an ornament of gold and silver, of a circular figure, and usually worn on the finger.

The episcopal ring (which makes a part of the pontifical apparatus, and is esteemed a pledge of the spiritual marriage between the bishop and his church) is of very ancient standing. The fourth council of Toledo, held in 633, appoints, that a bishop condemned by one council, and found afterwards innocent by a second, shall be restored, by giving him the ring, staff, &c. From bishops, the custom of the ring has passed to cardinals, who are to pay a very great sum pro jure annuli cardinalitatis.

RINGS. The antiquity of rings is known from Scripture and profane authors. Judah left his ring or signet with Tamar (Gen. xxxviii. 18). When Pharaoh committed the government of all Egypt to Joseph, he took his ring from his finger, and gave it to Joseph (Gen. xli. 42). After the victory that the Israelites obtained over the Midianites, they offered to the Lord the rings, the bracelets, and the golden necklaces, and the ear-rings, that they had taken from the enemy (Numb. xxxi. 50). The Israelitish women wore rings not only on their fingers, but also in their nostrils and their ears. St James distinguishes a man of wealth and dignity by the ring of gold that he wore on his finger (James ii. 2). At the return of the prodigal son, his father orders him to be drest in a new suit of clothes, and to have a ring put upon his finger (Luke xv. 22). When the Lord threatened King Jeconiah with the utmost effects of his anger, he tells him, that though he wore the signet or ring upon his finger, yet he should be torn off (Jer. xxii. 24).

The ring was used chiefly to seal with; and the Scripture generally puts it in the hands of princes and great persons; as the king of Egypt, Joseph, Ahaz, Jezebel, King Ahasuerus, his favourite Haman, Mordecai, who succeeded Haman in his dignity, King Darius (1 Kings xxi. 8.; Esther iii. 10., &c.; Dan vi. 17.). The patents and orders of these princes were sealed with their rings or signets; and it was this that secured to them their authority and respect. See the article SEAL.