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Rings from the Earliest Period. P

COUNTERFEIT rings belong to all ages and peoples. Hall, in his 'Satires,' says :- Nor can good Myron weare on his left hand A signet-ring of Bristol diamond, But he must cut his glove to show his pride That his trim jewel might be better spied :

And that men might some burgesse him repute With sattin sleeves hath graced his sacke-cloth suit. The punishment of whipping in former days was inflicted on dishonest traders in rings. In the 'Diary of Henry Machyn, from 1550 to 1563' (Camden Society), is the following entry in 1556: The iij day of July was a man wypyd a-bowtt the post of reformacyon bef the standard in Chepsyd for sellyng of false rynges.' Fines were also inflicted; in the records of the Goldsmiths' Company we find: 'In 1512 Robert Mayne, for mysworkyng of rings wars (worse) than sterling v oz and dj, leaves in pledge 2½ dozen of the said rings, pledges as security for the payments of fines and defaults.' In the same records we have a curious account for costs in the Chauncerie for the recoverie of a counterfete Diamant set in a gold ring (8th Edward IV., 1469),' which affords an idea of lawyers' charges in those days :- KK 2 :

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