A recent discovery of a jewel encrusted gold ring, in a farmer's field, at Fulford in Yorkshire, is described as being an "incredible treasure." The ring, found about two years ago by a metal-detector user at the time, had the ring verified as Treasure Trove and both he and the farmer received about £10k each, as a result.
Since then however, the finder has made strenuous efforts to research the item and is convinced the jewel was the property of two of Henry Tudor's six wives; Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard, as in the Hans Holbein 1539 portrait of Anne (above). The marriage was never consummated and was dissolved a year later, by which time Henry had a new fancy in a former lady-in-waiting, Catherine Howard, whom became the King's fifth wife in 1540. The ring is thought to have been given to Catherine by Anne, Catherine later had a lover by the name of Thomas Culpeper. And could possibly have discarded the ring as a show of loyalty to her lover, but lather both Thomas and Catherine were to die in the Tower of London.
The ring is set to go on display at the Yorkshire Museum later this year and although a very interesting story, the supposed account remains very much unproven.
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