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Ch. 6: Religious Use of Rings

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260                                  RINGS
most cruel tortures, but as no avowal could be wrung from him, he was finally released and resumed his life in the community. However, although outwardly calm, the cruelties to which he had been subjected burned into his soul, and aroused thoughts of vengeance. He could think of but one way to punish his tormentors effectively, and that was by taking away the precious ring. If this were lost, the Chiusane would place the blame upon its careless guardians and would perhaps drive them from the city. Winter succeeded in taking wax impressions of the keys of the chamber where the ring was kept and of the case wherein it lay. He had duplicate keys made from these impressions, and, on the night of July 23, 1473, he secured possession of the ring. ,Of course he was no longer safe in Chiusi and he made all haste to Perugia, where he determined to rid himself of his treas­ure and curry favor with the Perugians by conferring it upon them. His offer was accepted without hesitation, and when the Chiusane energetically demanded the re­turn of the ring, the Perugians refused compliance.
The matter was brought before the Roman court and was the subject of prolonged controversy. For a time it seemed as though resort would be had to arms, but finally, in 1486, a decision was reached to the effect that the ring should remain in Perugia. Here it has been preserved ever since, and many wonderful stories are told of its miraculous virtue. In seasons of pro­longed drought and also when the land was deluged by superabundant rains, the betrothal ring of the Virgin was solemnly borne from the chapel of St. Joseph, where it was kept, to the high altar, and the result was always fortunate.
Whatever may be thought of the credibility of the legend, there can be no question that this ring is one of
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