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. (English, late fifteenth century.) Por tous jours. (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. q̄d̄ R/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.