GRAVEYARD PUNNING.
Specimens of punning are sometimes to be met with in our churches, and they will be found chiefly to belong to the seventeenth century, when all kinds of odd conceits and frippery in language abounded. In Eldersfield church, the widow of "William Helme, gentleman," thus laments his loss:
"My ship, long on the seas of this world tost,
Of helme bereav'd, lo here is sunk at last."
King's Norton church contains a monument to "Richard Greves, of Moseley, Knight," part of which is made of touchstone, and the inscription is in gold letters, concluding thus:
"Wherefore his name hath broke detraction's fetters,
And well abides the touch in golden letters."
Affixed to the principal porch of Bromsgrove church is a dial, at the bottom of which are the words "We shall;" the constructors of the instrument having left its name to complete the sentence, thus: "We shall (dial) die all." An excruciating pun, forsooth.
In Ledbury church is an inscription to one Charles Godwin and his wife, ending—
"Godwyn the one; God-won the other."