4 ,you dear6 7,the meaning is thus conjectured of1 possibly1 a rebus1 or canting device1 on a silver signet-ring1 found in the bed of the river ,nene1 at ,wisbeach ,st4 ,peter's2 the letter ,u and a deer trippant implying1 perhaps1 the writer's tender regard towards his correspondent4 ,date about the time of ,henry ,v4 or ,henry ,,vi47 ,illustration3 ,inscription ring4 ,the annexed engraving 7from the #8,archological ,journal1' ,march1 #ahdh7 represents a curious ring1 the property of ,mr4 ,fitch1 and belonging to his interesting cabinet of ,norfolk antiquities4 ,it is a plain hoop of silver1 of the size here seen1 and bears the inscription #8,,ethraldric ,,on ,,lynd4' ,its date has been assigned to as early a period as ,saxon times1 but we are inclined to attribute it to a subsequent age1 the twelfth1 or1 perhaps1 so late a date even as the thirteenth century4 ,it may deserve notice that the mintage of ,london1 of coins of ,canute1 ,harold1 ,edward the ,confessor1 the ,conqueror1 and subsequent kings1 is designated by the legend #8,,on ,,lynde4' ,this ring was found during the construction of the railway at ,attleborough1 in ,norfolk4 ,true-love knots were common formerly4 ,in the inventory of the effects of ,henry ,howard1 ,k4,g41 ,earl of ,northampton1 #afad1 is mentioned #8a golde ringe sett with fifteene diamondes in a true lover's knotte1 with the wordes nec astu1 nec ense4' ,in the ,waterton ,collection in the ,south ,kensington ,museum are some interesting specimens of this peculiar kind of ring of ,english and ,italian workmanship4 ,at the commencement of the present century #8,harlequin' rings were fashionable in ,england4 ,they were so called because they were set round with variously-coloured stones1 in some way resembling the motley costume of the hero of pantomime4 #8,regard rings1' of ,french origin1 were common even to a late period1 and were thus named from the initials with which they were set forming the acrostic of these words3#gb ,r uby ,e merald ,g arnet ,a methyst ,r uby ,d iamond ,l apis lazuli ,o pal ,v erd antique ,e merald4 ,the ,french have precious stones for all the alphabet1 excepting f1 k1 q1 y1 and z1 and they obtain the words souvenir and amiti thus3 ,s aphir or sardoine ,o nyx or opale ,u raine ,v ermeille ,e meraude ,n atralithe ,i ris ,r ubis1 or rose diamant4 ,a mthiste1 or aigue-marine ,m alachite ,i ris ,t urquoise or topaze ,i ris ,e meraude4 ,thus lapis lazuli1 opal1 verd antique1 emerald represented love1 and for me malachite and emerald4 ,names are represented on rings by the same means4 ,the ,prince of ,wales1 on his marriage to the ,princess ,alexandra1 gave her as a keeper one with the stones set with his familiar name1 ,bertie--beryl1 emerald1 ruby1 turquoise1 jacinth1 emerald4 ,these name-rings are common in ,france2 thus1 ,adle is spelt with an amethyst1 a diamond1 an emerald1 a lapis lazuli1 and another emerald4 ,among the motto or #8reason' rings1 as they were termed1 is an example1 described in the #8,archologia' 7vol4 xxxi71 a weighty ring of fine gold1 found in #ahbc at ,thetford1 in ,suffolk4 ,the device which appears upon this ring is an eagle displayed2 on the inner side is engraved a bird1 with the wings closed1 apparently a falcon1 with a crown upon its head4 ,the following posy or motto1 commencing on the outer side1 is continued on the interior of the ring3 #8,deus me ouroye de vous seuir a gree--com moun couer desire' 7,god work for me to make suit acceptably to you1 as my heart desires74 ,the devices appear to be heraldic1 and the motto that of a lover1 or a suitor to one in power4 ,the eagle is the bearing of several ancient ,suffolk families2 it was also a badge of the ,house of ,lancaster1 and ,thetford was one portion of the ,duchy of ,lancaster4 ,these mottos were occasionally engraved in relief4 ,in the ,londesborough ,collection is one of gold1 found in the ,thames4 ,the inscription upon it is #8,sans vilinie' 7without baseness74 #8,a very early ring1' remarks ,mr4 ,fairholt1 #8with an unusually pretty posy1 is in the collection of ,j4 ,evans1 ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a4 ,it is gold1 set with a small sapphire1 and is inscribed 8,,ie1 ,,svi1 ,,ici1 ,,en ,,li',v ,d',,ami0 7,i am here in place of a friend74 ,it was probably made at the beginning of the fourteenth century4 ,beside it is placed two other specimens of inscribed rings4 ,the first is chased with the ,nortons' motto1 #8,god us ayde2' the second is inscribed withinside with the sentence1 #8,mulier1 viro subjecta esto4' ,both are works of the fifteenth century4 ,illustration3 ,posy ring4 ,illustration3 ,inscription rings4 ,mr4 ,fairholt describes two gold wedding-rings of the sixteenth century1 which were then generally inscribed with a posy of one or two lines of rhyme4 ,one is formed like a badge of the ,order of the ,garter1 with the buckle in front and the motto of the ,order outside the hoop2 withinside are the words1 #8,i'll win and wear you4' ,the other is the ordinary form of wedding-ring1 inscribed1 #8,let likinge laste4' ,they were generally inscribed withinside the hoop4 ,thus ,lyly1 in his #8,euphues' 7#aeig71 addressing the ladies1 hopes they will favour his work--#8writing their judgments as you do the posies in your rings1 which are always next to the finger1 not to be seen of him that holdeth you by the hand1 and yet known by you that wear them on your hands4' ,illustration3 ,posy rings4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king remarks that #8antique intagli set in medival seals have1 in general1 a ,latin motto added around the setting4 ,for this the ,lombard letter is almost invariably employed1 seldom the black letter1 whence it may be inferred1 which1 indeed1 was likely on other grounds1 that such seals1 for the most part1 came from ,italy1 where the ,lombard alphabet was the sole one in use until superseded by the revived ,roman capitals about the year #adej4 ,of such mottos a few examples will serve to give an idea1 premising that the stock was not very extensive1 judging from the frequent repetitions of the same legends1 on seals of widely different devices4 ,thus a very spirited intaglio of a lion passant1 found in ,kent1 proclaims--8,,sum ,,leo ,,quovis ,,eo ,,non ,,nisi ,,vera ,,veho20 another gives the admonition to secresy--8,,tecta ,,lege1 ,,lecta ,,tege20 a third in the same strain--8,,clausa ,,secreta ,,tego20 another lion warns us with 8,,ira ,,regia10 the wrath of a king is as the roaring of a lion--an apt device for a courtier4 ,less frequently seen are legends in old ,french1 and these are more quaint in their style2 for instance1 around a female bust--8,,priv ,,suy ,e ,,peu ,,connu30 whilst a gryllus of a head1 covered with a fantastic helmet made up of masks1 gives the advice1 in allusion to the enigmatical type--8,,creez ,,ce ,,ke ,,vuus ,,lirrez10 for 8,croyez ce que vous lirez40' ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,customs ,,and ,,incidents ,,in ,,connection ,,with ,,rings4 ,one of the most singular usages in former times in which a ring was employed was the annual celebration at ,venice of the wedding of the ,doge with the ,adriatic4 ,this custom is said to date from the era of ,pope ,alexander ,,iii41 and the ,doge of ,venice1 ,zidni1 in the twelfth century4 ,this prince having on behalf of the pontiff attacked the hostile fleet of ,frederic ,barbarossa1 and obtained a complete victory1 with the capture of the emperor's son1 ,otho1 the ,pope in grateful acknowledgment gave him a ring1 ordaining that henceforth and for ever1 annually1 the governing ,doge should1 with a ring1 espouse the sea4 ,the pontiff promised that the bride should be obedient and subject to his sway1 for ever1 as a wife is subjected to her husband4 ,it is recorded that in this year 7#aagg7 this pompous ceremony was performed for the first time4 ,the ,doge died in the following year4 ,on ,ascension ,day the ,venetians1 headed by their ,doge1 celebrated the triumphant event4 ,galleys1 sailing-vessels1 and gondolas accompanied the chief of the ,state1 who occupied a prominent position on the #8,bucentoro1' which held1 as its name implies1 two hundred persons4 ,this vessel was decorated with columns1 statues1 etc41 and the top was covered with crimson velvet4 ,there were twenty-one oars on each side4 ,musical performers attended in another barge4 ,the vessel left the ,piazza of ,st4 ,mark under a salute of guns1 and proceeded slowly to the ,isle of ,lido4 ,here the ,doge1 taking the ring from his finger1 gave it to his betrothed wife1 the ,adriatic1 by dropping it into her bosom1 repeating these words3 #8,we espouse thee1 oh sea6 in token of our just and perpetual dominion4'#gc ,the reader will remember the well-known lines of ,byron1 written at ,venice3 ,the spouseless ,adriatic mourns her lord2 ,and1 annual marriage now no more renew'd1 ,the ,bucentaur lies rotting1 unrestored1 ,neglected garment of her widowhood4 ,it is probable that ,shakspeare alluded to this custom when he says in #8,othello3'-- ,i would not my unhoused free condition ,put into circumscription1 and confine ,for the sea's worth4 ,byron1 in the #8,two ,foscari1' again alludes to the #8marriage' ring of the ,doge4 ,when the ,council of ,ten demanded of the ,doge ,foscari-- ,the resignation of the ducal ring1 ,which he had worn so long and venerably1 he laid aside the ducal bonnet and robes1 surrendered his ring of office1 and exclaimed3 ,there's the ducal ring1 ,and there's the ducal diadem4 ,and so ,the ,adriatic's free to wed another4 ,so1 ,rogers3 ,he was deposed1 ,he who had reigned so long and gloriously2 ,his ducal bonnet taken from his brow1 ,his robes stript off1 his seal and signet-ring ,broken before him4 ,rings1 in common with jewels of various descriptions1 were given by our monarchs on state occasions1 and as ,new ,year's gifts1 as marks of special favour4 ,in ,rymer's #8,fdera' there is a curious inventory of rings and ouches1 with other jewels1 which ,king ,henry ,,vi4 bestowed in #adde1 as ,new ,year's gifts1 on his uncle and nobles4 ,in the inventories of ,queen ,elizabeth's jewels there are numerous instances of such gifts4 ,illustration3 ,new ,year's gift ring4 ,at the marriage of ,henry ,,vi4 with ,margaret of ,anjou1 ,cardinal ,beaufort presented a gold ring to the bride1 given to him by ,henry ,v41 and which the latter wore when crowned at ,paris4 ,the crest of the ,cromwells is a demi-lion rampant arg41 in his dexter gamb a gem-ring or4 ,the origin of this is stated thus3--,at a tournament held by ,henry ,,viii41 in #aedj1 the ,king was particularly delighted with the gallantry of ,sir ,richard ,cromwell 7whom he had knighted on the second day of the tournament71 and exclaiming #8,formerly thou wast my ,dick1 but hereafter thou shalt be my ,diamond1' presented him with a diamond ring1 bidding him for the future wear such a one in the fore-gamb of the demi-lion in the crest1 instead of a javelin as heretofore4 ,the arms of ,sir ,richard with this alteration were ever afterwards borne by the elder branch of the family1 and by ,oliver ,cromwell himself1 on his assuming the ,protectorate1 though previously he had borne the javelin4 ,a gold ring found ,st4 ,mary's ,field1 near ,leicester1 in #agif1 had been a ,new ,year's gift1 and is inscribed #8en bon an4' ,illustration3 ,new ,year's gift ring4 ,in former times when ,st4 ,valentine's ,day was kept as a joyous festival1 the drawing of a kind of lottery took place1 followed by ceremonies not much unlike what is now generally called the game of #8forfeits4' ,married and single persons were alike liable to be chosen as a valentine1 and a present was invariably given to the choosing party4 ,rings were frequently bestowed4 ,pepys1 in #affh1 notes3 #8,this evening my wife did with great pleasure show me her stock of jewels1 increased by the ring she hath lately made as my valentine's gift this year1 a turkey 7turquoise7 stone set with diamonds4' ,noticing also the jewels of the celebrated ,miss ,stuart1 he says3 #8,the ,duke of ,york1 being once her valentine1 did give her a jewel of about eight hundred pounds1 and my ,lord ,mandeville1 her valentine this year1 a ring of about three hundred pounds4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,rings have been employed frequently in facilitating diplomatic missions1 and in negotiations of a very delicate and critical nature4 ,plutarch relates an anecdote of ,luculus to prove his disinterestedness4 ,being sent on an embassy to ,king ,ptolemy ,physcon1 he not merely refused all the splendid presents offered to him1 amounting in value to eighty talents 7#ae1dddl471 but even received of his table allowance no more than was absolutely necessary for his maintenance1 and when the ,king attended him down to his ship1 as he was about to return to ,rome1 and pressed upon his acceptance an emerald #8of the precious kind1' set in gold 7for a ring71 he declined this also1 until ,ptolemy made him observe it was engraved with his own portrait1 whereupon1 fearing his refusal should be considered a mark of personal ill-will1 he at last accepted the ring as a keepsake4 ,at a dark epoch in the fortunes of the unhappy ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 when1 in #aefg1 scarcely a shadow of regal power was left to her1 an attempt was made to induce her to resign the crown4 ,sir ,robert ,melville was employed on this mission1 giving her1 as an authority for his errand1 a turquoise ring confided to him for that purpose by the confederate lords4 ,a ring in the possession of ,miss ,h4 ,p4 ,lonsdale is stated to have been given by ,queen ,anne1 from her finger1 to a ,mr4 ,nugent for some diplomatic services4 ,it is of gold1 set with a heart-shaped ruby crowned with three small diamonds4 ,at the back is a royal crown1 and the letters #8,a4 ,r4' ,clement ,,vii41 to propitiate ,king ,henry ,,viii41 sent him a consecrated rose2 while1 to gain the good services of ,cardinal ,wolsey1 the ,pope drew from his finger a ring of value1 which he entrusted to the care of ,secretary ,pace at ,rome1 expressing regret that he could not himself present it in person4 ,when the ,duchess of ,savoy was held a prisoner by ,charles the ,bold1 ,duke of ,burgundy1 she found means to send her secretary to solicit the aid of ,louis ,,xi4 ,as she was prevented from writing1 the only credentials she could give her emissary was the ring the ,king had given her on the occasion of her marriage4 ,this passport would have sufficed1 but that1 unfortunately1 the bearer1 when he presented himself to the ,king1 wore the cross of ,st4 ,andr4 ,louis ordered the man to be arrested1 suspecting him to be a spy of the ,duke of ,burgundy1 and that he had stolen his sister's ring4 ,the messenger would have been hung1 but for the timely arrival of the ,lord of ,rivarola1 who was sent by the ,duchess1 urging the ,king to assist her4 ,plutarch mentions that ,clearchus1 ,cyrus the ,younger's general1 in return for favours received from ,ctesias1 the physician of ,tisaphernes1 presented him with his ring as an introduction to his family in ,sparta4 ,at the declaration of peace between ,england and ,spain in #afjd ,king ,james gave the ,spanish ,ambassador1 the ,duke de ,frias1 ,constable of ,castile1 who negotiated the treaty1 a large diamond ring1 in commemoration of the marriage1 as he called the peace4 ,charles the ,bold1 ,duke of ,burgundy1 had a large diamond cut by ,berghem into a triangle1 which he had set in a ring representing two clasped hands1 the symbol of good faith1 and sent to ,louis ,,xi41 #8an allusion' 7remarks the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king71 #8though in an acceptable form1 to his deficiency in that virtue4' ,an anecdote connected with the celebrated #8,pitt' diamond is related by ,mr4 ,eastwick1 and shows how important results may sometimes be secured1 when reason and logic may not prevail4 ,this jewel passed through some curious adventures1 and1 after having ornamented the sword of ,napoleon at ,waterloo1 was sent as a present in a ring by ,george ,,iv4 to the ,sovereign of ,persia1 ,fath-,ali-,shah4 ,the bearer of this costly ring1 ,sir ,harford ,jones1 was stopped in his journey by a messenger from the court1 and desired not to enter the capital1 where ,french interests were then paramount4 ,after ,sir ,harford had exhausted every argument to show that he ought to be received1 without making any impression on the ,persian ,khan1 he said1 #8,well1 if it must be so1 ,i shall return1 but this must go with me1' and he took from his pocket the beautiful diamond ring which had been sent for the ,shah4 ,the sparkle of the gem produced a magical effect2 the ,khan no sooner beheld it than he lost his balance1 and fell back from his seat quite out of breath2 then1 recovering himself1 he shouted1 #8,stop1 stop1 ,elchi6 ,may your condescending kindness go on increasing6 ,this alters the matter4 ,i will send an express to the heavenly-resembling threshold of the asylum of the world6 ,i swear by your head that you will be received with all honour4 ,mashallah6 it is not everyone that has diamonds like the ,inglis4' ,he was as good as his word2 the express courier was despatched1 and ,sir ,harford ,jones entered the city of ,teheran by one gate1 while ,general ,gardanne1 the ,french envoy1 was packed off by the other4 ,this stone must have been a fraction or portion of the cutting of this famous diamond1 as the #8,regent' is still in the ,french ,garde-meuble1 or national treasury4 ,in #aead ,venice deputed two ambassadors to ,france and ,england2 amongst other bribes1 two rings were ordered to be given privily to the ,french ,secretary1 ,robertet1 #8as a mark of love in the ,signory's name4' ,one had a ruby and a diamond4 ,a correspondent of #8,notes and ,queries' 7#crd series1 vol4 i4 p4 #dhf7 gives an interesting extract from an old newspaper 7the #8,mercurius ,publicus1' for ,november #bi1 #affj71 in which allusion is made to the ,king's ,gift ,rings4 ,on the disbanding of ,sir ,anthony ,ashley ,cooper's regiment at ,salisbury1 #8the men joyfully welcomed ,his ,majestie's ,commissioners by shouts and acclamations1 and understanding of ,his ,majestie's goodness in bestowing freely a full week's pay1 over and above their just arrears1 they broke out into another great shout1 and then unanimously resolved with that week's pay to buy1 each man1 a ring1 whose posie should be 8,the ,king's gift10 as an earnest and memorandum1 to be ready on all occasions when ,his ,majesty's service 7and none but his71 should call them4' ,i may mention the gift of rings to the native chiefs of ,india by the ,prince of ,wales1 during his recent progress in that country4 ,at ,aden the ,prince expressed his acknowledgments1 on behalf of the ,queen1 for the services rendered by the ,sultan of ,lahej to the garrison of ,aden1 and put a massive gold ring with the initials #8,a4 ,e4' on the ,sultan's finger with his own hand4 ,the ,maharajah of ,benares was presented with a ring having an oval miniature portrait of the ,prince1 in enamel1 set in brilliants4 99 99 99 99 99 ,identification by means of a ring is alluded to in the ,greek romance1 by ,heliodorus1 of #8,theagines and ,chariclea4' ,the latter1 through a ring and fillet which had been attached to her at her birth1 is1 after many adventures1 discovered to be the daughter of ,hydaspes1 and becomes heiress of the ,ethiopian sovereignty4 ,the modern ,italian poets have availed themselves of this incident4 ,roger of ,wendover relates how ,richard ,cur de ,lion1 when returning from the ,crusades1 secretly1 and in disguise1 through ,germany to his own country1 was identified in a town of ,slavonia1 called ,gazara1 by means of a ring4 ,the ,king had sent a messenger to the nearest castle to ask for peace and safe-conduct from the lord of that province4 ,he had on his return purchased of a ,pisan merchant for nine hundred bezants1 three jewels called carbuncles1 or more commonly #8rubies4' ,one of these he had1 whilst on board ship1 enclosed in a gold ring1 and this he sent by the said messenger to the governor of the castle4 ,when the messenger was asked by the governor who they were that requested safe conduct1 he answered that they were pilgrims returning from ,jerusalem4 ,the governor then asked what their names were1 to which the messenger replied1 #8one of them is called ,baldwin de ,bethune1 the other ,hugh1 a merchant who has also sent you a ring4' ,the lord of the castle1 looking more attentively at the ring1 said1 #8,he is not called ,hugh1 but ,king ,richard1' and then added1 #8although ,i have sworn to seize all pilgrims coming from those parts1 and not to accept of any gift from them1 nevertheless1 for the worthiness of the gift1 and also of the sender1 to him who has so honoured me1 a stranger to him1 ,i both return his present and grant him free permission to depart4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ring1 in all probability1 saved the ,emperor ,charles ,v4 from the most critical position in which he had ever been placed4 ,having requested permission of ,francis ,i4 to pass through ,france1 in order to reach sooner his ,flemish dominions1 where his presence was urgently required1 the rival1 so lately his prisoner1 not only granted the request1 but gave him a most brilliant reception4 ,some of the ,french ,king's counsellors thought this generous conduct to a crafty foe was quixotic in the extreme1 and that ,charles should be detained until he had cancelled some of the hard conditions1 to which he had compelled ,francis to subscribe to purchase his release4 ,among those who strongly advocated the policy of detaining the imperial guest was the ,king's fair friend1 the ,duchesse d',estampes4 ,charles1 who was informed of the dangerous weight thrown in the scale against him1 resolved to win over the influential counsellor4 ,one day1 as he was washing his hands before dinner1 he dropped a diamond ring of great value1 which the ,duchess picked up and presented to him4 #8,nay1 madam1' said the ,emperor gallantly to her1 #8it is in too fair a hand for me to take back4' ,the gift had its full value1 and ,charles pursued his way without molestation4 99 99 99 99 99 ,instances are recorded in which the wearing of a ring has been the means of saving life4 ,such happened to the ,count de ,st4 ,pol at the battle of ,pavia4 ,he had fallen covered with wounds2 avarice recalled him to life4 ,a soldier1 seeking for pillage1 arrived at the place where the unfortunate ,count lay extended1 senseless1 among the dead4 ,he perceived a very beautiful diamond glitter on the finger of the apparently lifeless man4 ,not being successful in drawing the ring off1 he began to cut the finger4 ,the pain extorted a piercing cry from the ,count1 who had only swooned4 ,he mentioned his name1 and had the presence of mind to recommend silence to the soldier1 telling him that if he boasted of having in his power a prince of the house of ,france1 the ,emperor's generals would take him into their own hands in order to get his ransom2 and he promised to make the soldier's fortune if he would take care of his wounds1 and follow him to ,france4 ,this reasoning had its effect2 the soldier secretly conveyed the ,prince to ,pavia1 had his wounds dressed1 and was nobly rewarded for it4 ,taylor1 in his #8,danger of ,premature ,interments' 7#ahaf7 relates the following incident4 ,the heroine of this event was named ,retchmuth ,adolet4 ,she was the wife of a merchant at ,cologne1 and is said to have died of the plague1 which destroyed a great part of the inhabitants of that city in #aega4 ,she was speedily interred1 and a ring of great value was suffered to remain on her finger1 which tempted the cupidity of the grave-digger4 ,the night was the time he had planned for obtaining possession of it4 ,on going to the grave1 opening it1 and attempting to take the ring from off the finger of the lady1 she came to herself1 and so terrified the sacrilegious thief1 that he ran away and left his lantern behind him4 ,the lady took advantage of his fright1 and with the assistance of his lantern1 found her way home1 and lived to be the mother of three children4 ,after her real decease1 she was buried near the door of the same church1 and a tomb was erected over her grave1 upon which the incident related was engraved4 ,mrs4 ,bray1 in a notice of #8,cotele1' and #8the ,edgcumbes of the ,olden ,time' 7#8,gentleman's ,magazine1' ,november #ahec71 relates a singular circumstance of this character1 which #8is so well authenticated1 that not even a doubt rests upon its truth4' ,it refers to the mother of that ,sir ,richard ,edgcumbe1 ,knight1 who1 in #agdh1 was created ,baron of ,mount ,edgcumbe4 #8,the family were residing at ,cotele 7,i do not know the date of the year71 when ,lady ,edgcumbe became much indisposed1 and to all appearance died4 ,how long after is not stated1 but her body was deposited in the family vault of the parish church4 ,the interment had not long taken place1 before the sexton 7who must have heard from the nurse or servants that she was buried with something of value upon her7 went down into the vault at midnight1 and contrived to force open the coffin4 ,a gold ring was on her ladyship's finger1 which in a hurried way he attempted to draw off1 but1 not readily succeeding1 he pressed with great violence the finger4 ,upon this the body moved in the coffin1 and such was the terror of the man1 that he ran away as fast as he could1 leaving his lantern behind him4 ,lady ,edgcumbe arose1 astonished at finding herself dressed in grave-clothes1 and numbered with the tenants of the vault4 ,she took up the lantern1 and proceeded at once to the mansion of ,cotele4 ,the terror1 followed by the rejoicing of her family and household1 which such a resurrection from the tomb occasioned1 may well be conceived4 ,exactly five years after this circumstance1 she became the mother of that ,sir ,richard ,edgcumbe1 who was created ,baron4 ,polwhele1 in his 8,history of ,cornwall10 says3 8,of the authenticity of this event there can be no reasonable doubt4 ,a few years ago a gentleman of my acquaintance heard all the particulars of the transaction from the late ,lord ,graves1 of ,thancks1 which is in the neighbourhood of ,cotele4 ,but ,i need not appeal to ,lord ,graves's authority1 as ,i recollect the narrative as coming from the lips of my grandmother ,polwhele1 who used to render the story extremely interesting from a variety of minute circumstances1 and who1 from her connexion and intimacy of her own with the ,edgcumbe family1 was unquestionably well-informed on the subject40 #8,it may seem strange that when ,lady ,edgcumbe was thus committed to the grave she was not buried in lead2 but at the period of her supposed death it was very unusual to bury persons1 even of high rank and station1 in a leaden coffin1 if they died and were buried in the country4 ,the nearest town to ,cotele of any note was ,plymouth1 a seaport to which there was then no regular road from the far-distant old mansion1 and ,i question if at that period ,plymouth could have furnished such an unusual thing as a lead coffin4 ,lady ,edgcumbe was probably buried in oak secured by nails or screws1 which without much difficulty could be forced open by the sexton in his meditated robbery of the body4' ,while rings have favoured the living1 they have also been the means of recognising the dead4 ,an instance of this is related in the history of the great ,duke of ,burgundy1 renowned for the splendour of his court and his love of jewels4 ,he died in the battle of ,nanci1 and his body was not found until three days afterwards1 when it was recognised by one of the ,duke's household by a ring and other precious jewels upon it2 otherwise the corpse was so disfigured that it could not have been identified4 ,the body of the great naval commander ,sir ,cloudesley ,shovel1 who was shipwrecked on the rocks of ,scilly in #agjg1 was washed on shore1 when some fishermen1 it is said1 having stolen a valuable emerald ring1 buried the corpse4 ,the ring1 being shown about1 made a great noise over the island1 and was the cause of the discovery and ultimate removal of the body to ,westminster ,abbey4 ,another account is that which was published under the authority of the ,earl of ,romney1 grandson of ,sir ,cloudesley ,shovel4 ,some years after the fatal shipwreck1 an aged woman confessed to the parish minister of ,st4 ,mary's on her deathbed that1 exhausted with fatigue1 one man who had survived the disaster reached her hut1 and that she had murdered him to secure the valuable property on his person4 ,this worst of wreckers then produced a ring taken from the finger of her victim1 and it was afterwards identified as one presented to ,sir ,cloudesley ,shovel by ,lord ,berkeley4 ,william ,trotter1 of an ancient family on the ,scottish border1 is recorded to have fallen at the battle of ,flodden2 and1 in corroboration of the fact1 a gold ring was found about the middle of the last century1 upon the site of the field of battle1 bearing an inscription in ,norman-,french1 having between each word a boar's head1 the armorial bearings of the ,trotters4 ,martius1 in #8,titus ,andronicus1' when he falls into a dark pit1 discovers the body of ,bassianus1 by the light of the jewel on the dead man's hand3-- ,upon his bloody finger he doth wear ,a precious ring1 that lightens all the hole1 ,which1 like a taper in some monument1 ,doth shine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks1 ,and shows the rugged entrails of this pit3 ,so pale did shine the moon on ,pyramus1 ,when he by night lay bath'd in human blood4 ,i may mention the employment of rings for criminal purposes1 such as their use for concealing poison1 of which we have instances in past ages1 and in late times4 ,hannibal1 we are told1 from a fear of being delivered up to the ,romans by ,prusius1 ,king of ,bithynia1 swallowed poison1 which1 to be prepared for the worst1 he carried with him in the hollow of a ring4 ,to this ,juvenal alludes in his ,tenth ,satire3-- ,nor swords1 nor spears1 nor stones from engines hurl'd1 ,shall quell the man whose frown alarm'd the world2 ,the vengeance due to ,cann's fatal field1 ,and floods of human gore--a ring shall yield4 ,demosthenes is also said to have died in a similar manner4 ,the keeper of the ,roman treasures1 after the robbery by ,crassus of the gold deposited there by ,camillus1 broke the stone of his ring in his mouth1 in which poison was concealed1 and immediately expired4 #8,the ancients1' remarks the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king 7#8,antique ,gems'71 #8were acquainted with vegetable poisons1 as speedy in their effects as the modern strychnine1 as appears in the death of ,britannicus from a potion prepared by ,locusta1 and in innumerable other instances4 ,these hollow rings were put together with a degree of skill far beyond that of our modern jewellers2 for the soldering of the numerous joinings of the gold plates of which they are formed is absolutely imperceptible even when breathed upon--a test under which the best modern solder always assumes a lighter tint4' ,motley1 in his #8,rise of the ,dutch ,republic1' relates that in the conspiracies against the life of the ,prince of ,orange 7about #aehb71 under the influence of the court of ,spain1 the young ,lamoral ,egmont1 in return for the kindness shown to him by the ,prince1 attempted to destroy him at his own table by means of poison which he kept concealed in a ring4 ,sainte ,philip de ,marnix1 ,lord of ,aldegonde1 was to have been taken off in the same way2 and a hollow ring filled with poison was said to have been found in ,egmont's lodgings4 ,the young noble was imprisoned1 and his guilt was undoubted1 but he owed his escape from death to the ,prince of ,orange4 ,illustration3 ,poison ring4 ,a poison ring of curious construction is described by ,mr4 ,fairholt as richly engraved1 and set with two rubies and a pyramidal diamond2 the collet securing the latter stone opens with a spring1 and exhibits a somewhat large receptacle for such virulent poisons as were concocted by ,italian chemists in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries4 ,illustration3 ,venetian poison ring4 ,the other ring has a representation of ,st4 ,mark seated holding his gospel1 and giving a benediction4 ,the spaces between this figure and the oval border are perforated1 so that the interior of the box is visible1 and the relic enshrined might be seen4 ,it is recorded of the infamous ,pope ,alexander ,,vi4 7,borgia7 that he caused a key1 similar to the key-ring1 to be used in opening a cabinet1 but the ,pope's key was poisoned in the handle1 and provided with a small sharp pin1 which gave a slight puncture1 sufficient to allow the poison to pass below the skin4 ,when he wished to rid himself of an objectionable friend he would request him to unlock the cabinet2 as the lock turned rather stiffly1 a little pressure was necessary on the key handle1 sufficient to produce the effect desired4 ,the signet-ring of ,csar ,borgia was exhibited a few years ago at a meeting of the ,british ,archological ,association by the ,rev4 ,c4 ,h4 ,hartshorne4 ,it is of gold1 slightly enamelled1 with the date #aejc1 and round the inside is the motto1 #8,fays ceque doys avien que pourra4' ,a box dropped into the front1 having on it #8,borgia1' in letters reversed1 round which are the words #8,cor unum una via4' ,at the back is a slide1 within which1 it is related1 he carried the poison he was in the habit of dropping into the wine of his unsuspecting guests4 ,another ring-device of ,csar ,borgia was3 #8,aut ,csar aut nihil4' ,the following distich was made upon him3-- ,borgia ,csar erat factis et nomine ,csar2 #8,aut nihil aut ,csar' dixit1 utrumque fuit4 ,in late times the death of ,condorcet was occasioned by a subtle poison1 made by ,cabanis1 and enclosed in a ring4 ,the particulars of this tragedy are related by ,arago4 ,proscribed by the ,revolution of #agib1 ,condorcet1 formerly secretary to the ,academy of ,sciences1 took refuge in the house of a ,madame ,vernet1 at ,paris1 a lady who generously risked her own life in endeavouring to save that of the eminent philosopher4 ,fearing to compromise his protectress by a longer stay1 ,condorcet left ,paris with the intention of taking refuge in the country house of an old friend1 who was1 however1 absent1 and he wandered about1 taking shelter at night in some stone-quarries1 but was at length arrested1 and conducted to ,bourg-la-,reine1 where he was placed in a damp cell4 ,the next morning 7,march #bh1 #agid7 he was found dead in his prison1 having taken poison1 which he carried about with him in a ring4 ,a singular story of a poisoned ring appeared in the ,french newspapers a few years ago1 to the effect that a gentleman who had purchased some objects of art at a shop in the ,rue ,st4 ,honor1 was examining an ancient ring1 when he gave himself a slight scratch in the hand with a sharp part of it4 ,he continued talking to the dealer a short time1 when he suddenly felt an indescribable sensation over his whole body1 which appeared to paralyse his faculties1 and he became so seriously ill that it was found necessary to send for a medical man4 ,the doctor immediately discovered every symptom of poisoning by some mineral substance4 ,he applied strong antidotes1 and in a short time the gentleman was in a measure recovered4 ,the ring in question having been examined by the medical man1 who had long resided in ,venice1 was found to be what was formerly called a #8death' ring1 in use by ,italians when acts of poisoning were frequent about the middle of the seventeenth century4 ,attached to it inside were two claws of a lion made of the sharpest steel1 and having clefts in them filled with a violent poison4 ,in a crowded assembly1 or in a ball1 the wearer of this fatal ring1 wishing to exercise revenge on any person1 would take their hand1 and when pressing in the sharp claw1 would be sure to inflict a slight scratch on the skin4 ,this was enough1 for on the following morning the victim would be sure to be found dead4 ,notwithstanding the many years since which the poison in this ring had been placed there1 it retained its strength sufficiently to cause great inconvenience to the gentleman as stated4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a singular interest is attached to the recovery of lost rings1 of which there are many instances4 ,one is