The history and poetry of finger-ringsEdwards, Charles
History
The history and poetry of finger-rings
Edwards, Charles
Rings
And, in a note, he says that a turquoise ring, “probably this fatal
gift,” is (with James’s sword and dagger) preserved in the College of
Heralds, London; and gives the following quotation from Pittscottie:
“Also, the Queen of France wrote a love-letter to the King of
Scotland, calling him her love, showing him that she had suffered
much rebuke in France for the defending of her honor. She believed
surely that he would recompense her again with some of his kingly
support in her necessity, that is to say, that he would raise her an
army and come three foot of ground, on English ground, for her sake.
To that effect she sent him a ring off her finger, with fourteen
hundred French crowns to pay his expenses.”
Some of the trials of life which Richard Bertie and his wife
Catharine, Duchess of Suffolk, underwent,[263] are matters of
history. They arose from the zeal of the Duchess for the Reformation
in the reign of Edward VI. and through the malice of Bishop Gardiner.
The lady had in her “progress” caused a dog in a rochet (part of a
bishop’s dress) to be carried and called by Gardiner’s name. They had
an only son Peregrine Bertie, who claimed and obtained the Barony
of Willoughby of Eresby. He was sent as general of auxiliaries
into France; and did good service at the siege of Paris and by
the reduction of many towns. His troops were disbanded with great
commendation; and Lord Willoughby received a present of a diamond
ring from the King of France.[264] This ring he, at his death, left
his son, with a charge, upon his blessing, to transmit it to his
heirs. Queen Elizabeth wrote a free letter inviting him back to
England, beginning it, “Good Peregrine.” His will is a remarkable
one. It begins thus: “In the name of the blessed divine Trynitie in
persons and of Omnipotent Unitye in Godhead, who created, redeemed
and sanctified me, whom I steadfastlye beleeve will glorifye this
sinfull, corruptyble and fleshely bodie, with eternal happiness
by a joyeful resurrection at the general Judgment, when by his
incomprehensible justice and mercye, having satisfied for my sinfull
soule, and stored it uppe in his heavenlye treasure, his almightye
voyce shall call all fleshe to be joyned together with the soule to
everlasting comforte or discomforte. In that holye name I Pergrin
Bertye,” etc., etc., etc. He was once confined to his bed with the
gout and had an insulting challenge sent him, to which he answered,
“That although he was lame of his hands and feet, yet he would meet
his adversary with a piece of a rapier in his teeth.” His idea of a
“carpet knight” is observable in his saying, that “a court became a
soldier of good skill and great spirit as a bed of down would one of
the Tower lions.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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