26
 

MEDIEVAL antiquities.
 

is the  largest of the  series,  measuring about  2 inches across the head,

and 2f inches in the other direction; setting lost.   Also two rings of the same

class not identified.   Three rings of the like massive dimensions, and of base

metal gilt, bearing the arms of the following Cardinals;—Gabriel Condolmerio,

of Venice, created Cardinal 1408 ; elected Pope 1408 as Eugenius V.;  Fran-

ciscus  de Rovere, created Cardinal 1464; elected Pope 1471 as  Sixtus IV.;

Battista Zeno of Venice, created Cardinal 1464, died 1501.   Ascanius Sforza

Visconti, created Cardinal 1484, died 1505 :  the smallest of the series.—Ring

of a bishop of Laon, the field of the hoop enameled;  xv. cent.—Also a singu¬

lar thumb ring of base metal gilt, xvi. cent.  The head, which is  set  with a

large semi-globular gem cut with numerous facets, opens like the cover of a box,

exposing to view a cavity  which may  have contained a relic; within is en¬

graved  a Greek cross.  No name  or other  device occurs upon  this  ring.—

Octavius Morgan, Esq.,  M.P.



   A massive gold ring, the head in the form of an escutcheon d bouche, of the form

of the shield used towards the latter part of the fifteenth century, which probably

may be the date of the ring.   It is engraved with a  hart lodged, probably a

device, and not an heraldic charge.   The hoop is chased with a flower upon

each of its shoulders, originally enameled, one of them being five-petaled, ap¬

parently a marguerite.   Weight 359 grains.  Nothing is known of the history

of this ring, which probably is  of English workmanship. —The Earl of Ducie.



   Seven rings.  One  of them of gold, set with lozenge shaped and triangular

pieces of onyx, black with a white stripe on each, producing a very singular

effect: it was found at St. John's Wood, London,  and is supposed to have be¬

longed  to one of the  knights of St.  John.—Four betrothal rings, in form of

posies of flowers, which are composed of precious stones.—Large silver ring

formed  with a fede, or hands  conjoined; German work.—A very  beautiful

gold ring set with a large ruby, of early  Sicilian work.—Robert Phillips, Esq.,

Regent's Park.



   A gold ring, dug up in making a grave at Newbury, Berks, and purchased

by the present possessor from the sexton; the head is engraved with a figure

of St.  Catherine,  the hoop is singularly indented, and bears the following

posy—in on is al.   Date, xiv cent.  Other examples of this motto (in one is

all) are given, Arch.  Journ., vol. xvi.,  p. 307.—A silver gilt ring, found at

Edgworth, Gloucestershire, bearing  German inscriptions, both  inside   and

outside;  date, about 1450.—A beautiful gold signet ring; date, about 1450 ;

the hoop is  wreathed,  and was originally enameled: it bears the following

posy :—fepitt iTB int| nn fiptl.   The head is engraved with a  trefoil,  having

upon the three lobes of the  leaf the initials, %. M.  and 6.   It was found under

Arthur's Tower at York.—A signet ring of pewter, the hoop wreathed, the

impress is the" initial, T.   Found at Edgworth.—A plain gold ring, with a

circular head engraved with a cross; described  as the ring found with the

remains of an " abbot of Tregaire, Monmouthshire," of  an early period; it is,

however, of much later date.—A gold ring,  with ten  convex bosses  around

the hoop, and inscribed  within—feare  god  onelie ; stated to have belonged

to Oliver Cromwell.—Edmund Hopkinson, Esq., Edgworth Manor.



   A gold ring,  the hoop  elaborately chased for enamel,  and set  with an

uncut chrysolite  or aquamarine.  It was found  in 1845  at Winchester, at a

considerable depth, in digging a well.   Date, xvi. cent.—The Hon.  Mrs

Albert Way.