recorded in connection with the wonder-working hand of ,st4 ,stephen of ,hungary1 which is now in the castle of ,buda4 ,in #afba1 ,pope ,gregory canonised this monarch1 after a lapse of two hundred years that his remains had been lying in the cathedral of ,stuhlweissenberg1 and on their removal it was discovered that the skeleton had no right hand4 ,this created much stir1 as it was known that a very valuable ring had been on one of the fingers1 but no tidings of the missing member were heard until some years after1 when a certain abbot ,mercurius1 who had formerly been treasurer to the cathedral1 had an interview with the reigning monarch ,ladislaus4 ,the story he told was a rich one1 the hand with the ring on it had been committed to his safe keeping by a beautiful youth1 #8dressed all in white4' ,the historian ,feesler1 himself an ecclesiastic1 says that #8,ladislaus saw through ,mercurius1 but left ,god to deal with him4' ,in the chapter on #8,ring ,superstitions' ,i have mentioned the discovery of ,lady ,dundee's ring1 and the omen attached to it4 ,the late ,professor ,de ,morgan1 in #8,notes and ,queries' 7,december #ba1 #ahfa71 related an instance of a recovered ring1 which 7although not vouching for its truth7 he states as having been commented upon nearly fifty years ago in the country town close to which the scene is placed1 with all degrees of belief and unbelief4 ,a servant-boy was sent into the town with a valuable ring4 ,he took it out of the box to admire it1 and in passing over a plank bridge he let it fall on a muddy bank4 ,not being able to find it he ran away1 took to the sea1 and finally settled in a colony1 made a large fortune1 came back after many years1 and bought the estate on which he had been a servant4 ,one day1 while walking over his land with a friend1 he came to the plank bridge1 and there told his friend the story4 #8,i could swear1' he said1 pushing his stick into the mud1 #8to the very spot where the ring was dropped3' when the stick came back the ring was on the end of it4 ,a large silver signet-ring was lost by a ,mr4 ,murray1 in ,caithness1 as he was walking one day on a shingly beach bounding his estate4 ,fully a century afterwards it was found in the shingle in fair condition1 and restored to ,mr4 ,murray's remote heir1 ,sir ,peter ,murray ,thrieplund1 of ,fingask4 ,the truth of a similarly recovered ring ,i am able to attest from my acquaintance with the late ,mrs4 ,drake1 of ,pilton1 near ,barnstaple1 to whose family the incident refers4 ,the husband of this lady1 while with her in a boat off ,ilfracombe about fifteen years ago1 lost a valuable ring4 ,of course no hopes were ever entertained of its recovery4 ,in #ahfi1 however1 the ring was picked up on the beach at ,lee1 near ,ilfracombe1 by a little child who was living in the valley4 ,the ring was readily identified1 as it bore the inscription3 #8,john1 ,lord ,rollo1 born ,oct4 #af1 #agea1 died ,april #c1 #ahdb4' ,in the bed of the river in the parish of ,fornham ,st4 ,martin1 in ,suffolk1 was found1 some years since1 a gold ring with a ruby1 late in the possession of ,charles ,blomfield1 ,esq41 which is conjectured by some to be the ring that the ,countess of ,leicester is related 7by ,matthew ,paris7 to have thrown away in her flight after the battle of ,fornham ,st4 ,genevieve1 ,october #af1 #aagc4 ,the ,earl and ,countess of ,leicester were taken prisoners at this battle4 ,a matron of ,east ,lulworth lost her ring one day3 two years afterwards she was peeling some potatoes brought from a field half-a-mile distant from the cottage1 and upon dividing one discovered her ring inside4 ,a ,mrs4 ,mountjoy1 of ,brechin1 when feeding a calf1 let it suck her fingers1 and on withdrawing her hand found that her ring had disappeared4 ,believing the calf was the innocent thief1 she refused to part with it1 and after keeping the animal for three years1 had it slaughtered1 and the ring was found in the intestines4 ,a wealthy ,german farmer1 living near ,nordanhamn1 was making flour-balls in #ahga for his cattle4 ,at the end of his work he missed his ring1 bearing his wife's name4 ,soon afterwards the farmer sold seven bullocks1 which the purchaser shipped to ,england1 on board the #8,adler' cattle-steamer on ,october #bf4 ,two days afterwards an ,english smack1 the #8,mary ,ann' of ,colchester1 picked up at sea the still warm carcass of a bullock1 which was opened by the crew to obtain some fat for greasing the rigging4 ,inside the animal they found a gold ring inscribed with the woman's name and the date #ahfj4 ,captain ,tye reported the circumstance as soon as he arrived in port1 and handed the ring over to an official1 who sent it up to ,london4 ,the authorities set to work to trace its ownership1 and found that the only ship reporting the loss of a beast that could have passed the #8,mary ,ann' was the steamer #8,adler1' from which a bullock supposed to be dead1 had been thrown overboard on ,october #bh4 ,meanwhile1 the #8,shipping ,gazette' recording the finding of the ring had reached ,nordanhamn1 and one of its readers there had recognised the name inscribed upon it2 communications were opened with the farmer1 and in due time he repossessed his ring4 ,in the chapter on #8,ring ,superstitions' allusion is made to the marvellous stories of rings found in the bodies of fishes4 ,an instance1 however1 of this character was mentioned in the newspapers lately1 as having occurred at ,st4 ,john's1 ,newfoundland4 ,it is said that a signet-ring bearing the monogram #8,p4,b4' was discovered by a fisherman in the entrails of a cod-fish caught in ,trinity ,bay4 ,the fisherman1 ,john ,potter1 kept the prize in his possession for some time1 but1 the incident getting known1 he was requested by the colonial secretary to send or bring the ring to ,st4 ,john's1 as he had received letters from a family named ,burnam1 of ,poole1 ,england1 stating that they had reason to feel certain that the ring once belonged to ,pauline ,burnam1 who was one of the several hundred passengers of the ,allan steamship #8,anglo-,saxon1' which was wrecked off ,chance ,bay 7,n4,f47 in #ahfa1 the said ,pauline ,burnam being a relative of theirs4 ,the fisherman1 in whose possession the ring was1 brought it to ,st4 ,john's1 and presented it at the colonial secretary's office4 ,after a brief delay he was introduced to a ,mr4 ,burnam1 who at once identified the object as the wedding-ring of his mother1 and which she had always worn since her marriage at ,huddersfield1 in the year #ahdf4 ,the ring was accordingly given up to ,mr4 ,burnam1 who rewarded the fortunate finder with fifty pounds4 ,on ,october #g1 #ahfh1 some fishermen1 throwing their nets in the ,volga1 captured a sturgeon1 which was found to be the same as that which his ,imperial ,highness the heir-presumptive of the ,russian crown had accepted as an offering in #ahff from the municipality of ,nijni4 ,at the desire of the ,prince the fish was restored to the sea4 ,its identity was proved by a silver ring attached to the right gill of the fish1 on which was inscribed the date1 ,aug4 #bg1 #ahff4 ,another similar ring1 which had been attached to the left gill1 had disappeared4 ,it is to be presumed that the sturgeon was returned to the water with some mark to indicate the period at which it was re-captured4 ,some time after this occurrence a similar case occurred in the ,volga1 when another sturgeon1 which had been offered as a present to the late ,emperor ,nicholas1 and had been recommitted to its native element1 was taken alive1 and recognised by the rings attached to it4 ,the ,french newspapers of ,may #ahgc announced that at one of the principal restaurants in ,paris1 a valuable diamond ring was found in the stomach of a salmon purchased at the central markets4 ,in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' 7,january #agfe71 is the account of a ,mrs4 ,todd1 of ,deptford1 who1 in going in a boat to ,whitstable1 endeavoured to prove that no person need be poor who was willing to be otherwise2 and being excited with her argument1 took off her gold ring1 and1 throwing it out into the sea1 said #8it was as much impossible for any person to be poor who had an inclination to be otherwise1 as for her ever to see that ring again4' ,the second day after this1 and when she had landed1 she bought some mackerel1 which the servant commenced to dress for dinner1 whereupon there was found a gold ring in one4 ,the servant ran to show it to her mistress1 and the ring proved to be that which she had thrown away4 ,brand1 in his #8,history of ,newcastle1' relates that a gentleman of that city1 in the middle of the seventeenth century1 dropped a ring from his hand over the bridge into the ,river ,tyne4 ,years passed on1 when one day his wife bought a fish in the market1 and the ring was discovered in its stomach4 ,a correspondent to #8,notes and ,queries' 7vol4 i4 series #c1 p4 #cf71 relates the following curious anecdote3 #8,a gentleman1 who was in the habit of frequenting a favourite spot for the sake of a view that interested him1 used to lounge on a rail1 and one day in a fit of absence of mind got fumbling about the post in which one end of the rail was inserted4 ,on his way home he missed a valuable ring2 he went back again and looked diligently for it but without success4 ,a considerable time afterwards in visiting his old haunt1 and indulging in his usual fit of absence1 he was very agreeably surprised to find the ring on his finger again1 and which appears to have been occasioned by 7in both instances71 his pressing his finger in the aperture of the post1 which just fitted sufficiently with a pressure to hold the ring4 ,i afterwards tried the experiment at the spot1 and found it perfectly easy to have been effected with an easily fitting ring4' ,a curious antique ring1 discovered in #ahfg near the site of the ,priory of ,st4 ,mary1 ,pilton1 near ,barnstaple1 was exhibited by ,mr4 ,chanter1 the owner1 at the ,exeter ,meeting of the ,royal ,archological ,institute 7,july #ahgc74 ,the ring is of pure gold1 weighing #aca grains1 a large egg-shaped sapphire being in the middle1 in a solid oval setting4 ,the stone had a hole drilled through the lower edge1 through which a gold stud was passed1 but it did not extend through the gold setting4 ,the stone had been evidently flawed by the operation4 ,the ring was intended for the thumb1 and for ecclesiastical use1 dating from about #aajj or #abjj4 ,a singularity is attached to the discovery4 ,some men were engaged in hedging1 when they had to cut down some old trees4 ,after cutting down one1 they found the #8moot' of another underneath1 and right in the centre of the latter was a round ball eight or ten inches in diameter1 which the men took at first to be a cannon-ball4 ,on opening the clay1 however1 the ring1 bright and perfect1 was exposed in the centre4 ,a theory to account for this remarkable discovery is that the ring might have been stolen and buried by the thief for concealment under the tree in a ball of clay4 ,for some reason or other the ring was left there1 and in the course of time another tree grew over the old one4 ,among the singular discoveries of rings1 ,i may mention the following3--,in #afig a woman was drowned for theft1 in the ,loch of ,spynie1 in ,morayshire1 and in #ahaa the skeleton was brought to light1 with a ring on its finger4 ,in #ahfb1 during some discoveries made at ,pompeii1 a body was too far decayed to be touched1 but liquid plaster of ,paris was poured upon it1 and a cast was taken1 so accurately done that a ring was found on the finger4 ,in the excavation of an ,anglo-,saxon burial-place at ,harnham ,hill1 near ,salisbury1 a silver twisted ring was found on the middle finger-bone of a skeleton4 ,in some sepulchral objects from ,italy1 ,styria1 and ,mecklenburg1 obtained by the late ,j4 ,m4 ,kemble1 ,esq41 was a finger-ring of bronze1 in which the bone still lay4 ,the ,abb ,cochet1 the indefatigable ,norman explorer1 mentions this as of usual occurrence4 #8,au doigt de la main sont les bagues1 ou des anneaux d'or1 d'argent1 de cuivre1 ou de bronze4 ,quelques unes de ces bagues sont unies2 mais d'autres ont des chatons en agate1 en verroterie rouge ou vert1 ou des croix encaustes sur mtal4 ,communement1 elles sont encore passes au doigt que les porta1 dont la phalange est tout verdie par l'oxyde du bronze' 7#8,la ,normandie ,souterraine1' p4 #bi74 ,in ,moore's #8,life of ,byron' we have an instance of a lost ring recovered under peculiarly interesting circumstances3 #8,on the day of the arrival of the lady's 7,miss ,millbanke7 answer1 he 7,lord ,byron7 was sitting down to dinner1 when his gardener came in1 and presented him with his mother's wedding-ring1 which she had lost many years before1 and which the gardener had just found in digging up the mould under her window4 ,almost at the same moment1 the letter from ,miss ,millbanke arrived1 and ,lord ,byron exclaimed1 8,if it contains a consent1 ,i will be married with this very ring40 ,it did contain a very flattering acceptance of his proposal 7of marriage71 and a duplicate of the letter had been sent to ,london1 in case this should have missed him4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,among the numerous applications of rings to various purposes1 one of the most curious is the custom1 once prevalent in the ,isle of ,man1 that if a man grossly insulted a married woman he was to suffer death1 but if the woman was unmarried the ,deemster1 or judge1 gave her a rope1 a sword1 and a ring1 and she had it put to her choice either to hang him with the rope1 or to cut off his head with the sword1 or to marry him with the ring4 ,in one of ,robin ,hood's ballads we find that a ring was part of a prize for archery3-- ,a greate courser1 with saddle and brydle1 ,with gold burnished full bright2 ,a paire of gloves1 a red golde ring1 ,a pipe of wyne1 good fay4 ,what man berest him best1 ,i wist1 ,the prize shall bear away4 ,rings were proffered as bribes3 in the old legend of ,king ,estmere1 the porter of ,king ,adlan's hall is bribed by that monarch and his brother1 disguised as harpers1 to admit them3-- ,then they pulled out a ryng of gold1 ,layd itt on the porter's arme1 #8,and ever we will thee1 proud porter1 ,thou wilt saye us no harme4' ,sore he looked on ,king ,estmre1 ,and sore he handled the ryng1 ,then opened to them the fayre hall gates1 ,he lett for no kind of thyng4 ,the lady1 ,king ,adlan's daughter1 for whose sake the ring is given1 is thus described3-- ,the talents of gold were on her head sette1 ,hanged low down to her knee2 ,and everye ring on her small fingr ,shone of the chrystall free4 ,in the romance of #8,earl ,richard1' we have another instance of a ring fee1 or bribe1 to a porter3-- ,she took a ring from her finger ,and gave't the porter for his fee1 ,says1 #8tak you that1 my good porter1 ,and bid the queen speak to me4' ,in the capital ballad of the #8,baffled ,knight1' or #8,lady's ,policy1' the latter in answer to the overtures of her drunken wooer says3-- ,oh1 yonder stands my steed so free1 ,among the cocks of hay1 sir2 ,and if the pinner should chance to see ,he'll take my steed away1 sir4 ,the ,knight rejoins3-- ,upon my finger ,i have a ring1 ,it's made of finest gold-a1 ,and1 lady1 it thy steed shall bring ,out of the pinner's fold-a4 ,miller1 in his #8,history of the ,anglo-,saxons1' relates a pretty story of a #8bribe' ring1 an episode in the battles between ,edmund ,ironside and ,canute4 ,it was on the eve of one of these conflicts that a ,danish chief1 named ,ulfr1 being hotly pursued by the ,saxons1 rushed into a wood1 in the hurry of defeat1 and lost his way4 ,after wandering about some time1 he met a ,saxon peasant1 who was driving home his oxen4 ,the ,danish chief asked his name4 #8,it is ,godwin1' answered the peasant2 #8and you are one of the ,danes who were compelled yesterday to fly for your life4' ,the sea-king acknowledged it was true1 and asked the herdsman if he could guide him either to the ,danish ships1 or where the army was encamped4 #8,the ,dane must be mad1' answered ,godwin1 #8who trusts to a ,saxon for safety4' ,ulfr entreated this rude ,gurth of the forest to point him out the way1 at the same time urging his argument by presenting the herdsman with a massive gold ring1 to win his favour4 ,godwin looked at the ring1 and after having carefully examined it he again placed it in the hand of the sea-king1 and said3 #8,i will not take this1 but will show you the way4' ,ulfr spent the day at the herdsman's cottage2 night came1 and found ,godwin in readiness to be his guide4 ,the herdsman had an aged father1 who1 before he permitted his son to depart1 thus addressed the ,danish chief3 #8,it is my only son whom ,i allow to accompany you2 to your good faith ,i entrust him1 for remember that1 there will no longer be any safety for him amongst his countrymen if it is once known that he has been your guide4 ,present him to your ,king1 and entreat him to take my son into his service4' ,ulfr promised1 and he kept his word4 ,the humble cowherd1 who afterwards married the sea-king's sister1 became the powerful ,earl ,godwin1 of historic celebrity4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in former times rings denoted quality1 if we may judge from the expressions in an old play 7#8,first ,part of the ,contention3 ,york and ,lancaster2' ,shakspeare ,society73-- ,i am a gentleman1 looke on my ring1 ,ransome me at what thou wilt1 it shall be paid4 ,in the popular ,german ballad of #8,anneli1' or the #8,anneli ,lied1' translated by ,mr4 ,j4 ,h4 ,dixon 7#8,notes and ,queries1' #crd series1 vol4 ix471 the maiden1 whose lover is drowned in the lake while swimming1 is in a boat with a fisherman who recovers the body1 which she places on her lap3-- ,and she kiss'd his mouth1 and he seem'd to smile1 #8,oh1 no1 ,i will not repine1 ,for ,god in heaven hath granted him ,a happier home than mine4' ,and she chaf'd in hers his clammy hands-- ,ah6 what does the maiden see8 ,there was a bridal-ring for one ,was never a bride to be4 ,she drew from his finger that posied ring1 #8,fisherman--lo6 thy fee6' ,and clasping him round and round she plunged1 ,and scream'd with a maniac glee-- #8,no other young man in ,argovie ,shall drown for the love of me6' ,mr4 ,r4 ,s4 ,ralston1 ,m4,a41 in his #8,songs of the ,russians1' mentions an interesting custom in connection with rings3 #8,among the games is that called the 8,burial of the ,gold40 ,a number of girls form a circle1 and pass from hand to hand a gold ring1 which a girl who stands inside the circle tries to detect4 ,meanwhile they sing in chorus the following verses3-- ,see here1 gold ,i bury1 ,i bury2 ,silver pure ,i bury1 bury2 ,in the rooms1 the rooms of my father1 ,rooms so high1 so high1 of my mother4 ,guess1 ,o maiden1 find out1 pretty one1 ,whose hand is holding ,the wings of the serpent4 ,the girl in the middle replies3-- ,gladly would ,i have guessed1 ,had ,i but known1 or had seen1-- ,crossing over the plain1 ,plaiting the ruddy brown hair1 ,weaving with silk in and out ,interlacing with gold4 ,o1 my friends1 dear companions1 ,tell the truth1 do not conceal it1 ,give1 oh give me back my gold6 ,my mother will beat me ,for three days1 for four2 ,with three rods of gold1 ,with a fourth rod of pearl4 ,the chorus breaks in1 singing3-- ,the ring has fallen1 has fallen ,among the guelders and raspberries1 ,among the black currants4 99 99 99 99 ,disappeared has our gold1 ,hidden amid the mere dust1 ,grown all over with moss4' ,in ,warner's #8,history of ,ireland' 7vol4 i4 book #aj7 is the following ring anecdote3 #8,the people were inspired with such a spirit of honour1 virtue1 and religion1 by the great example of ,brien1 and by his excellent administration1 that1 as a proof of it1 we are informed that a young lady of great beauty1 adorned with jewels and a costly dress1 undertook to journey alone from one end of the kingdom to the other1 with a wand only in her hand1 on the top of which was a ring of exceeding great value2 and such an impression had the laws and government of this monarch made on the minds of all the people that no attempt was made on her honour1 nor was she robbed of her clothes or jewels4' ,this forms the subject of one of the sweetest melodies of ,moore3-- ,rich and rare were the gems she wore1 ,and a bright gold ring on her wand she bore2 ,but oh6 her beauty was far beyond ,her sparkling gems and snow-white wand4 ,janus ,nicius ,crytrus relates that a certain pope had a tame raven1 which secreted the pope's ring1 or annulus ,piscatoris4 ,the pope1 thinking that some one had committed the robbery1 issued a bull of excommunication against the robber4 ,the raven grew very thin1 and lost all his plumage4 ,on the ring being found1 and the excommunication taken off1 the raven recovered his flesh and his plumage4 ,upon this story was founded the admirable ,ingoldsby legend of the #8,jackdaw of ,rheims4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,during the great war of liberation in ,germany1 the ladies deposited in the public treasury their jewels and ornaments to be sold for the national cause1 and they each received in turn an iron ring inscribed #8,ich gab ,gold am ,eisen' 7,i gave gold for iron74 ,russell1 who mentions this in his #8,tour in ,germany1' #ahac1 adds3--#8,a ,prussian dame is as proud1 and justly proud1 of this coarse decoration as her husband and her son is of his iron cross4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,a singular mode of securing a ring on the finger is mentioned by a correspondent to #8,notes and ,queries' 7#dth ,series1 vol4 vi4 p4 #cbc73 #8,in the possession of a lady relative of mine is an old painting in oils1 representing ,sir ,william ,segar1 ,principal ,king-at-,arms to ,james ,i4 7#afjd71 and his wife4 ,they stand side by side1 and are three-quarter portraits of life size4 ,on the fourth finger of ,lady ,segar's right hand is a jewelled ring1 to which are attached several black strings1 curiously joined at the back of the hand1 and fastened round the wrist4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,a curious and tragical incident in connection with a ring is related in the #8,lives of the ,lindsays4' ,the young ,colin1 ,earl of ,balcarres1 was obtaining for his bride a young ,dutch lady1 ,mauritia de ,nassau1 daughter of a natural son of ,maurice1 ,prince of ,orange4 ,the day arrived for the wedding1 the noble party were assembled in the church1 and the bride was at the altar2 but1 to the dismay of the company1 no bridegroom appeared4 ,the volatile ,colin had forgotten the day of his marriage1 and was discovered in his night-gown and slippers1 quietly eating his breakfast4 ,he hurried to the church1 but in his haste left the ring in his writing-case2 a friend in the company gave him one2 the ceremony went on1 and1 without looking at it1 he placed it on the finger of the bride4 ,it was a mourning ring1 with the death's-head and cross-bones4 ,on perceiving it at the close of the ceremony she fainted away1 and the evil omen had made such an impression on her mind that1 on recovering1 she declared she should die within the year1 and her presentiment was too truly fulfilled4 99 99 99 99 99 ,louis de ,berquem1 of ,bruges1 to whom is ascribed the art of cutting and polishing the diamond1 made his first attempts in #adge1 upon three rough and large diamonds1 confided to him for that purpose by ,charles the ,rash1 ,duke of ,burgundy4 ,one of these was cut in a triangular shape1 and mounted on a ring1 on which were figured two hands1 as a symbol of alliance and good faith1 and was presented to ,louis ,,xi41 ,king of ,france4 99 99 99 99 99 ,mr4 ,howitt1 in his additions to the #8,history of ,magic' of ,ennemoser1 remarks3 #8,in the ,st4 ,vitus's dance patients often experience divinatory visions of a fugitive nature1 either referring to themselves or to others1 and occasionally in symbolic words4 ,in the 8,leaves from ,prevorst10 such symbolic somnambulism is related1 and ,i myself have observed a very similar case3 ,miss ,v4 ,brand1 during a violent paroxysm of ,st4 ,vitus's dance1 suddenly saw a black evil-boding crow fly into the room1 from which1 she said1 she was unable to protect herself1 as it unceasingly flew round her1 as if it wished to make some communication4 ,this appearance was of daily occurrence with the paroxysm for eight days afterwards4 ,on the ninth1 when the attacks had become less violent1 the vision commenced with the appearance of a white dove1 which carried a letter containing a betrothal ring in its beak2 shortly afterwards the crow flew in with a black-sealed letter4 ,the next morning the post brought a letter with betrothal cards from a cousin1 and a few hours after the news was received of the death of her aunt at ,lohburg1 of whose illness she was ignorant4 ,of both these letters1 which two different posts brought in on the same day1 ,miss ,v4 ,brand could not possibly have known anything4 ,the change of birds and their colours during her recovery1 and before the announcement of agreeable or sorrowful news1 the symbols of the ring and the black seal exhibit in this vision a particularly pure expression of the soul1 as well as a correct view into the future4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,french ,,ms4 of the thirteenth century gives the earliest version hitherto discovered of the fable of the three rings1 known by the story in ,boccaccio's #8,decamerone1' and by ,lessing's #8,nathan4' ,from these1 however1 it differs essentially4 ,in the present version the true ring is found out after the father's death1 while ,boccaccio and ,lessing tell the contrary4 ,of course the allegorical meaning of the true ring is the ,christian faith1 and the two false are the ,mohammedan and the ,judaic faith4 ,the ,mohammedan faith is considered the oldest because it represents the pagan faith in general4 99 99 99 99 99 ,among the singular uses to which rings have been applied1 ,i may mention what were called #8meridian4' ,these were various kinds of astronomical rings formerly in use1 but now superseded by more exact instruments4 ,in the ,french #8,encyclopdie' 7,diderot and ,d',alembert7 will be found an account of the #8solar' ring 7anneau solaire71 which showed the hour by means of a small perforation1 #8un trou1 par lequel on fait passer un rayon de soleil4' ,zeller also describes a kind of sun-dial in the form of a ring4 ,this was called the astronomical ring1 #8annulus astronomicus4'#gd ,illustration3 ,dial rings4 ,the ,rev4 ,danson ,r4 ,currer has a brass ring-dial1 probably of the kind formerly designated as #8journey rings4' ,mr4 ,edward ,jones1 of ,dolgellau1 has a dial-ring consisting of two concentric rings moving within the other1 the larger one having a linear groove1 and the smaller one a slight hole working into it4 ,illustration3 ,dial ring4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the romantic attachment of ,charles ,brandon1 ,duke of ,suffolk1 to ,mary1 the second sister of ,henry ,,viii41 is an interesting episode in ring history4 ,she had been married in #aead to ,louis ,,xii4 of ,france1 a political union of youth and beauty to debilitated old age4 ,brandon was sent with several ,english nobles to grace the nuptials4 ,there is reason to believe that ,mary had flattered his hopes of marrying her long before she quitted ,england4 ,king ,louis died three months after his marriage1 and a few days after the ,queen was secretly married to ,suffolk4 ,that during the brief interval between the marriage and death of the ,french monarch some interchange of affection occurred between the lovers is certain4 ,a rumour had spread that ,suffolk had shown a diamond ring she gave him4 #8,the truth is1' she writes1 #8that one night at ,tournay1 being at the banquet1 after the banquet he put himself upon his knees before me1 and in speaking and in playing he drew from my finger the ring1 and put it upon his1 and since showed it to me2 and ,i took to laugh1 and to him said that he was a thief1 and that ,i thought not that the ,king had with him led thieves out of his country4 ,the word larron he could not understand1 wherefore ,i was constrained to ask how one said in ,flemish larron4 ,and afterwards ,i said to him in ,flemish dieffe1 and ,i prayed him many times to give it me again1 for that it was too much known4 ,but he understood me not well1 and kept it on unto the next day that ,i spake to the ,king1 him requiring to make him to give it to me1 because it was too much known--,i promising him one of my bracelets the which ,i wore1 the which ,i gave him4 ,and then he gave me the said ring2 the which one other time at ,lylle1 being set nigh to my lady of ,hornes1 and he before upon his knees1 it took again from my finger4 ,i spake to the ,king to have it again2 but it was not possible1 for he said unto me that he would give me others better1 and that ,i should leave him that4 ,i said unto him that it was not for the value1 but for that it was too much known4 ,he would not understand it1 but departed from me4 ,the morrow after he brought me one fair point of diamond1 and one table of ruby1 and showed me it was for the other ring1 wherefore ,i durst no more speak of it1 if not to beseech him it should not be shewed to any person2 the which hath not all to me been done4' #8,thus signed1 ,m4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,in #8,household ,words' 7vol4 ix4 p4 #bgg71 there is an account of two rings supposed to have been stolen from ,charles ,,ii4 on his death-bed4 #8,i should have told you1 in his fits his feet were as cold as ice1 and were kept rubbed with hot cloths1 which were difficult to get4 ,some say the ,queen rubbed one and washed it in tears4 ,pillows were brought from the ,duchess of ,portsmouth by ,mrs4 ,roche4 ,his ,highness1 the ,duke of ,york1 was the first there1 and then ,i think the ,queen 7he sent for her72 the ,duchess of ,portsmouth swooned in the chamber1 and was carried out for air2 ,nelly ,gwynne roared to a disturbance1 and was led out1 and lay roaring behind the door2 the ,duchess wept and returned2 the ,princess 7afterwards ,queen ,anne7 was not admitted1 he was so ghastly a sight 7his eye-balls were turned that none of the blacks were seen1 and his mouth drawn up to one eye71 so they feared it might affect the child she goes with4 ,none came in at the common door1 but by an odd side-door1 to prevent a crowd1 but enough at convenient times to satisfy all4 ,the grief of the ,duchess of ,portsmouth did not prevent her packing and sending many strong boxes to the ,french ambassador's2 and the second day of the ,king's sickness1 the chamber being kept dark--one who comes from the light does not see very soon1 and much less one who is between them and the light there is--so she went to the side of the bed1 and sat down to1 and1 taking the ,king's hands in hers1 felt his two great diamond rings2 thinking herself alone1 and1 asking him what he did with them on1 said she would take them off1 and did it at the same time1 and looking up saw the ,duke on the other side1 steadfastly looking on her1 at which she blushed much1 and held them towards him1 and said3 8,here1 sire1 will you take them80 8,no1 madam10 he said1 8they are as safe in your hands as mine1 ,i will not touch them until ,i see how things will go40 ,but1 since the ,king's death1 she has forgot to restore them1 though he has not that she took them1 for he told the story4' ,this extract is taken from a letter written by a lady who was the wife of a person about the court at ,whitehall1 and forms part of a curious collection of papers lately discovered at ,draycot ,house1 near ,chippenham4 99 99 99 99 99 ,in connection with incidents concerning rings1 ,i may allude to the golden spoil that ,messrs4 ,garrard1 goldsmiths1 of the ,haymarket1 ,london1 purchased from the prize-agents of the ,british forces employed on the ,gold ,coast4 ,these precious objects appear to have been collected by the ,king of ,ashantee in great haste as a propitiatory offering1 and were evidently seized and sent at random to the ,british general4 ,among them are rings of the most beautiful yet fantastic shapes1 showing the extraordinary imitative talents which the ,ashantee goldsmiths possess4 ,perhaps the most curious of these is a ring finely chased1 the signet of which is made of what seems to be an ancient ,coptic coin4 ,two rings appear to have been copied from early ,english betrothal rings1 precisely such as those by which lovers plighted their troth in this country many years ago4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,remarkable ,,rings4 ,a volume of some amplitude might be written on the very attractive subject of the present chapter1 for there are very few families in the kingdom cherishing a regard for ancestry and for the antiquarian interests of their country1 who could not show examples of rings possessing unusual interest1 not only of family1 but of general importance4 ,the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum in #ahgb exhibited an unusual display of finger-rings contributed from every part of the kingdom1 many of them of extreme rarity and beauty2 while the famous ,waterton ,collection acquired by the ,museum1 described by one of the most eminent authorities on this particular subject as #8in its almost unlimited extent1 comprising the rings of all ages and nations1' afforded specimens1 many of which were unique1 and of singular interest4 ,the limits of the present book enable me only to mention a few instances of remarkable rings1 in addition to those which have been already alluded to in the previous chapters4 ,rings of the earliest ages naturally attract our observation more than those of later times1 and are invaluable studies to the historian and the antiquarian1 throwing light upon many subjects1 of which they are in some cases the only reflex1 and enabling us to judge of the progress of art in distant eras1 to assist chronological researches1 and to explain by inscriptions and figures many dubious points which would otherwise remain obscure4 ,no doubt there are many instances in which we have to depend on tradition alone for circumstances in connection with ring incidents1 but even in these cases romance and poetry lend their aid in rendering them full of charm and interest1 as an acquaintance with the medival writers more especially will prove1 and to which ,i have frequently alluded in the preceding chapters4 ,among the most remarkable collections of cameos1 intaglios1 and finger-rings1 are those known as the #8,devonshire ,gems1' formed in the last century by ,william ,cavendish1 third ,duke of ,devonshire4 ,eighty-eight1 including some of the finest cameos1 were withdrawn from it1 and mounted in enamelled gold as a parure1 unsurpassed for beauty and rarity4 ,these precious gems were exhibited at the ,south ,kensington ,museum in #ahgb4 ,amongst the finger-rings were a scarabus in grey and white onyx of three strata1 in its antique ring of massive gold1 thickened and expanded at the shoulders2 a splendid specimen of a large gold ring of the best ,italo-,greek work1 the hoop formed of delicately woven corded pattern1 the large deep bezel enriched with exquisite applied ornament in minute threaded work1 perhaps the finest ring of its type known2 a ring with intaglio of female head chased on the gold of the bezel is of antique ,greek type2 an intaglio of beautiful antique work on banded onyx1 set in a massive gold ring2 a most remarkable ,roman ring1 the bezel representing a ,cupid's head1 chased in full relief on the solid2 a small gold ring1 the square bezel engraved with a dolphin1 and the hoop formed of triple beaded pattern2 eight antique ,roman rings1 for the most part of the second and third centuries1 one of which has the open-work hoop2 a very interesting medival ring of rude workmanship1 formed of electron1 or gold much alloyed with silver2 on the circular bezel is a head in intaglio1 and in rather rude lettering #8,,vivat1' the shoulders have pellets at the side of the hoop--the date would appear to be of the seventh or eighth century2 a good example of the iconographic type of ,english ring engraved on the bezel with figures of saints1 fifteenth century2 a massive gold ring1 shoulders and hoop chased1 ,gothic inscriptions within the hoop2 a fine ,english fifteenth century signet2 a massive signet of the sixteenth century2 a signet with shield of arms engraved on the under