The same custom prevailed in France. Mercier, in his ‘Tableau de France,’ mentions that at the close of the eighteenth century enormous rings were worn. The hand of a woman presented a collection of rings, ‘et si ces bagues étaient des antiques, elles offriraient un échantillon d’un cabinet des pierres gravées.’ He adds that ‘the nuptial ring is now unnoticed on the fingers of women; wide and profane rings altogether conceal this warrant of their faith.’ So important a business was the making of rings that it was separated from the ordinary work of the goldsmith, and became a distinct trade. In the sixteenth century, among the various articles carried by the pedlar rings were reckoned. In Heywood’s ‘Four PP (A Newe and a very mery Enterlude of a Palmer, a Pardoner, a Potycary, and a Pedler),’ the Potycary addresses the Pedler:-- What the devyll hast thou there at thy backe?-- to which he replies:-- What dost thou not knowe that every pedler In all kinde of trifles must be a medler? Gloves, pinnes, combes, glasses unspotty’d, Pomanders, hookes, and lases knottyed; Broches, _rynges_, and all maner of bedes. The instances in which brooches and rings are mentioned together are numerous. In Scott’s edition of Sir Tristrem (pages 23, 28) we find:-- Who gaf broche and beighe (ring)? Who but Douk Morgan? A loud thai sett that sleigh With all his winning yare With broche and riche beighe. In the Chester Mystery Plays the shepherds do not know what to present to the Babe of Bethlehem, and Secundus Pastor says:-- Goe we nere anon, with such as we have broughte, Ringe, broche, ner precious stoune, Let us see yf we have oughte to proffer. And the ‘first boye’ adds:-- Nowe Lorde for to geve thee have I no thinge, Neither goulde, silver, broche, ner ringe. In the old ballad of Redisdale and Wise William the lady is enticed with rich presents:-- Come down, come down, my lady fair, A sight of you i’ll see, And bonny jewels, broaches, rings, I will give unto thee. to which she replies:-- If you have bonny broaches, rings, Oh, mine are bonny tee, Go from my yettes, now, Reedisdale, For me ye shall not see. Of the later period of ring decoration there are some splendid specimens in various collections. Mr. Fairholt, in his ‘Facts about Finger-rings,’ has given illustrations and descriptions of two rings of this character in the Londesborough Collection. One is decorated with floral ornament, engraved and filled with green and red enamel colours. The effect on the gold is extremely pleasing, having a certain quaint sumptuousness peculiarly its own. The other specimen, a signet-ring, bears a ‘merchants’ mark’ (see notice of ‘Merchants’ marks’ at the end of this chapter) upon its face. [Illustration: Enamelled floral ring.] [Illustration: ‘Merchant’s’ ring.]