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WOOLLAND.

MARY ARGENTON.

Mary, daughter of Robert Williams of Herringston, wife of Robert Thornhull, and then of Lewis Argenton, 1616, inscription in 12 lines Eng. mural Chancel, Haines.

Position.-Mural in the South aisle.

Size.-Effigy 98in. high, by 11in. broad at the base; inscription is 20țin. by 13in.

Description. This curiously worded inscription described above by Haines is dated 1616, but the kneeling effigy above would appear to be of earlier date; if not, the figure is a very late example of its type. The Church of Woolland was wholly rebuilt in 1743, "being ancient and ruinous; " in its removal further West monuments to the Thornhulls are said to have suffered. Mary Williams was the second wife of Robert Thornhull, and by her he had seven children; his first wife was Jane, daughter of John Tregonwell of Milton Abbey Esq, and by her he had two sons and one daughter, Margaret, who married John Skerne of Bere Regis. Margaret Skerne's kneeling figure* in the Chancel at Bere Regis, 1596, although considerably smaller, is very similar to that of her kinswoman at Woolland.

The inscription, in Roman letters, reads as follows:

Here lyeth our Landladie loved of all,
Whom Mary Argenton last wee did call,

But formerlie Thornhull of Thornhull she hight,
Yet sister to Williams of Heringston, Knight.
But Thornhull did leave her in Joyncture most sure
This Mannor of Wolland, whilst lyfe did indure;
The Revenew whereof she freelye did spend

In good hospitalitie untill her lives end.

* Page 205, 1902 Proceedings, Part I., The Ancient Memorial Brasses of Dorset.

Her prayers to God she never neglected,
Her life with Infamye never detected.

Then rest we assured, through Gods good grace,
Her soule in ye Heavens hath taken her place.
& died in the yeare of our Lord God 1616.

PIMPERNE, ST. PETER.

DOROTHY WILLIAMS.

Mrs. Dorothy Williams, 1694, curious, her husband John (rector?), quadrangular plate mural, Haines.

Position. Mural, near South door.

Size.-18in. high by 18ĝin. wide.

Description. This brass, showing fine but curious craftsmanship, and having borders representing the familiar emblems of mortality, probably came from the workshop of a goldsmith or copper plate engraver, whose name may be deciphered above the feet of the skeleton, "Edmund Colpeper, Fecit."

It is an example of two figures representing one and the same individual, and is found occasionally in stone, one above, in health and full costume of the period, the other a skeleton recumbent. In this instance the lady is represented as rising from a skeleton lying on a mattress, with a scroll issuing from her mouth bearing the text-" O Death where is thy sting, O Grave where is thy victory." The inscription, in Roman letters, reads:

Near this place lies ye body of Mrs. Dorothy Williams who deceased Nov. ye 24th Ano Dom. 1694. Erected by her Husband John Williams Cler. in memory of ye best of wives.

Dormio at Resurgam.

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