The Monument to Sir Edmund Wylde
This is dated 1620, as he was made Sheriff of Worcestershire in that year, and died in his first year in office. Although the principal home of the Wylde family was in Shropshire, he was renting the Rectory Manor House in Lane's End at the time. His widow, Dorothy Clark of Houghton Conquest, Bedfordshire, erected the tomb over his grave. The two kneeling figures are his sons, Edward and Walter.
The Plaque above Wylde's Tomb
It reads (in modern English): "Here lies the body of Sir Edmund Wylde, late of Kempsey, Knight, who married Dorothy, heir of Francis Clerke, of Haughton Conquest in the county of Bedford, Esquire, by whom he had issue two sons, Edmund, his eldest still living and Walter who lies here beside him. He lived in (high) estimation for his eminent qualities and deserts (and) was thought worthy (of) the honour to be High Sheriff of this county. In which place, having served a good part of the year with honour and reputation he was visited with a most painful and grievous sickness of which he died, being in the strength of his age and of great hopes. He died on the 3rd of April 1620 and atatis sua(?) 32 and was solemly here interred with great lamentation."
The Latin inscription reads:
Temperet a lachrimif? Milef Juvenif, Vice comef,
Vir Juftuf claruf, Dignuf honore eadit
O duram Lachefim! fi nolif pareere vitę
Nec prece nee pretio, parce tamen lachrimif
Meaning:
Could refrain from tears? A young soldier, viscount,
A just and famous man, worthy of honour, falls.
O Harsh Lachesis*! If you will not spare his life
either for prayer or for price, at least pardon our tears.
(Translation courtesy of Gillian Humphreys, thanks Gillian!)
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