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Posy, Inscription, and Motto Rings: Device-a

Device-a mouse gnawing away the net in which a lion is caught.

Non immemor beneficii.

Mindful of kindness.

All that I desire of the Lord is to fear God and love me. En bon foy.

I cannot show the love I O.

I love and like my choice.

Ryches be unstable And beuty wyll dekay, But faithful love will ever last Till death dryve it away.

On a mediæval armillary ring, consisting of eight rings, one within the other, each having a portion of the motto: W.

A.

D. G. CS, T. L. A. L. A. R. Ct. (Where heart and hand do give consent, There live and love and rest content.) Device-a golden apple.

Vous le meritez.

You deserve it.

I change only in Death.

Love I like thee; sweets requite mee.

Faithfull ever, deceitful never.

I like, I love, as turtle dove.

As gold is pure, so love is shure.

From 'The Mysteries of Love and Eloquence; or, the Arts of Wooing and Complementing, as they are manag'd in the Spring Garden, Hide Park, the New Exchange, and other eminent places' (London, 1658, pp. 154,157):

Thou wert not handsom, wise, but rich; 'Twas that which did my eyes bewitch.

Divinely knit by God are we, Late one, now two, the pledge you see.

We strangely met, and so do many, But now as true as ever any.

As we begun so let's continue.

My beloved is mine and I am hers.

True blue will never stain.

Against thou goest I will provide another.

Let him never take a wife That will not love her as his life.

I do not repent that I gave my consent.

What the eye saw the heart hath chosen.

More faithful than fortunate.

Love me little but love me long.

Love him who gave thee this ring of gold, 'Tis he must kiss thee when thou 'rt old.

This circle, though but small about, The devil, jealousy, shall keep out.

If I think my wife is fair What need other people care.

This ring is a token I give to thee That thou no tokens do change for me.

My dearest Betty is good and pretty.

I did then commit no folly When I married my sweet Molly. 'Tis fit men should not be alone, Which made Tom to marry Jone.

Su is bonny, blythe, and brown; This ring hath made her now my own.

Like Philis there is none; She truely loves her Choridon.

Nosce teipsum.

Think on mee.

Desire and deserve.

Keepe faith till death.

As God hath appointed Soe I am contented. (These are given from wills of the seventeenth century in the glossary appended to 'Fabric Rolls of York Minster,' published by the Surtees Society.) Ever last (on the rings given at the funeral of John Smith, Alderman of London, who 'made a great gaine by musk catts which he kept ').

Redime tempus (on the rings given at the funeral of Samuel Crumbleholme, Master of St. Paul's).

This and the giver Are thine for ever.

My Joyh consisteth in Hope.

Quies servis nulla.

I desire to disarne (disarm).

I will you trewllie serve.

Success to the British flag.

Valued Love may greater B. (Love undervalued may greater be.) Great Dundee for God and me (engraved on the inside of a ring with a skull, Viscount Dundee. This relic of the famous Claverhouse, given to him by King James, was in the possession of Miss Graham of Dundrune. It is stated to have been missing since 1828). Christ and thee my comfort be ('Gentleman's Magazine, vol. ii. p. 629).