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Monumental Inscriptions in the Parish Church of St. Mary, Bletchley

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In 1847 George Lipscomb in his "The History and Antiquities of the County of Buckingham" lists the following monumental inscriptions from the Parish Church at Bletchley:

"An Epitaph on a plate of brass is affixed to the north wall of the chancel, on which are several types and figures, and the inscription following:

 

Qui multos ad justiciam adducunt, ut Stellæ
semper splendebunt. Dan. xii. 3.
THO. SPARKE SSæ.
Theol. Dr. celeber hujus Eccl. Rector vigilantissimus.

On a shield within the verge, near the face of the Portrait:

 

Scutum Fidei.

On another:

 

Arma nostra sunt spiritualia.

Over the head:

 

Mortuus Ao. Dom. 1616, Oct. 8, ætatis suæ 68.

Then the figure of Rose Spark, his wife, and this verse:

 

En renovata tamen ista caduca Rosa est.

Next, an Angel sounding a trumpet, and

 

Mors tegit; at retegit nuncius iste Tubâ.

Then follow the titles of his Books, viz.:

Exhortatio ad Conformitatem Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, Libellus de Successione: Responsio ad Johan. de Albinis: Catechism: Concion. Funeb. Vis naturæ ac Virtus Vitæ, Explicatio: Myster, Pietatis: Conscientiæ gravatæ Levamen.

On which titles, these verses:

 

Vindex Fama Libros fatali tollit ab urnâ:
Sic Scintilla micat, quam tegit atra cinis.
Non extincta, sepulta licet, Scintilla; favilla est.

On another part of the Monument, pointing to his sons:

 

Filioli charissimi, cavete vobis ab Idolis.   1 Joh. v. 21.
Bis geniti, retinete Fidem, Zelumque paternum;
Hæredes vestri sic decet esse Patris;
Sic decet; O mea tunc qua molliter ossa cubabunt.
Si licet in Natis sic superesse meis.
SCINTILLAM SCINTILLA meam si vestra sequitur,
Orba suâ flammâ non erit Ara Dei.

Over the left shoulder of the Portrait, pointing towards his Congregation:

 

Deum adorata.   Rev. xxii. 9.

Over the heads of the people:

 

Ut sacra in Populo signatur Epistola Pauli
Sic mea in hoc sancto lucet Imago Grege.
Corporis in Tabulâ datur imp'fecta, sed illa
Cordib' in vestris viva figura mei est.
Viva mei dixi? Christi at sit vera figura,
Sat mihi si Populus vera figura Dei.

At the bottom:

Hoc Monumentum Tho. Sparke filius & Hæres pietatis ergo moerens posuit. Non ita vixi, ut me pudeat vixisse; neque mori timeo, quia bonum Dominum habemus.

 

Against the south wall is an atchievement, with these Arms, in a lozenge:

Arg. on a fess Gu. three escalops, Or. between three lioncels ramp. with an escutcheon of pretence, Or. two bars Az. in Chief a lion passant Az. crowned, Or. Motto: In coelo salus.   Below: A scull.

 

On the north side, within the communion rails, is a mural monumental tablet of black marble, within a border of white, profusely decorated with carving, tracery, and emblems. At the upper part is a large gilt diadem, with an angle on each side, supporting it. Lower down, within a circle, a cross, formed by four sceptres, and these words:

 

CORONA FIDEI reposita est
atque dabitur sed vincenti.

On the dexter side, a head traced in faint outline, with a crown above it, and the words, Sepelitur Ars. On the sinister side: Arg. a chev. S. charged with three crescents Arg. between three Ogresses. Crest: The sun rising. Motto: Walk in the light. In the centre, the head of a female traced in outline, within a gilt circle; and bearing this inscription: "Keepe Faith till Death." On each side of the portrait:

   FAIETH   
   WALKER    		     WALKE   
   BY FAITH.   
Well did thy life, word, anagram, agree,
To WILL AND WALKE ARIGHT, was all to thee,
Thy tender yeares were gracious; all thy life
Was virtuous while a virgin, when a wife;
Here tou didst walke by Faith, but now above
By sight with Him thy soule did dearly love.
A happy change, thy life now full of blisse,
Thy Christ thy Husband, Heaven thy jointure is.

