ory of many ages and nations; and in the selection of illustrations
we have been guided by their historic value as well as their artistic
merits, so that they may be referred to as authorities to test the age
and country of other works of their class, if brought to them for
comparison.

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[74-*] "History and Poetry of Finger-rings."

[74-[+]] Genesis, chap. xxxviii.

[75-*] "Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egyptians," vol. iii. p. 373.

[82-*] Barrera, "History of Gems and Jewels."

[83-*] "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," chap. xxv.

[83-[+]] "The History and Poetry of Finger-rings," by Charles Edwards.

[89-*] "Antiquite Expliquee et Representee en Figures."

[96-*] "Account of Excavations at Harnham Hill." _Archaeologia_, vol.
xxxv.

[96-[+]] "Remains of Pagan Saxondom," p. 71.

[97-*] In the museum at Augsburg are several which were found in cutting
for the railway near that city. A large series of personal ornaments is
also preserved there, which are so exactly similar to others found near
Richborough, in Kent, that they would appear to have come from the same
manufactory. As the Romans introduced their arts wherever they went, so
the Saxons seem to have continued theirs in all their colonies.

[98-*] See the "Inventorium Sepulchrale: an Account of some Antiquities
dug up by the Rev. Bryan Faussett, of Heppington, Kent." Edited by C.
Roach Smith.

[100-*] Engraved as an illustration to the volume describing the
congress of the British Archaeological Association at Winchester, in
1845.

[108-*] He was elected 1418, and died 1464.

[115-*] J. Y. Akerman on Gnostic Gems, in _Archaeologia_, vol. xxxii.

[116-*] T. Wright, M.A., &c., in _Archaeologia_, vol. xxx.

[117-*] Masarius, quoted in Topsel's "History of Serpents," 1611.

[136-*] He was a draper; and his seal has a device upon it consisting of
a skull with a bone in the mouth; the letters W. S. are under it, and
very small. This ring was most probably of silver. It is unlikely that a
small trader like Smith should wear a heavy gold ring, like this which
claims to be Shakspere's.

[136-[+]] The concluding words of the will are--"in witness whereof I
have hereunto put my seale," the last word being struck through with a
pen, and _hand_ substituted.

[137-*] Heminge was the old stage-manager, who, like Shakspere, became
very wealthy by the profession. Burbage was the great tragedian, and the
original pe