A jewel-encrusted ring discovered by an amateur treasure hunter at a monastery once owned by Henry VIII's advisor Thomas Cromwell is expected to sell for £30,000 when it is auctioned.
The 15th Century 'love ring' was uncovered by an enthusiast with a metal detector near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire - a manor house on land owned by Cromwell, who was immortalised in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels, and this year's hit BBC adaptation.
The stunning piece of jewellery is an early example of a love and marriage ring, with the bond between husband and wife symbolised by two different gems - here a point-cut diamond and a rounded ruby.
It was discovered in 2013 by the amateur treasure hunter, who lives close to Elizabethan manor house Launde Abbey and has chosen to remain anonymous.
The land where the Abbey, now a Christian retreat and conference centre, stands had been home to a large and wealthy Augustinian Priory since the 12th century.
Jewel-encrusted 15th Century ring discovered by treasure hunter at Wolf Hall monastery
Gold 'love ring' discovered near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire in 2013
It has a diamond and ruby symbolising bond between husband and wife
Cromwell presented abbey to himself while overseeing dissolution of monasteries for Henry VIII
But he was executed by the monarch before he could move in
By Lucy Crossley for MailOnline
9 July 2015
Daily Mail
A jewel-encrusted ring discovered by an amateur treasure hunter at a monastery once owned by Henry VIII's advisor Thomas Cromwell is expected to sell for £30,000 when it is auctioned this afternoon.
The 15th Century 'love ring' was uncovered by an enthusiast with a metal detector near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire - a manor house on land owned by Cromwell, who was immortalised in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels, and this year's hit BBC adaptation.
The stunning piece of jewellery is an early example of a love and marriage ring, with the bond between husband and wife symbolised by two different gems - here a point-cut diamond and a rounded ruby.
This jewel-encrusted ring discovered by an amateur treasure hunter at a monastery once owned by Henry VIII's advisor Thomas Cromwell is expected to sell for £30,000 when it is auctioned this afternoon
The 15th Century 'love ring' was uncovered by an enthusiast with a metal detector near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire (pictured) - a manor house on land once owned by Cromwell
It was discovered in 2013 by the amateur treasure hunter, who lives close to Elizabethan manor house Launde Abbey and has chosen to remain anonymous.
The land where the Abbey, now a Christian retreat and conference centre, stands had been home to a large and wealthy Augustinian Priory since the 12th century.
Cromwell was so impressed by the building and particularly its location that while he was surveying it as he oversaw the dissolution of the monasteries for the king that he presented it to himself, writing in his diary: 'Myself for Launde'.
Cromwell (left in a 1532-34 painting by Hans Holbein, and right as played by Mark Rylance in Wolf Hall) was so impressed by the building and particularly its location that while he was surveying it as he oversaw the dissolution of the monasteries for the king that he presented it to himself
Building work on a new house at the site was started in 1540, but Cromwell's execution that same year prevented him from ever moving in.
Instead his son Gregory and his wife Elizabeth Seymour, the sister of Henry VIII’s third wife Jane Seymour, lived there.
The ring is to go on sale at auction house Sotheby's in London this afternoon, along with several pieces of 15th century jewellery.
Erik Bijzet, Sotheby's Old Master Sculpture & Works of Art specialist, said: 'The movement of wealthy patrons around a major monastery, the violence with which the rich institution must have been taken for the Crown, and the importance of the subsequent inhabitants are all reasons for a ring of this significance to have been deposited in its vicinity.'
The stunning piece of jewellery is an early example of a love and marriage ring, with the bond between husband and wife symbolised by two different gems - here a point-cut diamond and a rounded ruby
HENRY'S TRUSTED ADVISOR WHO PLOTTED THE RISE AND FALL OF ANNE BOLEYN, BUT ENDED UP SUFFERING A SIMILAR FATE
The son of a blacksmith, Thomas Cromwell was born around 1485, in Putney, and rose from humble origins to become a successful lawyer and politician - and one of Henry VIII's most trusted advisers.
As a young man, Cromwell, played by actor Mark Rylance in the BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novel Wolf Hall, travelled to Europe, and is thought to have fought as a mercenary in the French army in Italy.
Cromwell had married Elizabeth Wyckes in 1515 and the couple had three children - Gregory, Anne and Grace.
Cromwell, played by actor Mark Rylance in this year's BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novel Wolf Hall, played a key role in helping arrange the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, enabling the monarch to marry Anne Boleyn
But his daughters did not survive childhood, and Elizabeth died in 1528 - during an epidemic of sweating sickness.