Within the tracing of a heart:

M.S.
To the pious Memory of that religious Gentlewoman, Mrs. Faieth Tayler, Daughter of Mr. William Walker, Minister of Chisweeke, in the Countie of Middlesex, and Grandchild of that Reverend Mr. Robert Key, Minister of Ware, in the County of Hartford. The deare wife of Mr. Edward Tayler, with whome shee lived nineteen years within five days, a most loving, faithful, and obedient wife; having issue three Sonnes, EDWARD, LIONEL, THEOPHILUS; and four Daughters, ANNE, JANE, ELIZABETH, MARY: whereof Anne, in her tenderest infancy went before her to Heaven; the other six survive to follow her godly example. Shee fell asleep in Christ, Anno Domini 1657, July 22d in the 47th year of her age.

Thy race is runn, deare hart, and what though Death,
Through thy swift pace hath made thee lose thy breath:
A little resting shall the same restore
Yea make 't immortal to be lost no more;
And while to rest thy body here lyes downe,
Thy soul takes sweet possession of the Crowne.

Requiesce in FIDE placidè: requiesce desiderat etiam ad migrandu,
Et te cum esse cum Christo maritus tuus moestissimi utriuq.
Coarctatus Edvardus Tayler, M.A. Hujus
Ecclesiæ Pastor indignus in tempore opportuno etiam reversurus.

On a circle, round the outlines of a man's head:

 

SERVAVI FIDEM CONSUMAVI CURSUM.

Towards the dexter side, a Greek inscription; and within a glory, another in Hebrew. Below which, are the following words reversed:

 

Quantum ad hoc mihi lucrum est mori.

On the sinister side, beneath six heads, placed like medallions, surrounding a gold heart, is another inscription in Greek, with the following:

 

Quantu ad hos p'manere in carne magis necessari.

And, below the delineation of a scull:

EDVARDUS TAYLER: conjux desolatissim' heu! lugubre hoc amoris monumentu amaro   SUPSTES ANIMO FIDI suæ dilectissimæ quod nollet nec non sibi posuit. An. Salutis 1657.

In the middle of the tablet:

Non obiit EDVARDUS TAYLER, sed abijt mortalitate magis finita quam vita Anno Dom. 1693, ætatis 83, minist. 33. qui coelesti nunc arce receptus ex parte sui dimidius una cum anima. FIDES suæ charissimæ cum CHRISTO vivit. Utrorumq. vero corpora in cubilibus suis hic juxta requiescentia expectant: beatam illum spem et illustrem illum adventum gloriæ magni illius DEI et servatoris nostri JESU CHRISTI Qui transmutabat corpus humilitatis nostræ ut sit in similitudine corporis. gloræ suæ.   AMEN.   AMEN.   VENI IGITUR DOMINE JESU.

On a shield of veined marble, below the tablet:

Arms: Arg. two bendlets S. in Chief a martlet: impaling Arg. between three Ogresses a chevron S. charged with three crescents Arg. Tayler impaling Walker

 

On a large slab of black marble, within the communion rails, close to the south wall:

 

Thomas Willis,
Thomæ Medici celeberrimi filius quem
Pietas in Deum et Ecclesiam sincera
Fides in Principem integra,
Constantia in amicitiis conservandis illibata,
Indulgentia in conjugem summa
Bonis omnibus maxime commendebant.
Ætatis suæ Anno XLI.
Annoque Salutis MDCXCIX.
Morte heu! immatura abreptus
H. S. E. P.
Browne Willis Thomæ filius primogenitus,
Dum erga Deum et Parentes pietatem ostendere conabatur
Et Monumentum optimis Parentibus
haud indignum
Erigere voluit Templun hoc
Quo eorum ossa sunt reconditæ
Anno Salutis repartæ
MDCCVo. exornavit.

