The Rings of Charles the First of England

There is a ring in the Isle of Wight, shown as having belonged to Charles the First of England; and the following story is told of it. When Charles was confined in Carisbrook Castle, a man named Howe was its master gunner. He had a son, a little boy, who was a great favorite of Charles. One day, seeing him with a child's sword by his side, the King asked him what he intended doing with it? "To defend your Majesty from your Majesty's enemies," was the reply; an answer which so pleased the King that he gave the child the signet-ring he was in the habit of wearing upon his finger.

An engraving of the ring has been published. The article itself is in the possession of a descendant of Howe's. It is marked inside with the letters A and T conjoined followed by E. The author cannot trace or couple these letters with Charles the First; and he is otherwise inclined to doubt the story. It is a tale to please loyal readers. Charles was an intelligent man; and he was not likely, especially under his then circumstances, to have given his signet-ring to a child. There is a very pretty incident connected with his passing to prison, where he might beautifully have left a ring with a true-hearted lady. As he passed through Newport, on the way to the Castle of Carisbrook, the autumn weather was most bitter. A gentlewoman, touched by his misfortunes and his sorrows, presented him with a damask rose, which grew in her garden at that cold season of the year and prayed for him. The mournful monarch received the lady's gift, heartily thanked her and passed on to his dungeon.

It is true that Charles, when in the Isle of Wight, gave a ring from his finger. But the receiver of it was Sir Philip Warwick. This ring bore a figure cut in an onyx; and was handed to Sir Philip in order to seal the letters written for the King by that knight at the time of the treaty. This ring was left by Sir Philip to Sir Charles Cotterell, Master of the Ceremonies, who, in his will, (16th April, 1701,) bequeathed it to Sir Stephen Fox. It came into the possession of the latter's descendant, the late Earl of Ilchester and was stolen from his house in old Burlington street, London, about seventy years ago.

Just before his execution, the same monarch caused a limited number of mourning rings to be prepared. Burke, in his Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, mentions the family of Rogers in Lota. This family was early remarkable for its loyalty and attachment to the crown. A ring is still preserved as an heirloom, which was presented to its ancestor by King Charles the First during his misfortunes. Robert Rogers of Lota received extensive grants from Charles the Second. In the body of his will is the following: "And I also bequeathe to Noblett Rogers the miniature portrait ring of the martyr Charles I. given by that monarch to my ancestor previous to his execution; and I particularly desire that it may be preserved in the name and family." The miniature is said to be by Vandyke.

The present possessor of this ring says that when it was shown in Rome, it was much admired; the artists when questioned, "Whose style?" frequently answered, "Vandyke's." Although many doubt whether Vandyke ever submitted to paint miniatures, yet portraits in enamel by him are known to be in existence.

A ring, said to be one of the seven given after the King's death, was possessed by Horace Walpole and sold with the Strawberry Hill collection. It has the King's head in miniature and behind, a skull; while between the letters C. R. is this motto:

"Prepared be to follow me."

There is another of these rings (all of which may be considered as "stamped with an eternal grief") in the possession of a clergyman. The shank of the ring is of fine gold, enamelled black, but the greater part of the enamel has been worn away by use. On the inner side of the shank an inscription has been engraved, the first letter of which still remains, but the rest of this also has been worn away by much use. In the shank is set a small miniature in enamel of the King, inclosed in a box of crystal which opens with a spring. At the back of the box, containing the miniature, is a piece of white enamel, having a death's head surmounted by a crown with the date January 30 represented upon it in black. A memorial ring of Charles the First, which has a portrait of the King in enamel and an inscription at the back, recording the day of his execution, was exhibited before the members of the London Antiquarian Society in March, 1854.

Rings, with portraits of Charles the First on ivory, are not uncommon.