46 LEONARD WHEATCROFT, OK ASHOVER. 



On the preceding page are these lines: — 



" My will I'll make, and then ffaixwell. 

 Come loving saxton, Toule my Bell. 

 In my stone coffin bury mee 

 That all my friends may plainly see. 

 And at my head, a stone pray set 

 That where I lye none may forget: 

 I've writ on't so; — 'He who goes hy 

 Must stoop to death as well as I, 

 Death tolls the Bell and strikes the Dart 

 Farewell deare friends, we all must part.'" 



The stone coffin which was chosen by Leonard for his last 

 home was discovered in the churchyard near its south-eastern 

 boundary in the year 1880. It contained besides a few of the 

 larger bones, which were re-interred where the coffin was found, 

 a flat, heart-shaped piece of lead, about six inches in length, 

 now preserved in a chest in the vestry, bearing the following 

 inscription : — 



"here was LEONARD WHEATCROp-T BURIED " 



"JAXVARY III. IN THIS STONE " 



" COFFIN : WHO W.VS CLARK OF THIS " 



" CHVRCH 56 YEARS " " 



" AGED 80 " 



" 1706."' 



Where this old coffin was in Leonards time we ca:inot tell, 

 but it was probably taken at some time or other from beneath 

 one of the ogee arches in the north wall of the chancel, and may 



* In a volume of memoranda, etc., written by Titus Wheatcroft, and now 

 in the possession of H. H. Bemrose, Esq., M.P., of Derby, is the following :— 

 "This is to be written on my father's headstone :—' Here lieth the Body of 

 Leonard Wheatcroft, who was dark of this Church of Ashover 36 years. 

 Aged 79. He died January 1=' and was buried in this stone coffin January y^ 

 1706.'" 



In a Latin rendering which accompanies this epitaph we have the duration 

 of his clerkship again asserted :— " Qui Ecclesite Parochialis de Ashover per 

 sex trigint que Annos fuit Sacrista." 



The following subjoined note seems to confirm the longer duration of office 

 recorded on the leaden plate: — "My father was sworn dark before John 

 Spateman Squire Ffeli. 3''. 1653.'* 



