John Astley

“ Thus, thus to thee is made sure, the hope of life, which is life eternal.
Mary Hinton was the first wife of the Rev. Wm. Hinton, he was Vicar of S. Michael's for 40 years, being appointed 1583 and Archdeacon, 1584. He resigned the Vicarage in 1623, but retained the Archdeaconry until his death, 1631, he was interred during the night, but where is not known, probably beneath the chancel.
This brass was affixed to a marble slab on the North wall of the Chancel. ”

“ This monument was 17 22 Beautifyed in the Year
Thus translated—
"Remember thou must die, and in eternity thou shall not sin." “ Here lies John Brooke, a citizen of Coventry, born of a noble family, a worshipper of the Holy Deity, a most devout son of the Anglican Church, a most obliging friend, inferior to none of the ancients, a great ornament to his City, whom inexorable death carried off in the flower of his age, amid the lamentations of all good men, on the 4th day of August, A.D. 1679." ”

“ To record the bountiful gifts of this good man, would occupy too much space. Here in this Church twenty poor men assemble every Sunday, and by their presence testify to the goodness of Thomas Bond ; and twenty-five others receive a weekly pension by his liberality. He was Mayor of Coventry, 1497.
Dugdale states that the stone had a coat of arms above the brass, viz.: a chevron between three roundells, and three roundells in chief.
BB.
On Bath stone is recorded the death of the Rev. Robert Simpson, a Vicar of this parish—
"Sacred | to the memory of the | Rev. ”

“ Mary Ann and Letitia,
daughters of the above.
There was also a flat stone at the West end, recording the death of Thomas, William, and Letitia.
H.
Below on a stone let into the wall is a brass, 2 feet by 18 inches, formerly in the chancel, on which is the figure of a woman, in the attitude of prayer, and inscribed in capital letters—
"Her zealous care to serve her God,
Her constant love to husband deare
Her harmeles harte to everie one
Doth live although her corps lye here,
God graunte us all while glass doth run,
To live in Christ as she hath done. ”

“ The palm ; for first preferred, and 'mongst the poor
Held as a father; still let Abraham's praise
Live ever, though to day his name doth live,
Worthy in marble, to stand charactered
A golden name, a golden Abraham.
He died in Coventry, Jan. 22, A.D. 1662, aged 41.
J.
Near to the last is a brass, 26 by 22 inches, taken from a plain stone in the floor at the West End of the Church; it bears the following quaint inscription and arms, (plate 3) :—
"Here lies the body of Captn. ”

“ Between windows Nos. 32 and 33, is a marble tablet with armorial bearings, (plate iv.)
"Sacred to the memory of | Sarah, daughter of Bryan Troughton | formerly of this city, and of Lombard Street, | London, Esq., banker, | and one of the Receivers-General of the | County of Warwick, and for 47 years the beloved, affectionate, & | faithful wife of Robert Long, Esq., | of the Manor House, Dawlish, in the County | of Devon, and of the Crescent, Cheltenham, | who died on the 22nd day of May, 1837 Her remains | repose in a vault in the churchyard | of Swindon, near the last-named place. ”

“ BATHONA FRODSHAM, relict | of Humphrey Frodshain, Esq., | and daughter of John Hales, of | New House, Esq., together with | Mary her daughter."
She died 1661, and her daughter Mary, 1656. Mrs. Frodsham was buried in her father's tomb under the Church, near to the North door. The monument on the outer wall was removed many years since.
V.
On the same pillar, but on the North side of S. Lawrence Chapel, is a monument with the following curious epitaph and coat of arms of 30 quarterings, (plate v.) ”

“ Above are the arms of Skeffington, (plate I) Arg. three bulls heads erased sable, impaling;—Gules, three bears paws arg. for Newdigate.
Pl. II.
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C.
A white marble tablet on grey stone—
"As a token of respect | gratitude and veneration | for departed excellence | this tablet is inscribed to the memory of | Sarah widow of Charles Belcher | by her surviving children | She died at Warwick 29th day of February 1816 | in the 83rd year of her age | and was buried in the family vault of this Church." ”

“ Auratum superest. aureus Abrahamus.
Obiit Coventriæ, Jan. 22, Anno Domini 1662, annóq. ætatis 41."
The following translation is as literal as the florid Latin of that period will admit:
Life is short, but art is long. ”