Archaeological Journal on Episcopal Rings
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This article was downloaded by: [Northwestern University] On: 14 February 2015, At: 08:09 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Archaeological Journal Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/raij20 On Episcopal Rings Edmund Waterton K.Ch., F S.A., F.S.A.S., M.R.I.A. Published online: 10 Jul 2014. To cite this article: Edmund Waterton K.Ch., F S.A., F.S.A.S., M.R.I.A. (1863) On Episcopal Rings, Archaeological Journal, 20:1, 224-238, DOI: 10.1080/00665983.1863.10851251 To link to this article: http:// dx.doi.org/10.1080/00665983.1863.10851251 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. 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Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions Downloaded by [Northwestern University] at 08:09 14 February 2015 ON EPISCOPAL RINGS. Βϋ EDMUND WATERTON, K.Ch., F S.A., F.S.A.S., M.R.I.A. THE ring is one of the most ancient of the episcopal insignia. The history of Episcopal Rings presents many interesting details. I propose to treat of the subject under the following heads :— I. The ancient use of the ring ; ii. Its fashion; in. The blessing of the ring ; iv. How the ring was conferred ; v. How it was worn ; yi. The mystical signification attached to it by various ecclesiastical writers. i. The use of the ring for a bishop is of very ancient date. The Pope, when promoted to the see of St. Peter, being already invested with the episcopal insignia, does not receive a ring; but if, as it sometimes happens, the Pope- elect is not a bishop, he is consecrated prior to his coronation as Supreme Pontiff, and receives the ring with the usual formula, except that the consecrating cardinal kisses his hand after investing him with the ring. Aringhi states that the ring of St. Caius (283-296) was found in his tomb:—" Intra sepulchrum tria Diocletiani Imperatoris numismata, sub quo coronatus fuerat, et Sanc- tissimi Pontificis annulus adinventatus est." 1 Downloaded by [Northwestern University] at 08:09 14 February 2015 In 511 the Council of Orleans makes mention of the rescript of Clodovicus, wherein he promises to leave cer- tain captives at the disposition of the Gallican bishops, "si vestras epistolas de anulo vestro signatas sic ad nos dirigatis."2 The Sacramental of St. Gregory the Great, A.D. 590, prescribes for a bishop the use of the ring and pas- toral staff.3 The fourth Council of Toledo, held in 633, 1 Roma Subt.err. iv. c. 48, p. 426. 3 Sacr. Greg. 2 1 Cone. Aurel. ad. ann. 511. EPISCOPAL RINGS. 225 appoints that a bishop condemned by one Council, and after- wards found innocent by another, shall be restored to his dignity by receiving back his ring.4 In the tomb of St. Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester, who died in 640, a gold ring was found.5 A ring was also found in the coffin of St. John of Beverley, who died in 721, when his body was translated about 1037. II. The fashion of the episcopal ring. Prior to the eleventh century very many if not all of the episcopal rings were signets ; for, before that time, large official seals were not in general use. Each bishop seems to have chosen the subject to be engraved on his ring, at plea- sure. St. Augustine, in one of his letters, mentions that he sealed it with his ring, " qui exprimit faciem hominis atten- dentis in latus;"6 and the precept of Clodovicus to the bishops, to which I have referred, requires their replies to be sealed with their rings. One of those to whom this precept was addressed was Avitus, Archbishop of Vienne.7 Writing to Apollinaris, Bishop of Valence, he begs him to send the seal or signet (signatorium) which he had promised, made in such a way, " ut anulo ferreo et admodum tenui, velut concurrentibus in se delphinulis concludendo, sigilli duplicis forma geminis cardinulis inseratur."8 And, refer- ring to the subject which was to be engraved on the bezel, he adds :—" Si quaeras quid insculpendum sigillo, signum monogrammatis mei per gyrum scripti nominis legatur indicio." These monograms were called siglce, which Nicolai, in his treatise de Siglis veterum, defines as "compendia literarum, cum una vel duse literse pro integra voce pluribus literis constante ponerentur."9 In the early days of Christianity, bishops sealed with their rings the profession of faith which the neophytes made in writing : they also sealed their pastoral letters. Downloaded by [Northwestern University] at 08:09 14 February 2015 Ebregislaus, Bishop of Meaux in 660, wore in his ring an intaglio representing St. Paul, the first hermit, on his knees before the crucifix, and above his head the crow by which he was miraculously fed.1 In conformity to a decree of St. Sergius I. (687-701) 4 Syn. Tolet. iv. c. 27. 