Gleanings in Graveyards Part 12

CHELTENHAM.

"Here lies I and my three daughters, Killed by a drinking the Cheltenham waters; If we had stuck to Epsom salts, We'd not been a lying in these here vaults."

MINCHIN HAMPTON.

To the Memory of Jeremiah Buck, Esq. died 1653.

J Intomb'd here lies a pillar of the State,- E Each good man's friend, to th' Poor compa.s.sionate, R Religion's patron, just men's sure defence, E Evil men's terror, guard of innocence; M Matchless for virtues which still shine most bright, I Impartially to all he gave their right; A Alas! that few to heart do truly lay, H How righteous men from earth depart away.

B By's death we loose, but he much gain acquires, V Vnto his body rest: His soul aspires C Celestial mansions where he, G.o.d on high, K Knows and enjoys to all eternity.

TEWKESBURY.

On Eleanor Freeman, aet. 21.

A Virgin blossom, in her May Of youth and virtues, turned to clay,- Rich earth, accomplish'd with those graces, That adorn saints in heavenly places; Let not death boast his conquering power, She'll rise a star that fell a flower.

THORNBURY.

Thomas Tyndale dyed the 28th of April, buried 31 May, 1571.

Ye see how death doth Spare no age nor Kynd, How I am lapt in Claye and dead you fynde, My Wife and Children lye here with me, No Gould, no friend, no strength, could ransome bee, The end of Vayne delighte and Ill Intente, The End of Care and Matter to repent, The End of faere for frynd and Worldly Wo, By Death we have; and of lyke thousand mo, And Death of Tymes in us hath made an End, So that nothing can ower Estate amend.

Who would not be Content such Change to make For worldly things Eternal Life to take.

RODMARTON.

On a bra.s.s plate, let into the stone, is the following:- Johns Yate Lond. ex Vico Basing Lane Naroec Aldermar.

Renatus 28 Iulii 1594. Coll. Em Cantab Olim Soc.

S. Th. B.

Inductus in hanc Eccl. vespijs Dominicae in Albis 1628 Mortalitatem exvit die 10 Jan Anno Doni 1668.

Nodvs Iob rediens vt venerat ecce recessit Rodmerton, quondam qui tibi pastor erat.

Is, qvia, qvae solitvs neqvit ex ambone monere Clamat et e tumvlo praedicat ista svo.

Mors tva, mors Christi, fravs mondi, gloria cli Et dolor inferni, svnt meditata tibi.

Trvst not the world remember deth, And often think of h.e.l.l: Think often on the great reward For those that do live well.

Repent, amend, then trvst in Christ, So thov in peace shalt dy;- And rest in bliss, and rise with Ioy And raine eternally.

Engraved on the Coffin of Mr. Pitcher, a noted Ale-house keeper in Gloucestershire.

Stop mourning friends and shed a grateful tear Upon thy once loved Pitcher's moving bier, He quits this world without regret or railing, Life's full of pain-he always has been aleing.

Resigned he fell contented with his lot, Convinced all Pitchers soon must go to Pot.

BEVERSTONE.

In memory of Katherine Purye, who died Dec. 1, 1604.

Ao 1604.

Dece 1. aetat. 67.

Quae defuncta jacet saxo tumulata sub illo Bis Cathara, haud ficto nomine, dicta fuit.

Nomen utrumque sonat mundam, puramque piamq Et vere nomen quod referebat, erat, Nam puram puro degebat pectore vitam, Pura fuit mundo, nunc mage pura Deo.- ???ta ?a?a?a t??? ?a?a?a??

Omnia pura puris, t.i.t. 1. ver. 15.

She whom this stone doth quietly immure In no feign'd way had twice the name of _Pure_: Pure, pious, clean, each name did signify, And truly was she what those names imply; For in pure paths, while yet she lived, she trod; Pure was she in this world, and now more pure with G.o.d.

TETBURY.

In a vault underneath lie interred several of the Saunderses, late of this parish, particulars the last day will disclose.-Amen.

ALMONDBURY.

Here lies alas! long to be lamented, Benjamin Dobbins, Gent., who left his Friends sorrowing. Feb. 2, 1760. Aged 42.

Hampshire.

WINCHESTER.

Here sleeps in peace a Hampshire grenadier, Who caught his death by drinking cold small beer; Soldiers beware, from his untimely fall, And, when your'e hot, drink strong, or none at all.

"Severely afflicted-, yet, when most depressed, Resigned, he endured it as all for the best, Praised G.o.d for his goodness, both present and past; He yielded his spirit in peace at the last.

"Let friend forbear to mourn and weep, While in the dust I sweetly sleep; This frailsome world I left behind, A crown of glory for to find.