and "two silver rings with sliding knots."

The industry of the same collector furnishes us with Fig. 111, a
specimen of a wire-ring so twisted as to resemble a seal ring, or one
set with a stone: the wire round the finger has been beaten out flat. It
was discovered in the extensive Saxon cemetery on Kingston Downs, near
Canterbury, on the Dover Road. The tumulus was evidently the last
resting-place of a person of small wealth, as this copper ring and two
small beads only were found in it; and it was customary to bury the
ornaments of the deceased, however valuable, with them.[98-*]

[Illustration: Fig. 112.]

[Illustration: Fig. 113.]

Ireland seems to have boasted a higher civilisation at an earlier period
than the sister kingdoms, and her ancient art-works are remarkable for
their skilled and tasteful elaboration. Gold, too, appears to have been
used more commonly there, and the museum of the Royal Irish Academy can
show a more wonderful collection of personal ornaments in that precious
metal, as once worn by the native nobles, than is to be seen in the
national museums of any other country, with the exception of Denmark.
The gold is of the purest kind and richest colour, and the manner of its
working could not be excelled by a modern goldsmith. The Londesborough
collection includes two remarkable rings (Figs. 112 and 113), which
were found with other gold ornaments near the very remarkable tumulus
known as "New Grange," a few miles from Drogheda. They were accidentally
discovered in 1842 by a labouring man, within a few yards of the
entrance to the tumulus, at the depth of two feet from the surface of
the ground, and without any covering or protection from the earth about
them. Two bracelets of thick twisted gold, and a chain, also of gold,
were found with them. Another labouring man, hearing of this discovery,
carefully searched the spot whence they were taken, and found a denarius
of Geta, which may aid us in arriving at some conclusion as to the age
of these curious works. The stone set in both rings is a cut agate.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER II.

MEDIAEVAL RINGS.

The rings worn by the higher class of our Anglo-Saxon ancestors during
the Heptarchy were often very beautiful, and of imposing form. One of
the finest we have seen belonged to the Rev. H. B. Hutchings, of
Appleshaw, Hants,[100-*] and was found in a meadow at Bosington, near
Stockbridge, in the same county, by a labourer who saw it among a he