in some of the Churches near Chippenham. 237 



of more modern days. The old epitaphs were simply "Hie jacet 



cujus anima) propitietur Deus; Amen — whose soul may 



God pardon ;" while on a scroll proceeding from the hands or the 

 mouth, were the words "Domine miserere mei ;" or " Dne secundum 

 actum meum noli me judicare ;" or " exultabo in Deo, Jesu 

 meo." In later times they began to speak of the virtues and good 

 deeds of the departed ; the prayer of the Publican was changed 

 into the boast of the Pharisee^ — till in modern times epitaphs became 

 a mixture of absurdity and impiety. Even now our churches and 

 churchj'ards contain monuments and inscriptions which every one 

 of taste or piety must deplore — and which we hope time's des- 

 troying hand will at length obliterate. These ancient inscriptions, 

 though tinged perhaps with superstition, are far better than 

 " afflictions sore, long time I bore," &c. ; while a Monumental Brass 

 on the floor, having a figure with hands in prayer, is far more 

 becoming and convenient than a huge ugly monument placed on 

 the wall, or stopping up a beautiful window, or disfiguring a fine 

 pillar or arch — covered too with doggrel verses all about the virtues 

 of the deceased, and the sorrows of the survivors. Some one 

 speaking of ancient monuments, says, " these must be our admir- 

 ation and ought to be onr pattern." Thus do our ancestors of a 

 truth " being dead, yet speak;" with powerful though silent 

 eloquence. 



I now say a few words about the brasses in our own neighbour- 

 hood, and firstly of Draycot. 



Dratcot Cerne Brass. 



This is the figure of Sir Edward Cerne and his wife ; he died 

 1393, she 1419. The family of Cerne were for more than 150 

 years Lords of Draycot, which is still called from this family 

 Draycot Cerne. He died seized of the manor of Draycot, with the 

 advowson of the church, one messuage and one virgate of laud in 

 Lanyley, and the manor of Avon, which he held in right of his 

 second wife, relict of Sir Walter Paveley. The figure represents 



* "And after all upon his Tomb is seen 

 Not what he was, but what he should have been." 