side of a thin piece of rock crystal and coloured1 sixteenth or seventeenth century4 ,among the classical antiquities in the ,british ,museum is a rich collection of gems retaining their antique settings1 a treasure not to be surpassed by any in ,europe4 ,among these is a magnificent intaglio of ,hercules slaying the ,hydra1 very deeply cut on a rich sard1 and set in a massive gold ring of the form fashionable during the ,lower ,empire4 ,the wonderful lion-ring from the ,prince of ,canino's collection ,i have already described in the first chapter of this work4 ,an account of the ,museum gems will be found in the works of the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 on #8,precious ,stones' and #8,antique ,gems4' ,in the same magnificent collection are some curious rings1 amongst other objects from ,switzerland1 of the people who built their habitations on piles in the lakes4 ,in the ,british ,museum is also preserved the gold signet-ring of ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots4 ,on the face is engraved the royal arms and supporters of the kingdom of ,scotland1 with the motto #8,,in ,,defens' and her initials #8,m4 ,r4' ,in the inner side of the seal a crowned monogram is engraved1 #8which might have been an unsolved enigma1 but for the existence1 in the ,state ,paper ,office1 of a letter written by ,mary to ,queen ,elizabeth1 in which she has drawn the identical monogram after signing her name4 ,sir ,henry ,ellis1 who first traced out this curious history1 says1 8,it is clearly formed of the letters ,m4 and ,a4 7for ,mary and ,albany71 and gives countenance to the opinion that the written monogram was intended for ,elizabeth and ,burghley to study1 the subsequent creation of the title of ,duke of ,albany in ,lord ,darnley ultimately opening their eyes to the enigma40' ,a similarly interesting ring is that of ,henry1 ,lord ,darnley1 husband to ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 now in the ,waterton ,collection at the ,south ,kensington ,museum4 ,on the bezel it bears the two initials #8,m4 ,h4' united by a lover's knot4 ,in the hoop is the name engraved #8,,henri ,l4 ,,darnley1' and the year of the marriage1 #aefe4 ,illustration3 ,signet-ring of ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 and the ,darnley ring4 ,in the interesting #8,notices of ,collections of ,glyptic ,art1' by the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 ,m4,a41 published in the #8,archological ,journal' for ,october #ahfa1 is a description of some remarkable rings in the ,queen's and other collections4 ,by the kindness of the editor of the ,journal ,i am enabled to give an abstract of the valuable papers contributed by the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king4 ,in the ,royal ,collection is a ruby set in a massy gold ring1 having the name of #8,loys ,,xii41' and the date of his decease1 #aeae1 engraved inside4 ,the ruby has a head in profile of ,king ,louis1 and is a stone of considerable size 7being half an inch in diameter7 and of the finest quality4 ,the drawing is correct1 though somewhat stiff1 after the usual manner of the ,quattro ,cento heads2 the relief is somewhat flat1 and all the details most accurately finished2 both for material and execution this gem is an invaluable monument of the early times of the art4 ,the signet-ring made for ,charles ,,ii41 when ,prince of ,wales1 has the ostrich plumes between the letters #8,c4 ,p4'--#8,carolus ,princeps'--neatly and deeply cut upon a table diamond 7 inch in size7 formed into a heater-shaped1 seven-sided shield4 ,the stone is slightly tinged with yellow1 but of fine lustre1 and such that of its nature no doubt whatever can be entertained4 ,the ring1 holding this in every respect interesting relic1 has the back enamelled with a bow and quiver en saltire4 ,a marvellous specimen of metal-work is the signet of his unfortunate father1 having the royal arms most minutely engraved upon a shield of steel1 and the lion and unicorn 7modelled with matchless skill in the same metal in full relief7 reclining upon the shoulders of a gold ring1 and that of a size by no means inconvenient for wear upon the little finger4 ,the ,marlborough gems#ge constitute a famous collection1 as it now stands1 formed by the union of the ,arundel and the ,bessborough1 together with certain additions made at the close of the last century by the grandfather of the present ,duke of ,marlborough4 ,this collection includes many masterpieces of art set in rings of fine gold in a plain solid imitation of the ancient ring worn by the later ,romans1 having a slight round shank1 gradually thickening towards the shoulders4 ,the ,bessborough ,collection deservedly ranks as one of the first in ,europe for the interest and value of the works of art it contains 7as viewed exclusively in that light7 and the gems themselves1 are pre-eminently distinguished by the unusual taste and elegance of the rings in which they are for the most part set4 ,in this point of view alone they will furnish a rich treat to every amateur in that elegant branch of the jeweller's craft4 ,some are choice examples of the ,rnaissance goldsmiths' skill2 the majority1 however1 plainly show that they were made to the commission of the noble possessor1 exhibiting as they do the most varied designs in the ,louis ,,xv4 style1 in which one is at a loss what most to admire1 the fertility of invention displayed in the great variety of the forms1 or the perfection of workmanship with which these designs have been carried out in the finest gold4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king mentions a ring in this collection1 with a representation of a dancing fawn upon sard1 as the most elegant design ever invented by ,italian taste4 ,appropriately to the subject1 the shank consists of two thyrsi1 whilst around the head of the ring runs an ivy garland1 the leaves enamelled green4 ,the execution of this charming idea equals the design4 ,another exquisite old ,italian ring is described as being adorned with two masks of ,pan upon the shoulders1 the very masterpieces of chasings in gold1 so vigorous1 so full of life1 are these minute full-faced heads in half relief4 ,in the same collection is a sard engraved with a head of ,lucilla1 mediocre in execution1 but set in a ring worthy of ,cellini1 to whose age the workmanship belongs4 ,it is certainly the most artistic example of this ornament that has ever come under the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,king's notice4 ,two nude figures1 one seen in front1 the other from behind1 carved out in flat relief upon the shoulders of the shank1 bear torches in either hand1 which wind round the setting2 doves and flowers fill up the interval between them4 ,the perfection of these minute chasings is beyond all description1 each is a finished statuette2 curious1 too1 is the elegance with which they are employed1 so as to fall naturally into the curvature required by their position4 ,these extracts from the paper in the #8,archological ,journal1' by the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 will suffice to show the great value and beauty of these precious objects4 ,the famous ring of ,chariclea is thus mentioned by the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king in his #8,handbook of ,engraved ,gems4' ,it is #8an extract from the flowery pages of the tasteful ,bishop of ,tricca1 ,heliodorus1 who1 though writing amidst the fast-gathering clouds of the fourth century1 still retained a tinge of early culture1 and could not extinguish a sinful admiration for artistic beauty4 ,like other educated men of his1 and even lower1 times1 he was still able to appreciate the productions of an art1 even then1 nearly extinct1 for with what enthusiasm does he enlarge upon the description of the ring worn by his heroine ,chariclea 7#8thiop4' v4 #ac71 possibly a work the beauty of which he had himself admired in reality1 or1 perhaps1 actually possessed6 8,such is the appearance of all amethysts coming from ,india and ,ethiopia2 but that which ,calasiris now presented to ,nausicles was far above them in value1 for it was enriched with an engraving1 and worked out into an imitation of nature4 ,the subject was a boy tending his flocks1 himself standing upon a low rock for the sake of looking about him1 and guiding his sheep to their pasture by the music of his ,pandean pipe4 ,the flock seemed obedient to the signal1 and submitted themselves readily to be conducted by the guidance of his notes4 ,one would say they were themselves laden with fleeces of gold1 and those not of the artist's giving1 but due to the amethyst itself1 which painted their backs with a blush of its own4 ,pictured also were the tender skippings of the lambs2 whilst some running up against the rock in troops1 others1 turning in frolicsome turnings around the shepherd1 converted the rising ground into an appearance of a pastoral theatre4 ,others1 again1 revelling in the blaze of the amethyst1 as if in the beams of the sun1 were pawing and scraping the rock with the points of their hoofs1 as if they bounded up against it4 ,such amongst them as were the first born1 and the more audacious1 seemed as if they were wishing to leap over this round of the gem1 but were kept in by the artist1 who had drawn a border like a golden fold around them and the rock4 ,now this fold was in reality of stone1 and not imitative1 for the engraver1 having circumscribed a portion of the gem's edge for this purpose1 had depicted what he required in the actual substance1 deeming it a clever stroke to contrive a stone wall upon a stone40' #8,a remark1' adds the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 #8proving that our author is describing a real intaglio1 not drawing upon his fancy merely4' ,the ,rev4 ,walter ,sneyd possesses a ring of singular interest1 supposed to have belonged to ,roger1 ,king of ,sicily 7died #aaeb74 ,a representation of this relic is given in the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 iii4 p4 #bfi74 #8,it is of mixed yellow metal1 gilt2 on either side of the hoop there is a crown--of the form commonly seen on coins or money of the twelfth century--and on the signet are the words 8,,rogerivs ,,rex10 chased in high relief4 ,in the form of the character they correspond closely with legends on coins of ,roger1 second ,duke of ,apulia of that name1 crowned ,king of ,sicily #aabi4 ,this ring has every appearance of genuine character2 but it is difficult to tell for what purpose it was fabricated1 the inscription not being inverted1 and the letters in relief ill-suited for producing an impression4 ,it seems very improbable that ,king ,roger should have worn a ring of base metal1 and the conjecture may deserve consideration that it was a signet not intended for the purpose for sealing1 but entrusted in lieu of credentials to some envoy4' ,illustration3 ,supposed ring of ,roger1 ,king of ,sicily4 ,in the ,waterton ,collection is a ring assumed on good grounds to have been that with which ,cola di ,rienzi1 the famous tribune of ,rome1 was united to ,catarina di ,riselli4 #8,the ring1' remarks ,mr4 ,waterton1 #8was purchased for me in ,rome1 for a trifling sum1 at one of the periodical clearing sales of the ,monte di ,piet1 and ,i had it for several months before ,i discovered certain facts--which many archologists consider to be corroborative of my supposition--that this ring was the nuptial ring of ,cola di ,rienzi4 ,its style1 when compared with other objects of the period1 enables us to ascribe its date to the first half of the fourteenth century4 ,the bezel is an irregular octagon1 in the centre there is cut1 signet-wise1 a device1 two stars divided per pale4 ,around this are inscribed two names--,catarina1 ,nicola--the interstices being filled up with niello4 ,these names are written from left to right1 and not reversed4 ,the ring is an elegant specimen of ,italian workmanship1 and ,i consider it to have been produced by a ,florentine artist4 ,the reasons for believing that this may have been the fiancial ring of ,rienzi and his wife are the following3 #a4 ,the two names1 ,nicola 7di ,rienzi7 and ,catarina 7di ,riselli74 #b4 ,the date of the ring1 which we may assign to #acbj-acdj1 the time when ,rienzi lived4 #c4 ,neither ,rienzi nor his wife had any armorial bearing2 and1 having great faith in his destiny1 he is stated to have selected a star for his device4 ,the two stars divided per pale were interpreted by an eminent ,roman archologist to be significant of the star of ,rienzi1 and that of his wife4' ,a curious seal-ring1 formerly in the possession of ,sir ,richard ,worsley1 of ,appuldercombe1 in the ,isle of ,wight1 was exhibited at a meeting of the ,society of ,antiquaries in #agge4 ,an impression in wax was also shown at the ,plymouth ,local ,committee of the ,exeter ,diocesan ,architectural ,society1 in ,july #ahej1 by ,mr4 ,cotton1 of ,ivybridge4 ,the thumb-ring1 set in gold1 and of exquisite workmanship1 is said to have been in the possession of the ,worsley family since the time of ,henry ,,viii4 ,that ,king usually wore it on his finger1 and presented it to ,sir ,james ,worsley1 his yeoman of the wardrobe1 and governor of the ,isle of ,wight4 ,the device represents a warrior completely armed from head to foot1 and covered with a vest or surcoat2 his helmet is flat at the top1 and brought round under the chin1 exactly in the same form as those worn in ,france about the middle of the thirteenth century1 during the reign of ,saint ,louis4 ,the scabbard of his sword hangs by his side1 but the sword itself lies broken at his feet4 ,his uplifted arms grasp a ragged or knotted staff1 with which he is in the act of attacking a lion1 who stands opposed to him4 ,his shield bears the coat armour of the ,stuart family2 viz41 ,or1 a fesse checky ,az4 and ,argt4 ,over the lion's head appears an arm in mail1 holding a shield1 with the above coat of arms of the ,stuarts2 and in an escutcheon of pretence1 a lion rampant1 the arms of ,scotland and of ,bruce4 ,the sleeve of the drapery1 which falls loosely from the arm1 is ornamented on the border with three fleurs de lis2 and the whole is enclosed within a double tressure fleury and counter-fleury1 which together form the arms of ,scotland4 ,illustration3 ,the #8,worsley' seal-ring4 #8,the warrior here represented' 7says ,dr4 ,mills1 ,dean of ,exeter1 in his account of this ring7 #8seems to be ,sir ,walter ,stuart1 born anno #acic1 so called from being hereditary ,high ,steward of ,scotland4 ,he married ,margery1 daughter of ,robert ,bruce1 and sister to ,david ,bruce1 ,kings of ,scotland4 ,david dying without male issue1 ,margery became an heiress2 and therefore her arms are placed here in an escutcheon of pretence on those of ,walter ,stuart1 her husband4' ,the device here represented seems to be in some measure ascertained by the account given by ,sir ,simeon ,stuart's family in the ,baronetage of ,england1 which says that ,sir ,alexander ,stuart had an honourable augmentation granted by ,charles ,,vi41 ,king of ,france1 viz4 argent the lion of ,scotland1 debruised with a ragged staff bend-wise or4 ,this honour was probably granted to ,sir ,alexander on account of some martial achievement performed either by him or his ancestors4 ,but the seal seems to determine it to ,walter ,stuart1 the husband of ,margery ,bruce1 as there is not more than fifty years between his death and the accession to the throne of ,charles ,,vi4 ,as ,sir ,james ,worsley1 ancestor to ,sir ,richard1 married ,mary1 eldest daughter of ,sir ,nicholas ,stuart1 of ,hartley ,mauditt1 in ,hampshire1 it is highly probable that this ring descended to the family of ,worsley by this alliance4 ,the ring of ,st4 ,louis of ,france was formerly kept in the treasury of ,st4 ,denis4 ,in #8,le ,trsor ,sacr de ,sainct ,denys' 7#afdf7 this ring is thus described3 #8,l'anneau du mesme glorieux ,roy ,sainct ,louis qui est prcieux3 il est d'or1 sem de fleurs de lys1 garny d'un grand saphir quarr sur lequel est grave l'image du mesme sainct avec les lettres ,s4 ,l41 qui veulent dire ,sigillum ,lodovici4 ,sur le rond de l'anneau par le dedans sont gravez ces mots1 8,c'est le ,signet du ,roy ,s4 ,louis10 qui y ont est adjoustez aprs sa mort4' ,a representation of this remarkable ring is here given4 ,it is now in the ,muse des ,souverains at the ,louvre4 ,illustration3 ,ring of ,st4 ,louis4 #8,the wedding-ring1' remarks the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 #8of the same prince is said to have been set with a sapphire engraved with the ,crucifixion2 the shank covered with lilies and marguerites1 allusive to his own name and his wife's4 ,this attribution is a mere custode's story4 ,mr4 ,waterton1 who examined this gem1 puts it down to a much later age3 the ,king1 a full length1 has the nimbus1 showing the figure to be posterior to his beatification4 ,it probably belongs to ,louis ,,xii4's time4' ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a cameo portrait of ,madame de ,maintenon1 on a very large and fine ruby1 three eighths of an inch by half an inch wide1 in a most beautiful gold ring1 contemporaneous setting2 presented to ,louis ,,xiv4 when she retired into the convent of ,st4 ,cyr4 ,in the same collection is a cameo portrait of ,queen ,elizabeth1 by ,valerio ,vicentini1 on a sardonyx of three strata1 in a fine gold setting of the period2 also a cameo portrait of ,charles ,i4 on black jasper1 a splendid work of art1 in a beautifully-enamelled gold ring of his time4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king describes the famous signet-ring of ,michael ,angelo1 preserved in the ,paris ,collection4 #8,it is a sard engraved with a group representing a ,bacchic festival1 quite in the ,renaissance style4 ,in the exergue is a boy fishing1 the rebus upon the name of the artist ,gio ,maria da ,pescia4 ,many connoisseurs1 however1 hold the gem to be an undoubted antique4 ,of this relic the following curious story is told3--,in the last century1 as the ,abb ,barthelemy was exhibiting the rarities of the ,bibliothque to a distinguished antiquary of the day1 he suddenly missed this ring1 whereupon without expressing his suspicions1 he privately despatched a servant for an emetic1 which1 when brought1 he insisted upon the savant's swallowing1 and the ring came to light again4'#gf ,the celebrated gem representing ,apollo and ,marsyas1 which belonged to ,lorenzo de' ,medici1 and formed one of the magnificent collection of the ,grand-,duke of ,tuscany1 once1 mounted on a ring1 decorated the hand of the parricide ,nero1 who used it to sign his sanguinary mandates4 ,numbers of copies have been taken of this gem in ancient and modern times4 ,it is thus described by ,tenhove3 ,apollo1 in a noble attitude1 is holding his lyre1 and regarding with disdain ,marsyas1 who1 bound to a tree1 and his hands tied behind him1 awaits the just punishment of his temerity4 ,the young ,scythian who is to execute the sentence1 kneels before ,apollo1 apparently imploring his clemency4 ,the quiver and arrows of the god are suspended from one of the branches of the tree2 on the foreground are the instruments of which the satyr has made such unfortunate use4 ,it is known that ,nero had the folly to imagine himself the first musician of his time1 and in selecting this subject he doubtless intended to get rid of all competition1 by deterring those who might otherwise have felt disposed to enter the lists with him4 ,perhaps he was looking at his left hand1 and assuming ,apollo for his model1 when he had the singer ,menedemus1 of whom he was jealous1 flayed1 as it were1 with whipping1 in his presence1 whose yells of agony seemed to the emperor so melodious that he warmly applauded4 ,lorenzo's feeling with regard to the gem was1 doubtless1 of a very different character3 he selected the stone on account of its marvellous beauty of execution4 ,among the art treasures1 in connection with rings and camei in the ,british ,museum1 the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king notices a cameo with a lion passant1 in low relief in the red layer of a sardonyx1 exquisitely finished1 which has its value greatly enhanced by the #8,,lavr4 ,,med4' cut in the field1 attesting that it once belonged to the original cabinet of ,lorenzo de' ,medici4 ,this stone1 set in a ring1 has its face protected by a glass2 a proof of the estimation in which its former possessor held it4 ,illustration3 ,ring ,device of ,cosmo de' ,medici4 ,cosmo de' ,medici had for device three diamonds on rings1 intertwined emblems of excellency1 superiority1 and endurance4 ,illustration3 ,ring ,device of ,lorenzo de' ,medici4 ,lorenzo de' ,medici had a ring with a diamond2 a plume of three colours1 green1 white1 and red1 to signify that in loving ,god he displayed three virtues3 the white plume representing faith2 the green1 hope2 the red1 charity4 ,pope ,leo ,x4 adopted this device4 ,pietro de' ,medici had a falcon holding a diamond-ring in its claws1 signifying that everything should be done to please ,god4 ,illustration3 ,ring ,device of ,pietro de' ,medici4 ,in the ,staunton collection of antiquities 7,longbridge ,house1 near ,warwick7 is a remarkable ring1 which is described 7with illustrations7 in the #8,archological ,journal' 7vol4 iv4 p4 #ceh74 ,it is a beautiful gold signet-ring1 found1 about the year #ahbe1 in the ruins of ,kenilworth ,castle1 by a person named ,faulkner1 who was in the constant habit of searching among the rubbish with the expectation of making some valuable discovery4 ,its weight is #d dwts4 #aj grs4 ,the impress is very singular2 under a crown appear the numerals #hg1 of the forms usually designated as ,arabic1 of which no example has been noticed in this country1 except in ,,mss4 prior to the fifteenth century4 ,above the crown are the letters s and h2 lower down on one side is seen the letter a1 and on the other m4 ,various interpretations of this remarkable device have been suggested3 it has been supposed that it might have reference to the coronation of ,elizabeth1 ,queen of ,henry ,,vii41 solemnised at ,westminster1 ,a4,d4 #adhg1 or have been connected with the enterprise of ,lambert ,simnel1 which occurred during that year at the instigation of ,margaret1 ,duchess of ,burgundy4 ,mr4 ,hawkins considers its age to have been about the reign of ,edward ,,iv41 the crown with fleur-de-lys ornaments1 and the form of the m being of similar character to those on his coins2 a similar type of crown may1 however1 be found in earlier times1 as shown by the great seals and other authorities as early even as the reign of ,richard ,,ii4 ,the letters have been supposed to be the initials of a sentence such as #8,sancta virgo adjuva me' 7the second letter being read as h7 or1 supposing the ring to be referred to the times of ,henry ,,vii41 #8,sigillum1' or #8secretum1 ,henrici1 anno 7#ad7 #hg4 ,mh4' ,the most probable explanation1 however1 appears to have been proposed by ,mr4 ,john ,gough ,nichols3 that the ring1 which is of a size suited to a lady's finger1 might have been a betrothal or wedding present2 the initials s4h4 and a4m4 being those of the two parties1 the ,arabic numerals indicating the date #adhg1 and the crown being merely ornamental1 frequently used during the fifteenth century on seals by persons not entitled by rank to use them4 ,illustration3 ,ring found at ,kenilworth ,castle4 ,the coronet1 with an initial letter1 adopted as a device on the seals or signet-rings of commoners1 appears on numerous rings of the fifteenth century1 as well as on seals appended to documents4 ,it appears on another ring of later date in ,mr4 ,staunton's collection1 of base metal gilt1 found in ,coleshill ,church1 ,warwickshire4 ,the device appears to be a crown placed upon a shaft or truncheon1 resting on a heart1 in base1 with the initials of the wearer1 ,i4 ,g41 at the sides4 ,at a meeting of the ,society of ,antiquaries 7,may #ahge71 ,mr4 ,robert ,day 7,local ,secretary for ,ireland7 exhibited a silver ring of fourteenth-century work1 the hoop portion of which is formed of two hands1 which grasp an octagonal signet that bears the centre device of a letter ,r crowned1 with the motto #8,bacchal1' and a spray of roses in the border4 #8,to illustrate this1' remarks ,mr4 ,day1 #8,i send a small coin of base silver1 having a similar crowned ,r on the obverse4 ,these crowned letters recall the familiar lines of ,chaucer1 of ------a crowned ,a1 ,and after1 ,amor ,vincit ,omnia4 ,the ring was dug up in a potato garden at ,howth1 near ,dublin4 ,the motto 8,bacchal0 ,i am unable to throw any light upon1 except it be a contraction of ,baccalaureus4 ,on the rim is a star of six points1 to show the position for sealing4' ,a ring-relic of ,fotheringay1 belonging to ,mrs4 ,simpson1 of ,edinburgh1 is of gold1 set with a diamond cut in facets1 with three smaller diamonds over it1 representing a crowned heart4 ,it is considered to have belonged to the unfortunate ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots4 ,a gold signet-ring1 curious and interesting in several respects1 the property of ,mr4 ,james ,neish1 of the ,laws1 ,dundee1 was exhibited at a meeting of the ,archological ,institute in ,may #ahfd1 when the following particulars were given3--,it was found about #agij1 in digging the foundations of ,heathfield ,house1 on the ,hawkhill1 ,dundee1 formerly called the ,sparrow ,muir4 ,the device 7of which a representation is given in the #8,archological ,journal1' ,no4 #hb1 #ahfd1 p4 #ahf7 is a head1 apparently regal1 bearded1 with the hair long at the sides2 on the breast there is a mullet or star of five points introduced in scrolled ornament2 around the edge is a corded bordure with knots at intervals like a cordelire1 instead of the pearled margin usually found on seals4 ,this knotted cincture is well known as worn by the ,franciscans1 thence designated as ,cordeliers2 as accessory to heraldic or personal ornaments1 its use seems to have been first adopted by ,anne of ,brittany1 after the death of ,charles ,,viii41 in #adih1 as we are informed by ,palliot and other writers4 ,it has1 however1 sometimes been assigned to a rather earlier period4 ,the hoop of ,mr4 ,neish's ring is plain and massive1 the weight being #aii grains4 ,the device is engraved with skill4 ,it is difficult to tell whether the object worn on the head is intended for a crown or a helmet1 with lateral projections resembling horns4 ,examples of helmets with cornute appendages1 especially found in classical art1 are not wanting in medival times4 ,it has been suggested that the mullet on the breast may indicate some allusion to the heraldic bearing of the ,douglas family1 especially as the ring was discovered in the district of ,angus1 of which the earldom was conferred in #acgg on a branch of that noble race4 ,mr4 ,neish--to whom both this remarkable ring and also ,heathfield ,house where it was found1 belong--stated that he had been informed by two persons that they remembered the discovery2 one1 moreover1 said that ,mr4 ,webster1 of ,heathfield ,house1 to whom it formerly belonged1 told him that the late ,mr4 ,constable1 of ,wallace ,craigie 7the ,monkbarns of the #8,antiquary71' had taken interest in the discovery1 and having carried the ring to ,edinburgh1 he had found there in some depository a proclamation regarding the loss of a gold ring on ,sparrow ,muir1 by a certain ,allan ,dorward1 who had been employed by ,david1 ,earl of ,huntingdon1 brother of ,william the ,lion1 in building a church founded by the ,earl at ,dundee1 and completed in #aaih4 ,the ,king1 according to tradition1 was so pleased with the builder's work that he presented to him a ring1 which ,allan1 being afterwards at a boar-hunt on the ,sparrow ,muir1 had there lost1 and he had offered a reward for its recovery1 as made known in the proclamation before mentioned4 ,this tradition has been related by ,mr4 ,andrew ,jervise1 in his #8,memorials of ,angus and the ,mearns1' p4 #agh4 ,according to another version the ring was asserted to have been given by ,david ,,ii4 7,a4,d4 #acbi-gj7 to his master mason1 and lost by him on the ,sparrow ,muir in the manner before related4 ,so much for tradition4 ,the beautiful ring in ,mr4 ,neish's possession may possibly be assigned to the later part of the fourteenth century2 the workmanship presents no feature of early character to justify the supposition that it was a gift from ,william the ,lion4 ,there is also the assurance of one of the most accurate and acute of ,scottish antiquaries that no such document or #8advertisement' as is alleged to have been put forth by the loser of the ring is in existence2 neither is there any record of any architect employed by ,david ,,ii41 or by his father ,robert ,i4 ,the supposition seems to be that the ring may have belonged to some person of the family of ,douglas by whom ,st4 ,francis was held in special veneration1 and that hence the cordelire was introduced upon it4 ,there existed at ,dundee a ,franciscan convent1 which appears to have received support from the ,douglas family4 ,a relic of ,flodden ,field 7#aeac71 a ring1 was found in #aghc1 on the site of the battle4 ,it bore the following inscription in ,norman-,french3 #8,on est mal loiauls amans qui se poet garder des maux disans' 7no lovers so faithful as to be able to guard themselves against evil-speakers74 ,between every two words1 and at the beginning of each line1 is a boar's head4 ,this being the crest of the ,campbells1 it is not improbable that the ring was that of the ,argylls1 and might have belonged to ,archibald ,campbell1 the second ,earl of ,argyll1 who was killed while commanding the van of the army at the fatal battle of ,flodden ,field1-- ,where shiver'd was fair ,scotland's spear1 ,and broken was her shield4 ,i have previously alluded to the signet-ring of ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 in the ,british ,museum4 ,a few additional particulars of this celebrated relic will be interesting4 ,it were now a fruitless task to seek to discover through what means this ring passed into the collection of the ,queen of ,george ,,iii4 ,it subsequently came into possession of the late ,duke of ,york1 and at the sale of his plate and jewels at ,christie's1 in #ahbg1 it was purchased for fourteen guineas4 ,this ring is massive1 and weighs #bab grs42 the hoop has been chased with foliage and flowers1 and enamelled1 and appears to have been much worn2 a few traces of the enamel remain4 ,the impress is the royal achievement1 engraved on a piece of crystal or white sapphire1 of oval form1 measuring about three-quarters of an inch by five-eighths4 ,the royal cognizance or the crest1 on a helmet of mantlings1 and ensigned with a crown1 is a lion sejant affront gu4 crowned1 holding in his dexter paw a naked sword1 and in the sinister a sceptre1 both erect and ppr4 ,above the crest appear the motto and the initials previously alluded to4 ,the shield is surrounded by the collar of the ,thistle1 with the badge1 and supported by unicorns chained and ducally gorged4 ,on the dexter side there is a banner charged with the arms of ,scotland2 on the sinister another with three bars1 over all a saltire4 ,it is remarkable that the heraldic tinctures are represented on the back of the engraved stone1 either by enamelling or painting1 and the field or back-ground is coloured dark blue4 ,this mode of ornamentation is found in some of the fine ,italian works of the period4 ,sir ,thomas ,hepburn has a gold ring traditionally regarded as having been worn by ,queen ,mary of ,scotland4 ,the hoop is enamelled black2 the setting consists of six opals surrounding one of much larger size1 presenting the appearance of a six-petalled flower4 ,apropos of ,queen ,mary's assumption of the arms of ,england in defiance of ,elizabeth1 they are so engraved upon a signet-ring that belonged to the late ,earl of ,buchan1 as certified upon the little boxes containing facsimiles of the seal1 and sold to all sight-seers at ,holyrood ,palace4 ,the arms of ,england and ,france are placed in the first and fourth quarter of the shield3 those of ,scotland in the second quarter1 and those of ,ireland in the third quarter4 ,a ring of very exquisite workmanship connected with the ,seymour family1 and in the possession of the ,earl of ,home1 was exhibited at the ,society of ,antiquaries 7,april #ahfd71 and is an interesting historical relic4 ,the body of the ring is made of mother-of-pearl1 and on it is set an oval medallion1 with a cipher #8,e4 ,r4' in relief1 the ,e4 being made of diamonds1 the ,r4 of blue enamel3 on each side along the shank of the ring is a line of rubies set in gold4 ,the medallion with the cipher opens1 and discloses a recess in the mother-of-pearl with a bust in low relief1 apparently a portrait of ,jane ,seymour1 three-quarter face4 ,the bust is made of gold1 coloured with enamel or paint1 and is set with a small diamond as a brooch4 ,the inner surface of the lid with the cipher encloses a bust in profile of ,queen ,elizabeth in enamelled gold1 with a ruby set as a brooch4 ,within the ring1 and therefore at the back of the portrait of ,jane ,seymour1 is a small oval plate of gold1 ornamented with translucent enamel1 and representing an earl's coronet1 over which is a phnix in flames4 ,the phnix was a well-known badge of ,queen ,elizabeth1 but it was also adopted as the crest of the ,seymour family1 to whom it must here be referred4 ,edward ,seymour1 eldest son of the ,protector by his second wife1 was created ,earl of ,hertford by ,queen ,elizabeth in #aeei1 and it is probable that the ring was made shortly after1 before he lost the favour of the ,queen through his marriage with ,lady ,catherine ,grey4 ,in #8,archologia1' vol4 xxxi41 is a fine example of a weighty ring of fine gold1 found in #ahbc at ,thetford1 in ,suffolk4 ,the device which appears upon this ring is an eagle displayed2 on the inner side is engraved a bird1 with the wings closed1 apparently a falcon1 with a crown upon its head4 ,the following posy1 or motto1 commencing on the outer side1 is continued on the interior of the ring3--dens me ouroye de bous senir a gree--com moun coner desiri--#8,god work for me to make suit acceptably to you1 as my heart desires4' ,the devices appear to be heraldic1 and the motto that of a lover1 or a suitor to one in power4 ,the eagle is the bearing of several ancient ,suffolk families2 it was also a badge of the ,house of ,lancaster1 and ,thetford was one portion of the ,duchy of ,lancaster4 ,illustration3 ,heraldic ring4 ,in the #8,revue ,britannique' for ,january #ahfi1 the discovery was announced of the two wedding-rings interchanged between ,martin ,luther and ,catherine von ,bora1 one of nine nuns1 who1 under the influence of his teaching1 had emancipated themselves from their religious vows4 ,she afterwards married ,luther4 ,the ,revue states that the ring of the great ,reformer is at ,waldenburg1 and the bride's ring is now in ,paris2 that they are similar in composition1 the latter being smaller4 ,they are of silver gilt1 with a figure of ,christ upon the cross1 and bear inside the same inscription1 #8,d4 ,martino ,luthero ,catherinan ,boren1 #ac ,juni1 #aehi4' ,it is further stated that the bride's ring belongs to a ,protestant lady1 ,madame ,michael ,girod1 and was purchased by her at an old store-shop in ,geneva4 ,illustration3 ,supposed betrothal ring of ,martin ,luther4 ,considerable doubts exist1 however1 as to the authenticity of these rings1 a writer in #8,notes and ,queries' pointing out an evident mistake in the date1 and the inscription on the bride's ring #8,d4 ,martino ,luthero ,catherinan ,boren3' not meaning #8,dr4 ,martin ,luther to ,catherinan ,boren' but the reverse4 ,another correspondent of the same work mentions that #8,luther' rings were made for a jubilee at ,leipsic in #ahbe4 ,illustration3 ,betrothment ring of ,martin ,luther4 ,mr4 ,h4 ,noel ,humphreys1 an eminent authority on these subjects1 states 7#8,intellectual ,observer1' ,february #ahfb73 #8,the betrothment-ring of ,luther1 which belonged to a family at ,leipsic as late as #ahag1 and is doubtless still preserved with the greatest care as a national relic of great interest1 is composed of an intricate device of gold-work set with a ruby1 the emblem of exalted love4 ,the gold devices represent all the symbols of the 8,passion40 ,in the centre is the crucified ,saviour3 on one side the spear1 with which the side was pierced1 