Curious Epitaphs Part 22

Not Siloam's ruinous tower the victims slew, Because above the many sinn'd the few, Nor here the fated lightning wreaked its rage By vengeance sent for crimes matur'd by age.

For whilst the thunder's awful voice was heard, The little suppliant with its hands uprear'd.

Addressed her G.o.d in prayers the priest had taught, His mercy craved, and His protection sought; Learn reader hence that wisdom to adore, Thou canst not scan and fear His boundless power; Safe shalt thou be if thou perform'st His will, Blest if he spares, and more blest should He kill.

From Bury St. Edmunds is the following inscription which tells a sad story of the low value placed on human life at the close of the eighteenth century:--

Reader, Pause at this humble stone it records The fall of unguarded youth by the allurements of vice and treacherous snares of seduction.

SARAH LLOYD On the 23rd April, 1800, in the 22nd year of her age, Suffered a just and ignominious death.

For admitting her abandoned seducer in the dwelling-house of her mistress, on the 3rd of October, 1799, and becoming the instrument in his hands of the crime of robbery and housebreaking.

These were her last words: "May my example be a warning to thousands."

A lover at York inscribed the following lines to his sweetheart, who was accidentally drowned, December 24th, 1796:--

Nigh to the river Ouse, in York's fair city, Unto this pretty maid death shew'd no pity; As soon as she'd her pail with water fill'd Came sudden death, and life like water spill'd.

In Holy Trinity Church, Hull, is an elegant marble monument by Earle, with figures of a mother and two children. The inscription tells a painful story, and is as follows:--

OUR JOHN WILLIAM,

In the sixteenth year of his age, on the night of January 19th, 1858, was swept by the fury of a storm, from the pierhead, into the sea. We never found him--he was not, for G.o.d took him; the waves bore him to the hollow of the Father's hand. With hope and joy we cherished our last surviving flower, but the wind pa.s.sed over it, and it was gone.

An infant brother had gone before, October 15th, 1841. In heaven their angel does always behold the face of our Father.

To the memory of these

We, their parents, John and Louisa Gray erect this monument of human sorrow and Christian hope. "Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight!"

The record of the death of the parents follows.

An accidental death is recorded on a tombstone in Burton Joyce churchyard, placed to the memory of Elizabeth Cliff, who died in 1835:--

This monumental stone records the name Of her who perished in the night by flame Sudden and awful, for her h.o.a.ry head; She was brought here to sleep amongst the dead.

Her loving husband strove to damp the flame Till he was nearly sacrificed the same, Her sleeping dust, tho' by thee rudely trod, Proclaims aloud, prepare to meet thy G.o.d.

A tombstone in Creton churchyard states:--

On a Thursday she was born, On a Thursday made a bride, On a Thursday put to bed, On a Thursday broke her leg, and On a Thursday died.

From Kingsbridge, Devons.h.i.+re, we have the following:--

Here I lie, at the chancel door, Here I lie, because I'm poor: The farther in, the more you pay, Here I lie as warm as they.

In the churchyard of Kirk Hallam, Derbys.h.i.+re, a good specimen of a true Englishman is buried, named Samuel Cleater, who died May 1st, 1811, aged 65 years. The two-lined epitaph has such a genuine, st.u.r.dy ring about it, that it deserves to be rescued from oblivion:--

True to his King, his country was his glory, When Bony won, he said it was a story.

A monument in Bakewell Church, Derbys.h.i.+re, is a curiosity, blending as it does in a remarkable manner business, loyalty, and religion:--

To the memory of MATTHEW STRUTT, of this town, farrier, long famed in these parts for veterinary skill. A good neighbour, and a staunch friend to Church and King. Being Churchwarden at the time the present peal of bells were hung, through zeal for the house of G.o.d, and unremitting attention to the airy business of the belfry, he caught a cold, which terminated his existence, May 25, 1798, in the 68th year of his age.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SHORTHAND EPITAPH IN OLD ST. MARY'S CHURCH, SCULCOATES.

_From a Photo by Wellsted & Son, Hull._]

The old church of St. Mary's, Sculcoates, Hull, contains several interesting monuments, and we give a picture from a specially taken photograph for this volume of a quaint-looking mural memorial, having on it an inscription in shorthand. In Sheahan's "History of Hull," the following translation is given:--

In the vault beneath this stone lies the body of Mrs. JANE DELAMOTH, who departed this life, 10th January, 1761. She was a poor sinner, but not wicked without holiness, departing from good works, and departed in the faith of the Catholic Church, in full a.s.surance of eternal happiness, by the agony and b.l.o.o.d.y sweat, by the cross and pa.s.sion, by the precious death and burial, by the glorious resurrection and ascension of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

We believe that the foregoing is a unique epitaph, at all events we have not heard of or seen any other monumental inscription in shorthand.

The following curious epitaph is from Wirksworth, Derbys.h.i.+re:--

Near this place lies the body of PHILIP SHULLCROSS,

Once an eminent Quill-driver to the attorneys in this Town. He died the 17th of Nov., 1787, aged 67.

Viewing Philip in a moral light, the most prominent and remarkable features in his character were his zeal and invincible attachment to dogs and cats, and his unbounded benevolence towards them, as well as towards his fellow-creatures.

TO THE CRITIC.

Seek not to show the devious paths Phil trode, Nor tear his frailties from their dread abode, In modest sculpture let this tombstone tell, That much esteem'd he lived, and much regretted fell.

At Castleton, in the Peak of Derbys.h.i.+re, is another curious epitaph, partly in English and partly in Latin, to the memory of an attorney-at-law named Micah Hall, who died in 1804. It is said to have been penned by himself, and is more epigrammatic than reverent. It is as follows:--

To The memory of MICAH HALL, Gentleman, Attorney-at-Law, Who died on the 14th of May, 1804, Aged 79 years.

Quid eram, nescitis; Quid sum, nescitis; Ubi abii, nescitis; Valete.

This verse has been rendered thus:--

What I was you know not-- What I am you know not-- Whither I am gone you know not-- Go about your business.

In Sarnesfield churchyard, near Weobley, is the tombstone of John Abel, the celebrated architect of the market-houses of Hereford, Leominster, Knighton, and Brecknock, who died in the year 1694, having attained the ripe old age of ninety-seven. The memorial stone is adorned with three statues in kneeling posture, representing Abel and his two wives; and also displayed are the emblems of his profession--the rule, the compa.s.s, and the square--the whole being designed and sculptured by himself. The epitaph, a very quaint one, was also of his own writing, and runs thus:--

This craggy stone a covering is for an architector's bed; That lofty buildings raised high, yet now lyes low his head; His line and rule, so death concludes, are locked up in store; Build they who list, or they who wist, for he can build no more.

His house of clay could hold no longer May Heaven's joys build him a stronger.

JOHN ABEL.

Vive ut vivas in vitam aeternam.

In the churchyard of Walcott, Norfolk, the following cynical epitaph may be seen:--

In memory of WILLIAM WISEMAN, who died 5th of August, 1834, aged 72 years.

Under this marble, or under this sill, Or under this turf, or e'en what you will, Whatever an heir, or a friend in his stead, Or any good creature, shall lay o'er my head, Lies one who ne'er cared, and still cares not a pin What they said, or may say, of the mortal within, But who, living and dying, serene, still, and free, Trusts in G.o.d that as well as he was he shall be.

From Gilling churchyard, Richmonds.h.i.+re, is the following:--