In a message dated 3/25/2005 10:36:35 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

From a website drawing from the Book of Common Prayer and other
Medieval/Rennaisance sources --the ring makes its way to the finger like this (in some
ceremonies, etc.)

> With this Ring I thee wed, (here placing it upon her thumb) and with my
> body I thee honor, (here placing it upon her index finger) and with all my
> worldly goods I thee endow; (here placing it upon her ring finger) In the Name of
> the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 <A HREF="http://www.locksley.com/locksley/medi-wed.htm">http://www.locksley.com/locksley/medi-wed.htm</A>

This suggests the ring not only embodied the dower message, but also
procreation.

FYI, I make no comment on the validity of the above being used widely or not.
  I do hope one of my children uses the above when they get married.  (The
Methodists of course threw out the body/worship clause, and advocates of prenups
certainly wouldn't go along with the endowing of all wordly goods.)

Janet Hunter









>  it was a pledge of a marriage jointure, or dower, by the groom to the
> bride in case of his early death( land, goods, tools, whatever).  Whether she had
> sole control over the dower fluctuated by time period and nation, but the
> ring was the pledge of economic support (the dower), and the exchange was the
> official ceremony, usually held at the outer door of the church.  Afterwards
> they may have gone into church and had a mass.
>



To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html