The history and poetry of finger-rings - Charles Edwards

Here the author closes his “Dactylotheca” or casket of rings.

Metaphorically speaking, he fears it has been discovered that he does not wear a ring of power; and that no talismanic ring is in his possession. And it may be that some constrained position in which the writer has kept his readers, will allow them to desire the use of cramp rings for relief. If so, he would willingly “creep to cross” to succor them: provided the ending of this essay did not answer that purpose.

One thing the author will hope; and it is this: that his readers and he have fashioned the interesting token of friendship a gimmal ring; and if it be so, then they will pass from this work with the idea that they have one part of such ring, while the writer may proudly hold to the other, until some future essay shall bring author and friends and the twin hoops of the gimmal together again. With such a token upon his hand, he can waive a farewell.

INDEX.

[A], [B], [C], [D], [E], [F], [G], [H], [I], [J], [K], [L], [M], [N], [O], [P], [R], [S], [T], [U], [V], [W], [Y]

A.
Abraxas stones, [95].
Ackmetchet, marriage at, [199].
Agate, its supposed magical and medical powers, [104].
Agnes, St., priest placing ring on finger of statue, [141].
Ahlstan, ring of, [39].
Aix-la-Chapelle, ring connected with the founding of, [138].
Alderman’s thumb-ring, [90].
Alexander’s ring, [20], [66], [156].
Amethyst, its supposed magical and medical powers, [100].
Amulet-rings found at Eltham, [120];
at Coventry, [121];
in antique urns, [121];
worn by physicians, [122];
Dano-Saxon amulet, [136];
amulet against storms, [136].
Andrea of Sicily and Jerusalem, [118].
Anglo-Saxon rings and workmen, [25].
Anne, Countess Dowager of Pembroke, [91].
Anne of Brittany sends ring to James IV. of Scotland, [158].
Annulus pronubus, [201].
Anselm, investiture by ring, [81];
and his miracles, [81].
Antiochus Epiphanes, ring of, [66].
Apis, sacred Egyptian bull, [32].
Arabian princesses, wearing rings with little bells attached, [90].
Archbishop’s investiture by ring, [80].
Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso, [126].
Arnulph’s dream about a ring, [81].
Artery, supposed, in the fourth finger, [47], [206].
Augustus, ring of, [67], [156].
B.
Bagaley’s account of Stanley, seventh Earl of Derby, [181].
Baker, Sir Richard, [141].
Balassius, (Ruby,) [102].
Belt, ring in the form of, [37].
Bertie, Richard, receives diamond ring from King of France, [159].
Betrothal rings: Grecian, [196];
in Esthonia, [197];
among the Copts, [198];
ceremony attendant on betrothal, [199], [201];
betrothal rings in Germany, [200].
Bishops, investiture by ring, [80], [83];
sealed with rings in early times, [85].
“Blood-stone” of Jeffreys, [184].
Bloody Baker, [141].
“Blue Ring,” [174].
Borgia, Cæsar, his poisoned ring. [144].
“Bot,” [137].
Boyle, Richard, (Great Earl of Cork,) [160].
Brand, Miss v., her vision, [125].
Bran of Brittany, [226].
Brian Borholme, [147].
Britons, rings worn by, [24], [25].
British Museum, rings in, [34].
Bronze rings, seldom used by Egyptians, [26].
Bronze ring, widening by pressure, [37].
Bucentaur, the galley used on the Doge marrying the sea, [73].
Bull (Apis) on a ring, [32].
Byron, his mothers wedding-ring, [189].
C.
Cæsar’s ring, [156].
Caius Marius, [26].
California ring presented to President Pierce, [43].
Cameo, its origin, [156].
Canute, King, discovery of his tomb, body and ring, [70].
Carbuncle, [29].
Cardinal’s ring, [83].
Carey, Robert, Earl of Monmouth, takes the “Blue Ring” to James on Queen Elizabeth’s decease, [174].
Catacombs of Rome, [89].
Cats cut upon Egyptian rings, [38].
Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. [49].
Chains of criminals made into rings to cure diseases, [136].
Chalcedony, its supposed magical power, [106].
Charlemagne, story connected with founding Aix-la-Chapelle, [138].
Charles I., supposed ring of this monarch given to a boy, [177];
his ring used by Sir Philip Warwick, [178];
mourning rings of this king, [179];
his hair used for rings, [180].
Charles II., Duchess of Portsmouth takes diamond rings from his hand when on his death-bed, [183].
Charles VIII. of France, [145].
Charm rings, [93].
Cheops, ring of, [149].
Childeric, his tomb, body, ring, [71].
