Being on a visit to some friends on the confines of the county of Salop,
bordering on Herefordshire, I took the opportunity long cherished of
visiting the spot where lie the remains of the author of _Boscobel;
Fragmenta Antiquitatis, or Ancient Tenures of Land, and Jocular Customs of
Manors, &c._, and copied the following inscription from his monument, in
the chancel of the ancient church of Orleton in the latter county. I
believe it has never been published; and although neither Note nor Query is
connected with it, it may serve to fill up a corner in your valuable
miscellany, and thus preserve from the oblivion of a retired country
church, a memorial of one well known to the antiquarian world of
literature. It is on a brass plate inserted in a stone monument against the
wall of the chancel:
"D.O.M.
Hic seminatur Corpus Animale
Spiritale resurrecturum
THOMAE BLOUNT.
De Orleton in agro Herefordiensi Armigeri,
Ex interiori Templo Londini J Cti.
Viri priscis Moribus avitae Fidei,
Vitae integerrimae, Pietatis solidae,
Fidelitatem, Dilectionem, Amorem, Charitatem,
In Principem, Suos, Amicos, Omnes,
Illibate coluit.
Uxorem duxit
Annam
Filiam Eadmundi Church Armigeri
E Maldonia East Saxonum.
Unica Corporis prole.
(Elizabetha)
Mentis multiplici
(Libris utilissimis)
Familiam propagavit, perennavit Famam.
Requiem, Lector, si fas ducis, huic apprecare
Et melior abi.
Obiit Decembris 26, 1679. AEtatis 61.
----
Pientissima Coniunx
moerens
Posuit."
The village of Orleton is celebrated for a very large annual fair, which
occurs on April 23; and a saying is connected therewith: "That the cuckoo
always comes on Orleton fair-day;" which has doubtless arisen from the
circumstance, that this "messenger of spring" generally arrives in this
country by that day.