(Vol. v., pp. 59. 92.)
For much curious information upon these subjects, I would refer your
correspondents to a rather scarce and privately printed tract or volume,
entitled _Observations touching the Antiquity and Dignity of
Serjeant-at-Law_, 1765. I am not sure that it was not subsequently
reprinted and published. The author was Mr. Serjeant Wynne. He says:
"The first introduction of rings themselves on this occasion (of
making serjeants) is as doubtful as that of mottoes. They are
taken notice of by Fortescue in the time of Hen. VI., and in the
several regulations for general calls in Hen. VIII. and Queen
Elizabeth's time. The antiquity of them, therefore, though not to
be strictly ascertained, yet being thus far indisputable, makes
Sir H. Spelman's account rather extraordinary (see _Gloss._ tit.
_Serv. ad Legem_); but whatever is the antiquity of these rings,
that of mottoes seems to fall short of them at least a century.
That in the 19 & 20 Eliz. (1576-77) may perhaps be the first;
because, till that time, they are nowhere mentioned.
"When Dugdale speaks (p. 136.) of the posies 'that were usual,' he
must be understood to speak of the usage of his own time."
The motto which Serj. Wynne notices as of the earliest occurrence in 19
& 20 Eliz., was _Lex regis præsidium_. The earliest of subsequent date
appear to be as follow: