appears that the story has been told of two rings, and that neither Howell nor the Helmingham manuscript mentions the ring at all. This seems to be the principal reason urged for discrediting the story, and is a novel way of establishing a negative to one acquainted with that useful chronicler, Howell, for we well know that there were many true occurrences which he did not record. The lack of mention in the Helmingham manuscript is an equally unfortunate citation. That the objection urged by those who discredit the story fails to settle the question rests upon as good authority as Judge Stephen, who firmly expresses his confidence in the truth of the tradition in these words: There is at Helmingham a portrait of Essex's daughter, Lady Frances Devereux, wearing the jewel in an earring, and in case this does not convince my readers, I may add that the jewel itself, a ring with a lock of hair, which may once have been red, hanging from it, is now at Ham House, the property of the Earl of Dysart.1 Let us endeavor to trace the story to its source. The first recorded account of the ring is given by Aubery de Maurier, French Ambassador to Holland, who had it from Sir Dudley Carleton, the English Ambassador there under Elizabeth's successor. Carleton returned from his embassy in 1618.2 That the story was in circulation at an early date appears from an allusion to it by Clarendon in a book supposed to have been written while at Magdalen College, where he matriculated in 1621.3 The best account is by Lady Elizabeth Spelman, the great-granddaughter of Sir Robert Cary, who attended upon Queen Elizabeth during her last days. She says: When the Countess of Nottingham was dying, she sent to entreat the Queen to visit her, as she had something to reveal before she could die in peace. On the Queen's coming, Lady Notting 1 H. L. Stephen, State Trials, vol. III, p. 81. London, 1902. ham told her that when the Earl of Essex was lying under sentence of death, he was desirous to ask Her Majesty's mercy in the manner she had prescribed during the height of his favour. Being doubtful of those about him, and unwilling to trust any of them, he called a boy whom he saw passing beneath his window, and whose appearance pleased him, and engaged him to carry the ring, which he threw down to him, to the Lady Scrope, a sister of Lady Nottingham, and a friend of the Earl, who was also in attendance on the Queen, and to beg her to present it to Her Majesty. The boy, by mistake, took it to Lady Nottingham, who showed it to her husband in order to take his advice. The Earl forbade her to carry it to the Queen, or return any answer to the message, but desired her to retain the ring. Lady Nottingham, having made this confession, entreated the Queen's forgiveness; but Elizabeth, exclaiming, "God may forgive you, but I never can!" left the room in great emotion, and was so much agitated and distressed that she refused to go to bed, nor would she for a long time take any sustenance. The ring has descended in one unbroken succession to the Reverend Lord John Thynne from Lady Frances Devereux, afterwards Duchess of Somerset, who was the daughter of the Earl of Essex. It bears the head, in relief, of Queen Elizabeth, engraved on a sardonyx; the sides are chased and the under side of the seal is blue enamel. That it was not mentioned in the will of the Duchess of Somerset is no proof against its genuineness, as doubtless it had been given already to her daughter, Mary, wife of the Earl of Winchelsea, who passed it on to her daughter, Frances, wife of Thomas Thynne, Viscount Weymouth. That there is another ring which has been called the Essex ring is not strange; it would be strange if there were not several. This ring is said to have belonged to the Queen of Scots, who gave it to Queen Elizabeth. In some unexplained way it is said to have passed into the possession of Charles I, who, its owner claims, gave it to Sir Thomas Warner, a West India adventurer. Its present owner is one of his descendants. Its title to validity is too shadowy for serious consideration, but as a matter of curiosity we give an accurate representation of it. THE WARNER RING THE QUEEN'S RING When the cipher story appeared, which mentioned the ring, one of the first things seized upon by Stratfordians was this, and they hastily raised the objections which we have cited. Even should the cipher story be disproved, we believe that the reader will conclude that the story of the Queen's ring has sufficiently clear evidence in its favor to keep it out of the obscurity of merely popular tradition. EPILOGUE A SUMMARY OF WHAT IS RECORDED OF THE WHEREABOUTS AND DOINGS FROM TIME TO TIME OF FRANCIS BACON AND WILLIAM SHAKSPERE 1560 (O.S.) FRANCIS BACON, born January 22, at York House, London. His early education could not have been in better hands. Nicholas and Lady Bacon were distinguished for character and scholarship. 1564 WILLIAM SHAKSPERE, baptized at Stratford, April 26, 1564; born of illiterate parents. Despite Lee's positive statement to the contrary there is not a shred of proof that his father could write his name. In all cases he made his mark. 1572-1577 Francis Bacon, phenomenally precocious, was reared amid intellectual surroundings. His attainments were such that before twelve his bust was made, and before eighteen his portrait was painted and inscribed "Could we but behold his mind." At this time he had "run through the whole circle of the liberal arts," and, dissatisfied with the methods of education then practiced, was devising means for improving them. It is said that he had acquired a knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian, and French. He was sent in 1577 with Sir Amyas Paulet, the British Ambassador, to the Court of France, where he mingled with the most exalted statesmen and wits of that brilliant period, and acquired knowledge of foreign courts and politics. Such proficiencies are freely displayed in the "Shakespeare" Works. Shakspere is supposed to have attended the Grammar School for a short time. Is supposed to have been removed from this school and apprenticed at the age of thirteen to a butcher, his father being in financial distress. 1579 Bacon called home, Sir Nicholas Bacon having died, bequeathing his property to Anthony and other children, but Francis virtually unprovided for. Lady Bacon provides him a home at Gorhambury, St. Albans; studies law "against the bent of his genius." Evidence that he was on the Continent some time in 1580-81. 1582 Bacon admitted to the Bar. Between 1579 and this date Reed assigns production of "King John," "Henry V," and "King Lear." Shakspere marries, November 28, Anne Hathaway, an illiterate, under disreputable circumstances. Traditions of poaching and drinking-bouts survive. Six months later (May 26) daughter Susanna born. 1584 Bacon, well versed in law and state affairs, writes letter of advice to the Queen, who accepts it "graciously." Between this date and 1582, Reed assigns "Pericles," "Titus Andronicus," and "Two Gentlemen of Verona.” 1585-86 Bacon writes "Greatest Birth of Time," forerunner of "Advancement of Learning." Malone assigns "The Contention, or Henry VI," to this period; its author's "earliest complete drama," says Phillipps. The play is cast in the province |