were given to him by the Kinge of Spayne;” while the way in which he obtained the ring set round with twenty diamonds is thus elaborated in the will: “And to the intent that they may knowe howe just and great cause bothe they and I have to hould the sayed Rynge, with twentie Diamonds, in so heighe esteeme, yt is most requisite that I do here set downe the whole course and circumstance howe and from whome the same rynge did come to my possession, which was thus: In the Begynning of the monethe of June one thousand sixe hundred and seaven, this rynge thus sett with twenty Diamondes, as is aforesayed, was sent unto me from my most gracious soveraigne King James, by that honorable personage the Lord Haye, one of the gentlemen of his Highnes Bedchamber, the Courte then beying at Whitehall in London and I at that tyme remayning at Horsley House in Surrey, twentie myles from London, where I laye in suche extremitye of sickness as yt was a common and a constant reporte all over London that I was dead and the same confidentlie affirmed even unto the Kinge’s Highnes hymselfe; upon which occasion it pleased his most excellent majestie, in token of his gracious goodness and great favour towards me, to send the saied Lord Hay with the saied Ringe, and this Royal message unto me, namelie, that his Highness wished a speedie and a perfect recoverye of my healthe, with all happie and good successe unto me and that I might live as longe as the diamonds of that Rynge (which therewithall he delivered unto me) did indure, and, in token thereof, required me to weare yt and keep yt for his sake. This most gracious and comfortable message restored a new Life unto me, as coming from so renowned and benigne a soveraigne,”--but enough of this fulsome praise of the coward King of Holyrood. It makes us think of Sir Richie Moniplie’s scene: “But my certie, lad, times are changed since ye came fleeing down the back stairs of auld Holyrood House, in grit fear, having your breeks in your hand, without time to put them on, and Frank Stewart, the wild Earl of Bothwell, hard at your haunches; and if auld Lord Glenwarloch hadna cast his mantle about his arm and taken bluidy wounds mair than ane in your behalf, you wald not have crawed sae crouse this day.” There is a ring in the Isle of Wight, shown as having belonged to Charles the First of England; and the following story is told of it.[285] When Charles was confined in Carisbrook Castle, a man named Howe was its master gunner. He had a son, a little boy, who was a great favorite of Charles. One day, seeing him with a child’s sword by his side, the King asked him what he intended doing with it? “To defend your Majesty from your Majesty’s enemies,” was the reply; an answer which so pleased the King that he gave the child the signet-ring he was in the habit of wearing upon his finger.