He rose to prominence after becoming an MP for Taunton, Somerset, and serving in the household of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, and played a key role in helping arrange the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, enabling the monarch to marry Anne Boleyn.
He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the King’s reform of the Church.
Cromwell fell from Henry's favour after arranging the monarch's marriage to Anne of Cleves (pictured) - which was annulled just six months after they married in January 1540
Anne had been one of Cromwell's strongest allies, but in 1536 the pair clashed over plans for the proceeds from the dissolution of the monasteries following reformation of the church.
The Queen instructed her chaplains to preach against Cromwell, leading to one - John Skip - to be called before the Privy Council and accused of various crimes including malice, slander, lack of charity, sedition, treason, disobedience to the gospel, and inviting anarchy.
Anne had failed to produce a male heir, and was not popular at court, or among the people.
She was accused of adultery with musician Mark Smeaton, Henry Norris, the King's Groom of the Stool (who was responsible for assisting the king in the performance of the bodily functions of excretion and ablution, whilst maintaining an aura of royal decorum over the proceedings) and one of his closest friends, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and even her own brother, George, Viscount Rochford.
In a letter to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (Catherine of Aragon's nephew), ambassador Eustace Chapuys wrote that 'he himself [Cromwell] has been authorised and commissioned by the king to prosecute and bring to an end the mistress's trial, to do which he had taken considerable trouble ... He set himself to devise and conspire the said affair'.
Anne's marriage to Henry was deemed invalid, their daughter Elizabeth declared illegitimate, and on May 19, 1536, Anne was executed - with the King marrying Jane Seymour eleven days later.
During his career, Cromwell served England's monarch Henry VIII in a number of roles, including the Lord Privy Seal, Lord Chamberlain, Master of the Rolls, Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Earl of Essex.
But Cromwell fell from Henry's favour after arranging the monarch's marriage to Anne of Cleves - which was annulled just six months after they married in January 1540.
He was beheaded for treason and herecy at Tower Hill on July 28, 1540 - the same day that Henry married Catherine Howard, but the King later came to regret Cromwell's execution, and accused his ministers of bringing about Cromwell's downfall by false charges.
Oliver Cromwell who, after the English civil war ruled as Lord Protector, was descended from Thomas’s sister, Katherine.
The 15th Century 'love ring' was uncovered by an enthusiast with a metal detector near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire - a manor house on land owned by Cromwell, who was immortalised in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels, and this year's hit BBC adaptation.
The stunning piece of jewellery is an early example of a love and marriage ring, with the bond between husband and wife symbolised by two different gems - here a point-cut diamond and a rounded ruby.
It was discovered in 2013 by the amateur treasure hunter, who lives close to Elizabethan manor house Launde Abbey and has chosen to remain anonymous.
The land where the Abbey, now a Christian retreat and conference centre, stands had been home to a large and wealthy Augustinian Priory since the 12th century.
Jewel-encrusted 15th Century ring discovered by treasure hunter at Wolf Hall monastery
Gold 'love ring' discovered near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire in 2013
It has a diamond and ruby symbolising bond between husband and wife
Cromwell presented abbey to himself while overseeing dissolution of monasteries for Henry VIII
But he was executed by the monarch before he could move in
By Lucy Crossley for MailOnline
9 July 2015
Daily Mail
A jewel-encrusted ring discovered by an amateur treasure hunter at a monastery once owned by Henry VIII's advisor Thomas Cromwell is expected to sell for £30,000 when it is auctioned this afternoon.
The 15th Century 'love ring' was uncovered by an enthusiast with a metal detector near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire - a manor house on land owned by Cromwell, who was immortalised in Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall novels, and this year's hit BBC adaptation.
The stunning piece of jewellery is an early example of a love and marriage ring, with the bond between husband and wife symbolised by two different gems - here a point-cut diamond and a rounded ruby.
This jewel-encrusted ring discovered by an amateur treasure hunter at a monastery once owned by Henry VIII's advisor Thomas Cromwell is expected to sell for £30,000 when it is auctioned this afternoon
The 15th Century 'love ring' was uncovered by an enthusiast with a metal detector near Launde Abbey in Leicestershire (pictured) - a manor house on land once owned by Cromwell
It was discovered in 2013 by the amateur treasure hunter, who lives close to Elizabethan manor house Launde Abbey and has chosen to remain anonymous.
The land where the Abbey, now a Christian retreat and conference centre, stands had been home to a large and wealthy Augustinian Priory since the 12th century.
