[Illustration: Fig. 175.]

We must not, however, end this portion of our history without a
reference to the simple, but most important, "plain gold ring" of
matrimony. It was at this time almost universally inscribed with a
"poesy" of one or two lines of rhyme. Two specimens are here engraved.
Fig. 174 is formed like the badge of the Order of the Garter, with the
buckle in front, and the motto of the order outside the hoop; withinside
are the words "I'll win and wear you." The ordinary form of ring is
shown in Fig. 175, and is inscribed "Let likinge laste." They were
invariably inscribed _withinside_ the hoop. Thus Lyly, in his "Euphues,"
1597, addressing the ladies, hopes they will favour his work, "writing
their judgments as you do the poesies in your rings, which are always
next to the finger, not to be seen of him that holdeth you by the hand,
and yet known by you that wear them on your hands." Such jingling rhymes
were in great request, and exerted the ingenuity of poetasters and small
wits. In 1624 a small collection of them was printed, with the quaint
title, "Love's Garland; or poesies for rings, handkerchiefs, and gloves,
and such pretty tokens that lovers send their loves." They are generally
in double, seldom in triple lines of rhyme. The Rev. R. Brooke, of
Gateforth House, Selby, has presented a curious collection of such rings
to the South Kensington Museum. The six following poesies are selected
from this series, as they are good examples of the average inspirations
of ring-poets:--

"Seithe God hath wrought this choice in thee,
So frame thyselfe to comfourth mee."

"United hearts death only parts."

"Let us share in joy and care."

"A faithfull wife preserveth life."

"As God decreed, so we agreed."

"Love and live happily."

The custom of thus inscribing rings continued until the middle of the
last century. There is a story told of Dr. John Thomas, Bishop of
Lincoln, in 1753, that he inscribed his _fourth_ wife's ring with these
words:--

"If I survive
I'll make them five."

Horace Walpole says--"My Lady Rochford desired me t'other day to give
her a motto for a ruby ring," so that at that time poesies were not
confined to wedding rings.

Allusion has already been made in Chapter I. to the custom of using
rings as receptacles for relics or poisons. The most famed belonged to
Caesar Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI., both adepts in poisoning; a
grasp