“Here lieth the remains of Etheldreda, the wife of Basil Brooke,
Knight, a woman not only well-skilled in the knowledge of the Latin,
Italian, French, and Spanish languages, and in the science of music,
but also exemplary for piety, faith, prudence, courage, chastity, and
gentle manners. She left to lament her loss a husband, with an only
son, named Thomas, and five daughters, namely—Anne, the wife of
William Fitzherbert, Esquire, the grandson of Henry, Lord Chief
Justice of the Common Pleas, eminent for his commentary on our laws;
Mary, the wife of Thomas More, a descendant of that renowned
character, Thomas More, formerly Lord High Chancellor of England, a
man in his life and death universally esteemed; Dorothy, Agatha, and
Catherine, all of whom were of amiable dispositions. She died in the
year of our Lord —” (the date is defaced).
The original is in Latin. The pillared arches and backs of the recesses
are elaborately carved.
In “Villages and Village Churches,” published a few years ago, in
describing Claverley, we stated that the present vicarage was supposed at
one time to have been the residence of the Lord Chief Justice, whose
likeness is carved upon one of the timbers. We also described a
magnificent tomb of Lord Chief Justice Brooke, in the north-east corner
of the Gatacre chancel, which is both elaborate and imposing. On the top
are recumbent figures of the Lord Chief Justice in his official robes,
and of his two wives, with ornamental head-gear, mantles, ruffs, ruffles,
&c., of the period; and round the tomb are their eighteen children, also
in the respective costumes of their time. On the outside is the
following inscription, in Old English characters:—
“Here lyeth the body off Robert Brooke, famous in his time for virtue
and learning; advanced to be com’on Serjaunt of the Citie of London,
Recorder of London, Serjaunt at Law, Speaker of P’lyament, and Cheife
Justice of the Com’en Pleace, who visiting his frendes and country,
deceasd the 6th day of September 1558, after he had begotton of Anne
and Dorothee, his wiefs, XVIII children. Upon whose sowles God have
mercy.”