Cromwell was so impressed by the building and particularly its location that while he was surveying it as he oversaw the dissolution of the monasteries for the king that he presented it to himself, writing in his diary: 'Myself for Launde'.
Cromwell (left in a 1532-34 painting by Hans Holbein, and right as played by Mark Rylance in Wolf Hall) was so impressed by the building and particularly its location that while he was surveying it as he oversaw the dissolution of the monasteries for the king that he presented it to himself
Building work on a new house at the site was started in 1540, but Cromwell's execution that same year prevented him from ever moving in.
Instead his son Gregory and his wife Elizabeth Seymour, the sister of Henry VIII’s third wife Jane Seymour, lived there.
The ring is to go on sale at auction house Sotheby's in London this afternoon, along with several pieces of 15th century jewellery.
Erik Bijzet, Sotheby's Old Master Sculpture & Works of Art specialist, said: 'The movement of wealthy patrons around a major monastery, the violence with which the rich institution must have been taken for the Crown, and the importance of the subsequent inhabitants are all reasons for a ring of this significance to have been deposited in its vicinity.'
The stunning piece of jewellery is an early example of a love and marriage ring, with the bond between husband and wife symbolised by two different gems - here a point-cut diamond and a rounded ruby
HENRY'S TRUSTED ADVISOR WHO PLOTTED THE RISE AND FALL OF ANNE BOLEYN, BUT ENDED UP SUFFERING A SIMILAR FATE
The son of a blacksmith, Thomas Cromwell was born around 1485, in Putney, and rose from humble origins to become a successful lawyer and politician - and one of Henry VIII's most trusted advisers.
As a young man, Cromwell, played by actor Mark Rylance in the BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novel Wolf Hall, travelled to Europe, and is thought to have fought as a mercenary in the French army in Italy.
Cromwell had married Elizabeth Wyckes in 1515 and the couple had three children - Gregory, Anne and Grace.
Cromwell, played by actor Mark Rylance in this year's BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novel Wolf Hall, played a key role in helping arrange the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, enabling the monarch to marry Anne Boleyn
But his daughters did not survive childhood, and Elizabeth died in 1528 - during an epidemic of sweating sickness.
He rose to prominence after becoming an MP for Taunton, Somerset, and serving in the household of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, and played a key role in helping arrange the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, enabling the monarch to marry Anne Boleyn.
He was also an enthusiastic supporter of the King’s reform of the Church.
Cromwell fell from Henry's favour after arranging the monarch's marriage to Anne of Cleves (pictured) - which was annulled just six months after they married in January 1540
Anne had been one of Cromwell's strongest allies, but in 1536 the pair clashed over plans for the proceeds from the dissolution of the monasteries following reformation of the church.
The Queen instructed her chaplains to preach against Cromwell, leading to one - John Skip - to be called before the Privy Council and accused of various crimes including malice, slander, lack of charity, sedition, treason, disobedience to the gospel, and inviting anarchy.
Anne had failed to produce a male heir, and was not popular at court, or among the people.
She was accused of adultery with musician Mark Smeaton, Henry Norris, the King's Groom of the Stool (who was responsible for assisting the king in the performance of the bodily functions of excretion and ablution, whilst maintaining an aura of royal decorum over the proceedings) and one of his closest friends, Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton and even her own brother, George, Viscount Rochford.
In a letter to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V (Catherine of Aragon's nephew), ambassador Eustace Chapuys wrote that 'he himself [Cromwell] has been authorised and commissioned by the king to prosecute and bring to an end the mistress's trial, to do which he had taken considerable trouble ... He set himself to devise and conspire the said affair'.
Anne's marriage to Henry was deemed invalid, their daughter Elizabeth declared illegitimate, and on May 19, 1536, Anne was executed - with the King marrying Jane Seymour eleven days later.
During his career, Cromwell served England's monarch Henry VIII in a number of roles, including the Lord Privy Seal, Lord Chamberlain, Master of the Rolls, Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Earl of Essex.
But Cromwell fell from Henry's favour after arranging the monarch's marriage to Anne of Cleves - which was annulled just six months after they married in January 1540.
He was beheaded for treason and herecy at Tower Hill on July 28, 1540 - the same day that Henry married Catherine Howard, but the King later came to regret Cromwell's execution, and accused his ministers of bringing about Cromwell's downfall by false charges.
Oliver Cromwell who, after the English civil war ruled as Lord Protector, was descended from Thomas’s sister, Katherine.
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