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As the land was once the property of the Earls Poullett (Paulet), it has been suggested that the ring once belonged to Richard Bagot (1532-88), deputy to the diplomat Sir Amias Paulet of Hinton St George, Somerset.
That Paulet, a fanatical Puritan, was the keeper-jailer of Mary Queen of Scots until her execution at Fotheringay Castle in 1587 doubtless added intrigue to the ring’s story. Offered as part of a Lawrences’ (22% buyer’s premium) Militaria, Coins & Medals sale in Crewkerne on May 17, it sold at £3600.