Gleanings in Graveyards Part 17

The world's an Inn, and I her guest: I've eat and drank and took my rest, With her awhile, and now I pay Her lavish bill and go my way.

BARKBY.

Francis Fox, vicar, died 1662.

My debt to Death is paid unto a sand, And pay thou must, that there doth reading stand; And am laid down to sleep, till Christ from high Shall raise me, although grim Death stand by.

HARBY.

Mary Hill, died 1784.

With pain and sickness wasted to a bone, Long time to gracious Heaven I made my moan; Then G.o.d at length to my complaint gave ear, And sent kind Death to ease my pain and care.

Physicians could no longer save the life Of a tender mother and a loving wife.

Lincolns.h.i.+re.

The following quaint memorials of the unhonoured dead, are by the minister of the small and retired village of Waddingham. They have, at all events, the charm of originality, and were long ago inscribed in that quiet nook, where "many a holy text around is strewn, teaching the rustic moralist to die."

In love we liv'd, in peace did part, All tho it cot us to the heart.

O dear-what thoughts whe two had To get for our 12 Children Bread; Lord! send her health them to maintain:- I hope to meet my love again.

O angry death yt would not be deny'd, But break ye bonds of love so firmly ty'd!

She was a loving wife, a tender nurse, And a faithful friend in every case.

SLEAFORD.

On Henry Fox, a weaver.

Of tender threads this mortal web is made, The woof and warf, and colours early fade; When pow'r divine awakes the sleeping dust, He gives immortal garments to the just.

On the south side of the Sleaford Church, sculptured in the cornice of the water-table, is the following inscription:-

Here lyeth William Harebeter, and Elizabeth, his wife.

Cryest ihu graunte yem everlastyng lyfe.

It is noticed in Gough's great work on Sepulchral Monuments, where, speaking of inscriptions cut on the ledges of stones, or raising them in high relief, he says, "Of this kind on public buildings, I know not a finer sample than in the water-table, on the south side of Sleaford Church."

On William Gibson.

Who lies here?-Who do you think?

'Tis poor WILL GIBSON,-give him some drink; Give him some drink, I'll tell you why, When he was living, he always was dry.

WAINFLEET.

Peck has given from the Palmer MS. the following Epitaph, than which nothing can be more pompous or ridiculous:-

On a monument erected in 1735.

Near this place, lye the remains of Edward Barkham, Esq.

Who in his life time at his own expense Erected the stately altar piece in this church; Furnished the communion table With a very rich crimson velvet carpet, a cus.h.i.+on of the same, and a beautiful Common Prayer book; Likewise with two large flagons, a chalice with a cover, together with a paten, All of silver plate.

But above all (& what may very justly preserve his name to latest posterity) he gave and devised by will To the curate of Wainfleet St. Mary's and his successor for ever The sum of 35. per ann. (over and above his former salary) with this clause, viz.

'provided the said curate and his successors do and shall read prayers and preach once every Sunday in the year for ever.'

So extraordinary an instance of securing a veneration for the most awful part of our religion, And so rare and uncommon a zeal For promoting G.o.d's wors.h.i.+p every Lord's Day.

RAUCEBY.

Near this place are interred the wives of Richard Jessap; viz.-Alice, on Sept. 27, 1716, aged 25, and Joanna, on Aug. 31, 1720, aged 29.

How soon ye objects of my love By death were s.n.a.t.c.ht from me; Two loving matrons they did prove, No better could there be.

One child the first left to my care, The other left me three.

Joanna was beyond compare, A phnix rare was she; Heaven thought her sure too good to stay A longer time on earth, In childbed therefore as she lay, To G.o.d resign'd her breath.

LINCOLN.

Here lyeth the body of Michael Honeywood, D.D.

Who was grandchild, and one of the Three hundred and sixty-seven persons, That Mary the wife of Robert Honeywood, Esq.

Did see before she died, Lawfully descended from her, viz.

Sixteen of her own body, 114 grand children, 288 of the third generation, and 9 of the fourth.

Mrs. Honeywood Died in the year 1605, And in the 78th year of her age.