Obit Ano Doi 1616.
Aetatis 53 Die 23 A.P.
Originally the bust was coloured, but at the end of the eighteenth century it was given a coat of white paint, which remained on for nearly seventy years, when on its removal in 1861 sufficient traces of the original colouring were discovered to permit of restoration.
CHARLECOTE.
It is generally assumed that the face of this bust was modelled from a death mask, possibly even from the cast which is now at Darmstadt; and although either the execution was originally poor or the likeness has been spoiled by restoration, the monument is, of course, of the greatest interest to all admirers of the poet, and to those who are students of his life and works. It is believed that the memorial was provided by Dr. Hall and his wife, and at all events there seems little doubt that they superintended its erection.
Close beneath the monument and within the altar rails is the poet’s grave, with the well–known lines:—
good frend for jesus sake forbeare
to digg the dust encloased heare;
bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones;
and cvrst be he ye movess my bones.
It is supposed that these lines were written by Shakespeare himself, fearful lest his remains might be disturbed; for anciently, on the north side of the chancel, was a charnel–house in which were a large collection of human bones. This was done away with in 1800.