Christians, rings of early Christians, [39], [40].
Christians wearing talismanic rings, [119];
symbolical figures on the rings of early Christians, [203];
Christian marriage-ring copied from Romans, [205].
Coffin-nails or screws made into rings to cure king’s evil, [132].
Collar, pliable ring in the form of, [37].
College of Navarre, gives ring to Crichton, [188].
Commonwealth of England, inclined to abolish the ring in marriages, [208].
Convulsions cured by silver rings, [132].
Copts, betrothal ring used by them, [198].
Coral, its supposed magical power, [107].
Cork, Earl of, [160].
Cornelian rings found near the Pyramids, [26].
Cornelian, its magical and medical powers, [100], [105].
Coronation rings, [67].
Council of Trent, in relation to marriage, [195], [204].
Cramp rings, [128].
Cranmer using the ring of Henry VIII. before the Council, [72].
Creeping to cross, [130].
Crichton (the Admirable), ring given to him by the College of Navarre, [188].
Criminals, chains of, made into rings to cure diseases, [136].
Croly’s lines on a gem representing a woman contemplating a household god, [230].
Cupid and Psyche, on a Roman signet, [214].
Cupid with butterflies, on a ring, [144].
D.
Dactylomancy, or divination by rings, [111].
Dactylotheca, Roman name for cases containing rings, [22], [155].
Dano-Saxon amulet, [136].
Darnley’s ring, [173].
Death’s-head rings, [30].
Devereux, Earl of, ring given by Queen Elizabeth to, [162].
De Vesci, King John’s bad conduct towards the wife of, [157].
Diamond, [41];
on swivel in ring, [49];
its magical and medical powers, [100], [101].
Divination by rings, [111], [112].
Doge marrying the sea, [73]; his ring of office, [75].
“Dolzbote;” [138].
Domestic deities of the Romans, small iron rings used for, [229].
Drennan, Dr., his lines to his wife with a ring, [232].
Dschemid, said to have introduced the ring, [16].
Dundee, ring in memory of the great Dundee, [187].
E.
Edward, St., ring of, [128].
Edward the Confessor’s ring, [157].
Egyptians, their rings, [17], [21], [26], [27], [34], [35];
on what fingers worn, [47], [48];
no evidence that they used a marriage-ring, [196].
Eldon, Lord, desired his ring to be buried with him, [225].
Eleusinian mysteries, rings given to the initiated, [96].
Elizabeth of Poland, talismanic ring given by her to her son Andrea, [118].
Elizabeth, Queen, medicinal ring sent to her by Lord Chancellor Hatton, [124];
ring given by her to Essex, [162];
her death, [164];
ring given by her to Mary of Scotland, [168].
Elk’s horn, piece of, worn in ring to cure epilepsy, [135].
Emerald, its supposed medical and magical powers, [100], [103].
Epilepsy cured by wearing ring, [133], [135].
Essex-ring, [162], et seq.
Esthonia, betrothal rings in, [197].
Eternity, ring an emblem of, [21].
Ethelwoulf, ring of, [156].
Etruscan rings, [35], [36].
Evil eye, charm-rings to act against it, [93].
Execustus, his two enchanted rings, [112].
F.
Fingers on which rings are worn, [45], [46], [67], [86], [202];
finger for betrothal ring, [201], [202];
finger for wedding ring, [206].
Fish, rings found in, [59].
“Fisherman’s Ring,” [77].
Fits, cured by ring, [132], [133].
G.
Gallienus frightening a dishonest jeweller, [57].
Galvanic rings, [135].
Gambler’s rings, [145].
Gauls, rings used by, [24].
German betrothal ring, [200].
Gesta Romanorum, story from, [233].
Gibbet, iron from it made into rings to cure diseases, [136].
Gimmal ring, [192].
Gimmow (or Gimmal) ring, [192].
Godwin, Earl, [11], [12].
Gold rings, generally used by the Egyptians, [26];
Roman gold rings, [27].
Gray bequeaths his rings, [220].
Greeks, inscriptions on their rings, [36];
had the wedding and betrothal ring, [195], [196].
Greek urns, rings in, [18].
Gresham, Sir Thomas, his gimmal ring, [194].
Gyges, ring of, [126].
H.
Hand, on which hand rings are worn, [45], [47];
with thumb and two forefingers extended, [83].
Hannibal’s ring, [154].
Hathaway, Anne, lines to, (note,) [11].
Hatton, Chancellor, sending medicinal ring to Queen Elizabeth, [124].
Hebrews, wore a number of rings, [49];
as to their using a marriage-ring, [196-7].
