Lawrences Auctioneers of Crewkerne
Lot 640
A POST MEDIEVAL GOLD FINGER RING WITH INITIALS R. B. An attractive Post Medieval Finger Ring, with reversed initials R B for seal stamping. Found whilst metal detecting, with its British Museum and ID forms present. From a location to the west of Crewkerne, on land once the property of the Earls Poullett. (Paulet) Treasure Case 2017 T730. ID Som-58AAB9. A Post-Medieval gold signet ring. At the apex of the hoop is a large, slightly projecting flat oval bezel. A circumferential beaded border set within a groove decorates the lateral edges of the bezel. This bezel itself is deeply engraved with the retrograde initials R B, with these connected by a corded interlace which forms three loops above, and with each terminating in a tassel below. This is set within a deeply engraved oval border. Each shoulder is decorated with a foiliate design left proud against an engraved field, the design consists of a longitudinal stem flanked by leaves and terminating in a trifoliate leaf at either end A ring worn by a Gentleman of wealth and representing power, in its complete and good condition. There would not have been many men of that period, who would own a ring like this. One possibility is Richard Bagot 1532-1588, deputy to Sir Amias Paulet of Hinton St George. Famous as the keeper-jailer of Mary Queen of Scots. She was left with no illusions after meeting Sir Amias, for the first time. He wrote thus to Queen Elizabeth 1. 'I told her that I was bound by duty of allegiance to serve your Majesty truly and faithfully and would not fail to employ all my endeavours to acquit myself of that duty neither would be diverted from it by hope of gain, for fear or loss, or for any other respect whatsoever'. From then on Mary's life became more and more uncomfortable. Paulet began by strengthening the guard on the castle, no strangers were allowed to enter the precincts. The act of Mary giving alms to the poor, was stopped in spite of her protestations. All Mary's previously private letters sent or received, were now fully examined. Sir Amias suffered terribly from Gout, which might not have improved his disposition. Needing a Deputy he took on Richard Bagot as his assistant. Sir Amias after the meadows of castle flooded with great damp present in the castle itself, looked for drier new prisons. Finally the choice fell on Chartley Hall, owned by the then young Earl of Essex. It was during this period Sir Amias failed to procure some faithful women out of Somersetshire. This to stop the Queens laundresses, leaving the gates of Chartley. Queen Mary and Sir Amias arrived on Xmas Eve, with the Queen considerably weakened by the journey, then fally very ill. He acted on complaints about her bed, being stained and ill-favoured. He was pleased in that the Queens body and infirmity in her legs, lessened her chances of possible escape. After much subterfuge and plots abounding, it fell on Sir Amias and Richard Bagot, entering the apartment of Mary as she lay ill in bed to remove her monies. Getting up from her bed and falling to her knees with clasped hands, she pleaded with Sir Amias and Bagot to leave her 'her funeral money'. Failing to move Sir Amias she told him that two things could never be taken away from her...'Her Royal Blood and her Catholic Religion.' She along with fourteen conspirators were implicated in the plot to kill Queen Elizabeth. The fourteen were sentenced to being hung drawn and to suffer quartering at Tyburn. Sir Amias for all his harsh treatment and coldness towards Mary, is said to have refused to 'Do away with Mary by some quiet means.' Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded for Treason at Fotheringay, on the 8th February 1587. If the ring was that of Richard Bagot, what a tale it could tell. Weight 11.6 gms. See Illustration
