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Token Rings: Charles
It was in the reign of Charles the First that a fearful incident occurred in Scotland (1630) at the Castle of Frendraught a fire breaking out at midnight in a sudden manner, 'yea, in ane clap,' says Spalding, involving the whole of the inmates in destruction, excepting three persons. Viscount Melgum, son of the Marquis of Huntly, only twenty-four years of age, who was a guest of the Laird of Frendraught at the time, perished, leaving a widow and child. A popular ballad of the day speaks of his being called on to leap from the window :- 'How can I leap, how can I win, How can I leap to thee?
My head's fast in the wire-window, My feet burning from me.' He's ta'en the rings from aff his hands, And thrown them o'er the wall; Saying, 'Give them to my lady fair, Where she sits in the hall.' A pledge or token ring of remarkable interest was exhibited by Mr. J. W. Singer at the Loan Exhibition of Ancient and Modern Jewellery, South Kensington Museum, in 1872. This ring (of silver, set with a yellow topaz, diamonds, and a small ruby of English manufacture) has been preserved in the Penderell family, as that given by King Charles II. as a token of gratitude for the fidelity which saved him in the oak-tree at Boscobel, after the battle of Worcester. At the King's Restoration the five brothers Penderell attended at Whitehall, 'when his Majesty was pleased to own their faithful service, and graciously dismissed them with a princely reward' ('Boscobel Tracts ').
This ring now belongs to Mrs. Whiteby, of Beckington, Somerset, fifth in descent from Penderell. A yearly pension of one hundred pounds for ever was conferred upon the family, a portion of which (forty pounds) is now only received by a male relative.
A ring-token, of sinister omen, is mentioned of the same monarch. This ill bestowal of a ring from royalty is exemplified in the case of that hideous judicial monster Jeffreys. With thorough want of judgment, Charles II., in a fit of imprudency, habitual to him, gave the infamous judge a ring from his own finger. This was popularly termed Feffreys's blood-stone, as he obtained it soon after the execution of Sir Thomas Armstrong. Roger North says: 'The King was persuaded to present him with a ring, publicly taken from his own finger, in token of his Majesty's acceptance of his most eminent services; and this, by way of precursor, being blazoned in the Gazette, his Lordship went down into the country as from the King, legatus à latere.' And a mission of blood and brutality it was!
A ring-token or present is mentioned in the 'True Remembrances' of Richard Boyle, the great Earl of Cork, who says: 'When first I arrived in Ireland, June 23, 1588, all my wealth then was twenty-seven pounds three shillings in money, and two tokens which my mother had given me, viz. a diamond ring, which I have ever since and still do wear, and a bracelet of gold worth about ten pounds.' Many other instances of ring-tokens might be mentioned, but the limits to which this work is confined prevent me from enlarging on the subject. I will merely allude as a memorable instance in modern times, to the ring-token presented to George III. on his birthday in 1764 by his Queen. It was a ring splendidly ornamented with brilliants, and contained an enamel in which were the portraits, exquisitely represented, of their children.
I will conclude these notices of token rings with a very stirring ballad by Mr. Planché, entitled 'The Three Rings':- 'Good morrow, lovely lady! Is thy noble lord with thee?' 'Sir knight, since to the wars he went, full moons have wasted three; Three weary moons have wax'd and waned since he sail'd o'er the main, And little wist I when these eyes shall see my lord again.' 'Forget him, lovely lady, as by him thou art forgot.' 'Thou dost him wrong, sir knight; by him forgotten I am not : I hold within my arms a pledge for his true love to me, This new-born babe-his child and mine-which he hath yet to see.' 'Oh, let me be thy servant, lady-I will love thee dear-' 'Sir knight, I am a wedded wife, such words I may not hear -' None else can hear them, lady. What witnesses are nigh?' This heart, which is Hernando's, and God who sits on high.' 'Sweet lady, yet a boon, upon my bended knee, I crave-' 'Sir knight, if one which I can grant with honour, ask and have.' 'Oh, give me these three golden rings that on thy fingers shine.' 'Sir knight, with life alone I part with these three rings of mine!' 'Oh, lend them but a day-an hour-to wear them for thy sake-' 'It may not be, such act my lord would proof of falsehood make.' 'Enough, enough, unkind one! Then I may nought obtain?' 6 When thou would'st aught that I may grant, sir knight, demand again.' The knight hath mounted his steed and away-his love is changed to hate.