RARE EPITAPHS.
To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:1 SIR,—The following curious epitaph, taken from a brass in St. Michael's Church, Coventry, and not hitherto published in a collection of epitaphs, may interest your readers :— " Here lies the body of Captain Gervase Scrope, of the family of the cropes of Bilton' in the county of York, who departed this life
26th August, Anne Domini 1705, aged 66. An epitaph writtten by himself, in the agony and doloroes pained of the gout, and died soon after.
"Here lies an old tou'd tennis ball, Was racketted from spring to fall, With so much heat and so much frost, Time's arms for shame grew ty'rd at last.
Four kings in camps he truly served, And from his loyalty ne'er swerved.
Father ruin'd, the son slighted, And from the Crown ne'er requited, Loss of Estate, Relations, Blood,
Was I00 well known, but did no good.
With long campaigns and paines o' th' Gout, He could no longer hold it out.
Always a restless life he led, Never at quiet lid quite dead.
He married in his latter days One who exceeds the common praise ; But wanting health still to make known Her true affection and his own.
Death kindly came, all wants supply'd, By giving Rest which life deny'd.
—I am, Sir, &c,
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