Heliogabalus, never wore the same ring twice, [46].
Henry II. of England, his tomb, body, ring, [71].
Heraldry, ring in, [58].
Herbert’s enigma, [62].
Household gods of the Romans, small iron rings for, [229];
Croly’s lines on a gem representing a woman contemplating a household deity, [230].
Hyacinth, its supposed medical and magical powers, [102].
Hynd Horn, ballad of, [115].
I. J.
Indian Brahmins, [95].
Innocent III. ordered the celebration of marriage through the church, [195].
Inscriptions on Greek and Roman rings, [36].
Investiture by ring and staff, [80], [81], [82].
Ireland, diamond found in, [41].
Iron, rings of, [26], [27], [94], [229];
iron from gibbets made into rings to cure diseases, [136];
iron rings containing the Prussian maiden’s hair, [191].
Ivory rings worn by the Egyptians, [27].
Jacinth, its supposed medical and magical powers, [102].
James IV. of Scotland, receiving a turquoise ring from Anne of Brittany, [158].
Jasper, its supposed superior healing and magical powers, [99], [105].
Jeffreys and his “Blood-stone,” [184].
Jewish marriage, and use of ring at it, [208].
Joan of Naples, [118].
John, King of England, his bad conduct in relation to the wife of De Vesci, [157].
Johnson, Dr., his care of his wife’s wedding-ring, [222].
Joseph, ring given by Pharaoh to, [66], [151].
Judah and Tamar, [20].
K.
Kean the elder, his ring, [189].
Kerouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth, takes two diamond rings from the hand of Charles II. when in his death-throes, [183].
Key, ring with a key attached, [196].
King’s evil cured by ring made from coffin-nails or screws, [132].
Kings of Scotland, ring used at their coronation, bequeathed by Cardinal York to Prince Regent, [188].
L.
Lacedemonians, as to their inventing seal-rings, [17].
Lambert Linkin, ballad of, [114].
Law of rings, [50].
Lawyers in Rome, clients presenting them with rings, [23].
Lines with a ring, [232].
L’Isle, Lord, [158].
Lituus, [23].
Louis IX. of France, [58].
Love’s Telegraph, [54].
M.
Mad-stone, (note,) [109].
Madoc’s ring, [157].
Magnet in a ring, [31].
Marriage, its ceremony through the Church, ordained by Innocent III., [195];
marriage at Ackmetchet, [199].
Marriage-ring, Grecian and Roman, [195], [196], [216];
used at Ackmetchet, [199];
marriage-rings had inscriptions, others a sealing part, [215], [220], [221];
ancient one of silver with inscription, [220].
Mary, Queen of Scots, talismanic ring offered to her by Lord Ruthven, [119];
her nuptial ring, [168], [170];
portrait of Mary in a ring at Bolsover Castle, [171];
a ring (one portion) sent to her by Queen Elizabeth, [171].
Matilda, wife of the Conqueror, her tomb, body, ring, [71].
Matrons of Warsaw, part with their rings to coin into ducats for Polish struggle, [190].
Medicinal rings, [122], [123], [124], [136].
Mei Amores, upon a ring, [144].
Mexican officers’ rings, [154].
Michaelis, (physician,) had medical ring made of tooth of sea-horse, [136].
Mithridates, ring of, [155].
Money in the form of rings, [13].
Months, Polish idea of their being under the influence of precious stones, [56].
Moore, his mother’s gift of her wedding-ring, [223].
N.
Name-rings, [55].
Navarre, College of, gives ring to Crichton, [188].
Nelson, memorial rings of, [188].
Nero’s ring, [156].
Nottingham, Countess of, and her connection with the Essex ring, [163].
Newton, Sir Isaac, his magnet-ring, [31];
his tooth set in a ring, [189].
O.
O’Neils of Ulster, and Turlough Lynnoch, [190].
Opal, its supposed medical and magical powers, [105].
Ordeal of touch, [137].
Order of the Ring, [51].
Orpine plant, inserted in rings, [215].
P.
Palatius, (Ruby,) [102].
Pallas, freed-man of Claudius, ring of, [19].
Papal ring, [76], [78].
Pearls, [28].
Pelican and young upon a ring, [225].
Pembroke, Anne, Countess Dowager of, [91].
Persians, their seal-rings, [52], [67];
bridegroom makes a present of a ring, [198].
Pharaoh’s ring given to Joseph, [66], [151].
Physicians’ rings, [49], [122].
Pierce, Franklin, ring from California presented to, [43].
Pio, Albert, anecdote of, [49].
Pius II., ring of, [79].
Plague-rings, [136].
