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Posy, Inscription, and Motto Rings (Magazine' vol lxxix as having)

Magazine' (vol. lxxix.) as having been found in 1808 in the ruins of an old manor-house, occupied in the sixteenth century by a family of distinction, which then becoming extinct, the manor-house fell to decay.

DROMACI VSBETTA 〇〇 French Inscription ring. (Inscription ring of gold, found in Sarthe, France, bearing the names 'Dromachius' and 'Betta,' supposed to be a marriage ring, of, probably, the fifth century.) V Joye sans cesse. B. L.

Loue alway, by night and day.

Filz ou fille (Anthony Bacon, 1596).

To enjoy is to obey.

Loue for loue.

Post spinas palma.

All for all.

Mutual forbearance (1742).

In loues delight spend day and night.

Love's sweetest proofe.

En bon foye.

Truth trieth troth.

Beare and forbeare.

Lett nuptiall joye our time employe.

Not this bvt me.

None can prevent the Lord's intent.

Christ for me hath chosen thee.

By God alone we two are one.

God's blessing be on thee and me.

Love me and be happy.

The love is true I owe you.

God did foresee we should agree.

In God and thee my joy shall be.

Absence tries love.

Virtue surpasseth riches.

Let virtue rest within thy breast.

I lyke my choyce.

As circles five by art compact shews but one ring in sight, So trust uniteth faithful mindes with knott of secret might; Whose force to breake no right but greedie death possesseth power, As time and sequels well shall prove. My ringe can say no more. (The Earl of Hertford's wedding-ring consisted of five links, the four inner ones containing the above posies of the Earl's making. See page 318, 'Betrothal and Wedding Rings.') Joye sans fyn. (Fourteenth century.) In 'Manningham's Diary,' 1602-1603 (Camden Society), we have the following 'Posies for a jet ring lined with sylver': `""One two," so written as you may begin with either word. "This one ring is two," or both sylver and jet make but one ring; the body and soule one man; twoe friends one mynde. "Candida mens est," the sylver resembling the soule, being the inner part. "Bell' ame bell' amy," a fayre soule is a fayre frend, etc. "Yet faire within." "The firmer the better," the sylver the stronger and the better. "Mille modis læti miseros mors una fatigat."" Live as I or else I dye.

Within thy brest my harte doth rest. (On two gold posy-rings found in Sussex, 1866.) In 1780 the sexton of Southwell, in digging a grave, found a gold ring weighing nine dwts. six grs. On the inside is the following inscription, in characters very distinct, deep, and not inelegantly cut : + MIEV + MOVRI + QUE + CHANGE + MA FOY +.

The cross at the beginning is of the same size as the letters, that between the words very small.