Gleanings in Graveyards Part 9

Since Man to Man is so unjust, That no Man knows what man to trust, My Roads are good, my Toll's just, Pay to-day, to-morrow I'll trust.

WYKE.

In memory of Eniah Harisdin.

Also 4 sons who received the shock, Whereof 3 lies here, and one do not.

What caused their parents for to weep, Because that one lies in the Deep.

LILLINGTON.

I poorly lived, I poorly died, And when I was buried n.o.body cried.

Not born, not dead, not christen'd, not begot, So! here she lies, that was, and that was not; She was born, baptized, is dead, and what is more, Was in her life, not honest, not a ----- Reader, behold a wonder rarely wrought, And whilst thou seem'st to read, thou readest _not_.

DORCHESTER.

Frank from his Betty s.n.a.t.c.h'd by Fate, Shows how uncertain is our state; He smiled at morn, at noon lay dead- Flung from a horse that kick'd his head, But tho' he's gone, from tears refrain, At judgment he'll get up again.

SILTON.

Here lies a piece of Christ- a star in dust; A vein of gold-a china dish, that must- Be used in Heaven, when G.o.d shall feast the just.

Durham.

QUARRINGTON.

To the memory of Thomas Bouchier, dated 1635.

The petterne of conjugale love, the rare Mirroure of father's care; Candid to all, his ev'ry action penn'd The copy of a frend, His last words best, a glorious eve (they say) Foretells a glorious day, Erected and composed with teares by his pensive sonne, James Bouchier.

Amongst the ludicrous and eccentric Epitaphs, perhaps one of the worst is that at Gateshead, on Robert Trollop, architect of the Exchange and Town Court of Newcastle:-

"Here lies Robert Trollop, Who made yon stones roll up: When death took his soul up, His body filled this hole up."

Ess.e.x.

BRENTWOOD.

"Here lies Isaac Greentree."

A man pa.s.sing through the churchyard wrote as follows:-

There is a time when these green trees shall fall, And Isaac Greentree rise above them all.

MESSING.

Here lieth buried John Porter, Yeoman, who died 29th of April, 1600, who had issue eight sons and four daughters by one woman.

Learn to live by faith, as I did live before, Learn u to give in faith, as I did at my door, Learn u to keep by faith, as G.o.d be still thy store, Learn u to lend by faith, as I did to the poor; Learn u to live, to give, to keep, to lend, to spend, That G.o.d in Christ, at day of death, may prove thy friend.

CHELMSFORD.

Jane L. Andrews, aet. 22.

How could we wish for her to stay below, When joys in heaven for her prepared?

May we, like her, our pa.s.sport have, and know, a.s.suredly, that we shall gain admittance there; Then will her joys be ours, and own her cry,- We are content to live, but we would rather die.

"Here lies the man Richard, And Mary his wife; Their surname was Pritchard They lived without strife; And the reason was plain,- They abounded in riches, They had no care or pain, And his wife wore the breeches."

Martha Blewitt, of the Swan, Baythorn-End, of this Parish, buried May 7th, 1681.

Was the wife of nine Husbands successively, but the 9th outlived her.

The Text to her Funeral Sermon was:- "Last of all the Woman died also."

MALDON.