Saint Albans Cathedral, England

[visited 23 April 2014]

I have included below the Maynard family plaque, a fine example of 17th century memorialization. Note that my transcription uses modern English.

You can learn more at Wikipedia and the cathedral's website.

photo by Diliff, Wikipedia

To the memory of Raffe Maynard (1613), Squire, son and heir to John Maynard Esquire 

The man thats buried in this tomb, In heavenly Canaan hath a room;
A gentleman of aunitent name,
Who had a wife a virtuous dame,
They lived together in Godly sort forty-five years with good report
When seventy and seven years he had spent
His soul to his redeemer went.
His body by will here lies,
Still harkening for the great assizes
When Christ the judge of quick and dead,
Shall raise him from this earthy bed,
And give him heavens eternal bliss,
To live and reign with saints of his. 

To the memory of Margery Rowlat (1547), wife of John Maynard, Esquire 

Here lies intomb’d a woman worthy fame,
Whose virtuous life gives honor to her name,
Few were her years she died in her prime,
Yet in the world fulfilled she much time,
Which virtuously she spent providing still
The hungry bellies of the poor to fill,
Unto the God of heaven thrice every day,
With great devotion Saint-like did she pray,
Her prayers were heard God knew her heart’s desire,
And gave her heaven for her eternal hier (?),
Where now she doth enjoy that endless bliss
Which her redeemer purchased for his.

To the memory of Margery Seale (1619), wife of Raffe Maynard, Esquire 

 Lo here intombed a widow worthy prayers
Who in the fear of God devoutly spent her days,
With charitable alms relieving still the poor,
For empty handed none departed from her door,
A mirror in her time for virtuous of her mind,
A matron for her years, the like is hard to find,
Beloved bewayld (?) of all in life and death was she,
An honor to her sex as any of her degree,
Her body into dust returned here doth sleep,
Her sanctified soul in heaven the angels keep.
Her worthy name still lives by fame, who sounds her prayers
With trumpet clear, till Christ appear her hence to raise. 

 Robert Maynard the sorrowful son pf his most dear and worthy parents in his duty to their memory erected this monument.