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Gentleman's Magazine 1749 p.551
adventured upon it; and, after my small skill in these
matters, think that it is to be read thus:
: : IC JACIT EVA QUONDA UXOR WILLI FIL ROGERI
i.e. Hic jacet Eva quondam uxor Wilhelmi Filli
Rogerii. Here lieth Eve heretofore the wife of William
Fitz-Roger. - The obliterated H at the beginning of
Hic, the final M thrown off in quondam, and
the abbreviations in Willi. and Fil.
sufficiently justify your correspondent's observation, that
it is certainly incomplete in itself.
I dare say, the curious part of your readers would be
obliged to the same hand for a draught of the antique Roman
Catholick cross on the top of the stone, taken with the same
exactness, as the letters are exhibited. For though they
have mostly some general likeness, yet is there a great
variety in their form. Besides, a sketch of the covering
stone, with the cross embossed (I suppose) on it, and the
engraved inscriptiom, with the hollowed under-stone, would
give more satisfaction to the enquirer, than twenty
paragraphs, though work'd up with the utmost perspicuity,
can inform the understanding.
I shall defer giving any thoughts of the other inscription,
or entering any farther into the present, till I shall see
how far my sentiments here suit with those of better
judgments: of which, doubtless, you receive many, from the
number and variety of your ingenious correspondents.
Yours, &c. Z. &.
To GEO. SMITH Esq;
SIR,
WIthout any design of forestalling your own interpretations
(which, on the contrary, I am in hopes you will favour us
with) I have adventur'd to try my skill in enucleating the
two inscriptions you were pleas'd to communicate to the
world in September last.
I perceive you think the first inscription to be imperfect,
but, unless you have some valid reason for thinking so, from
an ocular inspection of the stone, I should believe it
complete as it is, it affording a good, and, in my opinion,
an entire sense.
HIC JACIT EMA QUONDA UXOR WILLIELMI FILII ROGERI
In English.
Here lies Emma late wife of William son of
Roger.
At that time of day, before sirnames were in vogue, this was
the usual method of describing persons, Wills, fil,
Rogeri, Johes, Fil, Stephani, &c.
Dates also were then but too often omitted, and for these
two reasons I incline to esteem the inscription perfect.
The other inscription: I read thus
DEOR DE TORCI MIL.
and explain it, DEOR (or perhaps THEOR) DE TORCI knight.
De Torci or de Forcy, was one of the great men
that came into England with Wm the
Conqueror, (See the roll of Battle Abbey) and
the Family continu'd here flourishing long after.
I am Yors, &c.
PAUL GEMSEGE.
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