Here lies the sister, here lies the brother,
Here lies the wife and the husband to her,
And but three persons buried here."
A large collection of ludicrous, as well as of panegyrical and moral, epitaphs, was published in two volumes, by T. Webb, in 1777, to which collection I am indebted for several of the above.
The "Reverence due to Holy Places" gives the following examples. The first, near the west end of Winchester Cathedral; the second, in the graveyard of the fine parish church of Yatton, Somersetshire. It is only by the exposure of such scandals that we may hope to effect their non-appearance in future.
I.
"In memory of Thomas Thetcher, a Grenadier in the Hants Militia, who died of a violent fever contracted by drinking small beer when hot, the 12th of May, 1764, aged 26 years.
"Here sleeps in peace a Hampshire grenadier,
Who caught his death by drinking cold small beer.
Soldiers be wise from his untimely fall,
And when ye're hot drink strong or not at all.
"This memorial being decayed, was restored by the Officers of the Garrison, A.D. 1781.
"An honest soldier never is forgot,
Whether he died by musket or by pot.
"This stone was placed by the North Hants Militia, 1802, in consequence of the original stone being destroyed."
