A fourteenth century ring from Suffolk

The ITV News website recently reported about an early to mid-fourteenth century seal ring that had been found by a metal detector in Suffolk. 

The ring which appears to have belonged to Countess Maud

Image: PA, ITV

The ring, with a griffin inscribed gemstone was suggested to have belonged to Maud, or Matilda, of Lancaster, the sister of Henry of Grosmont, first  Duke of Lancaster, and a great granddaughter of King Henry III. Born about 1310 she lived until 1377.

Maud married first the Earl of Ulster, and, after his murder, Sir Robert Ufford, from a prominent Suffolk family, and an important English administrator in the Lordship of Ireland. After his death she returned to England and entered the house of Augustinian Canonesses at Campsey in eastern Suffolk, which was the Ufford family monastery. Subsequently she became a Poor Clare at Bruisyard Abbey, which she was instrumental in establishing. 

Her daughter from her first marriage, Elizabeth de Burgh, married Lionel of Antwerp, son of King Edward III, and the first Duke of Clarence.

Wikipedia has a quite detailed biography of Maud at Maud of Lancaster, Countess of Ulster .

It also has an exceptionally detailed account of Campsey at Campsey Priory, and a shorter one of the Poor Clares’ foundation at Bruisyard which can be seen at Bruisyard Abbey

The ITV report can be seen at Medieval gold ring found in field could fetch £12,000    

The Belfast Telegraph  also reported on the discovery, doubtless be cause of the Countess’ links to the medieval Ulster earldom, at Medieval gold ring discovered on April Fool’s Day to be sold at auction