Gleanings in Graveyards Part 7

Under this stone lies three children dear, Two be buried at Tawton, and the other here?

Here is a still more entertaining one, upon a certain lady in Devons.h.i.+re, singularly free from any nonsensical pretence or idle bravado:-

"Here lies Betsy Cruden, She wood a leaf'd but she cooden, 'Twas na grief na sorrow as made she decay, But this bad leg as carr'd she away."

KINGSWEAR.

Vos qui ici venez Pur l'alme Philip priez, Trente jours de pardon Serra vostre guerdon.

KING'S TEIGNTON.

On Richard Adlam.

Richardus Adlam hujus ecclesiae Vicarius obit Feb. 10, 1670. Apostrophe ad Mortem.

"Dam'n'd tyrant, can't profaner blood suffice?

Must priests that offer be the sacrifice?

Go tell the genii that in Hades lye Thy triumphs o'er this Sacred Calvary, Till some just Nemesis avenge our cause, And force this kill-priest to revere good laws!"

EXETER.

Billeted here by death In quarters I remain, When the last trumpet sounds, I'll rise and march again.

KINGSBRIDGE.

On a man who was too poor to be buried with his relations in the Church:-

Here lie I, at the Chancel door; Here I lie, because I'm poor; The further in the more to pay; Here I lie as warm as they!

BIDEFORD.

"Her marriage day appointed was, And wedding-clothes provided, But when the day arrived did, She sickened and she died did."

"Here lies two brothers by misfortune surrounded, One died of his wounds and the other was drownded."

MILTON ABBOT.

To Bartholomew Doidge-And Joan his wife.

Joan was buried the 1st day of Feby.' 1681.

Bartholomew was buried the 12th day of Feby.' 1681.

"She first deceas'd-he a little try'd "To live without her-lik'd it not, and died."

AULIS-COMBE.

Here lie the remains of James Pady, Brickmaker, late of the parish, in hopes that his clay will be remoulded in a workmanlike manner, far superior to his former perishable materials.

Keep death and Judgement always in your eye, Or else the devil off with you will fly, And in his kiln with brimstone ever fry.

If you neglect the narrow road to seek, Christ will reject you, like a half Burnt Brick.

MAKER.

John Phillips, 1837.

Vain man, in health and strength do not confide, This I enjoyed, yet in my bloom I died.

Not long before as likely for to live, As any of the livliest sons of Eve.

But death may come in an untimely way, Therefore prepare against that solemn day.

John Linning, 1824.

Stop, reader! stop and view this stone, And ponder well where I am gone.

Then, pondering, take thou home this rhyme- The grave next opened may be thine.

Richard Snell, 1801.

At first I had a watery grave, Now here on earth a place I have; Wife and children don't weep for me, Fortune and Fate none can forsee.