8 Fp.' 78, quoted by Mabillon ut 5 Surius, in his Life. supra. 6 Ep. 217, n. 69, ad Victorinum. 9 Nicolai de Siglis, c. 1, p. 3. ι Mabillon de Re Diplom. 132. 1 Annales Benedict, torn. I., p. 455. 226 EPISCOPAL RINGS. 226 the bishops of France and Spain used to seal up the bap- tismal fonts with their rings, from the beginning of Lent to Holy Saturday.2 From ancient documents it would appear that sometimes bishops called their rings the " annuli Ecclesice." David, Bishop of Benevento in the time of Charlemagne, issued a mandate ending as follows :—"Annulo sanctse nostrse Ecclesise firmavimus roborandurn."3 In 862, Rathbodus, Bishop of Treves, writes thus :—" Hanc epistolam Greeds litteris, hinc, inde, munire decrevimus, et annulo Ecclesise nostrse bullare censuimus."4 In 985, Pope John XVI. sealed with his ring the con- firmation of the decree made by the Council of Mayence in favor of the monks of Corvey, in Saxony.5 These quotations are sufficient to prove that, until the eleventh century, the bishops used their rings as signets; but we must not infer that every episcopal ring was a signet. It is probable that each bishop had a large jeweled ring to use when pontificating. Only one Anglo-Saxon episcopal ring is believed to exist in England, and it presents quite a different type. This is the celebrated gold nielloed ring bearing the name of Alhstan, and supposed to have belonged to the prelate of that name, Bishop of Sherborne 824 to 867. Pig. 1. Gold Ring, inscribed with the name ALHSTAN. In the Collection of Edmund Waterton, Esq., Γ.8.Α. Downloaded by [Northwestern University] at 08:09 14 February 2015 It is now in my dactyliotheca, and it is here figured (see woodcut, fig. 1). In the will of Riculphus, Bishop of Perpignan, 915, men- tion is made of a ring with precious stones.6 In 1194 the 2 Given in the xvii. Council of Toledo. 4 Sirmund, Concil. Gall. iii. p. 858. Tit. de Reg. S. Fidei, c. ii. 5 Nouveau Traits de Diplomatique, iv. 3 Ughellius, Ital. Sac. viii. col. 46; p. 312. quoted by Mabillon, p. 134. 6 Pugin, Glossary, p. 203. EPISCOPAL RINGS. 227 fashion of the episcopal ring was definitively settled by Innocent III., who ordained that it should be of gold, solid, and set with a precious stone on which nothing was to be cut:—"Annulus ex auro puro solide conflatus palam liabeat cum gemma in qua nihil sculpti esse debet."7 In the thirteenth century many of the episcopal rings were of very rude fashion, frequently in almost literal conformity with the prescript of Innocent III., without regard to shape or elegance. The stone was set just as it was found, merely having the surface polished, and the shape of the bezel was adapted to the gem. Of a remarkable ring of this descrip- tion, found in Winchester Cathedral, we are enabled, by the kindness of Mr. It. H. Smith, Curator of the Kensington Museum, to give the accompanying representation (woodcut, fig 2.) In my collection there are three good examples of the period. Sometimes the goldsmiths seem to have availed themselves of an antique gem, which may have been originally used either in a necklace or bracelet. There is a remarkable example in my series; it is a gold ring, with a pierced sapphire set a griffes. Robert, Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, in the reign of Edward I., had a ring set with a pierced ruby, as we learn from the following entry in one of the Wardrobe Books of- that monarch :—· " Anulus auri cum rubetto perforato, qui fuit Roberti Coventrensis et Lichfeldensis Episcopi."8 There is also in my collection a curious episcopal ring of the latter part of the twelfth century, which is here figured (see woodcuts, fig.