Clifton College Scientific Society. 35 



Penn, the father, distinguished himself in the navy, and was 

 knighted for his services. After his death his body lay for some 

 time in state in the Bristol Guildhall, from whence it was taken 

 to EedclifFe Church. The old Admiral's armour is still to be seen 

 at the church. 



We now come to the tomb of William Canynges and his wife. 

 Over the grave is a slab of stone with the effigies of Canynges and 

 his wife carved on it. Canynges is carved in long robes of office, 

 from his being Mayor of Bristol, I suppose. The female figure is 

 that of a woman dressed in the ordinary old-fashioned way. A. 

 I'emarkable circumstance in connection with the tomb is, that 

 Canynges himself had it placed in its present position before he 

 died. At the back of the tomb there are several inscriptions, — 

 one giving the chief facts of his life, another the names and ton- 

 nage of his ships, and a third is an epitaph recording his virtues. 



The first inscription is as follows : — 



' William Canning, ye richest merchant of ye towne of Bristowe, 

 afterwards chosen five times Mayor of ye said towne, for the good of the 

 Commonwealth of the same ; he was in order of priesthood seven yeais, 

 and afterwards Dean of Westbury, and died the 7th of November 1474 ; 

 which said William did build within the said town of Westbury, a 

 college (with his canons), and the said William did maintain by space of 

 eight years, eight hundred handy craftsmen, besides carpenters and 

 masons, each day one hundred men. Besides King Edward the IV. 

 liad of the said William three thousand marks for his Peace to be had 

 in 2470 tons of shipping.' 



Next comes a list of the ships with their tonnage. The largest 

 was one of 900 tons. One was named INIary Canynges, after 

 Canynge's wife Mary. Another was named the IMary RedcliflTe, 

 after the church that Canynges loved so well. 



The epitaph is as follows : — 



' No age, no time, can wear out well-worn fame, 

 The stones themselves a stately work cloth show ; 

 From senseless grave we ground may men's good name, 

 And noble minds by ventrous deeds we know. 

 A lanterne cleer sets forth a candele light, 

 A worthy act declares a worthy wight ; 

 The buildings rare, that you may here behold. 

 To shrine his bones deserves a tombe of gold, 

 The famous fabricke which he here hath donne, 

 Shines in its sphere as glorious as the sonne ; 

 What needs more words, the future world he sought, 

 And set the pride and pomp of this at nought. 

 Heaven was his aim, let heaven be still his station. 

 That leaves such work for others' imitation.' 



I cannot say much for the poetry of the epitaph, but knowing 

 the general character of epitaphs, I don't think we look to them 

 for much. 