and the rod of reeds of the flagellation4 ,on the other is a leaf of hyssop4 ,beneath are the dies with which the soldiers cast lots for the garment without seam1 and below are the three nails4 ,at the back may be distinguished the inside of the ladder1 and other symbols connected with the last act of the ,atonement2 the whole so grouped as to make a large cross1 surmounted by the ruby1 the most salient feature of the device4 ,on the inside of the ring the inscriptions are still perfect4 ,they contain the names of the betrothed pair1 and the date of the wedding-day in ,german1 8der #ac ,junij #aebe40 ,this was the ring presented to the wife at the betrothal1 and worn by her after the marriage4 ,the marriage-ring worn by ,luther after his marriage was still more intricate in its structure4 ,it is an ingeniously contrived double-ring1 every intricacy of structure having its point and meaning4 ,in the first place1 though the double-ring can be divided1 so as to form two complete rings1 yet they cannot be separated from each other1 as the one passing through the other causes them to remain permanently interlaced1 as an emblem of the marriage vow1 though still forming two perfect rings2 illustrating also the motto engraved within them1 8,was ,got zussamen fget soll ,kein ,mensch ,scheiden0--what ,god doth join no man shall part4 ,on the one hoop is a diamond1 the emblem of power1 duration1 and fidelity2 and on the inside of its raised mounting1 which1 when joined to the other hoop1 will be concealed1 are the initials of ,martin ,luther1 followed by a ,d41 marking his academic title4 ,on the corresponding surface of the mounting of the gem of the other hoop are the initials of his wife1 ,catherine von ,bora1 which1 on the closing of the rings1 necessarily lies close to those of ,luther4 ,the gem in this side of the ring is a ruby1 the emblem of exalted love2 so that the names of ,catherine and ,luther are closely united1 when the rings are closed1 beneath the emblems of exalted love1 power1 duration1 and fidelity4 ,illustration3 ,marriage ring of ,martin ,luther4 #8,there can be but little doubt that these curious and interesting rings were designed by the celebrated painter and goldsmith1 ,lucas ,cranach1 and possibly wrought with his own hand1 the marriage of his friend ,luther being a special occasion which he doubtless wished to honour with every attention4 ,lucas was1 indeed1 one of the three select friends whom ,luther took to witness his betrothal2 the others being ,dr4 ,bugenhagen1 town preacher of ,wittenberg1 and the lawyer ,assel1 who all accompanied him to ,reichenbach's house1 where ,catherine resided4' ,among the numerous articles of ,shakspearian interest presented to the ,shakspeare ,library and ,museum at ,stratford1 by ,miss ,anne ,wheler1 the surviving sister of the historian of ,stratford-on-,avon1 the late ,mr4 ,robert ,bell ,wheler1 is a gold signet-ring described as ,shakspeare's1 having the initials #8,w4 ,s4' a true lover's knot entwined between them4 ,illustration3 ,shakspeare's ring 7874 ,an account of the discovery of the ring appeared in the #8,guide to ,stratford-on-,avon1' by ,mr4 ,wheler1 published in #ahad1 from which it appears that the ring was found four years previously by a labourer's wife upon the surface of the mill close adjoining ,stratford churchyard4 #8,i purchased it on the same day1' observes ,mr4 ,wheler1 #8for thirty-six shillings 7the current value of the gold71 yet the woman had sufficient time to destroy the precious rugo by having it unnecessarily immersed in aquafortis1 to ascertain and prove the metal1 at a silversmith's shop4 ,it is of tolerably large dimensions 7weighing #ab dwts471 and evidently a gentleman's ring of ,elizabeth's age4' ,to prove the authenticity of the ring1 ,mr4 ,wheler made many efforts to discover whether there existed anywhere ,shakspeare's seal attached to letter or other writings1 but ineffectually4 #8,from a close observation of the ring1' adds ,mr4 ,wheler1 #8,i should be inclined to suppose that it was made in the early part of the poet's life4 ,mr4 ,malone1 in a conversation ,i had with him in ,london1 said he had nothing to allege against the probability of my conjecture as to its owner4' ,no positive proof1 however1 according to ,mr4 ,wheler's own admission1 can be adduced as to the authenticity of the ring having belonged to ,shakspeare1 but the very probability gives an interest to it1 which most persons who inspect it will feel4 #8,is it ,shakspeare's8' remarks ,mr4 ,fairholt4 #8,it is evidently a gentleman's ring1 and of the poet's era4 ,it is just such a ring as a man in his station would fittingly wear--gentlemanly1 but not pretentious4 ,there was but one other person in the small town of ,stratford at that time to whom the same initials belonged4 ,this was one ,william ,smith1 but his seal is attached to several documents preserved among the records of the corporation1 and is totally different4' ,he was a draper2 and his seal has a device upon it consisting of a skull with a bone in the mouth2 the letters #8,w4 ,s4' are under it1 and very small4 ,this ring was1 most probably1 of silver4 ,it is unlikely that a small trader like ,smith should wear a heavy gold ring1 like this which claims to be ,shakspeare's4 ,mr4 ,halliwell1 in his #8,life of ,shakspeare1' observes1 that #8little doubt can be entertained that this ring belonged to the poet1 and1 it is1 probably1 the one he lost before his death1 and was not to be found when his will was executed1 the word hand being substituted for that of seal in the original copy of that document4' ,the concluding words of the will are1 #8in witness whereof ,i have hereunto put my seale1' the last word being struck through with a pen1 and hand substituted4 ,in the #8,gentleman's ,magazine' 7,may #ahaj7 we find3 #8,for further confirmation of circumstances we may observe over the porch leading into the gate of ,charlecote ,hall1 near ,stratford-on-,avon1 erected in the early part of ,elizabeth's reign by the very ,sir ,thomas ,lucy who is said to have prosecuted ,shakspeare1 the letters 8,t4 ,l40 connected in a manner precisely similar to that on the ring4' ,illustration3 ,initials of ,sir ,thomas ,lucy at ,charlecote ,hall4 ,the crossing of the centre lines of the ,w41 with the oblique direction of the lines of the ,s41 exactly agree with the characters of that day4 ,for proof1 we need wander no farther than ,stratford ,church1 where the ,cloptons' and ,totness' tombs will furnish representations of rings1 and ,shakspeare's monument of letters1 exactly corresponding in point of shape4 ,the connection or union of the letters1 by the ornamental strings and tassels1 was then frequently used1 of which we may meet with numerous instances upon seals of that period4 ,in the life of ,haydon the painter we have the following letter from him to ,keats 7,march #a1 #ahah73 #8,my dear ,keats1 ,i shall go mad6 ,in a field at ,stratford-upon-,avon1 that belonged to ,shakspeare1 they have found a gold ring and seal with the initials 8,w4 ,s40 and a true lover's knot between4 ,if this is not ,shakspeare's whose is it8--a true lover's knot6 ,i saw an impression to-day and am to have one as soon as possible3 as sure as you breathe and that he was the first of beings the seal belonged to him4 #8,o ,lord6' #8,b4 ,r4 ,,haydon4' ,the ring of ,sir ,walter ,raleigh1 which he wore at the time of his execution1 is1 according to the statement in #8,notes and ,queries' of a descendant of that truly #8great' man1 in the possession of a member of the ,blanckley family1 being a heir-loom1 the ,blanckleys being directly descended from ,sir ,walter1 and having several interesting relics of their distinguished ancestor4 ,octavius ,morgan1 ,esq41 ,f4,r4,s41 ,f4,s4,a41 exhibited at a meeting of the ,society of ,antiquaries 7,february #aheg7 a rare and curious #8,trinity' ring1 turned out of one piece of ivory1 and belonging to the latter part of the seventeenth century4 ,it is formed by a single band of ivory1 making three circuits1 so intertwined with one another as not to touch1 and thus forming a threefold ring4 #8,its curiosity is great1' remarked ,mr4 ,morgan1 #8because these rings were only made by one person2 so much art and skill were required in the making that they were the wonder of the time1 and no one at the present day knows by what contrivance they were turned1 or how they could now be made4 ,the interest consists in having ascertained the maker of the ring1 which ,i by chance met with some years ago in this city4444 ,we find from ,doppelmayer that ,stephan ,zick 7born #afci71 the artist to whom ,i attribute this ring1 was descended from a ,nuremberg family long famous for their skill in this art4444 ,doppelmayer1 describing some of the wonderful objects which he produced1 says1 the work which most distinguished him was his ,trinity rings4 ,of these he made only three2 the two first were in the ,museums of ,vienna and ,dresden1 and the third became the property of an amateur collector of curiosities in ,nuremberg as a wonderful work of art and skill4 ,this was written in #agcj4 ,on comparing this ring with the engraving in ,doppelmayer1 it exactly corresponds4 ,the little box turned as a case for it shows how it was cared for1 and is indicative of the period when it was made4 ,we also learn from ,doppelmayer that these ,trinity rings seem to have been first made in gold by a jeweller of ,nuremberg1 ,johan ,heel1 about #afgj1 and he describes them as consisting of a single piece of wire1 forming a three-fold circuit1 each circuit skilfully intertwined with the other two so as not to touch each other1 the ends being so cleverly united that the point of juncture could not be discovered4 ,thus there were three rings in one1 and hence the name4 ,the inventor of these ingenious rings is not known1 but it is considered to be a ,jesuit1 named ,scherern1 about #affj4 ,it certainly required great skill to have turned such a ring out of one piece of ivory1 a work which ,i believe it is not possible to accomplish with any machinery now in use4 ,the inference ,i draw from the foregoing is1 that if ,stephan ,zick alone could make these rings of ivory--if he only made three1 and that if one of these is at ,vienna1 and another at ,dresden1 ,i must now be the fortunate possessor of the third4' ,illustration3 ,ivory-turned rings4 7,the greatest progress in ivory-carving was made in ,flanders1 ,holland1 and ,germany1 about the middle of the sixteenth century4 ,there are in the museums of ,munich1 ,vienna1 and ,berlin1 a quantity of ivory vases1 etc41 covered with exquisite carvings4--,labarte47 ,mr4 ,edwards1 in his #8,history and ,poetry of ,finger-rings1' mentions1 and gives an illustration of1 a ring that may well claim a place among remarkable specimens4 ,it is a gigantic ring1 presented in #aheb1 by some citizens of ,california to ,president ,pierce4 ,the description of this golden monster is given from ,gleason's #8,pictorial ,newspaper' 7,december #be1 #aheb73 #8,it weighs upwards of a full pound1 and for chasteness of design1 elegance of execution1 and high style of finish1 has1 perhaps1 no equal in the world4 ,the design is by ,mr4 ,george ,blake1 a mechanic of ,san ,francisco4 ,the circular portion of the ring is cut into squares1 which stand at right angles to each other1 and are embellished each with a beautifully executed design1 the entire group representing a pictorial history of ,california1 from her primitive state down to her present flourishing condition1 under the flag of our ,union4 #8,thus1 there is given a grizzly bear in a menacing attitude1 a deer bounding down a slope1 an enraged boa1 a soaring eagle1 and a salmon4 ,then we have the ,indian with his bow and arrow1 the primitive weapon of self-defence2 the native mountaineer on horseback1 and a ,californian on horseback1 throwing his lasso4 ,next peeps out a ,californian tent4 ,then you see a miner at work with his pick1 the whole being shaded by two ,american flags1 with the staves crossed and groups of stars in the angles4 ,the part of the ring reserved for the seal is covered by a solid and deeply carved plate of gold1 bearing the arms of the ,state of ,california in the centre1 surmounted by the banner and stars of the ,united ,states1 and inscribed with 8,frank ,pierce0 in old ,roman characters4 ,this lid opens upon a hinge1 and presents to view1 underneath1 a square box1 divided by bars of gold into nine separate compartments1 each containing a pure specimen of the varieties of one found in the country4 ,upon the inside is the following inscription3 8,presented to ,franklin ,pierce1 the ,fourteenth ,president of the ,united ,states40 #8,the ring is valued at two thousand dollars4 ,altogether1 it is a massive and superb affair1 rich in emblematical design and illustration1 and worthy its object4' ,in the collection of ,lord ,braybrooke is the ring of ,tippoo ,saib1 which is thus described in the catalogue3 #8,this magnificent jewel has a plain gold hoop1 with the entire surface set with rubies2 on the centre is perched a large bird1 apparently intended for a hawk1 made of gold and beautifully executed1 with the plumage composed completely of precious stones1 the diamond1 emerald1 ruby1 and sapphire4 ,a better idea of the splendour of this ornament will be formed from a description of the bird4 ,length from the base of the bill to the end of the tail1 #c inches2 girth round the body1 #c inches2 width across the scapulars1 #a inch2 width across the tail1 three-quarters of an inch2 height #a inch4 ,in the beak are two small ruby-drops1 a single emerald in the crest1 and rubies for the eyes2 a single row of nine sapphires encircles the throat1 and #aci rubies1 including those on the hoop1 #ad in number1 with #bi diamonds1 some of them very large1 and all set flat1 cover the rest of the neck1 breast1 back1 and tail4 ,several gems beside have been lost from their setting4 ,across the belly1 behind the legs1 is an inscription in some ,indian characters1 which has not yet been explained beyond the following remarks upon it in a letter addressed by the 7late7 ,a4 ,way ,esq41 who copied it1 to ,lady ,braybrooke3 8,the characters are a corruption of the ordinary ,sanscrit1 that is1 ,i suppose1 some local variety or peculiarity of a dialect in ,tippoo's district2 they appear to signify certain titles of the great chief1 commencing with a portion of his proper style1 #8,maha ra jah1' sufficient to show that the inscription relates only to the name of ,tippoo ,saib4 ,this is all that ,i can at present offer in regard to your highly curious jewel4--,nov4 #bd1 #ahdh40 ,this unique and interesting ring was brought from ,india by some one in the army1 at the time of the capture of ,seringapatam1 #agib1 under the first ,marquis ,cornwallis1 and presented to his family1 by whom it has been preserved and descended as an heirloom through his eldest grandchild1 the late ,lady ,braybrooke4 ,it was stated at the time of its presentation that ,tippoo was in the habit of wearing it when he went out hawking1 perhaps only when he did so in state4 ,weight of the whole #b oz4 #f dwts4 #g grs4' ,the ,baroness ,burdett ,coutts possesses a gold ring set with large green tourmaline4 ,it is of ,indian workmanship1 and is said to have belonged to ,tippoo ,saib4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king in his #8,precious ,stones1 ,gems1 and ,precious ,metals1' mentions #8an unparalleled specimen of ,oriental caprice and extravagance--a finger-ring cut out of a solid piece of emerald of remarkably pure quality1 with two emerald drops and two collets set with rose diamonds1 and ruby borders in ,oriental mountings1 formerly belonging to ,jehanghir1 son of ,akbar1 ,emperor of ,delhi1 whose name is engraved on the ring4 ,diameter #a #a in4 ,this ring was presented by ,shah ,soojah to the ,east ,india ,company1 and was purchased by the late ,lord ,auckland1 when ,governor-,general of ,india4 ,now in the possession of the ,hon4 ,miss ,eden4' ,a wonderful ring was presented by the ,great ,mogul to the only envoy of the ,emperor of ,germany who ever visited his court4 #8,the very first sight of this jewel1' observes the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 #8sufficed to convince one that it could have had no other origin than this1 such a show of barbarian splendour did it exhibit1 forming in itself a complete cabinet of every kind of precious stone of colour to be found in his dominions4 ,its form was that of a wheel about three inches in diameter1 composed of several concentric circles1 joined together by the spokes radiating from the centre1 in which was set a large round sapphire4 ,the spokes at all their intersections with the circles1 had collets soldered on them1 each containing some coloured gem2 in fact1 every stone of value except the diamond occurred in this glorious company4 ,on the back was fixed the shank1 and when worn it covered the whole hand like some huge mushroom4' ,on the death of the late ,cardinal ,york at ,rome1 amongst various relics of the house of ,stuart1 purchased for ,lord ,john ,scott1 were the ring worn by the ,pretender--,james the ,third1 as he was styled abroad--on his marriage with the ,princess ,clementina ,sobieski1 and the marriage-ring of his son1 ,prince ,charles ,edward1 enclosing a beautiful little miniature2 a gold ring with a white rose in enamel1 worn by ,king ,james the ,second and his son2 a ring with a cameo portrait in ivory of ,james the ,second2 a ring with a miniature portrait of ,henry ,stuart1 ,cardinal1 ,duke of ,york1 when young2 a ring with a cameo portrait1 by the celebrated engraver ,pickler1 of ,james ,sobieski1 great-uncle of the ,pretender's wife2 a ring with a cameo portrait1 by the same artist1 of the wife of ,prince ,charles ,edward2 also one with a cameo portrait of the ,duchess of ,albany1 and another containing a lock of her hair4 ,in the possession of ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith1 ,esq41 ,f4,s4,a41 is a gold ring1 having in the bezel a miniature of ,prince ,james ,stuart1 the old ,chevalier1 set round with small crystals4 ,english contemporary work4 ,sir ,watkin ,williams ,wynn possesses a gold ring1 set with a ruby1 surrounded by the ,garter1 crowned with the motto #8,dieu et mon ,droit' on the hoop4 ,this is an interesting family relic1 having been a present from ,prince ,charles ,edward4 ,a signet-ring1 believed to be the ,council ,seal of ,queen ,henrietta ,maria1 made by warrant1 ,sept4 #f1 #afbf1 is the property of ,miss ,hartshorne1 and has a circular bezel1 set with sapphire1 engraved with escutcheon1 bearing the arms of ,england surmounted by a crown1 the letters ,m and ,r at the sides2 on the shoulders is the rose of ,england in coloured enamel4 ,diameter of the ring #a in4 ,this curious relic was exhibited at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum in #ahgb4 ,mr4 ,octavius ,morgan1 ,f4,r4,s41 ,f4,s4,a41 has in his valuable collection of rings one formed with a diminutive squirt1 which1 being concealed in the hand1 would1 at pleasure1 throw a jet of water into the eye of anyone examining it4#gg ,illustration3 ,squirt-ring4 ,in the ,waterton ,collection is a bronze squirt-ring with octagonal bezel1 finely chased with mask of ,silenus1 the ring hollow1 with tube projecting from the hoop1 so that it can be used as a squirt4 ,italian work of the sixteenth century4 ,l4 one and seven-tenths inch4 ,in the same collection1 also1 is a ring made to serve as a whistle4 ,it is of lead1 with circular bezel finely chased in relief1 with profile heads of ,charles the ,fifth and his empress4 ,flemish1 sixteenth century4 ,diameter one and one-eighth inch4 ,in the #8,annual ,register' for #agfd we read that ,mr4 ,arnold1 of ,devereux ,court1 in the ,strand1 watchmaker1 had the honour to present ,his ,majesty ,george the ,third with a most curious repeating watch of his own making1 set in a ring4 ,the size of the watch was something less than a silver twopence2 it contained #abj different parts and weighed altogether five dwts4 seven grains and three-fourths4 ,among curious ring relics may be mentioned one in which a tooth of ,sir ,isaac ,newton was set4 ,the tooth was sold to a nobleman in #ahaf for #gcjl41 who had it placed in the ring1 and wore it constantly on his finger4 ,denon1 the ,french savant1 wore a ring set with a tooth of ,voltaire4 ,at ,norwich in #ahdg a silver ring was exhibited1 set with a dark-coloured substance1 supposed to be the palatal tooth of a fish1 like those of the ,sphrodus ,gigas4 ,this closely resembles the precious ring given 7according to tradition7 by ,richard ,cur-de-,lion1 to one of the ,dawnay family in the ,holy ,wars1 and adopted as their crest4 ,it is preserved in the collection of ,viscount ,downe1 and was shown by him at a meeting of the ,institute at ,york4 ,another ring1 with the same kind of setting1 belonged to the late ,mr4 ,albert ,way4 ,date1 the thirteenth century4 ,in the collection of ,mr4 ,a4 ,j4 ,b4 ,beresford ,hope is a gold ring set with a sapphire of extraordinary brilliancy1 known as the #8saphir merveilleux1' which formerly belonged to ,philippe d',orlans 7galit71 and is mentioned by ,madame de ,genlis4 ,in #agfe1 a very beautiful and perfect gold ring was found by a workman among the ruins of the ,north ,gate ,house1 on ,bedford ,bridge1 when that building was pulled down4 ,it bears the initials #8,j4,b41' and is engraved with a death's-head and the words #8,memento mori4' ,there seems to be every probability that this ring once belonged to ,john ,bunyan1 who was imprisoned there4 ,this precious relic was sold to ,dr4 ,abbot1 chaplain to the ,duke of ,bedford1 and presented by him in his last illness to the ,rev4 ,g4 ,h4 ,bower1 perpetual curate of ,elstow1 the birthplace of ,bunyan4 ,the ,london press has lately announced that ,dean ,bower bequeathed to his nephew1 ,mr4 ,henry ,addington1 this ring4 ,in the preceding chapter ,i have mentioned several portrait-rings of remarkable interest2 ,i may add that at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,ancient and ,modern ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum in #ahgb1 some fine and highly curious specimens of this character were shown1 and amongst them the following3-- ,colonel ,dawson ,damer is the possessor of a gold ring with a miniature by ,cosway of the eye of ,george1 ,prince of ,wales4 ,professor ,maskelyne has an intaglio portrait of ,sir ,isaac ,newton1 set in a ring1 which was presented to the late ,dr4 ,maskelyne1 ,astronomer ,royal1 by ,dr4 ,shepherd1 of ,cambridge1 contemporary of ,newton4 ,in the collection of ,earl ,beauchamp is a gold ring with enamel portrait of the ,regent ,orleans1 by ,petitot2 ,french1 beginning of the eighteenth century4 ,also a gold ring with profile portrait of ,frederic the ,great2 and another portrait within2 eighteenth century4 ,belonging to the ,rev4 ,j4 ,c4 ,jackson is a gold ring set with intaglio1 an emerald portrait of ,james ,,ii42 eighteenth century2 formerly the property of ,cardinal ,york4 ,a gold ring1 black enamelled1 with miniature portrait of ,prince ,charles ,edward2 eighteenth century4 ,a ring with a portrait head of ,queen ,elizabeth 787 in carved jacinth1 mounted in gold1 set with brilliants2 ,french1 sixteenth century1 the property of ,george ,bonnor1 ,esq4 ,till1 in his account of #8,coronation ,medals1' mentions 7but without citing his authority7 that the late ,cardinal of ,york wore constantly1 till his decease1 a ring which bore the portraits of the ,pretender1 ,james the ,third1 and his wife2 it was taken from his finger in the hour of his dissolution1 by his servant1 and sold as a perquisite--a relic of the instability and mutation of human greatness--to ,william1 ,baron ,bartholdy1 son to the ,jewish ,plato1 ,moses ,mendelssohn4 ,it is now in the ,ashmolean ,museum1 ,oxford1 to which it was presented by ,mrs4 ,maria ,graham 7since ,calcott71 in #ahbd4 ,,appendix4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,rings ,,from ,,the ,,earliest ,,period4 ,p4 #ah4 ,counterfeit rings belong to all ages and peoples4 ,hall1 in his #8,satires1' says3-- ,nor can good ,myron weare on his left hand ,a signet-ring of ,bristol diamond1 ,but he must cut his glove to show his pride ,that his trim jewel might be better spied3 ,and that men might some burgesse him repute ,with sattin sleeves hath graced his sacke-cloth suit4 ,the punishment of whipping in former days was inflicted on dishonest traders in rings4 ,in the #8,diary of ,henry ,machyn1 from #aeej to #aefc' 7,camden ,society71 is the following entry in #aeef3--#8,the iij day of ,july was a man wypyd a-bowtt the post of reformacyon bef the standard in ,chepsyd for sellyng of false rynges4' ,fines were also inflicted2 in the records of the ,goldsmiths' ,company we find3 #8,in #aeab ,robert ,mayne1 for mysworkyng of rings wars 7worse7 than sterling v oz and dj1 leaves in pledge #b dozen of the said rings1 pledges as security for the payments of fines and defaults4' ,in the same records we have a curious account for #8costs in the ,chauncerie for the recoverie of a counterfete ,diamant set in a gold ring 7#hth ,edward ,,iv41 #adfi71' which affords an idea of lawyers' charges in those days3-- s4 d4 ,for boat-hire to ,westminster and home again for the suit in the ,chancery began in the old warden's time1 for the recovery of a counterfeit diamond set in a gold ring #j #j #f ,for a breakfast at ,westminster spent on our counsel #j #a #f ,to ,mr4 ,catesby1 serjeant at law1 to plead for the same #j #c #d ,to another time for boat-hire in and out1 and a breakfast for two days #j #a #f ,again for boat-hire and one breakfast #j #a #j ,to the keeper of the ,chancery door #j #j #b ,to ,timothy ,fairfax at two times #j #h #d ,to ,pigott for attendance at two times #j #f #h ,to a breakfast at ,westminster #g;d41 boat-hire #d;d4 #j #j #aa ------------ #a #c #aa ,pliny's account of ,rings4 ,p4 #be4 ,pliny's remarks on rings are as follow3--#8,it was the custom at first to wear rings on a single finger only--the one1 namely1 that is next to the little finger1 and thus we see the case in the statues of ,numa and ,servius ,tullius4 ,in later times it became the practice to put rings on the finger next to the thumb1 even in the case of the statues of the gods2 and1 more recently again1 it has become the fashion to wear them upon the little finger as well4 ,among the peoples of ,gallia and ,britannia1 the middle finger1 it is said1 is used for this purpose4 ,at the present day1 however1 among us1 this is the only finger that is excepted1 all others being loaded with rings1 smaller rings even being separately adapted for the smaller joints of the fingers4 ,some there are who heap several rings on the little finger alone2 while others1 again1 wear but one ring on this finger--the ring that sets a seal on the signet-ring itself2 this last being carefully shut up as an object of rarity1 too precious to be worn in common use1 and only to be taken from the cabinet 7dactyliotheca7 as from a sanctuary4 ,and thus is the wearing of a single ring upon the little finger no more than an ostentatious advertisement that the owner has property of a more precious nature under seal at home4 ,some1 too1 make a parade of the weight of their rings1 while to others it is quite a labour to wear more than one at a time2 some1 in their solicitude for the safety of their gems1 make the hoop of gold tinsel1 and fill it with a lighter material than gold1 thinking thereby to diminish the risk of a fall4 ,others1 again1 are in the habit of enclosing poisons beneath the stones of their rings1 and so wear them as instruments of death4 ,and then1 besides1 how many of the crimes that are stimulated by cupidity are committed through the instrumentality of rings6 ,how happy the times--how truly innocent--in which no seal was put to anything6 ,at the present day1 on the contrary1 our very food even1 and our drink1 have to be preserved from theft through the agency of the ring2 and so far is it from being sufficient to have the very keys sealed1 that the signet-ring is often taken from off the owner's fingers while he is overpowered with sleep1 or lying on his deathbed4' ,shrewsbury ,morse-ivory ,thumb-ring4 ,p4 #hi4 ,the coat-of-arms engraved on this ring consists of--#8,quarterly of four3 #a4 ,talbot1 a lion rampant1 with a bordure engrailed2 #b4 ,strange1 two lions passant2 #c4 ,neville1 a saltire2 #d4 ,verdon1 a fret4' ,dr4 ,iliff observes3 #8,the date of the ring appears to me to be about the middle of the sixteenth century1 and it may1 therefore1 be ascribed to ,francis ,talbot1 fifth ,earl of ,shrewsbury of that family1 who was elected ,k4,g4 in #aede1 and died ,september #be1 #aefj4 #8,with respect to the quarterings on the ring1 ,i would observe that the first coat was assumed1 as the paternal coat of ,talbot1 by ,sir ,gilbert ,talbot 7who died in #abih7 on marrying ,gwenllian1 daughter of ,rhys ,vychan ap ,gruffyd1 ,lord of ,north ,wales1 in lieu of his paternal arms1 ,bendy of ten argent and gules4 ,the second quartering 7,strange7 was brought in by the marriage of ,richard1 ,lord ,talbot1 of ,eccleswall1 ,lord ,strange1 of ,blackmere1 in right of his wife ,angharad1 daughter and heir of ,john1 ,lord ,strange4 ,the third and fourth quarterings 7,neville and ,verdon7 were brought in by the marriage of ,john ,talbot1 first ,earl of ,shrewsbury1 of that family1 with ,maud1 only daughter and heir of ,sir ,thomas ,neville1 ,lord ,furnival1 and great-granddaughter of ,thomas de ,furnival1 ,lord of ,sheffield1 by ,joan1 daughter and co-heir of ,theobald de ,verdon1 ,baron of ,webley4' ,the ,soden ,smith ,collection of ,ancient ,rings4 ,in the splendid collection of rings belonging to ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith1 ,f4,s4,a4 7one hundred and forty specimens of which1 dating from various periods1 and commencing with ancient ,egyptian1 were exhibited at the ,loan ,exhibition of ,jewellery at the ,south ,kensington ,museum1 in #ahgb71 are some fine works of ancient art4 ,i may mention an antique ,etruscan gold ring1 with broad oblong bezel1 repouss1 with representation of a chimera and griffin1 the sides of the bezel enriched with delicate filigree work4 ,an antique ,etruscan gold ring1 terminating in two serpents' heads1 ornamented with three collars of filigree work4 ,an iron ring 7probably ,etruscan71 the surface plated with gold1 chased with figure of a cock upon a pillar1 and having a gold dot inserted4 ,an antique ,grco-,roman gold ring1 the hoop formed of four strands of twisted wire-work1 the bezel set with projecting onyx of four strata4 ,an antique ,roman silver pennannular ring1 ending in two serpents' heads4 ,a ,roman ring1 of the third century1 the bezel set with a pierced piece of rough emerald1 shoulders chased from the solid with beaded ornament4 ,a silver pennannular ring1 of ,oriental type1 terminating in ribbed hexagonal knobs4 ,found with ,roman coins1 in removing old ,london ,bridge4 ,an antique ,roman bronze key-ring1 found at ,silchester4 ,a gold ,roman ring1 of the third century1 very massive1 of angular outline1 set with intaglio on nicolo onyx1 engraved with a figure of ,mercury2 ploughed up in ,sussex4 ,a series of five gold antique ,roman rings1 set with emeralds1 jasper1 and sard2 some engraved with subjects in intaglio4 ,antique ,greek rings of gold1 hollow1 set with sards1 vitreous pastes1 c4 ,an antique ,roman bronze ring1 plated with gold4 ,an antique ,roman silver ring1 the bezel engraved with a hare4 ,two gold rings of the ,lower ,empire1 or ,byzantine1 with projecting bezels2 one set with root of emerald1 the other with ribbon onyx4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,ring ,,superstitions4 ,solomon's ,ring4 ,p4 #ic4 ,in the ,koran 7chapter xxxvi41 #8revealed at ,mecca'71 it is stated3--#8,we also tried ,solomon1 and placed on his throne a counterfeit body4' ,in the chapter on #8,ring ,superstitions' ,i have mentioned the fable of ,solomon's ring4 ,the exposition of the passage in the ,koran is taken from the following ,talmudic fiction3--,solomon1 having taken ,sidon and slain the king of that city1 brought away his daughter ,jerda1 who became his favourite2 and because she ceased not to lament her father's loss1 he ordered the devils to make an image of him for her consolation2 which being done1 and placed in her chamber1 she and her maids worshipped it morning and evening1 according to their custom4 ,at length ,solomon1 being informed of this idolatry1 which was practised under his roof by his vizir ,asf1 he broke the image1 and1 having chastised the women1 went out into the desert1 where he wept1 and made supplication to ,god1 who did not think fit1 however1 to let his negligence pass without some correction4 ,it was ,solomon's custom1 while he washed himself1 to trust his signet1 on which his kingdom depended1 with a concubine of his1 named ,amna4 ,one day1 therefore1 when she had the ring in her custody1 a devil named ,sakhar came to her in the shape of ,solomon1 and received the ring from her1 by virtue of which he became possessed of the kingdom1 and sat on the throne in the shape which he had borrowed1 making what alterations in the law he pleased4 ,solomon1 in the meantime1 being changed in his outer appearance1 and known to none of his subjects1 was obliged to wander about and beg alms for his subsistence2 till at length1 after the space of forty days1 which was the time the image had been worshipped in his house1 the devil flew away and threw the ring into the sea1 where it was immediately swallowed by a fish1 which being taken and given to ,solomon1 he found the ring in its belly1 and having by this means recovered the kingdom1 took ,sakhar1 and1 tying a great stone to his neck1 threw him into the ,lake of ,tiberias4 ,charmed ,ring of ,sir ,edward ,neville4 ,p4 #acb4 ,in the ,confession of ,sir ,edward ,neville1 he alludes thus to the #8charmed' ring3--#8,william ,neville did send for me to ,oxford that ,i should come and speak with him at 8,weke10 and to him ,i went2 it was the first time ,i ever saw him2 ,i would ,i had been buried that day4 ,when ,i came he took me to a littell room1 and went to his garden1 and there demanded of me many questions1 and among all others1 asked if it were not possible to have a ring made which should bring a man in favour with his ,prince2 8seeing my ,lord ,cardinal had such a ring1 that whatsoever he asked of the ,king's ,grace1 that he had2 and ,master ,cromwell1 when he and ,i were servants in my ,lord ,cardinal's house1 did haunt to the company of one that was seen in your faculty2 and shortly after1 no man so great with my ,lord ,cardinal as ,master ,cromwell was2 and ,i have spoke with all them that has any name in this realm2 and all they showed me that ,i should be great with my ,prince1 and this is the cause that ,i did send for you1 to know whether your saying will be agreeable to theirs1 or no40 ,and ,i1 at the hearty desire of him1 showed him that ,i had read many books1 and especially the works of ,solomon1 and how his ring should be made1 and of what metal2 and what virtues they have after the canon of ,solomon4 ,and then he desired me instantly to take the pains to make him one of them2 and ,i told him that ,i could make them1 but ,i made never none of them1 and ,i cannot tell that they have such virtues or no1 but by hearing say4 ,also he asked me what other works ,i had read4 ,and ,i told him that ,i had read the magical works of ,hermes1 which many men doth prize2 and thus departed at that time4 ,and one fortnight after1 ,william ,neville came to ,oxford1 and said that he had one ,wayd at home at his house that did show him more than ,i did show him2 for the said ,wayd did show him that he should be a great lord1 nigh to the parts that he dwelt in4 ,and that in that lordship should be a fair castle2 and he could not imagine what it should be1 except it were the castle of ,warwick4 ,and ,i answered and said to him1 that ,i dreamed that an angel took him and me by the hands1 and led us to a high tower1 and there delivered him a shield1 with sundry arms1 which ,i cannot rehearse1 and this is all ,i ever showed him save at his desire4 ,i went thither with him1 and as concerning any other man1 save at the desire of ,sir ,gr4 ,done1 ,knt41 ,i made the moulds that ye have1 to the intent that he should have had ,mistress ,elizabeth's gear4' ,wedding-ring of the ,virgin ,mary and ,joseph4 ,p4 #ic4 ,in ,patrick's #8,devotions of the ,roman ,church' is a curious account of the wedding-ring of the ,virgin ,mary and ,joseph4 ,it is there described as of onyx or amethyst1 wherein was discerned a representation of the flowers that budded on his rod4 #8,it was discovered in the year #iif in this way3--,judith1 the wife of ,hugo1 ,marquis of ,etruria1 being a great lover of jewels1 employed one ,ranerius1 a skilful jeweller and lapidary of ,clusium1 to go to ,rome to make purchases for her4 ,there he formed an intimacy with a jeweller from ,jerusalem1 who1 when ,ranerius was about to return home1 professed great affection1 and offered him a ring as a pledge of friendship4 ,ranerius1 looking upon it as of little value1 declined it with a slight compliment2 but the jeweller from the ,holy ,land bade him not contemn it1 for it was the wedding-ring of ,joseph and the ,blessed ,virgin1 and made him take it1 with a special charge that it should not fall into the hands of a wicked person4 ,ranerius1 still careless of what he said1 threw it into a little chest with articles of inferior value1 where it remained until his forgetfulness cost him dear2 for when his son was only ten years old 7the number of years that his father disregarded the ,virgin's ring7 the boy died1 and was carried to his burial4 ,but1 behold1 as the hearse went forward1 on a sudden the dead child rose from the coffin1 ordered the bearers to stop1 and1 calling to his father1 told him that1 by favour of the ,blessed ,virgin1 he was come from ,heaven to tell him that1 as he had contemned religion by concealing her most holy ring in a common heap1 he must immediately send for it1 and publicly produce it1 that it might be openly venerated4 ,the chest being brought and delivered into the son's hand1 he presently found the ring1 although he had never seen it before2 then most reverently kissing it1 and showing it to the spectators1 they religiously adored it1 during the joyful pealing of the bells1 which rang of their own accord2 whereupon1 ordering himself to be carried to the place where he desired to be buried1 he delivered the ring to the curate of the parish1 and then1 laying himself down in the coffin1 he was interred4--,this ring wrought many miracles2 ivory ones touched with it1 worn by women in difficult labour1 relieved them2 an impression of it in wax1 applied to the hip1 removed the sciatica2 it cured diseases of the eyes1 reconciled married people that quarrelled1 and drove out devils4 ,five centuries afterwards1 in #adgc1 the church of ,musthiola1 where it effected these wonders1 becoming ruinous1 the ring was deposited with a religious community of the ,franciscans at ,clusium4 ,one of the brethren of the order1 named ,wintherus1 a crafty ,german1 and very wicked1 having obtained from the magistrates an appointment to show the ring1 on a certain occasion1 after exhibiting it at the end of his sermon1 stooped down1 as if he were putting it into the place provided for it1 but instead of doing so he slipped it up his sleeve1 and privily conveyed himself and the ring from the city across the water4 ,all was well so far1 but when he got into a neighbouring field it suddenly became dark1 so that1 not knowing which way to go1 but well knowing what was the matter1 he hung the ring on a tree1 and1 falling on the ground1 penitently confessed his sin to it1 and promised to return to ,clusium if it would dispel the darkness4 ,on taking it down it emitted a great light1 which he took advantage of to travel to ,perusia1 where he sojourned with the ,augustin friars1 till he determined on making another effort to carry it into ,germany4 ,he was again hindered by the darkness returning4 ,it infested him and the whole city for twenty days4 ,still he resolved not to return to ,clusium1 but tell his story in great confidence to his landlord1 one ,lucas ,jordanus1 who with great cunning represented to him his danger from the ,clusians1 and the benefits he would receive from the ,perusians if he bestowed the ring on that city4 ,wintherus followed his advice4 ,as soon as the ring was shown to the people the darkness disappeared1 and ,wintherus was well provided for in the house of the magistrate4 ,meanwhile the ,bishop of ,clusium1 coming to ,perusia1 endeavoured in vain to obtain the relic4 ,the city of ,sena sent an ambassador to resist the claims of the ,clusians2 he was entertained by the ,perusians with great respect1 but they informed him that1 having used no sacrilegious arts to obtain the ,blessed ,virgin's ring1 they respected her too much to restore it to the owners2 that they received it within their walls with as much respect as they would do the ,ark of the ,covenant1 and would defend their holy prize by force of arms4 ,the bereaved ,clusians laid the case before ,pope ,sixtus ,,iv41 and the ,perusians did the same4 ,wintherus was ordered by the ,pope1 on the importunity of the ,clusians1 into closer confinement2 but1 as the heat abated1 he passed a merry life in ,perusia1 and at his death the ,franciscans and the canons of ,st4 ,lawrence disputed for the possession of his body4 ,this honour was1 in the end1 obtained by the latter1 in whose chapel he was buried before an altar dedicated to ,st4 ,joseph and the ,virgin1 and a monument was erected by the ,perusians to the ring-stealer's memory1 with an inscription which acknowledged that the receivers were as much indebted to him for it as if it had been his own property1 and he had offered it of his own accord4 ,in the pontificate of ,innocent ,,viii41 ,a4,d4 #adhf1 the arbitration of the dispute was left to ,cardinal ,piccolominus1 who adjudged the relic to ,perusia4 ,the important decision was celebrated in that city by every imaginable expression of joy1 and for the greatest honour of the sacred ring1 a chapel was built for it in the church of ,st4 ,lawrence1 with an inscription1 informing the reader that there the untouched mother1 the ,queen of ,heaven1 and her spouse1 were worshipped2 that there in the sanctuary of her wedding-ring she lent a gracious ear to all prayers2 and that he who gave the ring 7,wintherus7 defended it by his protection4 ,the pencil was called in to grace the more substantial labours of the architect4 ,a curious picture represented the ,high ,priest in the ,temple of ,jerusalem1 taking ,joseph and ,mary by their hands to espouse them with the venerated ring2 one side of the solemnity was graced by a band of virgins1 the companions of ,mary during her education2 the other side was occupied by a company of young men1 ,joseph's kinsmen of the house of ,david1 holding their withered rods4 ,the imagination of the artist employed one of these in breaking his own rod across his knee1 as envious of ,joseph's1 which1 by its miraculous budding1 had ended the hopes of all who1 by the proclamation1 had become candidates for her hand4 ,in addition to this1 an altar was raised and dedicated to ,st4 ,joseph2 his statue was placed at its side2 his birthday was kept with great pomp2 a society of seculars1 called his ,fraternity1 was instituted to serve in the chapel jointly with the clergy of ,st4 ,lawrence2 and on the joint festival of ,mary and her spouse the splendid solemnity was heightened by the solemn exhibition of the ring1 and by a picture of their miraculous nuptials being uncovered to the eager gaze of the adoring multitude4' ,the ring is said by some to have been made of one whole stone1 green jasper or a plasma1 hollowed out1 and itself forming both hoop and bezel1 unalloyed with any metal4 ,in ,raffaelle's beautiful picture1 ,le ,sposalizio1 ,mary and ,joseph stand opposite to each other in the centre2 the high-priest1 between them1 is bringing their right hands towards each other2 ,joseph1 with his right hand 7guided by the priest71 is placing the ring on the third finger of the right hand of the ,virgin2 beside ,mary is a group of the virgins of the ,temple2 near ,joseph are the suitors1 who break their barren wands--that which ,joseph holds in his hand has blossomed into a lily1 which1 according to the legend1 was the sign that he was the chosen one4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 in his #8,handbook of ,engraved ,gems1' observes3 #8,the highest glory ever attained by a work of the engraver was that of the cameo of the ,abbey of ,st4 ,germain des ,prs1 which enjoyed for an entire millennium the transcendent 7though baseless7 fame of adorning the espousal-ring of the ,virgin ,mary1 and of preserving the portraits after the life of herself and ,joseph4 ,but1 alas6 antiquaries have now remorselessly restored the ownership of gem and portraits to the two nobodies 7probably liberti1 judging from their names71 whose votive legend1 8,alpheus with ,aretho10 is but too plainly legible in our ,greek-reading times4' ,when the ,abbey was destroyed by fire in #agie1 this ring1 with other valuables1 disappeared2 it subsequently came into the hands of ,general ,hydrow1 and from him passed into the ,imperial ,russian ,cabinet4 ,ring of ,gyges4 ,p4 #if4 ,nizmi1 the famous ,persian poet1 who died in #abji1 has a story of a ring which is a very close version of the ring of ,gyges4 ,a hot vapour once rent the ground1 and brought to light in the chasm a hollow horse of tin and copper with a large fissure in its side4 ,a shepherd saw it1 and discovered in the body an old man asleep1 with a gold ring on his finger4 ,he took it off1 and went next morning to his master to learn the value of his booty2 but during his visit he discovered1 to his astonishment1 that when he turned the seal towards his palm he became invisible4 ,he determined to make use of this power1 and he proceeded to the palace1 and secretly entered the council-chamber1 where he remained unseen4 ,when the nobles had left it1 he revealed himself to the king by this miracle as a prophet4 ,the king at once took him as his minister1 and eventually the shepherd succeeded him on the throne4 ,in ,reginald ,scot's #8,discovery of ,witchcraft1' #affe1 is given a charm whereby #8to go invisible by these three sisters of the fairies1' ,milita1 ,achilia1 and ,sibylia4 ,you are #8first to go to a fair parlour1 or chamber1 and on even ground1 and in no loft1 and from people nine dayes1 for it is better2 and let all thy cloathing be clean and sweet4 ,then make a candle of virgin wax and light it1 and make a fair fire of charcoles in a fair place in the middle of the parlour or chamber2 then take fair clean water that runneth against the ,east1 and set it upon the fire1 and if thou warm thyself say these words1 going about the fire three times holding the candle in thy right hand4' ,the incantation is too profane to be repeated4 ,the following is the effect produced3 #8and if they come not the first night1 then do the same the second night1 and so the third night1 until they do come1 for doubtless they will so come2 and lie thou in thy bed in the same parlour or chamber1 and lay thy right hand out of the bed1 and look thou have a fair silken kerchief bound about thy head1 and be not afraid1 they will do thee no harm2 for there will come before thee three fair women1 and all in white cloathing1 and one of them will put a ring upon thy finger wherewith thou shalt go invisible4 ,then with speed bind her with the bond aforesaid4 ,when thou hast this ring on thy finger1 look in a glass and thou shalt not see thyself4 ,and when thou wilt go invisible1 put it on thy finger1 the same finger that they did put it on1 and every new moon renew it again1' c4 ,the ,cruel ,knight and the ,fortunate ,farmer's ,daughter4 ,p4 #ii4 #8,the ,fish and the ,ring1 or the ,cruel ,knight1 and the ,fortunate ,farmer's ,daughter' 7a reprint for ,william ,robinson1 ,esq41 #ahdc74 ,in famous ,york city a farmer did dwell1 ,who was belov'd by his neighbours well2 ,he had a wife that was virtuous and fair1 ,and by her he had a young child every year4 ,in seven years six children he had1 ,which made their parents' hearts full glad2 ,but in a short time1 as we did hear say1 ,the farmer in wealth and stock did decay4 ,though once he had riches in store1 ,in a little time he grew very poor2 ,he strove all he could1 but1 alas6 could not thrive1 ,he hardly could keep his children alive4 ,the children came faster than silver or gold1 ,for his wife conceiv'd again1 we are told1 ,and when the time came in labour she fell2 ,but if you would mind an odd story ,i'll tell3 ,a noble rich ,knight by chance did ride by1 ,and hearing this woman did shriek and cry1 ,he being well learned in the planets and signs1 ,did look in the book which puzzled his mind4 ,the more he did look the more he did read1 ,and found that the fate of the child had decreed1 ,who was born in that house the same tide1 ,he found it was she who must be his bride2 ,but judge how the ,knight was disturb'd in mind1 ,when he in that book his fortune did find4 ,he quickly rode home and was sorely oppressed1 ,from that sad moment he could take no rest2 ,at night he did toss and tumble in his bed ,and very strange projects came into his head1 ,then he resolv'd and soon try'd indeed1 ,to alter the fortune he found was decreed4 ,with a vexing heart next morning he rose1 ,and to the house of the farmer he goes1 ,and asked the man with a heart full of spite1 ,if the child was alive that was born last night8 #8,worthy sir1' said the farmer1 #8although ,i am poor1 ,i had one born last night1 and six born before2 ,four sons and three daughters ,i now have alive1 ,they are in good health and likely to thrive4' ,the ,knight he reply'd1 #8,if that seven you have1 ,let me have the youngest1 ,i'll keep it most brave1 ,for you very well one daughter may spare1 ,and when ,i die ,i'll make her my heir2 ,for ,i am a ,knight of noble degree1 ,and if you will part with your child unto me ,full three thousand pounds ,i'll unto thee give ,when ,i from your hands your daughter receive4 ,the father and mother with tears in their eyes1 ,did hear this kind offer and were in surprize2 ,and seeing the ,knight was so noble and gay1 ,presented the infant unto him that day4 ,but they spoke to him with words most mild1 #8,we beseech thee1 good sir1 be kind to our child4' #8,you need not mind1' the ,knight he did say1 #8,i will maintain her both gallant and gay4' ,so with this sweet babe away he did ride1 ,until he came to a broad river's side4 ,being cruelly bent he resolv'd indeed ,to drown the young infant that day with speed1 ,saying1 #8,if you live you must be my wife1 ,so ,i am resolved to bereave you of life2 ,for till you are dead ,i no comfort can have1 ,wherefore you shall lie in a watery grave4' ,in saying of this1 that moment1 they say1 ,he flung the babe into the river straightway2 ,and being well pleased when this he had done1 ,he leaped on his horse1 and straight he rode home4 ,but mind how kind fortune for her did provide1 ,she was drove right on her back by the tide1 ,where a man was a fishing1 as fortune would have1 ,when she was floating along with the wave4 ,he took her up1 but was in amaze2 ,he kissed her and on her did gaze1 ,and he having ne'er a child in his life1 ,he straightway did carry her home to his wife4 ,his wife was pleased the child to see1 ,and said1 #8,my dearest husband1 be ruled by me1 ,since we have no children1 if you'll let me alone1 ,we will keep this and call it our own4' ,the good man consented1 as we have been told1 ,and spared for neither silver nor gold1 ,until she was over eleven full year1 ,and then her beauty began to appear4 ,the fisherman was one day at an inn1 ,and several gentlemen drinking with him3 ,his wife sent this girl to call her husband home1 ,but when she did into the drinking room come1 ,the gentlemen they were amazed to see ,the fisherman's daughter so full of beauty4 ,they ask'd him if she was his own1 ,and he told them the story before he went home3 #8,as ,i was fishing within my bound1 ,one ,monday morning this sweet babe ,i found2 ,or else she had lain within a watery grave2' ,and this was the same which now he gave4 ,the cruel ,knight was in the company1 ,and hearing the fisherman tell his story1 ,he was vexed at the heart to see her alive1 ,and how to destroy her again did contrive1 ,then spake the ,knight1 and unto him said1 #8,if you will but part with this sweet maid ,i'll give you whatever your heart can devise1 ,for she in time to great riches may rise4' ,the fisherman answered1 with a modest grace1 #8,i cannot unless my dear wife were in the place1 ,get first her consent1 you shall have mine of me1 ,and then to go with you1 sir1 she is free4' ,the wife she did also as freely consent1 ,but little they thought of his cruel intent2 ,he kept her a month very bravely they say1 ,and then he contrived to send them away4 ,he had a great brother in fair ,lancashire1 ,a noble rich man worth ten thousand a year1 ,and he sent this girl unto him with speed ,in hopes he would act a most desperate deed4 ,he sent a man with her likewise they say1 ,and as they did lodge at an inn on the way1 ,a thief in the house with an evil intent ,for to rob the portmanteau immediately went1 ,but the thief was amazed1 when he could not find ,either silver or gold1 or aught to his mind1 ,but only a letter the which he did read ,and soon put an end to this tragical deed3 ,the ,knight had wrote to his brother that day1 ,to take this poor innocent damsel away1 ,with sword or with poison that very same night1 ,and not let her live till morning light4 ,the thief read the letter1 and had so much grace ,to tear it1 and write in the same place1 #8,dear brother1 receive this maiden from me1 ,and bring her up well as a maiden should be2 ,let her be esteem'd1 dear brother1 ,i pray1 ,let servants attend her by night and by day4 ,for she is a lady of noble worth1 ,a nobler lady ne'er lived in the north2 ,let her have good learning1 dear brother1 ,i pray1 ,and for the same ,i will sufficiently pay2 ,and so1 loving brother1 this letter ,i send1 ,subscribing myself your dear brother and friend4' ,the servant and maid were still innocent1 ,and onward their journey next day they went4 ,before sunset to the ,knight's house they came ,where the servant left her1 and came home again4 ,the girl was attended most nobly indeed1 ,with the servants to attend to her with speed2 ,where she did continue a twelvemonth's space1 ,till this cruel ,knight came to this place1 ,as he and his brother together did talk1 ,he spy'd the young maiden in the garden to walk4 ,she look'd most beautiful1 pleasant1 and gay1 ,like to sweet ,aurora1 or the goddess of ,may4 ,he was in a passion when he did her spy1 ,and instantly unto his brother did cry1 #8,why did you not do as in the letter ,i writ8' ,his brother replied1 #8,it is done every bit4' #8,no1 no1' said the ,knight1 #8it is not so ,i see1 ,therefore she shall back again go with me2' ,but his brother showed him the letter that day1 ,then he was amazed1 but nothing did say4 ,soon after the ,knight took this maiden away1 ,and with her did ride till he came to the sea1 ,then looking upon her with anger and spite1 ,he spoke to the maiden and bade her alight4 ,the maid from the horse immediately went ,and trembled to think what was his intent4 #8,ne'er tremble1' said he1 #8for this hour's your last2 ,so pull off your clothes1 ,i command you1 in haste4' ,this virgin1 with tears1 on her knees did reply1 #8,oh6 what have ,i done1 sir1 that now ,i must die8 ,oh6 let me but know how ,i offend ,i'll study each hour my life to amend1 ,oh6 spare my life and ,i'll wander till death1 ,and never come near you while ,i have breath4' ,he hearing the pitiful moan she did make ,straight from his finger a ring did take1 ,he then to the maiden these words did say1 #8,this ring in the water ,i'll now throw away2 ,pray look on it well1 for the posy is plain1 ,that you when you see it may know it again4 ,i charge you for life never come in my sight1 ,for if you do ,i shall owe you a spite1 ,unless you do bring the same unto me3' ,with that he let the ring drop in the sea1 ,which when he had done away he did go1 ,and left her to wander in sorrow and woe4 ,she rambled all night1 and at length did espy ,a homely poor cottage1 and to it did hie1 ,being hungry with cold1 and a heart full of grief1 ,she went to this cottage to seek for relief2 ,the people reliev'd her1 and the next day ,they got her to service1 as ,i did hear say1 ,at a nobleman's house1 not far from this place ,where she did behave with a modest grace4 ,she was a cookmaid and forgot the time past1 ,but observe the wonder that comes at last4 ,as she for dinner was dressing one day1 ,and opened the head of a cod1 they say1 ,she found such a ring1 and was in amaze ,and she1 in great wonder1 upon it did gaze ,and viewing it well she found it to be ,the very same the ,knight dropped in the sea1 ,she smil'd when she saw it1 and bless'd her kind fate1 ,but did to no creature the secret relate4 ,this maid1 in her place1 did all maidens excel1 ,that the lady took notice1 and lik'd her well2 ,saying1 she was born of some noble degree1 ,and took her as a companion to be4 ,the ,knight when he came to the house did behold ,this beautiful lady with trappings of gold1 ,when he ask'd the lady to grant him a boon1 ,and said it was to walk with that virgin alone4 ,the lady consented1 telling the young maid ,by him she need not fear to be betrayed4 ,when he first met her1 #8,thou strumpet1' said he1 #8,did ,i not charge thee never more to see me8 ,this hour's thy last1 to the world bid good night1 ,for being so bold to appear in my sight4' ,said she1 #8,in the sea you flung your ring1 ,and bid me not see you unless ,i did bring ,the same unto you4 ,now ,i have it1' cries she1 #8,behold1 'tis the same that you flung into the sea4' ,when the ,knight saw it1 he flew to her arms1 ,and said1 #8,lovely maid1 thou hast millions of charms4' ,said he1 #8,charming creature1 pray pardon me1 ,who often contrived the ruin of thee3 ',tis in vain to alter what heaven doth decree1 ,for ,i find you are born my wife to be4' ,then wedded they were1 as ,i did hear say1 ,and now she's a lady both gallant and gay1 ,they quickly unto her parents did haste1 ,when the ,knight told the story of what had passed4 ,but asked their pardon1 upon his bare knee1 ,who gave it1 and rejoiced their daughter to see4 ,then they for the fisherman and his wife sent1 ,and for their past troubles did them content4 ,and so there was joy for all them that did see ,the farmer's young daughter a lady to be4 ,the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 in his #8,handbook of ,engraved ,gems1' gives the following fish-and-ring story4 ,pietrus ,damianus1 a very unlikely personage to have ever read of ,polycrates1 relates in his ,fifth ,epistle a story worth translating literally1 as a specimen of the style of thought of his age3--#8,this ,arnulphus was the father of ,king ,pepin and grandfather of ,charlemagne1 and when1 inflamed with the fervour of the ,holy ,ghost he sacrificed the love of wife and children1 and exchanged the glory and pomps of this world for the glorious poverty of ,christ1 it chanced1 as he was hastening into the wilderness1 that in his way he had to cross a river1 which is called the ,moselle2 but when he reached the middle of the bridge1 thrown over it where the river's stream ran deepest1 he tossed in there his own ring with this protestation1 8,when ,i shall receive back10 said he1 8this ring from the foaming waves of this river1 then will ,i trust confidently that ,i am loosed from the bonds of all my sins40 ,thereupon he made for the wilderness1 where he lived no little space dead unto himself and the world4 ,meanwhile1 the then ,bishop of ,metz having died1 ,divine ,providence raised ,arnulphus to the charge of that see4 ,continuing in his new office to abstain from eating flesh1 according to the rule observed by him in the wilderness1 once upon a time a fish was brought him for a present4 ,the cook1 in gutting the same1 found in its entrails a ring1 and ran full of joy to present it to his master2 which ring the blessed ,bishop no sooner cast eyes upon than he knew it again for his own1 and wondered not so much at the strange mine that had brought forth the metal1 as that1 by the ,divine propitiation1 he had obtained the forgiveness of his sins4' ,the same distinguished writer1 in the work before mentioned1 relates the story told by ,st4 ,augustine1 bishop of the city where it happened1 #8and who has deemed it worthy of insertion in his great work1 8,de ,civitate ,dei0 7xxii4 #h73--8,there lived an old man1 a fellow-townsman of ours at ,hippo1 ,florentius by name1 by trade a tailor1 a religious poor person4 ,he had lost his cloak and had not wherewith to buy another4 ,certain ribald youths who happened to be present overheard him1 and followed him as he went down1 mocking at him as though he had demanded of the martyrs the sum of fifty folles 7#ab denarii7 to clothe himself withal4 ,but ,florentius walking on without replying to them1 espied a big fish thrown up by the sea1 and struggling upon the beach1 and he secured it through the good-natured assistance of the same youths1 and sold it for #cjj folles 7#ge denarii7 to a certain cook1 by name ,carthosus1 a good ,christian1 for pickling1 telling him at the same time all that had taken place--intending to buy wool with the money1 so that his wife might make therewith1 as well as she could1 something to clothe him4 ,but the cook in cutting up the fish found in its belly a gold ring1 and forthwith1 being moved with compassion1 as well as influenced by religious scruples1 restored it to ,florentius1 saying1 #8,behold how the ,twenty ,martyrs have clothed thee4'0' ,king ,edward's ,ring4 ,p4 #aai4 ,in the #8,life of ,edward the ,confessor' 7forming one of the series of the chronicles and memorials of ,great ,britain and ,ireland1 during the ,middle ,ages1 published by the authority of ,h4,m4 ,treasury1 under the direction of the ,master of the ,rolls71 ,mr4 ,luard1 the editor1 has given the translation of a manuscript in the public library of the ,university of ,cambridge1 to which the date of #abde is ascribed1 and written in ,norman-,french4 ,the legend of the ,confessor's ring is thus introduced3-- ,the ,king was at the service ,where was dedicated the church ,of ,saint ,john1 who to ,god was dear1 ,and whom the ,king could so much love3 ,no saint had he so dear except ,saint ,peter4 ,lo1 a poor man who was there1 ,a stranger and unknown1 ,when he saw ,king ,edward1 ,for the love of ,saint ,john prays him ,that of his possession he would give him a part4 ,the ,king who hears his prayer1 ,puts his hand to his alms-chest1 ,but neither gold nor silver does he there find4 ,he bids his almoner to be summoned1 ,but he was not found for the crowd4 ,the poor man ceases not to beg ,and the ,king is in distress ,because neither gold nor silver he finds at hand4 ,and he reflects1 remains silent1 ,looks at his hand and remembers ,that on his finger he had a cherished ring ,which was large1 royal1 and beautiful2 ,to the poor man he gives it for the love ,of ,saint ,john1 his dear lord2 ,and he takes it with joy1 ,and gently gives him thanks2 ,and when he was possessed of it1 ,he departed and vanished4 ,but to this no one paid attention4 ,soon after it chanced that ,two palmers of ,english birth1 ,who go to seek the ,holy ,sepulchre ,by a path where no one guides them ,in the land of ,syria1 ,go astray1 far out by the way1 ,see neither man nor house3 ,now they have arrived in the wilderness1 ,the night comes on1 the sun sets2 ,nor do they know which way to turn1 ,nor where they can lodge for the night1 ,they fear robbers1 they fear wild beasts1 ,they fear monsters and dreadful tempests1 ,and many an adventure of the desert4 ,the dark night surprises them4 ,now behold a band of youths ,in a circle which was very large and beautiful1 ,by whom the whole road and air ,were lightened as if by lightning1 ,and an old man white and hoary1 ,brighter than the sun at mid-day1 ,before whom are carried two tapers1 ,which lighten the path2 ,he1 when he comes close to the palmers ,salutes them2 says1 #8,dear friends ,whence come you8 ,of what creed ,are you1 and of what birth8 ,what kingdom and ,king8 ,what seek you here8' ,and one of them answered him1 #8,we are ,christians1 and desire ,have we to expiate our sins2 ,we are both from ,england2 ,we have come to seek the ,holy ,sepulchre1 ,and the holy places of this country1 ,where ,jesus died and lived4 ,and our ,king is named ,edward1 ,the good prince1 whom may ,god preserve to us1 ,he has not such a saint from here to ,france4 ,but it has befallen us by mishap ,we have lost to-day the company ,which comforts and which guides us1 ,nor know we what has become of us4' ,and the old man answered there1 ,joyously like a clerk1 #8,come after me1 ,i go before2 ,follow me1 ,i will conduct you ,where you will find a good hostelry4 ,for love of ,king ,edward ,you shall have lodging and good care1 ,your leader ,i will myself be1 ,and your host4' ,he leads them on2 ,they enter a city1 ,they have found a good hostelry1 ,the table prepared1 and good treatment1 ,linen and bed1 and other preparatives2 ,the tired ones1 who had great need1 ,repose themselves after supper4 ,in the morning1 when they depart1 ,they find their host and leader1 ,who1 when they have issued from the gate1 ,gently thus comforts them4 #8,be not troubled nor sad1 ,i am ,john the ,evangelist2 ,for love of ,edward the ,king1 ,i neither will nor ought to fail you2 ,for he is my especial ,friend and loyal ,king4 ,with me he has joined company1 ,since he has chosen to lead a chaste life1 ,we shall be peers in paradise4 ,and ,i tell you1 dear good friends1 ,you shall arrive1 be assured1 ,in your country safe and sound4 ,you shall go to ,king ,edward1 ,salute him from me1 ,and that you attempt not a falsehood ,to say1 you shall carry proofs-- ,a ring1 which he will know1 ,which he gave to me1 ,john1 ,when he was at the service ,where my church was dedicated2 ,there ,i besought him1 for the love ,of ,john2 it was ,i in poor array4 ,and let ,king ,edward know well1 ,to me he shall come before six months 7are over74 ,and since he resembles me1 ,in paradise shall we be together ,and that of this he may be confidently assured ,you shall tell him all that whatever ,i tell you4' ,they1 who well understand his words1 ,give him thanks for all his benefits1 ,and when they are possessed of the ring ,the saint departed and vanished2 ,and the pilgrims depart1 ,who now are on the certain path ,without ill1 and without trouble2 ,the saint leads and conducts them2 ,they hasten to go to ,king ,edward1 ,that they have not arrived seems tardy to them1 ,and they relate their adventure1 ,show the ring at once1 ,whatever they relate he believes true1 ,when he sees the proofs2 ,of this witness bears the whole ,company1 large in numbers4 ,demons imprisoned in ,rings4 ,p4 #acb4 ,there was a strong belief that familiar spirits could be carried about in rings and trinkets4 ,le ,loyer1 in his curious work #8,des ,spectres1' writes3 #8,with regard to the demons whom they imprisoned in rings or charms1 the magicians of the school of ,salamanca and ,toledo1 and their master ,picatrix1 together with those in ,italy who made traffic of this kind of ware1 knew better than to say whether or not they had appeared to those who had them in possession or bought them4 ,and truly ,i cannot speak without horror of those who pretend to such vulgar familiarity with them1 even to speaking of the nature of each particular demon shut up in a ring2 whether he be a ,mercurial1 ,jovial1 ,saturnine1 ,martial1 or ,aphrodisiac spirit2 in what form he is wont to appear when required2 how many times in the night he awakes his possessor2 whether benign or cruel in disposition2 whether he can be transferred to another2 and if1 once possessed1 he can alter the natural temperament1 so as to render men of ,saturnine complexion ,jovial1 or the ,jovials ,saturnines1 and so on4 ,there is no end of the stories which might be collected under this head1 to which1 if ,i gave faith1 as some of the learned of our time have done1 it would be filling my paper to little purpose4 ,i will not speak1 therefore1 of the crystal ring mentioned by ,joaliun of ,cambray1 in which a young child could see all that they demanded of him1 and which eventually was broken by the possessor1 as the occasion by which the devil too much tormented him4 ,still less will ,i stay my pen to tell of the sorcerer of ,courtray1 whose ring had a demon enclosed in it1 to whom it behoved him to speak every five days4' ,by this familiar 7remarks ,heywood1 in his #8,hierarchie of the ,blessed ,angels'7 #8he was not onely acquainted with all newes1 as well forrein as domesticke1 but learned the cure and remedie for all griefs and diseases2 insomuch that he had the reputation of a learned and excellent physition4 ,at length1 being accused of sortilge1 or enchantment1 at ,arnham1 in ,guelderland1 he was proscribed1 and in the year #aedh1 the ,chancellor caused his ring1 in the public market1 to be layd on an anvil and with an iron hammer to be beaten in pieces4 ,mengius reporteth from the relation of a deare friend of his 7a man of approved fame and honestie7 this history4 ,in a certain town under the jurisdiction of the ,venetians1 one of their prstigious artists 7whom some call ,pythonickes71 having one of these rings in which he had two familiar spirits exorcised and bound1 came to a predicant or preaching friar1 a man of sincere life and conversation2 and confessed unto him that hee was possessed of such an enchanted ring1 with such spirits charmed1 with whom he had conference at his pleasure4 ,but since he considered with himselfe that it was a thing dangerous to his soule1 and abhominable both to ,god and man1 he desired to be cleanely acquit thereof1 and to that purpose hee came to receive of him some godly counsell4 ,but by no persuasion would the religious man be induced to have any speech at all with these evil spirits 7to which motion the other had before earnestly solicited him71 but admonished him to cause the magicke ring to be broken1 and that to be done with all speed possible4 ,at which words the familiars were heard 7as it were7 to mourne and lament in the ring1 and to desire that no such violence might be offered to them2 but rather than so1 that it would please him to accept of the ring1 and keepe it1 promising to do him all service and vassallage2 of which1 if he pleased to accept1 they would in a short time make him to be the most famous and admired predicant in all ,italy4 ,but he perceiving the divels cunning1 under this colour of courtesie1 made absolute refusall of their offer2 and withall conjured them to know the reason why they would so willingly submit themselves to his patronage8 ,after many evasive lies and deceptious answers1 they plainly confessed unto him that they had of purpose persuaded the magition to heare him preach2 that by that sermon1 his conscience being pricked and galled1 he might be weary of the ring1 and being refused of the one1 be accepted of the other2 by which they hoped in short time so to have puft him up with pride and heresie1 to have precipitated his soule into certaine and never-ending destruction4 ,at which the churchman being zealously inraged1 with a great hammer broke the ring almost to dust1 and in the name of ,god sent them thence to their own habitation of darknesse1 or whither it pleased the highest powers to dispose them4 #8,of this kind doubtless was the ring of ,gyges--such likewise had the ,phocensian tyrant1 who1 as ,clemens ,stromus speaketh1 by a sound which came of itselfe1 was warned of all times1 seasonable and unseasonable in which to mannage his affaires2 who1 notwithstanding1 could not be forewarned of his pretended death1 but his familiar left him in the end1 suffering him to be slain by the conspirators4 ,such a ring1 likewise1 had one ,hieronimus1 ,chancellor of ,mediolanum1 which after proved to be his untimely ruine4' #8,hierarchie of the ,blessed ,angels4' ,a learned ,german physician has given an instance in which the devil1 of his own accord1 enclosed himself in a ring as a familiar1 thereby proving how dangerous it is to trifle with him4 ,cramp-,rings4 ,p4 #afd4 ,the precise date when the ,kings of ,england commenced to bless rings1 regarded as preservatives against the cramp or against epilepsy1 the morbus ,sancti ,johannis1 is uncertain4 ,the earliest mention