THE WEDDING RING OF ENGLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 15 June 1911, Page 1096

THE WEDDING RING OF ENGLAND

The ring to be worn by; King George at his coronation is (say the Ave Maria) of great antiquity as an emblem of power, and is preserved- with the utmost care at the, shrine of the Confessor in Westminster Abbey. uLt is metaphorically called the 'wedding ring of England.' ■■}, The ■ legend concerning it is thus quaintly related by Caxton: When the blessed King Edward had lived many years and was fallen into great age, it happed he came riding by a church in Essex called Havering, which was at that time in hallowing and should be dedicated in the honor ot Our Lord and St. John the Evangelist. Wherefore the King for great devotion lighted down and tarried while the church was in hallowing. ' ; And : in the time of procession a failold man came to the King arid demanded of him alms in the worship of God and St. John the Evangelist. Then the King found nothing ready to give, ne his almoner was not present; but he took off the ring from his finger and gave it to the poor man, whom the poor man thanked and departed And within certain years after/ two pilgrims of England went into the Holy Land ;to visit holy places there; and they had lost their way and were ■ gone from their fellowship; and the night approached, and they sorrowed greatly as they that wist not wither to go, and dreaded sore to be perished among wild beasts. At the last they saw a fair company of men arrayed in white clothing, with two lights borne afore them; and-behind them there came a fair ancient; man with white hair forage. _ - . Then these pilgrims thought to follow the light and drew nigh. Then the old man asked them what they were, and of what region; and they answered that they were pilgrims of England, and had . lost their "fellowship and way also. Then this old man comforted them goodly, and brought them ; into a fair city where was a fair cenacle honestly arrayed with all manner of dainties. And when they had well refreshed them and rested there night, on the morn this fair old man went with them, and brought them in the right way again. And he was, glad to hear them talk of . the welfare and holiness of, their King St. Edward. And when he should depart from them, then he told them what he was, arid said: lam John the Evangelist, and say ye unto Edward your King that I greet him right well, by the token that he gave me this ring with his own hands at the hallowing of my church, which ring ye shall deliver to him again. And say ye to him that he dispose his goods; for within six months he shall be in the. joy of heaven with me, where he shall have his reward for his chastity and for his good living. _ And dread ye not, for ye shall speed right well in your journey, and ye shall come home in short time s*ife and sound. And when he had delivered to them the ring he departed from them suddenly. And soon after they came home and did their message to the King, and delivered to him the ring, and said that St. John Evangelist sent it to him. And as soon as he heard that name he was full of joy, and for gladness let fall tears from his eyes, giving laud and thanksgiving to Almighty God, and to St. John his avowry that he. would vouchsafe to let him-have knowledge of his departing from this world. Also he had another token of St. John, and that was that the two pilgrims should die tofore him; which thing was proved true, for they, lived not long after.