The poor inhabitant below Was quick to learn and wise to know, And softer flame, But thoughtless follies laid him low, And stain'd his name? Reader attend-whether thy soul In low pursuit ; Know, prudent, cautious, self controul Is wisdom's root, ON THE EARL OF STRAFFORD, Here lies wise and valiant dust, Here lies blood, and let it lie King Charles I. sent a letter to Strafford during his confinement, in which he assured him, upon the word of a king, that he should not suffer in life, honour, or fortune.-Notwithstanding this secretary Carleton, waited on him, a short time after, to inform him, that the king had granted a commission to four lords to pass the bill of attainder; it was with some difficulty that he would believe the fatal tidings; but on being assured of their certainty, he rose up from his chair with marks of astonishment and horror, lifted up his eyes to heaven, laid his hand on his breast, and exclaimed, "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the sons of men, for in them there is no salvation." On the 12th of May, 1641, he was brought from the tower of London (where he had been a prisoner near six months) to the scaffold on Tower-hill, where with a composed and undaunted courage, he told the people, he was come thither to satisfy them with his head; but that he much feared, the reformation which was begun in blood, would not prove so fortunate to the kingdom as they expected, and he wished: and after great expressions of his devotion to the church of England, and the Protestant religion established by law, and professed in that church; of his loyalty to the king; and affection to the peace and welfare of the kingdom; with great tranquility of mind. he delivered his head to the block; where it was severed from his body at a blow. Many of the standers-by, who had not been over charitable to him in his life time, being much affected with the courage and christianity of his death. His body was carried to Wentworth-woodhouse, and there buried. His son William was restored by Charles II. to all his father's honours, and at the cast end of the church of Wentworth-woodhouse erected a monument for his father, with his statue kneeling, and under it on a black marble, this inscription in gold letters: THOMAS WENTWORTH, Earl of Strafford, viscount Wentworth, baron Wentworth of Wentworth-woodhouse, Newmarch, Oversley, and Raby, lord lieutenant of Ireland, Lord president of the north of England; And knight of the most noble order of the garter, His birth was upon Good Friday, The 13th of April, 1593, His death upon the 12th of May, 1641; His soul through the mercy of God lives in eternal bliss, And his memory Will never die in these kingdoms. ON LADY LUCY MEYRICK, Who died in Child-birth. Beneath this humble stone now rests inshrin'd, Adieu, blest shade, alas too early fled ! Without a groan with agonies she strove ; Heaven, wondering, snatch'd her to the joys above. ON THE MARQUIS OF WINCHELSEA. He who in pious times undaunted stood, On a Woman who had Three Husbands. Here lies the body of Mary Sextone, Who pleas'd three men and never vex'd one: On a Parson of a Country Parish. Come, let us rejoice, merry boys, at his fall, } At Bath Abbey, Somersetshire. Here lies the body of Mary, third daughter of Richard Frampton, of Moreton, in Dorsetshire, Esq. and of Jane his wife, sole daughter of Sir Francis Cottington, of Founthill in Wilts, who was born July 1st, 1676-7, and died after seven weeks sick ness. This monument was erected by Catharine Frampton, her second sister, and executrix, in testimony of her grief, affection, and gratitude, Below this marble monument is laid, All that heav'n wants of this celestial maid ; Such were the features of her heav'nly face: Because she had no guilty thought to hide ; |