Finger-Ring Lore

Everything a Victorian antiquary could gather about rings: betrothal and mourning, poison rings and papal rings, the superstitions attached to every stone, and the rings dug from the presumed site of Troy.

Customs and Incidents

18 pages in this part of Finger-Ring Lore.

Customs and Incidents

His ducal bonnet taken from his brow, His robes stript off, his seal and signet-ring Broken before him.

Customs and Incidents: Henry

At the marriage of Henry VI. with Margaret of Anjou, Cardinal Beaufort presented a gold ring to the bride, given to him by Henry V., and…

Customs and Incidents: Burgundy

When the Duchess of Savoy was held a prisoner by Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, she found means to send her secretary to solicit the…

Customs and Incidents: Count

Instances are recorded in which the wearing of a ring has been the means of saving life. Such happened to the Count de St. Pol at the…

Customs and Incidents: Edgcumbe

Mrs. Bray, in a notice of 'Cotele,' and 'the Edgcumbes of the Olden Time' ('Gentleman's Magazine,' November 1853), relates a singular…

Customs and Incidents: Cloudesley

The body of the great naval commander Sir Cloudesley Shovel, who was shipwrecked on the rocks of Scilly in 1707, was washed on shore, when…

Customs and Incidents: Borgia

It is recorded of the infamous Pope Alexander VI. (Borgia) that he caused a key, similar to the key-ring, to be used in opening a cabinet…

Customs and Incidents: Cæsar

The signet-ring of Cæsar Borgia was exhibited a few years ago at a meeting of the British Archæological Association by the Rev. C. H…

Customs and Incidents: Condorcet

In late times the death of Condorcet was occasioned by a subtle poison, made by Cabanis, and enclosed in a ring. The particulars of this…

Customs and Incidents: Ilfracombe

The truth of a similarly recovered ring I am able to attest from my acquaintance with the late Mrs. Drake, of Pilton, near Barnstaple, to…

Customs and Incidents: Nordanhamn

A wealthy German farmer, living near Nordanhamn, was making flour-balls in 1871 for his cattle. At the end of his work he missed his ring…

Customs and Incidents: Volga

On October 7, 1868, some fishermen, throwing their nets in the Volga, captured a sturgeon, which was found to be the same as that which his…

Customs and Incidents: Byron

In Moore's 'Life of Byron' we have an instance of a lost ring recovered under peculiarly interesting circumstances: 'On the day of the…

Customs and Incidents: Danish

The Knight rejoins :- Upon my finger I have a ring, It's made of finest gold-a, And, lady, it thy steed shall bring Out of the pinner's…

Customs and Incidents: Anneli

In the popular German ballad of 'Anneli,' or the 'Anneli Lied,' translated by Mr. J. H. Dixon ('Notes and Queries,' 3rd series, vol. ix.)…

Customs and Incidents: Vitus

Mr. Howitt, in his additions to the 'History of Magic' of Ennemoser, remarks: 'In the St. Vitus's dance patients often experience…

Customs and Incidents: Suffolk

The romantic attachment of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, to Mary, the second sister of Henry VIII., is an interesting episode in ring…

Customs and Incidents: British

In connection with incidents concerning rings, I may allude to the golden spoil that Messrs. Garrard, goldsmiths, of the Haymarket, London…

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