Bristol.
_Tombstone in Churchyard_ (Vol. vii., p. 331.).--In Ecclesfield
churchyard is the following inscription, cut in bold capitals, and as
legible as when the slab was first laid down:
"Here lieth the bodie of Richard Lord, late Vicar of
Ecclesfield, 1600."
If, however, A. C.'s Query be not limited to slabs in the open air, he
will probably be interested by the following, copied by me from the
floors of the respective churches, which are all in this neighbourhood.
The first is from the unused church of St. John at Laughton-le-Morthing,
near Roche Abbey, and is, according to Mr. Hunter, one of the earliest
specimens of a monumental inscription in the vernacular:
"Here lyeth Robt. Dinningto' and Alis his wyfe. Robert dyed [=i]
y'e fest of San James M'mo ccc iiij'xx xiij'mo. Alis dyed o'
Tisday [=i] Pas. Woke, a'o D[=n]i M'o ccc'mo xxx'o whose saules
God assoyl for is m'cy. Ame'."
The next three are partly pewed over; but the uncovered parts are
perfectly legible. The first two are from Tankersley, the third from
Wentworth:
"Hic jacet d[=n]s Thomas Toykyl ... die mensis Aprilis anno
d[=n]i M. cccc. lxxxx. sc[=d]o...."
" ... Mensis Octob. an[=o] dni Milli[=m]o cccc. xxx. quinto."
" ... An[=o] d[=n]i Millesimo cccc. xxxx. vi. cuius ai[=e] deus
propitietur."
Also in Ecclesfield Church is a slab bearing the dates 1571, and J. W.
1593; and the remains of two others, with dates "M'o ccccc'o xix'o," and
"M'o ccccc'o xxx'o vi'o."