Gleanings in Graveyards Part 10

To the memory of Herbert George Anna, a third child, all born at one birth, the son and daughters of Samuel and Mary Lines, of this parish, who departed this life 30th of April, 1847, aged 3 days.

Weep not for me my mother dear, Rather be you glad; In this world our time was short,- The longer rest we have.

STANFORD.

Here lies the body of Richard Clarke, who died ---- Aged -- years, Who lies here? Who do you think?

Poor old Clarke-give him some drink.

What! dead men drink? The reason why,- When he was alive he was always dry.

And four of his children.

LITTLE ILFORD.

In Memory of Smart Leithceulier, Esq.

A Gentleman of polite literature and elegant taste; an encourager of art and ingenious artists; a studious promoter of literary inquiries; a companion and friend of learned men; industriously versed in the science of antiquity; and richly possessed of the curious productions of Nature: but who modestly desired no other inscription on his tomb than what he had made the rule of his life:-

"To do justly-to love mercy- And to walk humbly with his G.o.d."

Born, November 3, 1701. Died without issue.

August 27, 1760.

GREAT COGGESHALL.

To the Memory of Thomas Hanse.

"Lord, thy grace is free,-why not for me?"

This man dying greatly in debt, and being a bankrupt, one of his creditors, being ruined by him, wrote under it:-

And the Lord answered and said,- "Because thy debts a'nt paid!"

ROXWELL.

J. F. Hefeall.

With long affliction I was sore oppressed, Till G.o.d in goodness kindly gave me rest; I left my widow'd wife and children dear To His all gracious, providential care, Who said do thou alone depend- Who am the widow and the orphan's friend.

STONDON.

"Who lists to se and knowe himselfe, May loke upon this glase, And vew the beaten pathe of dethe, Which he shall one day pa.s.se; Which way J. Rainford Kellingworth, With patient mind, have gone,- Whose body here, as death hath changed, Lies covered with this stone; When dust to dust is brought again, The earth she hath her owne,- This shall the lot of all men be, Before the trumpe be blowne!"

April 17th, 1575.

WALTHAM ABBEY.

To Sir Edward Denny.

"Learn, curious reader, ere thou pa.s.s, That once Sir Edward Denny was A courtier of the chamber, A soldier of the fielde,- Whose tongue could never flatter, Whose heart could never yield!"

On a decayed monument in Horndon Church is the following inscription:-

"Take, gentle marble, to thy trust, And keep unmixed this _sacred dust_- Grow moist sometimes that I may see Thou weep'st in sympathy with me; And when, by him I here shall sleep, My ashes also safely keep- And from rude hands preserve us both, until We rise to Sion's Mount from Horndon-on-the-Hill."

Paul Whitehead, Esq.

Of Twickenham, December, 1774.

"Unhallow'd hands, this urn forbear, No gems, nor Orient spoil, Lie here conceal'd, but what's more rare,- A _heart_ that knows no guile!"

STANFORD.

On a bra.s.s plate in this church is the following inscription:-

"Before this tabernaculle lyeth buryed Thomas Greene, some tyme bayle of this towne, Margaret, and Margaret, his wyves-which Thomas dyed the 8th day of July, 1535. The which Thomas hath wylled a prest to syng in this church for the s.p.a.ce of 20 years, for hym, his wyves, his children, and all men's soules. And, moreover, he hath wylled an obyte, to be kept the 8th day of July, for the term of twenty years, for the soules aforesaid, and, at every tyme of the said obyte, bestowed 20s. of good lawful money of England."

On the south wall are the following lines, ih memory of Anne, wife of William Napper, who died in 1584:-

In token of whose vertuous lyfe, And constant sacred love, And that her memory should remaine, And never hence remove, Her husband, in his tyme of lyfe, This monument did leave his wyfe.

CHIGWELL.