44 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF 
The Vernon family^ who have resided at Hanbury, 
near Droitwich, seem to have been a little remarkable 
for attaining if not an extreme old age^ at least a fair 
length of days. The following memoranda are from 
their monuments in Hanbury church. Rev. Richard 
Vernon^ died 1627^ aged 77. Edward Vernon, died 
1666, aged 80 : his wife Eleonora, 1673, aged 85. 
Richard Vernon, son of Edward Vernon, died 1678, 
aged 64. Rev. John Vernon, rector of Hanbury, 
from 1627 to 1681, " Vixit, docuit, profecit," died 
December 19, 1681, aged 82. Susanna, his wife, 
died July 14, 1681, aged 80 ; thus like the Baucis 
and Philemon of Ovid 
" They ran their race 
In the same tenour all th' appointed space." 
The Rev. Peter Caffy was vicar of Abbot's Norton 
nearly 59 years, from 1726 to 1785, when he died, 
aged 87, serving his church twice each Sunday nearly 
to the last. 
At the west end of the north cloister of Worcester 
Cathedral, close to some steps leading into the nave, 
is a flat stone with this inscription, 
" MiSERRIMUS." 
The unhappy man, who in the wilfulness of despair, 
directed this sole word to be inscribed upon his 
stone, was a clergyman of the name of Thomas 
Morris, and held the curacy of Claines, near Worces- 
ter. Refusing at the Revolution to transfer his 
allegiance from James II. to William III. he was, 
with many others, deprived of all ecclesiastical prefer- 