Arms: A fess between three lioncels ramp. within a bordure charged with eight roundels; impaling a chevron charged with three escalops between as many storks. Crest: A demi-lion gorged, issuant from a mural crown. Willis and Browne.

On another slab, on the north side of the former:

 

M.S.
Aliciæ Roberti Browne Dorsettensis Arm. filæ
Thomæ Willis de Blechley Arm. Conjugis quæ
Tredecim liberorum mater
cum carissimi mariti
Desiderium ferre non potuisset
die post ejus obitum LIX
luctu et moerore confecta
Conjugem quæsitura
Anno Ætatis XXXV. Salutisque MDCXCIX.
v. Id. Januar. e vivis excessita
Browne Willis
Matri Benemerenti
Pietatis et doloris sui Testimonium
H. S. P. C.

Arms: in a lozenge, the sinister impalement of the coat last described.

 

On a slab, in the pavement:

Here lieth the body of Mrs Faith Disney, the widow of Mr Thomas Disney, Rector of Stoke-Hammond. She departed this life, April the 5th 1706, aged 30 years.

 

On another:

Here under resteth the body of Mrs Faith Tailer, the wife of Mr Edward Tailer, who departed this life the 22d of May 1657.

 

On another:

Hic subtus jacet corpus Edwardi Tayler, Clerici Hujus Ecclesiæ nuper Rectori.

 

There are also two ancient stones, on which are marks of protraitures in brass.

 

On a white marble frame, (surmounted with a rose) enclosing a black tablet:

HÆC MODO QUÆ TOTO RUTELAVERAT IGNE COMARUM PALLIDA COLLAPSIS DESERITUR FOLIJS.

On the black tablet:

Here under resteth the body of Rose, daughter of Andrew Inkfordby, Marchant of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, the only wife of Thomas Sparke, Doctor of Divinity, and Parson of this Church. She lived with him a lovinge helper fortie years, and bare unto him ten children, of whom five went to heaven before her, and five she left heare behinde her to follow her vertuous and godly example. She departed the 7th of Aug. 1615.

Sixty-eight years a fragrant rose she lasted,
Noe vile reproach her Virtues ever blasted;
Her autume past expects a glorious springe,
A second better life more flourishing.

Thomas Sparke filius natu maximus et moestissima posuit.

"Hearken to me, you holy children, and bringe forth fruites as the ROSE."   Eccles. XXXIX. 13.

In the north aisle of the chancel, which is set apart by a faculty for the burial of the family of Willis, is a raised altar-tomb, placed close to the wall at the north-east angle, having at the head, or west end, a shield, with the Arms of
Willis impaling Arg. a fess Gu. between two barulets gemelles wavy. Elliot.

On another, on the south side of the tomb:
Willis, with an escutcheon of pretence, being the sinister impalement of the coat last described.
Willis impaling a lion ramp.
Willis, with an inescutcheon of the last impalement.

On the black marble cover of the tomb, which is bordered with white, and decorated with lozenges in relief:

Willis impaling Elliot, as before.

Here under resteth the body of Catharine, the only child of Daniel Elliot, of Port Elliot, in the County of Cornwall, Esq. wife of Browne Willis, Esq. Lord of these Manors. By whom he had issue ten children, of which four sons and four daughters survived her, viz: Thomas, John, Henry, Elliot, Gertrude, Katharine, Maria, Alice. Both she and her husband were descended from the ancient Lords of this and the adjoining parish of Whaddon, where, departing this life at Whaddon-hall, October 2d Anno 1724, in the 38th year of her age; she was, according to her desire, here interred.

Affixed to the east wall, a little higher than the east end of the tomb, are the kneeling effigies in relievo, of a man in a doublet or short coat, kneeling; and eight smaller figures also kneeling behind him.

