By T. H. Baker. 



277 



Churchyard Inscriptions. 



In the churchyard are many quaint epitaphs and interesting 

 inscriptions in memory of families now extinct. One must be 

 mentioned : — 



" In Memory of Edmond 



Dolling who Dyed of y e 



Small Pox which he 



designedly took Sept. 6 



1737. Aged 21 years. 

 Stop Passenger my Fate deplore 

 Take warning by my Toomb 

 And never like me temp y e Lord 

 Least thou shouldst have my Doom." 



Another stone on which are recorded the names of several mem- 

 bers of a family named Suter, with dates from 1729 to 1806, has 

 underneath the following lines : — 



" Like Birds of a feather 

 We sleep here together." 



The following paragraph, extracted from the Salisbury and 

 Winchester Journal, August 25th, 1828, is of special interest, and 

 records an incident which is now quite forgotten, and would have 

 been lost had it not been noted at that time. 



Charles II. 



" On Sunday last the town and vicinity of Mere experienced a great treat by 

 several merry peals from the Church bells, in consequence of the arrival, on the 

 Friday previous of a new bell cast by Mr. Kingstone, bell founder of Bridgwater ; 

 and it is confidently hoped that under the superintendence of Mr. Hayter, 

 organist, Mere will revive in the art of bell ringing, for which they were for- 

 merly so famous. One of the bells bears the date of 1670, and it is generally 

 supposed to have been presented to the inhabitants on the restoration of 

 Charles II. for their loyalty to their lawful, much beloved, though unfortunate 

 Sovereign, who concealed himself about this part of the country, and frequently 

 honored Mere with his royal presence, though then deprived of its externals." 



Whatever the truth may be as to the gift of the bell (of which 

 no record exists in the parish), it is certain that Charles II. visited 

 Mere in 1651, in his journey from Trent to Hoale House, after the 



