Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 12.djvu/73

 us. xn. JULY 24, 1915.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

65

STATUES AND MEMORIALS IN THE BRITISH ISLES.

(See 10 S. xi. 441 ; xii. 51, 114, 181, 401 ; 11 S. i. 282 ; ii. 42, 381 ; iii. 22, 222, 421 ; iv. 181, 361 ; v. 62, 143, 481 ; vi. 4, 284, 343; vii. 64. 144, 175,263, 343,442; viii. 4, 82, 183, 285, 382, 444 ; ix. 65, 164, 384, 464 ; x. 103, 226, 303, 405 ; xi. 24, 145, 275, 428.)

MARTYRS (continued}. JULJNS PALMER, &c.

Newbury. On 16 July, 1906, a brass memorial tablet was unveiled in the Primi- tive Methodist Church by the Mayor of Newbury. It was erected by voluntary subscriptions largely raised through the efforts of Mr. J. H. Thompson, and is placed on the South Gallery. The inscription is as follows :

Lest we Forget. In Commemoration of the Martyrdom of

Julins Palmer

(Sometime Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and Head Master of the Grammar School,

Beading),

John Gwin and Thomas Askew,

who as Confessors of the Protestant Faith, and

in Defence of the Sacred Cause of Religious

Freedom, were Burnt at the Stake at Newbury,

July 16th, 1556. Also of

Christopher Shoemaker,

a Lollard, Burnt at Newbury, A.D. 1518.

" Being dead they yet speak."

Erected July 16th, 1906.

" The memorial is of solid brass 35 by 27 inches. The four qua trefoils at each corner are filled with the four names. The name of Julins Palmer appropriately comes above the palm branches, emblems of victory, above which is a seven-pointed starry crown ; the left panel shows a burning stake transformed, so to speak, into a rugged cross. The two combined stand for ' No cross, no crown.' At the top, below the motto ' Lest we forget,' is the open Bible."

The tablet was designed by Mr. W. B. Pratt of Ludgate Hill, an Old Newburian. The Rev. Dr. Clifford delivered an oration in the Corn Exchange after the unveiling.

COVENANTERS.

Edinburgh. In Grey Friars Churchyard is a large elaborately constructed monu- ment to the Covenanter martyrs. It is of classic design, and consists of an inscribed tablet placed within a recess composed of two circular shafts with richly ornamented capitals supporting an entablature and pedi- ment. At the foot is an open book displaying

texts of Scripture taken from the Book of Revelation, vi. 9, 10, 11, vii. 14, and ii. 10,,. and the information :

" The above monument was first erected by- James Currie, Merchant, Pentland, and others, iix 1706 ; renewed in 1771."

The following is the inscription :

Halt, passenger, take heed what you do see.

This tomb doth shew for what some men did die~

Here lies interr'd the dust of those who stood

'Gainst perjury, resisting unto blood,

Adhering to the Covenants, and laws

Establishing the same, which was the cause

Their lives were sacrific'd unto the lust

Of Prelatists abjur'd, Though here their dust

Lies mixt with murderers and other crew,

Whom justice justly did to death pursue :

But as for them, no cause was to be found

Worthy of death, but only they were found

Constant and stedfast, zealous, witnessing

For the Prerogatives of Christ their King,

Which Truths were seal'd by famous Guthrie'a-

head

And all along to Mr. Renwick's blood : They did endure the wrath of enemies, Reproaches, torments, death, and injuries. But yet they 're those who from such troubles

came, And now triumph in glory with the Lamb.

"From May 27 th, 1661, that the most noble Marquis of Argyle was beheaded, to the 17 th of Feb r y, 1688, that M r James Renwick suffered,, were one way or other Murdered or Destroyed for the same Cause about Eighteen thousand, of whom were executed at Edinburgh about an* hundred of Noblemen, Gentlemen, Ministers, and Others, noble Martyrs for Jesus Christ. The- most of them lie here."

Moniaive, Dumfries, N.B. James Ren- wick, mentioned in the foregoing inscription^ was born here in 1662. In 1828 a handsome monument was erected to his memory by- subscription near his birthplace, now demolished. It occupies a commanding position on the Neise Farm, and is thus,, inscribed :

In memory of

the late Rev d James Renwick,

the last who Suffered to Death

for Attachment to the Covenanted Causer

of Christ in Scotland ;

Born

Near this Spot,

15 th Feb? 1662 ;

and Executed

at the Grassmarket, Edinburgh,.

17 th Feb> 1688. '" The Righteous shall be in Everlasting Remembrance.'"

Psal. cxii. 6. Erected by Subscription

A.D. MDCCCXXVIII.