(Vol. vi., p. 578.)
By the courtesy of W. K. Rogers, Esq. (in whose possession it is), I am
enabled to account for another of these interesting and invaluable relics;
one of the four said to have been presented by the Martyr prior to his
execution.
"ROGERS OF LOTA.
This family was early remarkable for its loyalty and attachment to the
Crown; a ring is still preserved as an heir-loom, which was presented
to its ancestor by King Charles I. during his misfortunes."--Burke's
_Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland_.
Robert Rogers of Lota received extensive grants of land from Charles II.,
which upon the accession of James II. were confirmed to him by letters
patent. He was Mayor of Cork, 1680, M. P. for that city 1692, and again
1695. In the body of his will, bearing date 1690, and registered in the
Record Court, Dublin, occurs the following {185} paragraph, embraced by
brackets, as if he wished to convey forcibly his appreciation of the value
of the relic:
["And I also bequeath to Noblett Rogers the miniature portrait-ring of
the martyr Charles I., given by that monarch to my ancestor previous to
his execution; and I particularly desire that it may be preserved in
the name and family."]
The miniature, which is beautifully painted in enamel, and said to be by
Vandyke, has been reset in a tasteful and appropriate style; and it is in
this state that I have seen it. But Mr. Rogers informs me that its original
setting and inscriptions exactly corresponded with those of the ring in the
possession of the Misses Pigott, described in Hulbert's _History of Salop_;
and the same tradition exists in the family as to its having been _one of
four_ presented by Charles to certain of his friends or followers. There
can be little question, therefore, as to the genuineness of both these
rings. With regard to the portrait being the work of Vandyke, Mr. R. writes
to me--
"I know not on what authority it is stated, but I believe there is not
a family of old standing in the county Cork in which tradition has not
assigned its execution to that master; and certainly in Rome, where it
was much admired, the artists, when questioned 'Whose style?'
frequently answered, 'Vandyke.'"
Portraits by Vandyke in enamel, it is said, are known to be in existence.
Whether so renowned a master would have submitted to the wearisome and
laborious operation of repeating a number of works so minute, even for a
crowned head, seems to admit of a doubt; yet there is no difficulty in
imagining him to have superintended the progress of the artist employed to
copy his own portrait of Charles, and even to have bestowed some finishing
touches upon it.
I have lately seen a ring with a portrait of Charles on ivory, in coarse
and very inferior style, and in a plain gold setting. It is in the
possession of a gentleman in whose family it has continued for several
generations. Doubtless many such memorials of their murdered king were worn
at the time by his devoted partizans, and may yet be in existence.