Hoop Crown as worm by royalty in this period
William commanded that a noble crown of gold and jewels, such as would be seemly, be fashioned for him by a mastercraftsman. Arabia provided gold, Nilus gems from the river; Greece inspired a smith skilled in the art as he who scarcely inferior to Solomon created Solomon's wondrous and befitting diadem. Foremost a ruby adorned the centre of the brow; next after this a radiant jacinth followed; third in the circlet of wrought gold a topaz glittered; the fourth place a sapphire enriched with beauty; fifth was sardonyx, set at the king's ears, to which chalcedony came next, the sixth in order. Seventh was jasper, which from afar repels the foe; the eighth, a fire-breathing sard, glowed red. In the ninth seat a lucent chrysolite was throned, and you, beryl, illumined the tenth place. A green emerald completed the eleventh number, to which colour also chrysoprase, the twelfth, gave strength. At the highest point, above all, stood a pearl that filled the stones below itself with light, placed on the right and on the left of which there gleamed twin amethysts, perfectly matched. As with the clouds dispelled the wheel of heaven turns, studded with blazing stars, so the golden crown, adorned with precious stones glorious with light, flashed upon all sides with a dazzling radiance. -- Carmen de Hastingae