Gleanings in Graveyards Part 11

This disease you ne'er heard tell on,- I died of eating too much mellon; Be careful, then, all you that feed-I Suffered because I was too greedy.

LEIGH.

Here lies the body of Mary Ellis, daughter of Thomas Ellis, and Lydia, his wife, of this parish. She was a virgin of virtuous character, and most promising hopes. She died on the 3rd of June, 1609, aged _one hundred and nineteen_.

Gloucesters.h.i.+re.

MINCHIN HAMPTON.

On Anne, daughter of Joseph Baynham, Died 16th Aug. 1632.

Shee had not spunn out Thirtie dayes, but G.o.d from paine took her to joyes; Let none their trust in worldly Bliss, All youth and age must come to This, but Manner how, place where, time when, Is known to G.o.d, but not to men; Watch, Pray, Repent, and sinne forsake, Lest, unprepared, Death thee should take,- Then happy Thou that so shall dye, To Live with G.o.d Eternalye.

RENDCOMBE.

In Memory of Robert Berkeley, Esq. who died Feb ye 2nd, 1690, aged 76 yeares.

And Rebecca, his wife, who died August ye 16th, 1707, Aged 83. This monument was erected by their most Dutiful and most obsequious Daughter, Rebecca Berkeley.

PAINSWICK.

My time was come! My days were spent!

I was called-and away I went! ! !

BRISTOL.

On Thos. Turar and Mary, his wife. He was Master of the Company of Bakers.

Like to the baker's _oven_ is the grave, Wherein the bodyes of the faithful have A setting in, and where they do remain, In hopes to rise and to be _drawn_ again; Blessed are they who in the Lord are dead, Tho' set like _dough_ they shall be drawn like _bread_!

Ye witty mortals! as you're pa.s.sing by, Remark that near this monument doth lie, Centered in dust, Described thus: Two Husbands, two Wives, Two Sisters, two Brothers, Two Fathers, a Son, Two Daughters, two Mothers, A Grandfather, a Grandmother, a Granddaughter, An Uncle, and an Aunt-their Niece follow'd after!

This catalogue of persons mentioned here Was only five, and all from incest free!

I went and 'listed in the Tenth Hussars, And gallopped with them to the b.l.o.o.d.y wars; "Die for your sovereign-for your country die!"

To earn such glory feeling rather shy, Snug I slipped home. But death soon sent me off, After a struggle with the hooping cough!

Here lies poor Charlotte, Who died no harlot; But in her virginity, Of the age nineteen, In this vicinity, Rare to be found or seen.

BERKELEY.

Here lies the Earl of Suffolk's fool, Men call'd him d.i.c.ky Pearce, His folly serv'd to make folks laugh, When wit and mirth were scarce.

Poor d.i.c.k, alas! is dead and gone!

What signifies to cry?

d.i.c.keys enough are still behind, To laugh at by and by.

Buried 1728.

CIRENCESTER.

Our bodies are like shoes, which off we cast,- Physic their coblers, and Death their last.

Mercye, G.o.d of my misdede; Ladye, help at my most neede; On a bra.s.s plate under theyre feete, Reye gracious I ha to Endles lyfe at thy grete dome, where alle Schalle apere, Hughe Norys Groe, and Johan, hys wyf, now dede in Grave and Buryed here; Yo P'yers desyringe therre soules for chere, the X day of July, the yere of oure Lorde G.o.d, MDCCCCCXXIX.

This epitaph appears on a flat stone, with the effigies of a man and woman.

On Two Infants.

Two lovelier babes ye nare did se Than G.o.d A'mighty gaed to we, Bus the was o'ertaken we agur (ague) fits, And hare tha lies as dead as nits!

NORTH CERNEY.

Here lieth, ready to start, in full hopes to save his distance, Timothy Turf, formerly Stud Groom to Sir Mamaduke Match'em, and Late Keeper of the Racing Stables on Cerney Downs:- But Was beat out of the world on the 1st of April last, by that inivincible ROCKINGHAM DEATH.

N.B.-He lived and died an honest man.