Poison carried in rings, [38], [154].
Pompeii, marriage-ring found at, [196].
Pompey’s ring, [155].
Pope’s ring, [17], [78].
Pope the poet, bequeathed rings, [222].
Porcelain rings worn by the Egyptians, [27].
Portsmouth, Duchess of, her taking diamond rings from the hand of Charles II. in the death throes, [183].
Power, rings connected with, [65].
Powhattan, (ship,) [224].
Prometheus, and his wearing the first ring, [15], [16].
Prussian maiden and the sacrifice of her hair, [190].
Puritans set against the wedding-ring, [208].
R.
Richard II., directions in his will, [71].
Riddle on a ring, [62].
Ring-dropping, [145].
Ring-money, [13].
Roman Catholic marriages, [208].
Roman flute players, rings worn by, [23].
Roman lawyers, rings given to, by clients, [23].
Roman urns, rings in, [19].
Roman rings, [36];
marriage-rings, [195].
Roman senators and their rings, [66].
Roman slave, [146].
Roman knights, [24], [66], [90].
Ruby, its supposed medical and magical powers, [102].
Rubric, marriage in the Episcopal Church governed by, [204], [205].
Ruthven, Lord, offers talismanic ring to Mary, Queen of Scots, [119].
Rush-rings, [215].
S.
Sackvil, Duke of Dorset, ring given to him by King James, [175].
St. Anne, ring of, [214].
Samothracian talismanic ring, [94].
Sapphire; its supposed medical and magical powers, [104].
Scarabæus, form of seal, [17].
Sea-horse’s tooth, Michaelis’s medical ring made of, [136].
Seal-rings, when first used by ladies, [26].
Sebert, his tomb, body, ring, [70].
Serjeants at law, their rings and the ceremony relating to their presentation, [86].
Sessa, ring found at, [216].
Shakspeare’s signet-ring, [10], [161];
bequeathed rings to his brother players, [222].
Shoes, rings with shape of soles of shoes, [24].
Signets with Sanscrit inscriptions, [17];
importance given to signets in England, [53].
Size of rings, Egyptian, [31], [32], [33].
Slave, Roman, [146].
Solomon’s magic ring, [113].
Sonnet, by Davison, [195].
Sore cured by touch of ring-finger, [132], [133].
Spain, the power of a girl to compel marriage when a ring has been given, [198].
Stanley, seventh Earl of Derby, his character and last gift of rings, [181].
Statues, rings on, [22], [23], [24].
Sterling’s story of the “Onyx Ring,” [116].
Storms, amulet against, [136].
“Sty” on the eye cured by rubbing with wedding-ring, [132].
Subarrhation, the delivering of ring and other gifts, [203].
Substances from which rings are formed, [26].
Suphis, ring of, [149].
Suffolk, Duchess of, [159].
Symbolum, a term used for a ring, [13].
Syrian legend, [115].
T.
Talismanic rings, [93];
their form, [96].
“Thee, Mary, with this ring I wed,” [231].
Theseus, [14].
Thieves’ rings, [145].
Thumb-rings, [90], [91], [92].
Toad-stone. [107].
Topaz, its supposed medical and magical powers, [104].
Trau (betrothal) ring in Germany, [200].
Trent, Council of, [195], [204].
Tristram, had a mystical ring, [127].
Trophy, emblem on rings, [155].
Turlough Lynnoch, his ring, [190].
Turquoise, its supposed medical and magical powers, [106];
turquoise ring sent by the Queen of Louis XII. to James IV. of Scotland, [158].
U. V.
Ungulus, Oscan word for ring, [13].
Urns, rings in Greek urns, [18].
Urns, rings in Roman urns, [19].
Value of some ring, [54].
Venus, story of placing ring on brazen, statue of this goddess, [139].
Virgin, the, story of placing ring on finger of statue, [141].
W.
Walpole’s poesy upon a ring, [63].
Warsaw, matrons of, give their wedding-rings to be coined in aid of the Polish struggle, [190].
Warts, taken away by ring touching them, [132].
Warwick, Sir Philip, intrusted with use of the ring of Charles I., [178].
Washington bequeathed rings, [229].
Wedding-ring touching wart to take it away, [132];
rubbing on “sty” to cure it, ib.;
Grecian and Roman wedding-rings, [195], [196];
gold-wire rings given away at weddings, [213], [215];
ancient silver ring, [220].
Whistle connected with a ring, [38].
Wire rings of gold given away at weddings, [213].
Wound cured by touch of ring, [133].
Y.
York, Cardinal, his bequest of the ring used by kings of Scotland on their coronation, [188].