 

In the pavement of the aisle, on a lozenge of white marble:

Elliot Willis, A.M. Coll. Trinitatis Oxon. Scholaris ac hujus Ecclesiæ B.M.V. Rectoris. Obijt July 14, 1752. Anno Ætatis suæ 33.

 

On another marble:

Here lyeth the body of Jane, the daughter of Browne Willis, Esq. and Katherine his wife, who died at Whaddon-hall, November ye 25th 1710, aged 10 months and 14 days. Also, Catharine Susan Amelia, daughter of the Rev. Thomas Willis, Rector of this Parish, and of Catharine his wife. Obiit March 5th 1778, æt. 9 months.

 

On an atchievement, at the west end of the aisle, Arms:

Willis impaling Arg. a chevron Az. charged with three escalops Or. between three storks of the Second. Motto: In coelo salus.

 

In frames, hung up around this aisle or chapel, are these following coats of arms, with the respective inscriptions below:

Gu. three lioncels passant Arg. Crest: On a wreath Arg. and Gu. a stag's-head erased Proper.
Gualterus Giffard Comes de Buckingham Dom. Man. de Blecheley temp. Willi Imi. Ano. Dni. 1086.

Barry of six Arg. and Az. Crest: On a wreath, a Wyvern.
Hen. de Grey, Dom. Man. de Blecheley temp. Johan 1199.

Barry of six Arg. and Az. in Chief, a label of five points Gu. Crest: On a wreath, a Wyvern.
Hen. Grey Baro Grey de Wilton dicti. H. soboles Man. de Eton et Waterhall et dimid. Blecheley cujus Posteri his Man. et tit freti sunt sum p'pet Patron Eccl. B.M.V. de Blecheley a temp. Edv. 3tii. usq. ad temp. Jacobi primi.

Barry of six Arg. and Az. in Chief three Torteauxes. Crest: On a chapeau Gu. turned up Erm. a Wyvern.
Reginald de Grey Baro Grey de Ruthin Dom. Man. de West Blecheley temp. Edw. III. Ano. Dom. 1355, cujus Progen. postea Comites de Kent hoc Man. tenuerunt usq. ad An. 1630.

Arg. on a cross Gu. five escalops Or. within a garter, and surmounted by a ducal coronet.
George Villers, Dux de Buckingham, temp. Jacob. 1mi A.D. 1628.

Arg. a fess between three lioncels ramp. Gu. within a border of the Second charged with eight Bezants. Crest: on a wreath, a lion ramp. Gu.
Thomas Willis, M.D. Dominus totius Manerii de Blecheley, temp. Caroli secundi A. Dom. 1675.

Arg. a fess Gu. charged with three fleurs-de-lis, Or.
Matt. Disney, A.M. hujus Eccl. Rector pacificus, residens, et homo antiquæ familiæ, doctrina modestia, caritate, et bonis moribus præditus. Obiit Jan. 23, 1715, ætatis 60.

 

On a black tablet, affixed to the wall of the south aisle of the Church, near the east end:

Sacred to the memory of Henry Stubbings, who died Feb. 15th 1794, aged 57 years. Also of Sarah his wife, who died May 31st 1814, aged 76 years. Also of Henry Watkins Stubbings, grandson of the above, who died April 11th 1810, aged 5 years. Also of Thomas Hogg, who died Oct. 8th 1818, aged 82 years. Also of Jane his wife, who died Sept. 9th 1813, aged 78 years. Also of Ann their daughter, who died Oct. 9th 1815, aged 43 years.

This Monument is placed here to perpetuate the memory of the best parents, by William Henry Stubbings, a native of this village: late Master of the Academy in Winslow, in this County, but now of Newnham near Daventry, in the County of Northampton, A.D. 1822. Sola salus servare Deo Palma non sine pulvere.

Sacred to the Memory of Henry Watkins Stubbings, who died on the 17th of August 1824, aged 50. He was formerly Master of Winslow Academy in this County, and late of Newnham Academy in the County of Northampton; and was universally respected by all to whom he was known."