Monumental Inscriptions in the Church of the Assumption of St Mary the Virgin, Beachampton

The following is a section from Browne Willis's "The History and Antiquities of the Town, Hundred and Deanry of Buckingham" where he describes and details the memorials within the parish church, and also one notable tomb in the churchyard;

"In the Nave or Body of the Church the Portrait of a Man in Brass in a Gown; over him this on a Brass Tablet:

'Behold I happie am indeed of Fleshly Man releast
Who having chang'd the mener State do now enjoy the best;
For seinge the fix'd Order set of things by God's Decree,
Hath finisht Mortal Life, to live with God eternally.'

At his Feet on a Brass Tablet this:

'Here lieth the Body of William Bawdyn of Bechampton, Blacksmyth, who dyed the 8 Day of October in the Year of our Lord 1600.'

Near it on a like Stone, on a small Plate of Brass:

'William Elmer was buried the 19th of March 1652.'

In the South Isle on a Grave-stone, the Portraiture of a Woman in Brass, at her Feet on a Brass Plate this:

'Here lieth the Body of Ales Baldwyn Daughter of William Mathew of Calverton Esquire, the Wife of George Baldwyn, by whom she had Issue two Sons and two Daughters, viz. William, George, Jane, and Isabell, and ended her Days in Childbed, and in the Faith of Christ, the 21 Feb. Anno Domini 1611, Aged 30 Years.'

Underneath two Male and two Female Children in Brass.

In the Middle of the Chancel, near the Communion Table, this on a Grave-stone:

'Here lieth Elizabeth the Daughter of Sir William Bolton, late Lord Mayor of London, and the Wife of Thomas White the younger of Caldecut, in the Parish of Newport Pagnell, in the County of Bucks, Gent. who Deceased the 6 of Dec. Anno. Domini 1669, and in the 32 Year of her Age, leaving behind her four Sons and three Daughters.'

On a little Stone near it was this,

'Mary Willis was born the 19th, and laid here the 21 of August, Anno Domini 1686.'

She was the Eldest Daughter of Thomas Willis of Fenny-Stratford, Esq. who then lived at the Hall.

Against the North Wall is fix'd a Brass Plate adorned with ordinary Carvings of Freestone, about it is this Legend. On each side round it at the Top,

'Away thou must unto thy Dust
Hold fast thy Chain, it is thy Gain'

On two other Sides,

'Here you may see as in a Glass
How swift your Time away doth pass.'

On the Tablet this Inscription,

'I Matthew Pigot the Sonne of Thomas Pigot Esq. of the House of Beachampton, do lie here buried July 8, 1598. I was for some twenty Years Pastoure of this Church and of Calverton, where I preached the sincere Doctrine of Christ Jesus, and accordingly beleving livinge and dieing do now most comfotably feele the inestimable Benefite thereof, leavinge unto you my most lovinge and beloved People, as a perpetual Monument of my Love and last Farewell, these fewe Lines toe put you always in Mind to do the like, that so in our Bodies and Soules we may shortly meet together again in heavenly Felicity and Immortality, Amen.'

Near it is enclosed by Iron rails a curious White Marble Monument supported by two round Pillars; at the Top the Arms and Crest of Benet viz. Gules, three Demi Lions Rampant Or; in Fess point a Besant. Underneath the Bust of a Man and below it this Inscription on a Tablet,

'S.
M. S.
Symonis Benet Armigeri
Filii et hæredis Ricardi Benet Armigeri, Nepotis Avi sui Thomæ Benet,
Eq. Aurati, necnon Urbis London. dignissimi quondam Prætoris.
In unicam duxit Uxorem,
Graciam, filiam Cohæredem Gilberti Moorwood, ex antiquiss. Moorwoodorum
Prosapia, de Shireoaks, Agro Eborancensi, Arm.
Per quam vii Liberorum Pater evasit;
Mariæ, natæ 10 Julii, 1652, et 20 Julii, 1663, denatæ;
Thomæ, nati 28 Aprilis, et 2° die Maii, 1653, denati;
Elizabethæ, natæ 27 Februarii 1659, Nuptæ Honoratiss. Edwardo Vice-comiti Latimer, Fil hæredi Nobilissimi Thomae Comitis de Danby, quæ primo die Maii, 1680, denata est;
Graciæ, natæ 27 Sept. 1664, præsentis Uxoris ornatissimi Johannis Benet, de Abington in Agro Cantabr. Arm. descendentis ab Honorabili Thomæ Benet de Lond. Eq Aurati;
Mariæ, natæ 28 Aprilis, 1666. Nov. 26, 1674, denatæ;
Simonis, nati 27 Junii 1668. Augusti 23, 1674, denatæ;
Franciscæ, natæ 20 Octob. 1670, præsentis Uxoris Nobilissimi Domini Jacobi, Comitis Sarisburiensis.
Vir erat probus, prudens, et frugi;
Christiane providus, temporaie liberalis;
Ecclesiæ, Regi, Republicæ, cordate devotus;
Maritus Charus, Indulgens Pater, Herus misericors, qui postquam se Deo
resignasset, 20 Augusti, Æræ, Christianæ 1682,
Ætatis Anno circiter Sexagesimo Vivis excessit,
Et heic in Fide Christiana sui Servatoris expectat adventum.'

Below this is a Projection of black veined Marble.

Here were Penons put up for his Lady, who was murthered Anno 1694, as aforesaid, for whom was made a most magnificent Funeral, but not the least Memorial has been ever erected for her.

Here hung-up, in my Rememberance, an Helmet etc. over Sir Simon Benet's Grave, who was buried close to the Chancel Wall just above his Tomb. [a memorial for Sir Simon Benet was added shortly after Browne Willis's book was written, see 'Descriptions and Travel')]

In the Church Yard is an hansome raised Tomb with this Inscription on it, on a White Marble Table,

'In Memory of Joseph Rogers, of Winslow, Currier, who died Jan. 9, 1722, in the 48 Year of his Age. He hath raised himself a Monument more durable than this Marble, by giving 600l. to be laid out in Land, the Rents and Profits of which he hath ordered to be applied Yearly for ever towards the Educating and Instructing in Learning the Children of poor People of the Parish of Winslow. He gave likewise for the Use of the Communion Service of the Parish Church of Winslow, one Silver Salver of 5l. Value.'

On the other Side and at the Ends are Texts of Scripture, viz. Proverbs xix. v 17. and Chapter iv. v 7 and 13. Ps. cxii. 9."