of the practice1 which ,mr4 ,edmund ,waterton has found1 occurs in the reign of ,edward ,,ii43 #8,the prayer used in the blessing of the ring implores--#8ut omnes qui eos gestabunt1 nec eos infestet vel nervorum contractio1 vel comitialis morbi periculum4' ,and the ,king1 to impart this salutary virtue1 rubbed the rings between his hands1 with this invocation3 #8,manuum nostrarum confricatione quas olei sacri infusione externa sanctificare dignatus es pro ministerii nostri modo consecra1' c4 ,hitherto these rings are simply described as annuli4 ,but in the #ddth of ,edward ,,iii41 in the account-book of ,john of ,ipres1 or ,ypres1 they are termed medicinales4' ,in the last chapter of the #8,constitutions of the ,household1' settled in the reign of ,edward ,,ii41 the following entry appears3 #8,item1 le ,roi doit offrer de certein le jour de grant vendredi a crouce v4 s4 queux il est accustumez receivre devers lui a la mene le chapelein afair eut anulx a donner pur medicine az divers gentz4' ,in the ,eleemosyna ,roll of #ith ,edward ,,iii4 the following entry occurs3 #8,in oblacione domini ,regis ad crucem de ,gneythe die parasceves in capella sua infra mannerium suum de ,clipstone1 in precium duorum florencium de ,florencia xiiij4 die ,aprilis vi4 s4 viij4 d41 et in denariis quos posuit pro dictis florenciis reassumptis pro annulis medicinalibus inde faciendis1 eodem die vi4 s42 summa xii4 s4 viii4 d4' ,in the ,eleemosyna ,roll of #ajth ,edward ,,iii4 we have the following entry3 #8,in oblacione domini ,regis ad crucem de ,gneyth in die parasceves apud ,eltham1 xxix4 die ,marcii v4 s41 et pro iisdem denariis reassumptis pro annulis inde faciendis per manus ,domini ,johannis de ,crokeford eodem die v4 s4' ,and in the following year3 #8,in oblacione domini ,regis ad crucem de ,gneyth in capella sua in pcho de ,wyndesore die parasceves v4 s41 et pro totidem denariis reassumptis pro annuli inde faciendis v4 s4' ,in the accounts of ,john de ,ypres1 #ddth ,edward ,,iii41 the following entries are found3 #8,in oblacionibus ,regis factis adorando crucem in capella sua infra castrum suum de ,wyndesore1 die parasceves in pretio trium nobilium auri et quinque solidorum sterling4 xxv4 s4 ,in denariis solutis pro iisdem oblacionibus reassumptis pro annulis medicinalibus inde faciendis1 ibidem1 eodem die xxv4 s4' ,the same entries occur in the #gth and #hth ,henry ,,iv4 ,in the #hth ,edward ,,iv4 mention occurs that these cramp-rings were made of silver and of gold1 as appears by the following entry3 #8,pro eleemosyna in die parasceves c4 marc41 et pro annulis de auro et argento pro eleemosyna ,regis eodem die1' c4 ,and a ,privy ,seal of the next year1 amongst other particulars relates3 #8,item paid for the ,king's ,good ,fryday rings of gold and silver xxxiii4 l4 vi4 s4 viii4 d4' ,mention of these rings is also found in the ,comptroller's accounts in the #bjth ,henry ,,vii4 ,a ,,ms4 copy of the ,orders of the ,king of ,england's ,household1 #acth ,henry ,,viii41 #aeba-aebb1 preserved in the ,national ,library at ,paris 7,no4 #i1ihf71 contains #8the order of the ,kinge's of ,england1 touching his coming to service1 hallowing ye crampe rings1 and offering and creeping to the crosse4' #8,first1 the ,king to come to the closett or to the chappell with the lords and noblemen wayting on him1 without any sworde to bee borne before him on that day1 and there to tarry in his travers till the bishop and deane have brought forth the crucifix out of the vestry 7the almoner reading the service of the cramp-rings71 layd upon a cushion before the high altar1 and then the huishers shall lay a carpet before yt for the ,king to creepe to the crosse upon3 and yt done1 there shall be a fourme set upon the carpet before the crucifix1 and a cushion layd before it for the ,king to kneele on2 and the ,master of the ,jewell house shal be ther ready with the crampe-rings in a basin or basins of silver2 the ,king shall kneele upon the sayd cushion before the fourme1 and then must the clerke of the closett bee ready with the booke conteyninge ye service of the hallowing of the said rings1 and the almoner must kneel upon the right hand of the ,king1 holding of the sayd booke2 and when yt is done the ,king shall rise and go to the high altar1 where an huisher must be ready with a cushion to lay for his grace to kneele upon1 and the greatest ,lord or ,lords being then present shall take the basin or basins with the rings1 and bear them after the ,king1 and then deliver them to the ,king to offer2 and this done1 the ,queen shall come down out of the closett or travers into the chappell with ladies and gentlewomen wayters on her1 and creepe to the crosse2 and that done1 she shall returne againe into her closett or travers1 and then the ladies shall come downe and creepe to the crosse1 and when they have done1 the lords and noblemen shall in likewise4' ,a letter from ,dr4 ,thomas ,magnus1 ,warden of ,sibthorpe ,college1 ,nottinghamshire1 to ,cardinal ,wolsey1 written in #aebf1 contains the following curious passage3 #8,pleas it your ,grace to wete that ,m4 ,wiat of his goodness sent unto me for a present certaine crampe ringges1 which ,i distributed and gave to sondery myne acquaintaunce at ,edinburghe1 amongse other to ,m4 ,adame ,otterbourne1 who1 with one of thayme1 releved a mann lying in the falling sekenes in the sight of myche people2 sethenne whiche tyme many requestes have been made unto me for crampe ringges at my departing there1 and also sethenne my comyng from thennes4 ,may it pleas your ,grace therefore to shew your gracious pleasure to the said ,m4 ,wyat1 that some ringges may be kept and sent into ,scottelande1 whiche1 after my poore oppynnyon shulde be a good dede1 remembering the power and operacyon of thame is knowne and proved in ,edinburghe1 and that they be gretly required for the same cause both by grete personnages and other4' ,mr4 ,edmund ,waterton thinks that the illuminated manual which ,queen ,mary used at the blessing of the cramp-rings1 and which ,i have mentioned was in the possession of the late ,cardinal ,wiseman1 was the same from which ,bishop ,burnet printed the formula4 ,mr4 ,waterton states that on the second leaf of the ,,ms4 the service for the blessing of the rings begins with this rubric3 #8,certeyne ,prayers to be used by the ,quene's ,heighnes in the ,consecration of the ,cramperings4' ,the next rubric is as follows3 #8,the ,ryngs lyeing in one basin or moo1 this ,prayer shall be said over them1' c4 ,this is followed by the ,benedictio ,annulorum1 consisting of several short formulas or sentences4 ,then another rubric sets forth3 #8,these prayers beinge saide1 the ,queene's ,heighnes rubbeth the rings betwene her hands1 sayinge ,sanctifica ,domine ,annulos1' c4 #8,thenne must holly water be caste on the rings1 sayeing1 ,in nomine ,patris et ,filii et ,spiritus ,sancti1 ,amen4 ,followed by two other prayers4' ,miss ,strickland claims the blessing of the cramp-rings as the peculiar privilege of the ,queens of ,england4 ,but her argument falls to the ground when tested by collateral and official documents4 ,mr4 ,waterton concludes his most interesting article on ,royal ,cramp-rings 7#8,archological ,journal1' vol4 xxi4 pp4 #ajc-aac7 by stating that he has been unable to accompany the essay by the representation of any example1 #8but ,i have never met with a specimen that could with any certainty be pronounced a royal cramp-ring1 neither have ,i found any description of the rings made1 as the entries state1 from the gold and silver coins offered by the ,king on ,good ,friday1 and then redeemed by an equivalent sum4 ,probably they were plain hoop-rings4 ,in the will of ,john ,baret1 of ,bury ,st4 ,edmunds1 #adfc1 a bequest is made to 8my ,lady ,walgrave0 of a 8rowund ryng of the ,kynge's silvir40 ,in another part of his will he bequeaths to 8,thomais ,brews1 esquiyer1 my crampe ryng with blak innamel1 and a part silvir and gilt40 ,and1 in #aece1 ,edmund ,lee bequeaths to 8my nece ,thwarton my gold ryng wt a turkes1 and a crampe ryng of gold wt all40 #8,but there is no evidence to show that the second ring mentioned by ,john ,baret was a royal cramp-ring2 whereas it appears to me that the one bequeathed by ,edmund ,lee may have been one of the royal cramp-rings1 for otherwise a more particular description would have been given4' ,an interesting account of #8the ceremonies of blessing cramp-rings on ,good ,friday1 used by the ,catholic ,kings of ,england1' will be found in ,pegge's #8,curialia ,miscellanea' 7,appendix ,no4 #c1 p4 #afd74 ,it is curious that in ,somersetshire the ring-finger is thought to have the power of curing any sore or wound that is rubbed with it4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,betrothal ,,and ,,wedding-,,rings4 ,p4 #bge4 ,i should not omit to mention the famous sermon of good ,jeremy ,taylor on #8a wedding-ring for the finger1' which is worthy the perusal not only of those who have entered the matrimonial life1 but of others who contemplate an entrance into the same4 ,the text is 7,genesis ii4 #ah71 #8,and the ,lord ,god said1 ,it is not good that the man should be alone2 ,i will make him an help-meet for him4' ,although no allusion is made to the substantial character of the nuptial circle1 yet the deductions made from the text are the sweetest and the holiest that could be imagined1 and the brightest jewels of the mineral world could not exceed in beauty the language of the grand old divine4 #8,when thou layest out for such a good upon earth1 look up to the ,god of heaven4 ,let ,him make his choice for thee1 who hath made this choice of thee4 ,look above you before you look about you4' #8,give ,god the tribute of your gratulation for your good companion4 ,take heed of paying your rent to a wrong landlord4 ,when you taste of the stream1 reflect on the spring that feeds it4 ,now thou hast four eyes for thy speculation1 four hands for thy operation1 four feet for thy ambulation1 and four shoulders for thy sustentation4 ,what the sin against the ,holy ,ghost is in point of divinity1 that is unthankfulness in point of morality2 an offence unpardonable4 ,pity it is but that moon should ever be in an eclipse1 that will not acknowledge her beams to be borrowed from the sun4 ,he that praises not the giver1 prizes not the gift4' #8,it is between a man and his wife in the house1 as it is between the sun and the moon in the heavens2 when the greater light goes down1 the lesser light gets up2 when the one ends in setting1 the other begins in shining4 #8,husband and wife should be as the milch-kine1 which were coupled together to carry the ark of ,god2 or as the two ,cherubims1 that looked one upon another1 and both upon the mercy-seat2 or as the two tables of stone1 on each of which were engraven the laws of ,god4 ,in some families married persons are like ,jeremiah's two baskets of figs1 the one very good1 the other very evil2 or like fire and water1 whilst the one is flaming in devotion1 the other is freezing in corruption4 ,there is a two-fold hindrance in holiness3 first1 on the right side2 secondly1 on the left4 ,on the right side1 when the wife would run in ,god's way1 the husband will not let her go2 when the fore-horse in a team will not draw1 he wrongeth all the rest2 when the general of an army forbids a march1 all the soldiers stand still4' #8,man is an affectionate creature4 ,now the woman's behaviour should be such towards the man1 as to require his affection by increasing his delectation2 that the new-born love may not be blasted as soon as it is blossomed1 that it may not be ruined before it be rooted4' #8,husband and wife should be like two candles burning together1 which make the house more lightsome2 or like two fragrant flowers bound up in one nosegay1 that augment its sweetness2 or like two well-tuned instruments1 which1 sounding together1 make the more melodious music4' #8,a spouse should be more careful of her children's breeding than she should be fearful of her children's bearing4 ,take heed lest these flowers grow in the devil's garden4' #8,good education is the best livery you can give them living2 and it is the best legacy you can leave them when dying4' #8,let these small pieces of timber be hewed and squared for the celestial building2 by putting a sceptre of grace into their hands1 you will set a crown of glory upon their heads4' #8,marriages are styled matches1 yet amongst those many that are married1 how few are there that are matched6 ,husbands and wives are like locks and keys1 that rather break than open1 except the wards be answerable4' ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,ring ,,tokens4 ,the ,essex ,ring4 ,p4 #ccf4 ,the story of the ring given by ,queen ,elizabeth to the ,earl of ,essex is of such romantic interest that it is sad to destroy the charm by casting doubts on its authenticity2 but1 at the present day especially1 a crucial test is applied to numbers of similar instances1 and #8historic doubts' crop up incessantly1 with which heretofore no profane hand was expected to meddle4 ,the story of the ,essex ring-token has been investigated with great care by a writer in the #8,edinburgh ,review' 7,no4 #bjj71 who says3 #8,whatever might be the supposed indignation of ,elizabeth against her dying cousin1 ,lady ,nottingham1 it is clear that as the real offender was ,lord ,nottingham1 he would naturally have more shared in her displeasure2 and it is very improbable that a fortnight after the ,queen had shaken the helpless wife on her death-bed1 the husband1 by whose authority the offence was committed1 should have continued in undiminished favour4 ,the existence of the ring would do but little to establish the truth of the story1 even if but one had been preserved and cherished as the identical ring2 but as there are two1 if not three1 which lay claim to that distinction1 they invalidate each other's claims4 ,one is preserved at ,hawnes1 in ,bedfordshire1 the seat of the ,rev4 ,lord ,john ,thynne2 another is the property of ,c4 ,w4 ,warren1 ,esq42 and we believe the third is deposited for safety at ,messrs4 ,drummond's bank4 #8,the ring at ,hawnes is said to have descended in unbroken succession from ,lady ,frances ,devereux 7afterwards ,duchess of ,somerset7 to the present owner4 ,the stone in this ring is a sardonyx1 in which is cut in relief a head of ,elizabeth1 the execution of which is of a high order4 ,that the ring has descended from ,lady ,frances ,devereux1 affords the strongest presumptive evidence that it was not the ring4 ,according to the tradition1 it had passed from her father into ,lady ,nottingham's hands4 ,according to ,lady ,elizabeth ,spelman1 ,lord ,nottingham insisted upon her keeping it4 ,in her interview with the ,queen1 the ,countess might be supposed to have presented to her the token she had so fatally withheld2 or it might have remained in her family1 or have been destroyed2 but the most improbable circumstance would have been its restoration to the widow or daughter of the much-injured ,essex by the offending ,earl of ,nottingham4 ,the ,duchess of ,somerset left a long1 curious1 and minute will1 and in it there is no mention of any such ring4 ,if there is good evidence for believing that the curious ring at ,hawnes was ever in the possession of the ,earl of ,essex1 one might be tempted to suppose that it was the likeness of the ,queen1 to which he alludes in his letters as his 8fair angel10 written from ,portland ,road1 and the time of his disgrace after the proceedings in the ,star ,chamber1 and when still under restraint at ,essex ,house4 ,had ,essex at this time possessed any ring1 a token1 by presenting which he would have been entitled to favour1 it seems most improbable that he should have kept it back1 and yet regarded this likeness of the ,queen1 whose gracious eyes encouraged him to be a petitioner for himself4 ,the whole tone of this letter is in fact almost conclusive against the possibility of his having in his possession any gift of hers endowed with such rights as that of the ring which the ,countess of ,nottingham is supposed to have withheld4' ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,customs ,,and ,,incidents ,,in ,,connection ,,with ,,rings4 ,wedding of the ,adriatic4 ,p4 #dai4 ,in ,richard ,lassel's #8,voyage of ,italy' is an account of the performance of this ceremony at ,venice1 about the year #afej4 #8,i happened to be at ,venice thrice at the great sea ,triumph1 or feast of the ,ascension1 which was performed thus3 ,about our eight in the morning the ,senators1 in their scarlet robes1 meet at the ,doge's ,pallace1 and there1 taking him up1 they walk with him processionally unto the shoar1 where the ,bucentoro lyes waiting them2 the ,pope's ,nuncio being on his right hand1 and the ,patriarch of ,venice on his left hand4 ,then1 ascending into the ,bucentoro by a handsome bridge thrown out to the shoar1 the ,doge takes his place1 and the ,senators sit round about the galley as they can1 to the number of two or three hundred4 ,the ,senate being placed1 the anchor is weighed1 and the slaves being warned by the ,captain's whistle1 and the sound of trumpets1 begin to strike all at once with their oars1 and to make the ,bucentoro march as gravely upon the water as if she also went upon cioppini 7high shoes then worn by the ,venetian ladies74 ,thus they steer for two miles upon the ,laguna1 while the music plays and sings ,epithalamiums all the way long1 and makes ,neptune jealous to hear ,hymen called upon in his ,dominions4 ,round about the ,bucentoro flock a world of ,piottas and ,gondolas1 richly covered overhead with sumptuous ,canopies of silks and rich stuffs1 and rowed by watermen in rich liveries as well as the ,trumpeters4 ,thus forrain ,embassadors1 divers noblemen of the country and strangers of condition1 wait upon the ,doge's gally1 all the way long both coming and going4 ,at last the ,doge1 being arrived at the appointed place1 throws a ,ring into the sea1 without any other ceremony than by saying1 ,desponsamus te1 ,mare2 in signum perpetui dominii4 ,we espouse thee1 ,o ,sea1 in ,testimony of our perpetual dominion over thee2 and so returns to the ,church of ,st4 ,nicolas1 in ,lio 7an ,island hard by71 where he assists at ,high ,mass with the ,senate4 ,this done1 he returns home again in the same state1 and invites those that accompanied him in his gally to dinner in his ,pallace1 the preparations of which dinner we saw before the ,doge was got home4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,by the kindness of ,mr4 ,octavius ,morgan1 ,f4,r4,s41 ,vice-,president of the ,antiquarian ,society1 c41 ,i am enabled to reproduce in the present work a privately-printed tract by that eminent antiquarian1 which will be found of great utility to ring-collectors generally4 ,,classification ,,for ,,the ,,arrangement ,,of ,a ,,collection ,,of ,,finger-,,rings4 ,the ,rings are divided into ,two ,grand ,chronological ,classes4 ,class ,i4 ,,antique1 comprising all ,european ,rings prior to the year ,a4,d4 #hjj1 when the ,empire of ,charlemagne was established in ,europe1 and ,england was united under one ,sceptre1 and all ,oriental ,rings prior to the ,hedjira1 ,a4,d4 #fbb1 or prior to the ,mussulman ,conquest of the various countries4 ,class ,,ii4 ,,medieval ,,and ,,modern1 comprising all ,rings subsequent to those dates4 ,each ,ring in the ,collection should have a small label or ticket1 of card or parchment1 attached to it1 bearing on one side the special letters belonging to the group1 and on the other its number in the group2 thus any ,ring removed from the ,collection1 when once so arranged1 can be easily restored to its proper group and place4 ,the letters ,o and ,y 7,nos4 #ae and #be7 are left vacant in case any collector should desire to make or add any other group4 ,,class ,i4--,,antique4 ,arranged according to the various nations in the order of their antiquity or pre-eminence4 #a ,a ,egyptian4 #b ,b ,assyrian4 #c ,c ,babylonian4 #d ,d ,phnician4 #e ,e ,hebrew4 #f ,f ,greek4 #g ,g ,etruscan4 #h ,h ,roman4 #i ,i ,early ,christian4 #aj ,j ,byzantine4 #aa ,k ,hindoo4 #ab ,l ,persian4 #ac ,m ,sassanian4 #ad ,n ,gnostic4 #ae ,o #af ,p ,celtic4 #ag ,q ,scandinavian4 #ah ,r ,teutonic4 #ai ,s ,gaulish4 #bj ,t ,frankish 7,merovingian74 #ba ,u ,ancient ,british4 #bb ,v ,ancient ,scotch4 #bc ,w ,ancient ,irish4 #bd ,x ,anglo-,saxon 7,early74 #be ,y #bf ,z ,unascertained and ,miscellaneous4 ,,class ,,ii4--,,medieval ,,and ,,modern4 ,,divided ,,into ,,official ,,and ,,personal4 ,,official4 ,,ecclesiastical4 #bg ,a ,rings of ,popes1 or with ,papal insignia4 #bh ,b ,rings of ,cardinals1 or with ,cardinals' insignia4 #bi ,c ,rings of ,archbishops or ,bishops1 or with ,episcopal insignia4 #cj ,d ,rings of ,abbots and ,priors1 or ,abbesses or ,prioresses4 #ca ,e ,rings of other ,ecclesiastical ,dignitaries4 ,,civil4 #cb ,f ,rings bearing the insignia of ,sovereigns1 not being ,signet ,rings4 #cc ,g ,rings of ,investiture4 #cd ,h ,credential ,rings4 #ce ,i ,presentation ,rings 7,sergeants74 #cf ,k ,masonic ,rings4 ,,military4 #cg ,l ,rings worn by ,knights of various orders4 ,knights of ,malta4 ,templars4 ,st4 ,john of ,jerusalem4 ,,personal4 ,,signet ,,rings4 #ch a ,heraldic1 with ,coats of ,arms or ,badges4 #ci b ,merchants' ,marks4 #dj c ,crowned ,letters or ,devices4 #da d ,letters without ,crowns4 #db e ,other ,devices4 #dc f ,persian1 ,cufic1 and ,arabic1 with names4 #dd g ,antique ,intagli in ,medieval settings4 ,,love1 ,,betrothal1 ,,and ,,marriage4 #de h ,tokens of ,love4 #df i ,posy ,rings4 #dg j ,giardinetti4 #dh k ,betrothal ,rings4 #di l ,gimmal ,rings4 #ej m ,marriage ,rings4 #ea n ,jewish ,nuptial ,rings4 ,,mourning ,,and ,,memorial ,,rings4 #eb o ,rings with ,hair4 #ec p ,rings with ,portraits4 #ed q ,rings with ,memorial ,devices and ,inscriptions4 #ee r ,rings with ,emblems of ,death4 ,,historical ,,rings4 #ef s ,rings used by1 or belonging to1 ,historical ,persons4 #eg t ,rings commemorating ,historical ,events4 #eh u ,rings emblematical of particular ,persons1 ,events1 or ,countries4 ,,religious4 #ei v ,devotional 7,decade74 #fj w ,rings bearing ,religious ,devices or ,inscriptions4 #fa x ,rings bearing ,figures or ,emblems of ,saints4 #fb y ,pilgrims' ,rings 7,jerusalem1 ,mount ,serrat1 c474 #fc z ,rings for containing ,reliques4 ,,charm1 ,,magic1 ,,and ,,medicinal4 #fd a a ,cramp ,rings4 #fe b b ,rings with ,toadstones or other substances believed to possess medicinal virtues4 #ff c c ,astrological and ,cabalistic ,rings4 #fg d d ,talismanic1 with ,cufic1 ,arabic1 and ,gnostic ,inscriptions4 #fh e e ,poison ,rings4 ,,ornamental ,,rings4 #fi f f ,rings with ,precious ,stones1 according to their kind4 #gj g g ,rings set with enamels1 paste1 or other ornaments1 having no special meaning4 #ga h h ,peasants' ,rings4 #gb i i ,,asiatic1 including ,modern ,persian1 ,hindoo1 and ,chinese4 #gc k k ,,african4 #gd l l ,,miscellaneous ,,rings1 which group will contain all such as cannot be brought under the other heads of classification1 such as whistle-rings1 puzzle-rings1 squirt-rings1 jointed rings to form devices1 rings with watches1 dials1 compasses1 c4 #ge m m ,rings made of strange and unusual materials1 not being metal4 #gf n n ,unascertained4 ,additional ,note4 ,in the chapter on #8,memorial and ,mortuary ,rings' 7page #cgh71 ,i have related the circumstance of an ,arabian princess in ,yemen1 who had been buried with her rings and other jewels2 a tablet recording that she had vainly endeavoured to exchange them for flour during the great famine mentioned in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,a singular incident of this character is stated in ,forbes's #8,india' 7vol4 ii4 p4 #ah73 #8,the present finest mausoleum in ,cambaya was erected to the memory of a ,mogul of great rank1 who1 during a famine which almost depopulated that part of the country1 offered a measure of pearls for an equal quantity of grain2 but not being able to procure food at any price1 he died of hunger1 and this history is related on his monument4' ,illustration ,,index4 ,abbots invested with the ring1 #bca #8,abraxas1' definition of1 #aci ,adriatic1 marriage of the ,doge of ,venice with the1 #dai1 #ebi #8,agla1' the mystic word inscribed on rings1 #acg ,agnes1 legend of the saint and the ring1 #bci ,alcock1 ,bishop1 on consecration of nuns1 #bcc ,alexandrinus1 ,clemens1 advice on rings1 #ci #8,alhstan' ring1 the1 #fb ,amelia1 memorial ring of the ,princess1 #cge ,american ring1 gigantic1 #dhh ,amulet-rings1 #ajc1 #abf1 #ach1 #aff1 #adj1 #ada1 #adg ,ancient custom of ,archbishops of ,rouen1 #baa ,anecdote of a mourning-ring used at a wedding1 #ddi ,angelo1 ring of ,michael1 #dgj ,anglo-,saxons1 betrothal rings of the1 #cjf ,anne1 mourning ring of ,queen1 #cgc #8,annuli ,ecclesi1' ,bishops' rings so called1 #bab ,antique intaglio rings with mottoes1 #dah ,antoinette1 ring of ,queen ,marie1 #cgd ,apollo and ,marsyas1 ring of1 #dgj ,archery1 rings prizes for1 #ddd ,armenians1 betrothal rings among the1 #cab ,arnulphus1 ring of ,bishop1 #bbh ,arundel ,collection of gem rings1 #dfb ,ashantee1 rings from1 #dee ,astrological rings1 #ajh ,bailewski ,collection1 ,jewish betrothal ring in the1 #cjj ,bards rewarded with rings1 #aib ,bavarian peasant's ring1 #hd ,becket1 ring from the shrine of ,thomas 1 #bdg #8,beef ,steak' ,club1 ring of the1 #aic ,bequests of rings1 #cee ,berquem1 rings engraved by ,louis de1 #dej ,berry1 ,lady1 the fish and the ring1 #ajj ,bessborough ,collection of gem-rings1 #dfb -- -- religious ring in the1 #beh ,betrothal and wedding rings1 #bge1 #ebf -- -- -- -- of the ,jews1 #bih1 #bii -- -- -- -- -- -- ,romans1 #cjc -- -- -- -- -- -- ,anglo-,saxons1 #cjf -- -- -- -- -- -- ,germans1 #caj -- -- -- -- -- -- ,italians1 #caj -- -- -- -- -- -- ,middle ,ages1 #cjg -- -- -- -- -- -- ,armenians1 #cab -- -- -- -- in the ,north1 #cje -- -- -- -- -- -- of ,sir ,thomas ,gresham1 #cah -- -- -- -- -- -- ,martin ,luther1 #dha -- rings divided1 #cji1 #caf ,bishops buried with rings1 #bjc -- rings used to seal baptismal fonts1 #bab ,bishops' rings1 manner of benediction1 #bai -- -- -- of investiture1 #bji1 #bac -- -- engravings on1 #bab -- -- used as signets1 #bac -- -- importance attached to1 #bac -- -- how worn1 #bah -- resignation of1 by the ring1 #baa -- rings taken from degraded1 #bah ,bitton1 ring of ,bishop de1 #bbh ,blaize1 rings on the fingers of ,st41 #bba ,blessing of coronation-rings1 #agi -- -- cramp-rings1 #afc1 #ebb ,boccaccio's fable of the three rings1 #dea ,bonomi1 ,m41 on ,pharaoh's ring1 #a ,borgias1 poison rings of the1 #dcd ,bowet1 ring of ,archbishop1 #bbe ,braybrooke ,collection1 ,jewish marriage rings in the1 #bii -- -- ,gemmel ring in the1 #cba -- -- rings with death's-heads in the1 #cgb -- -- ring of ,pope ,boniface in the1 #bjg -- -- pilgrims' rings in the1 #bfe -- -- ,roman and ,romano-,british rings in the1 #da -- -- ,royalist mourning ring in the1 #cga -- -- mourning rings of ,mary and ,william ,,iii4 in the1 #cgd -- -- mortuary ring in the1 #chc -- -- ring of ,tippoo ,saib in the1 #dij -- -- nun's ring in the1 #bdj -- -- thumb-ring in the1 #hi ,bribe rings1 #ddd ,bride-cake1 rings placed in1 #aga ,british ,museum1 gem-rings in the1 #dei ,brooches and rings1 #gd ,bunyan1 ring of ,john1 #die ,burnet1 bequest of ring by ,bishop1 #cfc ,bursting of rings a bad omen1 #afh #8,bury' wills1 bequests of rings in the1 #cef ,byron1 lines by1 on the wedding-ring1 #bgg ,cabalistic ring1 #aci ,cantelupe1 ring of ,bishop de1 #bbi ,carbuncle rings1 #aei ,cardinals buried with rings1 #bjc -- -- invested with rings1 #bae -- -- rings laid aside on ,good ,friday1 #baf ,castellani ,collection1 rings in the1 #df ,catherine1 legend of the spousal ring of ,st41 #bch ,chaplet1 origin of the1 #beb ,chariclea1 famous ring of1 #dfc ,charles ,i41 signet ring of1 #dfa -- -- memorial rings of1 #cff ,charles ,,ii41 rings stolen from1 #deb -- -- signet-ring of1 #dfa -- -- mourning-ring of1 #cga ,charlemagne charmed by a ring1 #aae ,charm rings of the ,greeks and ,romans1 #ajc -- -- ,benvenuto ,cellini on1 #aje -- -- of the ,oxford ,conjurer1 #acb ,charms1 ,sigil1 #aac ,charters confirmed by rings1 #ahd ,chichester1 rings belonging to the ,dean and ,chapter of1 #bbe ,childeric1 ring of ,king1 #chf ,christ1 espousals to1 #bcc ,christian rings1 representations on1 #ch1 #beh ,claddugh wedding-rings1 #cbj ,clerical fondness for rings1 #bbj ,clovis1 ring-token of ,king1 #cbc ,cockatrice1 mystic properties of the1 #aeb ,cologne1 legend of the ,three ,kings of1 #adc ,colour1 change of1 in jewels evil portents1 #afj ,commonwealth1 rings during the1 #bhh ,cork1 ring-token to the ,earl of1 #cea ,cornwall1 ancient signet-ring found in1 #bff ,coronation rings1 #agg -- ring of ,queen ,elizabeth1 #afe -- -- -- ,james ,,ii41 #agg ,coronets on rings1 #dge ,cotterell1 curious ring bequeathed by ,sir ,charles1 #cfa ,cramp-rings1 #afb1 #ebb ,cranmer1 ring of ,archbishop1 #bag ,cromwell crest1 ring on the1 #dba ,cross1 the true1 wood of in rings1 #ada ,crystallomancy1 #ajj ,cuerdale1 ,saxon rings found at1 #fc ,curious advertisements of rings in cakes1 #agc ,custom1 curious ,russian ring1 #ddg ,dactylomancia1 or ring divination1 #aaa ,dancas1 a thank-offering ring1 #bdg ,darnley ring1 the1 #dfj ,days1 rings worn on particular1 #afe ,decade rings1 #bdh ,de ,matres1 worship of the1 #ajg ,devereux ring1 the1 #cch ,device rings illustrative of death1 #cgb ,devonshire gems1 the1 #deh ,diamond-pointed rings1 #gf ,diplomacy1 rings given in1 #ahd1 #dbb ,divinating power in a ring1 #dej ,divination by prayer-book and ring1 #agb -- -- sounds1 #aac -- -- rings in wedding-cakes1 #agj ,doctors' rings1 #aia ,doctors' ,commons1 rings mentioned in wills at1 #cef ,earliest materials of rings1 #c ,early ,christian rings1 #beh1 #bei1 #bfh ,ecclesiastical mortuary1 or #8corse-present1' #bba -- usages1 rings in connection with1 #aih ,edgcumbe1 ,lady1 and the ring1 #dbi ,edward ,i41 token-ring of1 #cbd ,edward the ,confessor1 #8pilgrim' ring of1 #aaf1 #eaf ,egyptian rings1 #e -- -- exhibited at the ,south ,kensington ,museum1 #ab -- -- -- at the ,louvre1 #ac -- -- representations on1 #aa -- glass rings1 #ac -- ring with double keeper1 #ag ,egyptians1 their fondness for rings1 #aj -- modern rings of the1 #af ,eldon1 memorial ring of1 #cge ,elfric's canon against clerical rings1 #bbj ,elizabeth1 token-ring of ,queen1 #cdc ,eloy1 rings of ,st41 #bcb ,enchanted rings of the ,greeks1 #aac ,engagement-ring of the ,prince ,regent1 #bhd ,epilepsy1 rings to cure1 #aec ,episcopal rings1 #bji1 #bbe1 #bcj1 #bci -- -- engravings on1 #bab -- -- fashion of1 #baf -- -- formula of investiture with1 #bad -- -- usually set with sapphires1 #bag -- ring of ,st4 ,loup1 #bag ,episode in ring history1 #dec ,escutcheon ring1 ,french1 #ha ,espousals to ,christ1 #bcc1 #bei ,essex ring1 the1 #ccf1 #ebh ,ethelswith1 ,queen of ,mercia1 ring of1 #ee ,ethelwulf1 ring of ,king1 #ed ,etruscan rings1 #ah -- -- in the ,bibliothque ,nationale at ,paris1 #bj -- -- -- -- ,british ,museum1 #ae -- -- -- -- ,waterton ,collection1 #ae #8,evil eye1' rings to preserve from the1 #aea ,evil portents connected with rings1 #afe ,fish and the ring1 legends of the1 #ih1 #eaj ,fishes1 rings found in the bodies of1 #dci ,fisherman's ring1 the1 #aih ,fleet marriages1 #bhb ,forensic order of knighthood1 #aia ,formula for blessing cramp-rings1 #afd -- -- investing bishops with rings1 #bae ,fotheringay1 ring-relic of1 #dge ,french #8escutcheon' ring1 #ha -- ,rgard1 ,souvenir1 and ,amiti rings1 #dad -- rings1 #gi1 #ha -- episcopal rings1 #bbh ,funerals1 rings given to attendants at1 #cfd ,gardiner1 ring of ,bishop1 #bbf ,garter rings1 #aic ,gems mounted in ,roman rings1 #cj1 #dj ,gemmel rings1 #cac1 #cah ,gentlemen formerly distinguished by rings1 #ddf ,george ,,iii41 ring-token to1 #ceb ,german #8liberation' rings1 #ddh ,germans1 interchange of rings among the1 #caj #8,gesta-,romanorum1' ring stories in the1 #abd #8,giardinetti' rings1 #gi ,gift-rings of the ,romans1 #df ,glasgow1 ring in the arms1 of the city of1 #ih ,gnostic rings1 #ajg ,gold ring at ,irish weddings1 #agc ,gray the poet1 bequest of rings by1 #cgd ,greece1 interchange of rings in modern1 #caa ,greek ,church1 rings how worn in the1 #bic ,grco-,egyptian gold rings1 #g ,greek ring in form of a crescent1 #bf -- and ,roman rings1 #ah1 #ej -- -- -- charm rings1 #ajc1 #aac ,gresham1 wedding-ring of ,sir ,thomas1 #cai ,gretna ,green marriages1 #bhc ,grey1 linked rings of ,lady1 #cag ,gundulf1 ring of ,bishop1 #bac ,gyges1 ring of1 #if1 #ejh ,hatton1 charm ring of ,lord ,chancellor1 #afa ,hebrew betrothal and marriage-rings1 #bih ,henrietta ,maria1 ring of ,queen1 #dic ,henry ,,vii41 charm ring of1 #acc ,henry of ,worcester1 ring of1 #bcj ,henry ,,iv4 of ,germany1 ring-token sent by1 #cbf ,heraldic ring1 #dha ,hereford ,cathedral1 rings found in1 #bbg ,herrick on the wedding-ring1 #bgf #8,heth1' the sacred name inscribed on rings1 #adj ,hilary1 ring of ,bishop1 #bbe ,hoof-rings1 charmed1 #aec ,identification by means of rings1 #dbf ,incidents and customs in connection with rings1 #dai ,indian rings1 #gh1 #hd ,inscription rings1 #cij1 #dag ,inscriptions on glass with diamond rings1 #gg ,interchange of rings among the ,germans1 #caj ,investiture of ,abbots with rings1 #bca -- -- ,bishops with rings1 #bae -- -- ,cardinals with rings1 #bae -- -- ,novices with rings1 #bcb -- secular1 by the ring1 #agg ,ipomydon1 ring-token given to1 #cbg ,irish ,academy1 episcopal ring in the ,royal1 #bcj ,irish1 early1 rings1 #fa1 #fe -- weddings1 gold rings at1 #agc ,iron rings of the ,romans1 #be1 #cjc -- -- ,french lines on1 #cjc ,ishtar1 legend of1 #g ,italian rings1 #gf1 #caj ,ivory ,egyptian rings1 #h -- ,trinity rings1 #dhg ,james of ,scotland1 ring-token sent by ,king1 #cbg ,jasper amulet-rings1 #adh ,jeffreys1 token-ring given to ,judge1 #cea ,jet1 talismanic virtues of1 #ajf ,jews1 betrothal and marriage-rings of the1 #bih -- covenant-rings of the1 #big -- ring worn by the ,high ,priest of the1 #ia ,john1 token-rings sent to1 #cbe -- ring of the ,order of ,st41 #aic ,johnson1 wedding-ring of ,dr41 #bgi ,josephus1 account of charm-rings by1 #ib -- on the rings of the ,israelites1 #c ,jupiter1 the planet1 propitious for weddings1 #id ,kenilworth ,castle1 ring found at1 #dgc ,kensington ,museum1 memorial rings in the1 #chh ,kentigern1 legend of ,st41 #ih ,key-rings1 ,roman1 #de1 #ea1 #bic ,keys delivered at weddings1 #bid ,kilsyth1 loss of a ring by ,lady1 #afg ,kings buried with their rings1 #che ,kirchmann on episcopal rings1 #baj ,knight ,hospitaller1 ring of a1 #aif ,knight1 legend of the cruel1 #ii ,knighthood1 rings of1 #aha ,lacedemonian rings1 #ah ,lawsuits1 rings an authority in1 #ahd ,legacy of rings to shrines1 #bdd ,legend of ,st4 ,agnes and the ring1 #bci -- -- -- ,catherine and the ring1 #bch -- -- the fish and the ring1 #ih1 #eaj -- -- -- #8,royal of ,france' jewel1 #acc -- -- ,marianson and the rings1 #ced -- -- ,st4 ,mark's ring1 #aai -- -- a ring derived from the ,north1 #aca -- -- the #8,pilgrim' ring1 #aag1 #eaf -- -- -- ,three ,kings of ,cologne1 #adc -- -- -- ,lady of ,toggenburg1 #ced -- -- a ring of espousals received from ,our ,saviour1 #bcg -- -- -- -- on the statue of ,venus1 #abi ,lines on wedding-rings1 #bgf ,lion1 ,king-at-,arms1 ring given to1 #aid ,loadstone set in wedding-rings1 #cjd ,londesborough ,collection1 charm-ring against the #8,evil ,eye' in the1 #aec -- -- decade ring of ,delhi work in the1 #bec -- -- early ,christian ring in the1 #dg -- -- episcopal ring in the1 #bcj -- -- gemmel rings in the1 #cai -- -- ,jewish marriage-rings in the1 #bih -- -- jointed betrothal ring in the1 #cad -- -- ,irish rings in the1 #fa -- -- ,italian rings in the1 #gf -- -- later period rings in the1 #ge -- -- love gift ring1 #dg -- -- #8,lucretia' ring in the1 #cah -- -- magical thumb-ring in the1 #hi ,londesborough ,collection1 mechanical mystic ring in the1 #adg -- -- memorial and mortuary rings in the1 #cgc -- -- ,moorish rings in the1 #hc -- -- mortuary rings in the1 #chc -- -- motto ring in the1 #daf -- -- ,papal ring in the1 #bjh -- -- #8religious' ring in the1 #bea -- -- ring of ,bishop ,thierry in the1 #bjd -- -- toadstone rings in the1 #aeg ,lost rings1 singular recovery of1 #dcf ,louis ,,xii41 rings of1 #dfa1 #dfi ,love-knots1 rings with1 #dad ,love-pledges1 rings as1 #bhc ,lucretia1 rings with representations of1 #cah ,luther1 betrothal and marriage-rings of ,martin1 #dha ,lynnoch1 ,turlough1 signet-ring of1 #aid ,magi1 rings