om on 
of Plinies Naturall Hiftorie: “158 
A which wasvalued but atnine Boeufs: according to which manner pradtifed in thofe daies,evers 
at Rome alfo (as it may appeare by the old records) there were no other penalties and fines ims 
pofed upon thofe that tranfgrefled the lawes, but fuch as confiftedin Boeufes and Mutions, and 
under tharname paffed all the amercements that were levied. VVell, abad example and prece- 
dent gave he untotheworld, who firft devifed to weare rings upon the fingers : Lat who hee was 
that did this harmunto mankind,itappeareth not for certaine vpon any record.For as touching 
the reports that goe of Promethews,| hold themall but fabulous tales :and yer in all the auncient 
pictures and portraitures. of him,he isto be feene by a general} confent of antiquitie,with aring 
of yron: howbeit, I fuppofe thar they reprefentedthereby hisbonds and imprifonment, rather 
thanany cuftome that hee had toweare aring asan ornament upon his finger.» And verely con , 
ceming the ring of king*“das, whiclrif the collet were turned abourtoward the palme of thé *Gyges ae 
hand,canfed them to goe invifible that fo woreit sis there any man (thinke you) thatjudgethat 4, Pisvand 
not more fabulousthan the otherof Promotheus? Butto come more particularly: untogold,the cicero, 
greatelt credit and authoritie that it got, was by wearing it inringsuponthe fingers, andthofe 
onely and altogether of the lefthand. And yer this was no fathion at firltamong the Romanes; 
whofe manner wasto ufe no other but of yron, to fhew that they were good fouldiours, ‘skilfull 
and expert in feats of armes. Whether the ancient kings of Rome were wontto have gold rings 
upon their fingers,1 am notable to fay forcertaine. Sureitis,that the ftatue of king Romulys.in 
the Capitol] hath none.Neither is there any to be feenein the other ftatues of the Roman kings, 
faveonely of Numa, and Servivs Tullius;nonorinthat of Lucivs Brutus: WhereatI marveile 
-much,and efpecially-at the two Tarquines kings of Rome, confidering thatthey were defcended 
of the Greeks, from whence came up the firftufage of thefe goldrings,howfoever yer atthis day 
in Lacedzmon there be noneworne but of yron. Howbeit, this isrecorded and knowne fora 
truth, That Tarquinius Prifcwsythe firkt of allthe Zarquins, honoureda fon of. his withabrooch 
ortablet of gold pendant at hisnecke,for tharwhiles he was under fixteene'yeares ofagesandas 
yecin his Pretexta,he had killed an enemie in plaine fight. Andtherupon wastaken up theama- 
net firft(which alfo continued afterward) to hang that *ornament about thenecks of thofe gen »catled Bulle; 
tlemens fonnes who were men atarmesand ferved inthe wars om horfeback,intokerof knight which was in 
hood and chevalrie:whereas other mens fonnes wave aribband onely.And therefore greatimar? fae 
veile{ have at theftatne of the {aid prince king Turgquine, furnamed Prifews, chat it fhould:bee they were 
withouraring on hisfinger. And yet befides allthis, read,that there hath Beene fome variance Browne to be 
and difference in old time about thenarning of rings: The Greeks impofed aname derived from jcenzvearee at 
the finger and calledit Dactylios. The Latines here with usin oldtimenamed it Vngulus:but af- age they offe- 
terwatds,as well we asthe Greekes,tearmed it Symbolum. Certes,long it was firft (asappeareth sat a Rie ce 
evidently by the Chronicles)ere the very Senatours of Rome had rings of gold.For plaine.itis; yong maidens 
that the State allowed and gave rings only to certain efpeciall lieutenants when they were to. go ™ar2geable 
in embaflage to forraine nations :and in mine opinion, it was for their credit and countenance, //* waitin 
for thatthe moft honourable perfonages in ftrange countries were diftinguithed from others by babies of ciouts 
that ornament. And verely,no perfon(of what degreefoever)was wont to weare rings,butfuch as ae 
hadreceived them firft from the Commonwealthupon that occafion: and{o itfervedthem or make and re 
dinarily in triumph,as a token and teftimoniall of their vercue and valour. Forotherwile,he that Withall, as be- 
triumphed in, Rome,although there was aT ufcanecoronetall decked with fpangies of goldjborn ,7290" 2 
up-behind and held over his head, hadnobetter thanaring of yron upon his finger, no more babes indeed 
than theflave at hisbacke, who haply caried the aid Tufcane chapler, Forcertainly in thatma- it ue 
ner triumped C. Marius over ling Jugurtha :and asthe Chronicles doe thew; received notagol- a vex. libing 
denring,nor tookeupon him toweareit before his third Confulfhip, And eventhofe alfo:who 25. &1it.5 
from the State had golden tingsgiven them, in regard of embaflage aforefaid, never ufedthem “?*: 
but when they came abroad into open place, for within dores they might wear none but of yron:: 
which isthe reafon, thateven atthisday the wedding ring which the bridegroome fendeth.as a 
token *of efpoufalsto his bride,is of yron fimply without*any ftonefecin it.Neither,fofarreasl + tewae cated : 
can find by reading,were there any golden rings in ufe andrequeft about the time of the Trojan Pronsbus Ars 
warre: forfure 1 am,that the Poet Homer maketh no mention of them at all,whootherwife {pea- ee 
keth of the braveri¢ and rich attire of thofe times, And when he talketh of writing tablets, fentas,, 
ordinarily in ftead of letters miffive; when hee writeth of clothes andapparels beftowed in chifts 
and coffers; when he telleth us of vefiell, as well gold as filver plate; he faith they were all:bound 
and 
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