In response to Peter T's original (6th April 2000) question - i.e., yes.
Hind Horn (or King Horn, or Horn Childe & Maiden Rimnild) is one of the few ballads which can be traced back to medieval copies. This Version (from the Auchinleck Manuscript in the Scottish Library) is from a manuscript written about 1330-1340 and it is suggested that it was read by Chaucer as a boy. It's in Northumbrian English and includes all the usual elements of the ballad (along with a bit more also by way of background).
Here's the bit where she gives him the ring
To Rimneld he com, wiþouten lesing,
& sche bitaugt him a ring,
Þe vertu wele sche knewe
'Loke þou forsake it for no þing,
It schal ben our tokening,
Þe ston it is wel trewe.
When þe ston wexeþ wan,
Þan chaungeþ þe þougt of þi leman,
Take þan a newe;
When þe ston wexeþ rede,
Þan haue y lorn mi maidenhed
Ogaines þe vntrewe.'
Hope this is interesting.
:-)