PREFACE. THE Origin of Epitaphs proceeded from the Prefage, or Senfe of Immortality, implanted naturally in Men: Their Invention is attributed to the Scholars of LINUS the Theban Poet, who flourished about the 2700th Year of the World; and, being unhappily flain, bis Scholars lamented the Lofs of their Master in a particular Kind of mournful Verfes, called, from him, Ælinum, and afterwards Epitaphia; because they were fung at Burials, and engraved upon Sepultures, which may be called Monuments, a Memoria, as they were Memorials to put Men in Mind of the Inftability of human Nature, and the Lofs of their departed Friends; as alfo to excite their Meditation by the Ideas of Death, to a Reformation of Life. Thefe Monuments were held fo facred, that fuch as violated them were punished with Death, Banifhment, Condemnation to the Mines, or Lofs of Members; according to the Circumstance of Fat, or Perfon. The Lacedemonians allowed the Honour of Epitaphs to thofe Men only who died bravely in Battle, and to Women who were remarkable for their Chastity. The Romans erected Monuments to fome illuftrious Perfons while they were alive; and preferved them with a facred Veneration after they were dead. In our own Country, Sir HENRY A 2 CHAUNCY CHAUNCY tells us, "That any Perfon may erect a Tomb, Sepulchre, or Monument for the deceafed, in any Church, Chancel, Chappel, or Churchyard, fo that it is not to the Hindrance of the Celebration of divine Service: That the defacing of them is punishable at Common Law; the Party that built it being intitled to his Action during his Life; and the Heir of the deceafed after bis Death." Notwithstanding this Law was then in Being, it was infufficient to prevent the impious Hands of Soldiers and Bigots, from violating and defacing a great Number of monumental Infcriptions during the Civil Wars. Many good Ones are alfo become ruinous and almost obliterated for want of Care, and from the Encroachments of Time. To rescue, in fome Meafure, from Oblivion, the Names and Accomplishments of the Great and Good who have gone before us, this Work was undertaken. The Defign, I am fure, is laudable; how far I have fucceeded in the Execution, is left to the Determination of the Candid and Judicious. BOXHORNIUS has made an excellent Collection of Latin Epitaphs; and Father LABBE a very good one of thofe in the French Language, entitled, Trefor des Epitaphes: But nothing tolerable has yet been attempted in English. That That incomparable Man, for I must call him fo, Sir WALTER RALEIGH, fays, "It is not the leaft of our Debt to Hiftory, that it hath made us acquainted with our dead Ancestors; and raised them out of Darkness, to teach us no less wife, than eternal Policy, by comparing former Miferies with our own ill Defervings." This Work, therefore, bas fome Pretenfion to Favour, as it will be found an Epitome of the History of the great Perfonages who have flourished in this Country; and will, at the fame Time, give an Idea of the Manner of Writing in each fucceeding Age; as alfo of the Abilities of the most celebrated Writers. I have begun fo early as the Death of St. ALBAN in 293, and ended in the Year 1754; having kept to the Order of Time, as near as is necessary in a Work of this Sort. Few Epitaphs have been omitted that were wrote by our most eminent Poets, or by others on them. Much Care as been taken in the Tranflation of all the good Ones from the Latin, and other Languages, in WestminsterAbbey, Canterbury Cathedral, &c. Thofe on Sir FRANCIS WALSINGHAM, Sir THOMAS THORNHURST, and a few more, are partly English, tho' mark'd with an Afterifm, [Latin* French † Spanish § ] which will be eafily known by the Orthography. I very gratefully acknowledge the Favours which I have received, in the Furtherance of this Work, from the Clergy, and other Gentlemen; particularly Mr. ROLT, Mr. SMART, CHARLES HARRISON, Efq; Mr. STANYNOUGHT, Jun. and Mr.WICKHAM: And shall end this Preface with the Words of the accomplifhed, but unhappy, and ever-to-be-lamented RALEIGH: "Death alone can make a Man know himself, fhew the Proud, and Infolent, "that he is but Abject, and can make him "hate his forepaffed Happiness; the rich "Man he proves a naked Beggar, which hath Interest in nothing but the Gravel "that fills his Mouth; and, when he holds "his Glafs before the Eyes of the moft “Beautiful, they see and acknowledge their ❝own Deformity and Rottennefs. “ eloquent, just, and mighty Death! whom "none could advise, thou haft perfuaded: "what none hath prefumed, thou haft done “ and, whom all the World hath flattered, 66 thou haft caft out of the World and def< pised: thou haft drawn together all the extravagant Greatnefs, all the Pride, Cruelty, and Ambition of Man, and covered all over with two narrow Words: .. HIC JACET." 66 |