of the1 #adc ,magical thumb-rings1 #hi ,maintenon1 ring of ,madame de1 #dfi ,man1 ring-custom in the ,isle of1 #ddc ,mantle and ring1 vows taken with1 #bda ,mark1 ring of ,st41 #aai ,marlborough gem-rings1 #dfa ,marriage-ring of the ,doge of ,venice1 #ii1 #dai1 #ebi ,marriages1 fleet1 #bhb -- ,gretna ,green1 #bhc ,marriage ring of ,joseph and the ,virgin ,mary1 #ic1 #eje -- of prelates1 #bcd -- -- ,archbishop ,rich to the ,virgin1 #bcg ,martin1 rings of ,st41 #bhe ,martyrs and saints1 relics of1 in rings1 #adb ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 investiture rings of1 #ahb -- -- -- -- signet-ring of1 #dei1 #dgh ,massinissa and ,sophonisba1 figures of1 on a ring1 #ch ,materials of wedding-rings1 #bhe1 #cgg ,mayhew1 ring of ,bishop1 #bbg ,mecca1 rings of1 #ag ,mechanical mystic ring1 #adg ,medical amulet-rings1 #adg1 #afa ,medici1 rings of the1 #dga ,medival romances1 charmed rings in1 #aba #8,memento mori' rings1 #cgb ,memorial and mortuary rings1 #cee1 #cgg -- ring of the ,princess ,amelia1 #cge -- rings1 ,charles ,i41 #cff -- -- ,charles ,,ii41 #cga -- -- ,elizabeth1 ,queen of ,bohemia1 #cfa -- -- ,countess of ,hartford1 #cff -- -- ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 #cfe -- -- ,royalist1 #cga ,merchant's #8mark' rings1 #hd ,meridian rings1 #dea ,merovingian rings1 #fi ,modern ,french1 #hc ,montfaucon's theory of the zodiac1 #aji #8,month' rings of the ,poles1 #aae ,morgan1 ,papal ring in the collection of ,mr4 ,octavius1 #bjg ,moore's poem on the #8,ring1' #abi -- allusion to his mother's wedding-ring1 #bha ,moorish rings1 #hc ,motto-rings1 #cij ,mourning rings1 #cfj ,mourning ring of ,queen ,anne1 #cgd -- -- -- ,lord ,eldon1 #cge -- -- -- ,queen ,mary and ,william ,,iii41 #cgd -- -- -- ,lord ,nelson1 #cge -- -- -- the ,emperor ,nicholas of ,russia1 #chd ,mummy1 rings on the fingers of a1 #aj ,museum1 ,egyptian rings in the ,south ,kensington1 #ab -- -- -- -- -- ,british1 #e -- ,etruscan ring with chimer in the ,british1 #ae -- ,prince of ,canino's ring in the ,british1 #ad -- ring of ,queen ,sebek-nefru1 #g -- -- -- ,sennacherib in the ,british1 #i -- ,egyptian rings in the ,louvre1 #ac ,names on rings1 #daf ,necromantic rings1 #adf ,nelson1 memorial rings of ,lord1 #cge ,new ,year's ,gift rings1 #dba ,nobility1 rings badges of1 #aie ,northmen1 wedding-keys of the old1 #bid ,novices invested with the ring1 #bcb ,nuns forbidden to wear rings1 #bdj ,nuptial ring of the ,virgin ,mary1 #ic ,omens1 blood-dropping from the ring-finger1 #afh -- breaking of rings1 #afh -- bursting of rings1 #afh -- fall of rings1 #afg -- loss of rings1 #afg -- taking off rings1 #aga ,oriental rings1 #ij1 #dia ,origin of merchant's #8mark' rings1 #aib ,orpine plant1 rings with devices of the1 #afi ,oswald1 token-ring of1 #cbe ,pagan graves1 rings found in1 #fi ,paradise rings1 #beg ,parthenon1 rings in the treasury of the1 #dc ,pedlar's rings1 #gc ,pendrell1 token-ring given to1 #cej ,pepys1 bequest of rings by1 #cfc ,perceval of ,galles1 bequest of rings by1 #cbh ,perrot1 bequest of rings by1 #cdd ,persian rings1 #ag ,perugia1 nuptial ring of the ,virgin at1 #ic ,perugino's picture of the marriage of the ,virgin1 #id #8,pilgrim' ring of ,edward the ,confessor1 #aaf1 #eaf ,pilgrim rings1 #bfd ,planetary rings1 virtues ascribed to1 #ajh ,poets ,laureate1 rings given to1 #aia ,poison-rings1 #dcb ,poles1 #8month' rings of the1 #aae ,polycrates1 ring of1 #if ,pontifical rings1 #bje1 #bjg ,pope1 bequest of rings by1 #cgd ,pope ,boniface1 ring of1 #bjg -- ,pius ,,ii41 ring of1 #bjg -- -- ,,ix41 ring of1 #bja ,popes buried with their rings1 #bjb ,popes1 their sanctity disregarded1 #bjb ,porcelain rings1 ,egyptian1 #h ,portrait-rings1 #dif ,posy-rings1 #cij ,power of the royal ring1 #ahb #8,poynings1' the charter of1 confirmed by a ring1 #ahf ,precious stones1 episcopal rings enriched with1 #baf ,prometheus1 the ring of1 #ie ,property conveyed by a ring1 #ahe ,puzzle-rings1 #cbb ,ring1 ,alhstan1 the1 #fb -- of ,angelo1 ,michael1 #dgj -- -- ,bitton1 ,bishop1 #bbh -- -- ,pope ,boniface1 #bjg -- -- ,bowett1 ,archbishop1 #bbe -- -- ,john ,bunyan1 #die -- -- ,cantelup1 ,bishop1 #bbi -- -- ,chariclea1 #dfc -- -- ,charles ,i4 and ,charles ,,ii41 #dfa -- -- ,childeric1 #chf -- -- ,cranmer1 ,archbishop1 #bag -- found in the grave of ,st4 ,cuthbert1 #bbg -- the ,darnley1 #dfj -- of ,eloy1 ,st41 #bcb -- -- ,ethelswith1 ,queen of ,mercia1 #ee -- -- ,ethelwulf1 ,king1 #ed -- -- ,gardiner1 ,bishop1 #bbf -- -- ,gundulf1 ,bishop of ,rochester1 #bac -- -- ,gyges1 #if1 #ejh -- -- ,queen ,henrietta ,maria1 #dic -- -- ,henry of ,worcester1 #bcj -- -- ,hilary1 ,bishop1 #bbe -- -- ,lion ,king-at-,arms1 #aid -- -- ,louis ,,xii41 #dfa1 #dfi -- -- ,loup1 ,st41 #bag -- -- ,turlough ,lynnoch1 #aid -- -- ,madame de ,maintenon1 #dfi -- -- ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 #dei1 #dgh -- -- ,mayhew1 ,bishop1 #bbg -- -- the ,great ,mogul1 #dia -- -- ,lorenzo de ,medici1 #dga -- -- ,pius ,,ii41 #bjg -- -- ,pius ,,ix41 #bja -- -- ,polycrates1 #if -- -- ,sir ,walter ,raleigh1 #dhf -- -- ,cola di ,rienzi1 #dfe ,ring of ,seffrid1 ,bishop1 #bbe -- the ,seymour1 #dgi -- -- ,shakspeare1 #dhd -- of ,solomon1 #ia1 #ejc -- -- ,roger1 ,king of ,sicily1 #dfe -- -- the ,stuarts1 #dib -- -- ,thierry1 ,bishop of ,verdun1 #bja -- -- ,tippoo ,saib1 #dij -- -- ,william of ,wyckham1 #bbf -- the ,worsley seal1 #dfg -- ,american gigantic1 #dhh -- amulet1 of ,prince ,charles ,edward1 #aff -- -- found at ,eltham ,palace1 #abf -- authority of the1 in law suits1 #ahd -- of the #8,beef ,steak' ,club1 #aic -- ,byzantine betrothal1 #cjd -- charm of the #8,oxford ,conjurer1' #acb -- charters confirmed by the1 #ahd -- ,claddugh wedding1 #cbj -- found in ,cornwall1 #bff -- ,queen ,elizabeth's coronation1 #afe -- given to the #8,admirable' ,crichton1 #aid -- on the ,cromwell crest1 #dba -- devices of the ,medici1 #dgc -- diplomas sanctioned by the1 #ahd -- divination1 #ajj1 #agb -- of ,edward the ,confessor1 #aaf1 #eaf -- escutcheon1 ,french1 #ha -- superstition of ,henry ,,viii41 #acc -- history1 episode in1 #dec -- the #8,fisherman's1' #aih -- relic of ,flodden ,field1 #dgh -- -- of ,fotheringay1 #dge -- heraldic1 #dha -- diamond-pointed ,italian1 #gf -- of the ,grand ,master of the ,order of ,st4 ,john1 #aic -- found at ,kenilworth ,castle1 #dgc -- of knighthood1 #aha -- legend1 #acj -- of ,martin ,luther1 #dha -- legends of the ,fish and the ,ring1 #ih1 #eaj -- of ,st4 ,mark1 #aai -- mourning1 of ,charles ,,ii41 #cga -- -- ,royalist1 #cga -- -- of the ,princess ,amelia1 #cge -- -- -- ,queen ,anne1 #cgc -- -- -- ,lord ,eldon1 #cge -- -- -- ,marie ,antoinette1 #cgd -- -- -- ,mary and ,william ,,iii41 #cgd -- -- -- ,lord ,nelson1 #cge -- -- -- the ,emperor ,nicholas of ,russia1 #chd -- memorial1 of the ,countess of ,hertford1 #cff -- of a nun1 #bdj -- kissing the ,pope's1 #bja -- ,russian customs of the wedding1 #agd -- secular investiture by the1 #agg -- small wedding1 #bhg -- tragical incident of a1 #ddi -- marriage1 of the ,doge of ,venice1 #hi -- legend of a1 on the statue of ,venus1 #abh ,rings1 ,abbots invested with1 #bca -- the mystic word #8,agla' on1 #acg -- amulet1 #adh -- ,anglo-,saxon betrothal1 #cjf -- prizes for archery1 #ddd -- ,arundel and ,bessborough ,collection of gem1 #dfb -- from ,ashantee1 #dee -- astrological1 #ajh -- ,bavarian1 #hd -- bequests of1 #cee -- engraved by ,berquem1 #dej -- betrothal and wedding1 #bge1 #ebf -- dividing betrothal1 #caf -- bursting on the fingers1 #afh -- importance of ,bishops'1 #bac -- taken from degraded ,bishops1 #bah -- on the fingers of the arm of ,st4 ,blaize1 #bba -- ,boccaccio's fable of the three1 #dea -- offered as bribes1 #ddd -- of ,british1 ,saxon1 and medival times1 #ec -- ,british ,museum collection of gem1 #dei -- ,byzantine1 #dh -- carbuncle1 #aei -- stolen from ,charles ,,ii41 #ded -- charm1 #aje1 #aae1 #aba -- of espousals to ,christ1 #bcc1 #bda -- early ,christian1 #beh1 #bfh -- clerical extravagance in1 #bbj -- coronation1 #agg -- claimed as #8corse' present1 #bba -- during the ,commonwealth1 #bhh -- coronets on1 #dge -- cramp1 #afb1 #ebb -- customs and incidents in connection with1 #dai -- with wood of the true cross1 #ada -- with devices of death1 #cgb -- decade1 #bdh -- buried with the dead1 #cgg -- ,devonshire gem1 #deh -- given in diplomacy1 #dbb -- divination1 powers of1 #dej -- doctors'1 #aia -- taken from the finger1 an ill omen1 #aga -- in connection with ecclesiastical usages1 #aih -- engravings on ,bishops'1 #bab -- to cure epilepsy1 #aec -- attached to episcopal charters1 #baa -- episcopal investiture with1 #bae -- -- how worn1 #bah -- -- ,french1 #bbh -- found in the bodies of fishes1 #dci -- ,french1 #hb1 #dae -- garter1 #aic -- gemmel1 #cac1 #cah -- ,german #8liberation1' #ddh -- in the #8,gesta ,romanorum1' #abd -- ,gnostic1 #ajg -- gold wedding1 #hd -- at marriages of modern ,greeks1 #caa -- harlequin1 #dad -- discovered at ,herculaneum and ,pompeii1 #di -- charmed #8hoof1' #aec -- identification by means of1 #dbf -- incidents in connection with1 #dai -- inscription1 #cij -- antique intagli motto1 #dag -- in the ,royal ,irish ,academy1 #fe -- at ,italian marriages1 #caj -- talismanic virtues of jet1 #ajg -- ,jewish betrothal and marriage1 #bih -- used in ,jewish covenants1 #big -- -- -- -- synagogues1 #cjb -- given in lieu of dowry by the ,jews1 #bih -- key1 #bid -- love #8pledge1' #bhc -- loss of1 an ill omen1 #afg -- love-knot1 #dad -- denoting love's telegraph1 #bic -- linked1 #cag1 #cbb -- life saved by1 #dbg -- with representations of ,lucretia1 #cah -- of the ,magi1 #adc -- ,marlborough gem1 #dfa -- -- ,st4 ,martin1 #bhe -- materials of wedding1 #bhf -- medicinal1 #afa -- #8,memento mori1' #cgb -- memorial and mortuary1 #cee -- -- of ,charles ,i41 #cff -- -- -- ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 #cfe -- merchant's #8mark1' #hd -- meridian1 #dea -- ,merovingian1 #fi -- month1 of the ,poles1 #aae -- ,moorish1 #hc -- motto1 #cij -- mourning1 #cfj -- -- given at funerals1 #cfd -- necromantic1 #adf -- ,new ,year gift1 #dba -- an ancient mark of nobility1 #aie -- of the old ,northmen1 #cje -- novices invested with1 #bcb -- ,oriental1 #ij -- origin of #8merchant's marks1' #aib -- with device of the orpine plant1 #afi -- in ,pagan graves1 #fh -- ,paradise1 #beg -- of a later period1 #ge -- pilgrim1 #bfd -- planetary virtues of1 #ajh1 #aab -- poison1 #dcb -- conferred on ,poets ,laureate1 #aia -- pontifical1 #bje1 #bjg1 #bji -- buried with popes1 #bjb -- portrait1 #dif -- posy1 #cij -- profusely worn1 #gb -- property conveyed by1 #ahe -- recovery of lost1 #dcf -- #8,regard1' #dad -- religious1 #acc1 #ach1 #bdh1 #bed -- reliquary1 #adb1 #beg -- remarkable1 #deg -- #8,reynard the ,fox' on magical1 #ade -- ,roman amber and glass1 #dh -- -- in the ,bibliothque ,nationale at ,paris1 #cb -- -- in the ,castellani ,collection1 #df -- ,roman devices and inscriptions on1 #da -- of a ,roman lady1 #cc1 #dc -- gems mounted in ,roman1 #cj1 #dj -- ,roman gift1 #df -- gold1 when first worn in ,rome1 #bf -- ,roman and ,greek huge1 #bh -- -- iron1 #be -- -- key1 #de1 #ea -- -- legionary1 #dg -- in the treasury of the ,parthenon1 #dc -- profusion of1 worn by the ancients1 #bh1 #cj -- ,roman rock-crystal1 #ca -- -- #8season1' #bh1 #cj -- -- signs engraved on1 #cc -- -- thumb1 #bi -- -- used for various purposes1 #db -- -- votive1 #dd -- -- and ,greek1 in the ,waterton ,collection1 #ej -- ,runic characters on1 #adh1 #aej -- rush1 #bhd -- at ,russian marriages1 #caa -- ,russian customs with1 #ddg -- ,saxon wire1 #ei -- -- found at ,cuerdale1 #fc -- mode of securing1 #ddi -- ,serjeants'1 #ahf -- at shrines1 #bei -- sigil charm1 #aac -- signet1 #be -- at ,spanish marriages1 #cab -- gold1 to cure sties1 #agd -- superstitions in connection with1 #ia -- magical #8suspended1' #aab -- talismanic1 #ia1 #acd1 #adj1 #adg1 #aea1 #aff -- mystic #8,tau1' #aee -- toadstone1 #aee -- given at tournaments1 #aig -- discovered on the 7presumed7 site of ,troy1 #cb -- thumb1 #hg1 #hi1 #aci1 #eja -- thank-offering1 #bdg -- the ,three1 #ceb -- token1 #cbc -- tooth1 #die -- ,trinity1 #bdh1 #bed -- given on ,st4 ,valentine's ,day1 #dbb -- at ,venetian marriages1 #caa -- #8,vertuosus1' #afb1 #cee -- offered to the ,virgin1 #acj -- watch1 #did -- in wedding cakes1 #agj -- -- -- possets1 #agc -- given at wrestling-matches1 #aie -- wedding1 how worn1 #bia1 #bic -- blessing wedding1 #bhh -- of espousals to the ,virgin1 #bcg -- mentioned in wardrobe books1 #bbh -- thumb wedding1 #bhi -- of the ,virgin in ,raphael's ,sponzalizio1 #bia -- ancient origin of wedding1 #big -- whistle1 #did -- worn on particular days1 #afe -- zodiacal1 #aaj ,sanctity of the ,popes disregarded1 #bjb ,sapphires1 episcopal rings set with1 #bag ,saxon rings found at ,cuerdale1 #fc ,scarabus on rings1 #e ,schliemann's1 ,dr41 discoveries at ,troy 7871 #cb ,scots1 wedding-ring of ,mary1 ,queen of1 #bhj ,scott1 ,sir ,walter1 on superstitious charms1 #acb ,season-rings of the ,romans1 #bh1 #cj ,sebek-nefru1 signet-ring of1 #g ,secular investiture by the ring1 #agg ,seffrid1 ring of ,bishop1 #bbe ,serjeants' rings1 #ahf ,seymour ring1 the1 #dhj ,shakspeare1 rings bequeathed by1 #cei -- the ring 7presumed7 of1 #dhd ,shrine of ,thomas ,becket1 ring from the1 #bdg -- -- the ,magi1 #add ,shrines1 legacies of rings to1 #bdd1 #bei ,sicily1 supposed ring of ,roger1 ,king of1 #dfe ,sidney1 rings bequeathed by ,sir ,philip1 #ceh ,sigebert1 supposed ring of ,king1 #gj ,sigil charms1 #aac ,signet-ring of ,sennacherib1 #i ,singer1 collection of posy-rings by ,mr4 ,j4 ,w41 #cid ,singular mode of securing rings1 #ddi ,soden ,smith1 rings in the collection of ,mr4 ,r4 ,h41 #bcj1 #ejb ,solomon's ring1 #ia1 #ejc ,southey on zodiacal signs1 #aji ,spain1 ring-customs in1 #cab ,spanish rings1 #gi ,squirt rings1 #dic ,stone and silver rings of the ,romans1 #ca ,stuart rings1 the1 #dib ,suckling1 lines on a wedding-ring1 by ,sir ,john1 #bhg ,superstitions connected with the carbuncle1 #aei -- -- -- change of colours in jewels1 #afj -- -- -- gold rings1 #age -- -- -- rings generally1 #ia -- -- -- toadstone1 #aef -- -- -- turquoise1 #aei ,talismanic ring1 remarkable gold1 #ie ,tau-rings1 mystic character of1 #aee ,thierry1 ring of ,bishop1 #bjd ,thumb-rings1 allusions to1 #hh -- -- magical1 #hi -- -- of the ,romans1 #bi -- -- worn in token of widowhood1 #cfd ,tippoo ,saib1 rings of1 #dij ,toadstone rings1 virtues of1 #aeg ,token-rings1 ,charles ,,ii41 #cej -- -- ,earl of ,derby1 #cdh -- -- ,duke of ,dorset1 #cdg -- -- ,edward ,i41 #cbd -- -- ,queen ,elizabeth1 #cdj -- -- ,earl of ,essex1 #ccf1 #ebh -- -- ,george ,,iii41 #ceb -- -- ,queen ,henrietta ,maria1 #cdi -- -- ,henry ,,viii41 #ccd1 #cce -- -- ,henry ,,iv4 of ,germany1 #cbf -- -- ,james of ,scotland1 #cbg -- -- ,king ,john1 #cbe1 #ccb -- -- ,margaret of ,scotland1 #ccc -- -- ,queen ,mary1 #cce -- -- ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 #cdj -- -- ,viscount ,melgum1 #cej -- -- ,king ,oswald1 #cbd -- -- ,sir ,john ,perrot1 #cdd -- -- ,earl of ,toulouse1 #cbg ,tooth rings1 #die ,tournaments1 rings given at1 #aig ,trinity rings1 #bdh1 #bed -- ivory rings1 #dhg ,troy1 discoveries on the 7presumed7 site of1 #cb ,turquoise rings1 the gage d'amour of the ,germans1 #aei -- -- their magical virtues1 #aeh ,valentine's ,day1 rings given on ,st41 #dbb ,venetian rings1 #gf -- weddings1 rings at1 #caa -- reliquary ring1 #adc ,venice1 marriage-ring of the ,doge of1 #ii1 #dai1 #ebi -- saved by ,st4 ,mark's ring1 #aai #8,vertuosus' rings1 #afb1 #cee ,virgin1 gifts of rings to the1 #acj ,virtues of a loadstone ring1 #aef -- -- -- turquoise ring1 #aeh -- -- the ring-finger1 #aee ,votive rings of the ,romans1 #dd ,vow of chastity with mantle and ring1 #bda ,wales1 the ,prince of1 invested with a ring1 #ahc ,walton1 rings bequeathed by ,izaak1 #cfj ,wardrobe books1 rings mentioned in the1 #bbh ,warwick1 ring-token sent by ,guy1 ,earl of1 #cca ,washington1 bequest of rings by1 #cfc ,watch set in a ring1 #did ,waterton ,collection1 curious ,south ,saxon ring in the1 #fj -- -- ecclesiastical ring with figure of ,christ1 in the1 #bfd -- -- ,egyptian rings in the1 #ac -- -- episcopal ring in the1 #bcj -- -- ,etruscan ring in the1 #ae -- -- ,gnostic rings in the1 #ajg -- -- ,greek and ,roman rings in the1 #ej -- -- ,papal rings in the1 #bjg -- -- ring on the forefinger of a statue in the1 #bia ,wedding-rings1 ancient origin of1 #big -- -- mentioned in ancient rituals1 #bij ,wedding-ring1 blessing the1 #bhh -- -- of the #8,claddughs1' #cbj -- -- during the ,commonwealth1 #bhh1 #bij -- -- given by the ,prince ,regent1 #bif -- -- -- -- -- ,princess ,royal1 #bif -- -- -- -- -- ,queen ,victoria1 #bif -- -- plain gold1 #bie -- -- how worn1 #bia -- -- several1 worn at marriages1 #bhi -- -- worn on the thumb1 #bhi -- -- one of the smallest1 #bhg -- -- of the ,german ,jews1 #cjb -- -- in cakes1 #agj -- ring of the ,rev4 ,george ,bull1 #bij -- -- -- ,james ,,ii41 #bha -- -- -- ,mrs4 ,johnson1 #bgi -- -- -- ,mary1 ,queen of ,scots1 #bhj -- -- -- ,mrs4 ,moore1 #bhj -- -- -- ,baron ,rosen1 #bha -- -- lines by ,suckling on a1 #bhg -- -- -- -- ,woodward on a1 #bgg -- -- ,customs of the ,russians1 #agd ,wells1 rings belonging to the ,dean and ,chapter of1 #bca ,whistle rings1 #did ,william of ,wyckham1 ring of1 #bbf ,winchester ,cathedral1 rings belonging to the ,dean and ,chapter of1 #bbf -- -- ring found in the tomb of ,william ,rufus in1 #che ,wire-rings of the ,saxons1 #eh ,worcester ,cathedral1 ,pontifical rings found in1 #bji #8,worsley' seal-ring1 the1 #dfg ,wotton1 rings bequeathed by ,sir ,henry1 #cei ,wrestling1 prize-rings for1 #aie ,xerxes1 a great gem-fancier1 #af ,zodiac1 astrological definition of the1 #aji -- ,montfaucon's singular theory of the1 #aji ,zodiacal signs1 ,southey on1 #aji ,,london3 ,,printed ,,by ,,spottiswoode ,,and ,,co41 ,,new-,,street ,,square ,,and ,,parliament ,,street ,illustration ,,footnotes3 #a ,in #ahda ,mr4 ,joseph ,bonomi read a paper before the ,royal ,society of ,literature on an ancient signet-ring of gold1 resembling in every respect1 except the name of the king1 the ring which ,pharaoh put on the finger of ,joseph4 ,the account of its purchase1 loss1 and subsequent recovery is very interesting4 ,it was bought by ,lord ,ashburnham at ,cairo in #ahbe4 ,in the spring of the same year his ,lordship embarked a valuable collection on board a brig he had chartered at ,alexandria1 to carry his heavy baggage to ,smyrna4 ,this was attacked and pillaged by ,greek pirates1 who sold their booty in the island of ,syra4 ,the ring then became the property of a ,greek merchant1 in whose possession it remained until it was sold at ,constantinople1 and was brought to ,england in #ahdj4 ,it then passed from the hands of ,mr4 ,bonomi into those of ,lord ,ashburnham1 its former possessor4 ,it is conjectured1 from evidence peculiar to ,egyptian antiquities1 that this ring belonged to the age of ,thothmes ,,iii4 ,illustration3 ,egyptian ,gold ,signet-ring4 ,in the winter of #ahbd a discovery was made in ,sakkara of a tomb enclosing a mummy entirely cased in solid gold 7each limb1 each finger of which had its particular envelope inscribed with hieroglyphics71 a scarabus attached to a gold chain1 a gold ring1 and a pair of bracelets of gold with other valuable relics4 ,this account was wrested from the excavators coups de bton administered by ,mohammed ,defterdar ,bey1 by which means were recovered to ,signor ,drovetti 7at whose charge the excavation was made7 the scarabus and gold chain1 a fragment of the gold envelope1 and the bracelets1 now in the ,leyden ,museum1 which bear the same name as this ring4 ,from the circumstance of the bracelets bearing the same name as this ring1 and from the word ,pthah1 the name of the tutelar divinity of ,memphis 7of which city ,sakkara was the necropolis7 being also inscribed upon it1 there is little doubt it was found in that place1 and1 from the confession of the ,arabs1 a great probability that it came out of the same excavation4 ,the discovery of so much gold in a single tomb1 which1 from the nature of the ornaments1 must have belonged to the ,pharaoh himself1 or to a distinguished officer of his household1 accords well with ,mr4 ,cory's system of chronology1 which places the death of the patriarch ,joseph in the twenty-first year of the reign of ,thothmes ,,iii41 at which period the treasury of ,pharaoh must have been well stored with the precious material of these ornaments accumulated by the prudent administration of the patriarch4 ,assuming1 therefore1 that ,mr4 ,cory's system is correct1 this ring may be regarded1 not only as an excellent specimen of that kind called ,tabt 7a word still used in ,egypt to signify a stamp or seal71 but also as resembling in every respect1 excepting the name1 the ring which ,pharaoh put on the hand of ,joseph4 #b ,mr4 ,layard1 in #8,nineveh and ,its ,remains1' describes the wife of an ,arab ,sheikh1 whom he met1 as having a nose adorned with a prodigious gold ring1 set with jewels of such ample dimensions that it covered her mouth1 and was obliged to be removed when she ate4 #c ,the ,egyptians made the scarabus the symbol of the world1 because it rolled its excrements into a globe2 of the sun2 of the moon1 from horns2 one-horned1 of ,mercury2 of generation1 because it buried the bowls in which it included its eggs1 c42 of an only son1 because they believed that every beetle was male and female2 of valour1 manly power1 c41 whence they forced all the soldiers to wear a ring upon which a beetle was engraved4 ,all these superstitions are very ancient1 for they occur upon the sepulchres of ,biban-el-,molook1 and are traced to the ,indians1 ,hottentots1 and other nations4 ,in the hieroglyphs it is used for the syllable ,khepra1 and expresses the verb #8to be1 exist4' ,in connection with ,egyptian notions1 the ,gnostics and some of the ,fathers called ,christ the ,scarabus4 #8,the usual mode of mounting the scarab1' observes the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king1 in #8,antique ,gems1' #8as a finger-ring1 was1 the swivel1 a wire as a pivot passing through the longitudinal perforation of the stone 7the edge of which was generally protected by a gold rim71 and then brought through holes in each end of a bar of gold1 or else of a broad1 flat band of plaited wire1 and bent into a loop of sufficient size to admit the finger1 which was usually the fore-finger of the left hand4 ,for the sake of security1 the ends of the loop were formed into small disks1 touching each extremity of the scarabus4 ,this loop1 or ring shank1 as it may be considered1 was treated in a great variety of fashions1 and sometimes was made extremely ornamental4 ,one that ,i have seen terminated in rams' heads1 the pivot entering the mouth of each2 in another the shank was formed as a serpent1 the head of which was one of the supporting points1 and the tail tied into a knot4 ,occasionally the form of the shank was varied by bending the bar upon itself1 so as to form a bow in the middle of its length2 the ends were then beaten to a point1 which1 being twisted inwards1 passed into the opposite holes of the stone1 and thus formed a handle to the signet4 ,this last manner of mounting the scarabus was often used by the ,egyptians1 the shank being made of every kind of metal2 it was also the common setting of the ,phnician stones of this form4' #d ,appendix4 #e ,cellini1 in his #8,memoirs1' says that ,pope ,clement ,,vii4 showed him a gold ,etruscan necklace of exquisite workmanship1 which had just been discovered in the ground4 ,on examining it1 #8,alas1' cried he1 #8it is better not to imitate these ,etruscans1 for we should be nothing but their humble servants4 ,let us rather strike out a new path1 which will1 at least1 have the merit of originality4' #f ,appendix4 #g ,addison remarks that when at ,rome he had #8seen old ,roman rings so very thick about1 and with such large stones in them1 that it is no wonder a fop should reckon them a little cumbersome in the summer season of so hot a climate4' ,a ,roman ring found in ,hungary contained more than two ounces of gold4 #h #8,as soon as the despotic power of the ,csars was established1' remarks the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king 7#8,handbook of ,engraved ,gems'71 #8it became a mark of loyalty to adorn either one's house1 or one's hand1 with the visible presence of the sovereign4 ,capitolinus notices that the individual was looked upon as an impious wretch1 who1 having the means1 did not set up at home a statue of ,m4 ,aurelius2 and1 a century later1 the ,senate obliged by an edict every householder to keep a picture of the restorer of the ,empire1 ,aurelian4 ,that official swore such portraits in their rings as an indispensable mark of distinction may be deduced from the negotiations of ,claudius 7preserved by ,pliny7 confining the entre at court to such as had received from him a gold ring having the imperial bust carved on it4' #i ,xenophon1 in his #8,economics1' states that the ,greek matrons had the power of sealing up1 or placing the seal upon the house-goods1 and at ,rome1 ,cicero's mother was accustomed to enhance to consumers the merits of some poor thin wine1 vile ,sabinum1 by affixing to each amphora her official signet4 ,it appears that the women of ,greece did not use the ring as frequently as the men1 and that theirs were less costly4 #aj ,amber rings were worn in our own country to a late date2 thus ,swift1 writing to ,pope respecting ,curll and the #8,dunciad1' says3--#8,sir1 you remind me of my ,lord ,bolingbroke's ring2 you have embalmed a gnat in amber4' #aa ,at the exhibition of antiquities and works of art at the ,archological meeting of ,january #e1 #ahdi1 ,major ,ker ,macdonald produced a ring supposed to be a recent imitation of the ring of ,ethelwulf4 #ab ,i am much indebted to ,mr4 ,r4 ,h4 ,soden ,smith1 ,f4,s4,a4--a gentleman so distinguished in art circles1 and the possessor of a remarkably fine and rare collection of rings--for information on some points connected with this work4 #ac ,there is the well-known anecdote of ,francis the ,first1 who1 in order to let the ,duchess d',estampes know that he was jealous1 wrote with a diamond these lines on a pane of glass1 #8which1' says ,le ,vieil1 in his #8,peinture sur ,verre1' #8may be still seen in the ,chteau ,chambord'3-- ,souvent femme varie1 ,mal habil qui s'y fie4 ,a similar story is recorded of ,henry the ,fourth of ,france and the ,duke of ,montpensier4 ,the latter had written with his diamond ring on a pane of glass the following1 in allusion to his love for the aunt of the ,king3-- ,nul bonheur me contente1 ,absent de ma ,divinit4 ,henry1 in the same manner1 wrote under it3-- ,n'appellez pas ainsi ma tante1 ,elle aime trop l',humanit4 ,it was on the pane of a window in ,hampton ,court ,palace that1 during one of the festivals given there by ,henry the ,eighth1 the ill-fated ,earl of ,surrey wrote with his diamond ring the name of fair ,geraldine1 and in quaint verse commemorated her beauty4 #ad ,calmet1 in his #8,dictionary1' states that the ,arabian princesses wore golden rings on their fingers1 to which little bells were suspended1 as well as in the flowing tresses of their hair1 that their superior rank might be known1 and that they might receive in passing the homage due to them4 #ae ,montfaucon1 in his #8,l',antiquit ,explique1' describes the representation of a trading seal #8as one of the most extraordinary that has yet been seen4' ,it was given to him by a monk of ,st4 ,victor1 at ,marseilles4 ,the form was oblong1 and the inscription was in three lines1 the first of which is ,p4 ,hileyi1 ,publii ,hileyi1 at the end of which words was a well-formed caduceus4 ,the second and third lines were ,sex4 ,maci ,paullini1 ,sexti ,maci ,paullini4 ,the caduceus1 which was a symbol of traffic1 denotes that these were two merchants and co-partners1 and the anchor1 that they were adventurers by sea4 ,one thing remarkable is that the first name1 ,p4 ,hileyi1 was taken by design1 but yet so that it might be read2 the letters being cut very deep1 they contented themselves with taking out so much of them only as would spoil that part of the impression upon wax1 or any other matter1 and leave the other name to be impressed alone4 ,that this was done by design appeared from the varnish seen in these traces1 as well as in the rest of the seal1 and was probably done by ,sextus ,macius ,paullinus at the death of his partner ,publius ,hileyus4 #af ,appendix4 #ag ,chaucer1 in his #8,squire's ,tale1' says3-- #8,then speaken they of ,canace's ring ,and saiden all that such a wondrous thing ,of crafte of rings heard they never none1 ,save that he1 ,moses1 and ,king ,solomon ,hadden a name of cunning in such art4' #ah ,among the ,mohammedans at present a talisman1 consisting generally of a formula on a scrap of paper1 or sentences from the ,koran1 is placed in a piece of stuff and put into a ring between the stone and the metal4 ,although the ,mussulman doctors generally concur in considering these practices vain1 and many ,asiatics do not use them1 yet the multitude still retain a predilection for them4 #ai ,appendix4 #bj ,appendix4 #ba ,plato relates the story of ,gyges differently to that by ,herodotus4 ,he tells us that ,gyges wore a ring1 the stone of which1 when turned towards him rendered him invisible1 so that he had the advantage of seeing others without being seen himself4 ,by means of this ring he deprived ,candaules of his throne and life1 with the concurrence of the queen4 #8,this1' remarks ,rollin1 #8probably implies that in order to compass his own criminal design he used all the tricks and stratagems which the world calls subtle and refined policy1 which penetrates into the most secret purposes of others without making the least discovery of its own4' ,this story1 thus explained1 carries in it a greater appearance of truth than what we read in #8,herodotus4' ,cicero1 after relating the fable of ,gyges' famous ring1 adds1 that if a wise man had such a ring he would not use it to any wicked purpose1 because virtue considers what is honourable and just1 and has no occasion for darkness4 #bb ,see chapter on #8,customs and ,incidents in ,connexion with ,rings4' #bc ,dr4 ,gordon1 in his #8,history of ,glasgow1' quotes the legend thus1 from the #8,aberdeen ,breviary3'--#8,the ,queen of ,cadzow was suspected by her husband1 ,king ,roderick1 of being too intimate with a knight whom he had asked to hunt with him4 ,the ,king waited his opportunity to abstract from the satchel of the knight1 when asleep1 a ring which the ,queen had presented to him4 ,king ,roderick1 in furious jealousy1 threw it into the ,clyde4 ,when they returned to the palace of ,cadzow from the day's hunting1 the ,king1 in the course of the evening1 asked her where her ring was4 ,it could not be produced4 ,death was threatened if it were not forthcoming4 ,the ,queen sent one of her maids to the knight for the ring1 and being unsuccessful1 a bearer was sent to ,cathures 7,glasgow71 to ,st ,mungo1 making a full confession of all4 ,the ,apostle of ,strathclyde commiserated the ,queen4 ,forthwith he sent one of his monks to the river to angle1 instructing him to bring home alive the first fish that he caught4 ,this was done4 ,st4 ,mungo 7dear friend7 found the annulet in the mouth of the miraculous fish1 and speedily sent it to the ,queen1 who restored it to her husband1 and thereby saved her life4' #bd ,appendix4 #be #8,a ,berril1' observes ,aubrey in his #8,miscellanies1' #8is a kind of crystal that hath a weak tincture of red4 ,in this magicians see visions4 ,there are certain formulas of prayers to be used before they make the inspection which they term a ,call4 ,in a manuscript of ,dr4 ,forman1 of ,lambeth 7which ,mr4 ,elias ,ashmole had71 is a discourse of this and the prayer2 also there is a ,call which ,dr4 ,napier did use4 ,james ,harrington 7author of 8,oceana07 told me that the ,earl of ,denbigh1 then ambassador at ,venice1 did tell him that one did show him three several times1 in a glass1 things past and to come4 ,when ,sir ,marmaduke ,langdale was in ,italy he went to one of these ,magi1 who did show him a glass where he saw himself kneeling before a crucifix4' ,a #8,berrill' belonging to ,sir ,edward ,harley is thus described by ,aubrey3--#8,it is a perfect sphere2 the diameter of it ,i guess to be something more than an inch2 it is set in a ring or circle of silver resembling the meridian of a globe2 the stem of it is about ten inches high1 all gilt4 ,at the four quarters of it are the names of four angels1 viz41 ,uriel1 ,raphael1 ,michael1 ,gabriel4 ,on the top is a cross pate4 ,this1 it appears1 was efficacious in detecting thieves2 it also forewarned death4' ,dr4 ,dee's famous crystal1 now in the ,ashmolean ,museum1 ,oxford1 will be remembered4 7,see discoveries in the tomb of ,childeric1 at ,tournay1 in chapter on #8,memorial and ,mortuary ,rings4'7 #bf ,the superstitious custom of carrying the medals of ,alexander the ,great1 as if they had some salutary virtue in them1 was frequent among the ,christians of ,antioch1 as is evident from ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom's declamation against the practice3--#8,what shall we say of those that use enchantments and ligatures1 and bind upon their head and feet brass medals of ,alexander of ,macedon8 ,are these our hopes8 ,and shall we1 after the passion and death of our ,saviour1 place our salvation in an image of a heathen king8' #bg ,montfaucon1 in his #8,l',antiquit ,explique1' has a singular theory in regard to the signs of the ,zodiac4 ,he mentions a fine gem on which were represented the figures of ,mercury1 ,jupiter1 and ,venus1 included in a large circle which contained the twelve signs of the ,zodiac4 ,these he conjectured to signify the days of the week1 ,wednesday1 ,thursday1 and ,friday4 #8,but1 why1' he observes1 #8do the three gods in this image indicate so many days of the week8 ,some ancient and particular custom is referred to and expressed1 without doubt4 ,ausonius1 in his 8,eclogues10 inserts a verse current in his time preceded by this question3--8,quid quoque die demi de corpore oporteat80 ,on what days is it most proper to cut the beard1 nails1 or hair8 8,ungues ,mercurio1 barbam ,jove1 ,cypride crines40 ,that is1 on ,wednesday pare your nails1 shave your beard on ,thursday1 and on ,friday cut your hair4 ,this usage ,ausonius rallies in eight pleasant verses4 8,mercury10 says he1 8a pilferer by trade1 loves his nails too well to let them be pared4 ,jupiter1 venerable by his beard1 ,venus adorned by her hair1 are by no means willing to part with what is so dear to them40444 ,i think it certain that these deities are represented as presiding over ,wednesday1 ,thursday1 and ,friday1 without being able to assign the certain reason why they are pictured upon this gem4' ,a very extraordinary form of oath1 by which the astronomer ,vettius ,valens bound his disciples to secresy1 is quoted by ,selden4 #8,i adjure thee1 most honoured brother and your fellow-students1 by the starry vault of heaven1 by the circle of the zodiac1 the sun1 the moon1 and the five wandering stars 7by which universal life is governed71 by ,providence itself1 and ,holy ,necessity1 that you will keep these things secret1 nor divulge them except to those who are worthy and are able to make a just compensation to me1 ,valens4' #bh ,according to the ancient lapidaries1 a ram with the half-figure of an ox1 or any stone set in a silver ring1 whoever was touched with should be immediately reconciled4 ,a woman1 one half a fish1 holding a mirror and a branch1 cut on a marine hyacinth 7pale sapphire71 set in a gold ring1 the signet covered with wax1 procured any desire4 ,a man ploughing1 and over him the hand of the ,lord making a sign1 and star1 if cut on any stone1 and worn in all purity1 ensured safety from tempest and immunity to crops from storms4 ,head1 with neck1 cut in green jasper2 set in a brass or iron ring engraved with the letters ,b4 ,b4 ,p4 ,p4 ,n4 ,e4 ,n4 ,a43 wear this1 and thou shalt in no wise perish1 but be preserved from many diseases1 especially fever and dropsy2 it likewise gives good luck in fowling4 ,thou shalt be reasonable and amiable in all things2 in battle and in law-suits thou shalt be victor4 ,man standing and tall1 holding an obolus 7patera7 in one hand and a serpent in the other1 with the sun over his head1 and a lion at his feet3 if cut on a diacordius 7diadochus7 set in