The poore to clothe and feede,
Soe with the riche and alle the reste,
He neighbourlie agreed;
And did appoint before he died,
A smalle yearlie rent,
Which would be every Whitsuntide
Among the poorest spent."
I send you this copy from a nibbing of a quaint epitaph, made in the beautiful old church of Lavenham many years since, with a view to putting a Query as to its construction. The first two lines, as I read them, want a verb, unless we read the conclusion of the first line as a verb, to in-brasse (i.e. to record in brass). Can any of your readers give me an authority, from an old author, for the use of this or any similar verb? To in-grain seems somewhat like it, but is modern. If no authority for such a verb can be given, I should be glad to have the construction of the lines explained.
A. B. R.
Belmont.