Collected and sett forth in Chronologicall order
by Thomas F. Ravenshaw, M.A. F.S.A.
London:
Joseph Masters & Co
m.dccc.lxxviii.
(That’s 1878, I believe, should you have run out of toes…)
The oldest one listed ic “c. 1250 Gundrada, Daughter of William the Conqueror, Foundress of S. Pancras, Lewes”. But it is in Latin of course, and fragmentary – and if you are wondering about the dating the note says “Gundrada died AD 1085, but Mr Bowtell considers the Coffin to be not earlier than 1250”. (Gundrada is the Latin of Gundred. Wikipedia suggests: “Some scholars question whether Gundred was an illegitimate child of William I or merely a step-daughter, foundling or adopted daughter.”)
Interestingly, lots of the early ones are of women: eg Maud de Mortimer, 1210:
Mahaud de Mortimer gist ici
Jesu pour sa grande pite e misericorde
de sal alme eyt mercy.
One of the earliest English ones is, typically for the Victorians listed as “1393 Sir Thomas Walsch”, but actually says more about his wife:
Here lyes Thomas Walsche Knyght, lorde of Anlep (& dame Kat’ine his wyfe, whiche in her tyme made the Kirke of Anlep and halved the kirkyard first in wurchup of God (& oure Ladye & seynt Nicholas. That God have ther sowles and mercy.
(This is listed as at Wanlep in Leicestershire, which seems to know be spelt Wanlip.)
(And yes, I shouldn’t be allowed on eBay antiquarian books…)
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