This minor jewel was found at Minster Lovel in Oxfordshire about the middle of the present century. The finder brought it to a jeweller in Oxford, who, apprehending that the object was one of more than ordinary curiosity, carried it to Dr. Wilson, then President of Trinity College, an eminent archæologist, and the man who of all men in Oxford at that time was the most capable of estimating a find of this nature[12]. The interest which he took in it was shared with Dr. Griffiths, who was afterwards Warden of Wadham College, and (whether by one or both) it was presented to the Ashmolean Museum. The date of this event does not appear to be recorded, but I suppose it must have happened in the fifties. That gold ornaments were proper for the helmet, we gather from a passage in the _Beowulf_, a poem which is now, I think, among critics of proved competency, allowed to belong to the eighth century. When Beowulf, after slaying the Dragon, lies fatally wounded, he puts off the chief pieces of his armour with the insignia of royalty, and bestows them upon Wiglaf, his faithful Thane and the natural heir to his throne. In the poetic description we perceive that the insignia are largely blended with the body-armour, and that the helmet is characterized by its golden decoration: 2810 2810 Dyde him of healse Ungearing his neck hring gyldenne of the golden ring þióden þrîst-hŷdig the courageous Captain þegne gesealde, on his Thane conferred it, geongum gâr-wigan; on the gallant youth; gold-fâhne helm, the gold-prankt helm also, beáh ond byrnan; the collar and the byrnie; hêt hine brûcan well. saying: ‘Brook them well!’ It would be easy to collect examples from later romances, but I will add only one, taken from Laȝamon’s description (A.D. 1200) of king Arthur putting his armour on: Helm he set on hafde Helm he set on head, hæh of stele: high of steel: þær on wes moni ȝimston, thereon was many a gem-stone al mid golde bigon. all encircled with gold[13]. The position which I have imagined for the Alfred Jewel would represent the cumulative effect of the two chief and central gems in the Crown of Queen VICTORIA, namely, the great Sapphire of Charles II and the great Ruby of Edward the Black Prince[14]. [12] Speaking of the archæologists in Oxford fifty years ago, I am not forgetting, indeed I could not forget, John Henry Parker, C.B., the guide and teacher of his time in much antiquarian knowledge of great value to the historian; more especially in whatever concerned ecclesiastical or domestic architecture. He was for many years Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum. [13] Laȝamon’s _Brut_, ed. Madden, vol. ii, p. 464.