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Memorial and Mortuary Rings: Paris

According to Matthew Paris, Henry II. was arrayed after death in his royal vestments, having a golden crown on his head and a great ring on the finger. The will of Richard II. directs that he should be buried with a ring, according to royal custom. The same monarch, as Grafton states, caused the dead body of Robert de Vere, Duke of Ireland, to be arrayed in princely garments, garnished with a chain of gold, and rich rings put on his fingers, with his face uncovered. As an instance of royal interments with a ring at a late period, I may mention that of William Frederic, Duke of Gloucester, who married his cousin the Princess Mary, daughter of George III. He was buried in his uniform, and wore on his finger a ring which had been an early lovegift to him from the Princess whom he married. In 1562 the Calvinists rifled the tomb of Queen Matilda, consort of William the Conqueror, in the church of the Holy Trinity at Caen. One of the party observed a gold ring with a sapphire on one of the Queen's fingers, and, taking it off, presented it to the Abbess of Montmorenci.

RICIR CHILD Ring of Childeric.