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From: "Peter Griffiths" <>
Subject: Frightened Vicar - a note
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 2005 18:25:49 +0100
References: <00f001c58077$398fdc00$c5920a52@fegredo>


Sarah's interpretation is so convincing that I'll just add a little note.
When the inscription says that the rector was ill-treated by 'Gog and
Magog', it is referring to the forces of Satan mentioned in The Book of
Revelation (Chapter 20, Verse 8). Presumably, here it is a way of
characterising local Puritans. Ironically, if Sarah is right, this is just
the kind of phrase that Puritans might have used about the rector.

Peter Griffiths

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sarah Fegredo" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, July 04, 2005 10:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Ess] Frightened Vicar


> This is just a guess based on the date and the reference to the king, but
> how about that he was a staunch royalist who believed that Charles I was
> anointed by God, and whose style of churchmanship got too close to
> Catholicism. This would have meant that Simon would have spent the
> Commonwealth years being extremely unpopular! I don't know the date of
the
> Restoration of Charles II but am fairly sure it was 1660, so poor old
Simon
> might not have known about it, but his children would have finally been
free
> after Cromwell's and Simon's death to out these words on his tomb. It
could
> also have been that Runwell was Parlimentarian and Blackmore Royalist???
> Sarah Fegredo
> Nottingham UK
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2005 6:48 PM
> Subject: [Ess] Frightened Vicar
>
>
> > In St. Laurence Church, Blackmore, close to the altar, is a gravestone
> > with an interesting inscription. It is that of the Rector of St. Mary's
> > Runwell who, it appears, was too frightened to be buried in his own
> > church. Under a shield bearing three rampant lions facing left (two
> > above one below) is carved HERE LYETH THE BODY OF SIMON LYNCH RECTOR OF
> > RVNWELL WHO FOR FEARING GOD AND THE KING WAS SEQUESTRED PROSECVTED AND
> > PERSECVTED TO THE DAY OF HIS DEATH BY GOG AND MAGOG AND LEFT YSSVE
> > ELIZABETH SARAH SIMON AND ITHIEL VNTO WHOME THE LORD BEE MERCIFVLL WHO
> > DYED Y 19 OF JVNE 1660 AGED 60 Y. I have looked in Arthur MEE without
> > success and would welcome any further information about this story,
> > please.
> >
> > Fred,
> > Editor,
> > Essex Family Historian
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________


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