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Posy, Inscription, and Motto Rings: English
At the Loan Exhibition of Ancient and Modern Jewellery at the South Kensington Museum in 1872, J. W. Singer, Esq.,¹ contributed a collection of posy rings, the mottos, for the most part, inscribed within the hoop. 1 I am greatly indebted to this gentleman for the loan of a manuscript catalogue of ring mottos and inscriptions on wedding-rings, of Gold, English of the fifteenth century, inscribed in Gothic letters 'Gevoudroy.' Another of the same date, gold; on the outside are engraved four Maltese crosses; within, three Gothic letters, apparently E. Gold, English, early sixteenth century, inscribed in large semi- Gothic characters, I × × AM × × YOURS × × K: S.
Gold, chased, has been enamelled ESPOIR. EN. DIEU. (English, late sixteenth century.) Gold, massive, 'MY HART AND I UNTILL I DY.' (English, late sixteenth century.
Gold, massive, 'I LOVE AND LIKE MY CHOYSE.' (English, early seventeenth century.) Silver gilt: within, 'I CHUSE NOT TO CHANGE.' (English, seventeenth century.) Gold, chased, traces of enamel, ☑ Let. Reson. Rule. (English, seventeenth century.) Gold, chased, 'Let reason rule affection.' (English, seventeenth century.) Gold, chased, traces of black enamel, 'A token of good-will.' (English, seventeenth century.) Brass, 'Live in Loue.' (English, seventeenth century.) Rings with double-line posies :
Gold, 'In God aboue and Christ his Sonne, We too are joyned both in one.' (English, seventeenth century.) Gold, 'Who feares the Lord are blest, wee see; Such thou and I God grant may bee.' (English, seventeenth century.) which-besides those exhibited at the Kensington Museum-I have availed myself in the following pages of this chapter. Mr. Singer has, I believe, the finest collection of inscribed wedding-rings known, numbering two hundred and forty-five specimens of every kind, in gold and silver, each weighing from three dwts. and upwards, and none less than a hundred years old, some dating from five hundred years. Mr. Singer's collection is also enriched with some interesting betrothal rings, and there are fourteen double-line motto-rings which are matchless. This collection has been accumulated during the last quarter of a century, at a very considerable cost.
Gold, As I in thee have made my choyce, So in the Lord let vs rejoice.' 1637, W. D. A. (English, seventeenth century.) Gold, As I expect so let me find, A faithfull V and constant mind.' (English, seventeenth century.) Gold, 'I like my choyce, so will ....' the remainder obliterated. (English, seventeenth century.) Gold, chasing worn away, 'Tho' little, accept it,' letters black enamelled. (English, early eighteenth century.) Gold, chased with representation of skeleton, cross-bones, and hour-glass encircling the hoop; has been enamelled black, 'You and I will lovers dye.' (English, about 1720.) Gold, Fear the Lord and rest content, So shall we live and not repent. B. W. 1730.' (English, eighteenth century.) Gold, chased, inscribed within 'T. Rowe, C. obt. 13 May, 1715, æt. 28.' Worn by Mrs. Elizabeth Rowe, the poetess.
Gold, overlaid with open-work pattern of flowers in coloured enamel, 'Rite to requite.' (English, eighteenth century.) Silver, two hands holding a heart, 'Love and feare God.' (English, eighteenth century.) Gold, massive, 'Virtus est pretiosa gemma. Auribus frequentius quam linguâ utere.' Outside, in Gothic letters, Voluptate capiuntur homines non minus quam hamo pisces.' (Modern English.) A double-line gold wedding-ring in the collection of Mr. J. W. Singer bears the words :
Them which God copleth Let no man put them asonder.
This ring is a very early sixteenth-century one, and shows that wedding-rings were not, formerly, the plain ones of the present day, but were ornamented with fine work. Mr. Singer has several rings of this description, ornamented in the same way.
Je sui ici en liu dami (Je suis ici en lieu d'ami).
No treasure like a treu freind. (Eighteenth century.) Not to but on, till life be gon.
Correct our ways; Love all our dayes.
Hearts united live contented.
No cut to unkindness.
Conceave consent, confirme content.
No recompenc but remembrance.
Vertue only bringeth felicitie. [The above nine rings from the Braybrooke Collection.] From the Waterton Collection in the South Kensington Museum:
Amour Merci. (French, fourteenth century.) Pensez deli Parkisvici (pensez de lui par que je suis ici), (English, early fifteenth century.) Je. le. de. sir.
Por tous jours. (English, late fifteenth century.) (English, fifteenth century.) Nul sans peyn; inside, Sans mal desyr. (English, early sixteenth century.) + My worldely joye alle my trust + hert, thought, lyfe, and lust. (English, early sixteenth century.) A plain gold hoop ring, inscribed within with a heart pierced with an arrow, and the word 'Eygen,' a star, and the word 'Uwer.' (Dutch or German, sixteenth century.) Devx. corps. vng. ever. (English, sixteenth century.) C'est mon plaisir. (English, sixteenth century.) + Quant. dieu. plera. melior. sera. (English, sixteenth century.) Pour bien. (English, sixteenth century.) My wille were. (English, sixteenth century.) Time. deum. me. ama.
R qd IE (English, sixteenth century.) + Observe Wedloke; inside, Memento mori. (English, sixteenth century.) Loyalte na peur. (French, seventeenth century.) Let liking last. (English, seventeenth century.) This sparke will grow (set with a diamond). (English, seventeenth century.) Accept this gift of honest love, which never could nor can remove. 1. Hath tide. 2. Mee sure. 3. Whilst life. 4. Doth last. (English, seventeenth century.) + MB. Remember + the (a heart) + that + is + in + payne. (English, seventeenth century.) Time lesseneth not my love. (English, seventeenth century.) In constancie I live and dye. (English, seventeenth century.) Love the truth. (English, seventeenth century.) My promise past shall always last. (English, eighteenth century.) You have me hart. (Lady's betrothal ring. English, eighteenth century.) Love ever. (English, seventeenth century.) Love true, 'tis joy. (English, early seventeenth century.) Love me. (English, eighteenth century.) Keepe. fayth. till. deth.
I fancy noe butt thee alone. + Not this but mee; * yf. this. then me.
Wheare grace is found Love doth abound.
My soul will keep thine company to heaven.
Mr. Singer informs me that his early pre-Reformation wedding-rings have the motto prefaced with a cross, and, as this died out, the remains of a cross, in a kind of rude star, sometimes carried on between each word.
Mr. Singer has one bronze wedding-ring with a motto, found in Wiltshire, but numerous silver ones.
Ma vie et mon amour Finiront en un jour.
Dieu nous unisse Pour son service.
Seconde moi pour te rendre heureuse.
Nos deux cœurs sont unis.
En ma fidélité je finirai ma vie.
Domine dirige nos.
Let us agree.
Continue constant.
My love is true To none but you.
The gift is small, But love is all.
In God and thee My joy shall be.
Let not absence banish love.
Love in thee is my desire.
Whear this i giue I wish to liue.
Let vs loue Like turtle doue.
God saw thee Most fit for me (on the wedding-ring of the wife of John Dunton, the bookseller).
God did decree this unitie.
Where hearts agree, there God will be.
I have obtained whom God ordained.
Virtue passeth riches.
No force can move affixed Love.