FOR HERDE IT IS, A MAN TO ATTAYNE TO MAKE A THING PERFYTE, AT FIRST SIGHT, BUT WAN IT IS RED, AND WELL OVER SEYNE FAUTES MAY BE FOUNDE, THAT NEVER CAME TO LYGHT, THOUGH THE MAKER DO HIS DILIGENCE AND MIGHT. PRAYEING THEM TO TAKE IT, AS I HAVE ENTENDED, AND TO FORGYVE ME, YF THAT I HAVE OFFENDED. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGE I. RINGS FROM THE EARLIEST PERIOD 1 II. RING SUPERSTITIONS 91 III. SECULAR INVESTITURE BY THE RING 177 IV. RINGS IN CONNECTION WITH ECCLESIASTICAL USAGES 198 V. BETROTHAL AND WEDDING RINGS 275 VI. TOKEN RINGS 323 VII. MEMORIAL AND MORTUARY RINGS 355 VIII. POSY, INSCRIPTION, AND MOTTO RINGS 390 IX. CUSTOMS AND INCIDENTS IN CONNECTION WITH RINGS 419 X. REMARKABLE RINGS 457 APPENDIX 499 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Egyptian gold signet-ring 2 Egyptian bronze rings 4 Egyptian signet-rings 6 Egyptian porcelain ring 9 Egyptian mummy, rings on the fingers of an 10 Egyptian gold ring from Ghizeh 11 Etruscan ring with chimeræ 15 Roman-Egyptian ring 15 Modern Egyptian rings 17 Modern Egyptian ring with double keepers 17 Etruscan ring representing the car of Admētus 19 Etruscan rings with serpents and beetle 19 Etruscan ring with scarabæus 20 Etruscan ring with representation of two spirits in combat 20 Etruscan ring with intaglio 21 Greek and Roman rings 22 Late Roman rings 23 Ring found at Silchester 24 Ring of a group pattern 24 Ancient plain rings 24 Iron ring of a Roman knight 25 Roman ring, crescent-shaped 26