1. The Gimmal or Gimmow Ring. 2. Sonnet by Davison. 3. Church Marriage ordained by Innocent III.; and, Marriage-Ring. 4. Rings used in different countries on Marriages and in Betrothment: Esthonia; the Copts; Persia; Spain; Ackmetchet in Russia. 5. Betrothal Rings. 6. Signets of the first Christians. 7. Laws of Marriage. 8. Wedding Finger; Artery to the Heart; Lady who had lost the Ring Finger. 9. Roman Catholic Marriages. 10. Marriage-Ring during the Commonwealth. 11. Ring in Jewish Marriages. 12. Superstitions. 13. Rings of twisted Gold-wire given away at Weddings. 14. Cupid and Psyche. 15. St. Anne and St. Joachim. 16. Rush Rings. 17. Rings with the Orpine Plant. 18. Ancient Marriage-Rings had Mottoes and Seals. 19. The Sessa Ring. 20. Rings bequeathed or kept in Memory of the Dead: Washington; Shakspeare; Pope; Dr. Johnson; Lord Eldon; Tom Moore’s Mother. 21. The Ship _Powhattan_. 22. Ring of Affection illustrated by a Pelican and Young. 23. Bran of Brittany. 24. Rings used by Writers of Fiction; Shakspeare’s Cymbeline. 25. Small Rings for the _Penates_. 26. Story from the “Gesta Romanorum.” § 1. One of the prettiest tokens of friendship and affection is what is termed a _Gimmal_ or _Gimmow_ Ring. It is of French origin. This ring is constructed, as the name imports, of twin or double hoops, which play within one another, like the links of a chain. Each hoop has one of its sides flat and the other convex; and each is twisted once round and surmounted with an emblem or motto. The course of the twist, in each hoop, is made to correspond with that of its counterpart, so that, on bringing together the flat surfaces of the hoops, these immediately unite in one ring.[305] [Illustration: (Friendship Ring)] This form of ring is connected with the purest and highest acts of friendship; it became a simple love token; and was, at length, converted into the more serious _sponsalium annulus_, or ring of affiance. The lover putting his finger through one of the hoops and his mistress hers through the other, were thus symbolically yoked together; a yoke which neither could be said wholly to wear, one half being allotted to the other; and making, as it has been quaintly said, a joint tenancy. Dryden describes a gimmal ring in his play of _Don Sebastian_:[306] “A curious artist wrought ’em-- With joints so close as not to be perceived; Yet are they both each other’s counterparts! (Her part had Juan inscribed; and his had Laydor; You know those names were theirs;) and in the midst A heart divided in two-halfs was placed. Now if the rivets of those rings, inclosed, Fit not each other, I have forged this lie, But if they join, you must for ever part.” Gimmal rings, though originally double, were, by a further refinement, made triple and even more complicated, yet the name remained unchanged.