a leaden ring and put underneath wormwood and fenugreek1 carry it to the bank of a river and call up whatsoever evil spirit thou pleasest1 and thou shalt have from them answers to all thy questions4 ,a youth having a crown on his head and seated on a throne with four legs1 and under each leg a man standing and supporting the throne on his neck2 round the neck of the seated figure a circle1 and his hands raised up to heaven2 if cut on a white hyacinth 7pale sapphire7 ought to be set in a silver ring of the same weight as the stone1 and under it put mastic and turpentine2 make the seal in wax and give it to any one1 and let him carry it about on his neck or person1 either the wax or the ring1 and go with pure mind and chastity before king1 noble1 or wise man1 and he shall obtain from them whatsoever he may desire4 ,a bearded man holding a flower in his hand cut on carnelian1 and set in a tin ring1 the ring being made on the change of the moon on a ,friday1 the #ast or the #hth of the month1 whomsoever thou shalt touch therewith he shall come to do thy will4 ,man standing on a dragon1 holding a sword1 must be set in a leaden or iron ring2 then all the spirits that dwell in darkness shall obey the wearer1 and shall reveal to him in a low-toned song the place of hidden treasure and the mode of winning the same4 ,man riding and holding in one hand the bridle1 in the other a bow1 and girt with a sword1 engraved on pyrites set in a gold ring1 it will render thee invincible in all battles2 and whosoever shall steep this ring in oil of musk and anoint his face with the said oil1 all that see him shall fear him1 and none shall resist4 ,man erect in armour1 holding a drawn sword1 and wearing a helmet1 if set in an iron ring of the same weight1 renders the wearer invincible in battle4 ,capricorn on carnelian1 set in a silver ring and carry about with thee1 thou shalt never be harmed in purse or person by thine enemies1 neither shall a judge pass an unjust sentence against thee2 thou shalt abound in business and in honour1 and gain the friendship of many1 and all enchantments made against thee shall be of none effect1 and no foe1 however powerful1 shall be able to resist thee in battle4 7,extracts from #8,sigil-charms1' #8,history of the ,glyptic ,art1' #8,handbook of ,engraved ,gems1' by the ,rev4 ,c4 ,w4 ,king47 #bi #8,the ,hermetic ,brethren had certain rules that they observed in relation to the power of precious stones to bring good or bad fortune through the planetary affinities of certain days1 because they imagined that the various gems1 equally as gold and silver1 were produced through the chemic operation of the planets working secretly in the telluric body4444 ,all yellow gems and gold are appropriate to be worn on ,sunday1 to draw down the propitious influences or to avert the antagonistic effects of the spirits on this day1 through its ruler and name-giver1 the ,sun4 ,on ,monday1 pearls and white stones 7but not diamonds7 are to be worn1 because this is the day of the ,moon1 or of the second power in ,nature4 ,tuesday1 which is the day of ,mars1 claims rubies and all stones of a fiery lustre4 ,wednesday is the day for turquoises1 sapphires1 and all precious stones which seem to reflect the blue of the vault of heaven4444 ,thursday demands amethysts and deep-coloured stones of sanguine tint1 because ,thursday is the day of ,thor--the ,runic impersonated ,male ,divine ,sacrifice4 ,friday1 which is the day of ,venus1 has its appropriate emeralds1 and reigns over all the varieties of the imperial1 yet1 strangely1 the sinister1 colour1 green4 ,saturday1 which is ,saturn's day1 the oldest of the gods1 claims for its distinctive talisman the most splendid of all gems1 or the queen of precious stones1 the lustre-darting diamond4' 7,the #8,rosicrucians1' by ,hargrave ,jennings47 #cj ,there is a tradition that this ring found its way to the chapel of ,havering 7have the ring71 in the parish of ,hornchurch1 near ,romford1 and was kept there until the dissolution of religious houses4 ,weaver says he saw a representation of it on a window of ,romford church4 ,the legend is also displayed on an ancient window in the great church of ,st4 ,lawrence1 at ,ludlow1 to which town the pilgrims who received the ring from the saint are said to have belonged4 ,a tradition to this effect was current in the time of ,leland1 who notices it in his #8,itinerary4' #ca ,appendix4 #cb ,to understand the language of birds was peculiarly one of the boasted sciences of the ,arabians4 ,their writers relate that ,balkis1 the ,queen of ,sheba1 or ,saba1 had a bird called ,huddud1 a lapwing1 which she despatched to ,king ,solomon on various occasions1 and that this trusty bird was the messenger of their amours4 ,we are told that ,solomon1 having been secretly informed by the winged confidant that ,balkis intended to honour him with a grand embassy1 enclosed a spacious square with a wall of gold and silver bricks1 in which he ranged his numerous troops and attendants1 in order to receive the ambassadors1 who were astonished at the suddenness of these splendid and unexpected preparations4 #cc ,moore1 in his juvenile poem of the #8,ring1' has made use of this legend1 and added considerably to its fanciful conceptions3-- #8,young ,rupert for his wedding-ring ,unto the statue went1 ,but1 ah6 how was he shock'd to find ,the marble finger bent6 #8,the hand was closed upon the ring ,with firm and mighty clasp2 ,in vain he tried1 and tried1 and tried1 ,he could not loose the grasp4' ,austin is the hermit that ,rupert seeks1 and whose aid enables him to regain the ring from the female fiend3-- 8,in ,austin's name take back the ring1 ,the ring thou gav'st to me2 ,and thou'rt to me no longer wed1 ,nor longer ,i to thee40 #8,he took the ring1 the rabble pass'd1 ,he home returned again2 ,his wife was then the happiest fair1 ,the happiest he of men4' #cd ,appendix4 #ce ,appendix4 #cf ,a curious legend is connected with this famous jewel4 ,the ,french monarch had visited the shrine of the saint to discharge a vow which he had made in battle1 and he knelt before it with the stone set in a ring on his finger4 ,the officiating prelate entreated the ,king to bestow the jewel on the shrine1 but as the jewel ensured good luck1 ,louis hesitated1 but offered1 in compensation1 one hundred thousand florins4 ,the prelate was satisfied1 but the saint evidently was not1 for the stone leaped from the ring and fastened itself to the shrine4 ,so bright was the stone that it was impossible to look at it distinctly1 and at night it burned like fire4 #cg ,abraxas-stones were so called from having the word ,abraxas or ,abrasax engraved on them4 ,they are cut in various forms1 and bear a variety of capricious symbols1 mostly composed of human limbs1 a fowl's head and serpent's body4 ,these gems are represented as coming from ,syria1 ,egypt1 and ,spain4 ,it is certain that the use of the name ,abraxas was at first peculiar to the ,gnostic sect of the ,basilideans4 ,there is little doubt that the greater part of the ,abraxas-stones were made in the ,middle ,ages as talismans4 #ch ,the shrine of the ,magi1 in ,cologne ,cathedral1 dates from the twelfth century4 ,the central subject is the ,virgin with the infant ,jesus2 on the left1 the ,adoration of the ,three ,kings1 accompanied by the ,emperor ,otho ,,iv4 ,on the right1 the ,baptism of ,christ by ,john the ,baptist1 in presence of an angel4 ,all these figures are of pure gold1 and in full relief4 ,the architectural decorations are covered with enamels and precious stones4 ,above these figures is a cover of silver-gilt1 on removing which the skulls of the ,three ,kings are seen1 with their names1 ,gaspar1 ,melchior1 and ,balthazar1 traced in rubies4 ,the crowns of copper gilt replace those of massive gold1 which disappeared during the revolutionary storms4 ,they weighed each six pounds1 and were enriched with fine pearls and an aigrette of diamonds4 ,above the relics is the figure of ,christ1 as the ,judge of men1 between two angels1 who hold the instruments of the ,passion4 ,this reliquary is #e feet long1 by three wide1 #e feet high4 ,it was begun in #aagj1 and made by order of ,archbishop ,philip von ,heinsberg4 ,in the ,rosicrucian theory1 ,caspar1 or ,gaspar1 is the #8,white ,one2' ,melchior is the #8,king of ,light2' ,beltasar1 the #8,lord of ,treasures4' ,balthasar1 or ,balthazar1 is the septuagint spelling of ,belshazzar4 ,talismanic rings and other objects were manufactured largely for sale to the pilgrims at the shrine of the #8,three ,kings4' ,mr4 ,thomas ,wright1 ,m4,a41 has1 in his edition of the #8,chester ,plays1' described1 at length1 this popular legend4 ,a magic ring was found a few years ago at ,dunwich1 with this inscription3-- #8,jasper fert myrrham2 thus ,melchior2 ,balthasar aurum1 ,hc tria qui secum portabit nomina ,regum1 ,solvitur a morbo1 ,christi pietate1 caduco4' ,bishop ,patrick1 in his #8,reflections on the ,devotions of the ,roman ,church1' #afgd1 asks1 with assumed navet1 how these names of the ,three ,wise ,men--,melchior1 ,balthazar1 and ,jasper--are to be of service1 #8when another tradition says they were ,apellius1 ,amerus1 and ,damascus2 a third1 that they were ,megalath1 ,galgalath1 and ,sarasin2 and a fourth calls them ,ator1 ,sator1 and ,peratoras2 which last ,i should choose 7in this uncertainty71 as having the more kingly sound4' #ci ,the horn of the narwhal 7which in the ,middle ,ages passed for the horn of the unicorn7 was supposed to possess1 among other virtues1 that of neutralising and detecting the presence of poison4 ,various old writers relate that it became agitated when placed in contact with a poisoned body1 and the most efficacious antidote to poison was the water in which it had been steeped4 ,a piece of the horn was attached to a chain of gold1 in order that it might be plunged into a dish without putting in the fingers4 #dj ,the ,runic characters are of very remote antiquity1 and of entirely pagan origin4 ,they are attributed to ,odin1 whom tradition asserts to have been eminently skilful in the art of writing1 as well for the common purposes of life1 as for the operations of magic4 ,it is the earliest alphabet in use among the ,teutonic and ,gothic nations of ,northern ,europe4 ,the name is derived from the ,teutonic rn1 a mystery2 whence runa1 a whisper1 and helrun1 divination4 ,they were distinguished into various kinds3 the noxious--or1 as they were called1 the bitter--employed to bring various evils on their enemies2 the favourable averted misfortunes2 the victorious procured conquest to those who used them2 the medicinal were inscribed on the leaves of trees for healing2 others served to dispel melancholy thoughts2 to prevent shipwreck2 were antidotes against poison2 preservatives against the anger of enemies2 efficacious to render a mistress favourable--these last were to be used with great caution4 ,if an ignorant person had chanced to write one letter for another1 or had erred in the minutest stroke1 he would have exposed his mistress to some dangerous illness1 which was only to be cured by writing other runes with the greatest niceness4 ,all these various kinds differed only in the ceremonies observed in writing them1 in the materials on which they were written1 in the place where they were exposed1 in the manner in which the lines were drawn1 whether in the form of a circle1 of a serpent1 or a triangle1 c4 #8,in the strict observance of these childish particulars consisted' 7remarks ,mallet in his #8,northern ,antiquities'7 #8that obscure and ridiculous art which acquired to so many weak and wicked persons the respectable name of priests and prophetesses1 merely for filling rude minds with so much jealousy1 fear1 and hatred4' ,grimm states that the ,anglo-,saxon ,runic alphabet was derived from the ,scandinavian at a period when it had only sixteen letters1 the complementary letters of the two alphabets having been formed on principles that offer not the slightest analogy4 ,while on the subject of ,runic calendars ,i may mention 7although unconnected with rings7 a singular ,runic almanack which was exhibited at the ,winchester meeting of the ,archological ,institute in #ahde4 ,it is in the form of a walking-stick1 called in the north of ,europe a #8rim-stok1' or #8primstaf4' ,the symbols and figures which ornament this calendar relate to the saints' days and the successive occupations of the seasons4 ,the staff is of a fashion rarely to be found in the north1 and appears to be the same which was procured at ,trondheim1 in ,norway1 by ,mr4 ,wolff1 formerly ,norwegian consul at ,london1 who published an account of it4 #da ,a modern poet thus apostrophises the turquoise and its changeful properties in the following beautiful sonnet3-- #8,in sunny hours1 long flown1 how oft my eyes ,have gazed with rapture on thy tender blue6 ,turquoise6 thou magic gem1 thy lovely hue ,vies with the tints celestial of the skies4 ,what sweet romance thy beauty bids arise1 ,when1 beaming brightly to the anxious view1 ,thou giv'st th' assurance dear that love is true6 ,but should thy rays be clouded1 what deep sighs1 ,what showers of tenderness distress the heart6 ,ah6 much of joy ,i owe thee1 but no woe4 ,as to my mind1 thou ever didst impart ,that feeling blest which made my pale cheek glow 7,for love was mine1 shorn of his wings and dart74 ,turquoise6 in warmest strains thy praise should flow1 ,such as some gifted minstrel could bestow4' #db ,a more homely remedy for the same disorder is given in ,wittal's #8,little ,dictionary1' where we find that-- #8,the bone of a hare's foot1 closed in a ring1 ,will drive away the cramp1 whenas it doth wring4' #dc ,appendix4 #dd ,queen ,bertha1 consort of ,king ,louis the ,seventh1 of ,france1 was crowned by the ,pope1 who also placed a ring on her finger1 saying3 #8,receive this ring1 emblem of the ,holy ,trinity1 by which you may resist heresy and bring the heathen to a knowledge of the faith by the virtue thus given4 ,god1 the source of all dignity and honour1 give to thy servant1 by this sign of the faith1 grace to persevere in ,his sight1 that she may evermore rest firm in the faith by the merits of ,jesus ,christ4' #de ,the ruby1 according to ,de ,laert 7#afdg71 appears to have been very generally used for rings1 and unpolished2 for1 #8unlike the diamond that hath no beauty unless shaped and polished1 the ruby charms without any aid from art4' ,true rubies1 and of good colour uncut1 but with their natural surface polished1 set in rings1 date from the earliest times4 ,gesner states that ,catherine of ,arragon used to wear a ring set with a stone luminous at night1 which he conjectures was a ruby4 #df ,a ,,ms4 account of the #8,conveyance of ,great ,estates into the ,king's presence at the time of their creation' 7,british ,museum1 ,additional ,,mss4 ,no4 #f1big7 gives the preparation for a creation of the ,prince4 ,after the rich habits given on this occasion1 we read3 #8,item1 a sword1 the scabbard covered with crimson cloth of gold1 plain1 and a girdle agreeable to the same4 ,item1 a coronal4 ,item1 a verge of gold4 ,item1 a ring of gold to be put on the third finger4' #dg ,the use of a seal1 or signet-ring1 for the purchase of property is mentioned in the ,bible4 ,in ,jeremiah the formalities are thus given3 #8,and ,i bought the field of ,hanameel1 and weighed him the money1 even seventeen shekels of silver4 ,and ,i subscribed the evidence1 and sealed it1 and took witnesses1 and weighed him the money in the balances4 ,so ,i took the evidence of the purchase1 both that which was sealed1 according to the law and custom1 and that which was open' 7chap4 xxxii474 #dh ,in the ,braybrooke ,collection is a gold band-ring with a similar inscription1 found at ,wimbish1 in ,essex4 ,it is noticed in the seventh volume of the #8,archological ,institute ,journal1' p4 #aif1 and is described as a serjeant-at-law's gold ring1 the hoop of an inch in width1 and of equal thickness2 the motto #8,lex regis prsidium4' #di ,horace ,walpole1 in one of his letters1 alludes to the #8,fisherman's ,ring' in his usual lively manner3 #8,mr4 ,chute has received a present of a diamond mourning-ring from a cousin2 he calls it l'annello del ,piscatore4 ,mr4 ,chute1 who is unmarried1 meant that his cousin was fishing for his estate4' #ej ,to show how little1 in former times1 the sanctity of the ,popes was regarded after death1 ,aimon1 in his #8,tableau de la ,cour de ,rome1' relates that #8when the ,pope is in the last extremity1 his nephews and his servants carry from the palace all the furniture they can find4 ,immediately after his death1 the officers of the ,apostolic ,chamber strip the body of everything valuable1 but the relations of the ,pope generally forestal them1 and with such promptitude that nothing remains but bare walls and the body1 placed on a wretched mattress1 with an old wooden candlestick and a wax end in it4' #ea ,in the #8,archologia1' vol4 xxxvi41 ,mr4 ,octavius ,morgan remarks #8that in the beginning of the seventeenth century some attention seems to have been paid to the subject of rings in general1 and several persons wrote concerning them4 ,john ,kirchmann1 a learned ,german of ,lubeck1 published a treatise 8,de ,annulis20 and about the same time ,henry ,kornmann wrote another small treatise 8,de ,triplici ,annulo40 ,kirchmann appears to have made deep researches on the subject1 and in the chapter on 8,episcopal ,rings0 he gives their history as far as he was able to trace it1 though he cannot find in ancient writers any facts relating to them earlier than the reign of ,charlemagne4 ,in gratitude to this monarch for the important services he had rendered the ,church1 it was decreed in the eighth century that the ,emperor should have the power of electing the ,popes and ordering the ,holy ,see1 and that in addition the archbishops and the bishops of the provinces should receive investiture from him4 ,no newly-elected prelate could be consecrated until he received from the ,emperor the ring and the staff2 these were to be returned on the death of the prelate4 ,but this practice was disused for a time2 for we find enumerated in the old chronicles of ,mayence1 among the jewels in that city1 8sixteen large and good pontifical rings--one of ruby1 with other gems1 one of emerald1 one of sapphire1 and one of topaz40' #eb ,the mode of giving the benediction differs in the two ,churches4 ,in the ,greek it is given with the forefinger open1 to form an ,i1 the middle finger curved like a ,c1 the ancient sigma of the ,greeks1 the thumb and annulary crossed form an ,x1 and the little finger curved represents a ,c4 ,all this gives ,,ic ,,xc1 the ,greek monogram of ,jesus ,christ4 ,thus1 as the author of the #8,guide of ,painting1' of ,mount ,athos1 observes3--#8,by the ,divine providence of the ,creator1 the fingers of the hand of man1 be they more or less long1 are arranged so as to form the name of ,christ4' ,the ,latin benediction is more simple1 being made with the annulary and the little finger closed1 the three first fingers open1 symbolical of the ,trinity4 #8,formerly1 bishops and priests blessed alike2 latterly1 bishops reserved to themselves the right of blessing with their fingers1 the priest with the open hand2 the bishops facing the congregation1 the priests in profile1 with the hand placed edgeways4 ,the sign of the cross was formerly made with three fingers open1 but now with the open hand1 from the forehead to the breast1 and from the left to the right shoulder by the ,latins1 but from the right to the left by the ,greeks' 7,didron1 #8,iconographie ,chrtienne'74 #ec ,the reader will be reminded of the anecdote of ,queen ,elizabeth1 who1 drawing from her finger the coronation ring1 showed it to the ,commons1 and told them that when she received that ring she had solemnly bound herself in marriage to the realm1 and it would be quite sufficient for the memorial of her name1 and for her glory1 if1 when she died1 an inscription were engraved on her marble tomb3 #8,here lyeth ,elizabeth1 which 7sic7 reigned a virgin1 and died a woman4' ,this coronation ring was filed off her finger shortly before her death1 on account of the flesh having grown over it4 #ed ,in #8,a ,relation1 or rather ,true ,account of the ,islands of ,england1' about the year #aejj 7,camden ,society71 the author1 after describing the shrine of ,st4 ,thomas1 at ,canterbury1 adds3 #8,everything is left far behind by a ruby not larger than a man's thumb-nail1 which is set to the right of the altar4 ,the church is rather dark1 and particularly so where the shrine is placed1 and when we went to see it the sun was nearly gone down1 and the weather was cloudy1 yet ,i saw the ruby as well as if it had been in my hand4 ,they say it was a gift of the ,king of ,france4' #ee ,see ,appendix4 #ef ,the gilding and silvering of locks1 rings 7firmalx anelx71 and other articles of a similar nature made of copper or latten 7faitz de cupre ou laton7 having been prohibited by the statute #eth ,henry ,,iv4 c4 #ac1 under what was then a heavy penalty1 the #8disloyal artificers1' against whom this enactment was made1 appear to have taken refuge in the sanctuary of ,st4 ,martin's-le-,grand1 where they were able to labour in their vocation unmolested by the marshal or the sheriff4 ,this may be inferred from #c ,edw4 ,,iv4 c4 #d1 by which it was declared unlawful to import various articles of foreign manufacture1 including rings of gilded copper or laten1 but with an express declaration that the ,act was not to extend to or be prejudicial or hurtful to ,robert ,styllington1 clerk1 dean of the ,king's ,free ,chapel of #8,st4 ,martin's le ,graunt1 de ,londres1' nor to his successors4 #eg ,english ladies at one time wore the wedding-ring on the thumb4 ,at ,stanford ,court1 ,worcestershire1 may be seen the portraits of five ladies of the ,salway family1 in the days of ,queen ,elizabeth1 all of whom have their wedding-rings on their thumbs4 ,according to the #8,british ,apollo1' the brides of ,george the ,first's time used to remove the ring from its proper abiding-place to the thumb as soon as the ceremony was over4 ,in ,southerne's #8,maid's ,last ,prayer' 7,act iv4 vol4 i4 p4 #fg7 we find3--#8,marry him ,i must1 and wear my wedding-ring upon my thumb1 too1 that ,i'm resolved4' ,an instance of several wedding-rings being used at the bridal ceremony is related by ,burcard1 master of the ceremonies to the ,pope's ,chapel from ,sixtus ,,iv4 to ,julius ,,ii4 ,at the marriage of a daughter of ,pope ,innocent ,,viii4 to ,lewis of ,arragon1 ,marquis of ,geracio 7,january #c1 #adib71 the pair approached the ,pope1 and1 both being on their knees1 the husband put the ring on the proper finger of the left hand of his spouse1 then several rings on the other fingers of both hands4 #eh ,in the ,waterton ,collection1 at the ,south ,kensington ,museum1 a forefinger1 from a bronze statue of late ,roman work1 wears a large ring upon the second joint4 ,in ,germany it is still customary to wear the ring in this fashion1 a custom borrowed from their ,roman subjugators4 #ei ,a correspondent to #8,notes and ,queries' 7vol4 viii4 series i4 p4 #ege7 observes1 with regard to the ring being placed on the third finger of the right hand of the ,blessed ,virgin in ,raffaelle's #8,sponsalizio1' at ,milan1 and in ,ghirlandais's fresco of the same subject in the ,santa ,croce1 at ,florence1 #8that it has been customary among artists to represent the ,virgin with the ring on the right hand1 to signify her superiority over ,st4 ,joseph1 from her surpassing dignity of ,mother of ,god4 ,still1 she is not always represented so4' #fj ,a bishop1 in the thirteenth century1 gives the following reasons why the ring should be of gold4 ,he says that #8one ,protheus made a ring of iron with an adamant enclosed therein1 as a pledge of love1 because as iron subdueth all things1 so doth love conquer all things1 since nothing is more violent than its ardour1 and1 as an adamant cannot be broken1 so love cannot be overcome1 for love is strong as death4 ,in course of time gold rings set with gems were substituted for the adamantine ones of baser metal1 because1 as gold excelleth all other metals1 so doth love excel all other blessings1 and as gold is set off with gems1 so is conjugal love set off by other virtues4' #fa ,in the reign of ,george the ,fourth1 a limited number of plain gold rings were made1 having a well-executed miniature medallion of that ,king set beneath a large diamond4 ,one of these was in the possession of the late ,lady ,fellows4 #fb ,it was formerly the custom in ,brittany that1 on the night after the marriage1 the husband presented his wife with a ring and act of dowry4 #fc ,latour ,st4 ,ybars1 in his tragedy of #8,virginius1' alludes to the iron ring3-- ,alors qu' ,icilius ne m'a jamais offert ,pour gage de sa foi que cet anneau de fer1 ,claudius1 sans respect pour l'amour qui m'anime ,par cet appas grossier croit m'entraner au crime1 ,et ces ornaments vils qu'il m'ose prsenter ,sont fait de ce mtal qui sert pour acheter6 ,va rendre ,claudius tous ces dons1 et sur l'heure ,les prsents de cet homme ont souills ma dmeure1 ,et ce seroit blesser notre honneur et nos dieux ,que d'y porter la main1 que d'y jeter les yeux4 #fd ,the #8betrothing penny' given at the ceremony of marriage was in olden times a common usage both in ,england and in ,france1 representing either earnest-money1 or the actual purchase of the bride4 ,in the pontifical of ,amiens1 the bridegroom is to say3 #8,de cet anneau t'espouse1 et de cet argent te hounoure1 et de mon corps te doue4' ,in an ancient manuscript of the ,salisbury ,missal1 in the ,harleian ,collection1 the bridegroom says3 #8,wyth thys rynge y the wedde1 and thys golde and selvir the geve1 and with my bodi y the worshippe1 and with all my worldith catel y the honoure4' #fe ,pitscottie says #8the ,queen of ,france wrote a love-letter to the ,king of ,scotland1 calling him her love1 showing him that she had suffered much rebuke in ,france for defending his honour4 ,she believed surely that he would recompense her with some of his kingly support in her necessity2 that is to say1 that he would raise her an army and come three foot of ground on ,english ground for her sake4 ,to that effect she sent him a ring off her finger1 with #ad1jjj ,french crowns to pay his expenses4' #ff ,appendix4 #fg ,lady ,moray1 the wife of the ,scottish ,regent1 had appropriated1 during the ,queen's troubles1 many of her most valuable jewels4 ,she wrote to her from ,tutbury1 ,march #bhth1 #aegj3-- #8,we are informed that ye have tane in possession certain of our jewels1 such as our ,henry of dyamant and ruby1 with a number of other dyamant1 ruby1 perles1 and gold worke1 whereof we have the memoir to lay to your charge1 which jewels incontinent1 after the sight hereof1 ye sall deliver to our right trusty cousins and counsellors1 the ,earl of ,huntley1 our lieutenant1 and my ,lord ,setoun1 who will1 on so doing1 give you discharge of the same4' ,lady ,moray paid no attention to ,queen ,mary's request for the return of her jewels1 well knowing that she was in no condition for enforcing her demands4 #fh #8,the skull and skeleton decorations for rings' 7remarks ,mr4 ,fairholt7 #8first came into favour and fashion at the obsequious court of ,france1 when ,diana1 of ,poictiers1 became the mistress of ,henry the ,second4 ,at that time she was a widow1 and in mourning1 so black and white became fashionable colours2 jewels were formed like funeral memorials2 golden ornaments1 shaped like coffins1 holding enamelled skeletons1 hung from the neck2 watches1 made to fit in little silver skulls1 were attached to the waists of the denizens of a court that alternately indulged in profanity or piety1 but who mourned show4' #fi ,biblical ,monuments1 by ,william ,harris ,rule1 ,d4,d41 and ,j4 ,corbet ,anderson2 #ahga1 #ahgc4 #gj ,this great founder of the ,merovingian dynasty1 the father of ,clovis1 died in #dhb1 and was buried with his treasures1 weapons1 and robes4 ,nearly twelve hundred years afterwards1 a labourer1 a poor deaf and dumb man1 accidentally discovered the royal grave1 and was astonished1 and almost terrified1 at the sight of the treasures it contained4 ,among them was the signet-ring alluded to1 which1 with a considerable number of the other treasures of the tomb1 were deposited in the ,bibliothque1 then #8,royale1' at ,paris1 which was broken into by burglars in #ahc-4 ,an alarm being given1 in their hasty flight they threw the objects into the ,seine2 the ring was not recovered4 ,in the tomb were found1 besides the skeletons of his horse and page1 his arms2 a cornelian ,etruscan scarab1 doubtless deposited therein as an amulet of wondrous virtue2 also a crystal divining-ball1 two inches in diameter1 and more than three hundred little bees1 of the purest gold1 their wings being inlaid with a red stone like cornelian4 ,on the authority of the historian ,augustin ,thierry1 it is stated that these ornaments resembling bees were only what in ,french are called fleurons 7supposed to have been attached to the harness of his war-horse74 ,montfaucon is of the same opinion4 #ga ,i am greatly indebted to this gentleman for the loan of a manuscript catalogue of ring mottos and inscriptions on wedding-rings1 of which--besides those exhibited at the ,kensington ,museum--,i have availed myself in the following pages of this chapter4 ,mr4 ,singer has1 ,i believe1 the finest collection of inscribed wedding-rings known1 numbering two hundred and forty-five specimens of every kind1 in gold and silver1 each weighing from three dwts4 and upwards1 and none less than a hundred years old1 some dating from five hundred years4 ,mr4 ,singer's collection is also enriched with some interesting betrothal rings1 and there are fourteen double-line motto-rings which are matchless4 ,this collection has been accumulated during the last quarter of a century1 at a very considerable cost4 #gb,this play upon words has been applied in a political sense4 #8,so1' as the late ,mr4 ,crofton ,croker observed1 #8when the ,repeal question was agitated in ,ireland1 rings and brooches1 set in precious stones1 made to represent the word 8,repeal0 were popular3-- ,r uby ,e merald ,p earl ,e merald ,a methyst ,l apis lazuli4 ,one of these was given to a gentleman as a relic of this memorable agitation1 but the bit of lapis lazuli had dropped out1 and he took it to a working jeweller in ,cork to have the defect supplied4 ,when it was returned1 he found that a topaz had been substituted for the missing bit of lapis lazuli4 8,how is this80 he inquired1 8you have made a mistake40 8,no mistake1 sir10 said the witty workman1 whom he afterwards discovered to be an ardent ,repealer1 8,it is all right3 it was repeal1 but let us repeat that we may have it yet40' #gc ,appendix4 #gd ,in ,knight's #8,pictorial ,shakspeare' is the following note on the dial which ,touchstone drew #8from his 8poke30' #88,there's no clock in the forest10 says ,orlando2 and it was not very likely that the fool would have a pocket-clock4 ,what then was the dial that he took from his poke8 ,we have lately become possessed of a rude instrument kindly presented to us by a friend1 which1 as the ,maid of ,orleans found her sword1 he picked 8out of a deal of old iron40 ,it is a brass circle of about two inches in diameter4 ,on the outer side are engraved letters1 indicating the names of the months1 with gradual divisions2 and on the inner side1 the hours of the day4 ,the brass circle itself is to be held in one position by a ring2 but there is an inner slide in which there is a small orifice4 ,this slide being moved1 so that the hole stands opposite the division of the month when the day falls of which we desire to know the time1 the circle is held up opposite the sun4 ,the inner side is then1 of course in shade1 but the sunbeam shines through the little orifice and forms a point of light upon the hour marked on the inner side4 ,we have tried this dial and found it give the hour with great exactness4' ,a correspondent of #8,notes and ,queries' 7vol4 xii4 #crd series1 p4 #gi7 mentions that rings to ascertain the time are regularly sold at the ,swiss fairs4 ,they are called cadrans4 ,the price of one is twenty centimes4 #ge ,this magnificent collection was sold1 in one lot 7,june #bhth1 #ahge71 to ,mr4 ,bromilow1 of ,battlesden ,park1 for #ce1jjjl4 #gf ,in ,montfaucon's #8,l',antiquit ,explique' there is a fine illustration of this beautiful seal4 ,my edition of the work is in ,english 7#agba71 and the engraving is in vol4 i4 page #ade4 ,it is thus described3 the child ,bacchus is in the arms of his nurse4 ,she is generally thought to have been ,ino1 called also ,leucothea1 or the daughters of ,ino 7according to others7 brought him up4 ,a nymph1 or perhaps another nurse1 is sitting by4 ,the old man is either ,silenus1 or it may be ,athamas1 ,ino's husband4 ,several other nymphs have on their heads baskets full of flowers and fruits4 ,two ,cupids1 or ,genii1 stretch a canopy over ,bacchus and the company that are about him4 ,a nymph presents a cup to one of the ,cupids4 ,on the side of the figure is an old satyr leaning against a tree4 ,he is playing on a kind of crooked hautboy4 ,at the end1 behind the tree1 is a young boy1 holding with both hands a bason1 in which a goat seems to be going to drink4 ,it is not easy to say who a naked man is with the crown on1 and holding a cup in one hand1 and in the other the bridle of a horse that is prancing4 ,some have taken it for ,apollo4 #gg ,a curious story of a squirt-ring is mentioned in ,thiebault's #8,original ,anecdotes of ,frederick ,,ii4' ,m4 de ,guines1 ambassador of ,france at ,berlin1 had greatly mortified the ,prussian nobles1 and especially the other foreign ministers1 by the ostentatious pomp which he displayed4 ,those whose limited means he thus eclipsed longed for some opportunity to wound the vanity of the proud man who daily humbled theirs1 and excited their envy4 ,at this crisis a ,russian ambassador1 who was returning home to present at his own court his newly-married bride1 stopped on his way at ,berlin4 ,prince ,dolgorouki1 the ,russian ambassador there1 did the honours of the ,russian court to his countryman1 and gave him and his wife a dinner1 to which were invited all the corps diplomatique4 ,m4 de ,guines was seated next to the bride4 ,the lady1 who had been initiated into all the court gossips1 had enlisted under the banner of the malcontents1 and taken upon herself the task of vexing the magnificent ,frenchman4 ,she had placed upon her finger a ring of very exquisite and curious workmanship1 to which she called the attention of her neighbour during the course of the dinner4 ,as he stooped to examine the jewel1 the wearer pressed a spring concealed in the side of the ring within her hand1 and jerked a small quantity of water into the eyes of the ambassador4 ,the ring contained a syringe4 ,the minister wiped his face1 jested good-humouredly on the diminutive little instrument1 and thought no more of it4 ,but his fair enemy had not yet accomplished her purpose of mortifying the ambassador4 ,having refilled the squirt unperceived by him1 she called his attention to herself1 and again discharged the water in his face4 ,m4 de ,guines looked neither angry nor abashed1 but1 in a serious tone of friendly advice1 said to his foolish aggressor3 #8,madame1 this kind of jest excites laughter the first time2 when repeated it may be excused1 especially if proceeding from a lady1 as an act of youthful levity2 but the third time it would be looked upon as an insult1 and you would instantly receive in exchange the glass of water you see before me3 of this1 madame1 ,i have the honour to give you notice4' ,thinking he would not dare to execute his threat1 the lady once more filled and emptied the little water-spout at the expense of ,m4 de ,guines1 who instantly acknowledged and repaid it with the contents of his glass1 calmly adding1 #8,i warned you1 madame4' ,the husband took the wisest course1 declaring that the ambassador was perfectly justified in thus punishing his wife's unjustifiable rudeness4 ,the lady changed her dress1 and the guests were requested to keep silence on the affair4 ,madame de ,barrera4 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,passages in italics are indicated by italics4 ,passages in ,gothic font are indicated by font4 ,superscripted characters are indicated by superscript4