157 
AN ACCOUNT OF THE ANGLO-SAXON RING DISCOVERED NEAR 
DRIFFIELD, YORKS, NOW IN THE POSSESSION OF THE 
REV. GEO. WELBY, BARROAVBY, GRANTHAM. BY THE 
REV. J. T. FOWLER, M.A., F.S.A., OF NORTH KELSEY. 
This curiously-wrouglit and massive ring was discovered, 
as sucli things usuall)' are, in an accidental and singular 
manner. A ploughman, feeling a slight obstruction to the 
progress of his ploughshare, found that it had entered the 
opening of a large finger-ring, which was soon ascertained 
to consist of pure gold, with patterns and inscriptions in 
embossed and enamelled work. Its weight is 1 oz. 3 dwts. 
11 grs., or eight grains above the weight of four and a-half 
sovereigns. One-third of its circumference is formed by the 
bezel, which is circular, about seven-eighths of an inch in 
diameter, and appearing at first sight elliptical, from being 
curved in conformity with the rest of the ring. The designs 
on this portion have been worked on a separate plate, at- 
tached by four rivets. It has a central plain circular surface 
half an inch in diameter, in the midst of which is a small 
hole, partly, but not immediately, over one in the solid gold 
beneath. This seems as if the plate had sometime been ofi", 
and riveted on again not exactly in the right place, evidently 
by some hand less skilful than that which originally made 
the ring. The perforation has probably served for the in- 
sertion of a pin by which some ornament has been attached 
— probably, as we shall see, a representation of St. John the 
Baptist or of the Holy Lamb. 
Round the plain circular space are four semilunar depres- 
sions which unite to form a quatrefoil; each of these is 
occupied by an ornament in relief, consisting of a stalk bent 
upon itself in the form of a figure of eight. Two of these 
terminate in lobed leaves of simple but elegant form, quite 
reminding one of twelfth or thirteenth century work. The 
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