Deciphering Latin words on window

[ruthandsam]

Can you help me work out what this window says?

Thanks

<a target='_blank' href='http://img826.imageshack.us/i/030820100
15.jpg/'><img
src='http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/7964/
03082010015.th.jpg'
border='0'/></a>

Uploaded with <a target='_blank' href='http://imageshack.us'>ImageShack.us</a>

[jno]

that picture comes up about 2 inches square on my screen, so no.

This is the one, is it? Your URL is a bti mangled

http://img826.imagesh...64/03082010015.th.jpg

[ABerrant]

Remove the '.th' for thumbnail...

http://img826.imagesh.../7964/03082010015.jpg

[jno]

huh, gave me an Error 404 when I tried that; however, ABerrant's version seems to have worked. But I can't really make out the Gothic script, too many indistinguishable downstrokes. Virtus praest... industria... nil... nec... nec timide

Not much help, sorry

[ABerrant]

My bash at it...

Virtus praestit divitus
Industria nil impossibile
Aortem...
Nec temere nec timide


Virtue surpasses riches
To the diligent nothing is impossible
?
Neither rashly nor timidly

[jno]

that sounds plausible. I think it's fortem (though 'chance' hardly seems to be the message here), but can't make out the next words.

Is this some sort of William Morris-era work? Odd that 'impossibile' seems to use the long 's' that looks like an 'f'.

[ABerrant]

Fortem posce animum

Pray for (seek, demand) a brave heart (mind, spirit, will)

[jno]

that looks like it - well read! A sort of quasi-medieval self-improvement manual, then.

[ruthandsam]

Thank you so much! Discovered this window in a beautiful building whilst on a course in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Alas, some of it is being used as offices and the other has been left to go to rack and ruin...........