In August 1763 the remains of Thomas de Bitton, Bishop of Exeter from 1293 to 1307 were discovered in the cathedral of that city. The skeleton was nearly entire, and among the dust in the coffin a gold ring was found and a large sapphire set in it. This ring and a chalice recovered at the same time are preserved within a case in the chapter-house of the cathedral. The following extracts from the Wardrobe Book of 28th Edward I. (A.D. 1299-1360), relating to episcopal rings, are of interest:-- ‘Jocalia remanencia in fine anni 27. ‘Annulus auri cum sapphiro qui fuit fratris Willelmi quondam Dublin’ archiepiscopi defuncti. ‘Jocalia remanencia in fine anni 27 de jocalibus Regi datis, et post decessum prælatorum Regis restitutis anno 25. ‘Annulus auri cum sapphiro crescenti qui fuit N. quondam Sarum episcopi defuncti. ‘Annulus, auri cum rubetto perforato qui fuit Roberti Coventr’ et Lichfield’ episcopi defuncti. ‘Jocalia remanencia in fine anni 27 de jocalibus Regi datis et post decessum prælatorum Regis restitutis. Annulus auri cum sapphiro qui fuit J. Ebor’ archiepiscopi defuncti anno 24. ‘Jocalia remanencia in fine anni, 27 de jocalibus receptis de venerabili Patre Will’ Bathon’ et Wellen’ episcopo. ‘Tres annuli auri cum rubettis. ‘Unus annulus auri cum ameraudâ. ‘Unus annulus auri cum topacio (chrysolite). ‘Unus annulus auri cum pereditis (topaz).’ The _Jocalia Sancti Thomæ_, which is given by Dart in his history of Canterbury Cathedral, are as follows:-- ‘Annulus pontificalis magnus cum rubino rotundo in medio: ‘_Item._ Annulus magnus cum sapphiro nigro qui vocatur lup. ‘_Item._ Annulus cum parvo sapphiro nigro qui vocatur lup. ‘_Item._ Annulus cum sapphiro quadrato aquoso. ‘_Item._ Annulus cum lapide oblongo qui vocatur turkoyse. ‘_Item._ Annulus unus cum viridi cornelino sculpto rotundo. ‘_Item._ Annulus parvus cum smaragdine triangulato. ‘_Item._ Annulus unus cum chalcedonio oblongo.’ The term _lup_ may signify _en cabochon_, uncut. In 1867 Mr. Binns exhibited a gold episcopal ring, at a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries, which he obtained at the shop of a jeweller at Worcester, and supposed to be the ring of Walter de Cantilupe, who presided over the see of Worcester from 1236 to 1266. In the ‘Archæologia’ (vol. xx. p. 556) is figured an amethyst ring, which was discovered at Evesham Abbey, on the finger of the skeleton of Henry of Worcester, abbot of that house, 1256-1263. In the possession of the Dean and Chapter of Wells is a fine massive episcopal ring of gold, the date supposed to be the commencement of the twelfth century. It has a solid projecting bezel, set with an irregularly-shaped ruby, polished on the surface and pierced longitudinally--an oriental stone which has been used as a pendant.